ARCHETYPESARCHETYPES

archetypes are recurring images, symbols, characters, patterns, and settings that give literature

its unity

•They are not individual, but the part we share with all humanity•They are the part of a human being that connects them to their past , beyond personal feeling to a common experience•They are not especially knowable, but express themselves in forms•They are universal, understood by everyone•They cannot be explained by interaction among cultures because geography and history often made this possible•They are recurring, appearing in slightly altered forms to take present day situations and relate them to the past in order to find meaning in a contemporary world

What are common characteristics of archetypes?

ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERSARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS.

THE HEROportrayed as “larger than life.”

exhibits outstanding qualities and abilities.

embodies the ideals of his/her culture and society.

Essence of hero is self-sacrifice

Will endure separation and hardship for his/her clan

Must a pay a price to achieve goal.; he/she changes

Must leave “ordinary world” into the “unknown”; Comes back changed

Must return and spread new knowledge, but does not have to stay

THE ANTI-HEROThe anti-hero is often a reluctant hero who does not consider himself capable of accomplishing the goal. He might be selfish, addicted, corrupt, sullen or disaffected. noble motives pursued by bending or breaking the law in the belief that “the ends justify the means” philosophy. By the end of the journey the anti-hero typically transforms into a fuller, happier or more complete person due to the struggles he or she endures. In many cases the anti-hero dies at the end of the story, even while overcoming.

THE VILLAIN

A villain (also known in film and literature as the "bad guy", “black hat", or "heavy") is an “evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters. A female villain is sometimes called a villainess (often to differentiate her from a male villain). A villain is usually a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot.

THE WISE OLD MANThe wise old man is usually a

profound philosopher distinguished for wisdom and

sound judgment. These characters many times have

beards.

THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

The subject of the damsel in distress, or

persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world

literature, art, and film. She is usually a

beautiful young woman placed in a dire

predicament by a villain or a monster and who

requires a hero to dash to her rescue.

THE SHREWTHE SHREWA woman who is excessively unpleasant. She is prone to temper tantrums and emotional and psychological warfare. She is verbally and sometimes physically abusive. The Shrew insists on imposing her will on everyone and is willing to take extreme measures to get her way. She dominates her relationships, especially the one with her weaker willed husband.

THE INNOCENT

The promise of the Innocent is that life need not be hard. The innocent is a child or a naïve/inexperienced man or woman who is exposed to the evil in the world. This character usually moves from innocence to experience and knowledge.

THE HELPFUL ANIMALTHE HELPFUL ANIMALAny animal that helps the hero in times of trouble. The animal can be a sidekick that offers reason to the hero when he gets stuck and can’t figure his way out.

ALTER-EGO OR DOUBLEALTER-EGO OR DOUBLE

Split personalities or opposite tendencies within one individual

EARTH MOTHERThe eternal provider: protecting, nurturing, sheltering, nourishing female character

THE TEMPTRESSA woman, who through her power, can render a strong man weak and a wise man foolish.

OPPOSITES OR COMPLIMENTARY PAIRS

Two individuals of opposite natures who, if combined, would make one balanced and “complete” individual.

SCAPEGOAT OR SACRIFICIAL VICTIMOne who suffers or is

blamed unjustly in order that others may escape blame or punishment.

THE TRICKSTERIn mythology, folklore, and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior.

THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE

A woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant and is attracted to a more virile and interesting man.

Archetypal Settings

The GardenCultivated and carefully planned. Restricted to certain vegetation. Represents order.

The Forest/The Countryside

Habitat of the Great Mother (Mother Nature), the lunar force. Fertility.

The vegetation and animals flourish in this “green world” because of the sustaining power of the Great Mother.

Symbolically the primitive levels of the feminine psyche, protective and sheltering. Those who enter often lose their direction or rational outlook and thus tap into their collective unconscious.

This unregulated space is opposite of the cultivated gardens, which are carefully planned and are restricted to certain vegetation.

