The Good Guys
The Hero—The hero archetype is so well-defined that the
life of the protagonist can be clearly divided into a series of
well-marked adventures:
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Birth—unusual circumstances with some attempt made to kill him/her
He is spirited away and reared by foster parents
Nothing is known of his childhood, but upon reaching adulthood, he returns
to his future kingdom
After victory over a wild beast, he marries a princess, becomes king, reigns
uneventfully, and later loses favor with the gods.
He is driven from the city, meets a mysterious death, often at the top of a hill.
His body is not buried, but nevertheless, he has one or more holy sepulchers
(tombs).
Some characteristics of a hero:
• Bravery
• Strength
• Selflessness
• Persistence
• Cleverness
• Pity for the weak
• Showing no pity to the enemy
The young man from the Provinces—The hero is spirited
away as a young man and raised by strangers. He later
returns to his home and heritage where he is a stranger who
can see new problems and new solutions (Tarzan, Arthur,
Dorothy—The Wizard of Oz)
The Initiates
young heroes or heroines go through
training or a special ceremony
Daniel in The Karate
Kid is an example.
Mentors
Character who serve as role models,
counselors, and teachers
Gandalf gives the
dwarfs wisdom, luck,
and courage.
The Hobbit
Hunting Group of Companions: loyal friends
who face dangers together
The children in
“The Chronicles of
Narnia”
Loyal Retainers: protect the hero
Inspector Gadget’s dog
always protects him
from danger.
Friendly Beast
A creature that represents nature to
show that nature is on the hero’s side.
Mr. Tumnus is an
animal, but he does
not turn the children in
to the White Witch.
The Bad Guys
The Devil Figure
An extremely evil character who tempts
the hero
Smaug represents evil in The Hobbit
The Evil figure with a good heart
an evil character who can be redeemed
(remember Scrooge?)
God Bless us
everyone
Creature of Nightmare
A monster from the darkest part of nature
(vampires, werewolves, Etc)
Remember the
goblins, wargs, and
the spiders
in The Hobbit
The Sad Guys
The Scapegoat
Usually a character whose death
makes someone else more powerful
which shows the evils of society.
The Outcast
A Character who is banished from society
and becomes a wanderer
Poor, Poor Rudolph!
The Female Characters
Earth Mother
Symbolic of abundance; spiritual
and emotional nourishment
The Temptress
Tempts the hero and may play a
part in his ‘fall”
The Platonic Ideal
A friend who helps and gives
intellectual encouragement
The Damsel in Distress
Must be rescued by the hero
(Sleeping Beauty, Snow White)
Star-Crossed Lovers
A female character is involved
with a male character and their
relationship is doomed from the
beginning (Romeo and Juliet)
Light versus Darkness
Light gives hope while darkness
gives despair
Water versus desert
Water represents life, and desert is death
Rain is often associated with
character’s “reawakening”
(rain at the end of Lion King)
Heaven versus Hell
Heaven is a place for goodness while hell
is a dark, cold place
Wisdom versus Educated Stupidity
Wisdom and understanding are
more important than just an
“educated” mind.
( Quasimodo in Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Haven versus Wilderness
A safe place verses “the wilderness”
Supernatural Intervention
The gods intervene for the hero.
Fire versus Ice
Fire is knowledge, light, growth.
Ice represents cold, darkness,
ignorance, and sterility
One: unity, divinity
Three: completeness: Mind, Body, Spirit; birth, life, death
Four: mankind: four limbs, four seasons
Six: evil: devil
Seven: divinity: seven gifts, seven colors of the rainbow,
seven days of the week
Circle—heaven, oneness, sun, eternity, never-ending, perfect shape, halos
Cross—tree of life, struggle, martyrdom
Curve—more energy, sense of motion
Rectangle: most secure, rational
Square—4-part process, stability, projection of self
Star—light, insight—showing the way mentally, physically, and spiritually
Triangle—trinity, spiritual, energy, unstable
Dark: chaos
Light: Spirit, morality
Red—sunrise, birth, blood, coats of arms, flame, fire, emotion, energy, passion,
excitement, anger, danger, sentiment
Blue—clear-thinking, height, depth, innocence, positive, peace, truth, religion, purity
Green—earth, sensation, new life, eternal life, nature, sympathy growth, symbol of
decay, symbol of innocence (greenhorn), jealousy (lime green)
Yellow—fear, new life, rebirth; hope; cowardice
Orange--pride, ambition, fire
Violet—water, memory, nostalgia
Gold-- majesty, sun, wealth, truth
Silver—moon, wealth
Air: breath, light, freedom, movement
Earth: passive, feminine, solid
Fire: love, life, control, passion
Lake: mystery, depth
Crescent moon: change, transition
Full moon: vegetation,
complete
Mountain: ambition, goals
Valley: depression, evil, unknown
Sun: hero, knowledge, splendor,
healing, resurrection, ultimate wholeness
Water: passive, feminine
Rivers: life cycle
Stars: guidance
Ice/Snow: coldness
Clouds: mystery
Rain: life giver
Volcano: evil, shadow
Lightning: inspiration
Tree: tree of knowledge, life
Forest: evil, lost, fear
Dust: chaos
Feathers: lightness, speed
Shadow: evil, devil
Masks: concealment
Boats: safe passage
Bridge: change
Right hand: righteousness
Left hand: deviousness
Feet: freedom
Skeleton: mortality
Heart: love
Hourglass: time
Pearl: power, tears
Emerald: fertility, faith, wisdom
Jade: perfection
Sapphire: heaven
Diamond: permanence
Deer: wisdom
Ox: strength
Spider: web of life
Pig: gluttony
Cat: domesticity
Tiger: ferocity
Eagle: sky, soaring
Lion: valor, royalty
Horse: speed,
power
Goat: devil
Bear: bravery
Bull: stubbornness
Elephant: patience,
wisdom
Lamb: sacrifice
Dove: peace
Peacock: pride
Pelican: self-sacrifice
Raven: prophecy
Bat: darkness, chaos