Archetypes 101

1
Archetypes 101
Grade 6
2
What is an Archetype?
Basically an archetype is a pattern. Its a
character, situation, or symbol that appears in
different forms in lots of different stories.
For example, in many young adult stories, the
hero is an orphan of some kind the situation
varies depending on the story. In some stories,
the heros parents have died. In others, the
parents are not available emotionally. And in
other cases, the parents may be in some other
location (i.e. on vacation, kidnapped, etc.).
The pattern though, is the orphan status of the
hero. Patterns like these appear everywhere in
literature and stories, and recognizing them,
enables the reader to understand these stories on
a deeper level.
3
Archetypal Characters
Orphan can be an actual orphan, a temporary
orphan (for the duration of the book), or someone
whose parents/family are not available. Authors
often make their main characters orphans so that
the character will have a different point of view
than and be able to see things that other cant.
Pilgrim someone who must travel outside his/her
familiar environment. The perspective of the
pilgrim will always be different from those who
live in the new environment. Characters who are
pilgrims usually travel outside their normal
environment to change their perspective and learn
something new that they can then take back with
them.
Warrior someone who takes on the fight or
challenge and who will never give up until the
goal has been achieved or the story has played
out.
Knight/Champion like the warrior, except the
problem or challenge is not his/her own. The
champion takes on the fight in place of someone
who cannot fight for themselves.
Companion/Sidekick the role of the
companion/sidekick is to accompany, protect,
and/or advise the main character/hero. When
there are two companion sidekicks one of each
gender they will often become romantically
involved. (Han and Lea, Hermione and Ron)
4
Archetypal Characters - Continued
Villain/Antagonist takes on many forms. Always
seeks to block the protagonist from accomplishing
the journey or goal.
Minion works for the villain and is sometimes
disguised as a good guy.
Victim/Damsel in Distress gives the warrior or
champion a chance to shine. Without the problems
of this character, the warrior would have nothing
to fight for.
Sage/Teacher serves as a mentor to the main
character, especially to the warrior, and must
always step aside toward the end of the story so
that the hero can come into his/her full power.
Often this means that the teacher dies.
Hapless Foil unintentionally makes things
difficult for the hero. Often while trying to
help, this character makes things worse. The
hero will eventually get to a point of total
frustration, but will then be provided with an
important insight from this character.
Vixen/Temptress usually female, but
occasionally male. This character is beautiful
on the outside but not on the inside. The main
character is often attracted to her/him for the
wrong reasons and must learn to see through the
outer beauty to the truth.
5
Archetypal Characters Continued - 2
Good Mother usually a background character,
nurtures, provides support, is always giving.
This person does not have to be a literal mother,
but plays that role in the heros life
(Cinderellas fairy godmother).
Devouring Mother has all the opposite qualities
of the good mother. She will devour her young
either literally (through causing them physical
harm) or figuratively (by causing emotional
damage).
Powerful Father is often heroic, and often
absent or disabled, forcing the hero to take the
fathers place. Often the hero will wish he/she
had the skill and strength of the powerful father
figure. This figure does not have to be a
literal father, but plays that kind of role in
the heros life.
Shadow Father usually the opposite of the
powerful father. This figure is completely
powerless usually in an emotional way rather than
due to a physical handicap. He is often absent
from the heros immediate life and is sometimes
seen in stories where he is being overpowered by
a devouring mother figure. Often the hero feels
resentful towards this character.
6
Archetypal Characters Continued - 3
Love Interest any romantic attachment formed
between two characters. Sometimes the hero
develops a romantic interest in another
character. Sometimes a romantic relationship
develops between two of the heros sidekicks
(think Harry and Hermione).
Unrequited Love This is a love interest that is
one-sided. In this situation, the hero loves
from afar. With the love interest being unaware
of the heros devotion. Sometimes the love
interest gets involved with the hero. Other
times the heros love interest is actually not
the right person for him/her. In those cases,
there is often someone who would suit the hero
much better, but the hero doesnt see it because
he/she is too blinded by the unrequited love.
7
Types of Archetypal Heroes
Can be either male or female
Hero as warrior Someone who faces physical
challenges and external enemies (Luke Skywalker,
Harry Potter, Rocky) Hero as lover A pure love
motivates the hero to complete his quest
sometimes the love is romantic, sometimes not
(Romeo) Hero as Scapegoat Hero takes the blame
for something he didnt do, either voluntarily in
order to help someone else, or because he is
being victimized. Transcendent Hero The hero of
tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his
downfall, but not without achieving some kind of
transforming realization or wisdom (Oedipus,
Hamlet, Macbeth, Kino from The Pearl) Romantic/Go
thic Hero Hero/lover with a decidedly dark side
(Edward in Twilight) Apocalyptic Hero Hero who
faces the possible destruction of society
(Katniss in The Hunger Games) Anti-Hero A
non-hero, given the vocation of failure,
frequently humorous (Homer Simpson)
8
Archetypal Heroes - Continued
Can be either male or female
Defiant Anti-hero Opposer of societys
definition of heroism/goodness. (Annakin
Skywalker) He/she is sometimes tempted away from
what he/she knows to be right. Unbalanced Hero
The Protagonist who has (or must pretend to have)
mental or emotional deficiencies (Hamlet, One
Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest) The Other the
Denied Hero The protagonist whose status or
essential differentness makes heroism
possible The Superhero Exaggerates the normal
proportions of humanity frequently has divine or
supernatural origins. In some sense, the
superhero is one apart, someone who does not
quite belong, but who is nonetheless needed by
society. (Superman)
9
The Heros Journey

