UNDERSTANDING LITERARY
TRADITION
A GUIDE TO ARCHETYPES, MOTIFS, AND UNIVERSALS
HI SENIORS 
• I am sorry that I am not there today – I have the flu . Please take
your time, and go through this PowerPoint, filling out the note-taker. I
would not usually do it this way, but you need this information –
maybe you’ll like this better than listening to me lecture! Be good and
have a nice day!
ARCHETYPE
• An archetype is a typical character, an action or a situation
that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature.
• An archetype, also known as universal, may be a character, an
image or symbol, a plot line, or even a setting. Many literary
critics are of the opinion that archetypes, which have a common
and recurring representation in a particular human culture or
entire human race, shape the structure and function of a
literary work.
ARCHETYPE
• The term "archetype" has its origins in ancient Greek. The root words are archein,
which means "original or old"; and typos, which means "pattern, model or type."
The combined meaning is an "original pattern" of which all other similar persons,
objects, or concepts are derived, copied, modeled, or emulated.
• The psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung, used the concept of archetype in his theory of
the human psyche. He believed that universal, mythic characters—archetypes—
reside within the collective unconscious of people the world over. Archetypes
represent fundamental human motifs of our experience as we evolved;
consequentially, they evoke deep emotions.
MOTIF
• A motif is a recurring pattern (idea, image,
symbol, phrase, etc.) that dominates a literary
work or other works of art.
• Universal motifs cross cultures and have been
repeated throughout the ages.
MOTIFS IN IRISH/CELTIC ART
UNIVERSAL MOTIF IN ART
TREE OF LIFE – IRISH/CELTIC ART
TREE OF LIFE – AUSTRIAN ART
MOTIF AND THEME
• In a literary work, a motif can be seen as an image, sound, action or
other figures that have a symbolic significance and contributes toward
the development of theme. Motif and theme are linked in a literary
work but there is a difference between them. In a literary piece, a
motif is a recurrent image, idea or a symbol that develops or explains
a theme while a theme is a central idea or message.
MOTIF AND SYMBOLS
• Not all motifs are symbolic. A symbol is a person, a place, a thing,
or an event that has meaning in itself and also stands for something
beyond itself. A symbol may or may not be a motif.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
• The central idea of the co-existence of good and evil in Harper Lee’s
To Kill a Mockingbird is supported by several motifs. Lee strengthens
the atmosphere by a motif of gothic details i.e. recurrent images of
gloomy and haunted settings, supernatural events, full moon etc.
Another motif in the narrative is the small town life of Maycomb, which
depicts goodness and pleasantness in life. The gothic details and
Maycomb are not symbols. There are symbols, though, as well: the
snowman, the mockingbird, the rabid dog. The only symbol that
repeats is the mockingbird, so it can be considered a motif.
PLOT/SITUATIONAL ARCHETYPES
JOURNEY
A plot based on a journey allows characters
to encounter many different situations and
people, which gives readers an opportunity
to see different sides of their personalities,
and provides some suspense as they appear
to succeed and fail at different times in
reaching their goals. Often, as a result of
the journey, the main character develops
more fully by successfully handling the
dilemmas he or she encounters.
JOURNEY
There are many types of journey plot
lines:
• Search for Identity
• Journey to the Promised Land
• Quest for Vengeance
• Search for Love
• Hero’s Quest
HERO’S QUEST
• Stage 1: Departure: the hero is called to adventure.
• Stage 2: Initiation: the hero crosses a threshold into a new, more dangerous world.
• Stage 3: Tests: the hero is given supernatural aid, endures tests of strength,
resourcefulness, and endurance.
• Stage 4: The Innermost Cave: the hero descends into the innermost cave, an underworld,
or some other place of great trial. Sometimes this place can be within the hero’s own mind.
Because of this trial, the hero is reborn in some way—physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
Through this experience, the hero changes internally.
• Stage 5: Return and Reintegration with Society: the hero uses his new wisdom to restore
fertility and order to the land.
HERO’S QUEST
DUALITY
• Two conflicting halves of a whole
• The concept of doubles has always had a hold on the collective
imagination of mankind – especially good and evil
• Duality can exist in a single character, as dual concepts in a work, or
as plot or situation
DEATH AND THE AFTERLIFE
• A character dies and goes to another realm
in the afterlife – heaven, hell, purgatory,
ghost realm, the underworld, etc.
• The entire setting of a story could be in one
of these realms.
• What happens when we die? Where do we
go? What do we do? Who is in charge?
THE FALL
• It is a descent in action from a higher to a lower state
of being, an experience which might involve
defilement, moral imperfection, and/or loss of
innocence. This fall is often accompanied by expulsion
from a kind of paradise as penalty for disobedience
and/or moral transgression.
