What is an archetype?

1
What is an archetype?

• An original model after which other similar
  things are patterned
• Found in every culture all over the world

2
Situational Archetypeswrite them ALL down

• The Quest
• The Task
• The Initiation

• The Journey
• The Fall
• Death and Rebirth

3
Stage I of the Heros Journey

• The Departure
• Includes The Quest and The Task

4
The Quest

• Search for someone or an object
• Restores peace or balance to a society

5
The Task

• A test for the hero
• Hero has to perform a super-human deed

6
Stage II of the Heros Journey

• The Initiation
• Trials
• Tribulation
• Transitions into adulthood or another role

7
Stage III of the Heros Journey

• The Return
• The Journey-spiritual discovery
• The Fall-higher to lower state of being

8
Death and Rebirth

• Shows cycle of nature and life

9
Character Archetypes
10
THE HERO Many traits!

• Unusual circumstances of birth
• Leaves family or land
• Event leads to quest
• Has special weapon only he can wield
• Gets supernatural help

• Must pass test
• Usually has a journey and an unhealable wound
• Experiences atonement with parent(s)
• Glorified at the end of the quest

11
Major Character Archetypes

• The Initiates
• The Mentor
• The Hunting Group of Companions
• The Friendly Beast
• The Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good Heart

• The Devil Figure
• The Transgressor
• The Destroyer
• The Trickster
• The Scapegoat
• The Outcast
• The Earth Mother

12
Character Archetypes Continued

• The Innocent
• The Temptress
• The Platonic Ideal
• The Amazon Warrior
• The Damsel in Distress
• Creatures of Nightmares

• The Threshold Guardian
• The Shadow
• The Star-Crossed Lovers

13
Symbolic Archetypes
14
Symbolic Archetypes

• Light vs. Darkness
• Water vs. Desert
• Heaven vs. Hell
• Fire vs. Ice
• Nature vs. Mechanistic World
• Good vs. Evil
• Father vs. Son

• Supernatural Intervention
• Unhealable Wound
• Ritual
• Magic Weapon

15
Color Archetypes

• Yes, writers of literature and film choose colors
  for a reason!

16
White

• Positive connotations
• Light, innocence, purity, virginity
• Negative
• Death, terror, supernatural, blinding truth
• http//www.starwars.com/databank/organization/stor
  mtroopers/

17
Black

• Positive connotations
• Knowledge, intelligence
• Negative
• Evil, sadness, chaos, mystery, death
• http//www.starwars.com/databank/character/darthva
  der/

18
Yellow

• Positive connotations hope, happiness
• Negative connotations dishonesty, cowardice,
  deceit, illness

19
Red

• Positive connotations
• Love, artistry
• Negative
• Blood, sacrifice, disorder

Red is also generally associated with STRONG
emotions.
20
Blue

• Positive color associated with serenity, truth,
  spiritual purity, peace, security, loyalty

21
Green

• Positive associations
• Life, rebirth, growth, hope, fertility, luck
• Negative
• Death, decay, envy, misfortune

22
Orange

• Positive color made from red and yellow
  symbolizes hope and passion, energy and balance
• http//www.starwars.com/community/news/2002/03/new
  s20020308b.html

23
Brown

• Earth tones positively represent nature and ideas
  of earth, hearth, home, the outdoors, comfort,
  endurance, simplicity
• http//www.starwars.com/databank/speci
  es/ewok/eu.html

24
Purple

• Positive connotations wisdom, enlightenment,
  power, royalty
• Negative cruelty and arrogance

25
Pink

• Positive connotations health, purity, sexuality,
  pure love
• Negative childish innocence, immaturity

26
Numeric Symbolism

• Yes, numbers can mean something, too!

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Significant Numbers

• One complete unity
• Two symbolizes duality (night/day, sun/moon,
  etc.)
• Three associated with Holy Trinity, light, unity

• Four associated with the circle, life cycle,
  seasons, elements, earth, nature
• Seven signifies the union of 3 and 4, which
  signifies perfect order