What makes a “good” teacher?
“For we have not even to risk the
adventure alone, for the heroes of all
time have gone before us...”
― Joseph Campbell
Archetype
ar·che·type (ärk-tp) n.
1. An original model or type after which other similar
things are patterned; a prototype: "'Frankenstein' . . .
'Dracula' . . . 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' . . . the
archetypes that have influenced all subsequent horror
stories" (New York Times).
2. An ideal example of a type; quintessence: an archetype
of the successful entrepreneur.
3. In Jungian psychology, an inherited pattern of thought
or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective
experience and present in the individual unconscious.
Background:
• Psychologist (A person trained and educated to
perform psychological research, testing, and
therapy) Carl Jung and scholar Joseph Campbell
spread the idea of archetypes. They did not create
the concept.
• There are repeating patters of character types,
symbols, relationships, and situations in stories
across time periods.
Background:
• For example, each culture has a creation
myth, and history repeats itself.
• Archetypes are common character types,
symbols and relationships that appear often in
stories (new and old). Archetypes help us to
understand the purpose/function of
characters in a story.
Background:
• Archetypes are like masks that the characters
wear at different points of the story.
• We will focus on 7: hero, mentor, herald,
threshold guardian, shapeshifter, trickster, and
shadow.
What makes a (insert archetype)?
Hero
Qualities/Characteristics:
• Selfless; self-sacrifice
• Easily identified with; everyman
• Seven different types
Types/Examples:
• Willing: King Arthur, Hercules
• Unwilling: Shrek
• Cynical Anti-Hero: Gollum,
Gatsby, Captain Jack Sparrow
• Tragic Anti-Hero: Hamlet
• Group Oriented: William
Wallace
• Lone Hero: Indiana Jones
• Catalyst Hero: Superman
Mentor
Qualities/Characteristics:
Types/Examples:
• Loyal friend, wise adviser,
teacher, guardian
• Connected to all things; older
• Acts as the hero’s conscience
• May be what the hero could
become
• 2 responsibilities: teaching and
gift giving
• Dark mentor: opposite of heroic
values
• Fallen mentor: has trouble w/
own heroic journey
• Continuing mentor: recurring
characters in a series of stories
• Multiple mentors: each teaches
a new skill to the hero
• Comic mentor: advising sidekick
• Shaman: aids the Hero in
seeking a guiding vision to help
on the journey.
Herald/Harbinger
Qualities/Characteristics:
Types/Examples:
• Gives a challenge or announces
the coming of change.
• Can be a chance or planned
meeting with the hero.
• Often represented by an animal
• Compels the Hero to answer
the Call to Adventure*
• Can be Hero’s inner knowledge
that change is needed or a
feeling of restlessness
• Negative: a Shadow or
Threshold Guardian (issuing a
challenge or trying to trick the
Hero)
• Positive: the mentor in disguise
• Neutral: an Ally or Threshold
Guardian (Hero has found
his/her own way to the 1st
Threshold)
Threshold Guardian
Types/Examples:
Qualities/Characteristics:
• A menacing face to the Hero,
but can be overcome or turn
into an ally
• Not the villain, but a lesser thug
or henchman hired to guard the
chief’s headquarters
• Placed to test the Hero’s
willingness and skill.
•
•
•
•
Not always characters
May represent obstacles (bad
weather, bad luck, prejudice,
oppression)
Can be the Hero’s internal
demons (emotional scars,
vices, dependencies, selflimitations)
Fully evolved Hero can learn to
feel compassion for his
enemies rather than just
destroy them.
Shapeshifter
Types/Examples:
Qualities/Characteristics:
• Can be confused w/ Trickster
• Main job = lure the Hero to
his/her doom or reward.
• In some stories the hero has to
figure out which side he or she
is dealing with
• Often begins life as a Threshold
Guardian.
•
•
•
•
•
Changes form
Often the Hero’s love interest
whom the Hero doesn’t
understand
Sincerity and loyalty is called
into question
Characters out for blood who
may try to murder the Hero
Ally or enemy label revealed at
the end of story
Trickster/Fool
Qualities/Characteristics:
Types/Examples:
• Differs from Shapeshifter in
that it is the comic aspect of
story
• Often begins life as a Threshold
Guardian.
• Personification of world’s chaos
w/ no purpose
• May or may not work with the
Hero or Shadow
• May have own skewed agenda
Shadow
Qualities/Characteristics:
• Represents the energy of the
dark side, the unexpressed,
unrealized, or rejected aspects
of something
• In direct conflict with the Hero
whose goal it is to destroy
Types/Examples:
• External shadows (Villains) must
be destroyed
• Internal shadows must be
acknowledged
• Mirror and personify the traits the
Hero refuses to acknowledge are
within himself/herself
• A Mentor may act as a Shadow to
teach the Hero a lesson
• Any character can be a shadow,
but only the character whose
motivations are in direct conflict
with the Hero’s is the Villain
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Hero:
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Hero: Marlin
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Mentor:
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Mentor: Crush (sea turtle)
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Herald: Nemo starting school
• Nemo First day of school - YouTube
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Threshold Guardian:
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Threshold Guardian: Bruce, Anchor, & Chum
(sharks) among other obstacles.
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Shapeshifter: Ocean (?)
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Trickster:
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Trickster: Dory
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Shadow:
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
• Shadow: separation from son; dentist, scubadiver
Let’s use a movie example:
Finding Nemo
•
•
•
•
Hero: Marlin
Mentor: Crush (sea turtle)
Herald: Nemo starting school
Threshold Guardian: Bruce, Anchor, & Chum
(sharks)
• Shapeshifter: Ocean (?)
• Trickster: Dory
• Shadow: separation from son; dentist, scuba-diver
•
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