Archetypal Analysis in Disney Movies
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is for you to be able to identify the archetypes used in popular children’s movies and explain the significance behind the use of the archetypes.
CCSS Addressed
RL.11-12.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
RL.11-12.6
W.11-12.9
Analyze a case in which grasping a point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is really meant (e.g., satire, sarcasm, irony, or understatement).
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
W.11-12.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
SL.11-12.4
SL.11-12.5
Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks.
Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.
Assignment
You will be required to view a Disney movie of your choice and analyze the use of archetypes within the movie. This assignment will be two-fold:
1.
Complete the Archetypal Chart focusing on character, situational, and symbolic archetypes – but also complete the back side of the chart focusing on color, number, shape, nature, and object archetypes (see back side of this assignment sheet for more descriptors and examples).
2.
Create either a visual or written analysis of the use of the archetypes with explanation supporting how and why they serve the archetypal pattern.
Analysis Examples:
PowerPoint or Prezi
Written Essay
Posterboard
Painting/Drawing
Glogster
I want this to be a fun assignment, not one that you are stressing over or breaking the bank for. There are several online resources you can use for free to create some pretty cool looking products, such as Prezi or Glogster. You will be presenting your findings, so make sure that if you choose something creative that you have enough time to complete it prior to Wednesday, September 19 th (due date).
You may either complete this assignment alone or with one or two other people (no groups larger than 3). However, if you choose to do this assignment in a group, there has to be evidence that every person worked on the assignment, not just 1 or 2 people doing all of the work. If you work in a group and decide to do the written analysis rather than the visual, one essay per group is required … but again, the work load has to be equitable.
Please contact me if you have questions! kcady@nsd131.org
, www.cadyenglish.weebly.com
, or through “Mrs. Cady’s
Classroom” on Facebook

Additional Archetypes
Colors
A.
Black (darkness) – chaos, mystery, the unknown, before existence, death, the unconscious, evil
B.
Red – blood, sacrifice; violent passion, disorder, sunrise, birth, fire, emotion, wounds, death, sentiment, mother,
Mars, the note C, anger, excitement, heat, physical stimulation
C.
Green – hope, growth, envy, Earth, fertility, sensation, vegetation, death, water, nature, sympathy, adaptability, growth, Jupiter and Venus, the note G, envy
D.
White (light) – purity, peace, innocence, goodness, Spirit, morality, creative force, the direction East, spiritual thought
Numbers
A.
Three – the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost); Mind, Body,
Spirit, Birth, Life, Death
B.
Four – Mankind (four limbs), four elements, four seasons
C.
Six – devil, evil
Shapes
A.
Oval – woman, passivity
B.
Triangle – communication, between heaven and earth, fire, the number 3, trinity, aspiration, movement upward, return to origins, sight, light
C.
Square – pluralism, earth, firmness, stability, construction, material solidity, the number four
D.
Rectangle – the most rational, most secure
Nature
A.
Air – activity, creativity, breath, light, freedom (liberty), movement
B.
Ascent – height, transcendence, inward journey, increasing intensity
C.
Center – thought, unity, timelessness, spacelessness, paradise, creator, infinity,
D.
Descent – unconscious, potentialities of being, animal nature
E.
Duality – Yin-Yang, opposites, complements, positivenegative, male-female, life-death
F.
Earth – passive, feminine, receptive, solid
G.
Fire – the ability to transform, love, life, health, control, sun, God, passion, spiritual energy, regeneration
H.
Lake – mystery, depth, unconscious
I.
Crescent moon – change, transition
J.
Mountain – height, mass, loftiness, center of the world, ambition, goals
Objects
A.
Feathers – lightness, speed
B.
Shadow – our dark side, evil, devil
C.
Masks – concealment
D.
Boats/Rafts – safe passage
E.
Bridge – change, transformation
F.
Right hand – rectitude, correctness
E.
Orange – fire, pride, ambition, egoism, Venus, the note D
F.
Blue – clear sky, the day, the sea, height, depth, heaven, religious feeling, devotion, innocence, truth, spirituality,
Jupiter, the note F, physical soothing and cooling
G.
Violet – water, nostalgia, memory, advanced spirituality,
Neptune, the note B
H.
Gold – Majesty, sun, wealth, corn (life dependency), truth
I.
Silver – Moon, wealth
D.
Seven – Divinity (3) + Mankind (4) = relationship between man and God, seven deadly sins, seven days of week, seven days to create the world, seven stages of civilization, seven colors of the rainbow, seven gifts of
Holy Spirit.
E.
Cross – the Tree of life, axis of the world, struggle, martyrdom, orientation in space
F.
Circle – Heaven, intellect, thought, sun, the number two, unity, perfection, eternity, oneness, celestial realm, hearing, sound
G.
Spiral – the evolution of the universe, orbit, growth, deepening, cosmic motion, relationship between unity and multiplicity, macrocosm, breath, spirit, water
K.
Valley – depression, low-points, evil, unknown
L.
Sun – Hero, son of Heaven, knowledge, the Divine eye, fire, life force, creative-guiding force, brightness, splendor, active awakening, healing, resurrection, ultimate wholeness
M.
Water – passive, feminine
N.
Rivers/Streams – life force, life cycle
O.
Stars – guidance
P.
Wind – Holy Spirit, life, messenger
Q.
Ice/Snow – coldness, barrenness
R.
Clouds/Mist – mystery, sacred
S.
Rain – life giver
T.
Steam – transformation to the Holy Spirit
U.
Cave – feminine
V.
Lightning – intuition, inspiration
W.
Tree – where we learn, tree of life, tree of knowledge
X.
Forest – evil, lost, fear
G.
Left hand – deviousness
H.
Feet – stability, freedom
I.
Skeleton – mortality
J.
Heart – love, emotions
K.
Hourglass – the passage of time