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An image, story pattern, or character type
which occurs frequently and evokes strong,
often unconscious associations in the reader
(Ex: fairy godmother, wicked witch,
enchanted prince)
Most often divided into the following
categories: situational archetype, symbolic
archetype, character archetype, and thematic
archetype
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Sigmund Freud’s beliefs were that personal
experiences have been forgotten or
repressed, yet linger in the unconcious mind
and motivate, shape, or control much of our
experiences.
Carl Jung believed that somehow the
experiences of ancestors are embedded into
the minds of unaware men and women; he
called this “shared memory.”
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A situation that occurs in many cultures and
stories
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This motif describes the search for someone
of some talisman, which when found and
brought back, will restore fertility to a wasted
land.
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Lion King?
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Excalibur?
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To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, or
to identify himself so that he may resume his
rightful position, the hero must perform
some nearly superhuman deed. NOT the
same as the Quest, the Task is merely a
function of the ultimate goal.
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This usually takes the form of an initiation
into adult life; the adolescent comes into
maturity with new awareness and problems
along with a new hope for the community.
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This sends the hero in search of some truth
or information necessary to restore fertility to
the kingdom. Usually, the hero is forced into
a real or psychological hell and is forced to
uncover the worst truths, quite often
concerning his own faults. Once the hero is at
his lowest point, he must accept personal
responsibility to return to the world of the
living.
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This describes the descent from a higher to a
lower state of being. The experience involves
a defilement and/or loss of innocence and
bliss. It is often accompanied by expulsion
from a kind of paradise or homeland as
penalty for disobedience.
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Nature is good, while technology and society
are often evil.
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This is the battle between two primal forces.
Mankind shows eternal optimism in the
continual triumph of good over evil despite
great odds.
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This is the actual ceremony the initiate must
experience that will mark his rite of passage
into another state.
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This symbolizes the extraordinary quality of
the hero because only the hero can wield the
weapon or use it to its full potential. It is
usually given to the hero by a mentor figure.
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This wound is either physical or psychological
and cannot be fully healed. The wound always
aches and often drives the sufferer to
desperate measures.
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An object or place that has a universal
symbolism
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Light usually suggests goodness, renewal, or
intellectual illumination; darkness implies the
unknown, evil, or despair.
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Because water is necessary for growth, it
commonly appears as a birth or rebirth
symbol. Desert would imply infertility.
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The dwelling places of primordial forces that
control the world, either physical or
psychological.
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Places of safety contrast sharply with
dangerous places of wilderness.
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Fire represents knowledge, light, life, and
rebirth. Ice represents ignorance, darkness,
and death.
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Some characters exhibit wisdom and
understanding of situations instinctively as
opposed to those supposedly in charge.
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The gods intervene on the side of the hero or
sometimes against him.
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Includes common familiar individuals
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The main character, the hero’s mother is a
virgin, the circumstances around his birth are
mysterious, or some attempt was made to kill
him. He is spirited away and raised by foster
parents. We learn little about his childhood,
but upon reaching manhood, he returns to
his kingdom. He eventually becomes a leader
after triumphing over some other man or
beast, but then he loses favor with the gods.
He meets an untimely death, usually at the
top of a hill, and isn’t buried, but has at least
one holy sepulcher.
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These are young heroes who, prior to their
quests, must endure some training ceremony.
They are usually innocent and often wear
white.
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This individual serves as a teacher or
counselor to the initiates.
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The mentor teaches by example the skills
needed to survive the quest.
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Tension often results from separation during
childhood or from an external source when
the individuals meet as men.
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This is a group of loyal companions willing to
face any number of perils in order to be
together.
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These individuals are somewhat like servants
who are heroes, themselves. Their duty is to
protect the hero and reflect the nobility of the
hero.
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This shows that nature is on the side of the
hero.
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Satan, incarnate, this character offers worldly
goods, fame, or knowledge in exchange for
the soul.
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This is a redeemable devil figure who is saved
by the nobility or love of the hero.
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This is an animal or human whose death in a
public ceremony expiates some taint or sin
that has been visited on the community. This
death often makes the scapegoat a more
powerful force.
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This is a figure who is banished from a social
group or place for some crime against his
fellow man.
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This character, often dressed in earth tones,
offers spiritual and emotional nourishment
and is symbolic to fruition and purity.
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Characterized by sensuous beauty, this
woman is one to whom the protagonist is
physically attracted.
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This woman is a source of strength and a
spiritual ideal for whom the protagonist has
an emotional or spiritual rather than a
physical attraction.
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The lost or endangered woman who must be
rescued by the hero.
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These two characters are engaged in a love
affair that is fated to end tragically due to the
disapproval of society, friends, or family.
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This is a monster usually summoned from the
deepest, darkest part of the human psyche to
threaten the life of the hero.
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A recurring theme: good can overcome evil,
people can redeem themselves, or the dead
can communicate from “beyond”
1.
The Quest
Situational
2.
The White Robe
Symbolic
3.
The Battle between
Good and Evil
Situational
4.
The Hero
Character
5.
The Wild Youth
learns life lessons
from the Wise Elder
Situational
6.
The Friendly Beast
Character
7.
The Outcast
Character
8.
The Cross
Symbolic
9.
Light vs. Darkness
Symbolic
 10.
Supernatural
Intervention will always
Save the Day
 Thematic
11.
The Apparently
Evil Figure with the
Ultimately Good Heart
Character
12.
The Dove
Symbolic
13.
The Fall from
Grace
Situational