SYMBOLISM, ARCHETYPES, & PLOT PATTERNS

I. SYMBOLISM A symbol is something that stands for something else A person, place, thing, or event that represents something beyond its literal meaning to the story

II. ARCHETYPES A recurring pattern found in the mythology, religion, and stories of all cultures and time periods These patterns can be found in characters, symbols, themes, and plots Why are they important? Archetypes help us realize that we have common traits that we share with others outside of our culture. Since archetypes are universal and timeless, they help us interpret situations and characters that might be quite different from ourselves.

III. SOME COMMONLY USED ARCHETYPES The Mother Symbolizes growing, dependence, self-concern, nurturing The keeper and protector of life The Father Symbolizes independence or a giving nature Often acts as a protector or guide

C. WATER Most commonly represents birth and rebirth It also serves as a symbol for separation, union, life, and destruction

D. THE COLOR BLACK E. THE COLOR RED Can represent evil, death, terror, chaos, and the unknown E. THE COLOR RED Most commonly used to represent love. Can also be a symbol for death, murder, and lust

F. THE RISING SUN G. THE SETTING SUN Represents new life, beginnings, birth, hope, and peace G. THE SETTING SUN Often represents death, endings, and no hope Can also be used to represent the movement towards the unknown, ignorance, or despair

H. THE CAVE OR HUT i. Used to represent the womb

IV. THE HERO ARCHETYPE Usually the hero is from a mysterious origin, born under unusual circumstances, or born in secret They are often are physically set apart from others or emotionally feel like it Has an “I can do anything” attitude Performs great deeds Goes on a quest

V. WHY DO WE HAVE A NEED FOR HEROES? Role models – we want to strive to be like someone better than us. Want someone to pave the way for all of us – someone to “break the mold” Someone to make the world safe at an unsafe or uncertain time.

VI. PLOT PATTERNS IN LITERATURE Throughout cultures and times, certain patterns of story-telling exist. These patterns contain a specific formula of events that drive the story, its central conflict, and theme.

C. FREYTAG’S PYRAMID Gustav Freytag was a Nineteenth Century German novelist who saw common patterns in the plots of stories and novels. In 1863, he wrote Die Technik des Dramas in which he developed a diagram to analyze these stories and novels. He diagrammed the story's plot using a pyramid. 1816-1895

FREYTAG'S PYRAMID CLIMAX FALLING ACTION RISING ACTION DÉNOUEMENT INCITING INCIDENT EXPOSITION RESOLUTION

What do the sections of Freytag’s Pyramid mean? Exposition: setting the scene. The writer introduces the characters and setting, providing description and background. Inciting Incident: something happens to begin the action; usually signals the beginning of the main conflict; is sometimes called 'the complication'. The “spark” (1 event) Rising Action: events as the story builds; moving towards the major climax or struggle (multiple events) Climax: the moment of greatest tension in a story. This is often the most exciting event. It is the event that the rising action builds up to and that the falling action follows. (1 event) Falling Action: events happen as a result of the climax and we know that the story will soon end. (multiple events) Resolution: the character solves the main problem/conflict or someone solves it for him or her. (1 event) Dénouement: (pronounced: day-noo-moh) the ending. The ending where any secrets, questions or mysteries which remain after the resolution are solved by the characters or explained by the author. Sometimes the author leaves us to think about the THEME or future possibilities for the characters.

D. THE HERO’S JOURNEY Joseph Campbell was a theorist in the 1920s who began to study myths and legends. He found a pattern that spanned all cultures and all ages, which he developed into his theory of “The Hero’s Journey.” It models human experience, describing the patterns of life, growth, and experience 1904-1987

STAGE TWO: TRANSFORMATION STAGE ONE: SEPARATION STAGE THREE: RETURN Call to Adventure Reward Threshold Guardians The Return The Known The Unknown or Shadow Realm Crossing the Threshold Helpers Revelation Tests STAGE TWO: TRANSFORMATION Transformation Abyss or Supreme Test

What do the Hero’s Journey stages mean? STAGE ONE: Separation Call to Adventure: the point at which the hero is summoned to leave his/her normal surroundings and face the unknown The call can have many forms: Something is taken and the hero goes to reclaim it Something is lacking and the hero goes in search of it Save/restore the honor of a person, family, or community Win a right for the people

STAGE TWO: Transformation 1) The threshold is the place between the known and the unknown 2) Threshold Guardians: prevent the hero from entering the unknown until fully prepared 3) Crossing the Threshold: The entering into the unknown – jumping off point of the adventure 4) Shadow Realm: The unknown 5) Helpers: aid the hero throughout the journey – sometimes have supernatural powers Helpers may provide a talisman Their main duty is to provide assistance and direction to help the hero grow

STAGE TWO, continued 6) Tests: challenges the hero must overcome – usually strike at the hero’s greatest weakness Tests may be physical, moral, or psychological Reveal our own fears, flaws, doubts and weaknesses 7) Supreme Test (Abyss): the ultimate challenge which the hero must face alone and overcome his greatest fear 8) Transformation/Revelation: occurs once the hero has passed the supreme test – the hero experiences a dramatic change in the way he views life – the hero becomes a different person Moment of death/rebirth Hero leaves behind dependency and irresponsibility

STAGE THREE: Return Reward: a physical object or new knowledge that the hero brings back to the world. Return: the hero returns to the place from which he was called