Archetypes
Storytelling for
Survival and Hope
How many stories do you
encounter daily?
• Think about the number of stories you
encounter daily either reading, viewing, or
listening. This would include all of the
following categories:
-books, short stories, newspaper stories,
movies, sitcoms, tv shows, video games,
news reports, magazine stories, music.
• Write down this number in your notes, as
well as what categories apply to you.
• Write down what percentage of the stories
you encounter are fictional.
Storytelling for
Survival and Hope
Why do we need stories?
•To explain natural phenomenon such as great
floods and the creation of the world
•To answer such questions such as why we are
born and why we die
•To help us escape reality by entering a world
where the good guy wins, the forces of evil
are defeated, and love conquers all
•To help define the roles of good and evil such
as the hero and the villain so that we might
recognize them in reality
What are archetypes?
•They are the basic building blocks of stories
that all writers use to create a world to which
readers can escape.
•Without communicating about archetypes, all
cultures around the world use them to build
their stories. This is called the Collective
Unconscious (term coined by Carl Jung).
•Examples of archetypes are: the hero, the
damsel in distress, the battle between good
and evil, etc.
http://www.chatafrikarticles.co
m/articles/1211/1/CARL-GJUNG/Page1.html
Recognizing Archetypes
______ upon a ______, a _________ on a ________ horse set
out on a ___________ to rescue a __________ ____
___________ from an ______ ______________.
http://www.animationfactory.com
Recognizing Archetypes
The _______ who is in _____ with
the ____________, carries her after
she has ______________.
The ____ _________
lumbered back to his
______ master.
http://www.animationfactory.com
Recognizing Archetypes
The ____________ has caught
the ________.
Decisions between ______
and _______ are not always
easy.
http://www.animationfactory.com
Character Archetypes
http://cdn.thegloss.com/files/2012/05/lukeskywalker.jpg
• THE HERO—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
• YOUNG MAN FROM THE
PROVINCES— hero is taken
away as a young man and raised
by strangers; when he returns
home, he can view problems
objectively and solve them easier
http://starspage.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/lion-king-pumbaa-timon-simba.jpg
Character Archetypes
•THE INITIATE—young heroes or heroines who go
through training; usually innocent and wear white
MENTOR—teacher or counselor to the initiate; often
are father or mother figures to the hero or heroine
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=luke+
skywalker&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=luke+sk
ywalker&sc=8-8&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&id=878938DE8E5E905
77E73699125A6DD5AB49DFFE4&selectedI
ndex=8
FATHER-SON CONFLICT—father and son
are separated and do not meet until the son is
an adult; often the mentor is loved and
respected more
http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/gallery/telemachus.jpg
Character Archetypes
http://poster.4teachers.org/imgFileWizard/61164_1.pe
g
http://images5.fanpop.com/image/phot
os/30800000/Rue-the-hunger-games30832720-468-550.jpg
•HUNTING GROUP OF COMPANIONS—
loyal companions willing to face any number
of dangers to be together
•LOYAL RETAINERS—somewhat like
servants to the hero who are heroic
themselves; their duty is to protect the hero
and reflect the nobility of the hero; they are
expendable
•FRIENDLY BEAST—a beast on the side of
the hero shows that nature sides most often
with the forces of good
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2011112
3015638/harrypotter/images/f/f4/DobbyDH.jpg
Character Archetypes
•DEVIL FIGURE—evil incarnate; offers
worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the
hero in exchange for possession of the soul
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/5aT0dU73RpU/T2trwnl9lHI/AAAAAAAAChs/_w
nyWWRhpbM/s1600/spiderman-5-villains-4vulture-next-enemy-cast-pictures.jpg
•EVIL FIGURE WITH GOOD HEART—
redeemable evil figure saved by the nobility
or love of the hero.
