THE KNIGHT'S QUEST -OR- GRAIL QUEST ============================================ The valiant mission of the Knights is the Quest of the

Holy Grail, the mystical heart of the ancient spirituality and esoteric Tradition of the West. The Quest opens the gates to a treasury of divine secrets, a heaven of the most holy myst eries of God and bids us to find it. The Grail is as personal as it is universal, and is symbolic of all that is near and dear to us, the fulfillment of our heart's desire. ================================= ARCHETYPES IN LITERATURE 1. What is an archetype ? 2. A Simple Definition According to the American Heritage Online Dictionary an archetype is an original model or type which other similar things are patterned after, in other words a prototype or first model for all others. 3. Carl Jung Carl Jung first applied the term archetype to literature. He re cognized that there were universal patterns in all stories and mythologies regar dless of culture or historical period and hypothesized that part of the human mi nd contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human species , a sort of universal, primal memory. Joseph Campbell took Jung s ideas and applie d them to world mythologies. In A Hero with a Thousand Faces, among other works, he refined the concept of hero and the hero s journey George Lucas used Campbell s wr itings to formulate the Star Wars saga. Recognizing archetypal patterns in liter ature brings patterns we all unconsciously respond to in similar ways to a consc ious level. 4. The term archetype can be applied to: An image A theme A symbol An idea A character type A plot pattern 5. Archetypes can be expressed in Myths Dreams Literature Religions Fantasie s Folklore 6. Heroic Archetypes: Hero as warrior (Odysseus): A near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external enemies Hero as lover (Prince Charming): A pur e love motivate hero to complete his quest Hero as Scapegoat (Jesus): Hero suffe rs for the sake of others The Superheroic: Exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity; frequently has divine or supernatural origins. In some sense, the sup erhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is nonetheless n eeded by society. (Mythological heroes, Superman) 7. Types of Archetypal Journeys The quest for identity The epic journey to f ind the promised land/to found the good city The quest for vengeance The warrior s journey to save his people The search for love (to rescue the princess/damsel i n distress) The journey in search of knowledge The tragic quest: penance or self -denial The fool s errand The quest to rid the land of danger The grail quest (the quest for human perfection) 8. The Hero s Journey Stage 1 - Departure : The hero is called to adventure, a lthough he is reluctant to accept. Stage 2 - Initiation : The hero crosses a thr eshold into a new, more dangerous world, gaining a more mature perspective. Stag e 3 - The Road of Trials : The hero is given supernatural aid, endures tests of strength, resourcefulness, and endurance. Stage 4 - The Innermost Cave : The her o descends into the innermost cave, an underworld, or some other place of great trial. Sometimes this place can be within the hero s own mind. Because of this tri

al, the hero is reborn in some way physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Throug h this experience, the hero changes internally. Stage 5 - Return and Reintegrati on with Society : The hero uses his new wisdom to restore fertility and order to the land 9. Characteristics of the Hero s Journey The hero is nave and inexperienced The hero meets monsters or monstrous men The hero has a strange, wise being as a me ntor The hero years for the beautiful lady who is sometimes his guide or inspira tion The hero must go on a journey, learn a lesson, change in some way, and retu rn home The hero often crosses a body of water or travels on a bridge. The hero is born and raised in a rural setting away from cities The origin of the hero is mysterious or the hero losses his/her parents at a young age, being raised by a nimals or a wise guardian 10. Characteristics of the Hero s Journey The hero returns to the land of his/ her birth in disguise or as an unknown The hero is special, one of a kind. He/sh e might represent a whole nation or culture The hero struggles for something val uable and important The hero has help from divine or supernatural forces The her o has a guide or guides The hero goes through a rite of passage or initiation, a n event that marks a change from an immature to a more mature understanding of t he world The hero undergoes some type of ritual or ceremony after his/her initia tion The hero has a loyal band of companions The hero makes a stirring speech to his/her companions The hero engages in tests or contests of strength (physical and/or mental) and shows pride in his/her excellence The hero suffers an unheala ble wound, sometimes an emotional or spiritual wound from which the hero never c ompletely recovers. 11. Archetype Chart Assignment Purpose: To discover what prototype characters, symbol, plots, ideas you see that began with the epic of Gilgamesh Directions: Fill in the chart with the archetype name and an explanation of how you see that archetype in Gilgamesh OR in another work of literature. You should find at lea st four and then one example for each archetype to support your archetype. There is a clue to at least one in the introductory reading material to this assignme nt. For the chart, remember that you have to fill in 4 archetypes, but you can g et your examples for either Gilgamesh or another epic (you do not have to fill i n all 8 boxes of examples). Example: Odysseus is the hero in search of home URL: http://www.mythweb.com/odyssey Gilgamesh must return home to his kingdom a bett er man The Hero as a warrior Odysseus long journey home from war URL: http://www. mythweb.com/odyssey/ When Enkidu & Gilgamesh seek out Humbaba The journey Exampl e from another epic Name of epic The Odyssey EXAMPLE FROM GILGAMESH ARCHETYPE ============================================= http://www.slideshare.net/jtrometter/archetypes-10400508 Archetypes Presentation Transcript