• In most stories, the plot follows the basic idea
  of the heros journey. Sometimes this journey is
  literal (the hero has to go somewhere), and
  sometimes, it is more symbolic (the hero has to
  overcome something inside himself or herself).
  Notice how it is similar to a plot diagram, but
  not quite the same.
• In the typical Heros Journey, The main
  character/Hero makes an actual journey or a
  figurative journey (example, a battle with
  cancer, or helping a team win) and goes through 5
  stages
• Departure The hero is called to adventure,
  although he is reluctant to accept.
• Initiation The hero crosses a threshold into a
  new, more dangerous world, gaining a more mature
  perspective or a different role. Special weapon
  is often introduced.
• (The Departure and the Initiation can sometimes
  be reversed example The Wizard of Oz)
• The Road of Trials The hero endures tests of
  strength, resourcefulness, and endurance and must
  overcome various obstacles or difficulties. Each
  new task brings new insight.
• The Innermost Cave The hero descends into the
  innermost cave, an underworld, or some other
  place of great trial. Sometimes this place can be
  within the heros own mind. Once the hero passes
  this greatest trial, he comes fully into his own
  power and can use his special weapon to meet the
  enemy and defeat him/it.
• Climax The hero is in his/her full power and is
  able to take on the villain or antagonist.
  He/she is also able to fully use the special
  weapon.
• Return and Reintegration with Society The hero
  uses his new wisdom to restore fertility and
  order to the land

Exposition
Falling Action and Resolution
10
Specific Types of Heros Journeys

• There are many different kinds of heros
  journeys, but each one contains the 6 stages
  listed on the previous page.
• The quest for identity
• The epic journey to find the promised land/to be
  the founder of the good city
• The quest for vengeance
• The warriors journey to save his people or a
  large group in need
• The search for love (to rescue the
  princess/damsel in distress)
• The journey in search of knowledge
• The tragic quest penance or self-denial
• The fools errand
• The quest to rid the land of danger
• The grail quest (the quest for human perfection)
• The rite of passage/loss of innocence
• The task to complete, build or create something
  that will save the day
• Stepping outside normal environment to learn a
  lesson and take it back home.

11
Archetypal Symbols
Light or Dark - Light usually suggests hope,
life, renewal, or intellectual illumination
darkness implies the unknown, ignorance, death or
despair.
Fire or Ice - Fire represents knowledge, light,
life, and rebirth. Sometimes it appears
destructive, but hope always arises from the
ashes. Ice, like the desert, represents
ignorance, darkness, sterility, and death.
Water - Because Water is necessary to life and
emotions, it commonly appears as a birth symbol.
Rain, rivers, oceans, etc. also function the same
way. In addition, water can represent emotion and
deeper truths that lie beneath the surface.
Fog represents uncertainty and being lost.
Special weapon that only the hero can wield.
Usually the hero must pass some kind of test
before becoming worthy of using the weapon.
Roses represent passion, love, sincerity, but
also duality they have thorns!
12
Archetypal Symbols - Continued
Sun/Moon - Throughout many traditions the sun
represents the father and male principle and the
moon the mother and feminine principle. The
energy of the moon is intuitive, deep, subtle,
feminine and psychic. The sun is the source of
heat and the bringer of light out of darkness and
symbolizes vitality, passion, courage and
knowledge.
Stars Stars can represent hope or longing,
wisdom and eternity. They can also be a
representation of the authors or characters
spiritual beliefs.
Trees Trees generally represent growth,
knowledge and wisdom, and nature. Sometimes they
represent protection, especially if they are
large.
Animals there are different qualities
associated with different animals and usually
they have to do with common ideas about the
animal. For example, a dog may represent
loyalty, or a horse may represent freedom, a lion
may represent courage.
Seasons Often represent the cycle of life
birth, life, waning, death and rebirth.
Landforms Mountains, deserts, valleys
different landforms have different meanings
depending on how they are used in the stories.
13
Archetypal Symbols - Continued
Colors Red positive - passion, energy, love
negative blood, death, sacrifice Green
positive - growth, hope, fertility negative -
jealousy, envy, illness Blue highly positive,
security, tranquility, spiritual purity,
wisdom Black positive wisdom, gestation the
time before birth negative - darkness, chaos,
mystery, the unknown, death, evil, melancholy,
mourning White positive - light, purity,
innocence, timelessness negative - death,
horror, supernatural, cold, emptiness Yellow
enlightenment, wisdom Purple royalty Orange
often associated with warmth, the sun, fire
14
Archetypal Symbols - Continued
Numbers 3light, spiritual awareness, unity
(holy trinity), male principle 4associated with
the circle, life cycle, four seasons, female
principle, earth, nature, elements 7the most
potent of all symbolic numbers signifying the
union of three and four, the completion of a
cycle, perfect order, perfect number, religious
symbol