Archetypes Pre AP English I

What is an archetype? An original model after which other similar things are patterned From the Greek word arkhetupos meaning “exemplary” Exemplary: serving as a pattern, deserving imitation Accepts Karl Jung’s idea of recurring patterns of situation, character or symbol It exists universally and instinctively in the collective unconscious of man

Archetypes in literature An image, story-pattern or character Recurs frequently Evokes strong, often unconscious, associations in the reader Examples: The wicked witch The enchanted prince The sleeping beauty The fairy godmother

Personal Unconscious/ Freud Said that personal experiences that have been forgotten or repressed, yet linger in the personal unconscious mind tend to motivate, shape and control our behavior

Collective Unconscious/ Jung Experiences of humanity as a whole somehow are embedded into the minds of everyone Is a mixture of experiences of humanity and of archetypes make up our “genetic memory” Basic foundation of the collective unconscious is the archetype (the universal theme, symbol, situation) that runs consistent in the minds of mankind Has developed through the ages and influences the way people think Can be found in man’s endeavors of art, mythology, literature and dreams

Situation Archetypes

The Quest The search for someone or some talisman (an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune) which, when found and brought back, will restore fertility to a wasted land.

The Task To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, to identify himself so he may resume his rightful position The hero must perform some nearly superhuman deed

The Initiation Into the adult-life The adolescent comes to his or her maturity with new awareness and problems along with the hope for the community or land This awakening is often the climax of the story

The Journey Sends the hero in search of the truth or information to restore fertility to the kingdom Travels through a psychological hell and forced to discover the truth Must recognize his own faults Accepts personal responsibility Encounters people and tasks that teach and strengthen him

The Fall The hero’s loss of innocence or high position Hubris often causes the fall and humility results from it

Death and Rebirth The most common of all situations Developed through the parallel between the cycle of the nature and the cycle of life Morning and springtime represent birth, youth and rebirth Winter represents old age or death

Nature vs. Mechanical World Suggests that nature is good while technology and society or often evil

Battle between Good and Evil Battle between two prime forces Mankind shows eternal optimism Good triumphs over evil despite great odds

The Unhealable Wound Physical or psychological Cannot be fully healed Indicates a loss of innocence Always aches and drives the sufferer to desperate measures

The Ritual Ceremonies that initiate experiences that will mark the passage into another state

The Magic Weapon Symbolizes the extraordinary quality of the hero because no one else can wield the weapon or use it to its full potential Usually given by a mentor figure

Symbolic Archetypes Associations between the outside world and psychic experiences. These associations become enduring and are passed from one generation to the next.

Light vs. Dark Light suggests hope, renewal or intellectual illumination Darkness implies the unknown, ignorance or despair

Fire vs. Ice Fire represents knowledge, light, life and rebirth Ice represents ignorance, darkness, sterility and even death

Supernatural Intervention The gods intervene on the side of the hero most of the time

Water vs. Desert Water represents growth, rebirth, life and spiritual birth Desert represents a time of self-awareness, deprivation, solitude and loneliness

Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity Sometimes characters exhibit an understanding of situations because of their instincts better than those who are educated to do the job or be in charge

Heaven vs. Hell Man associates parts of the world not accessible to him as dwelling places of those who govern his world The skies and mountain tops house his gods The bowels of the earth contain his diabolical forces

Symbolic Archetypes Threshold Underworld Garden Wasteland City Crossroads Winding stairs Castle

Character Archetypes

The Hero Characterized by self-sacrifice Will endure separation and hardship for the sake of his people Must pay a price to attain his goal Pattern of journey is often fight, flight, learn, return

The Young Man from the Provinces This hero is spirited away as a young man and is raised by strangers He later returns to his home where he is a stranger who can see problems and offer solutions

The Mentor Counselors or teachers Older and wiser Gives the hero weapons, food, magic and often serves as the hero’s conscience

The Shadow Worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle This opponent must be destroyed, neutralized, or assimilated

Father-Son Conflict Tension often results from separation during childhood Tension is significant as the individuals meet as men The mentor often has a higher place in the affections the hero than the biological parent

Loyal Retainers Like servants who are heroic themselves Their duty is to protect the hero and reflect his nobility

The Threshold Guardian Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin the journey Shows that the journey will be difficult

Friendly Beast Shows that nature is on the side of the hero

The Initiates Young heroes who, prior to their quest, must endure some training or ceremony They are usually innocent and dressed in white

Group of Companions Loyal companions willing to face any number of perils in order to stay together

The Devil Figure Character that offers worldly goods, fame or knowledge to the protagonist (hero) in exchange for the possession of the soul

Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good Heart A redeemable devil figure that is saved by the nobility or love of the hero

The Scapegoat This hero must die in order to pay for the people’s wrongdoings and to restore the nation to health The death is public Makes them more of a force in society in death than when they lived

The Outcast Figure who is banished form a social group for some crime The crime can be real or imagined Destined to become a wanderer from place to place

Woman Figures Earth mother Temptress Platonic ideal Unfaithful wife Damsel in distress Star-crossed lovers Creature of nightmare (no gender)

Color Archetypes Black – chaos, mystery, death, evil, unconscious Red – blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder (tragedy) Green – growth, sensation, hope (comedy) Earth tones – natural, pure, conscious or earthly White – purity or void Yellow – cowardice, dishonesty