Archetypes and the Monomyth Archetypes and the Monomyth …and why you need to understand them…

“Now, where have I seen her before?”  HTRLLAP –“Here it is: there’s only one story…Ever. One. It’s always been going on and it’s everywhere around us and every story you’ve ever read or heard or watched is part of it.” (Foster 32) –Don’t believe it? Don’t believe it?Don’t believe it?

Archetype: Definition  The original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies  Universal patterns in stories and mythologies, regardless of culture or historical period

Background on Archetypes  Carl Jung ( ) —Swiss psychiatrist; founder of analytical psychology –First applied the term archetype to literature –Believed that part of the human mind contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human species—think: UNIVERSAL MEMORY

Background on Archetypes  Joseph Campbell ( ): professor of comparative literature—specifically mythology and religion –Influenced early by the writings of Carl Jung, specifically Jung’s work on archetypes –Applied Jung’s theory of archetypes to world mythology  The Hero with a Thousand Faces: refined concept of the hero’s journey

The term archetype can be applied to ….  An image  A theme  A symbol  An idea  A character type  A plot pattern

Archetypes can be expressed in…  Myths  Dreams  Literature  Religions  Fantasies  Folklore

Defining the Hero  Hero: a human being of extraordinary qualities –Campbell’s definition:  male or female  who leaves the world of everyday life to undergo a journey  to a special world where challenges and fears are overcome in order to  Secure a reward, which  The hero shares with his original community

Heroic Archetypes  Hero as… –WARRIOR: near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external enemies  Ex. Odysseus –LOVER: a pure love motivates hero to complete his quest  Ex. Prince Charming –SCAPEGOAT: hero suffers for the sake of others  Ex. Jesus

Heroic Archetypes –Transcendent Hero: The hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall  Ex. Greek and Shakespearean tragic heroes—Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth, etc. –Romantic/Gothic Hero: lover with a dark side  Ex. Dr. Frankenstein from Frankenstein; Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights –Proto-Feminist Heroes: female hero  Ex. Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice –Apocalyptic Hero: Hero who faces the possible destruction of society  Ex. Neo from The Matrix

Heroic Archetypes –Anti-Hero: a non-hero, given the vocation of failure; frequently humorous  Ex. Homer Simpson –Defiant Anti-Hero: Opposer of society’s definition of heroism/goodness  Ex. Kurtz from Heart of Darkness or Apocalypse Now –Unbalanced Hero: protagonist has (or pretends to have) mental or emotional deficiencies  Ex. Hamlet; McMurphy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Heroic Archetypes –T–T–T–The Other—The Denied Hero: a protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible EEEEx. Invisible Man; The Joy Luck Club –T–T–T–The Superheroic: exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity; frequently has divine or supernatural origins. Is set apart from society, but is nonetheless needed by society EEEEx. Mythological heroes (David from the Old Testament); Superman

The Hero’s Journey or The MONOMYTH  Stage One: The Call to Adventure –The hero is presented with a problem, challenge, or adventure  Stage Two: The Reluctant Hero –Once presented with the adventure, the hero is sometimes reluctant to accept  Stage Three: Wise Helpers/Mentors –The hero meets a mentor who gives advice and a magical weapon. The mentor prepares the hero to face the unknown, but can only go so far with the hero. Eventually, the hero must face the unknown alone.

The Hero’s Journey or The MONOMYTH  Stage Four: Crossing the Threshold –This is the moment when the hero leaves the safety of his “normal” world and begins the adventure  Stage Five: Tests, Allies, and Enemies –The hero is forced to make allies and enemies in the unknown world, and to pass certain tests that are part of his/her training  Stage Six: The Ordeal/The Innermost Cave –The hero comes, at last, to a dangerous place, often deep underground, where the object of his quest is hidden. The hero faces death in order to obtain the object.

The Hero’s Journey or The MONOMYTH  Stage Seven: Seizing the Sword –Having survived the ordeal, the hero now takes possession of the treasure. Sometimes the treasure is knowledge and experience that leads to greater understanding and a reconciliation with hostile forces or imp. ppl in the hero’s life.  Stage Eight: The Road Back –The hero’s not safe yet…the hero is possibly pursued by vengeful forces from whom he stole the treasure.  Stage Nine: The Resurrection –The hero emerges from the special world, transformed by the experience. There is often a replay here of the death-and-rebirth in the innermost cave ordeal, as the hero once again faces death and survives.  Stage Ten: The Return –The hero comes back to his ordinary world…with an elixir of somekind for his ppl. which he shares for the benefit of all.

Situational Archetypes (plot patterns)  The Quest –for identity –To rid the land of danger –For vengeance –For love  The Task  The Journey –To find the promised land –To save his/her people –In search of knowledge  The Fall

Types of Archetypal Journeys  The journey in search of knowledge  The tragic quest—penance or self denial  The fool’s errand  The quest to rid the land of danger  The grail quest—the quest for human perfection

Character Archetypes  The Hero –Young Man from rural area—not sophisticated  Mentor –Older and wiser, guides the hero on his journey, is usually outside accepted society himself. The mentor equips the hero with a gift (either tangible or knowledge) that will help the hero later in his quest  The Threshold Guardian –Is the first obstacle in the hero’s journey, usually a henchman of the true antagonist. Serves to test the hero’s worthiness for the journey  Hunting Group of Companions –These are the loyal group of companions who assist the hero on his journey. The quest is not theirs, but they support the hero.

Character Archetypes  Friendly Beast –An animal companion to the hero  The Shadow –Psychologically represents the darker side of the hero’s own psyche  The Devil Figure –This character is evil incarnate  Evil Figure with a good heart –A devil figure with the potential to be good. This person is usually saved by the love of the hero  The Creature of Nightmare –A monster summoned from the deepest part of the human psyche to threaten the life of the hero. Often is a perversion of the human body  The Scapegoat –Someone whose death in a public ceremony removes the taint of sin from the community. More powerful in death than in life

Character Archetypes  The Outcast –Character banished from society for a real or imagined crime, destined to wander  The Platonic Ideal –A woman who is a source of inspiration for the hero, who has an intellectual, rather than physical attraction for hero  Damsel in Distress –Vulnerable woman who needs rescued  The Earth Mother –Symbolizes abundance, fertility, offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to the hero…usually large breasted and hipped— symbolic of her childbearing capabilities

Character Archetypes  The Temptress/Black Goddess –Characterized by sensuous beauty, this woman is attractive to the hero and will ultimately bring about his downfall  White Goddess –Good, beautiful woman who offers aid to the hero  The Unfaithful Wife  Star Crossed Lovers