ARCHETYPES
In literary criticism, archetypes are
configurations that appear in myth,
, folklore, fantasy, and dreams, as well as in art and
; they are used to discuss the significance of a
,
, or situation.
Archetypal Figures
The “Woman Figure”
Women are often found in roles of the
who provides motivation
and support
A Temptress Figure, who sometimes sexually
the hero
from his journey,
A Platonic
Figure who the hero has
with
A Helper, who
the hero on his way.
Women also are in roles of the Witch using powers for
or the
using powers for Good.
Usually females are
found in the role of a hero, but some examples of female heroes are:
Sage / Guide:
The Sage provides the hero with
, advice, sometimes
strength.
Good examples of the Guide are:
, Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda in
Star Wars, Rafiki from The Lion King, and Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
The Outcast / Trickster:
This character usually takes the
for things having gone wrong. They pay for the
crimes by banishment from the social group. Good examples of the Outcast are:
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The Adversary / Devil Figure:
This character, the perpetual antagonist to the protagonist, attempts to thwart the
plans and disrupt his journey; is evil incarnate,
,
lustful, usually rich, examples:
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The Hero
The most
archetype is of course the hero who usually possesses
some
powers. However, the common man can also
become heroic by completing extraordinary tasks.
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Archetypal Themes
In literature, there are not only archetypal characters, but also recurring themes from story
to story that are very common
Appearance versus Reality: This theme underlies many works of literature, and usually
illustrates the idea that all the hero sees is
as it appears to be. Enemies can appear to be
friends, familiar places can be
, and even the world
itself can be an illusion.
Good versus Evil:
This is the most common theme in literature, especially Fantasy literature,
where the hero (or heroes) are pitted against the
, and must
win several battles before facing the arch-enemy in a final battle to save the world, his love interest,
or his very soul.
True Love Conquers All
Life Always ends in Happily Ever After
Death and Rebirth are part of Life
The Fall
This describes a descent from a higher to a lower state of being. The experience involves a loss of
innocence, and an expulsion from a kind of paradise as penalty for disobedience and moral
transgression. The story of Adam and Eve develops this theme.
Archetypal Symbols

 Light/Dark Imagery
 Light usually represents
 Darkness implies the
 Water/Desert Wastelands
 Water is necessary for
Water as an element can also be
change or conflict.
, renewal or intellectual illumination
, ignorance, or despair.
and growth it appears as a birth or rebirth symbol.
: hurricanes, storms, can signify
 The Desert is usually seen as
wastelands in order to gain enlightenment.
 Fire
 This element can
associated with power.
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, death-like; many heroes pass through
or
and is usually
Heaven / Hell
These extreme places embody the forces that govern the world and man. Heaven represents the
good and the
. Hell represents evil and the ultimate punishment in
death and darkness.
Swords
Swords usually represent strength, dignity,
and grace. The
man who can exert the power of his sword is considered master of a craft.

ex. King Arthur’s sword Excalibur, sword used in Braveheart to mark the freedom of the
Scots, etc.

Used from story to story, swords come to represent a variety of ideas, concepts and
identities.

Archetypal Settings
The Humble Home
 Often the first setting observed in many adventure stories. It is usually the home of the hero
and represents the
he starts out with at the beginning of his
journey.
 These places are usually peaceful, natural, bright and sunny, and reflect the
of
the hero through his humble surroundings.
 At the end of the story, the hero often returns to his community but as part of his reward, he
may
to a home of higher status
 Examples: Kansas in The Wizard of Oz, and the farmhouse in The Princess Bride
Fantastic Lands
 These faraway lands are different from the original land where the hero comes from.
 Each place can
something quite different depending on what stage of
the quest the hero is at: a place of rest, evil, an obstacle, danger, paradise
 The hero must
through these archetypes before he can emerge
victorious at the end of the quest.
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