1. Archetypes Universal Patterns in Literature and Myth 2. Archetypes - Jung Carl Jung Universal patterns in all stories and mytholo gies, regardless of culture or historical period Collective unconscious Method o f sorting the world into patterns or archetypes hard-wired http://www.conspiracy-ti mes.com/images/sub_images/cg_jung.jpg 3. Archetypes - Campbell Joseph Campbell The Hero With a Thousand Faces (194 9) Proposed that myths from all over the world seem to be built from the same ele mentary ideas Hero s Journey AKA: the monomyth The closer a work is to fantasy (less realistic), the more clearly you will see the underlying mythic structure http:/ /www.mythsdreamssymbols.com/images/joe.gif 4. Familiar with What Happens Next What's going to happen? 5. Heroic Archetypes Hero as Warrior A near god-like hero faces physical cha llenges and external enemies Examples: Beowulf, Odysseus Transcendent Hero The h

ero of tragedy whose fatal flaw (hamartia) brings about his downfall, but not wi thout achieving some kind of transforming realization of wisdom Examples: Greek and Shakespearean tragedies Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth, etc. 6. Heroic Archetypes, cont. Hero as Lover A pure love motivates the hero to complete his quest Examples: Prince Charming, Romeo Romantic/Gothic Hero Hero/lo ver with a decidedly dark side Examples: Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre Apocalyptic Hero Hero who faces the possible destruction of society http://www.handsomedevil press.com/i/guys/G-021-prince-charming.jpg 7. Heroic Archetypes, cont. Proto-feminist Hero Female hero, which differs f rom a heroine A heroine usually exists as the object of a male quest The female hero has her own journey Overall movement is the same, but kinds of challenges, confrontations, goals and ends may differ. Often fight against society s expectati ons of them 8. Heroic Archetypes, cont. Anti-Hero A non-hero, given the vocation of fail ure, frequently humorous Example: Homer Simpson Defiant Anti-Hero Opposer of soc iety s definition of heroism/goodness Example: Heart of Darkness http://l.yimg.com /img.tv.yahoo.com/tv/us/img/site/43/36/0000034336_20061020191519.jpg 9. Heroic Archetypes, cont. Hero as Scapegoat Hero suffers for the sake of o thers Example: Jesus Unbalanced hero The protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional deficiencies Examples: Hamlet, McMurphy in One Flew O ver the Cuckoo s Nest http://blog.afi.com/100movies/user-uploads/post1338.jpg 10. Heroic Archetypes, cont. The Other The Denied Hero Protagonist whose sta tus or essential otherness makes heroism possible The outcast or member of a min ority group Example: Drizzt Do Urden (Dark Elf Series), Invisible Man by Ralph Ell ison 11. Heroic Archetypes, cont. The Superheroic Exaggerates the normal proporti ons of humanity Frequently has divine or supernatural origins. In some sense, th e superhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is neverthe less needed by society Examples: Mythological heroes such as Hercules, Superman http://images.art.com/images/-/Lou-Ferrigno---Hercules-Photograph-C10101949.jpeg http://www.watchingamerica.com/images/superman_pic.jpeg 12. Types of Archetypal Journeys The Quest for Identity Discover who they (o r someone else) are/is The Epic Journey to Find the Promised Land or Found the G ood City The Quest for Vengeance The Warrior s Journey to Save His People The Sear ch for Love To rescue the princess/damsel in distress 13. Types of Archetypal Journeys The Journey in Search of Knowledge The Trag ic Quest penance or self-denial The Fool s Errand The Quest to Rid the Land of Dan ger The Grail Quest The quest for human perfection 14. Stages of the Hero s Journey 15. Stage: Departure Step 1: The Call to Adventure The call to adventure is the point in a person's life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not. Step 2: The Refusal of the Call O ften when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be fro m a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circum stances. 16. Stage: Departure Step 3: Meeting the Mentor / Supernatural Aid Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known. 17. Stage: Departure Step 4: The Crossing of the First Threshold This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving th e known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous r ealm where the rules and limits are not known. 18. Stage: Departure Step 5: The Belly of the Whale The belly of the whale r epresents the final separation from the hero's known world and self. It is somet imes described as the person's lowest point, but it is actually the point when t he person is between or transitioning between worlds and selves. The separation has been made, or is being made, or being fully recognized between the old world and old self and the potential for a new world/self. The experiences that will shape the new world and self will begin shortly, or may be beginning with this e