• Fall From Innocence – a coming of age story; events
that may bring about pain or teach a lesson as a
character goes from innocence to knowledge
DEATH AND REBIRTH
• Death and resurrection
• The death and rebirth of a character
can be metaphorical; death does not
have to be physical
• This pattern comes from agriculture,
and parallels the cycles of nature and
of life
• Myths - gods can die and be reborn, or
rise from the dead
CHALLENGE TO AUTHORITY
• Questioning the established
beliefs/rulers
CHARACTER
ARCHETYPES
CHARACTER TYPES
• Hero as warrior
• Outcast
• Friendly beast
• Hero as lover
• Damsel in distress
• Wild man or woman
• Mentor
• Temptress
• Lost children
• Innocent youth
• Trickster
• Boys who refuse to grow up
• Mother
• Evil stepmother
• Christ figure
• Father-son conflict
• Witch
• Magician
• Scapegoat
• Underdog
• Villain
• Prince
• Devil
• Princess
CHRIST FIGURES
What to look for:
• Scenes of crucifixion (arms outstretched,
wounded palms or feet)
• Self-sacrificing character
• Employed as a carpenter
• Good with children
• Associated with bread and wine
• Resurrected
• Helps to redeem an unworthy world
• Exemplifies mystical qualities
CHRIST FIGURES
Authors use a Christ figure because it:
• Deepens a character’s sense of
sacrifice
• Thematically deals with redemption,
hope and miracles
• Makes the character appear smaller
(more humble) rather than larger
Simon is selfless, kind to the littluns, and helps
Ralph build huts. He wrestles with the devil
(Lord of the Flies). He brings the message of
truth about the parachutist and shows mythical
qualities when he tells Ralph that he will get
home.
Atticus Finch is a Christ figure because he teaches
love and acceptance to his children. He
practices what he preaches and is persecuted
by his community when he defends an innocent
black man.
Look for the characteristics of a Christ figure in
Hassan.
SIGHT AND INSIGHT
• Physical blindness can mirror moral,
emotional and psychological blindness.
• Or it is often used in an ironic way –
the blind have insight where the seeing
are incapable of “seeing”
(understanding).
Piggy’s glasses symbolize knowledge and the
ability to “see” clearly. When the savages
steal Piggy’s glasses they become
powerful. With no sight, Ralph’s group is
left powerless.
Consider the main character’s role in “The
Prisoner Who Wore Glasses.”
Consider Billy Pilgrim’s occupation and the
intended irony by Vonnegut.
NAME SYMBOLISM
•
•
Authors never randomly choose names for their
characters. Names add significance and meaning
to the character and the message the author hopes
to convey.
Some common places authors borrow names from
are:
• The Bible
• Greek and roman mythology
• Other literature
• Traditional name etymology
Holden –
desperately
“holding on” to his
youth and
innocence.
Simon – name of
Jesus’ disciple
His name links
him to Christ; like
Simon he is kind
and helpful.
Daisy – pretty to look at
White and innocent
on the outside, yellow
and spoiled on the
inside
Pearl - Pearls are
precious. They are
formed from an
irritant dirt
(adultery) and grow
to be beautiful.
IMAGES AND SYMBOLISM
SEASONS
Seasons represent the circle of life. Stories take place
during a particular season or in particular
weather for a reason.
•
Spring (comedy) = youth, rebirth, fertility, life
•
Summer (romance) = adulthood, passion, love,
prime of life
•
Fall (tragedy) = middle age, harvest, season of
decay
•
Winter (irony) = sleep, lack of growth, old age or
death, isolation, punishment
Daisy and Gatsby’s romance flourishes during
the summer. The hottest day of the year is
linked to the frustrations felt when Tom
confronts Gatsby. Gatsby is murdered on
the first day of autumn.
Scout’s story is told over four consecutive
summers. Summer represents the
carelessness of youth. The final stage of
the story takes place in autumn when
Scout finally learns valuable life lessons.
Holden’s journey takes place in winter, the
season of irony. Holden is isolated from
humanity and demonstrates a lack of
emotional growth.
In what season does A Doll’s House take
place? Why?
WEATHER
1. If there is rain (snow, hail, sleet, etc) in the
story, the author always puts it there for a
reason.
2. Rain is often used as either a destructive or
restorative force (see baptism later).
3. Snow
Negative - barren, inhospitable
positive – clean coating, pure
4. Fog - confusion
Daisy and Gatsby’s reunion - rain symbolizes
the inner turmoil each character feels. The
rain clearing and the sun appearing
symbolize their reunion.
The murder of Simon - rain foreshadows
and acts as a foreboding force to
Simon’s murder.
What does rain symbolize for Amir?
