Classical Archetypes:
Symbolism in literature
What is an archetype?
• An archetype is a symbol, story, pattern, or
character type that occurs frequently in
literature and evokes strong, often unconscious,
associations for the reader.
• Archetypes occur in all cultures and time
periods.
Where did archetypes come from?
• The idea of archetypes are thought to grow out
of man’s subconscious (we are born with these
traits, and they are universally understood).
• This theory was developed and researched by
famous psychologist CARL JUNG.
Types of archetypes:
• 1) situational
• 2) character
• 3) symbolic
Situational archetypes:
• These are archetypes that occur commonly in
SITUATIONS within stories, myths, legends, etc.
across all cultures.
Types of situational archetypes:
• A. The Quest
• A search for something or someone who will
restore fertility to desolation (or provide
salvation of some sort)
• Ex: the search for the Holy Grail, Harry Potter
and the sorcerer’s stone, Percy Jackson and the
golden fleece
• B. The Task:
• When the hero must perform superhuman deeds
as a part of the quest
• Ex: Arthur pulling the sword from the stone
(King Arthur legend), Odysseus stringing the
bow, Luke Skywalker must rescue Princess Leia
• C. The initiation
• When the hero must come into adult maturity by
facing certain difficulties, training
• ex: the karate kid must overcome his rival and
win the karate match, Harry Potter faces many
obstacles, etc.
• D. The journey
• This is when the hero goes on a search of
information about his past or is searching for a
truth of some sort.
• Ex: Harry Potter’s search for information about
his parents
• E. The fall
• A descent from a higher to a lower state of being,
often involves the hero going through a moral or
spiritual decline
• Ex: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden,
Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader
• F. Death vs. Resurrection
• The cycle of life/death or life/rebirth shown in
the literature
• Ex: summer to winter, morning to night, a
character might change from evil to redeemed. A
character’s spirit helps another
• G. Nature vs. technology
• Nature is seen as “good” and more morally pure,
while technology/society are seen as “evil”
• Ex: Hatchet (survival in the wilderness, the
plane crash almost caused his death), the Ewoks
are able to defeat technology (Star Wars), The
Terminator, The Matrix
• H. Battle between good vs. evil
• The ultimate battle between right and wrong
which is demonstrated in most heroic conflicts
• Ex: Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, Harry
Potter vs. Voldemort, any western movie
• I. The unhealable wound
• When the hero suffers a physical or emotional
wound that can’t fully heal
• Ex: Harry Potter’s scar
• J. The ritual
• An actual ceremony that the hero will go through
that shows a rite of passage to maturity
• Ex: becoming a knight, crowning a king,
baptism, bar mitzvah, weddings
Character Archetypes:
• Character archetypes are common
CHARACTERIZATIONS that are seen in various
types of myths, legends, or literature across all
cultures and time periods.
Types of character archetypes:
• A. The Hero
• This is the main protagonist of the story.
1. often taken away from his birth parents
2. Circumstances of his birth are unusual
3. Often an attempt is made to kill him at birth or
in childhood by a rival
4. Not much is known of his childhood
Ex: Jesus, Moses, Wart, Superman, Harry Potter,
Tarzan
• B. The young man from the provinces
• This is the hero who is raised by relatives or
strangers and separated from his birth parents
• Ex: Tarzan, Superman, Harry Potter, Luke
Skywalker, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz
• C. The initiate
• the young hero or heroine who must go through
rigorous training; they often wear white (symbol
of innocence and purity)
• Ex: Daniel from the Karate Kid, Harry Potter,
Luke Skywalker
• D. Mentors
• Teachers to the hero
• Ex: Yoda, Merlin, Obi Wan
• E. Hunting group of companions
• The loyal friends of the hero who face perils with
him
• Ex: Hermione and Ron, the Knights of the
Round Table, Robin Hood and his Merry Men
• F. Loyal Retainers
• Servants who help the hero. Usually of lower
social class or paid employees (unlike the
hunting group of companions who are peers)
• Ex: R2D2 and C3Po
• G. The friendly beast
• An animal who befriends the hero and helps him
• Ex: Chewbacca
• H. The scapegoat
• A character who is blamed for some wrong when
they are really innocent
• Ex: Mr. Keating, Snowball (Animal Farm)
• I. The outcast
• A figure who is banished from society and
becomes a loner/wanderer
• Ex: Han Solo
• J. The devil figure
• An evil character who tries to destroy the hero
• Ex: Satan, Darth Vader, Voldemort
• K. The creature of nightmare
• A non-human monster who threatens the hero
• Ex: Dracula, Freddy Kreuger, Jabba the Hut
• L. Evil figure with an ultimately good heart
• A redeemed devil figure who is saved by the end
of the story and converts to good
• Ex: Apollo Creed (Rocky films), Scrooge (A
Christmas Carol), the Grinch
• M. Earth mother
• A female character who is symbolic of emotional
nourishment, care giver, mother figure
• Ex: Mother Nature, Claire Huxtable, Dr. Quinn
Medicine Woman, Mammy in Gone with the
Wind
• N. The Temptress
• A female character who uses her beauty to tempt
and seduce the hero and tries to lead him to his
downfall
• Ex: Delilah, The Sirens, Guinevere, Cleopatra
• O. The platonic ideal
• A female character who is a platonic friend to the
hero and often in the hunting group of
companions.
• Ex: Hermione, Princess Leia
•
P. Damsel in Distress
• A female character who needs to be rescued by
the hero
• Ex: Rapunzel, Princess Leia, Snow White,
Sleeping Beauty
Symbolic Archetypes:
• These are archetypes that are universal
SYMBOLS in literature which occur in many
stories and in many cultures.
Types of symbolic archetypes:
• A. light-darkness
• Typically, light is seen to represent good,
renewal , and insight.
• Dark is seen to represent evil, ignorance, or
despair.
• B. Water-desert
• The water is seen as symbolic of life, growth,
rebirth, or fertility.
• The desert imagery is symbolic of death,
destruction , and decay
• C. Heaven vs. Hell
• Skies and mountains represent closeness to
heavens or goodness.
• The bowels of the earth represent evil forces that
inhabit the earth.
• D. Innate wisdom vs. educated stupidity
• Some characters exhibit wisdom instinctively
when others are educated but not “street smart.”
Hero often needs guidance of innate wisdom in
his initiation.
• E. Haven vs. Wilderness
• Places of safety contrast sharply against the
dangerous wilderness. The desert is often seen
as dangerous
• Ex: Tatooine
• F. Supernatural intervention
• This is when the gods intervene on behalf of the
hero and give him supernatural strength to
defeat evil.
• Ex: The force (Star Wars), The Bible, The
Odyssey and mythology
• G. The magical weapon
• This is the weapon that the hero uses to fight
evil. It is usually given to him by his mentor.
• Ex: King Arthur’s sword Excalibur, Odysseus’
bow, Thor’s hammer, Luke’s light saber
• We will be looking for examples of these
archetypes in the film Star Wars: A New Hope.
• Try to look for examples of archetypes when you
read, watch television, or view film. There are
• A LOT.