archetype
a plot or character element that recurs in cultural or cross-cultural myths such as "the
quest" or "descent into the underworld" or "scapegoat."
Archetype
Archetype, "a term used to describe universal symbols that evoke deep and sometimes
unconscious responses in a reader. In literature, characters, images, and themes that
symbolically embody universal meanings and basic human experiences, regardless of when or
where they live, are considered archetypes. Common literary archetypes include stories of
quests, initiations, scapegoats, descents to the underworld, and ascents to heaven." (Meyer).
archetype
"Generally, a prototype or original pattern or a paradigm or abstract idea of a class of
things that represents the typical and essential elements shared by all varieties of that
class. In literature, myth, folklore, and religion, the term can be applied to images,
themes, symbols, ideas, characters, and situations that appeal to our unconscious racial
memory. T.S. Eliot explains this memory as civilized man's 'pre-logical
mentality'…Archetypes can be primitive and universal and consist of general themes like
birth, death, coming of age, love, guilt, redemption, conflict between free will and
destiny, rivalry between members of the family, fertility rites; of characters like the hero
rebel, the wanderer, the devil, the buffoon; and of creatures like the lion, serpent, or
eagle" (Source : Benet's, 46).
Archetypes
Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell both noticed that the same stories occur in all cultures.
Carl Jung called universal knowledge the collective unconscious. Joseph Campbell
concentrated on how this affects myth and literature. George Lucas, creator of Star Wars,
was a big fan of Campbell and tried to make sure that his Star Wars stories followed the
mythic archetypes. He claims that this is the reason for the success of his movies.
Here is a list of some archetypes (symbols that mean the same in all time periods and
cultures). See how many you can find in the movie:
The Hero: Heroes in all cultures pretty much have the same characteristics. Here are
some that Joseph Campbell identified. You will notice that almost all heroes have at least
8 of these 9 characterisitcs:
1. Unusual circumstances of birth; sometimes born into danger or royalty
2. Leaves family or land and lives with others
3. An event, sometimes traumatic, leads to adventure or quest
4. Hero has a special weapon only he can use
5. Hero always has supernatural help
6. The hero must prove himself many times while on adventure
7. The Journey and the Unhealable Wound
8. Hero experiences atonement with the father (or a father figure)
9. When the hero dies, he is rewarded spiritually
Here is the handout we had in class: Hero Assignment
Here is a powerpoint that explains these hero characteristics in more detail. It is not of my
making, but of another teacher who posted it on the internet. Hero Powerpoint
The Quest: Every hero must undergo some sort of quest. The hero may or may not
realize he is on the quest until it is too late. It may be a quest taken voluntarily or
unvoluntarily. It may be a physical journey or an innerward journey. Author Carol
Pearson expanded Joseph Campbell's idea of the hero and his quest. You need to know
how Sam, Aragorn, or Gandalf fit the heroic archetypes that Pearson lays out. You can
find these and the assignment handed out in class here: Heroic/Quest Archetypes
The Trickster: These characters are neither good nor bad. They sometimes do good
things and sometimes bad things. They are on their own side and have no real loyalty to
any other side. Loki, Maui, Anazi, Brer Rabbit are all examples of tricksters in myth and
folklore. A modern example is Bugs Bunny. Here is the article that was handed out in
class: Trickster Article (Please note that the article given out in class is edited. The
article linked here includes one story that is a little dirty)
Below are the same ones we've talked about from the first movie. They are present here
as well. Look for them. I will pick some and ask you to tell me an example of it in the
film.