•SCAPEGOAT—animal or human who is
unjustly held responsible for others’ sins;
sacrificed but they often become more
powerful force dead than alive
http://simplywallpaper.net/pictures/2010/12/01/Aslan-Lion-TheChronicles-of-Narnia-Wallpaper.jpg
Character Archetypes
http://www.filmofilia.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/06/Pitch-Perfect-img-07.jpg
http://www.puzzlepuzzles.com/imatjes/pocahontastalking-to-the_4d09e0280aaa2-p.jpg
http://images.wikia.com/disney/images/2/
2e/Hercules-and-Meg-disney-couples6037425-301-232.jpg
• OUTCAST—figure banished from a
social group for some crime against his
fellow man (could be falsely accused of
a crime or could choose to banish
himself from guilt)
• EARTHMOTHER- offers spiritual and
emotional nourishment to those she meets;
shown in earth colors and has large breasts
and hips symbolic of her child-bearing
capabilities
• TEMPTRESS—sensuous beauty; brings
about the hero’s downfall because he is
physically attracted to her
Character Archetypes
• PLATONIC IDEAL-- female figure who
provides intellectual stimulation for the
hero; he is not physically attracted to her
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a219/changmoh/7talladeganights02.jp
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• DAMSEL IN DISTRESS--a
female character who needs the
hero to rescue her from either
emotional or physical danger
http://xfinity.comcast.net/blogs/tv/files/2009/03/spider-man-2.jpg
Character Archetypes
•STAR-CROSSED LOVERS—two
lovers forbidden to be together
because of the rules of society or
family; often ends tragically
http://inspirationaldream.files.wordpress.com
/2011/08/romeo-and-juliet-wallpaper-1.jpg
• CREATURE OF
NIGHTMARE—animal or
creature disfigured or
mutated; monsters who are
the antagonists in the story
http://www.disney.co.uk/movies/sites/default/files/frozen/UK/Characters/msf_frozen_cmi_marsh
mallow.jpg
Situational
Archetypes
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23800000/Harry-Potter-and-the-Sorcerer-s-Stone-thesorcerers-stone-23844068-1280-544.png
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
THE TASK—to save the
kingdom, to win the fair lady,
to identify himself so that he
may assume his rightful position,
the hero must perform some
nearly superhuman deed.
(OVERALL MISSION)
http://static.zerochan.net/I.See.The.Light.full.533833.jpg
Situational Archetypes
•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.
http://images2.static-bluray.com/reviews/7246_3.jpg
http://hollywoodtheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/WOZFeatured.jpg
Situational
Archetypes
THE JOURNEY—the hero
goes in search of some truth or
information to restore life to the kingdom; he must descend into
a real or psychological hell and is forced to discover the
blackest truths quite often concerning his faults; once the hero
is at his lowest point, he must accept personal responsibility to
return to the world of the living; this could also appear as a
group of isolated people (trapped on a boat, bus, island) to
represent society. Hero reaches lowest point and must decide whether
to give up or keep going.
Situational Archetypes
http://content7.flixster.com/question/41/77/
51/4177517_std.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ldo6gcEAKNk/
TQPg4uOQMMI/AAAAAAAABA8/BCXi0TmXeI/s1600/76461_184752_10.jpg
•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.
•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.
•NATURE VS. MECHANISTIC WORLD—Nature
is good while technology and society are often evil.
http://images6.alphacoders.com/314/31495
8.jpg
Situational Archetypes
http://th03.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2013/040/f
/2/batman_and_the_joker_by_mrcrazydragonpe
nguin-d5ucdhs.jpg
https://encryptedtbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT0OLY3L_GSa6f50lT5bCkgfbl8qtjPS2M7y24KRQbHOHXq9DF
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.
THE UNHEALABLE WOUND—The wound is
either physical or psychological and cannot be healed
fully. This wound also indicates a loss of innocence.
These wounds always ache and drive the sufferer to
desperate measures.
THE RITUAL—The actual ceremonies the
initiate experiences that will mark his rite of
passage into another state (weddings,
funerals)
http://www.fanthai.com/images/pic_news/Myoreginal/0712102413.jpg
Symbolic Archetypes
•LIGHT VS. DARKNESS—light suggests
hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination;
darkness suggests the unknown, ignorance,
or despair. (Both elements do not have to be
present.)
https://encryptedtbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVl62EaPQ7
GZwTOStoVGVzdGbVJCaXADfVAR7ucpIO8U4cDM
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•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” (Both
elements do not have to be present.)
Symbolic Archetypes
•HEAVEN VS. HELL—gods live
the skies or mountaintops;
forces live in the bowels
the earth
in
evil
of
http://www.artofvfx.com/PERCYJAC
KSON/PERCYJACKSON_MPC_VF
X_03A.jpg
http://features.jerseyarts.com/content/
wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Scoutand-Atticus.jpg
INNATE WISDOM VS EDUCATED
STUPIDITY—uneducated characters
can often be wise using their common
sense while some very educated
characters have no common sense
Symbolic Archetypes
http://www.adanx.com/imm/posters/p/percy-jackson-ithe-olympians-the-lightning-thief/percy1.jpg
•SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION—the gods most often
intervene on the side of the hero to assist him in his quest
•HAVEN VS. WILDERNESS—for the hero, places of safety
are required for time to regain health and resources; these
hideouts are often in unusual places
http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs49/f/2009/234/8/d/batcave_sketch_by_nebezial.jpg
Symbolic Archetypes
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110529172659/harry
potter/images/0/01/Phoenix2.jpg
http://starwarsmovies.net/wpcontent/uploads/2008/04/luke_skywalker.jpg
FIRE VS. ICE—fire can
represent knowledge, light,
life, and rebirth while ice can
represent ignorance, darkness,
sterility, and death
• MAGIC WEAPON— some
weapon used to fight the
forces of evil that has
magical properties