The Good Guys

The Hero—The hero archetype is so well-defined that the life of the protagonist can be clearly divided into a series of well-marked adventures:

• Birth—unusual circumstances with some attempt made to kill him/her• He is spirited away and reared by foster parents• Nothing is known of his childhood, but upon reaching adulthood, he returns

to his future kingdom• After victory over a wild beast, he marries a princess, becomes king, reigns

uneventfully, and later loses favor with the gods.• He is driven from the city, meets a mysterious death, often at the top of a hill.• His body is not buried, but nevertheless, he has one or more holy sepulchers

(tombs).• Some characteristics of a hero:

• Bravery• Strength• Selflessness• Persistence• Cleverness• Pity for the weak• Showing no pity to the enemy

The young man from the Provinces—The hero is spirited away as a young man and raised by strangers. He later returns to his home and heritage where he is a stranger who can see new problems and new solutions (Tarzan, Arthur, Dorothy—The Wizard of Oz)

The Initiates

young heroes or heroines go through training or a special

ceremony

Daniel in The Karate Kid is an example.

Gandalf gives the dwarfs wisdom, luck, and courage.

The Hobbit

MentorsCharacter who serve as role models,

counselors, and teachers

Hunting Group of Companions: loyal friendswho face dangers together

The children in “The Chronicles of

Narnia”

Loyal Retainers: protect the hero

Inspector Gadget’s dog always protects him

from danger.

Friendly BeastA creature that represents nature to

show that nature is on the hero’s side.

Mr. Tumnus is an animal, but he does

not turn the children in to the White Witch.

The Bad Guys

The Devil FigureAn extremely evil character who tempts

the hero

Smaug represents evil in The Hobbit

The Evil figure with a good heart an evil character who can be redeemed

(remember Scrooge?)

God Bless us everyone

Remember thegoblins, wargs, and

the spiders in The Hobbit

Creature of NightmareA monster from the darkest part of nature

(vampires, werewolves, Etc)

The ScapegoatUsually a character whose death

makes someone else more powerful which shows the evils of society.

The Sad Guys

Poor, Poor Rudolph!

The OutcastA Character who is banished from society

and becomes a wanderer

The TemptressTempts the hero and may play a

part in his ‘fall”

Earth MotherSymbolic of abundance; spiritual

and emotional nourishment

The Platonic IdealA friend who helps and gives intellectual encouragement

The Female Characters

The Damsel in Distress

Must be rescued by the hero (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White)

Star-Crossed LoversA female character is involved with a male character and their relationship is doomed from the beginning (Romeo and Juliet)

Light versus Darkness Light gives hope while darkness

gives despair

Water versus desertWater represents life, and desert is death

Rain is often associated with character’s “reawakening”

(rain at the end of Lion King)

Heaven versus HellHeaven is a place for goodness while hell

is a dark, cold place

Wisdom versus Educated Stupidity Wisdom and understanding are more important than just an

“educated” mind.( Quasimodo in Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Haven versus WildernessA safe place verses “the wilderness”

Supernatural Intervention The gods intervene for the hero.

Fire versus Ice

Ice represents cold, darkness, ignorance, and sterility

Fire is knowledge, light, growth.

One: unity, divinityThree: completeness: Mind, Body, Spirit; birth, life, death Four: mankind: four limbs, four seasonsSix: evil: devilSeven: divinity: seven gifts, seven colors of the rainbow, seven days of the week

Circle—heaven, oneness, sun, eternity, never-ending, perfect shape, halosCross—tree of life, struggle, martyrdom Curve—more energy, sense of motionRectangle: most secure, rational Square—4-part process, stability, projection of selfStar—light, insight—showing the way mentally, physically, and spirituallyTriangle—trinity, spiritual, energy, unstable

Dark: chaosLight: Spirit, moralityRed—sunrise, birth, blood, coats of arms, flame, fire, emotion, energy, passion, excitement, anger, danger, sentiment Blue—clear-thinking, height, depth, innocence, positive, peace, truth, religion, purity

Green—earth, sensation, new life, eternal life, nature, sympathy growth, symbol of decay, symbol of innocence (greenhorn), jealousy (lime green)Yellow—fear, new life, rebirth; hope; cowardice Orange--pride, ambition, fireViolet—water, memory, nostalgiaGold-- majesty, sun, wealth, truthSilver—moon, wealth

Air: breath, light, freedom, movementEarth: passive, feminine, solidFire: love, life, control, passionLake: mystery, depthCrescent moon: change, transition Full moon: vegetation, completeMountain: ambition, goalsValley: depression, evil, unknownSun: hero, knowledge, splendor, healing, resurrection, ultimate wholenessWater: passive, feminineRivers: life cycleStars: guidanceIce/Snow: coldnessClouds: mysteryRain: life giverVolcano: evil, shadowLightning: inspirationTree: tree of knowledge, lifeForest: evil, lost, fear Dust: chaos

Feathers: lightness, speedShadow: evil, devilMasks: concealmentBoats: safe passageBridge: changeRight hand: righteousnessLeft hand: deviousnessFeet: freedomSkeleton: mortalityHeart: loveHourglass: timePearl: power, tearsEmerald: fertility, faith, wisdomJade: perfectionSapphire: heavenDiamond: permanence

Dove: peacePeacock: pridePelican: self-sacrificeRaven: prophecyBat: darkness, chaos