I. Water
sea - eternity, life, mystery
rivers - flowing of time, change in life, barrier to undead
stagnant water - death, wrong, a life with no meaning, unfulfilled life
rain - a new beginning, death, purity
II. Sun
rising sun - beginning, birth
sun moving across the sky - time passing
setting sun - the end, death
III. Circles, spheres, eggs
completion, God, infinity, female
IV. Spears, guns, swords, etc.
male power
V. Wind, breath
inspiration, God or the gods speak, warning, inspiration
VI. Colors
White (light) - purity, good
Black (darkness) - chaos, unknown, death, evil
Red - blood, violent passion, violence, female
Green - life, envy, growth
VII. Ship/boat
voyage, life quest
VIII. Desert
death, hopelessness, alone
IX. Gardens, Forests
paradise, life, beauty
X. Nature
goodness, God
XI. Christ Figure
one who sacrifices him/herself to save others
XII. Animals
Alligator – hidden danger
Ant – hardwork, teamwork, dedication
Bats – evil
Bear – strength
Bees – cooperation, shared wealth
Beetle – poverty
Birds – colorful birds indicate joy & freedom
black plumage is deception & ill health
Bull – determination and physical strength
Camel – endurance and tenacity
Cat – manipulation and treachery
Crow – unusual circumstances and events
Dog – loyal friends, good instincts.
Dolphin – wise counsel
Donkey – tenacity and determination
Dove – peace
Dragon – unexpected difficulties
Falcon – aggressive emotions.
Fox – treachery, cleverness
Hyena – deception
Lion – confidence
Locust – unavoidable set-backs
Rabbit – fertility
Scorpion – deception by someone trusted
Acorn – Great potential
Adversary – Direct conflict with rival.
Airplane – Speedy resolution. Travel.
Almond – Short term windfall
Altar – Society, conformity.
Amethyst – Temperance, harmony
Amulet – Twist of fate.
Anchor – Grounding force. Stability
Angel –- Spiritual protection. Blessings.
Ankh – Life, fertility, rejuvenation.
Apple – Love, temptation
Apricot – Petty annoyances, hidden obstacles
Arch – Efforts are handsomely rewarded
Arguments – Competitive conflicts.
Arrow – Good advice brings rapid progress
Ashes – Woe and bitter tears
Ax – Involuntary separation
Baby – New life, new opportunities
Baggage – Travel or burdens.
Balcony – Bad news about distant friend or loved one
Banner – Triumph, well fought victory
Beans – Prosperity and abundance
Bookcase – Careful thought and research.
Books – Wisdom, new knowledge brings adventure, honour or wealth
Bottles – Good luck in affairs of the heart
Box – Organization, carefully planned endeavours are successful
Bracelet – Gift from a suitor
Bread – A prosperous and happy home
Bricks – Uncertainty in business. Indicates a need to complete what has been started
Bridge – Transformation period. Change in life’s direction
Broom – Need to simplify one’s affairs
Cage – Domination of others
Candle – Prayers answered if lit. Unlit candle is absence of faith
Candy – Recreation and joy.
Carrot – Prosperity and health
Castle – Happy home. Wealth and stability.
Cathedral – Soul searching. Need to define spiritual values.
Celery – A good start fizzles out. Indicates a lack of real substance.
Cemetery – Clinging to past.
Chain – Bondage, restriction.
Chair – Comfort offered may not be beneficial. Stay active and involved.
Chalice – Divine blessings, spiritual guidance.
Cherries – Short term gains.
Clouds – Ideas, hopes, fleeting opportunities.
Clover – Luck, prosperity, high hopes.
Coat – Self protection.
Coat-of-arms – Family legacy.
Coffin – Bad omen.
Coins – Earned money, financial improvement.
Comet – Inspiration, unexpected good news.
Compass – Direction, clarity of goals.
Corn – Success, abundance, rewards of labour.
Couch – Laziness, stagnation, dwindling resources.
Cross – Stability, all elements for success present.
Cross roads – Need to make decision.
Crown – Achievement, victory.
Cucumber – Rapid but short-lived growth.
Curtains – Discretion, privacy, keep you secrets to yourself.
Dance – Joy, rejuvenation, celebration, appreciation.
Dice – Situation unpredictable, risks must be taken.
Doctor – Healing and recovery. Positive results obtained with professional help.
Door – Opportunity, new beginning.
Drum – Communicate. Rally support for your cause.
Eclipse – Multiple influences at work. May be difficult to accurately assess situation.