The TreeRepresents life and knowledge

Mountains and PeaksHighest peak is place to “see” farPlace to gain great insight

The CaveDeep down where the character delves within themselves.Place that the character goes when “invisible” or inactive.At the extreme may signify death

The RiverCrossing river may symbolize new territoryRivers can be boundaries or borders & on the other side is something new or differentMay represent human life or time passing as we follow the river from its source to its mouthMay represent death and rebirth (baptism)

The SeaVast, alien, dangerous, chaosWaves may symbolize measures of time and represent eternity or infinityMother of all lifeThe unconscious 

The FountainStands for purification; the sprinkling of water (baptism) washes away sin. Water of fountain gives new life

IslandsMicrocosms or small worlds unto themselvesRepresent isolation or get-a-ways

Archetypal Symbols

The SunFire and Sky are closely related

Creative energyLaw in nature; consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, wisdom)Passage of time and lifeRising sun: birth; creation; enlightenmentSetting sun: death

ColorsRed: blood, sacrifice, violent passion, disorderGreen: growth, sensation, hope, fertilityBlue: highly positive, truth, religious feeling, spiritual purity, securityWhite: light, purity, innocence, supernaturalBlack: chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, evil

The CircleSphere:

wholeness

Yang-YinThe Chinese symbol representing the union of opposite forces of the Yang and the Yin

Egg (oval) the mystery of life and the forces of the generation

OuroborosThe ancient symbol of the snake biting its own tail ; represents the circle of life

SerpentSnake or wormSymbol of energy and pure force; evil; corruption; sensuality; destruction; mystery; wisdom; the unconscious

Numbers (Western Culture)Three: light; spiritual awareness and unity (The holy Trinity); the male principle

Four: associated with the circle; life cycle; four seasons; female principle, earth, nature; four elements (earth, air, fire, water)

Seven: the most potent of all symbolic numbers – signifies the union of three and four, the perfect order

Twelve: The completed heavenly cycle

Thirteen: Betrayal, death, negativity; except in Native American culture where the number is sacred.

Light vs DarknessLight usually suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illuminationDarkness implies the unknown, ignorance or despair

Water vs DesertWater appears as birth or rebirthDesert appears as lack of life or death

Heaven vs HellHeaven: the sky and mountain tops house the gods

Hell: the bowels of the earth contain the diabolical force that inhabits this universe

Supernatural Intervention

The gods intervene on the side of the hero or sometimes against him

Fire vs IceFire represents light, life, rebirthIce represents ignorance, darkness, sterility

Situational Archetypes

The QuestGET SOMETHING!

The search for someone or some talisman which, when found and brought back, will restore life to a wasted land, the lifelessness is mirrored by the leader’s illness and disability.

The TaskDO SOMETHING

to save the kingdomto win the fair ladyto identify himself so he may reassume his rightful position…the hero must perform a superhuman deed

The JourneyLEARN

SOMETHINGThe journey sends the hero in search of some truth or information necessary to restore fertility to the kingdom.

The FallA descent from a higher to a lower state of being; involves a loss of innocence.

The Unhealable WoundIndicates a loss of innocence, whether physical or psychological, it is a wound that will not fully heal

Archetypal Motifs and Themes

Forbidden Loveis a phrase describing a pair of lovers whose relationship is often thwarted by outside forces. The term encompasses other meanings, but originally means the pairing is being "thwarted by a malign star" or that the stars are working against the relationship.

Rags to Riches/Transformationrefers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, or sometimes from obscurity to fame.

The Wicked StepmotherWhen a wicked stepmother persecutes the child that is left behind after the father dies, leading to conflict, it serves to support the motif of glorified motherhood and the theme that nonmaternal women are dangerous.

Guilt and RedemptionA character is burdened with terrible guilt for a real or perceived sin and attempts to atone for his mistakes and achieve spiritual redemption. This effort often requires a heroic act, a sacrifice, or a fall from grace before the character can be redeemed.

Love Conquers AllDespite obstacles and opponents, in the end love is an indestructible force, whether for good or for harm.

Pride Goes Before a FallThis theme reminds readers/viewers that pride, or hubris, is an offense that will be punished.

What goes around comes around.This is the theme that reminds us that wrongdoing will be returned one way or another.