Archetypes

Think about...• Think about stories that feature a “good guy” or hero.

• What are some characteristics that a typical “good guy” usually has?

• Think about stories that feature a “bad guy” or villain.• What are some characteristics that a typical “bad guy”

usually has?

• We refer to these characteristics as archetypes

What is an Archetype?• The word “archetype” derives from a Latin word which

translates to pattern, model or type

• Archetype is an original model which other things are similarly patterned after• Archetypes are the basic building blocks for creating a

story and characters• An archetype can be an image, story pattern,

character type, setting, theme or idea

The Common Archetypal Characters

• Hero• Villain• Fair Maiden• Mentor• Sidekick

The Archetypal Hero:• Can either be male or female (in western literature, the hero is

usually male)• Usually superior than common people in three ways:1. Morally – the hero holds higher morals than the opponent

2. Mentally – her hero is smarter or more clever than the opponent

3. Physically – the hero is stronger than the opponent

• The Willing Hero: Willing to undertake any quest courageously, puts his needs aside to help others

• Ex: Captain America, Superman, King Arthur

• The Unwilling Hero: Doubtful, passive, unwilling to begin the journey

• Ex: Achilles, Shrek, Neo (The Matrix)

• The Loner Hero: Able to overcome opposition alone

• Ex: James Bond, Indiana Jones, Batman

• The Tragic Hero: Have a tragic flaw which hurt them in the end

• Ex: Romeo, Darth Vader, Mufasa (Lion King)

ANTI-HERO• Lacks traditional heroic qualities (courage, moral standards, positive physical appearance)

• Generally oppressive, pessimistic, and/or corrupt.

• Motivated by own personal desires

• Reluctant to help others

• Contains both good and bad qualities; usually experiences suffering and sorrow

•Ex: Ethan Frome

The Archetypal Villain:• Foil to the hero

• Usually embodies the evil within the story

• Is the person the hero must defeat to conquer evil

• Thwarts positive action of the hero

• Usually dark or clothed in dark clothes

The Archetypal Fair Maiden:• The romantic focus of the hero and/or the villain

• The victim who must be saved from evil

• Pure and innocent of the world’s evil ways

The Archetypal Mentor:• Is the one who prepares the hero for the journey and the

ultimate battle

• Is the person who provides moral strength as well as lessons the hero uses during the quest and ultimate battle

• May give the hero a weapon or tool to conquer the enemy

• May give up his life or make sacrifice to save another or save the cause

The Archetypal Sidekick:• Reinforces the heroic personality

of the hero

• Often adds humor to the story

• Supports or is the best friend of the hero or villain

OTHER ARCHETYPES• The CHIEF - a dynamic leader, he has time for nothing but work

• The BAD BOY - dangerous to know, he walks on the wild side

• The BEST FRIEND - sweet and safe, he never lets anyone down

• The LOST SOUL - a tormented being, he lives in solitude

• The CHARMER - a smooth talker, he creates fantasies

• The PROFESSOR - coldly analytical, he knows every answer

• The WARRIOR - a noble champion, he acts with honor

Archetypal EventsThe Quest: the hero undertakes a long journey, and he must perform

impossible tasks (such as battles with monsters, solving unanswerable riddles, and overcoming insurmountable obstacles).

The Initiation: the hero undergoes a series of excruciating ordeals that allow him to grow from ignorance and immaturity to social and spiritual adulthood. The hero becomes an “initiated” member of his social group. The initiation most commonly consists of three distinct phases: (1) separation, (2) transformation, and (3) return.

Sacrificial Scapegoat: the hero must die to atone for the people’s sins and restore the land or kingdom.

Other archetypal events include the hero’s descent into the underworld and possible ascent into heaven.

Archetypal ImageryWater: could represent the mystery of creation, the birth-

death-resurrection cycle, purification and redemption, and/or fertility and growth. Water is often used to represent the unconscious.

a) The Sea: the mother of all life; spiritual mystery and infinity; death and rebirth; timelessness and eternity; the unconscious.

b) Rivers: death and rebirth (baptism); the flowing of time into eternity; transitional phases of the life cycle (think about the River Styx).

Sun: could represent creative energy, law in nature, consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision), and/or the passage of time and life. Also, consider the close relationship between fire and sky.

a) Rising sun: represents birth, creation, enlightenment

b) Setting sun: death

Archetypal Imagery

• Archetypal colors get their meanings or symbolism through their existence in the natural environment.• The colors may have positive or negative connotations.

ARCHETYPAL COLORS

ARCHETYPAL COLORS

• BlackBlack: Death/mourning, emotional darkness, hidden desires/instincts, un-enlightenment, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil, melancholy.

• Blue: The color of the spirit, the spiritual, the heavenly, the divine, intuition, inspiration.

• Green: Mother Nature, fertility, hope, renewal, health, youth, harmony, prosperity.

• Orange: Balance, creative expression, pride and ambition, cruelty, ferocity, luxury. As the color of fire, can represent burning away impurities.

ARCHETYPAL COLORS

• Purple: The color of royalty, imperial power, pride, justice, intuition, wisdom, truth.

• Red: Blood, life, life-force; embarrassment, anger; fire, lust, passion, courage, will power, and war.

• White: Purity, holiness, sacredness, redemption, mystical enlightenment, innocence, joy, light, perfection.

• Yellow: The sun, illumination, intellect, maturity, enlightenment, wisdom.

Archetypal Symbols: Something concrete or real that represents something greater, usually an

abstract idea Example: The Circle

• reminds of the huddle around the communal fire of early man

• inherent are bonds of family, unity, togetherness created by arms around each other stance in an embrace or hug

• eternity built into the symbol because it has no beginning or end

• Consider a wedding ring which features a circular shape which symbolizes unity and eternity

Other Symbol Examples:

Archetypal Settings: Setting includes time, place, and atmosphere Pay attention to the time of day a story takes place. Settings are carefully chosen by the author to emphasize mood within the

story Literary Examples:

DAY = Good things, rational things NIGHT = Bad things; lack of understanding; presence of evil AUTUMN = things may turn negative soon SPRING = birth; new beginning; life

Garden: could represent paradise, innocence, unspoiled beauty and/or fertility.

Tree: stands for inexhaustible life and is equivalent to immortality. Think about the life/growth cycle of a tree – the growth, proliferation, generative and regenerative processes.

Desert: think about the dry and arid landscape of a desert. This could symbolize spiritual acridity, death, complete rejection of religion and morals, and/or hopelessness

Archetypal Settings…continued

Archetypal Themes:

Theme is the main idea or an underlying message of a literary work which may be stated directly or indirectly.

Archetypal Themes are themes that are used frequently in stories Major Archetypal Themes:

Love conquers all Good will triumph over evil Hate, if victorious, will destroy all Power of love should be stronger than the power of hate.