Emerald – Appearance of wealth, favourable business offers.
Eye – Ability to see all points of view, divine protection.
Father – Guidance and discipline
Fence – Defensive nature
Frost – Stagnation, delays.
Fruit – Abundance, the sweet things in life, fertility.
Garlic – Protection from evil. Good reputation.
Key – Vital information.
Lightening bolt – An epiphany. Sudden change of circumstance.
Moon – Intuition. Overcoming fears.
Mountains – Depending on point of view, can be insurmountable obstacles or exciting
challenges.
Rainbow – Good omen. Current difficulties resolved with ease.
Sailboat – Quick easy progress. Freedom from worry.
Scorpion – Deception by trusted associate.
Scroll – Divine truths and mystic secrets revealed.
Seashells – Prosperity and unexpected rewards.
Servant – Advancement with the help of others. Show appreciation.
Sewing – Current problems can be solved with work and compromise.
Shark – Defeat. Avoid risky ventures.
Sheep – Conformity advised. Lie low and be humble. Satisfaction found in the company
of family and friends.
Ship – Journeys. Business offers or career opportunities.
Shoes – Reflects one’s goals and lifestyle.
Silk – Well-earned luxury.
Silver – Profit through a labour of love.
Skate – Speedy action smoothly executed.
Sleep – Stagnation. Illness, period of rest.
Snake – Adaptability, confidence. Successful defense of home, family, or livelihood.
Snapshot – Carefully executed plan.
Snow – Introspection, tranquility, self-expression.
Soap – Cleansing, redemption and forgiveness.
Soldier – Blind allegiance, fierce loyalty, devotion to duty.
Soot – Damage to reputation. Vicious gossip.
Spear – Savage competition, brutal tactics used.
Sphere – Wholeness, completion. Achievement of goals and desires. Gaining authority
and respect.
Spice – Riches, fortunate opportunities.
Spider – Creative endeavours. Careful attention to detail.
Sponges – Resources drained the exploitation of others.
Stag – Aggression. Strong male influence.
Statues – Unrealistic expectations, illusions.
Steering wheel – Leadership by example.
Storm – Difficult situation with much confusion also brings chance to resolve old issues.
Stove – Productivity. Enjoy the fruits of one’s labour.
Stumble – Setback to overcome. Don’t quit.
Sun – Clarity, joy. Prosperous period in one’s life.
Swamp – Frustration situation with no quick fix.
Swan – Beauty and elegance. Strong defense of family and home.
Swiss cheese – More preparation and planning needed.
Sword – Difficult emotional issues. Face hard truths.
Symphony – Support of coworkers and those in authority.
return to top
Table – Preparation and planning for new venture. Offers and negations.
Tapestry – Opulence. Financial gains.
Tattoo – Opinionated nature. Strong values and beliefs.
Teacup – Social position. Good fortune.
Telegram – Official correspondence.
Telephone – News from distant friends or family.
Telescope – Long term planning and goals.
Theft – Loss of possessions or position. Financial setbacks.
Thimble – Tidy surroundings. Putting one’s affairs in order.
Tiger – Vigilance, stealth. Quick aggressive action used to achieve goals.
Tools – Labour and skill.
Toys – Recreation and celebration. Reunion with childhood friends.
Train – Well planned course of action leads to speedy resolution.
Trees – Strong constitution, stability, and good health.
Trumpet – Prayers answered.
Turtle – Determination, strong work ethic and endurance. Long-term success.
Umbrella – Protection from harm.
Vegetables – Good health and material well-being.
Village – Community service build status and character.
Vine – Ability to grow and adapt brings wealth and status.
Vineyard – A labour of love yields lasting results.
Volcano – Disaster befalls superiors.
Wafer – Blessings accepted.
Wagon – Business trip. Offers from distant places.
Wasp – Warns of malicious actions by adversaries.
Weaving – Building one’s future.
Web – Detailed and clever strategy succeeds.
Wedding – Commitment. Promises kept, pledges honoured.
