ARCHETYPESARCHETYPESARCHETYPESARCHETYPES

Archetypes

are instinctive patternsrecur in art across cultures

recur in art across timeToday, archetype means original model or pattern

Archetypes

are instinctive patternsrecur in art across cultures

recur in art across timeToday, archetype means original model or pattern

ArchetypesArchetypesArchetypesArchetypesFigures or patterns that Figures or patterns that

recur in works of art recur in works of art from generation to from generation to

generation.generation.Timeless and Universal!Timeless and Universal!

Figures or patterns that Figures or patterns that recur in works of art recur in works of art from generation to from generation to

generation.generation.Timeless and Universal!Timeless and Universal!

Stories / Plots / SituationsStories / Plots / SituationsSymbolsSymbols

CharactersCharacters

Stories / Plots / SituationsStories / Plots / SituationsSymbolsSymbols

CharactersCharacters

Don’t confuse

archetypes with other signs or symbols.

Don’t confuse

archetypes with other signs or symbols.

SIGNSIGNA word or physical sign which

represents one object.initials: U.S.A., CIA, ECAtraffic signstrademarks: “Just do it,” “I’m lovin’ it.”

A sign is meaningless in itself; it gains meaning through use.

A word or physical sign which represents one object.initials: U.S.A., CIA, ECAtraffic signstrademarks: “Just do it,” “I’m lovin’ it.”

A sign is meaningless in itself; it gains meaning through use.

SymbolSymbol

An object that stands for something else. Can be a letter, a character, or a sign.

•the American flag•a police badge•the Greek letter delta

These objects are specific to a culture, a community, some times a specific novel.

Take for instance a Take for instance a snake . . . snake . . .

TIME & SPACE MACHINE

We can put the snake in a time We can put the snake in a time and space machine and send it and space machine and send it to ANYWHERE or ANYWHENto ANYWHERE or ANYWHEN——

ideallyideally——and and mostmost people people would agree on what that would agree on what that

snake means or represents.snake means or represents.

We can put the snake in a time We can put the snake in a time and space machine and send it and space machine and send it to ANYWHERE or ANYWHENto ANYWHERE or ANYWHEN——

ideallyideally——and and mostmost people people would agree on what that would agree on what that

snake means or represents.snake means or represents.

This is a two-dimensional joke: Snakes have no legs to kick with, or opposable thumbs with which to attach a sign.

Snakes are EVIL!

Heracles with the snake - Greece

The Rainbow Snake Aido-Hwedo

QUETZLCOATL is in charge of the

primal waters where all life was created.

The Seven-Headed Serpent

Lotan from Canaanite myths, which served as a symbol of the seven

deadly sins.

Shesha, the world Shesha, the world serpentserpent

In Hindu mythology, Shesha spews fire to destroy all creation

Apep, the chaos serpent

At first, Apep was the Egyptian Sun god. When he was replaced by Ra, he became very angry. Apep became a

symbol of evil.

Medusa Medusa - Greek- Greek

Jormungandr (Norse) will

eventually bring about Ragnarok (the end of the

world)

Where can we find archetypes?

Where can we find archetypes?

MythologyMythologyLiteratureLiteratureArtArtReligionReligionMoviesMoviesComic BooksComic BooksSongsSongs

MythologyMythologyLiteratureLiteratureArtArtReligionReligionMoviesMoviesComic BooksComic BooksSongsSongs

Three types of Three types of archetypes are. . . archetypes are. . . Three types of Three types of archetypes are. . . archetypes are. . .

archetypal plots archetypal plots archetypal archetypal characterscharacters

archetypal symbolsarchetypal symbols

archetypal plots archetypal plots archetypal archetypal characterscharacters

archetypal symbolsarchetypal symbols

PLOTSPLOTSCosmogony (Creation Cosmogony (Creation story)story)Tragedy (The hero dies)Tragedy (The hero dies)Comedy (The hero marries)Comedy (The hero marries)Monomyth of Initiation Monomyth of Initiation (Hero(Hero’’s Journey) s Journey)

