Archetypes
Definition of Archetype
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A Greek word meaning “original pattern, or model”
Researchers have been able to collect and compare myths, legends,
and religions of cultures from all around the world.
They discovered that for centuries, people who had NO contact with
each other had passed down stories through generations that were
similar to the stories of other cultures.
The basic elements of these stories are called ARCHETYPES.
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.
In literature, an archetype is a typical character, an action or a
situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human
nature.
• What types of character, situation or image patterns have you seen
repeated in the movies you examined?
The Roots of
Archetypal Theory
• This literary theory/criticism has its roots in social
anthropology as well as psychoanalysis and
was most popular during the 1940s and 1950s.
• Anthropologist Sir James George Frazer examined cultural
mythologies, including the study of the shared practices of
primitive and modern religions.
The Roots of
Archetypal Theory
• Carl Jung, Swiss psychologist, argued that the root
of an archetype is in the “collective unconscious” of
mankind.
• “collective unconscious” refers to experiences shared
by a race or culture
• including love, religion, death, birth, life, struggle,
survival etc.
• These experiences exist in the subconscious of every
individual and are recreated in literary works or in
other forms of art.
• Archetypes are represented through primordial
images that have been part of human’s collective
unconscious since the first stages of time.
The Roots of
Archetypal Theory
• Well-known Canadian literary critic Northrop Frye (1912-1991)
dealt with archetypes from a purely literary view.
• Believed human beings projected their narrative imaginations in
to two fundamental ways:
1. representations of an ideal world
2. representations of the real world
The Roots of
Archetypal Theory
Frye divided his theory into four narrative patterns,
like the seasons.
• Summer = romance (ideal world)
• Winter = irony/satire (real world, tragic/comic)
• Autumn = Tragedy
• movement from summer/ideal/innocence to
winter/real/experience
• Spring = Comedy
• movement from winter/real/experience to
summer/ideal/innocence
The Roots of
Archetypal Theory
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These form a kind of master plot that is
the structure of a quest.
Conflict = basis of romance
Catastrophe = basis of tragedy
Disorder & confusion = basis of irony & satire
Triumph = basis of comedy
• He called this theory archetypal criticism because it deals
with the recurrence of certain narrative patterns in Western
Literature.
We are going to divide our
examination of archetypes into
four areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Situations (plot formulas, patterns of action)
Character Types
Setting (time & place)
Symbols – images & color
You’ll often find several of these archetypes within
one
Archetypal Situational (Plot)
The movie opens…. the young, beautiful actress is
on a tirade about how much she hates, and she
means hates, detests, loathes and every other
adjective in between, the new guy she works
with (who happens to be drop dead good looking
and single). He pokes fun at her and frequently
stops by her desk. She fumes silently. She yells at
him about how she can’t stand the sight of him.
He laughs and says he can’t stand her either.
What’s going to happen?
How do you know this?
THE QUEST—search for someone or some object, which when it is found and brought back
will restore life to a wasted land, the desolation of which is shown by a leader’s illness and
disability
Patterns
The Quest to Know Who You Are (identity)
The Quest to Find Knowledge
The Quest to Find the Promised Land or to Build a Beautiful City
The Warrior’s Quest to Save the People and Rid the Land of Danger
The Quest to Get Revenge (vengeance)
The Quest for Fame and Fortune
The Fool’s Quest (a silly person saves the land because of his innocence or
foolishness)
The Search for Love (to rescue the princess)
The Quest for the Grail (human perfection)
Archetypal Situational (Plot)
THE INITIATION—this usually takes the form of an initiation
into adult life. The adolescent comes into his/her maturity
with new awareness and problems along with a new hope
for the community. This awakening is often the climax of
the story.
DEATH AND REBIRTH—grows out of a 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.
Archetypal Situational (Plot)
THE FALL—describes a descent from a higher 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 expulsion from a kind of
paradise as a penalty for disobedience and moral transgression.
BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL—Obviously the battle between two
primal forces. Mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual
portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds. These
manifest themselves in the classic conflicts of menacing enemies,
natural dangers, moral dilemmas, problems with society, and difficulty
with fate or decisions
Archetypal Situational (Plot)
What movies do you know that follow one of
these narrative patterns?
The movie starts. A dark character is seen carrying a
limp figure in a pink gown. Suddenly, another figure,
accompanied by a falcon appears…
Who are these people?
Archetypal Character
These are the “stereotype” characters that you see over and over
again.
You’ve seen these characters throughout different cultures and
over different eras in history.
Here are just a few…
Archetypal Character
Character
Description
Examples
Note the underlined words and phrases; these
will help you take quick notes!