Well – Good fortune comes from unexpected sources.
Whale – Small setbacks seem like insurmountable obstacles. Go forward with
confidence and determination.
Wheel – Change of fortune.
Wheelchair – Show disadvantage, need to seek and accept assistance.
Whispers – Intimate secrets.
Wine – Ceremony and celebration. Material well-being.
Wizard – Use unorthodox methods to resolve issues.
Wolf – Primitive emotions surface.
Worms – Quality of life destroyed by carelessness and bad habits. Need to reform and
rebuild.
Archetypal analysis of a work is one of the most common forms of literary analysis.
It is easy to understand and use with a little knowledge of the basics.
First of all, an archetype is a pattern from which copies can be made. That is, it is a
universal theme that manifests itself differently on an individual basis. Swiss
psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that these archetypes were the result of a collective
unconscious. This collective unconscious was not directly knowable and is a product
of the shared experiences of our ancestors. Jung believed it was:
Primordial: That is, we, as individuals, have these archetypal images ingrained in our
understanding even before we are born.
Universal: These archetypes can be found all over the world and throughout history.
The manifestation of the idea may be different, but the idea itself is the same.
Archetypes fall into two major categories: characters, situations/symbols. It is
easiest to understand them with the help of examples. Listed below are some of the
most common archetypes in each category.
Characters:
The hero - The courageous figure, the one who's always running in and saving the
day. Example: Dartagnon from Alexandre Dumas's "The Three Musketeers"
The outcast - The outcast is just that. He or she has been cast out of society or has
left it on a voluntary basis. The outcast figure can oftentimes also be considered as a
Christ figure. Example: Simon from William Golding's "The Lord of the Flies"
The scapegoat - The scapegoat figure is the one who gets blamed for everything,
regardless of whether he or she is actually at fault. Example: Snowball from George
Orwell's "Animal Farm"
The star-crossed lovers - This is the young couple joined by love but unexpectedly
parted by fate. Example: Romeo and Juliet from William Shakespeare's "Romeo and
Juliet"
The shrew - This is that nagging, bothersome wife always battering her husband with
verbal abuse. Example: Zeena from Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome"
Situations/symbols:
The task - A situation in which a character, or group of characters, is driven to
complete some duty of monstrous proportion. Example: Frodo's task to keep the ring
safe in J. R. R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy
The quest - Here, the character(s) are searching for something, whether consciously
or unconsciously. Their actions, thoughts, and feelings center around the goal fo
completing this quest. Example: Christian's quest for salvation in John Bunyan's "The
Pilgrim's Progress"
The loss of innocence - This is, as the name implies, a loss of innocence through
sexual experience, violence, or any other means. Example: Val's loss of innocence
after settling down at the mercantile store in Tennessee William's "Orpheus
Descending"
The initiation - This is the process by which a character is brought into another
sphere of influence, usually (in literature) into adulthood. Example: Ayla's initiation
both into the Clan and into adulthood in Jean Auel's "The Clan of the Cave Bear"
Water - Water is a symbol of life, cleansing, and rebirth. It is a strong life force, and
is often depicted as a living, reasoning force. Example: Edna learns to swim in Kate
Chopin's "The Awakening"
Hopefully, you will now be able to recognize and understand archetypes as you come
across them in your readings. They help to add depth and underlying significance to
some of the world's best literature.
Water: birth-death-resurrection; creation; purification and redemption; fertility and
growth.
Sea/ocean: the mother of all life; spiritual mystery; death and/or rebirth;
timelessness and eternity.
Rivers: death and rebirth (baptism); the flowing of time into eternity; transitional
phases of the life cycle. . . .
Sun (fire and sky are closely related): creative energy; thinking, enlightenment, wisdom,
spiritual vision.
Rising sun: birth, creation, enlightenment.
Setting sun: death.
Colors:
Red: blood, sacrifice, passion; disorder.
Green: growth, hope, fertility.
Blue: highly positive; secure; tranquil; spiritual purity.
