ArchetypeArchetypess

Carl Carl JungJung• Psychiatrist that

advanced the idea of archetypes.

• Collective Unconscious:– All cultures use

archetypes to build their stories without communicating with one another about them.

• Archetypes are patterns that can Archetypes are patterns that can be, and are, copied.be, and are, copied.

• They are symbols or characters They are symbols or characters that appear again and again in that appear again and again in myths and literature.myths and literature.

• They survive because they portray They survive because they portray characters, conflicts and events characters, conflicts and events that are timeless.that are timeless.

• They help the reader to They help the reader to understand the theme of the work.understand the theme of the work.

So What is an So What is an Archetype?Archetype?

ArchetypesArchetypes

• Characteristics that you see Characteristics that you see repeated over and over again in repeated over and over again in different stories and media form different stories and media form an archetype.an archetype.

• Some classic examples of Some classic examples of archetypes are:archetypes are:– The damsel in distressThe damsel in distress– The heroThe hero– The battle between good and evilThe battle between good and evil

Recognizing ArchetypesRecognizing Archetypes

Recognizing ArchetypesRecognizing Archetypes

Recognizing ArchetypesRecognizing Archetypes

3 types of archetypes3 types of archetypes

1. situational 1. situational2. symbolic2. symbolic3. character3. character

Situational Situational ArchetypesArchetypesSituational archetypes Situational archetypes

are plot events that we are plot events that we see repeated in see repeated in

numerous works of numerous works of literature, movies, and literature, movies, and

other forms of other forms of entertainment.entertainment.

The QuestThe QuestA Search for someone or some object, A Search for someone or some object, which when it is found and brought which when it is found and brought

back will restore life to a wasted land.back will restore life to a wasted land.

The TaskThe TaskTo save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady,

the hero performs some superhuman the hero performs some superhuman deed.deed.

TheThe InitiationInitiationThe awakening of a teenager or an The awakening of a teenager or an

initiation into adult life.initiation into adult life.

The JourneyThe JourneyThe hero goes in search of some truth or

information to restore life to the kingdom. He must descend into a real or psychological hell and is forced to

discover the blackest truths about himself. He must then decide to return

to the world of the living.

The FallThe FallCharacters experience a loss of Characters experience a loss of innocence and often experience innocence and often experience

expulsion from a kind of paradise as a expulsion from a kind of paradise as a penalty for disobedience.penalty for disobedience.

Death and RebirthDeath and RebirthDeals with the similarities between the

cycle of nature and life; morning and springtime represent birth, youth, or

rebirth; evening and winter suggest old age or death.

Nature vs. Mechanistic Nature vs. Mechanistic WorldWorldNature is good while technology and

society are often evil.

Battle Between Good Battle Between Good and Eviland EvilGood triumphs over evil despite great Good triumphs over evil despite great

odds, keeping mankind hopeful.odds, keeping mankind hopeful.

The Wound that Won’t The Wound that Won’t HealHeal

A wound that is either physical or A wound that is either physical or psychological; it cannot be healed psychological; it cannot be healed fully; indicates a loss of innocence; fully; indicates a loss of innocence;

always aches.always aches.

The RitualThe RitualCeremony that marks a new stage in Ceremony that marks a new stage in

lifelife

(weddings, funerals, coronations)(weddings, funerals, coronations)

Symbolic ArchetypesSymbolic Archetypes

Places or objects that carry the Places or objects that carry the same meaning across different same meaning across different

storylines.storylines.

People understand what they People understand what they mean and what they represent mean and what they represent because of their prevalence in because of their prevalence in

literature and media. literature and media.

Light vs. DarknessLight vs. DarknessLight suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; darkness

suggests the unknown, ignorance, or despair.

Water vs. DesertWater vs. DesertWater is necessary to life and growth Water is necessary to life and growth and so it appears as a birth or rebirth and so it appears as a birth or rebirth symbol; the appearance or rain in a symbol; the appearance or rain in a work can suggest spiritual birth or work can suggest spiritual birth or rebirth. Characters who live in the rebirth. Characters who live in the

desert are often dead to morals or the desert are often dead to morals or the good side.good side.

Heaven vs. HellHeaven vs. HellGods live in the skies or mountaintops, evil Gods live in the skies or mountaintops, evil

forces live in the bowels of the earth.forces live in the bowels of the earth.

Infinite Wisdom vs. Infinite Wisdom vs. Educated StupidityEducated Stupidity

Uneducated characters can often be Uneducated characters can often be wise using their common sense while wise using their common sense while some very educated characters have some very educated characters have

no common sense.no common sense.

