Symbols and Archetypes In Literature

Archetypal Analysis Archetypal Analysis is a literary theory that is used to analyze works of literature.The basis for this analysis is that a text’smeaning is shaped by its images.Therefore, in archetypal analysis, we lookfor symbols to make meaning of a text.

COLORS BLACK Lack of color—primordial void—emptiness— sorrow—mourning—death—witchcraft--evil— unknown—the underworld WHITE Absence of color—presence of all the light— innocence—purification--heavenly

RED is an emotionally charged color. It is associated with the sun and all gods of war, anger, bloodlust, vengeance. It can also mean love, passion, and health. BLUE is the color most often associated with issues of the spirit and intellect. Blue may be truth and transparency, it is to loyalty, fidelity, constancy, and charity. GREEN is a dualistic color. It can represent envy, evil, and trickery and/or growth, renewal, hope, wealth, and life. PURPLE is used to represent royalty, imperial power, justice, and sometimes truth. YELLOW stands for light, intellect, faith, and/ or goodness. Yellow can also be cowardice, betrayal, and/or jealousy.

COMMON ARCHETYPAL FIGURES IN THE HERO JOURNEY:

HERO he represents the ego’s search for identity and wholeness. The hero must sacrifice for the betterment of society. The hero must transcend the boundaries of the ego and incorporate all aspects of society. MENTOR usually a positive figure who aids or trains a hero. The mentor may teach, give gifts, or act as the higher moral conscience of the hero. THRESHOLD represents obstacles that the hero must overcome as GUARDIANS they cross into new worlds. They are menacing, but can be bypassed or overcome by the worthy hero. HERALD A force that brings a challenge to the hero. A herald will issue a challenge and announce the coming of significant change, which can shift the hero’s balance and force him to make a life changing decision. SHAPE an elusive archetype, often of the opposite sex, who SHIFTERconstantly changes from the hero’s point of view. They may mislead the hero and their loyalty and sincerity is constantly in question.

SHADOW represents the energy of the dark side; the unexpressed, unrealized, or rejected aspects of something. Shadows are the things humans so not want to admit about themselves. The Shadow is often projected onto villains, antagonists, or enemi es. TRICKSTER embodies the energy of the mischief and the desire for change. Clowns and comic sidekicks often represent this archetype. GREAT MOTHER associated with birth, warmth, protection, fertility, growth, abundance; the unconscious TERRIBLE MOTHER the witch, the sorceress, siren---associated with fear, danger, death. Often presented as an inauthentic mother (like a step-mother or mother-in-law). CRONE An older wise-woman figure. Can embody universal/ancient wisdom or can take on some of the qualities of the Terrible Mother; can be presented as a hag/witch. SOUL MATE/ the princess or “beautiful” lady---incarnation of MAIDENinspiration and spiritual fulfillment.

Jungian Archetypes

AIR power of nature, inspiration, conception, soul, spirit FIRE warms, consumes, and illuminates, but can also bring pain and death. often the symbol of passion, love destructiveness, purification, and heat. It is the predominant symbol of HELL. WATER represents life. can also be associated with birth, rebirth, fertility, refreshment and redemption. Lakes and rivers are feminine symbols, representing the transitions of life, death, and resurrection. EARTH seen as feminine, the great mother nourishment,fertility, longevity. It can also be the ground, stability, a foundation for life. THE ELEMENTS

THE HEAVENLY BODIES SUN The sun is the absolute cosmic power; it is the universal FATHER, while the moon is the universal MOTHER; Is the center of being and intuition; it is knowledge and warmth, glory and splendor. It is creative energy, law in nature, consciousness. The rising sun is birth, creation and enlightenment. The setting sun is death. MOON The moon is a feminine symbol, universally representing the rhythm of time as it embodies the cycle. The phases of the moon symbolize immortality and eternity; mystery imagination, female, and mother. It represents change and sometimes instability/inconstancy DAWN suggests the notions of illumination and hope, the beginning of a new day and a chance for happiness and improvement. It is the symbol of birth, rebirth, of awakening.

NIGHT typically associated with obscurity and mystery. It is the symbol of ignorance, the unconscious, sleep, dreams, and death. Darkness is largely associated with death and destruction, captivity and spiritual darkness. SKY freedom FOG uncertainty

ANIMALS BIRDS have positive connotations. They represent the human desire to escape gravity, to reach the level of the angel. The bird is often the disembodied human soul, free from its physical constrictions. A wild bird represents freedom, while a caged bird is associated with unjust imprisonment or violation of nature. WOLF The wolf figures as the symbol of the enemy, of the menacing animal. It is evil, the devouring, fierce creature which haunts and stalks. Wolves are crafty, and signify untamed energies. LION, TIGER courage; royalty; predatoriness; in general, cats represent fears and those things humans do not want to see and cannot see; the cat has come to be associated with magic and mystery.

Animals (cont’d) HORSE masculinity FISH divine creation and life; Christ symbol REPTILES deceit, horror, the devil RAT, MOUSE secretiveness