PLOTSPLOTSCosmogony (Creation Cosmogony (Creation story)story)Tragedy (The hero dies)Tragedy (The hero dies)Comedy (The hero marries)Comedy (The hero marries)Monomyth of Initiation Monomyth of Initiation (Hero(Hero’’s Journey) s Journey)

ARCHETYPAL ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERSCHARACTERSARCHETYPAL ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

HeroShadowTricksterHeraldThreshold GuardianShape shifterMentor

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS(metaphors/similes)(metaphors/similes)

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS(metaphors/similes)(metaphors/similes)

•Water = BirthWater = Birth•Night = DeathNight = Death•Light = GoodLight = Good•Dark = BadDark = Bad

Can you see anything

problematic about

archetypes?

Can you see anything

problematic about

archetypes?

Anything that suggests that dark is bad and light

is good can be

dangerousdangerous in the wrong hands, and it does

not represent all cultures.

Anything that suggests that dark is bad and light

is good can be

dangerousdangerous in the wrong hands, and it does

not represent all cultures.

Be careful when looking at art, literature, film . . . LIFE through an archetypal

lens.

Be careful when looking at art, literature, film . . . LIFE through an archetypal

lens.

HERO CYCLEHERO CYCLERevolves around a character who leaves Revolves around a character who leaves homehomeOur hero is often of noble birthOur hero is often of noble birth•Is guided by a supernatural aidIs guided by a supernatural aid•The hero suffers a number of trialsThe hero suffers a number of trials * Temptress* Temptress * Monsters / Villains* Monsters / Villains

•The hero triumphs in the endThe hero triumphs in the end

•Often returns home and shares Often returns home and shares knowledge or a giftknowledge or a gift

Notice that the hero Notice that the hero is assumed to be is assumed to be

male because one of male because one of his many “trials” is his many “trials” is

overcoming a overcoming a temptress. temptress.

Notice that the hero Notice that the hero is assumed to be is assumed to be

male because one of male because one of his many “trials” is his many “trials” is

overcoming a overcoming a temptress. temptress.

TRAGEDYTRAGEDY

•Revolves around a person of Revolves around a person of importance, not a commonerimportance, not a commoner

•Horrible things happen to the Horrible things happen to the main main character and those he/she character and those he/she lovesloves

•The hero (and others) die(s) in The hero (and others) die(s) in the endthe end

COMEDY

•Revolves around normal or common people•Includes some form of mistaken identity and a block•The hero and his love get married in the end

THE ARCHETYPAL MANTHE ARCHETYPAL MANTHE ARCHETYPAL MANTHE ARCHETYPAL MAN

HEROHEROYoung, handsome, Young, handsome,

muscular, muscular, courageouscourageous

Mysterious or divine Mysterious or divine birthbirth

Strong (sometimes Strong (sometimes beyond normal men)beyond normal men)

Neither a fool nor Neither a fool nor perfectperfect

Usually follows the Usually follows the hero cyclehero cycle

HEROHEROYoung, handsome, Young, handsome,

muscular, muscular, courageouscourageous

Mysterious or divine Mysterious or divine birthbirth

Strong (sometimes Strong (sometimes beyond normal men)beyond normal men)

Neither a fool nor Neither a fool nor perfectperfect

Usually follows the Usually follows the hero cyclehero cycle

Archetype of the Hero

Archetype of the Hero

•Willing to sacrifice on behalf of others

•Flawed•Types: Willing, unwilling, antihero, group oriented, loner, catalyst, and tragic

•Willing to sacrifice on behalf of others

•Flawed•Types: Willing, unwilling, antihero, group oriented, loner, catalyst, and tragic

LUKE SKYWALKER

LUKE SKYWALKER

AragoAragonn

KING ARTHURKING ARTHUR

MENTOR/Wise Old Man

Older than hero Spiritual and moralIntelligentSometimes has special powersGuide or instructor for the heroOften a former hero

MERLMERLININ

GANDALF

OBI WAN KENOBI

OBI WAN KENOBI

The ShadowThe Shadow

-Represents energy of the dark side-The mask that can be worn by any

character-Gives the hero a worthy struggle

-Represents energy of the dark side-The mask that can be worn by any

character-Gives the hero a worthy struggle

One type of One type of Shadow--Shadow--The Villain:The Villain:Physical appearance variesPhysical appearance varies

