Archetypes

Carl Jung first applied the term archetype to literature. He recognized that there were universal patterns in all stories and mythologies regardless of culture or historical period and hypothesized that part of the human mind contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human species, a sort of universal, primal memory. Joseph Campbell took Jungs ideas and applied them to world mythologies. In A Hero with a Thousand Faces, among other works, he refined the concept of hero and the heros ourney! "eorge #ucas used Campbells writings to formulate the $tar %ars saga. &ecognizing archetypal patterns in literature brings patterns we all unconsciously respond to in similar ways to a conscious level. 'he term archetype can be applied to( )n image ) theme ) symbol )n idea ) character type ) plot pattern

Archetypes can be e*pressed in +yths ,reams #iterature &eligions -antasies -olklore

Heroic Archetypes:
.. 3. 6. 7. Hero as warrior /0dysseus1( ) near god2like hero faces physical challenges and e*ternal enemies Hero as lover /4rince Charming1( ) pure love motivate hero to complete his 5uest Hero as $capegoat /Jesus1( Hero suffers for the sake of others 'ranscendent Hero( 'he hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall, but not without achieving some kind of transforming realization or wisdom /"reek and $hakespearean tragedies!0edipus, Hamlet, +acbeth, etc.1 5. &omantic8"othic Hero( Hero8lover with a decidedly dark side /+r. &ochester in Jane Eyre1 6. 4roto2-eminist Hero( -emale heroes /The Awakening by 9ate Chopin1 :. )pocalyptic Hero( Hero who faces the possible destruction of society ;. )nti2Hero( ) non2hero, given the vocation of failure, fre5uently humorous /Homer $impson1 9. ,efiant )nti2hero( 0pposer of societys definition of heroism8goodness. /Heart of Darkness1 10. <nbalanced Hero( 'he 4rotagonist who has /or must pretend to have1 mental or emotional deficiencies /Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo s !est" 11. 'he 0ther!the ,enied Hero( 'he protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible /#nvisi$le %an by &alph =llison, The Joy &uck Clu$ by )my 'an1 .3. 'he $uperheroic( =*aggerates the normal proportions of humanity> fre5uently has divine or supernatural origins. In some sense, the superhero is one apart, someone who does not 5uite belong, but who is nonetheless needed by society. /+ythological heroes, $uperman1

Types of Archetypal Journeys

.. 3. 6. 7. ?. @. :. ;. A. .B. 'he 5uest for identity 'he epic ourney to find the promised land8to found the good city 'he 5uest for vengeance 'he warriors ourney to save his people 'he search for love /to rescue the princess8damsel in distress1 'he ourney in search of knowledge 'he tragic 5uest( penance or self2denial 'he fools errand 'he 5uest to rid the land of danger 'he grail 5uest /the 5uest for human perfection1

Stages of a Heros Journey

Stage 1: Stage : Stage ": Stage %: Departure( 'he hero is called to adventure, although he is reluctant to accept. !nitiation( 'he hero crosses a threshold into a new, more dangerous world, gaining a more mature perspective. The #oa$ of Trials( 'he hero is given supernatural aid, endures tests of strength, resourcefulness, and endurance. The !nner&ost 'a(e( 'he hero descends into the innermost cave, an underworld, or some other place of great trial. $ometimes this place can be within the heros own mind. Cecause of this trial, the hero is reborn in some way!physically, emotionally, or spiritually. 'hrough this e*perience, the hero changes internally. #eturn an$ #eintegration )ith Society( 'he hero uses his new wisdom to restore fertility and order to the land

Stage 5:

'haracteristics of the Heros Journey

'he hero is naDve and ine*perienced 'he hero meets monsters or monstrous men 'he hero has a strange, wise being as a mentor 'he hero years for the beautiful lady who is sometimes his guide or inspiration 'he hero must go on a ourney, learn a lesson, change in some way, and return home 'he hero often crosses a body of water or travels on a bridge. 'he hero is born and raised in a rural setting away from cities 'he origin of the hero is mysterious or the hero losses his8her parents at a young age, being raised by animals or a wise guardian 'he hero returns to the land of his8her birth in disguise or as an unknown 'he hero is special, one of a kind. He8she might represent a whole nation or culture 'he hero struggles for something valuable and important 'he hero has help from divine or supernatural forces 'he hero has a guide or guides 'he hero goes through a rite of passage or initiation, an event that marks a change from an immature to a more mature understanding of the world 'he hero undergoes some type of ritual or ceremony after his8her initiation 'he hero has a loyal band of companions 'he hero makes a stirring speech to his8her companions 'he hero engages in tests or contests of strength /physical and8or mental1 and shows pride in his8her e*cellence 'he hero suffers an unhealable wound, sometimes an emotional or spiritual wound from which the hero never completely recovers.

Situational Archetypes
Archetype 'he Euest Description %hat the Hero must accomplish in order to bring fertility back to the wasteland, usually a search for some talisman, which will restore peace, order, and normalcy to a troubled land. 'he nearly superhuman feat/s1 the Hero must perform in order to accomplish his 5uest. 'he ourney sends the Hero in search of some truth that will help save his kingdom. 'he adolescent comes into his maturity with new awareness and problems. 'he actual ceremonies the Initiate e*periences that will mark his rite of passage into another state. ) clear sign of the characterFs role in his society 'he descent from a higher to a lower state of being usually as a punishment for transgression. It also involves the loss of innocence. 'he most common of all situational archetypes, this motif grows out of a parallel between the cycle of nature and the cycle of life. 'hus morning and springtime represent birth, youth, or rebirth, while evening and winter suggest old age or death. 0bviously, a battle between two primal forces. +ankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds. =ither a physical or psychological wound that cannot be fully healed. 'he wound symbolizes a loss of innocence. *+a&ple

'he 'ask

'he Journey

'he Initiation

'he &itual

'he -all

,eath and &ebirth

Cattle between "ood and =vil 'he <nhealable %ound

Character Archetypes

Archetype

Description 'he Hero is a protagonist whose life is a series of well2 marked adventures. 'he circumstances of his birth are unusual, and he is raised by a guardian. He will have to leave his kingdom, only to return to it upon reaching manhood. Characterized by courage, strength, and honor, the hero will endure hardship, even risk his life for the good of all. #eaves the familiar to enter an unfamiliar and challenging world. 'he Hero returns to his home and heritage where he is a stranger who can see new problems and new solutions 'he Initiates are young heroes or heroines who must go through some training and ceremony before undertaking their 5uest. 'he +entor is an older, wiser teacher to the initiates. He often serves as a father or mother figure. He gives the hero gifts /weapons, food, magic, information1, serves as a role model or as heros conscience. In this relationship, the +entor teaches the Hero8pupil the necessary skills for surviving the 5uest. 'ests the heros courage and worthiness to begin the ourney In this relationship, the tension is built due to separation from childhood or some other source when the two meet as men. 'hese are loyal companions willing to face hardship and ordeal in order to stay together. 'he &etainerFs duty is to reflect the nobility and power of the hero. )n animal companion showing that nature is on the side of the hero ) worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle in a fight to the end. +ust be destroyed or neutralized. 4sychologically can represent the darker side of the heros own psyche. 'his character is evil incarnate. ) devil figure with the potential to be good. 'his person is usually saved by the love of the hero.

