Archetypes

What is a hero?

What is an Archetype?

K W L (What do you KNOW?) (What do you WANT to know?) (What did you LEARN?)

Definition of archetype:

the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype.

Example: Frankenstein , Dracula are both archetypes that have influenced subsequent horror stories – i.e. Freddy Krueger

"archetype." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 23 Aug. 2008. <Dictionary.com

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archetype>.

2 Different Practical Archetypes

1. Situation Archetype

2. Character Archetype

Situation Archetypes

The Quest

The Journey

The Task

The Initiation

The Fall

Death and Rebirth

The Battle between Good & Evil

The Quest

the search for someone or

something (a talisman) which,

when found and brought back, will

restore fertility to a wasted land,

the desolation of which is mirrored

by a leader’s illness and disability.

Note: “fertility” does not necessarily

mean “reproduction” or “fruitfulness.” It

can and often does mean prosperity,

peace, harmony.

Examples:

The Lion King, Excalibur, Monty Python

and the Quest for the Holy Grail.

http://raresoundtracks.iespana.es/images/thelionking.jpg

The Journey

The journey sends the hero in search for some truth or information necessary to restore fertility to the kingdom. a. The hero descends into a real or psychological hell b. He is forced to discover or face the blackest truths about himself (usually). c. He accepts responsibility for his faults and acknowledges his mistakes. d. He returns to the world of the living.

Example: The Odyssey, The Canterbury Tales,

The Aeneid, The Fellowship of the Rings, The Lord of the Flies

http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2001/images/FellowshipOfTheRing_poster.jpg

The Task

To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, to identify himself so that he may resume his rightful position, the hero must perform some nearly superhuman deed.

This differs from the Quest in that in the Quest, the ultimate goal is to restore fertility; here the goal is to gain something (power, the girl, wealth, etc.)

Examples:

Hercules, The Sword and the Stone, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Beowulf.

http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/movies/slideshow/top-ten-movie-wizards/img_6.jpg

The Initiation

This usually takes the form of an

initiation into adult life. The

adolescent comes into his or

her own maturity with new

awareness and problems along

with new hope for the

community. This awakening is

often the climax of the story. It

does parallel the Ritual.

Examples:

Huckleberry Finn, The Lion King, King

Arthur, the Hobbits. The Harry

Potter series.

http://www.southshields-sanddancers.co.uk/photos_posters/harry_potter_calendar_photo.jpg

The Fall

This archetype describes a descent

from a higher state of being 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 an expulsion

from a kind of paradise as penalty

for disobedience and moral

transgression.

Examples:

Adam and Eve, Lancelot and Guinevere,

Milton’s Paradise Lost, many

detective/cops stories.

http://www.nashvillescholars.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/arthur

Death & Rebirth

This is the most common of all situational archetypes. It is the 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.

http://morris-photographics.com/photos/TheFourSeasons.jpg

The Battle Between Good & Evil

Obviously, the battle between two

primal forces. Mankind shows

eternal optimism in the continual

portrayal of good triumphing over

evil despite great odds.

Examples:

The forces of Sauron and those of Middle

Earth in The Lord of the Rings, Satan

vs. God in Milton’s Paradise Lost, any

western movie or novel, most

cartoons, The book of Revelation.

http://rangersin08.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/sauron1.jpg http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BD7HCN0TL.jpg

Character Archetype

The Hero

The Initiates

Mentors

Father-Son Conflict

Loyal Retainers

Devil Figure

Creature of Nightmares

Woman Figure

The Initiates

These are young heroes

or heroines who, prior to

their quest, must endure

some training and

ceremony. They are

usually innocent and

often wear white.

Example: Daniel from

The Karate Kid.

http://spencerpeet.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/karate-kid-se-sleeve.jpg

The Mentor

These individuals serve

as teachers or counselors

to the

initiates. Sometimes they

work as role models and

often serve as father or

mother figure.

Examples: Obi-Wan

Kenobe, Dumbledore

1. http://www.odj310388.com/wallpapercomp/images/obiwan.jpg

2. http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/gallery/2001/07/03/Albusdumbledorerichardharris.jpg

(1)

(2)

Father – Son Conflict

Tension often results from

separation during childhood

or from an external source

when the individuals meet

as men and where the

mentor often has a higher

place in the affections of the

hero than the natural parent

Example: Romeo & Lord

Montague

1. http://p7.p.pixnet.net/albums/userpics/7/0/308370/1178083764.jpg 2. http://www.mymovies.it/filmclub/attori/3994.jpg

(1)

(2)

Archetype Activity

Get in groups of four (4) by finding the other

people who have a character from your story.

Ariel

Flounder

Sebastian Ursula

Joker Alfred Pennyworth

Batman

Jaq & Gus Fairy Godmother

Stepmother

Nemo

Dori

Bruce

Crush

Dumbledore

Draco

Rupert

Magneto Rogue

Professor X

Scar

Rafiki

Timon and Pumba

Simba

Donkey Shrek

Lord Farquaad Princess Fiona Lord Farquaad

Archetype Activity

With your group, determine the role each

character played in the story.

Before you determine the role of your

characters, each group member will have to

determine his/her role during this activity.

Archetype Activity Roles

Task Master: You are responsible for

organizing and animating your Power Point.

Make sure it is free of errors and has visually

pleasing graphics and is easy to read with

pictures and detailed explanation. Each

character should have his/her own slide with

explanation and your final slide(s) should

have the K-W-L information.

Archetype Activity Roles

Time Keeper: You will ensure everyone in

your group is aware of how much time is left

to finish the task and that your group finishes

in the time allotted.

Archetype Activity Roles

Recorder: You are responsible for legibly

writing down the information your group will

present to the class. This person will

complete by hand the K-W-L chart and be

prepared to share it with the groups as well

as hand it in when presenting.

Archetype Activity Roles

Speaker: You are responsible for sharing

your group’s ideas with the rest of the class.

Evidence of Learning

Each group member needs to use the back of his/her

KWL chart and label it like the example below. Character’s Name Character’s Role Evidence From Story

Evidence of Learning

Work together to fill in each of the columns

by discussing your group’s story.

Document your group’s final answer in the

format of the three (3) columns on the paper

provided.

COLUMN 2 Use the following questions to come up with ONE (1) word to describe each character

What type of character was he/she?

What type of relationship did the character have

with each of the other characters?

How did the character feel throughout the story?

If your group is not familiar with one or more of

the characters in your group, use the body

language and facial expression clues each

character gives in his/her picture.

COLUMN 3: Support Your Answer

Try to think of at least two (2) things your

character did in the story that supports your

answer in Column 2.

Write your support in Column 3.

Class Discussion: Compare

What roles do some of

the characters share

from each story?

What did you learn about archetype?

K W L (What do you KNOW?) (What do you WANT to know?) (What did you LEARN?)

Criteria for grading—Quiz out of 100

Each character is worth 20 points

K-W-L chart worth 20 points

Total of 100 points

Each character should include a picture and

full explanation of the character archetype.

There should be a title slide with all group

member and the movie listed.