ARCHETYPAL THEORY

In Your Groups: Brainstorm as many typical elements of a hero and the hero’s quest To consider: Where did your prior knowledge come from?

Now What? List 2-3 ancient stories and as many modern stories (literature, movies, song lyrics, etc.) that follow this pattern and contain many of these elements

Purpose  What is the purpose of a myth? Think back to ancient people and civilizations: why were myths written?  What if I told you there were no new stories? Would you agree or disagree to that statement? Why?

Metaphorical Expression How are society’s myths like a tapestry?

Carl Jung  Carl Jung ( )  Swiss psychiatrist who was a colleague of Sigmund Freud  Approach to psychology focused on exploring:  Dreams  Art  Mythology  World Religion  Philosophy

Connection to Psychoanalytical Theory Conscious Mind Unconscious Mind Collective Unconscious

Jung believed:  This is similar to animal’s instinctual knowledge and behavior  Behind each person’s unconscious lies a “collective unconscious” (shared memories of human experience and ancestry)  It is the “memory” of our ancient ancestors  Experiences:  Déjà vu  Love at first sight  Near death-experiences  Recognition of symbols

Archetype  An “archetype” is:  “arche”= from Greek philosophy- the principle, cause, source, or origin of things; beginning or ultimate principle  “type” = kind  “arche” + “type” = “orginal kind”  An original model from which other similar people, objects or concepts are created, copied, or patterned

Archetypal Criticism  In literature, myth, religion and folklore, an “archetype” is a frequently occurring:  image  descriptive detail  plot pattern  character type

Jung’s Archetype  Symbols, themes and stories that help us make sense of our lives  Explains both nature and internal truth  Collective Unconscious is the source of creativity and health  Example: story of ArachneArachne

Teaches us:  the origin or genesis of the spider and its web making  to be mindful of the dangerous metaphorical web we weave if we are prideful or completely honest about our abilities

Reflect How do archetypes change over the years or can they?

Primitive Story Formulas:  TRUTH : Even the most innovative and contemporary literature is displaced mythology and reverts back to the same patterns and conventions as old myths, legends, songs, rituals, and folktales.  Authors both consciously and unconsciously use mythology in their work

Seven plot structures  1. Overcoming the Monster  2. Rags to Riches  3. The Quest  4. Voyage and Return  5. Rebirth  6. Comedy  7. Tragedy

Classic archetypes  Hero (ED-TED) Hero  Hero (notes) Hero  Dark Hero Dark Hero  Villain Villain  Mentor Mentor  Sidekick Sidekick

Archetypal Critics Ask:  What archetypal elements can you find in this literary work?  Do you see any recurring imagery or any mythic plots, characters, themes, or symbols?  How do these archetypal elements contribute to the work as a whole?  How do the common images and patterns in literature reflect the human experience?

Application to the Lion king