UNPACKING the TEKS | S E.2(B), R FIG. 19(B) · Tragic flaws may be negative traits such as selfishness, pride, or greed, or they may ... Read sentence (a) in paragraph 3. Circle the

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LESSON 7 Analyze Archetypes in Mythic, Traditional, and Classical Literature

CHAPTER 2

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UNPACKING the TEKS | S E.2(B), R FIG. 19(B)

The oldest genre of literature is called traditional literature and includes fairy

tales, folk tales, fables, myths, and legends. These stories were passed down from

generation to generation as part of an oral tradition before they were written down.

Traditional literature deals with universal themes such as good versus evil or weak

versus strong. Some examples of traditional literature are the fairy tales collected by

the Brothers Grimm. They include such stories as “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,”

and “Rapunzel.”

Mythic literature is a type of traditional literature that involves gods, goddesses,

and heroes or creatures that never actually existed. Myths take place in some long-

ago time and often involve magic. They explain the natural world, such as how the

world began, or the practices and beliefs of a society, such as what happens when a person dies. Greek and Roman

mythology are examples of mythic literature.

Classic literature refers to literature of excellent quality that was written during a particular time period. In ancient

Greece, the classical period was from 500–320 B.C. In Rome, it was between 70 B.C. and 18 A.D. French classical

literature was written during the latter half of the 1600s. English classical literature was written from the 1650s

through 1700.

Archetypes occur repeatedly in literature. An archetype is a typical example of a character type such as an

innocent, a hero, a caregiver, an explorer, a rebel, a jester, or a sage. Archetypes share certain values and

personality traits. For instance, innocents are optimistic and want to be happy. Heroes want to prove their worth.

Rebels fight against a society or unjust rules. Jesters are entertainers who use comedy to mock the powerful. Sages

are wise and use intelligence to understand the world.

The hero archetype often follows a path called the hero’s journey, which begins when the hero is called to action.

He leaves behind his ordinary world and enters into an extraordinary world with unfamiliar rules. Along the way, he

is tested, makes allies, and fights enemies. After winning a treasure, the hero turns toward home, but he is tested

once more. A sacrifice helps him survive the ordeal, transforming him into a greater version of himself. When he

finally returns home, his treasure has the ability to change the world. The adventure of Odysseus in Homer’s The

Odyssey is a classic example of a hero’s journey.

Heroes do not always succeed, however. In tragedies, such as Hamlet, the hero has a tragic flaw, or a personality

trait that leads to his downfall. Tragic flaws may be negative traits such as selfishness, pride, or greed, or they may

be positive traits such as a willingness to sacrifice oneself for others.

When you read traditional, classic, or mythic literature, ask yourself the following.

• What character represents a certain type of person?

• Do the character’s traits and actions typify a particular archetype?

Words to Knowgenre

traditional literature

mythic literature

classic literature

archetype

hero’s journey

tragic flaw

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LESSON 7 • ANALYZE ARCHETYPES IN MYTHIC, TRADITIONAL, AND CLASSICAL LITERATURE

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GUIDED PRACTICEDIRECTIONS Read the selections below. Follow the instructions and answer the questions in the side column. They will help you understand how to read to master the TEKS.

Read paragraph 1. Which character is the archetype “caregiver,” and which is the “innocent”?

Read sentence (a) in paragraph 3. Circle the element that indicates that this is a mythic story.

Read paragraphs 5 and 6. What detail supports the inference that Aeson trusts Chiron?

Guided QuestionsThe Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles

by Padraic Colum

from Part I, Chapter I, “The Youth Jason”

1 A man in the garb of a slave went up the side of that mountain that is all covered with forest, the Mountain Pelion. He carried in his arms a little child.

2 When it was full noon the slave came into a clearing of the forest so silent that it seemed empty of all life. He laid the child down on the soft moss, and then, trembling with the fear of what might come before him, he raised a horn to his lips and blew three blasts upon it.

3 Then he waited. The blue sky was above him, the great trees stood away from him, and the little child lay at his feet. He waited, and then he heard the thud-thud of great hooves. (a) And then from between the trees he saw coming toward him the strangest of all beings, one who was half man and half horse; this was Chiron the centaur.

4 Chiron came toward the trembling slave. Greater than any horse was Chiron, taller than any man. The hair of his head flowed back into his horse’s mane, his great beard flowed over his horse’s chest; in his man’s hand he held a great spear.

5 Not swiftly he came, but the slave could see that in those great limbs of his there was speed like to the wind’s. The slave fell upon his knees. And with eyes that were full of majesty and wisdom and limbs that were full of strength and speed, the king-centaur stood above him. “O my lord,” the slave said, “I have come before thee sent by Æson, my master, who told me where to come and what blasts to blow upon the horn. And Æson, once King of Iolcus, bade me say to thee that if thou dost remember his ancient friendship with thee thou wilt, perchance, take this child and guard and foster him, and, as he grows, instruct him with thy wisdom.”