The Hero
larger-than-life character
often goes on some kind of journey or quest
hero must demonstrate the qualities and
abilities valued by his culture
Mother is sometimes a virgin, circumstances of
birth are unusual, some attempt is made at
birth to kill him; raised by foster parents,
returns to his kingdom to right wrongs, marries
a princess, becomes king, meets a mysterious
death, body is burned rather than buried
Odysseus
King Arthur
Prince Charming
Luke Skywalker
(Star Wars)
Frodo (The Lord
of the Rings)
Harry Potter
Archetypal Character
Character
Description
Examples
ANTI-HERO
A non-hero, given the job of failure,
frequently humorous
He is not the typical hero because he
does not always possess purely good
qualities or personality traits.
think Homer
Simpson
For example, while the hero is courageous,
the anti-hero might be scared. While the hero
is handsome, the anti-hero might be too
short, too hairy or too fat. While the hero is
self-assured, the anti-hero might be plagued
with insecurities. While the hero is out for
justice and serving the common good, the
anti-hero might be selfish and rebellious
against this same common good. This is what
makes him or her relatable and likable.
Holden Caulfield
Archetypal Characters
Character
Description
Examples
The Initiate
An innocent young pre-hero who must go
on a quest or special training before
earning the right to be a hero.
Luke Skywalker
The Innocent
An inexperienced character that is exposed
to the evils in the world
Dorothy
(The Wizard of
Oz)
The Damsel in
Distress
Woman who needs to be rescued
female figure, usually young & beautiful,
who is placed in a dire predicament by a
villain or monster and needs a hero to
rescue her
Rapunzel
Sleeping Beauty
Character
Description
Examples
Helpers
Wise Old Woman, Man, or Animal; Teacher or
Mentor
Characters that assist or guide the protagonist
Merlin
(King Arthur)
Yoda
(Star Wars)
The Father Figure
FATHER-SON
CONFLICT
The protector and leader
— father and son are separated and do not
meet until the son is an adult; often the
mentor is loved and respected more (think
Obi wan kenobi)
Mufasa
(The Lion King)
The Mother
Figure
EARTHMOTHER
The protective nurturer and gentle provider
- often a goddess who brings the life source to
the story either by actually birthing things into
being or nurturing them for survival
—offers spiritual and emotional nourishment
to those she meets; shown in earth colors and
has large breasts and hips symbolic of her
childbearing capabilities
Mrs. Weasely
(Harry Potter)
Fairy Godmother
(Cinderella)
Archetypal Characters
Character
Description
Examples
The Temptress
A woman who uses her power
(intellect, magic, beauty) to make
men weak
sensuous beauty; brings about the
hero’s downfall because he is
physically attracted to her
The White Witch
(The Lion, the
Witch, and the
Wardrobe)
The DEVIL
FIGURE
evil incarnate; offers worldly goods,
fame, or knowledge to the hero in
exchange for possession of the soul
The Sirens
Archetypal Characters
Character
Description
Examples
Monster/Villain
The antagonist (opposes
the protagonist)
The Giant (Jack and the
Beanstalk)
May be an evil genius,
sadist, creature or
predator
The Trickster/The Fool
Characters who tricks
Fred and George
others to get them to do Weasely (Harry Potter)
what he/she wants—
Road Runner
they can be both
virtuous or evil
The EVIL FIGURE WITH
GOOD HEART
redeemable evil figure
saved by the nobility or
love of the hero.
Gru
(Despicable Me)
Archetypal Characters
Character
Description
Examples
The Underdog
Characters who are always in the wrong
place at the wrong time, but who usually
win something of value in the end
The Ugly
Duckling
Neville
Longbottom
(Harry Potter)
The SCAPEGOAT animal or human who is unjustly held
responsible for others’ sins; sacrificed but
they often become more powerful force
dead than alive
STAR-CROSSED
LOVERS
two lovers forbidden to be together
because of the rules of society or family;
often ends tragically
Romeo and
Juliet
What movies do you know that have these sytpes of
characters?
The movie opens on a dark, stormy night. There is no power in the
house where the couple lives.
What does this suggest?
Why?
Archetypal Setting
• These are settings that are seen over and over throughout
literature. Although the settings may vary a little over time or
as cultures change, the basic premise of the setting is the same.
• Such as…
Archetypal Settings
Place
Description
The Crossroads The place of suffering and decision
A road or path Journey of life
The
Underworld
The place where the hero
encounters fear or death, descent
into hell
The Maze or
Labyrinth
Represents a puzzling dilemma or
great uncertainty – complex
journey of human mind
Archetypal Settings
The Castle
Gothic Mansion
The strong place of safety; holds the treasure or the
princess; may be bewitched or enchanted
A River
A water source
The Seas
life giving or cleansing properties; without water,
there is no life. Borders and boundaries, too
Journey down river = journey of life – Twain’s Huck
Finn
Stages of life - Styx in Greek myths
source of life = good and dangerous, turbulent = evil
Poseidon (Greek mythology)
The Island
Isolation
Robinson Crusoe
Lord of the Files
The Garden
early on = earthly delights, love and fertility; Christianity =
eternal forbidden paradise
Garden of Eden
Romeo and Juliet (balcony scene)
The
forest/wilderness
dangerous world full of beasts and darkness (jungle – wild,
uncontrollable)
Little Red Riding Hood
The Scarlet Letter
Tarzan
The mountain
center of universe, climbing = spiritual, emotional journey;
powerful, mysterious places
Wasteland and
desert
emotionally/physically barren place or time in a character’s
journey, usually emerges stronger
Archetypal Settings
universe of opposites –this can be anything from light and
dark or day and night to good and evil or man verse beast
landscape that emerges from chaos - begins with some
kind of void or confusion and something whole is
brought forth such as the light and the darkness
emerging from the watery chaos
What movies do you know that have these types of settings?