Black: darkness, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil, melancholy.
White: light, purity, innocence, timelessness; [negative: death, terror,
supernatural]
Yellow: enlightenment, wisdom.
Serpent (snake, worm): symbol of energy and pure force (libido); evil, corruption,
sensuality, destruction.
Numbers:
3 - light, spiritual awareness, unity (the Holy Trinity); male principle.
4 - associated with the circle, life cycle, four seasons; female principle, earth,
nature, elements.
7 - the most potent of all symbolic numbers signifying the union of three and four,
the completion of a cycle, perfect order, perfect number; religious symbol.
Wise old Man: savior, redeemer, guru, representing knowledge, reflection, insight,
wisdom, intuition, and morality.
Garden: paradise, innocence, unspoiled beauty.
Tree: denotes life of the cosmos; growth; proliferation; symbol of immortality; phallic
symbol.
Desert: spiritual aridity; death; hopelessness.
Creation: All cultures believe the Cosmos was brought into existence by some
Supernatural Being (or Beings).
Seasons:
Spring - rebirth; genre/comedy.
Summer - life; genre/romance.
Fall - death/dying; genre/tragedy.
Winter - without life/death; genre/irony.
The great fish: divine creation/life.
Freud's symbolism/archetypes:
Concave images (ponds, flowers, cups, vases, hollows): female or womb symbols.
Phallic symbols (towers, mountain peaks, snakes, knives, swords, etc.) male
symbols.
Dancing, riding, or flying: symbols of sexual pleasure.
angel
the spiritual part of our psyche; the superego; our
inner sense of propriety
the significance of animals is VERY cultural, and I
cannot explain the meaning in all cultures, so I'll
just explain the meanings according to MY culture
(Western English-speaking Culture):
animals
alligator: deception
bear: see "lions, tigers, and bears"
cow w/ plenty of milk: fortune
cow w/ no milk: lean times
deer: food
horse: work
lion: see "lions, tigers, and bears"
oxen: work
tiger: see "lions, tigers, and bears"
see also: "birds", "fish",
to bathe (like baptism) signifies repentence and the
"cleansing" of one's sins
bath / bathing
to try and bathe, but the dirt/scum won't come off,
signifies that others won't let you repent, no
matter how hard you try.
the meaning, of course, depends upon culture and
which bird...
For instance: in the Orient, a white crance
signifies long life (or the desire for long life),
but in the west, the white stork signifies a baby is
on the way (or the desire to have a baby).
A raven is generally bad in any culture, because of
its color.
A dove is the univesal symbol of peace.
birds
An eagle (or hawk) signifies prowess.
Phoenix signifies the "rebirth" of a project.
Generally, birds (especially any flying bird not
mentioned above) symbolize success and freedom.
Seeing misshapen or crippled birds, or birds that
cannot fly is not good. It could mean that one's
project is having a difficult time "getting off the
ground", or it has been "grounded".
to witness a birth represents the incipence of a
project
birth
to witness the birth of one's own child (especially
when having no children) signifies that the project
is one's OWN making
to experience great joy at the birth signifies one's
joy and anticipation regarding the new project
bread
see "vegetables"
boy
see "male"
chase
to chase sb or sth signifies wanting something
(although the thing chased in the dream is not the
thing wanted in real life)
to be chased by sb or sth (usually accompanied by an
urgency to escape) signifies wanting to escape some
bad situation (in real life)
coin
see "money"
college
see "school"
death
to witness a death represents the tragic end of a
project (unfulfilled project). The more morose one
feels pertaining to the death (e.g., the closer the
person is that dies), the more emotional investment
one had in the project.
To see (and/or converse with) the Devil in a dream
signifies one's baser self (one's Id, in Freudian
psychology). It can be quite disconcerting to a
religious person to have a dream of the Devil, but
it is nothing to be worried about, it is just an
archetype.
