9/14/2012

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The Trickster

http://www.deathcookie.com/archetype-of-the-week/65-archetype-of-the-week-the-trickster

http://www.phoenixcustom.com/HTML/PhoenixMGEHTML/2K8/2K8-1.html

http://www.espacoacademico.com.br/052/52ekeyes_ing.htm#_ftn1

http://listverse.com/2008/02/14/top-10-greatest-movie-anti-heroes/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rhythmdivine/galleries/2009/2491111/Priestess_of_Eshu6sm.htm

The Trickster

The Trickster represents the chaotic

nature and the unpredictability of life.

The role the trickster serves is to act as

a catalyst for change.

Without change, mankind would

become stagnant, life would cease to

evolve or improve.

For it is only when a person is tested

that they can truly judge their own

abilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phallic_kokopelli.png

Tricksters are neither good nor evil

• Tricksters are neither good nor evil, but purely chaotic. They like to upset the balance between two characters, or to create an imbalance people (or gods) have to fix.

• The trickster uses his/her skills of lying, sleight-of-hand, shape shifting, talking people into things, or out-of-control behavior.

• This makes the stories funny and it drives the plot forward.

Trickster Gifts: A Blessing and a Curse

• The Trickster gives gifts to mankind that are both

a blessing for human advancement and a curse

that usually carries unforeseen consequences.

• These gifts are generally not given as acts of

goodwill but rather out of a compulsive need for

the trickster to amuse himself by manipulating

the interactions between gods and mortals.

• Consequently, the tricksters are often entirely

loyal to no one but themselves.

Coyote Steals The Fire Loyal to no one but themselves

• In modern times, the Trickster fights the

conformity of a world that is too controlled by

human inventions.

• Modern day tricksters have come to represent

the yearnings of those who wish to regain

their individualism and freedom.

9/14/2012

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Coyote: A Walking Paradox

Coyote is a frequent Trickster figure in Native

American tales. He often uses deceit, magic

or violence to get what he wants. He is a

shape-shifter, who can take on human form

when he wants to. In some tales he kills

monsters, in others he is the fire-bringer.

Coyote is a paradox because he is often

foolish, yet clever, greedy yet helpful and

immoral yet moral at the same time.

The Modern Day

Trickster

http://martelli.mlblogs.com/Jack%20was%20the%20Joker%20before%20Heath.jpg

http://www.filmedge.net/potc3/images/0514/JackSparrow.jpg

Modern Day Tricksters

• The modern day tricksters meet the hopes of the modern audience by outwitting political powers, overcoming financial burdens, and going beyond the rules of society.

• They seek the freedom of an adventurous, self-realized individualistic lifestyle that may or may not serve the needs of society as a whole but certainly serve the whims of the modern trickster as an individual.

Other Archetypes Common to

Native American Literature

• The Earth Mother – the Earth is sometimes personified as a

living woman or a living entity with maternal qualities. In the

modern day we often refer to Mother Nature when talking

about the natural world.

• The Faithful Companion is the sidekick, the one who is there

to help the main character and keep the story moving. The

faithful companion is often a foil character – someone who,

through their interactions with the main character, highlights

that character’s specific traits or motives. This companion may

be a human, a spirit or an animal.

Trickster Qualities in Us, Now

• What are some of the qualities of the Trickster

that you carry within you?

• How can they be useful to you in navigating

your way through life? (Use examples.)

• How can they get you in trouble? (Use

examples.)

Sources

• Conner, Wa. The Trickster: A God's Evolution from Ancient to Modern Times.

http://www.authorsden.com/categories/article_top.asp?catid=23&id=39689

• Odin saves self: http://cdn-i.dmdentertainment.com/cracked/wong/ragnarok2.jpg

• http://listverse.com/2008/02/14/top-10-greatest-movie-anti-heroes/

• http://www.abc.net.au/rn/rhythmdivine/galleries/2009/2491111/Priestess_of_Eshu6sm.htm

• http://www.phoenixcustom.com/HTML/PhoenixMGEHTML/2K8/2K8-1.html

• http://www.espacoacademico.com.br/052/52ekeyes_ing.htm#_ftn1

• http://www.deathcookie.com/archetype-of-the-week/65-archetype-of-the-week-the-trickster