6 “For Æson’s sake I will rear and foster this child,” said Chiron the king-centaur in a deep voice.


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Read sentence (b) in paragraph 8. What mythological figure appears in this sentence?

Guided Questions 7 The child lying on the moss had been looking up at the four-footed and two-handed centaur. Now the slave lifted him up and placed him in the centaur’s arms. He said:

8 “Æson bade me tell thee that the child’s name is Jason. He bade me give thee this ring with the great ruby in it that thou mayst give it to the child when he is grown. By this ring with its ruby and the images engraved on it Æson may know his son when they meet after many years and many changes. (b) And another thing Æson bade me say to thee, O my lord Chiron: not presumptuous is he, but he knows that this child has the regard of the immortal Goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus.”

9 Chiron held Æson’s son in his arms, and the little child put hands into his great beard. Then the centaur said, “Let Æson know that his son will be reared and fostered by me, and that, when they meet again, there will be ways by which they will be known to each other.”

The Fox and the Catby the Brothers Grimm

1 It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to herself: “He is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed in the world,” she spoke to him in a friendly way. “Good day, dear Mr Fox, how are you? How is all with you? How are you getting on in these hard times?” (a) The fox, full of all kinds of arrogance, looked at the cat from head to foot, and for a long time did not know whether he would give any answer or not. At last he said: “Oh, you wretched beard-cleaner, you piebald fool, you hungry mouse-hunter, what can you be thinking of? Have you the cheek to ask how I am getting on? What have you learnt? How many arts do you understand?” “I understand but one,” replied the cat, modestly. “What art is that?” asked the fox. “When the hounds are following me, I can spring into a tree and save myself.” “Is that all?” said the fox. “I am master of a hundred arts, and have into the bargain a sackful of cunning. You make me sorry for you; come with me, I will teach you how people get away from the hounds.” Just then came a hunter with four dogs. The cat sprang nimbly up a tree, and sat down at the top of it, where the branches and foliage quite concealed her. (b) “Open your sack, Mr Fox, open your sack,” cried the cat to him, but the dogs had already seized him, and were holding him fast. “Ah, Mr Fox,” cried the cat. “You with your hundred arts are left in the lurch! Had you been able to climb like me, you would not have lost your life.”

Read sentence (a) in paragraph 1. What is Mr. Fox’s tragic flaw?

Read sentence (b) in paragraph 1. What does the cat mean by “open your sack?”

How did Mr. Fox’s tragic flaw lead to his downfall?

If this story had been told orally from generation to generation, what kind of literature would it be?

Guided Questions


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CRITICAL THINKINGDIRECTIONS Reread the selections. Mark them up as you would like. Then answer the following questions.

1. Describe how The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles is an example of both mythic and classic literature.

2. What evidence in The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles supports the inference that Jason will achieve greatness when he returns home?

3. Is there an example of a hero’s journey in The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles? Why or why not?

4. In “The Fox and the Cat,” which archetype might be assigned to the cat? Why?


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PRACTICE

DIRECTIONS Read the selection below and choose the best answer to each question.

The Legends of King Arthur and His Knightsby Sir James Knowles

from “Chapter II The Miracle of the Sword and Stone, and the Coronation of King Arthur—The Sword Excalibur—The War with the Eleven Kings”

1 Then Merlin went to Brice, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and advised him to require all the earls and barons of the realm and all knights and gentlemen-at-arms to come to him at London, before Christmas, under pain of cursing, that they might learn the will of Heaven who should be king. This, therefore, the archbishop did, and upon Christmas Eve were met together in London all the greatest princes, lords, and barons; and long before day they prayed in St. Paul’s Church, and the archbishop besought Heaven for a sign who should be lawful king of all the realm.

2 And as they prayed, there was seen in the churchyard, set straight before the doorways of the church, a huge square stone having a naked sword stuck in the midst of it. And on the sword was written in letters of gold, “Whoso pulleth out the sword from this stone is born the rightful King of Britain.”

3 At this all the people wondered greatly; and, when Mass was over, the nobles, knights, and princes ran out eagerly from the church to see the stone and sword; and a law was forthwith made that whoso should pull out the sword should be acknowledged straightway King of Britain.

4 Then many knights and barons pulled at the sword with all their might, and some of them tried many times, but none could stir or move it.

5 When all had tried in vain, the archbishop declared the man whom Heaven had chosen was not yet there. “But God,” said he, “will doubtless make him known ere many days.”

6 So ten knights were chosen, being men of high renown, to watch and keep the sword; and there was proclamation made through all the land that whosoever would, had leave and liberty to try and pull it from the stone. But though great multitudes of people came, both gentle and simple, for many days, no man could ever move the sword a hair’s breadth from its place.

7 Now, at the New Year’s Eve a great tournament was to be held in London, which the archbishop had devised to keep together lords and commons, lest they should grow estranged in the troublous and unsettled times. To the which tournament there came, with many other knights, Sir Ector, Arthur’s foster-father, who had great possessions near to London; and with him came his son, Sir Key, but recently made knight, to take his part in the jousting, and young Arthur also to witness all the sports and fighting.