xperience which is often symbolized by something dark, unknown and frightening. By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to undergo a metamorp hosis, to die to him or herself 19. Stage: Initiation Step 1: The Road of Trials The road of trials is a ser ies of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transf ormation. Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur i n threes. 20. Stage: Initiation Step 2: The Meeting with the Goddess This represents t he point in the adventure when the person experiences an unconditional love or a self unification does not have to be represented by a woman. Step 3: Woman as Tem ptress At one level, this step is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lus t from his spiritual journey. 21. Stage: Initiation Step 4: Atonement with Father In this step the person must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or he r life. In many myths and stories this is the father, or a father figure who has life and death power. This is the center point of the journey. Although this st ep is most frequently symbolized by an encounter with a male entity, it does not have to be a male; just someone or thing with incredible power. For the transfo rmation to take place, the person as he or she has been must be "killed&quo t; so that the new self can come into being. Sometime this killing is literal, a nd the earthly journey for that character is either over or moves into a differe nt realm. 22. Stage: Initiation Step 5: Innermost Cave/Descent into Darkness The hero descends into the innermost cave, an underworld or some other place of great tri al. Sometimes this place can be within the hero s own mind. Because of this trial, the hero is reborn in some way physically, emotionally, spiritually. Through th is experience, the hero changes internally. Sometimes seen as death, and rebirth , either in the original world or in a new plane of experience Step 6: Apotheosi s Becoming god-like A more mundane way of looking at this step is that it is a per iod of rest, peace and fulfillment before the hero begins the return. 23. Stage: Initiation The Ultimate Boon/ Fulfilling the Quest The ultimate b oon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the person went on t he journey to get. All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step. 24. Stage: Return Step 1: The Refusal of the Return Hero is reluctant to ret urn to normal life, despite the fact that their return will bring wisdom or the be nefits of the ultimate boon to their society So why, when all has been achieved, the ambrosia has been drunk, and we have conversed with the gods, why come back to normal life with all its cares and woes? The hero is concerned that their mess age won't be heard, or that their gifts will be unappreciated, or that the wisdo m gained can not be communicated 25. Stage: Return Step 2: The Magic Flight Sometimes the hero must escape wi th the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding. It c an be just as adventurous and dangerous returning from the journey as it was to go on it. "If the hero in his triumph wins the blessing of the goddess or t he god and is then explicitly commissioned to return to the world with some elix ir for the restoration of society, the final stage of his adventure is supported by all the powers of his supernatural patron. On the other hand, if the trophy has been attained against the opposition of its guardian, or if the hero's wish to return to the world has been resented by the gods or demons, then the last st age of the mythological round becomes a lively, often comical, pursuit. This fli ght may be complicated by marvels of magical obstruction and evasion". -- ( Campbell 196-7) 26. Stage: Return Step 3: Rescue from without Often the hero must have power ful guides and rescuers to bring them back to everyday life, especially if the p erson has been wounded or weakened by the experience. Sometimes the hero doesn't realize that it is time to return, that they can return, or that others need th eir boon.

27. Stage: Return Step 4: Crossing the Return Threshold The trick in returni ng is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of t he world. This is usually extremely difficult. 28. Stage: Return Step 5: The Master of Two Worlds The hero achieves balance between the inner and outer worlds, the spiritual and material Step 6: Freedom to Live Mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which in turn is the fr eedom to live. This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment, neither an ticipating the future nor regretting the past. 29. Characteristics of the Hero s Journey Common Elements Found in Many Storie s 30. Characteristics: Personal Traits Hero is nave and inexperienced Hero is s pecial, one of a kind. He/she might represent a whole nation or culture Hero is neither a fool nor invincible 31. Characteristics: Origins Origins of the hero are mysterious or obscure H ero loses his/her parents at a young age, and is raised by animals or a wise gua rdian Hero is often in an orphan-like state, losing parents & mentors throughout the journey Hero is born and raised in a rural setting, away from cities 32. Characteristics: Companions Hero has a strange, wise being as a mentor H ero yearns for a beautiful lady who is sometimes his guide or inspiration Hero h as a guide or multiple guides Hero has a loyal band of companions Hero makes a s tirring speech to his/her companions Although the hero has companions, he/she is still alone because the friends/servants cannot fully understand Hero often has an animal familiar 33. Characteristics: Events Hero must go on a journey, learn a lesson, chang e in some way, and return home Hero struggles for something valuable and importa nt Hero goes through a rite of passage or initiation An event that marks a chang e from an immature to a more mature understanding of the world Hero undergoes so me type of ritual or ceremony after his/her initiation 34. Characteristics: Events Hero engages in tests or contests of strength (p hysical and/or mental) and shows pride in his/her excellence Hero meets monsters or monstrous men Hero often crosses a body of water or travels on a bridge Hero battles with a brother 35. Characteristics: Events Hero has help from divine or supernatural forces Hero is often given magical aids The way is not always direct or clear to the h ero There is often a prophecy about the hero The hero often wears the enemy s skin isguises self as the enemy Hero often chases a lone animal into the enchanted wo od Animal usually escapes 36. Characteristics: Events Usually, the final test is a descent into darkne ss Hell-like place of suffering & death (physical &/or emotional) Leads to enlig htenment or maturity Symbolizes death & rebirth Hero is changed in important way s What the hero seeks is often only a symbol of what they really find Maturity o r growth is more important than the actual goal of the quest 37. Characteristics: Events Hero suffers an unhealable wound, sometimes an e motional or spiritual wound from which the hero never completely recovers Hero r eturns to the land of his/her birth in disguise or as an unknown 38. Other Common Archetypes 2 Worlds Mundane and special Oracle Failed Hero Shapeshifter Hero isn t sure if the ally can be trusted Shadow Comedians 39. Bibliography http:// www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/journey /