Archetypes: The Building Blocks of Literature

1. Archetypes: The Building Blocks of Literature English II

2. Essential Questions: • What is an archetype, and why do writers use them in their works? • What are the various kinds of archetypes, and how do they contribute to the meaning of a text? • How do archetypes affect a text and the reader/observer?

3. What Does Archetype Mean? Archetypeis from the Greek word archetypon. arche “beginning; original” typon  “model; pattern; mold” In literature, an archetype is a character, symbol, setting, plot element, or conflict that is repeated throughout various works from various cultures.

4. From Where Does This Idea of Archetypes Come? Carl Jung • Observed that many cultures across the world and in many time periods have similar symbols, characters, conflicts, etc. in their literature and myths. • The collective unconscious: humanity keeps a memory of its shared experiences throughout time, which appears in archetypes.

5. Archetypes: Essential Understandings • In literature, an archetype is a character, symbol, setting, situation, or conflict that is repeated throughout various works. • Archetypes are building blocks for stories. • Archetypes exist for many reasons: • To explain natural phenomenon and religious experiences • To answer questions about the meaning of life and what it means to be human • To entertain • To teach cultural roles, morality, and wise living

6. Archetype Main Groups • Plot • Character • Symbolic • Setting

7. Plot Archetypes

8. The Journey • A hero must leave his kingdom to search for truth or acquire an object that will save the kingdom. • The journey includes the numerous characters encountered, experiences had, and life lessons learned.

9. The Quest • What the hero must accomplish to restore order to his kingdom. • The quest often includes attaining an important object.

10. The Task • The nearly superhuman feat the hero must perform to complete the quest.

11. Battle Between Good and Evil • Despite all obstacles, good triumphs over evil.

12. Death and Rebirth • Reflects the natural cycle of life and death. • Sometimes, characters experience a physical—literal—death, or they can experience a more symbolic decay. • Sometimes, characters experience a physical—literal—rebirth or resurrection, or they can experience a more symbolic return to life.

13. The Unhealable Wound • Either a physical or psychological wound that cannot be fully healed. This wound often symbolizes a loss of innocence.

14. Character Archetypes

15. The Hero • The protagonist of the story • Circumstances of his birth are sometimes unusual; often raised by a guardian, not his biological parents • Leaves his kingdom to return only when he matures • Often characterized by courage, strength, and honor; the hero will sacrifice himself for the good of all • He leaves what is familiar for a new, challenging world

16. Mentor (Wise Old Man) • Wise teacher of the hero • Often a father figure • Serves as a role model or the hero’s conscience • Sometimes gives the hero gifts: weapons, food, magic, information.

17. Hunting Group of Companions • Loyal companions of the hero who are willing to face conflicts and stay together

18. The Devil Figure • Person who represents evil incarnate • Sometimes offers worldly goods, fortune, or knowledge in exchange for control of the hero and/or other good characters

19. The Outcast • A character banished from a social group for a real or imagined crime • Destined to wander from place to place

20. Damsel in Distress • Vulnerable woman whom the hero must rescue • She is sometimes used as a trap to capture the hero

21. Other Important Character Archetypes • Star-crossed lovers – two characters engaged in a love affair fated to end tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of society, friends, family, etc. • Father-son conflict – tension occurs between a son and his father, often due to psychological and/or emotional tension • Christ figure – a person sacrifices his own life for the good of others or sacrifices himself so that others do not die

22. Symbolic Archetypes

23. Light versus Darkness Light • suggests hope, renewal, or knowledge, or goodness Darkness • implies the unknown, ignorance, despair, or evil

24. Heaven versus Hell Heaven • Realm of gods, forces of good, and life; often associated with the sky or mountain tops Hell • Realm of evil and/or death; often associated with the bowels of the earth

25. Water • Life, growth, birth (or re-birth), spiritual birth, cleansing, purity

26. Fire Positive • light, knowledge, life, purity, rebirth Negative • destruction, suffering, death

27. Circle • the life cycle, completion, order, power, strength, unity, security

28. Colors • Black – darkness, chaos, mystery, death, evil, wisdom • White – light, order, knowledge, life, goodness, purity • Red – blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder, evil, warning • Green – growth, hope, life, vegetation • Blue – peace, order, security

29. Numbers • 1 – unity; wholeness; power • 3 – sacredness; Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); mind, body, spirit; birth, life, death • 4 – circle (life cycle); seasons; earth, nature, natural elements (earth, fire, air, water) • 6 – humanity; evil; devil • 7 – completion; perfection; order

30. Setting Archetypes

31. Underworld • place under the earth where the hero encounters fear and where his courage is tested; may contain a maze or labyrinth, which can symbolize the hero’s difficult decisions; often associated with death

32. Forest • normal rules do not seem to apply; people and things run wild; associated with the unknown

33. Tower • strong place often where evil resides; sometimes where a person is locked away, which represents isolation and the need for rescue

34. River • the journey of life; change; metaphor for the passage of time; stages of human life; decision that cannot be taken back

35. Mountain • obstacle; goal of a spiritual or emotional journey; mystery; power