ARCHETYPESARCHETYPES

Archetypes  are instinctive patterns  recur in art across cultures  recur in art across time  Today, archetype means original model or pattern Archetypes  are instinctive patterns  recur in art across cultures  recur in art across time  Today, archetype means original model or pattern

ArchetypesArchetypes  Figures or patterns that recur in works of art from generation to generation.  Timeless and Universal!  Figures or patterns that recur in works of art from generation to generation.  Timeless and Universal!

Stories / Plots / Situations Symbols Characters

Don ’ t confuse archetypes with other signs or symbols.

SIGN  A word or physical sign which represents one object.  initials: U.S.A., CIA, ECA  traffic signs  trademarks: “ Just do it, ” “ I ’ m lovin ’ it. ”  A sign is meaningless in itself; it gains meaning through use.  A word or physical sign which represents one object.  initials: U.S.A., CIA, ECA  traffic signs  trademarks: “ Just do it, ” “ I ’ m lovin ’ it. ”  A sign is meaningless in itself; it gains meaning through use.

Symbol Symbol An object that stands for something else. Can be a letter, a character, or a sign. the American flag a police badge the Greek letter delta These objects are specific to a culture, a community, some times a specific novel.

Take for instance a snake...

TIME & SPACE MACHINE

We can put the snake in a time and space machine and send it to ANYWHERE or ANYWHEN — ideally — and most people would agree on what that snake means or represents.

This is a two-dimensional joke: Snakes have no legs to kick with, or opposable thumbs with which to attach a sign. Snakes are EVIL!

Heracles with the snake - Greece

The Rainbow Snake Aido-Hwedo QUETZLCOATL is in charge of the primal waters where all life was created.

The Seven-Headed Serpent Lotan from Canaanite myths, which served as a symbol of the seven deadly sins.

Shesha, the world serpent In Hindu mythology, Shesha spews fire to destroy all creation

Apep, the chaos serpent At first, Apep was the Egyptian Sun god. When he was replaced by Ra, he became very angry. Apep became a symbol of evil.

Medusa - Greek

Jormungandr (Norse) will eventually bring about Ragnarok (the end of the world)

Where can we find archetypes?  Mythology  Literature  Art  Religion  Movies  Comic Books  Songs  Mythology  Literature  Art  Religion  Movies  Comic Books  Songs

Three types of archetypes are...  archetypal plots  archetypal characters  archetypal symbols  archetypal plots  archetypal characters  archetypal symbols

PLOTS Cosmogony (Creation story) Tragedy (The hero dies) Comedy (The hero marries) Monomyth of Initiation (Hero ’ s Journey) PLOTS Cosmogony (Creation story) Tragedy (The hero dies) Comedy (The hero marries) Monomyth of Initiation (Hero ’ s Journey)

ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS Hero Shadow Trickster Herald Threshold Guardian Shape shifter Mentor

SYMBOLS (metaphors/ similes) Water = BirthWater = Birth Night = DeathNight = Death Light = GoodLight = Good Dark = BadDark = Bad

Can you see anything problematic about archetypes?

dangerous Anything that suggests that dark is bad and light is good can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and it does not represent all cultures.

Be careful when looking at art, literature, film... LIFE through an archetypal lens.

HERO CYCLE HERO CYCLE Revolves around a character who leaves home Our hero is often of noble birth Is guided by a supernatural aid Is guided by a supernatural aid The hero suffers a number of trials The hero suffers a number of trials * Temptress * Temptress * Monsters / Villains * Monsters / Villains The hero triumphs in the endThe hero triumphs in the end Often returns home and shares knowledge or a giftOften returns home and shares knowledge or a gift

Notice that the hero is assumed to be male because one of his many “trials” is overcoming a temptress.

TRAGEDY Revolves around a person ofRevolves around a person of importance, not a commoner importance, not a commoner Horrible things happen to the mainHorrible things happen to the main character and those he/she loves character and those he/she loves The hero (and others) die(s) in the endThe hero (and others) die(s) in the end

COMEDY Revolves around normal or common people Includes some form of mistaken identity and a block The hero and his love get married in the end

THE ARCHETYPAL MAN HERO  Young, handsome, muscular, courageous  Mysterious or divine birth  Strong (sometimes beyond normal men)  Neither a fool nor perfect  Usually follows the hero cycle HERO  Young, handsome, muscular, courageous  Mysterious or divine birth  Strong (sometimes beyond normal men)  Neither a fool nor perfect  Usually follows the hero cycle

Archetype of the Hero Willing to sacrifice on behalf of others Flawed Types: Willing, unwilling, antihero, group oriented, loner, catalyst, and tragic Willing to sacrifice on behalf of others Flawed Types: Willing, unwilling, antihero, group oriented, loner, catalyst, and tragic

LUKE SKYWALKER

Aragon

KING ARTHUR

MENTOR/Wise Old Man Older than hero Spiritual and moral Intelligent Sometimes has special powers Guide or instructor for the hero Often a former hero

MERLIN

GANDALF

OBI WAN KENOBI

The Shadow -Represents energy of the dark side -The mask that can be worn by any character -Gives the hero a worthy struggle -Represents energy of the dark side -The mask that can be worn by any character -Gives the hero a worthy struggle

One type of Shadow-- The Villain: Physical appearance varies Age varies Adversary for the hero and/or heroine

Kevin Spacey as LEX LUTHOR

DARTH VADER

THE JOKER

Lord Farquaad

The ultimate Shadow:THE DEVIL  Usually offers a trade or exchange  Manipulative and deceptive  Often physically attractive and well- dressed  Usually offers a trade or exchange  Manipulative and deceptive  Often physically attractive and well- dressed

Satan is... Al Pacino in The Devil’s Advocate

THE TRICKSTER He is a god; yet he is not. He is the wise-fool. He rebels against authority, pokes fun at the overly serious, creates convoluted schemes—that may or may not work—and is sometimes his own worst enemy. He exists to question, to cause us to question, and not to accept things blindly.