Age variesAge varies

Adversary for the hero and/or heroineAdversary for the hero and/or heroine

Kevin Spacey as Kevin Spacey as LEX LUTHORLEX LUTHOR

DARTH DARTH VADERVADER

THE JOKERTHE JOKER

Lord Farquaad

The ultimate Shadow:THE DEVIL

The ultimate Shadow:THE DEVIL

Usually offers a trade or exchange

Manipulative and deceptive

Often physically attractive and well-dressed

Usually offers a trade or exchange

Manipulative and deceptive

Often physically attractive and well-dressed

Satan is . . .

Al Pacino in The Devil’s

Advocate

THE TRICKSTERTHE TRICKSTERHe is a god; yet he is not. He is a god; yet he is not. He is the wise-fool. He is the wise-fool. He rebels against authority, He rebels against authority, pokes fun at the overly pokes fun at the overly serious, creates convoluted serious, creates convoluted schemes—that may or may schemes—that may or may not work—and is sometimes not work—and is sometimes his own worst enemy. his own worst enemy. He exists to question, to He exists to question, to cause us to question, and not cause us to question, and not to accept things blindly. to accept things blindly.

LOKI - Norse

In Native American In Native American mythology, Coyote is a mythology, Coyote is a buffoon, a creator, a buffoon, a creator, a trickster, and a hero.trickster, and a hero.

In Native American In Native American mythology, Coyote is a mythology, Coyote is a buffoon, a creator, a buffoon, a creator, a trickster, and a hero.trickster, and a hero.

WILE E. COYOTEWILE E. COYOTE

A subset of the Trickster: The FOOL

A subset of the Trickster: The FOOL

May have some physical defect--fat, cross-eyed, big nose

Relieves tensionOften a side-kick or

allyHumorous and

bumblingSpeaks the truth

that no one else will.

May have some physical defect--fat, cross-eyed, big nose

Relieves tensionOften a side-kick or

allyHumorous and

bumblingSpeaks the truth

that no one else will.

C3PO &

R2D2

MERRY AND

PIPPIN

The Herald

Issues a challenge to the hero

Can be positive or negative

Issues a challenge to the hero

Can be positive or negative

The Mythological Herald: Hermes

The Mythological Herald: Hermes

Threshold GuardianThreshold GuardianGuards the gateGuards the gate

Keeps the unworthy outKeeps the unworthy outCan be good or evil--lieutenants Can be good or evil--lieutenants

or villainsor villainsAre not always humanAre not always human

ARCHETYPAL FEMALE CHARACTERS

ARCHETYPAL FEMALE CHARACTERS

The Mother Figure(Parents may be threshold

guardians.)Birth, life, fertilityWarmth, protection, securityNourishment

The Mother Figure(Parents may be threshold

guardians.)Birth, life, fertilityWarmth, protection, securityNourishment

Marge Simpson

The Shape shifterThe Shape shifter

Changes physically or mentally

Often femaleFemme fataleThe reader cannot tell if this

character is good or bad.May dazzle or confuse the

hero.

Changes physically or mentally

Often femaleFemme fataleThe reader cannot tell if this

character is good or bad.May dazzle or confuse the

hero.

A subset of the Shape shifter:

The Crone or Witch

A subset of the Shape shifter:

The Crone or WitchOld, uglyMysteriousIntelligentPlotting or conniving

Old, uglyMysteriousIntelligentPlotting or conniving

Jadis from Jadis from

The Lion The Lion the Witch the Witch and the and the

WardrobeWardrobe

Maleficent Maleficent from from Sleeping Sleeping BeautyBeauty

Sadly, the witch is the equivalent of the wise man.

Women don’t get to be smart—and certainly not smart and pretty—without also being

evil.

Sadly, the witch is the equivalent of the wise man.

Women don’t get to be smart—and certainly not smart and pretty—without also being

evil.

