The Study of The Study of ARCHETYPESARCHETYPES

English IIEnglish II

Mr. SandsMr. Sands

What is an archetype?What is an archetype?

an image, character, story, symbol, an image, character, story, symbol, situation, or pattern that has been situation, or pattern that has been used since the earliest times to used since the earliest times to represent a universal idearepresent a universal idea throughout all human cultures throughout all human cultures

a a universal symboluniversal symbol (a symbol is a (a symbol is a concrete object used to represent an concrete object used to represent an abstract idea)abstract idea)

Who’s responsible for this?Who’s responsible for this? The word is derived from the Greek “archetypos,” The word is derived from the Greek “archetypos,”

meaning “beginning or original patter from which meaning “beginning or original patter from which later things are made.”later things are made.”

The term was first used by the psychologist, The term was first used by the psychologist, Carl Carl JungJung. .

Jung spent much time studying people’s dreams Jung spent much time studying people’s dreams as well as myths and legends from around the as well as myths and legends from around the world. world.

He recognized similarities in the types of symbols He recognized similarities in the types of symbols and stories that humans recalled. These and stories that humans recalled. These similarities led him to the conclusion that a similarities led him to the conclusion that a “collective unconscious”“collective unconscious” existed – a collection existed – a collection of inherited stories and images that exist in the of inherited stories and images that exist in the subconscious of every human being. subconscious of every human being.

……but what does that all mean?but what does that all mean?

Basically, Carl Jung Basically, Carl Jung determined that determined that people everywhere people everywhere can recognize the can recognize the same symbols, or the same symbols, or the same archetypes, same archetypes, because they are because they are concrete concrete representations of representations of universal human universal human experiences.experiences.

Why study archetypes?Why study archetypes?

The study of archetypes The study of archetypes can help you make the can help you make the leap from literal to leap from literal to symbolic interpretation of symbolic interpretation of a work of art, whether it a work of art, whether it be literature, a painting be literature, a painting or a filmor a film

You’ve been studying You’ve been studying archetypes throughout archetypes throughout your entire life. You just your entire life. You just didn’t know it! didn’t know it!

Archetypes: PlacesArchetypes: PlacesPlacePlace What it representsWhat it represents

The The underworldunderworld

The encounter with the dark side of the self, the The encounter with the dark side of the self, the fear of deathfear of death

The The wildernesswilderness

Passion, lawlessness, the subconscious, chaosPassion, lawlessness, the subconscious, chaos

(the happy forest, the haunted forest, the heath, (the happy forest, the haunted forest, the heath, the prairie/fronteir, the jungle, the primeval the prairie/fronteir, the jungle, the primeval forest, the sea)forest, the sea)

The riverThe river The stream of time and the flow of circumstance, The stream of time and the flow of circumstance, purity regained, sin washed away, deathpurity regained, sin washed away, death

The gardenThe garden The production and idyllic state of innocence, The production and idyllic state of innocence, reconciliation and peace, harmony with nature, reconciliation and peace, harmony with nature, the imagination, childhood (the tree of life, the the imagination, childhood (the tree of life, the enchanted garden, the hidden garden – the self; enchanted garden, the hidden garden – the self; sexuality)sexuality)

……More PlacesMore PlacesPlacePlace What it representsWhat it represents

The The wastelandwasteland

Sterility, infertility, loss of inspiration, Sterility, infertility, loss of inspiration, hopelessness, lack of creativity, industrial hopelessness, lack of creativity, industrial technology, spiritual deprivation in the modern technology, spiritual deprivation in the modern worldworld

The cityThe city Order, law, harmony, rigidity, civilization; in the Order, law, harmony, rigidity, civilization; in the fallen world = corruption and hypocrisyfallen world = corruption and hypocrisy

The rockThe rock The stony place of sufferingThe stony place of suffering

The desertThe desert The place of purity, self-awareness, deprivation, The place of purity, self-awareness, deprivation, solitude, loneliness, lonely quest for meaningsolitude, loneliness, lonely quest for meaning

The The crossroadscrossroads

The place of decision, penance, self-denialThe place of decision, penance, self-denial

