Archetypes in Literature English I S. Serrano English I S. Serrano

The Quest  Describes the search for someone or something which, when found and brought back, will restore fertility to a wasted land

The Task  Nearly superhuman deed the hero must perform in order to save the kingdom, win the fair lady, identify himself so that he may reassume his rightful position, etc.  NOT the same as the Quest  A function of the ultimate goal  Nearly superhuman deed the hero must perform in order to save the kingdom, win the fair lady, identify himself so that he may reassume his rightful position, etc.  NOT the same as the Quest  A function of the ultimate goal

The Journey  The hero must go in search for some truth or information necessary to restore fertility to the kingdom  Usually, the hero descends into a real or psychological hell and is forced to discover the blackest truths, often concerning his faults  The hero must go in search for some truth or information necessary to restore fertility to the kingdom  Usually, the hero descends into a real or psychological hell and is forced to discover the blackest truths, often concerning his faults

The Journey  Once the hero is at this lowest point, he must accept personal responsibility to return to his normal world  A second use of this pattern is the depiction of a limited number of travelers on a sea voyage, bus ride, or any other trip for the purpose of isolating them and using them as a microcosm of society  Once the hero is at this lowest point, he must accept personal responsibility to return to his normal world  A second use of this pattern is the depiction of a limited number of travelers on a sea voyage, bus ride, or any other trip for the purpose of isolating them and using them as a microcosm of society

The Initiation  This ritual usually takes the form of a rite of passage into adult life, or a coming of age  The hero comes into his/her maturity with new awareness, along with new hope for the community  Often the climax of the story  This ritual usually takes the form of a rite of passage into adult life, or a coming of age  The hero comes into his/her maturity with new awareness, along with new hope for the community  Often the climax of the story

The Fall  Describes a descent (drop) from a higher state of being to a lower state of being  Involves a defilement or loss of innocence and bliss  Often accompanied by expulsion from a kind of paradise as a penalty for disobedience and moral transgression  Describes a descent (drop) from a higher state of being to a lower state of being  Involves a defilement or loss of innocence and bliss  Often accompanied by expulsion from a kind of paradise as a penalty for disobedience and moral transgression

Death and Rebirth  The most common of all situational archetypes, this motif grows out of the parallel between the cycle of nature and the cycle of life  Morning and springtime represent birth, youth or rebirth, while evening and winter suggest old age or death  The most common of all situational archetypes, this motif grows out of the parallel between the cycle of nature and the cycle of life  Morning and springtime represent birth, youth or rebirth, while evening and winter suggest old age or death

Nature vs. Mechanistic World  Nature is good  Technology and society are often evil  Nature is good  Technology and society are often evil

Good vs. Evil  The battle between two primal forces  Mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds  The battle between two primal forces  Mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds

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

Water vs. Desert  Necessary to life and growth, water commonly appears as a birth or rebirth symbol  Water is used in baptismal services, which solemnizes spiritual birth  Similarly, the appearance of rain can suggest a character’s spiritual birth  Necessary to life and growth, water commonly appears as a birth or rebirth symbol  Water is used in baptismal services, which solemnizes spiritual birth  Similarly, the appearance of rain can suggest a character’s spiritual birth

Water vs. Desert  Desert, in turn, implies the death of a soul and spirituality, or a spiritual test or trial

Heaven vs. Hell  Man has traditionally associated parts of the universe beyond his reach with the dwelling places of the primordial forces that govern his world  The skies and mountaintops house his gods; the bowels of the earth contain the diabolic forces that inhabit the universe  Man has traditionally associated parts of the universe beyond his reach with the dwelling places of the primordial forces that govern his world  The skies and mountaintops house his gods; the bowels of the earth contain the diabolic forces that inhabit the universe

Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity  Some characters exhibit wisdom and understanding of situations instinctively, as opposed to those who are supposedly in charge.  Loyal retainers often exhibit this wisdom when they accompany the hero on the journey.  Sam in Lord of the Rings  Some characters exhibit wisdom and understanding of situations instinctively, as opposed to those who are supposedly in charge.  Loyal retainers often exhibit this wisdom when they accompany the hero on the journey.  Sam in Lord of the Rings

Haven vs. Wilderness  Places of safety contrast sharply with the dangerous wilderness  Heroes are often sheltered for a time to regain health and resources  Wilderness is often a symbol of evil in early American literature; town is a place of goodness and safety  Places of safety contrast sharply with the dangerous wilderness  Heroes are often sheltered for a time to regain health and resources  Wilderness is often a symbol of evil in early American literature; town is a place of goodness and safety

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES The Hero  Circumstances of birth often unusual  Attempt sometimes made to kill him at birth  Spirited away and reared by foster parents  Upon reaching manhood, returns to lost kingdom  Circumstances of birth often unusual  Attempt sometimes made to kill him at birth  Spirited away and reared by foster parents  Upon reaching manhood, returns to lost kingdom

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES The Hero  After a victory over a usurper or evil beast, he reclaims his kingdom, marries a princess, and rules as king  Sometimes later loses favor of the gods and meets a mysterious death  After a victory over a usurper or evil beast, he reclaims his kingdom, marries a princess, and rules as king  Sometimes later loses favor of the gods and meets a mysterious death

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES The Hero -- unhealable wound --  Either physical or psychological and cannot be healed fully  Indicates a loss of innocence  Wound always aches and often drives the hero to desperate measures  Lancelot’s madness; Scar’s envy; Harry Potter’s scar  Either physical or psychological and cannot be healed fully  Indicates a loss of innocence  Wound always aches and often drives the hero to desperate measures  Lancelot’s madness; Scar’s envy; Harry Potter’s scar