*+a&ple

'he Hero

Goung +an from the 4rovinces 'he Initiates

+entor +entor 2 4upil &elationship 'he 'hreshold "uardian -ather 2 $on Conflict Hunting "roup of Companions #oyal &etainers -riendly Ceast

'he $hadow

'he ,evil -igure 'he =vil -igure with <ltimately "ood Heart

'he Creature of Hightmare

) monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest part of the human psyche to threaten the lives of the hero8heroine. 0ften it is a perversion or desecration of the human body. )n animal, or more usually a human, whose death in a public ceremony e*piates some taint or sin of a community. 'hey are often more powerful in death than in life. ) character banished from a social group for some real or imagined crime against his fellow man, usually destined to wander form place to place. ) woman who is a source of inspiration to the hero, who has an intellectual rather than physical attraction to her ) vulnerable woman who needs to be rescued by the hero. $he is often used as a trap to ensnare the unsuspecting hero. $ymbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility, this character traditionally offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those with whom she comes in contact. 0ften depicted in earth colors, has large breasts and hips symbolic of her childbearing capacities.

'he $capegoat

'he 0utcast

'he 4latonic Ideal

,amsel in ,istress

'he =arth +other

Characterized by sensuous beauty, this woman is one to 'he 'emptress or Clack whom the protagonist is physically attracted and who "oddess ultimately brings about his downfall. +ay appear as a witch or vampire %hite "oddess 'he <nfaithful %ife $tar2Crossed #overs "ood, beautiful maiden, usually blond, may make an ideal marriage partner> often has religious or intellectual overtones. ) woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant and is attracted to more virile or interesting men. 'wo characters engaged in a love affair fated to end tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of society, friends, family, or some tragic situation.

Symbolic Archetypes
Archetype #ight vs. ,arkness Description #ight usually suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination> darkness implies the unknown, ignorance, or despair. $ome characters e*hibit wisdom and understanding of situations instinctively as opposed to those supposedly in charge. #oyal retainers often e*hibit this wisdom as they accompany the hero on the ourney. $piritual beings intervene on the side of the hero or sometimes against him. -ire represents knowledge, light, life, and rebirth, while ice, like the desert, represents ignorance, darkness, sterility, and death. Hature is good while technology is evil. "ateway to a new world which the hero must enter to change and grow ) place of death or metaphorically an encounter with the dark side of the self. =ntering an underworld is a form of facing a fear of death. 4laces of safety contrast sharply against a dangerous wilderness. Heroes are often sheltered for a time to regain health and resources Cecause %ater is necessary to life and growth, it commonly appears as a birth symbol, as baptism symbolizes a spiritual birth. &ain, rivers, oceans, etc. also function the same way. 'he ,esert suggests the opposite. +an has traditionally associated parts of the universe not accessible to him with the dwelling places of the primordial forces that govern his world. 'he skies and mountaintops house his gods, the bowels of the earth contain diabolic forces. ) place or time of decision when a realization is made and change or penance results *+a&ple

Innate %isdom vs. =ducated $tupidity $upernatural Intervention -ire and Ice Hature vs. +echanistic %orld 'he 'hreshold

'he <nderworld

Haven vs. %ilderness

%ater vs. ,esert

Heaven vs. Hell

'he Crossroads

'he +aze 'he Castle

) puzzling dilemma or great uncertainty, search for the dangerous monster inside of oneself, or a ourney into the heart of darkness ) strong place of safety which holds treasure or princess, may be enchanted or bewitched

) strong place of evil, represents the isolation of self 'he 'ower 'he weapon the hero needs in order to complete his 5uest. 'he +agic %eapon $ymbolizes the destructive power of nature or fate. 'he %hirlpool $ymbolizes uncertainty. -og &ed( blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder "reen( growth, hope, fertility Clue( highly positive, security, tran5uility, spiritual purity Clack( darkness, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil, melancholy %hite( light, purity, innocence, timelessness /negatives( death, horror, supernatural1 Gellow( enlightenment, wisdom 6!light, spiritual awareness, unity /holy trinity1, male principle 7!associated with the circle, life cycle, four seasons, female principle, earth, nature, elements :!the most potent of all symbolic numbers signifying the union of three and four, the completion of a cycle, perfect order, perfect number, religious symbol

Colors

Humbers