Archetype

1. Archetype A pattern, model, or image that recurs consistently enough in life and literature to be considered universal.

2. The Innocent • Spontaneous • Trusting • A bit dependant • Optimistic

3. Regular Guy/Gal • Unpretentious • Expects very little from life • Teaches reader empathy, realism, street smarts

4. 8 types of heroes Heroic qualities: • Saves the day • Tough • Courageous • Sets and achieves goals • Overcomes obstacles • Persists in difficult times • Sees “enemies” he must conquer

5. 1. The Chief • Quintessential alpha hero • Born to lead • Tough • Decisive • Goal-oriented • May be overbearing and inflexible

6. 2. The Bad Boy • Rebel from the wrong side of the tracks • Bitter & volatile • Crushed idealist • Charismatic & street savvy • Hates authority • Prevalent in western historicals • the perfect outlaw • James Dean in everything

7. 3. The Best Friend • Beta hero • Kind, responsible, decent, Mr. Nice Guy • Non- confrontational, doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings • Tom Hanks • Bill Pullman in While you were Sleeping • Jimmy Stewart in It’s a wonderful life • Even villains don’t really want to harm them

8. 4. The Charmer • Fun, irresistible, smooth operator • Not too responsible or dependable • Doesn’t commit to women • Ferris Bueller • Cary Grant

9. 5. The Lost Soul • Tortured secretive, brooding, unforgiving • Vulnerable, loner, wanderer or outcast • Hamlet • Heathcliffe in Wuthering Heights • Nicholas Cage in Moonstruck

10. 6. The Professor • Logical • Introverted • Inflexible • Honest • Faithful

11. 7. The Swashbuckler • Action, action, action!!! • Physical and daring • Fearless • Daredevil • Explorer

12. 8.The Warrior • Reluctant rescuer or knight in shining armor • Noble, tenacious, relentless • Sticks up for the underdog • Most superheroes

13. Female Heroines

14. 1.The Boss • “Take charge” female • Accepts nothing but respect • Reaching her goal in life is paramount

15. 2. The Survivor • Mysterious and manipulative • Cynicism guides her every action • Tough sense of survival

16. 3. The Spunky Kid • Favorite of many writers • Has moxi • Not looking to be at the top, but to carve her only little niche • Team player • Ready to lend a hand • Lots of friends

17. 4. The Free Spirit • Playful and fun loving • Original, acts on whims and follows her heart, • Might be on the ditzy side • Well intentioned, but may leave a trail of victims from her good deeds

18. 5. The Waif • Original damsel in distress • Star of most Disney movies • Requires rescue • Child-like innocence

19. 6. The Librarian • Prim & proper on the outside, passionate on the inside • Leads with her brain- not her body • Thinks she has all the answers, • Can be a bit stubborn

20. 7. The Crusader • Thoroughly modern • On a mission-if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem

21. 8. The Nurturer • Takes care of everyone • Wonderful listener, serene, capable , optimistic • Mary Poppins-like

22. More archetypes

23. The Caregiver/ Altruist • Moved by compassion, generosity, • Selfless • Prone to martyrdom • & enabling behaviors

24. The Explorer/Seeker/Wanderer • Seeks to discover the unknown • Often oppositional • Helps readers to discover our uniqueness, perspectives, & callings

25. The Outlaw/Destroyer • Has repressed rage against society or codes/rules that no longer serve • Ruthless • Helps readers “weed the garden” for more growth

26. The Ruler • Inspires readers to take responsibilities for their own lives

27. The Magician Searches out the fundamental laws of science and/or metaphysics to understand how to: • transform situations • influence people • Turn visions into realities Must overcome temptation to use power manipulatively

28. The Sage • Seeks the truths that will set us free • Must overcome temptation of dogma • Helps readers to see the world and ourselves objectively

29. The Jester • Enjoys life • Prone to laziness • Shows reader how to turn our work & interactions into fun

30. The Trickster Prevalent in most mythologies! • coyote Puck

31. The Lover Different types of love: • Parental • Platonic • Spiritual • Romantic Helps reader to experience pleasure, achieve intimacy, make commitments and follow their bliss.

32. Common Female Archetypes • Earth mother • Symbolic of spiritual and emotional nourishment • Usually wearing earth colors • Usually is full figured (represents fertility)

33. The Temptress • Sensuous in beauty • Brings about downfallof hero

34. The Platonic Ideal Inspiring woman for whom the protagonist has an intellectual rather than a physical attraction

35. A few other archetypes • Wicked step mother • Drunk guy/gal • Rich, spoiled girl/guy • The hick • Girl next door • The buffoon • Rags to riches • Bratty kid • Frumpy housewife • Party girl • Typical ( insert: race, age, ethnicity, religious affiliation, career, sport, hobbyist here)

36. Archetypes • Psychoanalyst Carl Jung theorized that: • specific ideas, actions, & images arose out of early experiences of the human race • And were passed along through the collective unconscious of mankind. • And therefore, are present in the subconscious of every individual. • Archetypes emerge in the imagery of dreams, myths, and literature. • Some archetypes are used so frequently in literary genres that they become conventions.

37. Don’t confuse archetypes with stereotypes. Stereotypes are: • Clichéd/predictable • Allows no character growth/development

38. “Any archetype can do anything – the question will always be why.”

39. The End