……A few more placesA few more places

PlacePlace What it representsWhat it represents

The maze or The maze or labyrinthlabyrinth

Puzzling dilemmas or great uncertainty, the Puzzling dilemmas or great uncertainty, the search for the dangerous monster inside the search for the dangerous monster inside the self, journey to the heart of darknessself, journey to the heart of darkness

The winding The winding stairstair

Arduous and dangerous way into the unknownArduous and dangerous way into the unknown

The wheelThe wheel Fortune, the circle of life, death and rebirth, Fortune, the circle of life, death and rebirth, cycle of naturecycle of nature

The castleThe castle Strong place of safety, holds treasure or Strong place of safety, holds treasure or princess, may be enchantedprincess, may be enchanted

The towerThe tower Strong place of evil or isolation of the selfStrong place of evil or isolation of the self

Archetypes: PeopleArchetypes: People

THE HEROTHE HERO Characterized by self-Characterized by self-

sacrifice, heroes will sacrifice, heroes will endure separation and endure separation and hardship for the sake of hardship for the sake of their peopletheir people

Must pay a price to attain Must pay a price to attain their goalstheir goals

Common Characteristics: Common Characteristics: - Born and raised in a rural Born and raised in a rural

setting away from citiessetting away from cities- Is of mysterious origin or Is of mysterious origin or

becomes orphaned at an early becomes orphaned at an early age and is raised by animals age and is raised by animals or a wise guardianor a wise guardian

- Has a mentor or teacherHas a mentor or teacher- Loves and admires a beautiful Loves and admires a beautiful

ladylady- Must go on a journey, learn a Must go on a journey, learn a

lesson, change in some waylesson, change in some way- Is special, one of a kindIs special, one of a kind- Is helped by divine, Is helped by divine,

supernatural forcessupernatural forces- Struggles for something Struggles for something

valuable or importantvaluable or important- Has a loyal band of Has a loyal band of

companionscompanions- Is prepared to fight or die at Is prepared to fight or die at

any momentany moment

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey1.1. The Call to AdventureThe Call to Adventure2.2. Refusal of the Call/Acceptance of the CallRefusal of the Call/Acceptance of the Call (by force, (by force,

chance, mistake or choice)chance, mistake or choice)3.3. Supernatural AidSupernatural Aid4.4. Crossing the thresholdCrossing the threshold or defeating the guardian of the or defeating the guardian of the

thresholdthreshold5.5. Rebirth of the HeroRebirth of the Hero: hero emerges with a new sense of : hero emerges with a new sense of

self, a belief in him/herselfself, a belief in him/herself6.6. The TaskThe Task:: the action which heroes must perform in order the action which heroes must perform in order

to save the peopleto save the people7.7. The InitiationThe Initiation:: ordeal undergone by the hero in order to ordeal undergone by the hero in order to

attain full status/maturityattain full status/maturity8.8. The FallThe Fall:: the hero’s loss of innocence or high position, the hero’s loss of innocence or high position,

hubris causes the fall, humility results in the endhubris causes the fall, humility results in the end9.9. The JourneyThe Journey:: representative of the journey of life, this is representative of the journey of life, this is

the hero’s path through danger, hardship, ordeals, and the hero’s path through danger, hardship, ordeals, and other tests of strength, maturity, wisdom on the way to other tests of strength, maturity, wisdom on the way to the goalthe goal

10.10. The ReturnThe Return:: hero uses new wisdom to restore order and hero uses new wisdom to restore order and peace to the landpeace to the land

Archetypes: PeopleArchetypes: PeopleThe MentorThe Mentor Teaches a hero and given him/her gifts Teaches a hero and given him/her gifts

(weapons, food, magic, information); can (weapons, food, magic, information); can serve as the hero’s conscienceserve as the hero’s conscience

The Threshold The Threshold GuardianGuardian

Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin the journeybegin the journey

The WarriorThe Warrior Noble champion; knight in shining armorNoble champion; knight in shining armor

The ShadowThe Shadow Worthy opponent with whom the hero must Worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle in a fight to the end; must be struggle in a fight to the end; must be destroyed, neutralized or assimilateddestroyed, neutralized or assimilated

CompanionsCompanions Loyal companions willing to face hardship Loyal companions willing to face hardship and ordeal in order to stay togetherand ordeal in order to stay together

The TricksterThe Trickster The clown, mischief-maker, sometimes an The clown, mischief-maker, sometimes an ally or companion of the hero; represents ally or companion of the hero; represents the force of cunning pitted against the force of cunning pitted against opponents who are stronger or more opponents who are stronger or more powerfulpowerful

……More People More People The Traitor or The Traitor or BackstabberBackstabber

The double-agent who betrays those who The double-agent who betrays those who trust him most. Plots the destruction of trust him most. Plots the destruction of friends. friends.

