1. Archetypes: The Building Blocks of Literature
English II

2. Essential Questions:
What is an archetype, and why do writers use them in their works?
What are the various kinds of archetypes, and how do they contribute to the meaning of a text?
How do archetypes affect a text and the reader/observer?

3. What Does Archetype Mean?
Archetype is from the Greek word archetypon. arche  “beginning; original” typon  “model; pattern; mold” In literature, an archetype is a character, symbol, setting, plot element, or conflict that is repeated throughout various works from various cultures.

4. From Where Does This Idea of Archetypes Come?
Carl Jung
Observed that many cultures across the world and in many time periods have similar symbols, characters, conflicts, etc. in their literature and myths.
The collective unconscious: humanity keeps a memory of its shared experiences throughout time, which appears in archetypes.

5. Archetypes: Essential Understandings
In literature, an archetype is a character, symbol, setting, situation, or conflict that is repeated throughout various works.
Archetypes are building blocks for stories.
Archetypes exist for many reasons:
To explain natural phenomenon and religious experiences
To answer questions about the meaning of life and what it means to be human
To entertain
To teach cultural roles, morality, and wise living

6. Archetype Main Groups
Plot
Character
Symbolic
Setting

7. Plot Archetypes

8. The Journey
A hero must leave his kingdom to search for truth or acquire an object that will save the kingdom.
The journey includes the numerous characters encountered, experiences had, and life lessons learned.

9. The Quest
What the hero must accomplish to restore order to his kingdom.
The quest often includes attaining an important object.

10. The Task
The nearly superhuman feat the hero must perform to complete the quest.

11. Battle Between Good and Evil
Despite all obstacles, good triumphs over evil.

12. Death and Rebirth Reflects the natural cycle of life and death.
Sometimes, characters experience a physical— literal—death, or they can experience a more symbolic decay.
Sometimes, characters experience a physical— literal—rebirth or resurrection, or they can experience a more symbolic return to life.

13. The Unhealable Wound
Either a physical or psychological wound that cannot be fully healed. This wound often symbolizes a loss of innocence.

14. Character Archetypes

15. The Hero The protagonist of the story
Circumstances of his birth are sometimes unusual; often raised by a guardian, not his biological parents
Leaves his kingdom to return only when he matures
Often characterized by courage, strength, and honor; the hero will sacrifice himself for the good of all
He leaves what is familiar for a new, challenging world

16. Mentor (Wise Old Man) Wise teacher of the hero Often a father figure
Serves as a role model or the hero’s conscience
Sometimes gives the hero gifts: weapons, food, magic, information.

17. Hunting Group of Companions
Loyal companions of the hero who are willing to face conflicts and stay together

18. The Devil Figure Person who represents evil incarnate
Sometimes offers worldly goods, fortune, or knowledge in exchange for control of the hero and/or other good characters

19. The Outcast
A character banished from a social group for a real or imagined crime
Destined to wander from place to place

20. Damsel in Distress Vulnerable woman whom the hero must rescue
She is sometimes used as a trap to capture the hero

21. Other Important Character Archetypes
Star-crossed lovers – two characters engaged in a love affair fated to end tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of society, friends, family, etc.
Father-son conflict – tension occurs between a son and his father, often due to psychological and/or emotional tension
Christ figure – a person sacrifices his own life for the good of others or sacrifices himself so that others do not die

22. Symbolic Archetypes

23. Light versus Darkness Light
suggests hope, renewal, or knowledge, or goodness
Darkness
implies the unknown, ignorance, despair, or evil

24. Heaven versus Hell Heaven
Realm of gods, forces of good, and life; often associated with the sky or mountain tops
Hell
Realm of evil and/or death; often associated with the bowels of the earth

25. Life, growth, birth (or re- birth), spiritual birth, cleansing, purity
Water
Life, growth, birth (or re- birth), spiritual birth, cleansing, purity

26. Fire Positive light, knowledge, life, purity, rebirth Negative
destruction, suffering, death

27. Circle
the life cycle, completion, order, power, strength, unity, security

28. Colors Black – darkness, chaos, mystery, death, evil, wisdom
White – light, order, knowledge, life, goodness, purity
Red – blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder, evil, warning
Green – growth, hope, life, vegetation
Blue – peace, order, security

29. Numbers 1 – unity; wholeness; power
3 – sacredness; Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); mind, body, spirit; birth, life, death
4 – circle (life cycle); seasons; earth, nature, natural elements (earth, fire, air, water)
6 – humanity; evil; devil
7 – completion; perfection; order

30. Setting Archetypes

31. Underworld
place under the earth where the hero encounters fear and where his courage is tested; may contain a maze or labyrinth, which can symbolize the hero’s difficult decisions; often associated with death

32. Forest
normal rules do not seem to apply; people and things run wild; associated with the unknown

33. Tower
strong place often where evil resides; sometimes where a person is locked away, which represents isolation and the need for rescue

34. River
the journey of life; change; metaphor for the passage of time; stages of human life; decision that cannot be taken back

35. obstacle; goal of a spiritual or emotional journey; mystery; power
Mountain
obstacle; goal of a spiritual or emotional journey; mystery; power