1. Mythological and Archetypal Criticism
An Approach to The Great Gatsby

2. Objective and Definition
Objective: To show, using a visual, that you understand archetypes and how they exist in literature.
Definition: An archetype is an character, image, or situation which all others are based on. For example, the archetypal situation of “The Fall” began with Adam and Eve, but there have been many other stories that describe how a character, metaphorically, “falls” – morally or from a high place.

3. Archetypal Characters
A Hero
Their quest results in their own destruction.
A Scapegoat
An innocent character who is blamed and punished.
A Loner or Outcast
One who is separated (themselves) because of physical impairment or an emotional or physiological realization makes them different.

4. Archetypal Characters (cont’d)
The Temptress
The female that a male character desires and it is the cause of his destruction.
The Earth Mother or Goddess
The nurturing and motherly figure.
The Spirit or Intellect
An unidentified feminine inspiration.

5. Archetypal Images Colors: Yin Yang: Red: anger, passion, violence
Gold: greatness, value, wealth
Green: fertility, luxury, growth, jealousy, envy
Sky blue: God-like, holiness, peace, serenity
White: purity
Yin Yang:
One completes or compliments the other because they possess traits the other does not.

6. Archetypal Images (cont’d)
Numbers
Three: Christian trinity
Four: seasons and ancient elements (earth, water, fire, air)
Twelve: months of the year
Water
Source of life; cleansing; baptism
Gardens
Paradise, beauty, hope, rebirth
Geometric Shapes
Triangle: Christian trinity
Circle: Perfection, eternity, completion, unity

7. Archetypal Situations
The Quest:
A hero’s endeavor to establish his identity or fulfill his destiny.
Renewal of Life:
Death and rebirth.
Initiation:
Coming of age and rites of passage
The Fall:
An event that marks the loss of innocence
Fall from grace
Redemptive Sacrifice:
A voluntary loss (of life). The result is often another’s gain.

8. Assignment
In groups of (no more than) three, you will create a movie poster for one of the following children’s stories:
Cinderella
Little Red Riding Hood
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
La Llorona
Hansel and Gretel
Sleeping Beauty
The Three Little Pigs
Goldie Locks and the Three Bears
Rapunzel
Jack and Jill
Jack and the Beanstalk

9. Assignment
Once you have chosen your story, you will choose an archetypal two characters, two images, and one situation to represent on your movie poster.
Once completed, you will present your movie poster to the class. You will be scored using a rubric. Everyone must participate in the presenting of the poster. Here’s what you need to tell the class:
Which story you chose.
Which archetypes you chose.
Why you chose those archetypes.
Explain how those archetypes apply to the story your chose AND how they are represented in the poster.