The TyrantThe Tyrant The bullying despot – he wants power at any The bullying despot – he wants power at any priceprice

The OutcastThe Outcast The lonely outsider who wanders aimlessly The lonely outsider who wanders aimlessly hoping to belonghoping to belong

Friendly BeastFriendly Beast An animal companion showing that nature An animal companion showing that nature is on the side of the herois on the side of the hero

The Devil The Devil FigureFigure

Evil incarnateEvil incarnate

The monsterThe monster The hero’s dark self; the prince who has The hero’s dark self; the prince who has been turned into the beast; the double, the been turned into the beast; the double, the frightening side of naturefrightening side of nature

The Evil Figure The Evil Figure with Ultimately with Ultimately a Good Hearta Good Heart

A devil figure with the potential to be good. A devil figure with the potential to be good. This person is usually saved by the love of This person is usually saved by the love of the hero. the hero.

……Just a couple more…Just a couple more…The ScapegoatThe Scapegoat An animal, or more usually a human, An animal, or more usually a human,

whose death in a public ceremony resolves whose death in a public ceremony resolves the sin of an entire community. They are the sin of an entire community. They are often more powerful in death than in life. often more powerful in death than in life.

The Platonic The Platonic IdealIdeal

A woman who is a source of inspiration to A woman who is a source of inspiration to the hero, who has an intellectual rather the hero, who has an intellectual rather that physical attractiveness about her. that physical attractiveness about her.

Damsel in Damsel in DistressDistress

A vulnerable woman who needs to be A vulnerable woman who needs to be rescued by the hero. rescued by the hero.

The Earth The Earth Mother/NurturerMother/Nurturer

Symbolic of fruition, abundance and Symbolic of fruition, abundance and fertility. Offers spiritual and emotional fertility. Offers spiritual and emotional nourishment. nourishment.

The The Temptress/Siren/Temptress/Siren/Black GoddessBlack Goddess

Characterized by sensuous beauty. The Characterized by sensuous beauty. The hero is often attracted to her and she hero is often attracted to her and she brings about his downfall. May appear as a brings about his downfall. May appear as a witch or vampire. witch or vampire.

White GoddessWhite Goddess Good, beautiful maiden with religious or Good, beautiful maiden with religious or spiritual influencespiritual influence

Archetypes: Concepts/IdeasArchetypes: Concepts/Ideas

Father-Son Conflict = In this Father-Son Conflict = In this relationship, the tension is built relationship, the tension is built due to separation from childhood due to separation from childhood or some other source when the or some other source when the two meet as mentwo meet as men

Star-Crossed Lovers = Two Star-Crossed Lovers = Two characters engaged in a love affair characters engaged in a love affair fated to end tragically for one or fated to end tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of both due to the disapproval of society, friends, family or some society, friends, family or some tragic situationtragic situation

Current Archetype TrendCurrent Archetype Trend

Recently, in film, it is very trendy to Recently, in film, it is very trendy to mock or satirize archetypesmock or satirize archetypes

For example, movies like “Shrek”, For example, movies like “Shrek”, “The Princess Bride” and “The Princess Bride” and “Enchanted” all take fairy tale “Enchanted” all take fairy tale concepts, characters, places and concepts, characters, places and situations and exaggerate them for situations and exaggerate them for comedic affectcomedic affect

Now let’s see how many Now let’s see how many examples you can come examples you can come

up with…up with…You see, you’ve been studying You see, you’ve been studying archetypes since you started archetypes since you started

reading, watching TV/movies and reading, watching TV/movies and you didn’t even know ityou didn’t even know it!!