Supernatural Supernatural InterventionIntervention

The gods most often intervene on the side of The gods most often intervene on the side of the hero to assist him in his quest.the hero to assist him in his quest.

Haven vs. WildernessHaven vs. WildernessFor the hero, places of safety are required for For the hero, places of safety are required for

time to regain health and resources. These time to regain health and resources. These hideouts are usually in unusual places.hideouts are usually in unusual places.

Fire vs. IceFire vs. IceFire can represent knowledge, light, life, Fire can represent knowledge, light, life,

and rebirth while ice can represent and rebirth while ice can represent ignorance, darkness, sterility, and deathignorance, darkness, sterility, and death

Magic WeaponMagic WeaponSome object used to fight the forces of Some object used to fight the forces of

evil that has magical propertiesevil that has magical properties

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

These character types are seen These character types are seen in various stories, movies, and in various stories, movies, and other forms of entertainment.other forms of entertainment.

They are easily recognizable and They are easily recognizable and have common traits that we have common traits that we

can predict.can predict.

The HeroThe HeroMother is sometimes a virgin, Mother is sometimes a virgin,

circumstances of birth are unusual, some circumstances of birth are unusual, some attempt is made at birth to kill him; attempt is made at birth to kill him; raised by foster parents, returns to raised by foster parents, returns to

kingdom to right wrongs; body may be kingdom to right wrongs; body may be burned rather than buried.burned rather than buried.

Young Man from the Young Man from the ProvincesProvinces

Hero is taken away as a young man and Hero is taken away as a young man and raised by strangers; when he returns raised by strangers; when he returns

home, he can view problems objectively home, he can view problems objectively and can solve them more easily than and can solve them more easily than

others.others.

The InitiateThe InitiateYoung heroes or heroines who go through Young heroes or heroines who go through training; usually innocent and wear white.training; usually innocent and wear white.

MentorMentorTeacher or counselor to the initiate; often are Teacher or counselor to the initiate; often are father or mother figures to the hero or heroine.father or mother figures to the hero or heroine.

Father-Son ConflictFather-Son ConflictFather and son are separated and do not Father and son are separated and do not meet until the son is an adult, often the meet until the son is an adult, often the

mentor is loved and respected more.mentor is loved and respected more.

Hunting Group of Hunting Group of CompanionsCompanions

Loyal companions willing to face Loyal companions willing to face any number of dangers to be any number of dangers to be

together.together.

Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers

Somewhat like servants to the hero who Somewhat like servants to the hero who are heroic themselves. Their duty is to are heroic themselves. Their duty is to protect the hero. They are expendable.protect the hero. They are expendable.

Friendly BeastFriendly Beast

A beast on the side of the hero who A beast on the side of the hero who shows that nature sides most shows that nature sides most often with the forces of good.often with the forces of good.

Devil FigureDevil Figure

Evil incarnate. Offers worldly goods, fame, Evil incarnate. Offers worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the hero in exchange for or knowledge to the hero in exchange for

the possession of the soul.the possession of the soul.

Evil Figure with Good Evil Figure with Good HeartHeart

Redeemable evil figure saved by Redeemable evil figure saved by the nobility or love of the hero.the nobility or love of the hero.

ScapegoatScapegoat

Animal or human who is unjustly Animal or human who is unjustly held responsible for others’ sins. held responsible for others’ sins.

OutcastOutcastFigure banished from a social group Figure banished from a social group

for some crime against his fellow for some crime against his fellow man (could be unjustly accused or man (could be unjustly accused or could banish himself because of could banish himself because of

guilt)guilt)

TemptressTemptress

Sensuous beauty, brings about Sensuous beauty, brings about the hero’s downfall because the hero’s downfall because he is physically attracted to he is physically attracted to

herher

Platonic IdealPlatonic Ideal

Female figure who provides Female figure who provides intellectual stimulation for intellectual stimulation for

the hero. He is not physically the hero. He is not physically attracted to her.attracted to her.

Star Crossed LoversStar Crossed Lovers

Two lovers forbidden to be Two lovers forbidden to be together because of rules of together because of rules of society or family, often ends society or family, often ends

tragically.tragically.

Creature of NightmareCreature of Nightmare

Animal or creature disfigured Animal or creature disfigured or mutilated, monsters who or mutilated, monsters who are the antagonists in the are the antagonists in the

story.story.