COLOR SYMBOLISM
Color symbolism is important in literature
because it allows the author to incorporate
ideas that are less concrete to create a
fuller meaning in the text. Although colors
may differ from culture to culture, it is
important to consider why an author
chooses one color over another and what
that color might represent.
- immorality, passion, danger, daring, often
associated with fire
- seen as cold and negative, suggests death,
ignorance or evil
- innocence, life, light and purity, and
enlightenment
- hope, new life, sometimes inexperience (does not
stand for jealousy or go)
- cool, calm, peaceful, hope – can relate back to
the Virgin Mary
- rotting, decay, old age, decrepitude
Gatsby and hope - he lives in a green house,
surrounded by a green lawn and pursues the
green light. He hopes to repeat the past. The
yellow of the Valley of Ashes symbolizes
decay.
When describing Jack and his surroundings,
Golding often uses the color red to symbolize
violence, and shadows and shades of black to
show Jack’s negative and evil behavior.
Consider Vonnegut’s recurring use of
blue and ivory colors. Also, consider
why Trout, a character, might have a
yellow car.
EATING
• Eating and drinking with others is a form
of unity – it symbolizes a bond between
people.
• A failed meal or the inability to eat can
symbolize a character’s detachment
from another or society.
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol – Scrooge’s
purchase of the goose and joining the
Cratchit family for Christmas dinner
symbolize his reunion with humanity.
Why is it significant when Nora eats
the macaroons?
How do Amir’s breakfast habits change
after the kite contest?
FLYING
•
Flight is usually symbolic of freedom, escape
(possibly spiritual), or a return home
•
Flight is usually not literal; images of flight
(birds, objects, etc.) may be used
•
Inability to fly or a disrupted flight can
signify harm/restrictedness
Robert Frost uses flight in “Birches” to show the
speaker’s sense of freedom that he felt as a
child swinging on the trees. It further
symbolizes his temporary escape from reality.
Dorothy’s inability to “fly” back home
signifies her inability to depend on herself.
It is only when she believes in her own
capabilities that she is able to make the
return flight home.
What images of flying or flight does
Hosseini include?
What images of flying or flight does
Vonnegut include?
SEX
• Before the mid 20th century, authors wrote
about sex in coded terms to avoid censorship.
• Female symbols include chalices, holy grails,
rolling landscapes, empty vessels, and tunnels.
• Male symbols include blades, lances, and tall
buildings.
• When authors directly write about sex, most
times they are writing about something else.
Often they are referring to sacrifice,
submission, power, rebellion or enlightenment.
After Mercutio and Benvolio think that Romeo
has had sex with Rosaline, they use double
entendres (Romeo is a herring without his
roe and a pump well flowered).
Hamlet refers to his mother’s “incestuous
sheets.” Although he refers to sex, he is
really referring to his uncle stealing his
father’s rightful place as king.
Consider Billy Pilgrim’s relationship with
Montana and the real reason he has “sex”
with her.
WATER AND REBIRTH
•
The presence of water can indicate a baptism or
cleansing of the soul. It is a symbolic death and
rebirth.
•
Traveling on water (rivers, oceans) can indicate a
rebirth for a character.
•
Rain, as mentioned earlier, can be a symbolic
cleansing.
•
A character can also be baptized or reborn when
he or she is renamed. (E.G. Jay Gatz - Gatsby)
Ophelia is driven to madness and takes her
own life by drowning. She chooses to
enter a new life by leaving her troubled
life behind her.
One of the first images of Ralph is when he
strips himself of his uniform and dives into
the pool of water. He is metaphorically
cleansed of his old life.
SETTING
SETTING ARCHETYPES
• The Garden - symbolizes love and fertility
• The Forest - can be a wild place with dangers and beasts; it can also be a place to reconnect with
nature
• The River - water symbolizes life and the river can show life’s journey or boundaries
• The Sea - can be both good and evil, with dangers and treasures; it can also show infinity
• The Island - symbolizes isolation
• The Mountain - climbing up can represent a spiritual journey
• The Wasteland - a place for cleansing and finding inner strength
• The Tower - represents worship or power
• The Small Town - this is where everyone knows everyone and judges them, so it represents
intolerance
WHAT ARE SOME MOTIFS FROM 10TH AND 11TH
GRADE LITERATURE?
AMERICAN LITERATURE
BRITISH LITERATURE
• THE AMERICAN DREAM
• RIGHTFUL KING
• THE GREEN LIGHT (GATSBY)
• CLASS SYSTEM
• THE SCARLET LETTER
• IMPERIALISM
• THE SCAFFOLD
• HEROES
• PAGANISM
• CHRISTIANITY
NOTES:
Information and format for this PowerPoint
taken from:
Foster, Thomas C. How To Read Literature Like A
Professor: A Lively And Entertaining Guide To
Reading Between The Lines. New York: Quill,
2003.