LOKI - Norse

In Native American mythology, Coyote is a buffoon, a creator, a trickster, and a hero.

WILE E. COYOTE

A subset of the Trickster: The FOOL  May have some physical defect--fat, cross-eyed, big nose  Relieves tension  Often a side-kick or ally  Humorous and bumbling  Speaks the truth that no one else will.  May have some physical defect--fat, cross-eyed, big nose  Relieves tension  Often a side-kick or ally  Humorous and bumbling  Speaks the truth that no one else will.

C3PO & R2D2

MERRY AND PIPPIN

The Herald Issues a challenge to the hero Can be positive or negative Issues a challenge to the hero Can be positive or negative

The Mythological Herald: Hermes

Threshold Guardian Guards the gate Guards the gate Keeps the unworthy out Keeps the unworthy out Can be good or evil--lieutenants or villains Can be good or evil--lieutenants or villains Are not always human Are not always human

ARCHETYPAL FEMALE CHARACTERS The Mother Figure (Parents may be threshold guardians.)  Birth, life, fertility  Warmth, protection, security  Nourishment The Mother Figure (Parents may be threshold guardians.)  Birth, life, fertility  Warmth, protection, security  Nourishment

Marge Simpson

The Shape shifter FChanges physically or mentally FOften female FFemme fatale FThe reader cannot tell if this character is good or bad. FMay dazzle or confuse the hero. FChanges physically or mentally FOften female FFemme fatale FThe reader cannot tell if this character is good or bad. FMay dazzle or confuse the hero.

A subset of the Shape shifter: The Crone or Witch  Old, ugly  Mysterious  Intelligent  Plotting or conniving  Old, ugly  Mysterious  Intelligent  Plotting or conniving

Jadis from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty

Sadly, the witch is the equivalent of the wise man. Women don’t get to be smart—and certainly not smart and pretty—without also being evil.

Another Shape shifter Option:The Temptress  Older than the maiden, younger than the mother  Beautiful, usually dark- or red-haired  Deceptive and underhanded  Expert at seduction  Older than the maiden, younger than the mother  Beautiful, usually dark- or red-haired  Deceptive and underhanded  Expert at seduction

Poison Ivy

Megara from Hercules

The Maiden or Virgin  Young, beautiful  Often helpless  Innocent  Saved by hero  Young, beautiful  Often helpless  Innocent  Saved by hero

Cinderella

COMMON ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLS WATER The mystery of creation Birth-death-resurrection Purification and redemption Fertility and growth WATER The mystery of creation Birth-death-resurrection Purification and redemption Fertility and growth

Sun  Creative energy  Law in nature  Consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, etc.)  Passage of time and life  Father principle  Creative energy  Law in nature  Consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, etc.)  Passage of time and life  Father principle

The Rising Sun

Setting Sun=Death

The Moon: the female principle

COLORS RED Blood Sacrifice Violent passion Disorder RED Blood Sacrifice Violent passion Disorder

GREENGREEN  Growth  Sensation  Hope  Fertility  Growth  Sensation  Hope  Fertility

BLUE  Usually positive  Truth  Religion  Security  Religious purity  Usually positive  Truth  Religion  Security  Religious purity

BLACK  Chaos  Mystery  The unknown  Death  Primal wisdom  The unconscious  Evil  Melancholy  Chaos  Mystery  The unknown  Death  Primal wisdom  The unconscious  Evil  Melancholy

WHITEWHITE  Light  Purity  Innocence  Timelessness  Light  Purity  Innocence  Timelessness

Also death, terror, the supernatural

CIRCLE Wholeness and Unity

EGGEGG Fertility and the Mystery of Life

GARDEN  Paradise  Innocence  Unspoiled Beauty  Fertility  Paradise  Innocence  Unspoiled Beauty  Fertility

TREE  Growth  Generation & regeneration  Inexhaustible life  Immortality  Growth  Generation & regeneration  Inexhaustible life  Immortality

DESERT  Death  Hopelessness  Death  Hopelessness

And we cannot forget the character who runs the show in most mythology...

OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT DEITY

Sources:  Edith Hamilton  Carl Jung  Joseph Campbell  Toni McNaron  Edith Hamilton  Carl Jung  Joseph Campbell  Toni McNaron

How do you apply archetypal criticism to a text?

Does the story seem to have echoes of something larger than just the piece itself? Does the story seem to have echoes of something larger than just the piece itself? It may contain archetypes.

Look for subverted archetypes, places where the author created an archetypal setting, plot, symbol, or character only to turn it on its head.

Examine the text for plots, symbols, or characters that are archetypal and try to figure out WHY the author would use these universal elements. What effect does their use have on the story as a whole?