The Devil
down
If one sees A creature which is half humanoid and
half goat (Baphomet), that's not the Devil, it is
some made-up creature, invented in the mind of
Eliphas Levi in 1854. It was said to be the idol of
the templars, but that is not true. The idol of the
templars was part cat and part human. But,
whatever... if you think it is the Devil, or the
creature identifies him/herself as the Devil, then
it is the archetype of one's Id.
going downward in a dream signifies a debasement of
one's self (if one's self goes down) or others (if
others seen going down)
it depends upon which kind of dragon (and the
color).
dragon
if you see a Western dragon (either black or red),
it is NOT good. It signifies some kind of evil.
if you see an Eastern dragon, it signifies fortune
of some kind. All colors of Eastern dragons are
good, but the exact meaning may vary.
drowning
female (girls,
women)
see "down" and "water"
to see a female figure represents the non-work
related parts of one's life, mostly family life,
because anciently (and mostly today as well) women
were seen as homemakers.
Thus, to see a female baby signifies the incipence
of a family-related project.
see also "male"
the meaning differs from culture to culture and
depends upon the fish seen.
to catch a fish signifies fortune.
fish
to try and catch fish, but to fail signifies lean
times.
empty fishing nets would be along these lines.
flying is generally good, but it depends upon the
"feelings" one feels while flying
flying
to fly freely and easily, without effort
(accompanied by feelings of joy, freedom, and/or
excitement) signifies success in one's life (however
one defines success, and that differs from person to
person)
to have great effort in flying signifies barely
keeping one's head above water, (see also "water")
to be chased while flying is bad. (see chase)
fountain
something new sprining up (usually good)
fruit
fruit is the universal symbol of "plenty", unless
one sees spoiled or rotten fruit.
gems/gemstones
wealth, financial success (see also: jewelry)
girl
see "female"
God
to see or converse with God is an usual dream
indeed. and frankly, I don't know the significance,
but it could be the same as "angel" (see "angel" for
more details).
gold
the meaning depends upon the USE of the gold. if
the gold was used/valued for its monetary worth,
then see "money".
if the gold was used for something else, it could
have another meaning.
Each color can have a good or bad meaning, depending
upon the other aspects of the dream; OR, it could
have no meaning at all, which is why I hesitate
putting this information here, because you might get
the wrong idea. Always, the other aspects of the
dream must be accounted for first, so take caution.
blonde {yellow, color of (sun)light}: enlightenment
red (orange, color of heat) = passion
hair color
brunette (brown, color of the soil) = mother earth
black (black, color of the night) = the unknown, the
cryptic, the occulted
gray [I honestly don't know... it could symbolize
old age and wisdom, but that would be just a guess]
white (color of "pure" snow): [I honestly don't
know... it could symbolize purity, perfection, the
unadulterated, and guileless].
heaven
Being in and/or escorted to heaven signifies great
achievement and fulfillment (it's not a vision, it's
an archetype!)
hell
house/home
Being in (and/or sent to) HELL is a variation of the
"trapped" dream (see "trapped" for more details)
if you see your house (the one you spent the most
time in as a child), it signifies the housing of
your body (i.e., your body).
if you see another house (not your own), I'm not
sure what it could represent.
Someone told me about a dream that he/she had about
being in a hotel... I'm not sure about the
meaning... it could have any of a number of
meanings, depending upon the other factors in the
dream.
In the dream, the person was trapped, and would not
be allowed to "check out".
hotel
I think this dream could have two possible meanings,
but in both cases, the hotel represents one's
"housing" (body):
First possible meaning:
The dreamer does not like his/her body and wants
"out" (a new one)
Second possible meaning:
The dreamer does not like his/her life, and wants
"out" (death).
a creature (often thought to be a demon) which
either seduces or rapes women in their sleep. being
seduced is a good sign. being raped is bad.
incubus
being seduced signifies great pleasure (see also sex
and orgasm)
being raped signifies a violation of one's privacy
jewels/jewelry
living in the lap of luxury
lions, tigers,
bears
the meanings will differ to each culture, but in the
West, those creatures are seen as the enemies to
humans, and are generally bad signs, unless the
creatures appear friendly in the dream, in which
case, it could be a VERY good sign.
