1. Please pick up a handout on the small table!
Tuesday, April 2nd
Notes on the 7 Archetypes
Please pick up a handout on the small table!

2. Archetype: Hero From the Greek root = “to protect and serve”
Qualities/Characteristics:
Selfless; self-sacrifice
This is the character with which the audience should easily identified with; everyman
Multiple different types. Look at the following slides.

3. Types of Heroes
Willing: Heroes who decide to help others. Ex: King Arthur, Hercules
Unwilling: These heroes are typically portrayed as ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances which require them to rise to the occasion or people with extraordinary abilities who desire to avoid using those abilities to help others. Ex: Shrek
Cynical Anti-Hero: A protagonist who is lacking the traditional heroic attributes and qualities; Instead this character possesses traits that are anti-ethical. Ex: Gollum, Gatsby, Captain Jack Sparrow, Danny Archer (Blood Diamond)
Tragic Anti-Hero: A character who makes an error in judgment that inevitably leads to his or her own downfall. Ex: Hamlet
Group Oriented: Fights for a group of people. Ex: William Wallace in Braveheart
Lone Hero: Indiana Jones
Catalyst Hero: He or she is the hero of their own stories. Ex: Superman

4. Types of Heroes
Mythological: These heroes are different from other people. They are superior in ability and intelligence, can control the environment, and are divine or semi-divine. Often believed in by children. Ex: Superman or Thor
Romantic: These heroes are Human – but like a superhuman, is special and can control environment. They get help from enchanted weapons, talking animals, witches. These heroes require a stretch of the imagination – natural laws slightly suspended. Sometimes gets help from the supernatural world. Ex: King Arthur, Neo (from The Matrix)
Realistic: One of us, definitely human. This hero momentarily transcends the environment.
He/She is made special – brave, courageous, determined – for a short time. This fits some athletes and rescuers. Ex: Michael Jordan, police and firefighters

5. Qualities/Characteristics:
Mentor
Qualities/Characteristics:
Loyal friend, wise adviser, teacher, guardian
Connected to all things; Usually personified as an old man or woman
Acts as the hero’s conscience
May be what the hero could become if he/she makes the right decisions.
Has 2 responsibilities: teaching and gift giving
Types/Examples:
Dark mentor: anti-heroic character, the opposite of heroic values
Fallen mentor: has trouble w/ own heroic journey
Continuing mentor: recurring characters in a series of stories
Multiple mentors: each teaches a new skill to the hero
Comic mentor: advising sidekick
Shaman: aids the Hero in seeking a guiding vision to help on the journey.

6. Qualities/Characteristics:
Herald/Harbinger
Qualities/Characteristics:
Issues challenges or announces the coming of change.
Can be a chance or planned meeting with the hero.
Often represented by an animal
Compels the Hero to answer the Call to Adventure*
Can be Hero’s inner knowledge that change is needed or a feeling of restlessness
Types/Examples:
Negative: a Shadow or Threshold Guardian (issuing a challenge or trying to trick the Hero)
Positive: the mentor in disguise
Neutral: an Ally or Threshold Guardian (Hero has found his/her own way to the 1st Threshold)

7. Qualities/Characteristics:
Threshold Guardian
Qualities/Characteristics:
Presents a menacing face to the Hero, but can be overcome or turn into an ally
Not the villain, but a lesser thug or henchman hired to guard the chief’s headquarters
Placed to test the Hero’s willingness and skill.
Types/Examples:
Not always characters
May represent obstacles (bad weather, bad luck, prejudice, oppression)
Can be the Hero’s internal demons: emotional scars, vices, dependencies, self-limitations (Tragic Flaw)
Fully evolved Hero can learn to feel compassion for his enemies rather than just destroy them.

8. Qualities/Characteristics:
Shapeshifter
Qualities/Characteristics:
Can be confused w/ Trickster
Main job = lure the Hero to his/her doom or reward.
In some stories the hero has to figure out which side he or she is dealing with
Often begins life as a Threshold Guardian.
Types/Examples:
Changes form and is dangerous, sometimes in a sexual way (femme or homme fatales)
Often the Hero’s love interest whom the Hero doesn’t understand
Sincerity and loyalty is called into question
Characters out for blood who may try to murder the Hero
Ally or enemy label revealed at the end of story

9. Qualities/Characteristics:
Trickster/Fool
Qualities/Characteristics:
Differs from Shapeshifter in that it is the comic aspect of story
Often begins life as a Threshold Guardian.
Types/Examples:
Personification of world’s chaos w/ no purpose
May or may not work with the Hero or Shadow
May have own skewed agenda

10. Qualities/Characteristics:
Shadow
Qualities/Characteristics:
Represents the energy of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized, or rejected aspects of something
In direct conflict with the Hero whose goal it is to destroy
Types/Examples:
External shadows (Villains) must be destroyed
Internal shadows must be acknowledged
Mirror and personify the traits the Hero refuses to acknowledge are within himself/herself
A Mentor may act as a Shadow to teach the Hero a lesson
Any character can be a shadow, but only the character whose motivations are in direct conflict with the Hero’s is the Villain

11. Let’s use some movie examples: Hamlet, Aladdin, Bolt, and Gatsby

12. Let’s use a movie example: Hamlet
Hero:

13. Hamlet Hero: Hamlet Mentor: Horatio
Herald: Hamlet Senior’s Ghost appearing to the guards
Threshold Guardian:
Hamlet’s indecision and sorrow.
The “ Murder of Gonzago” play.
Rozencrantz and Guildenstern.
Ophelia.
Laertes.
Gertrude.
Fortinbras.
Shape shifter: Ophelia
Trickster: Polonius
Shadow: Claudius

14. Aladdin Hero: Aladdin Mentor: Genie
Herald: Aladdin is recruited to enter the Cave of Wonders by Jafar
Threshold Guardian:
Aladdin is poor, a “street rat”
Shape shifter: Jasmine, Genie
Trickster: Abu and Iago
Shadow: Jafar

15. Bolt Hero: Bolt Mentor: Mittens (the cat) Herald: Penny’s “kidnapping”
Threshold Guardian:
Distance, Animal Control, Bolt’s lack of superpowers
Shape shifter: Mittens
Trickster: Rhino (t.v. obsessed hamster)
Shadow: Separation from Penny

16. The Great Gatsby Hero: Mentor: Herald: Threshold Guardian:
Shape shifter:
Trickster:
Shadow:

17. NEXT…
Start filling out your Hero’s Journey Project Packet. Look at the definitions you have for each archetype. What characters from your book fit each archetype? Quiz tomorrow on the archetypes.