What makes a “good” teacher?. “For we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us...” ― Joseph Campbell.

What makes a “good” teacher?

“For we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us...”

― Joseph Campbell

Archetype

ar·che·type (ärk-tp) n. 1. An original model or type after which other similar

things are patterned; a prototype: "'Frankenstein' . . . 'Dracula' . . . 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' . . . the archetypes that have influenced all subsequent horror stories" (New York Times).

2. An ideal example of a type; quintessence: an archetype of the successful entrepreneur.

3. In Jungian psychology, an inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective experience and present in the individual unconscious.

Background:

• Psychologist (A person trained and educated to perform psychological research, testing, and therapy) Carl Jung and scholar Joseph Campbell spread the idea of archetypes. They did not create the concept.

• There are repeating patters of character types, symbols, relationships, and situations in stories across time periods.

Background:• For example, each culture has a creation myth,

and history repeats itself.

• Archetypes are common character types, symbols and relationships that appear often in stories (new and old). Archetypes help us to understand the purpose/function of characters in a story.

Background:• Archetypes are like masks that the characters

wear at different points of the story.

• We will focus on 7: hero, mentor, herald, threshold guardian, shapeshifter, trickster, and shadow.

What makes a (insert archetype)?

Hero

Qualities/Characteristics:• Selfless; self-sacrifice• Easily identified with; everyman• Seven different types

Types/Examples:• Willing: King Arthur, Hercules• Unwilling: Shrek• Cynical Anti-Hero: Gollum,

Gatsby, Captain Jack Sparrow• Tragic Anti-Hero: Hamlet• Group Oriented: William

Wallace• Lone Hero: Indiana Jones• Catalyst Hero: Superman

Mentor

Qualities/Characteristics:• Loyal friend, wise adviser,

teacher, guardian• Connected to all things; older• Acts as the hero’s conscience• May be what the hero could

become• 2 responsibilities: teaching and

gift giving

Types/Examples:• Dark mentor: opposite of heroic

values• Fallen mentor: has trouble w/

own heroic journey• Continuing mentor: recurring

characters in a series of stories• Multiple mentors: each teaches

a new skill to the hero• Comic mentor: advising sidekick• Shaman: aids the Hero in

seeking a guiding vision to help on the journey.

Herald/Harbinger

Qualities/Characteristics:• Gives a challenge or announces

the coming of change.• Can be a chance or planned

meeting with the hero.• Often represented by an animal• Compels the Hero to answer

the Call to Adventure*• Can be Hero’s inner knowledge

that change is needed or a feeling of restlessness

Types/Examples:• Negative: a Shadow or

Threshold Guardian (issuing a challenge or trying to trick the Hero)

• Positive: the mentor in disguise• Neutral: an Ally or Threshold

Guardian (Hero has found his/her own way to the 1st Threshold)

Threshold Guardian

Qualities/Characteristics:• A menacing face to the Hero,

but can be overcome or turn into an ally

• Not the villain, but a lesser thug or henchman hired to guard the chief’s headquarters

• Placed to test the Hero’s willingness and skill.

Types/Examples:• Not always characters• May represent obstacles (bad

weather, bad luck, prejudice, oppression)

• Can be the Hero’s internal demons (emotional scars, vices, dependencies, self-limitations)

• Fully evolved Hero can learn to feel compassion for his enemies rather than just destroy them.

Shapeshifter

Qualities/Characteristics:• Can be confused w/ Trickster• Main job = lure the Hero to

his/her doom or reward.• In some stories the hero has to

figure out which side he or she is dealing with

• Often begins life as a Threshold Guardian.

Types/Examples:• Changes form• Often the Hero’s love interest

whom the Hero doesn’t understand

• Sincerity and loyalty is called into question

• Characters out for blood who may try to murder the Hero

• Ally or enemy label revealed at the end of story

Trickster/Fool

Qualities/Characteristics:• Differs from Shapeshifter in that

it is the comic aspect of story• Often begins life as a Threshold

Guardian.

Types/Examples:• Personification of world’s chaos

w/ no purpose• May or may not work with the

Hero or Shadow• May have own skewed agenda

Shadow

Qualities/Characteristics:• Represents the energy of the

dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized, or rejected aspects of something

• In direct conflict with the Hero whose goal it is to destroy

Types/Examples:• External shadows (Villains) must

be destroyed• Internal shadows must be

acknowledged• Mirror and personify the traits the

Hero refuses to acknowledge are within himself/herself

• A Mentor may act as a Shadow to teach the Hero a lesson

• Any character can be a shadow, but only the character whose motivations are in direct conflict with the Hero’s is the Villain

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Hero:

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Hero: Marlin

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Mentor:

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Mentor: Crush (sea turtle)

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Herald: Nemo starting school• Nemo First day of school - YouTube

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Threshold Guardian:

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Threshold Guardian: Bruce, Anchor, & Chum (sharks) among other obstacles.

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Shapeshifter: Ocean (?)

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Trickster:

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Trickster: Dory

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Shadow:

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Shadow: separation from son; dentist, scuba-diver

Let’s use a movie example: Finding Nemo

• Hero: Marlin• Mentor: Crush (sea turtle)• Herald: Nemo starting school• Threshold Guardian: Bruce, Anchor, & Chum

(sharks)• Shapeshifter: Ocean (?)• Trickster: Dory• Shadow: separation from son; dentist, scuba-diver

• Go to Day 2 PP