Archetypes

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Archetypes
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Definition

• An archetype is a universal symbol. These symbols
  stretch across time and culture.

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Originator of the Idea of Archetypes

• Carl Jung developed the idea of archetypes. He
  believed that man has unconscious, pre-existing
  images that act as organizing principles for what
  we see and do.

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Literary Symbols vs. Archetypes

• Literary Symbol a symbol that is specific to
  one work of literature
• Archetype a symbol that is not specific to one
  work of literature but is relevant in many works
  of literature throughout time and cultures.

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Character Archetypes
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The Hero

• Spirited away and raised by foster parents
• Almost nothing is known about his childhood
• Upon reaching manhood he returns to his future
  kingdom
• Has a victory over a king or beast
• Marries a princess (gets the girl)
• Has a mysterious death

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The Young Man from the Provinces
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.
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The Initiates

• These are young heroes or heroines who, prior to
  their quest, must endure some training and
  ceremony. They are usually innocent and often
  wear white.

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Mentors

• These individuals serve as teachers or
  counselors to the initiates. Sometimes they work
  as role models and often serve as a father or
  mother figure.

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Mentor-Pupil Relationship

• The mentor teaches by example the skills
  necessary to survive the quest.

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Father-Son Conflict

• Tension often results from separation during
  childhood or from an external source. When the
  individuals meet as men, the mentor often has a
  higher place in the affections of the hero than
  the natural parent.

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Group of Hunting Companions

• Loyal companions willing to face any number of
  perils for the experience of being together to
  share lifes adventures.

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Loyal Retainers

• These individuals are somewhat like servants
  who are heroic themselves. Their duty is to
  protect the hero and reflect the nobility of the
  hero.

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Friendly Beast

• This creature shows that even nature is on the
  side of the hero.

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The Devil Figure

• Evil incarnate, this character offers worldly
  goods, fame, or knowledge to the protagonist in
  exchange for possession of the soul.

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The Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good Heart

• A redeemable devil figure saved by the nobility
  or love of the hero.

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The Scapegoat

• A human or animal whose death in a public
  ceremony expiates some taint or sin that has been
  visited upon a community. Death often makes
  scapegoats a more powerful force in the society
  than when they lived.
• Who is our most famous scapegoat?

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The Outcast

• A figure who is banished from a social group for
  some crime (real or imagined) against a fellow
  man. The outcast is usually destined to become a
  wanderer from place to place.

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The Woman Figure
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The Earth Mother

• Symbol of fruition, abundance and fertility. She
  provides emotional and spiritual nourishment for
  those with whom she comes in contact. Usually is
  shown wearing earth colors. She usually has large
  breasts and hips to symbolize her childbearing
  capabilities.

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The Temptress

• The temptress is a sensuous beauty that
  physically attracts the hero. She usually
  contributes to his downfall.

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The Unfaithful Wife

• This woman is married to a man she finds dull or
  boring and is interested in a more virile or
  exciting man.

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The Platonic Ideal

• A woman who the hero is intellectually or
  spiritually attracted to. They do not have a
  romantic relationship.

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Star-Crossed Lovers

• A couple that is in love but their relationship
  is not approved of by their families or society.
  It is fated to end tragically for one or both of
  them.

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Creature of Nightmare

• A monster created in the deepest, darkest part of
  the human psyche.
• Usually a perversion of the human form.

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The End