seeing a male figure represents one's work, since in
ancient times (and even mostly today) the men were
the major "bread-winners" of a family.
male (man, men)
Thus to see a male baby signifies the incipience of
a work-related project.
see also "female"
money is the ancient archetype of something
precious, something of value, but not in a concrete,
tangible sense; more of a sentimental value.
to gain money denotes an acruement of something to
which someone attributes much sentimental value.
money
to lose money denotes a loss of something to which
someone attributes much sentimental value.
that's not to say that one cannot place sentimental
value upon money... many do, and so sometimes money
can signify money (or commerce)...
it all depends on what one values (especially at the
time of the dream)
if you see monsters, it is not good. if you see
them in your house, it means you've got a viral or
bacterial infection.
monsters
monsters would include dinosaurs, strange-looking
creatures that you've never seen before, giant bugs,
etc.
nightmare
"mare" in Middle English, meant "spirit", usually an
evil one, which attacks people in their dreams (see
also incubus and succubus)
one's self
the ego
orgasm
to have an orgasm in a dream signifies great
fulfillment of joy in one's life. (unless you are
male and have a wet dream, in which case it means
nothing).
run
if one is running in one's dream, it signifies
trying to escape from a given situation. if one
tries to run, but is either thwarted or runs in slow
motion, it signifies not seeing a way out of a bad
situation (in real life)
see also "chase", "scream", and "trap"
saving a life
saving a life means that a project, which seemed in
trouble or "near death" has been resusitated, and
hope for the project is renewed.
the closer the individual that you saved is to you,
the more important the project.
school
scream
Going to school (any kind of school), especially for
one who has already completed his/her formal
education, signifies attending the "school of life"
or in the vernacular: "the school of hard knocks".
My alma mater has the following written on a school
monument: "The World is Our Campus", and so it is.
And so it is.
screaming may have no significance other than the
expression of frustration, but to try and scream,
but nothing comes out has a special significance...
it means one is in a bad situation and sees no way
out. It the same with feeling (being) trapped in a
dream
see also "trap" and "run"
sex
if enjoyed, it signifies great pleasure, but if one
fails to achieve orgasm, it means a lack of
fulfillment in one's life.
silver
see "gold"
spring (water
spring)
see fountain
succubus
if you are male, you might be seduced by a
succubus. this represents your overactive libido,
nothing to be worried about.
swimming can be good or bad...
swimming
to swim freely and without much effort (usually in
clean, clear water) signifies good fortune
to try and swim, but to have difficulty in doing so,
signifies trouble in one's real life (barely keeping
one's head above water)
trap / trapped
to feel or be trapped in a dream signifies just
that, feeling or being trapped in some bad situation
in real life.
the meaing depends upon the kind and condition of
the tree(s).
in ancient times, trees were universal symbols of
all life.
tree/trees
in Nordic lore, the first man and woman were created
from trees.
Therefore, a tall, healthy tree would signify a
good, healthy life,
and vice versa.
university
see "school"
up
going up in a dream signifies exaltation (not in the
religious sense)
the meaing depends heavily upon culture and the type
and condition of the vegetable(s) seen.
vegetables
For instance, among some of the American Aborigines,
there is a myth that the first humans were created
from corn. So, to them corn would represent human
life (which isn't surprising, since corn was their
staple food).
In the Orient, rice is the staple food, and
therefore would represent human life.
In the West, bread is staple food, and to
Westerners, bread would represent human life.
water can have many meanings depending upon the
situation...
clear, clean, refreshing water is good, especially
bathing in it (see also bath).
water
dirty, mirky water is bad, especially being in it.
it signifies ones reputation has been mired. if one
is going down into mirky water (see "down")
see also: "bath", "drowning", "swimming"
waterfall
could have two meanings, depending upon the context:
1. same as fountain (see "fountain")
2. going down a waterfall (see "down")
woman / women
see "female"