ARCHETYPES Archetypes are recurring symbols, characters, patterns, and settings that give literature its unity. In other words, they are the basic patterns that occur repeatedly in literature of all ages.
Mar 28, 2015
ARCHETYPESArchetypes are recurring symbols, characters, patterns, and settings that give literature its unity. In other words, they are the basic patterns that occur repeatedly in literature of all ages.
ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS Alter-ego Helpful animal Earth Mother Wise Old Man Temptress Hero Anti-Hero Innocent Scapegoat/Sacrificial
Victim Trickster Villain Transgressor
Destroyer Handsome Prince Helpless Princess
HERO: USUALLY PORTRAYED AS LARGER THAN LIFE, THE HERO HAS OUTSTANDING QUALITIES AND ABILITIES AND UPHOLDS THE VALUES OF HIS CULTURE OR SOCIETY
Examples:
Harry Potter Santiago
ANTI-HERO: THIS CHARACTER MAY TRY TO UPHOLD HEROIC QUALITIES, BUT ACTUALLY DOES NOT. THE ANTI-HERO USUALLY TURNS OUT TO BE A LOSER.
The Englishman
ALTER-EGO OR DOUBLE: SPLIT PERSONALITIES OR OPPOSITE TENDENCIES WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL
Severus SnapeThe Crystal Merchant
SUPERNATURAL HELPER OR HELPFUL ANIMAL: ANY ANIMAL/FORCE THAT USUALLY APPEARS WHEN THE HERO CANNOT SEE A WAY OUT OF HIS DILEMMA
Kreacher
Dobby
Hawks
Scarab Beetle
WISE OLD MAN: ETERNAL PROVIDER, PROTECTING, NOURISHING, SHELTERING, AND NURTURING
Albus DumbledoreMelchizidek
TEMPTRESS: A WOMAN, WHO, THROUGH HER POWER, CAN MAKE A STRONG MAN WEAK AND A WISE MAN FOOLISH. SHE CAN BE AN IMMORAL TEMPTRESS(DOES SO ON PURPOSE) OR AMORAL TEMPTRESS (UNINTENTIONALLY TEMPTS THE HERO)
Ginny WeasleyFatima
INNOCENT: A CHILD OR NAÏVE AND INEXPERIENCED MAN OR WOMAN WHO IS EXPOSED TO THE EVILS OF THE WORLD. THE CHARACTER USUALLY MOVES FROM INNOCENCE TO EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
SCAPEGOAT OR SACRIFICIAL VICTIM: ONE WHO SUFFERS OR IS BLAMED UNJUSTLY IN ORDER FOR OTHERS TO ESCAPE BLAME OR PUNISHMENT
Harry Potter Santiago
TRICKSTER: THE CHARACTER WHO, THROUGH SUPERIOR WIT OR CUNNING, CAN DECEIVE AND MANIPULATE THOSE WHO SEEMINGLY HAVE GREATER STRENGTH OR AUTHORITY
Fred and George Weasley
Thief
Fortune Teller
TRANSGRESSOR: PUSHES THE LIMITS OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE AND OFTEN ANGERS “THE GODS”
Voldemort The Alchemist
DESTROYER: DESTROYS FOR DESTRUCTION’S SAKE; ENJOYS EVIL
Bellatrix LeStrange
VILLAIN: AN EVIL CHARACTER WHO ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE HERO
Voldemort
Thieves at the Pyramids
HELPLESS PRINCESS: WOMAN (USUALLY BEAUTIFUL) IN NEED OF A HERO TO SAVE HER FROM DEATH, EVIL ADVERSARIES, OR OTHER DANGER
HANDSOME PRINCE: SERVES AS A HERO TO A PRINCESS OR KINGDOM
ARCHETYPAL SETTINGS
CAVES, TUNNELS, POOLS OF WATER: SYMBOLS OF DESCENT INTO THE UNCONSCIOUS OR THE INNER SELF
The Pensieve
Where Godric Gryffindor’s Sword Is hidden
Voldemort’s Cave
COUNTRYSIDE: ASSOCIATED WITH HEALING AND GOODNESS
The Burrow
Santiago’s Pastureland
GARDEN: ORDERED AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT THAT IS USUALLY SAFE, HAPPY, AND NURTURING
The Oasis
MOUNTAINS AND PEAKS: SYMBOLS OF THE QUEST FOR SPIRITUAL SELF AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
The Pyramids
RIVER: ON-FLOWING TIME OR LIFE, ETERNAL CHANGE, DESTINY
ISLANDS AND SHIPS AT SEA: SYMBOLIZE SPIRITUAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISOLATION OR EXILE
The Island in Voldemort’s Cave
The Desert
ARCHETYPAL THEMES AND PATTERNS OF EXISTENCE
o Initiation• Santiago must sell
his sheep• Harry Potter must
leave Hogwarts to search for Horcruxes
o Journey, Search, or Quest
• Santiago looks for treasure
• Harry looks for Horcruxes
o Transformation• Santiago discovers
the meaning of (and location of) true treasure
• Harry Potter accepts his fate for the good of the wizarding world