Archetypes. Archetypes An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned; a prototype. An original model or type after which other.

ArchetypesArchetypes

ArchetypesArchetypes

An original model or type after which other An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned; a prototype. similar things are patterned; a prototype.

Historically, people who had no contact Historically, people who had no contact with each other developed myths to explain with each other developed myths to explain natural phenomena to answer such natural phenomena to answer such questions why we die and why we are born. questions why we die and why we are born.

They function similarly to symbols by They function similarly to symbols by providing shortcuts to understanding and providing shortcuts to understanding and relating to the theme of a story.relating to the theme of a story.

Characteristics of Characteristics of ArchetypesArchetypes

They are the inherited part of being They are the inherited part of being human – they connect us to our pasts, human – they connect us to our pasts, beyond our personal experience to a beyond our personal experience to a common source.common source.

They are universal – from the Roman They are universal – from the Roman Gladiator to the astronaut, they remain the Gladiator to the astronaut, they remain the same.same.

They grow out of man’s social, They grow out of man’s social, psychological, and biological being.psychological, and biological being.

A Few Masculine A Few Masculine ArchetypesArchetypes

The Wild ManThe Wild Man The KingThe King The Trickster/FoxThe Trickster/Fox The LoverThe Lover The WarriorThe Warrior

A Few Feminine A Few Feminine ArchetypesArchetypes

The Great MotherThe Great Mother The Stepmother/ WitchThe Stepmother/ Witch The CroneThe Crone The Femme FataleThe Femme Fatale The HarlotThe Harlot The Victim PrincessThe Victim Princess

Other ArchetypesOther Archetypes

The ChildThe Child The VictimThe Victim The GuideThe Guide The FoolThe Fool The Mystic WizardThe Mystic Wizard The VampireThe Vampire

The Hero ArchetypeThe Hero Archetype

One of the most common archetypes One of the most common archetypes is the Herois the Hero TragicTragic EpicEpic FolkFolk RomanticRomantic

The Tragic HeroThe Tragic Hero

The hero is of noble birthThe hero is of noble birth The hero has a tragic flaw that leads The hero has a tragic flaw that leads

to his downfallto his downfall There is a reversal of fortune brought There is a reversal of fortune brought

about by the hero’s tragic flawabout by the hero’s tragic flaw The hero’s actions result in an The hero’s actions result in an

increase of self-awarenessincrease of self-awareness The audience must feel pity and fear The audience must feel pity and fear

for this characterfor this character

The Epic HeroThe Epic Hero Unusual circumstances surround the hero’s birthUnusual circumstances surround the hero’s birth

The hero faces trials and enemies while The hero faces trials and enemies while struggling on an epic journeystruggling on an epic journey

The hero usually encounter a temptress who The hero usually encounter a temptress who threatens the hero’s completion of the journeythreatens the hero’s completion of the journey

At the end of the journey, the hero must At the end of the journey, the hero must complete a final task alonecomplete a final task alone

When the final task is complete, the hero returns When the final task is complete, the hero returns home, a leader of his peoplehome, a leader of his people

The Folk HeroThe Folk Hero The hero begins life as a normal personThe hero begins life as a normal person

The hero transforms into someone The hero transforms into someone extraordinary by significant like eventsextraordinary by significant like events

The hero may be a defender of the common The hero may be a defender of the common people against the oppression or corruption people against the oppression or corruption of the established power structureof the established power structure

The hero may live “outside of the law.”The hero may live “outside of the law.”

The Romantic HeroThe Romantic Hero

Developed during the European Developed during the European Romantic Era of the 18Romantic Era of the 18thth and 19 and 19thth centuriescenturies

The hero rejects established norms and The hero rejects established norms and societal conventionssocietal conventions

The hero has been rejected by societyThe hero has been rejected by society Other characteristicsOther characteristics

introspectiveintrospective misanthropymisanthropy wanderlustwanderlust alienationalienation melancholymelancholy isolationisolation

Some Archetype SamplingSome Archetype Sampling

The InitiatesThe Initiates

These are young heroes or heroines who, prior These are young heroes or heroines who, prior to their quest, must endure some training and to their quest, must endure some training and ceremony.ceremony.

They are usually innocent and often wear white.They are usually innocent and often wear white.

MentorsMentors

These individuals serve as teachers or These individuals serve as teachers or counselors to the initiates. counselors to the initiates.

Sometimes they work as role models and Sometimes they work as role models and often serve as father or mother figures.often serve as father or mother figures.

Hunting Group of Hunting Group of CompanionsCompanions

Loyal companions Loyal companions willing to face any willing to face any number of perils in number of perils in order to be order to be together.together.

Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers

Often these are Often these are servants servants

May be heroic May be heroic themselves. themselves.

Duty is to protect Duty is to protect the hero and the hero and reflect the nobility reflect the nobility of the hero.of the hero.

The Devil FigureThe Devil Figure

Evil incarnateEvil incarnate Offers worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to Offers worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to

the hero in exchange for possession of the the hero in exchange for possession of the soul.soul.

The ScapegoatThe Scapegoat

A character whose A character whose death in a public death in a public ceremony atones ceremony atones for a fault that has for a fault that has been visited upon a been visited upon a

Their death often Their death often makes them a more makes them a more powerful force in powerful force in the society than the society than when they lived.when they lived.

The Evil Figure with the The Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good HeartUltimately Good Heart

A redeemable figure saved by the nobility A redeemable figure saved by the nobility or love of the hero.or love of the hero.

The OutcastThe Outcast

A figure who is banished from a social group for some A figure who is banished from a social group for some crime (real or imagined) against his fellow man. crime (real or imagined) against his fellow man.

The Outcast is usually destined to become a wanderer The Outcast is usually destined to become a wanderer from place to place.from place to place.

The Star Crossed LoversThe Star Crossed Lovers

Characters are Characters are engaged in a love engaged in a love affair that is fated affair that is fated to end tragicallyto end tragically

The Creature of The Creature of NightmareNightmare

A monster usually summoned from the A monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest part of the human psyche deepest, darkest part of the human psyche to threaten the lives of the hero/heroine.to threaten the lives of the hero/heroine.

The FallThe Fall This archetype describes This archetype describes

a fall from a higher to a a fall from a higher to a lower state of being. lower state of being.

This experience involves This experience involves a defilement and/or loss a defilement and/or loss of Innocence and Bliss. of Innocence and Bliss.

The fall is often The fall is often accompanied by the accompanied by the expulsion from paradise expulsion from paradise as a penalty for as a penalty for disobedience. disobedience.

Death and RebirthDeath and Rebirth

The most common of all situational The most common of all situational archetypes, this motif grows out of archetypes, this motif grows out of the parallel between the cycle of the parallel between the cycle of nature and the cycle of life. For nature and the cycle of life. For example, morning and springtime example, morning and springtime represent birth, youth, or rebirth; represent birth, youth, or rebirth; evening and winter suggest old age evening and winter suggest old age or death.or death.

Battle Between Good and Battle Between Good and EvilEvil

The battle between two primary forces.The battle between two primary forces. Mankind shows eternal optimism in the Mankind shows eternal optimism in the

continual betrayal of good triumphing continual betrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds.over evil despite great odds.