8 But as they rode towards the jousts, Sir Key found suddenly he had no sword, for he had left it at his father’s house; and turning to young Arthur, he prayed him to ride back and fetch it for him. “I will with a good will,” said Arthur; and rode fast back after the sword.


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PRACTICE

9 But when he came to the house he found it locked and empty, for all were gone forth to see the tournament. Whereat, being angry and impatient, he said within himself, “I will ride to the churchyard and take with me the sword that sticketh in the stone, for my brother shall not go without a sword this day.”

10 So he rode and came to the churchyard, and alighting from his horse he tied him to the gate, and went to the pavilion, which was pitched near the stone, wherein abode the ten knights who watched and kept it; but he found no knights there, for all were gone to see the jousting.

11 Then he took the sword by its handle, and lightly and fiercely he pulled it out of the stone, and took his horse and rode until he came to Sir Key and delivered him the sword. But as soon as Sir Key saw it he knew well it was the sword of the stone, and, riding swiftly to his father, he cried out, “Lo! here, sir, is the sword of the stone, wherefore it is I who must be king of all this land.”

12 When Sir Ector saw the sword, he turned back straight with Arthur and Sir Key and came to the churchyard, and there alighting, they went all three into the church, and Sir Key was sworn to tell truly how he came by the sword. Then he confessed it was his brother Arthur who had brought it to him.

13 Whereat Sir Ector, turning to young Arthur, asked him—“How gottest thou the sword?”

14 “Sir,” said he, “I will tell you. When I went home to fetch my brother’s sword, I found nobody to deliver it to me, for all were abroad to the jousts. Yet was I loath to leave my brother swordless, and, bethinking me of this one, I came hither eagerly to fetch it for him, and pulled it out of the stone without any pain.”

15 Then said Sir Ector, much amazed and looking steadfastly on Arthur, “If this indeed be thus, ’tis thou who shalt be king of all this land—and God will have it so—for none but he who should be rightful Lord of Britain might ever draw this sword forth from that stone. But let me now with mine own eyes see thee put back the sword into its place and draw it forth again.”

16 “That is no mystery,” said Arthur; and straightway set it in the stone. And then Sir Ector pulled at it himself, and after him Sir Key, with all his might, but both of them in vain: then Arthur reaching forth his hand and grasping at the pommel, pulled it out easily, and at once.

17 Then fell Sir Ector down upon his knees upon the ground before young Arthur, and Sir Key also with him, and straightway did him homage as their sovereign lord.


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PRACTICE

1 From the details in paragraph 1, the reader can infer that Merlin —

A had placed a curse o n the earls and barons of the realm

B was the owner of the sword called Excalibur

C had planned a celebration for the new king of the realm

D was more powerful than the archbishop and the nobles

2 In paragraph 2, who would you infer made the sword appear in the stone?

F Merlin

G Archbishop

H Sir Ector

J Arthur

3 In paragraph 11, why did Sir Key claim to have pulled the sword from the stone?

A He wanted to use it for jousting.

B He wanted to be king.

C He wanted to win the tournament.

D He wanted to please his father.

4 In paragraphs 11 and 12, what is Sir Key’s tragic flaw?

F Greed

G Cowardice

H Jealousy

J Ambition

5 Read this sentence from paragraph 9.

I will ride to the churchyard and take with me the sword that sticketh in the stone, for my brother shall not go without a sword this day.

What archetype does this statement represent?

A Sage

B Explorer

C Caretaker

D Jester

6 After reading the passage, do you think Arthur will follow a hero’s journey? Explain your answer with evidence from the text.


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ASSESSMENT

1 What is the connotation of sackful of cunning?

A Many resources C Ability to climb

B Clever words D Arrogance

2 What is the connotation of the word arts?

F Paintings H Drawings

G Decoration J Skills

DIRECTIONS Read each question and choose the best answer.

Use “The Fox and the Cat” to answer questions 1–2.

Use The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights to answer questions 3–4.

Use The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights and The Golden Fleece and the Heroes who Lived Before Achilles to answer questions 5–6.

3 In paragraph 7, what is the meaning of the word troublous?

A Not troubled

B Full of trouble

C Slightly troubled

D Spreading trouble

4 In paragraph 6, what is the root word of proclamation?

F Mation

G Pro

H Tion

J Claim

5 What do the heroes in these selections have in common?

A They both have magical abilities.

B They both represent the archetype of a sage.

C They are just beginning their journeys.

D They are leaving behind the extraordinary world.

6 What is the theme of The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles? How does it compare to The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights?


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UNPACKING the TEKS | S E.2(B), R FIG. 19(B) · Tragic flaws may be negative traits such as selfishness, pride, or greed, or they may ... Read sentence (a) in paragraph 3. Circle the