Classical Archetypes:Symbolism in literature

What is an archetype?

•An archetype is a symbol, story, pattern, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and evokes strong, often unconscious, associations for the reader.

•Archetypes occur in all cultures and time periods.

Where did archetypes come from?

•The idea of archetypes are thought to grow out of man’s subconscious (we are born with these traits, and they are universally understood).

•This theory was developed and researched by famous psychologist CARL JUNG.

Types of archetypes:

•1) situational•2) character•3) symbolic

Situational archetypes:

•These are archetypes that occur commonly in SITUATIONS within stories, myths, legends, etc. across all cultures.

Types of situational archetypes:•A. The Quest•A search for something or someone who

will restore fertility to desolation (or provide salvation of some sort)

•Ex: the search for the Holy Grail, Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone, Percy Jackson and the golden fleece

•B. The Task:•When the hero must perform superhuman

deeds as a part of the quest

•Ex: Arthur pulling the sword from the stone (King Arthur legend), Odysseus stringing the bow, Luke Skywalker must rescue Princess Leia

•C. The initiation•When the hero must come into adult

maturity by facing certain difficulties, training

•ex: the karate kid must overcome his rival and win the karate match, Harry Potter faces many obstacles, etc.

•D. The journey•This is when the hero goes on a search of

information about his past or is searching for a truth of some sort.

•Ex: Harry Potter’s search for information about his parents

•E. The fall•A descent from a higher to a lower state

of being, often involves the hero going through a moral or spiritual decline

•Ex: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader

•F. Death vs. Resurrection•The cycle of life/death or life/rebirth

shown in the literature

•Ex: summer to winter, morning to night, a character might change from evil to redeemed. A character’s spirit helps another

•G. Nature vs. technology•Nature is seen as “good” and more

morally pure, while technology/society are seen as “evil”

•Ex: Hatchet (survival in the wilderness, the plane crash almost caused his death), the Ewoks are able to defeat technology (Star Wars), The Terminator, The Matrix

•H. Battle between good vs. evil•The ultimate battle between right and

wrong which is demonstrated in most heroic conflicts

•Ex: Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, Harry Potter vs. Voldemort, any western movie

•I. The unhealable wound•When the hero suffers a physical or

emotional wound that can’t fully heal

•Ex: Harry Potter’s scar

•J. The ritual•An actual ceremony that the hero will go

through that shows a rite of passage to maturity

•Ex: becoming a knight, crowning a king, baptism, bar mitzvah, weddings

Character Archetypes:

•Character archetypes are common CHARACTERIZATIONS that are seen in various types of myths, legends, or literature across all cultures and time periods.

Types of character archetypes:

•A. The Hero•This is the main protagonist of the story.1. often taken away from his birth parents2. Circumstances of his birth are unusual3. Often an attempt is made to kill him at

birth or in childhood by a rival4. Not much is known of his childhoodEx: Jesus, Moses, Wart, Superman, Harry

Potter, Tarzan

•B. The young man from the provinces•This is the hero who is raised by relatives

or strangers and separated from his birth parents

•Ex: Tarzan, Superman, Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz

•C. The initiate•the young hero or heroine who must go

through rigorous training; they often wear white (symbol of innocence and purity)

•Ex: Daniel from the Karate Kid, Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker

•D. Mentors•Teachers to the hero

•Ex: Yoda, Merlin, Obi Wan

•E. Hunting group of companions

•The loyal friends of the hero who face perils with him

•Ex: Hermione and Ron, the Knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood and his Merry Men

•F. Loyal Retainers

•Servants who help the hero. Usually of lower social class or paid employees (unlike the hunting group of companions who are peers)

•Ex: R2D2 and C3Po

•G. The friendly beast•An animal who befriends the hero and

helps him

•Ex: Chewbacca

•H. The scapegoat

•A character who is blamed for some wrong when they are really innocent

•Ex: Mr. Keating, Snowball (Animal Farm)

•I. The outcast

•A figure who is banished from society and becomes a loner/wanderer

•Ex: Han Solo

•J. The devil figure

•An evil character who tries to destroy the hero

•Ex: Satan, Darth Vader, Voldemort

•K. The creature of nightmare

•A non-human monster who threatens the hero

•Ex: Dracula, Freddy Kreuger, Jabba the Hut

•L. Evil figure with an ultimately good heart

•A redeemed devil figure who is saved by the end of the story and converts to good

•Ex: Apollo Creed (Rocky films), Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), the Grinch

•M. Earth mother

•A female character who is symbolic of emotional nourishment, care giver, mother figure

•Ex: Mother Nature, Claire Huxtable, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Mammy in Gone with the Wind

•N. The Temptress

•A female character who uses her beauty to tempt and seduce the hero and tries to lead him to his downfall

•Ex: Delilah, The Sirens, Guinevere, Cleopatra

•O. The platonic ideal

•A female character who is a platonic friend to the hero and often in the hunting group of companions.

•Ex: Hermione, Princess Leia

•P. Damsel in Distress

•A female character who needs to be rescued by the hero

•Ex: Rapunzel, Princess Leia, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty

Symbolic Archetypes:

•These are archetypes that are universal SYMBOLS in literature which occur in many stories and in many cultures.

Types of symbolic archetypes:

•A. light-darkness

•Typically, light is seen to represent good, renewal , and insight.

•Dark is seen to represent evil, ignorance, or despair.

•B. Water-desert

•The water is seen as symbolic of life, growth, rebirth, or fertility.

•The desert imagery is symbolic of death, destruction , and decay

•C. Heaven vs. Hell

•Skies and mountains represent closeness to heavens or goodness.

•The bowels of the earth represent evil forces that inhabit the earth.

•D. Innate wisdom vs. educated stupidity

•Some characters exhibit wisdom instinctively when others are educated but not “street smart.” Hero often needs guidance of innate wisdom in his initiation.

•E. Haven vs. Wilderness

•Places of safety contrast sharply against the dangerous wilderness. The desert is often seen as dangerous

•Ex: Tatooine

•F. Supernatural intervention

•This is when the gods intervene on behalf of the hero and give him supernatural strength to defeat evil.

•Ex: The force (Star Wars), The Bible, The Odyssey and mythology

•G. The magical weapon

•This is the weapon that the hero uses to fight evil. It is usually given to him by his mentor.

•Ex: King Arthur’s sword Excalibur, Odysseus’ bow, Thor’s hammer, Luke’s light saber

•We will be looking for examples of these archetypes in the film Star Wars: A New Hope.

•Try to look for examples of archetypes when you read, watch television, or view film. There are

• A LOT.