Symbolic Archetypes:
These are symbols (something which represents something else)
that have occurred over and over again throughout time and in
various different cultures. These symbols have always
represented the same things; that is what makes them an
archetype and what makes us recognize them as symbols
when we see them.
Symbols
• LIGHT VS. DARKNESS—light suggests hope, renewal,
or intellectual illumination; darkness suggests the
unknown, ignorance, or despair.
• WATER VS. DESERT—water is necessary to life and
growth and so it appears as a birth or rebirth symbol; the
appearance of rain in a work can suggest spiritual birth or
rebirth; characters who live in the desert are often “dead”
to morals or the “good side”
• Water = purity, cleansing, baptism
• Fire = purging, tribulation
• HEAVEN VS. HELL—gods live in the skies or
mountaintops; evil forces live in the bowels of the earth
Archetypal Images/Symbols
• Seasons = spring is birth, winter is death
• Heavenly bodies = moon is change, cycles; sun is power,
inspiration, goodness
• Circles = completeness, wholeness, unity
• Plants = Oak is strength, rose is beauty
• Animals = serpent is evil; lamb is innocent, lion is strong
• snakes or cows hold special value in the culture or religion
• the snake in the Garden or Eden = temptation; but a snake can also
symbolize rebirth (shedding skin)
• Numbers = a particular number holds a sacred value for the
culture (such as 3 for the Christian faith, the divine trinity, 7 is
perfect or luck
Archetypal Colors
• Color = positive (negative)
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Black = power (death, mourning)
Blue = nobility, tranquility (depression)
Brown = Earth, nature (confusion)
Gray = neutral (passionless)
Green = fertility, renewal, wealth (greed, envy)
Orange = adventure, change (forced change, disruptiveness)
Purple = royalty, positive personal growth (injury)
Red = sex, love (sacrifice, taboo, humiliation, danger)
White = purity, wholesomeness, rebirth (emptiness)
Yellow = enlightenment (cowardice, illness)
Symbolic Archetypes:
What movies do you know that contain any of these symbols or
colors or images?
Now, take what you know about
archetypes and apply them to
everyone’s favorite Ogre….
SHREK Archetypes
Hero
Shrek
Literally doing superhuman
deeds (fighting fire breathing
dragon)
Quest
(with a Damsel in
Distress)
Find/Rescue Princess
Fiona
Task
Get his swamp back
from the fairy
creatures
Light v Darkness
The castle is dark to represent evil;
Fiona is first seen in a ray of light; as
soon as they escape, they emerge into
daytime since they have escaped evil
Death and Rebirth
When they escape the dragon,
morning is dawning suggesting hope
and rebirth
Star Crossed Lovers
Dragons and Donkeys aren’t
supposed to be together, neither are
ogres and princesses
Evil Figure with a Good Heart
Dragon appears at first as an Evil
Figure, especially with the remains of
the knights, but Donkey (friendly
beast) saves her and converts her to
good
The Journey
Shrek and Donkey face their fears
and conquer the dragon, finding
Fiona to accomplish their task
Examining “Cinderella” from an Archetypal
Perspective
• Consider Cinderella’s attendance at the ball as symbolic of
her attaining salvation. (The tasks assigned to her by her
stepmother and stepsisters—the tempters—distract her
from focusing on her own salvation. Through the agency of a
supernatural entity—the fairy godmother—she receives the
unearned love of the prince.)
• Examine the stepmother and stepsisters as archetypal
villains.
• Examine the chores Cinderella must complete (especially
involving the beans in the fireplace in Grimm version) as the
archetypal catalogue of difficult tasks.
• Quest for Love
Activity: Develop & Apply
We Do
Review your notes on archetypes.
Revisit your movie categories
Rethink them.
Using movie the list & your own movie knowledge,
identify one specific archetype from each category
(situational, symbolic, setting and character) and a
corresponding movie.
Movie Title
1. (situation)
2. (character)
3. (setting)
4. (symbol)
Activity: Develop & Apply
You Do
Review your notes on archetypes.
Use your movie lists and identify one archetype
from each category (situational, symbolic, setting
and character).
For each archetype (4), write two sentences
explaining why your choice demonstrates an
example of each of these archetypes by using
your definitions from your notes.
Thanks to my sources…
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“Archetypal Literary Criticism,” Wikipedia. Web. 12 November 2014.
Don L. F. Nilsen and. Alleen Pace Nilsen at Arizona Sate University
Louisa Graner at Woodstock High School, Georgia
Monique Fisher, White Station High School
Kipp, r. http://central.wmrhsd.org/
• [Reference: William Harmon and C. Hugh Holman, A Handbook to Literature 8 ed.
(1999).]—adapted from Dave Crew’s handout on Archetypal Criticism.
• Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today: A User Friendly Guide. Garland Publishing,
1999. p. 210-212.