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES The Hero -- magic weapon --  No one else can wield the weapon or use it to its full potential  Demonstrates the extraordinary quality of the hero  Excalibur; Odysseus’ bow  No one else can wield the weapon or use it to its full potential  Demonstrates the extraordinary quality of the hero  Excalibur; Odysseus’ bow

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Mentor  Serves as teacher or counselor to the young hero  Sometimes is a role model and often serves as mother or father figure  Serves as teacher or counselor to the young hero  Sometimes is a role model and often serves as mother or father figure

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Hunting Group of Companions  Loyal companions willing to face any number of perils in order to be together  Robin Hood and his Merry Men  Knights of the Round Table  Timon and Pumba  Loyal companions willing to face any number of perils in order to be together  Robin Hood and his Merry Men  Knights of the Round Table  Timon and Pumba

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Loyal Retainer  Somewhat like servants who are heroic themselves  Duty is to protect the hero and reflect his/her nobility  Zazu to Simba  Alfred to Batman  Watson to Sherlock Holmes  Somewhat like servants who are heroic themselves  Duty is to protect the hero and reflect his/her nobility  Zazu to Simba  Alfred to Batman  Watson to Sherlock Holmes

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Devil Figure  Evil incarnate, this character offers worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the hero in exchange for possession of his/her soul.  Voldemort to Harry Potter  Evil incarnate, this character offers worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the hero in exchange for possession of his/her soul.  Voldemort to Harry Potter

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Evil Figure with Ultimate Good Heart  A redeemable devil figure saved by the nobility or love of the hero  Scrooge  Darth Vader  A redeemable devil figure saved by the nobility or love of the hero  Scrooge  Darth Vader

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Scapegoat  An animal or human whose death in a public ceremony expiates some taint or sin that has been visited upon the community  Their death often makes them a more powerful force in the community than when they lived  An animal or human whose death in a public ceremony expiates some taint or sin that has been visited upon the community  Their death often makes them a more powerful force in the community than when they lived

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Woman Figure -- earth mother --  Symbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility, this character traditionally offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those with whom she comes in contact  Often depicted in earth colors  Symbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility, this character traditionally offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those with whom she comes in contact  Often depicted in earth colors

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Woman Figure -- temptress --  Characterized by her beauty, she is one to whom the hero is physically attracted  Ultimately brings hero’s downfall  Characterized by her beauty, she is one to whom the hero is physically attracted  Ultimately brings hero’s downfall

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Woman Figure -- platonic ideal --  A source of inspiration and spiritual ideal  Hero’s attraction to her is intellectual rather than physical  A source of inspiration and spiritual ideal  Hero’s attraction to her is intellectual rather than physical

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Woman Figure -- damsel in distress --  Vulnerable woman who must be rescued by the hero  Often used as a trap to ensnare the unsuspecting hero  Vulnerable woman who must be rescued by the hero  Often used as a trap to ensnare the unsuspecting hero

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Woman Figure -- star-crossed lovers --  These two characters are engaged in a love affair that is doomed to end tragically for one or both of them  Disapproved of by society, family, friends, or some tragic situation  These two characters are engaged in a love affair that is doomed to end tragically for one or both of them  Disapproved of by society, family, friends, or some tragic situation

ARCHITYPAL NUMBERS 3  Trinity  Completeness  Trinity  Completeness

ARCHITYPAL NUMBERS 6  Imperfection  Ambivalence  Evil  Imperfection  Ambivalence  Evil

ARCHITYPAL NUMBERS 7  Perfection  7 colors of rainbow  7 days of the week  Perfection  7 colors of rainbow  7 days of the week

ARCHITYPAL COLORS Red  Passion  Excitement  Blood  Flame  Danger  Passion  Excitement  Blood  Flame  Danger

ARCHITYPAL COLORS Black  Darkness  Evil  Sin  Mystery  Ignorance  Darkness  Evil  Sin  Mystery  Ignorance

ARCHITYPAL COLORS White  Purity  Enlightenment  Knowledge  Truth  Light  Purity  Enlightenment  Knowledge  Truth  Light

ARCHITYPAL COLORS Blue  Peace  Religion  Positive  Peace  Religion  Positive

ARCHITYPAL COLORS Green  Jealousy  New life  Jealousy  New life

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES Bridge  Passage from one state of being to another  Often present as part of the journey  Passage from one state of being to another  Often present as part of the journey

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES River  Journey  Travel  Movement and growth  Fertility  Journey  Travel  Movement and growth  Fertility

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES Rain  Cleansing  Renewal  Rebirth  Baptism/new beginning  Cleansing  Renewal  Rebirth  Baptism/new beginning

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES Forest  Dangerous  Refuge of evil (puritanical view)  Wild, uncivilized, out of control  Dangerous  Refuge of evil (puritanical view)  Wild, uncivilized, out of control

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES Sun  Male  Light  Hope  Rising sun = birth  Setting sun = death  Male  Light  Hope  Rising sun = birth  Setting sun = death

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES Moon  Female  Cycle  Change  Mystery  Female  Cycle  Change  Mystery

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES Desert  Barren  Lifeless  Testing/Trial  Self-purification  Barren  Lifeless  Testing/Trial  Self-purification

ARCHITYPAL IMAGES Tree  Life  Renewal  Seasonal  Self-perpetuating  Life  Renewal  Seasonal  Self-perpetuating