Eng 9: Understanding Archetypal Analysis
“When we evaluate [literature] we are speaking of ourselves…Meaning springs from the collective
subject of the human race itself, which is how it comes to embody ‘archetypes’ or figures of
universal significance.” (Shade Eckert, How Does it Mean? 15 - emphasis added)
Archetypal analysis of a literary work is one of the most common forms of literary analysis. It is easy
to understand and use with a little knowledge of the basics.
1. First of all, an archetype is a pattern or model after which other similar things are patterned.
That is, it is a universal idea that expresses itself differently on an individual basis.
2. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that archetypes were the result of a collective
unconscious of humanity. This collective unconscious is not directly knowable and is a
product of the shared experiences of our ancestors. Jung believes that archetypes are:
a. Primordial: We, as individuals, have these archetypal images ingrained in our
understanding even before we are born.
b. Universal: These archetypes can be found all over the world and throughout history. The
manifestation of the idea may be different, but the idea itself is the same.
SO, in summary. Archetypes are not random! They are an expression of the shared
experiences of humanity. If the “hero” is an archetype, it’s because part of humanity’s common
desires and subconscious are for heroic experiences and traits.
Archetypes are present in mythology, in literature, and in our world. Seeing the archetypes, the
common symbols, patterns, and ideas, in our world and throughout history will provide you with a way
to connect to literature no matter when it was written or who the author was. It will provide you with a
way to look for patterns across the subjects you study and across the world.
Archetypes are all around you; the only question is: can you see them?
Brainstorm: What elements of The Epic of Gilgamesh seem familiar to you? What scenes or character types
remind you of moments or characters in other stories or movies? These may be archetypal elements!
Name:____________________________________________________________________________ PD___
English 9 – Archetype Definitions and Examples
For each archetype, list at least one strong example from a common story or from real life. Then, keep a complete list of all of the
examples you encounter in texts this year.
Archetype
The Quest: the search
for someone or
something which,
when found, will bring
restoration.
The Task: a possibly
superhuman feat that
must be accomplished
to fulfill the ultimate
goal (although, the
“task” is not the goal
in and of itself).
The Initiation: The
moment, usually
psychological, when
an individual comes
into maturity. May be
marked by a rite-ofpassage.
The Fall: a descent in
action from a higher
to a lower state of
being, often involving
a loss of innocence or
moral decline.
Death and Rebirth:
The cycle of nature
and of life – something
or someone, real or
metaphorical, dies, yet
the loss is
accompanied by signs
of life.
Battle Between Good
and Evil: forces of
good vs. forces of evil;
typically good
triumphs. Sometimes
it is not clear which
side a character
represents.
Common / Real-Life Example
Textual Examples
The Magic Weapon:
some device,
instrument, or feature
is used to assist the
hero.
Light vs. Darkness:
light suggests hope,
renewal, or
intellectual
illumination; darkness
implies the unknown,
ignorance, or despair.
Sometimes these
elements appear in
subtle ways.
Water vs. Desert:
Water, necessary for
life, appears as a
symbol of birth or
rebirth (like baptism).
Desert is wilderness
and despair.
Supernatural
Intervention: god/s
intervene on the side
of the hero (or against
him)
The Hero: the
character who must
pursue a journey and
fulfill a task for
restoration
Mentors: teachers or
counselors to the
initiates; sometimes
role models or mother
/ father figure
Side Kick: A faithful
companion who
assists the hero in all
ways
The Devil Figure: Evil
incarnate – tempts or
opposes the hero.
The Scapegoat: a
character whose
(potentially unjust)
death excuses some
sin or wrong.
The Outcast: A figure
banished from a
community for some
crime.
The Damsel in
Distress: A vulnerable
woman who must be
rescued by the hero.
Sometimes used as a
trap.
The Star-Crossed
Lovers: Two
characters engaged in
a disputed love affair
that is fated to end in
tragedy