• A reoccurring symbol, character, event, object, theme, etc.

• A particular archetype can appear in religious stories, fables, myths, and fairy tales from different countries and eras.

• Think of it as a pattern, model, or prototype.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ARCHETYPES

•UNIVERSAL – they appear in stories from many different cultures and time periods•SYMBOLIC – they represent basic human emotions, experiences, and motivations•DIDACTIC – they teach us morals/life lessons

1. WORLD DESTRUCTION– FLOOD– PLAGUE– THE APOCALYPSE

2. CREATION– HEBREW– GREEK– NORSE– INDIAN

3. IMMORTALITY– ETERNAL PLACE

FOR THE SOUL– REWARDS AND

PUNISHMENTS– ENDLESS DEATH

AND REBIRTH IN CYCLICAL TIME

4. THE HERO ( & WEAPON)– KING ARTHUR– LUKE SKYWALKER– HARRY POTTER

5. SIBLING RIVALRIES– CAIN AND ABEL– ROMULUS AND

REMUS

6. CONFLICT BETWEEN OPPOSITES– YIN AND YANG– MALE AND FEMALE– NIGHT AND DAY– GOOD AND EVIL

7. ENSLAVING OF MONSTERS– SATAN– MIDGARD SERPENT– TITANS IN TARTARUS

8. INCEST STORIES– OEDIPUS

LEGENDS– LOT AND HIS

DAUGHTERS

1. TWELVE– 12 DISCIPLES– 12 TRIBES OF

ISRAEL– 12 MONTHS– 12 SIGNS OF THE

ZODIAC– 12 TRIALS OF

HERCULES

2. THREE– THE TRINITY– SIDES OF A

TRIANGLE– 3 WISE MEN– 3 LITTLE PIGS– 3 TASKS IN FAIRY

TALES– JESUS WAS IN THE

GRAVE 3 DAYS

3. SEVEN– PYTHAGOREANS

CALLED IT THE PERFECT NUMBER

– 7 COLORS OF THE RAINBOW

– THE NUMBER 7 IS USED 507 TIMES IN THE BIBLE

1. SOUL MATE– PRINCESS– DAMSEL IN

DISTRESS– LOVER

2. EARTH MOTHER– EVE– GAEA

3 .PLATONIC IDEAL– SPIRITUAL OR

INTELLECTUAL IDEAL, A MUSE, A GUIDE

4. TEMPTRESS– WITCH– SIREN

1. DESTINED LOVERS

2. THE SCAPEGOAT– ONE WHOSE

DEATH COVERS SIN

3. THE OUTCAST– ONE WHO MUST

WANDER

4. THE DEVIL– PERSONIFICATION

OF EVIL

5. SHAMAN, HOLY MAN, MAGICIAN

6. THE DIVINE IN DISGUISE

7. THE GATEKEEPER

1. THE QUEST (aka the Hero’s Journey)– THE ODYSSEY– LORD OF THE

RINGS

2. THE TASK

3. THE INITIATION– KING ARTHUR

AND THE SWORD IN THE STONE

4. DEATH AND REBIRTH– CHRIST– THE GREEN

KNIGHT

5. THE FALL OF MAN– GENESIS– DARTH VADER

• A PARADISE OR IDEAL PLACE • A LAND EMERGING FROM A WATERY CHAOS• A GREAT TREE CONNECTING THE REALMS OF

HEAVEN AND EARTH• A UNIVERSE MADE UP OF OPPOSITES • A MOUNTAIN THAT HAS HOLY SIGNIFICANCE• AN UNDERWORLD WHERE PEOPLE GO AFTER

DEATH (HELL)

HAS HOLY SIGNIFICANCE