THE STUDY OF
ARCHETYPES
1 0 TH G R A D E L I T E R A T U R E
MRS. GREEN
WHAT IS AN ARCHETYPE?
• an image, character, story, symbol, situation, or
pattern that has been used since the earliest times
to represent a universal idea throughout all human
cultures
• a universal symbol (a symbol is a concrete object
used to represent an abstract idea)
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?
• The word is derived from the Greek “archetypos,”
meaning “beginning or original pattern from which later
things are made.”
• The term was first used by the psychologist, Carl Jung,
who spent much time studying people’s dreams as well
as myths and legends from around the world.
• He recognized similarities in the types of symbols and
stories that humans recalled. These similarities led him to
the conclusion that a “collective unconscious” existed –
a collection of inherited stories and images that exist in
the subconscious of every human being.
…BUT WHAT DOES THAT ALL MEAN?
• Basically, Carl Jung
determined that people
everywhere can recognize
the same symbols, or the
same archetypes,
because they are
concrete representations
of universal human
experiences.
WHY STUDY ARCHETYPES?
• The study of archetypes
can help you make the
leap from literal to
symbolic interpretation of
a work of art, whether it
be literature, a painting or
a film
• You’ve been studying
archetypes throughout
your entire life. You just
didn’t know it!
ARCHETYPES: PLACES
Place
What it represents
The
underworld
The encounter with the dark side of the self, the
fear of death
The
wilderness
Passion, lawlessness, the subconscious, chaos
(the happy forest, the haunted forest, the heath,
the prairie/frontier, the jungle, the primeval
forest, the sea)
The river
The stream of time and the flow of circumstance,
purity regained, sin washed away, death
…MORE PLACES
Place
What it represents
The garden
The production and idyllic state of innocence,
reconciliation and peace, harmony with nature,
the imagination, childhood (the tree of life, the
enchanted garden, the hidden garden – the
self; sexuality)
The rock
The stony place of suffering
The desert
The place of purity, self-awareness, deprivation,
solitude, loneliness, lonely quest for meaning
The
crossroads
The place of decision, penance, self-denial
…A FEW MORE PLACES
Place
What it represents
The maze or
labyrinth
Puzzling dilemmas or great uncertainty, the
search for the dangerous monster inside the
self, journey to the heart of darkness
The winding
stair
Arduous and dangerous way into the unknown
The wheel
Fortune, the circle of life, death and rebirth,
cycle of nature
The castle
Strong place of safety, holds treasure or
princess, may be enchanted
The tower
Strong place of evil or isolation of the self
ARCHETYPES: PEOPLE
THE HERO
• Characterized
by selfsacrifice,
heroes will
endure
separation
and hardship
for the sake of
their people
Common Characteristics:
• Born and raised in a rural setting away from
cities
• Is of mysterious origin or becomes orphaned
at an early age and is raised by animals or a
wise guardian
• Has a mentor or teacher
• Loves and admires a beautiful lady
• Must go on a journey, learn a lesson, change
in some way
• Is special, one of a kind
• Must pay a
price to attain
their goals
• Is helped by divine, supernatural forces
• Struggles for something valuable or important
• Has a loyal band of companions
• Is prepared to fight or die at any moment
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
1.
The Call to Adventure
2.
Refusal of the Call/Acceptance of the Call (by force, chance, mistake or
choice)
3.
Supernatural Aid
4.
Crossing the threshold or defeating the guardian of the threshold
5.
Rebirth of the Hero: hero emerges with a new sense of self, a belief in
him/herself
6.
The Task: the action which heroes must perform in order to save the people
7.
The Initiation: ordeal undergone by the hero in order to attain full
status/maturity
8.
The Fall: the hero’s loss of innocence or high position, hubris causes the fall,
humility results in the end
9.
The Journey: representative of the journey of life, this is the hero’s path
through danger, hardship, ordeals, and other tests of strength, maturity,
wisdom on the way to the goal
10.
The Return: hero uses new wisdom to restore order and peace to the land
ARCHETYPES: PEOPLE
The Mentor
Teaches a hero and gives him/her gifts (weapons,
food, magic, information); can serve as the
hero’s conscience
The Threshold
Guardian
Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin
the journey
The Warrior
Noble champion; knight in shining armor
Companions
Loyal companions willing to face hardship and
ordeal in order to stay together
The Trickster
The clown, mischief-maker, sometimes an ally or
companion of the hero; represents the force of
cunning pitted against opponents who are
stronger or more powerful
…MORE PEOPLE
The Traitor or
Backstabber
The double-agent who betrays those who trust
him most. Plots the destruction of friends.
The Outcast
The lonely outsider who wanders aimlessly
hoping to belong
The Devil Figure Evil incarnate (often, but not always, the villain)
The Shadow
The hero’s dark self or what he/she refuses to
“see” within themselves; may appear as
something or someone who is bad, fearsome, or
despicable in some way
The Monster
The prince who has been turned into the beast;
the double, the frightening side of nature
Evil Figure with
the Ultimately
Good Heart
A devil figure with the potential to be good. This
person is usually saved by the love of the hero.
…JUST A FEW MORE…
The Scapegoat
An animal, or more usually a human, whose
death in a public ceremony resolves the sin of
an entire community. They are often more
powerful in death than in life.
The Platonic
Ideal
A woman who is a source of inspiration to the
hero, who has an intellectual rather that
physical attractiveness about her.
Damsel in
Distress
A vulnerable woman who needs to be rescued
by the hero.
Earth
Mother/Nurturer
Symbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility.
Offers spiritual and emotional nourishment.
Temptress/Siren
/Black Goddess
Characterized by sensuous beauty. The hero is
often attracted to her and she brings about his
downfall. May appear as a witch or vampire.
ARCHETYPES: CONCEPTS/IDEAS
• Father-Son Conflict: In this
relationship, the tension is built due
to separation from childhood or
some other source when the two
meet as men
• Star-Crossed Lovers: Two 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
CURRENT ARCHETYPE TREND
• Recently, in film, it has become very trendy to mock
or satirize archetypes.
• For example, movies like Shrek, The Princess Bride,
and Enchanted all take fairy tale concepts,
characters, places and situations and exaggerate
them for comedic effect.
YOU SEE?
YOU’VE BEEN STUDYING
ARCHETYPES SINCE YOU STARTED
READING BOOKS AND WATCHING
TV/MOVIES, AND YOU DIDN’T
EVEN KNOW IT!
THINK-PAIR-SHARE
NOW LET’S SEE HOW MANY EXAMPLES YOU CAN
COME UP WITH:
Think about examples we’ve discussed in class, as well as
others you can come up with.
Share your thoughts with a partner.
Complete the third column of your “people” chart.
Consider the following films:
Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Twilight, The Chronicles of
Narnia, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Lion King,
Finding Nemo, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Matrix, The
Wizard of Oz, etc.