Another Shape shifter Option:The

Temptress

Another Shape shifter Option:The

Temptress Older than the maiden, younger than the motherBeautiful, usually dark- or red-haired Deceptive and underhanded

Expert at seduction

Older than the maiden, younger than the motherBeautiful, usually dark- or red-haired Deceptive and underhanded

Expert at seduction

Poison Ivy

Megara from Hercules

The Maiden or Virgin

The Maiden or VirginYoung,

beautifulOften

helplessInnocentSaved by

hero

Young, beautiful

Often helpless

InnocentSaved by

hero

CinderellCinderellaa

COMMON ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLS

COMMON ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLS

WATERWATERThe mystery of creationThe mystery of creation

Birth-death-resurrectionBirth-death-resurrection

Purification and redemptionPurification and redemption

Fertility and growthFertility and growth

WATERWATERThe mystery of creationThe mystery of creation

Birth-death-resurrectionBirth-death-resurrection

Purification and redemptionPurification and redemption

Fertility and growthFertility and growth

SunSun

Creative energyLaw in natureConsciousness (thinking,

enlightenment, etc.)Passage of time and lifeFather principle

Creative energyLaw in natureConsciousness (thinking,

enlightenment, etc.)Passage of time and lifeFather principle

The Rising SunThe Rising SunBirthBirthCreationCreationEnlightenmentEnlightenmentHopeHope

BirthBirthCreationCreationEnlightenmentEnlightenmentHopeHope

Setting Sun=Death

Setting Sun=Death

The Moon: the female principle

The Moon: the female principle

COLORSCOLORS

REDBloodSacrificeViolent passionDisorder

REDBloodSacrificeViolent passionDisorder

GREENGREENGREENGREENGrowthGrowth

SensationSensationHopeHope

FertilityFertility

GrowthGrowthSensationSensation

HopeHopeFertilityFertility

BLUEBLUEUsually positiveTruthReligionSecurityReligious purity

Usually positiveTruthReligionSecurityReligious purity

BLACKBLACKChaos

MysteryThe unknown

DeathPrimal wisdom

The unconsciousEvil

Melancholy

ChaosMystery

The unknownDeath

Primal wisdomThe unconscious

EvilMelancholy

WHITEWHITEWHITEWHITELightPurityInnocenceTimelessness

LightPurityInnocenceTimelessness

Also death, terror, the supernatural

Also death, terror, the supernatural

CIRCLECIRCLE

Wholeness and UnityWholeness and Unity

EGGEGGEGGEGGFertility and the Mystery of LifeFertility and the Mystery of LifeFertility and the Mystery of LifeFertility and the Mystery of Life

GARDENGARDENParadiseInnocenceUnspoiled BeautyFertility

ParadiseInnocenceUnspoiled BeautyFertility

TREETREEGrowthGeneration

& regeneration

Inexhaustible life

Immortality

GrowthGeneration

& regeneration

Inexhaustible life

Immortality

DESERT DESERTDeathHopelessness

DeathHopelessness

And we cannot forget the character who runs the show in most mythology . . .

And we cannot forget the character who runs the show in most mythology . . .

OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT DEITYOMNISCIENT DEITY

OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT DEITYOMNISCIENT DEITY

Sources:Sources:Edith HamiltonCarl JungJoseph CampbellToni McNaron

Edith HamiltonCarl JungJoseph CampbellToni McNaron

How do you apply archetypal criticism to a text?

Does the story Does the story seem to have seem to have

echoes of echoes of something larger something larger

than just the piece than just the piece itself? itself?

It may contain It may contain archetypes.archetypes.

Look for Look for subvertedsubverted archetypes, places archetypes, places where the author where the author

created an created an archetypal setting, archetypal setting,

plot, symbol, or plot, symbol, or character only to character only to

turn it on its head.turn it on its head.

Look for Look for subvertedsubverted archetypes, places archetypes, places where the author where the author

created an created an archetypal setting, archetypal setting,

plot, symbol, or plot, symbol, or character only to character only to

turn it on its head.turn it on its head.

Examine the text for plots, Examine the text for plots, symbols, or characters that symbols, or characters that

are archetypal and try to are archetypal and try to figure out WHY the author figure out WHY the author would use these universal would use these universal

elements. What effect does elements. What effect does their use have on the story their use have on the story

as a whole?as a whole?