KEY
Archetypes in Star Wars
Fill in the blanks with the correct information.
Color Archetypes
Character Name
Color(s)
Meaning
White
Gold/yellow/brown
Brown
Youth, innocence, untouched by world
Comfortable in his universe/world
Identify with the land
Luke’s Uncle
Brown
Luke’s Aunt
Brown
Blue
Brown
Luke Skywalker
Jawas, sandpeople
C3PO
Gold, brass, yellow
R2D2
Darth Vadar
Blue stripes
Red light
Black
Princess Leia
White
Belongs to the land; comfortable with
it.
Part of the land; comfortable on it
Peacemaker between Luke and Uncle
In harmony with the universe; in touch
with the land
Protocol, purpose; seems pessimistic,
but always hopes for the best
Peaceful
Passionate about his duty
Evil, sinister, intelligent, knowledge of
The Force
Innocence, purity of purpose, goodness
storm troopers
White
Black
black vest, white shirt
blue pants/red stripe
Blue (looks much like Earth)
Not completely evil-following orders
Death, destruction, terror
Smuggler(bad), but helps Luke(good)
Secure in self; passionate about beliefs
Peaceful planet; they have no weapons
Darth Vadar’s light sabre
Red
Obi Won’s light sabre
Blue
War, aggression, violence, death,
blood
Peace; “For 1000 generations…Jedis
guardians of peace before the Empire.”
Obi Won Kenobi
Han Solo
Alderon (planet)
Number Archetypes
Number
7
3
Explanation
Lead characters-Luke, Obi Won, Han, Leia, Chewbaka,
C3PO, R2D2-represent order and good
Usual number of Imperial fighters attacking at one time
KEY
Situational Archetypes
Situation
Movie Reference
The Quest
Deliver the secret plans of the Death Star to the rebel base to
destroy it; thereby bringing peace/fertility to the universe.
The Task
Luke must destroy the Death Star (superhuman feat) to show
himself a true Jedi.
Luke must acquire “the Force” to be a Jedi knight; steps to that
goal-meeting Obi Won and Han, rescuing Leia, etc.
Darth Vadar turned to the dark side; lives in isolation both
physically and emotionally; has few allies or confidantes
Aunt and uncle’s death give Luke motivation to seek the Force;
Obi Won’s death gives “birth” to the Jedi in Luke
The Initiation
The Fall
Death and Rebirth
Symbolic Archetypes
Symbol
Light v. Darkness
Water v. Desert
Haven v. Wilderness
Innate Wisdom v.
Educated Stupidity
Nature v. Mechanistic
World
Good v. Evil
Movie Reference
Light in Han’s/Leia’s ships=hope illumination; Death Star
darkness = despair, fear, ignorance
Luke’s home-desert; spiritual and physical starvation and
loneliness for Luke
Han’s ship/rebel camp-safety, a chance to regain peace
Death Star/desert – a wilderness, places of danger
Obi Won = instinctive wisdom (peace will prevail). Death
Star commander, General Tak = educated stupidity(force,fear)
Death Star/DarthVadar-cold, mechanical; Vadar is kept alive
through technology
Luke, Han, Leia-no protective gear; rely on nature(force)
Good forces of rebels/Leia; evil forces of the Empire
Unhealable Wound
Luke’s desire to be like his father and avenge aunt and uncle’s
death; gives him the desire to be a Jedi .
Ritual
Ceremony to become a Jedi; the awards ceremony completes
the initiation and makes him officially a Jedi
The light saber-those who don’t believe in the Force can’t use
it effectively
Magic Weapon
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Character Archetypes
Archetype
The Hero
The Young Man from
the Provinces
The Initiate
Mentor
Mentor-Pupil
Relationship
Father/Son Conflict
Character Name
Luke
Obi Won (not exact)
Luke
Luke
Obi Won Kenobi
Obi Won Kenobi and Luke
Luke and his uncle
Explanation
Classic definition; saves the day
Die for another; simply disappears
Raised by aunt and uncle, not real
parents; leaves; creates new
solutions from old life
Must endure the training of a Jedi;
wears white until its complete
Teacher to Luke; also a father
figure
Learns the secrets and powers of
the Force by watching Obi Won
Tension between Luke and his
uncle; conflict of desires
Face perils as a group
Hunting Group of
Companions
Friendly Beast
R2D2. C3PO, Han Solo,
Leia, Chewbaka, Luke
Chewbaka
Loyal to Han Solo
The Devil Figure
General Tak
Darth Vadar
Darth Vadar (later films)
Persuades Darth Vadar to work
for evil; evil figure of the movie
Redeems himself; realizes his
mistakes through his son’s love.
Obi Won Kenobi
Death in front of Luke makes him
more powerful; shows Darth’s sin
Banished from goodness when he
betrays the Jedi for the dark side
Goodness; works for good;
inspires others to help; Luke and
Han attracted to her strength
Fearless,
uses
a
weapon,
knowledgeable; conflict with Han
Must be rescued from Darth
Vadar, the garbage heap; allows
Han and Luke to save her
Create fear in other characters
The Evil figure with the
Ultimately Good Heart
The Scapegoat
The Outcast
Darth Vadar
The Platonic Ideal
Princess Leia
The Amazon Warrior
Princess Leia
The Damsel in Distress
Princess Leia
Creatures of
Nightmare
Monsters in the bar, in the
desert, in the trash heap
Other archetypes – names:
Luke – comes from Lucas and Lucien meaning light
Han – gift from God, the first money taken at the beginning of a business day
Solo – alone, independent
Darth – death, dark
Vadar – invader, similar to “Vater”, father in German