Archetypes
What is a hero?
What is an Archetype?
K
(What do you KNOW?)
W
(What do you WANT to know?)
L
(What did you LEARN?)
Definition of archetype:
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the original pattern or model from which all things of the
same kind are copied or on which they are based; a
model or first form; prototype.
Example: Frankenstein , Dracula are both archetypes
that have influenced subsequent horror stories – i.e.
Freddy Krueger
"archetype." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 23 Aug. 2008. <Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archetype>.
2 Different Practical Archetypes
1.
2.
Situation Archetype
Character Archetype
Situation Archetypes
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The Quest
The Journey
The Task
The Initiation
The Fall
Death and Rebirth
The Battle between Good & Evil
The Quest
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the search for someone or
something (a talisman) which,
when found and brought back, will
restore fertility to a wasted land,
the desolation of which is mirrored
by a leader’s illness and disability.
Note: “fertility” does not necessarily
mean “reproduction” or “fruitfulness.” It
can and often does mean prosperity,
peace, harmony.
http://raresoundtracks.iespana.es/images/thelionking.jpg
Examples:
The Lion King, Excalibur, Monty Python
and the Quest for the Holy Grail.
The Journey
The journey sends the hero in search for
some truth or information necessary to
restore fertility to the kingdom.
a.
The hero descends into a real or
psychological hell
b.
He is forced to discover or face
the blackest truths about himself
(usually).
c.
He accepts responsibility for his
faults and acknowledges his mistakes.
d.
He returns to the world of the
living.
http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2001/images/FellowshipOfTheRing_poster.jpg
Example:
The Odyssey, The Canterbury Tales,
The Aeneid, The Fellowship of the
Rings, The Lord of the Flies
The Task
Examples:

To save the kingdom, to win the fair
lady, to identify himself so that he may
resume his rightful position, the hero
must perform some nearly
superhuman deed.

This differs from the Quest in that in
the Quest, the ultimate goal is to
restore fertility; here the goal is to
gain something (power, the girl,
wealth, etc.)
Hercules, The Sword and the Stone,
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy,
Beowulf.
http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/movies/slideshow/top-ten-movie-wizards/img_6.jpg
The Initiation
This usually takes the form of an
initiation into adult life. The
adolescent comes into his or
her own maturity with new
awareness and problems along
with new hope for the
community. This awakening is
often the climax of the story. It
Examples:
Huckleberry Finn, The Lion King, King
Arthur, the Hobbits. The Harry
Potter series.
does parallel the Ritual.
http://www.southshields-sanddancers.co.uk/photos_posters/harry_potter_calendar_photo.jpg
The Fall
Examples:
This archetype describes a descent
from a higher state of being to a
lower state of being. The
experience involves a defilement
and/or a loss of innocence and
bliss. The fall is often
accompanied by an expulsion
from a kind of paradise as penalty
for disobedience and moral
Adam and Eve, Lancelot and Guinevere,
Milton’s Paradise Lost, many
detective/cops stories.
transgression.
http://www.nashvillescholars.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/arthur
Death & Rebirth
This is the most common of all situational archetypes. It is the parallel
between the cycle of nature and the cycle of life. Thus, morning and
springtime represent birth, youth, or rebirth; evening and winter suggest
old age or death.
http://morris-photographics.com/photos/TheFourSeasons.jpg
The Battle Between Good & Evil
Obviously, the battle between two
primal forces. Mankind shows
eternal optimism in the continual
portrayal of good triumphing over
evil despite great odds.
http://rangersin08.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/sauron1.jpg
Examples:
The forces of Sauron and those of Middle
Earth in The Lord of the Rings, Satan
vs. God in Milton’s Paradise Lost, any
western movie or novel, most
cartoons, The book of Revelation.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BD7HCN0TL.jpg
Character Archetype
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The Hero
The Initiates
Mentors
Father-Son Conflict
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Loyal Retainers
Devil Figure
Creature of Nightmares
Woman Figure
The Initiates
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These are young heroes
or heroines who, prior to
their quest, must endure
some training and
ceremony. They are
usually innocent and
often wear white.
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Example: Daniel from
The Karate Kid.
http://spencerpeet.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/karate-kid-se-sleeve.jpg
The Mentor
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Examples: Obi-Wan
Kenobe, Dumbledore
1. http://www.odj310388.com/wallpapercomp/images/obiw
an.jpg
2.
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/gallery/2001/07/03/Albusdumbledorerichardharris.jpg

These individuals serve
(1)
as teachers or counselors
to the
initiates. Sometimes they
work as role models and
often serve as father or
mother figure.
(2)
Father – Son Conflict
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Tension often results from
separation during childhood
or from an external source
when the individuals meet
as men and where the
mentor often has a higher
place in the affections of the
hero than the natural parent
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Example: Romeo & Lord
Montague
(1)
(2)
1.
2.
http://p7.p.pixnet.net/albums/userpics/7/0/308370/1178083764.jpg
http://www.mymovies.it/filmclub/attori/3994.jpg
Archetype Activity
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Get in groups of four (4) by finding the other
people who have a character from your story.
Ariel
Flounder
Sebastian
Ursula
Alfred Pennyworth
Batman
Joker
Stepmother
Jaq & Gus
Fairy Godmother
Crush
Nemo
Bruce
Dori
Dumbledore
Rupert
Draco
Professor X
Rogue
Magneto
Simba
Scar
Rafiki
Timon and Pumba
Donkey
Lord FarquaadPrincess Fiona
Shrek
Lord Farquaad
Archetype Activity
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With your group, determine the role each
character played in the story.
Before you determine the role of your
characters, each group member will have to
determine his/her role during this activity.
Archetype Activity Roles
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Task Master: You are responsible for
organizing and animating your Power Point.
Make sure it is free of errors and has visually
pleasing graphics and is easy to read with
pictures and detailed explanation. Each
character should have his/her own slide with
explanation and your final slide(s) should
have the K-W-L information.
Archetype Activity Roles
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Time Keeper: You will ensure everyone in
your group is aware of how much time is left
to finish the task and that your group finishes
in the time allotted.
Archetype Activity Roles
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Recorder: You are responsible for legibly
writing down the information your group will
present to the class. This person will
complete by hand the K-W-L chart and be
prepared to share it with the groups as well
as hand it in when presenting.
Archetype Activity Roles
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Speaker: You are responsible for sharing
your group’s ideas with the rest of the class.
Evidence of Learning
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Each group member needs to use the back of his/her
KWL chart and label it like the example below.
Character’s Name
Character’s Role
Evidence From Story
Evidence of Learning
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Work together to fill in each of the columns
by discussing your group’s story.
Document your group’s final answer in the
format of the three (3) columns on the paper
provided.
COLUMN 2
Use the following questions to come up with ONE
(1) word to describe each character
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What type of character was he/she?
What type of relationship did the character have
with each of the other characters?
How did the character feel throughout the story?
If your group is not familiar with one or more of
the characters in your group, use the body
language and facial expression clues each
character gives in his/her picture.
COLUMN 3: Support Your Answer
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Try to think of at least two (2) things your
character did in the story that supports your
answer in Column 2.
Write your support in Column 3.
Class Discussion: Compare
What
roles do some of
the characters share
from each story?
What did you learn about archetype?
K
(What do you KNOW?)
W
(What do you WANT to know?)
L
(What did you LEARN?)
Criteria for grading—Quiz out of
100
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Each character is worth 20 points
K-W-L chart worth 20 points
Total of 100 points
Each character should include a picture and
full explanation of the character archetype.
There should be a title slide with all group
member and the movie listed.