ArchetypesArchetypes

From the Greek word From the Greek word arkhetuposarkhetupos..

Arkhe = “Primitive”Arkhe = “Primitive”Tupos – “a model”Tupos – “a model”

An archetype is an original An archetype is an original model or pattern from which model or pattern from which later copies are made. later copies are made.

THE HERO’S THE HERO’S JOURNEYJOURNEY

THE CALL TO ADVENTURETHE CALL TO ADVENTURE

The future hero is first given notice The future hero is first given notice that his or her life is going to change.that his or her life is going to change.

Ex. Nemo is caught by the men in the Ex. Nemo is caught by the men in the boat and Marlin has to get him back.boat and Marlin has to get him back.

REFUSAL OF THE CALLREFUSAL OF THE CALL

The future hero often refuses to The future hero often refuses to accept the Call to Adventure.accept the Call to Adventure.

Refusal may stem from:Refusal may stem from:A sense of dutyA sense of dutyAn obligationAn obligationA fearA fearAn insecurityAn insecurityEX. Marlin fears the open sea, but he has EX. Marlin fears the open sea, but he has

to go because of Nemo.to go because of Nemo.

BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTUREBEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE

Point where the hero actually begins the Point where the hero actually begins the adventure.adventure.

Hero leaves the known limits of his/her Hero leaves the known limits of his/her world world

Hero ventures into an unknown/dangerous Hero ventures into an unknown/dangerous realm.realm.

Ex. Marlin swims out into the ocean and Ex. Marlin swims out into the ocean and meets Dory, the Trickster Mentor who will meets Dory, the Trickster Mentor who will help him on his journey.help him on his journey.

ROAD OF TRIALSROAD OF TRIALS

Series of tests or challenges that hero Series of tests or challenges that hero must go through.must go through.

Hero will usually fail one or more these Hero will usually fail one or more these trials.trials.

Ex. Dory and Marlin face many trials:Ex. Dory and Marlin face many trials: Meeting and escaping the sharks “Fish are Meeting and escaping the sharks “Fish are

friends….. not food”friends….. not food” Dory = Her short term memory lossDory = Her short term memory loss The Jelly Fish = Marlin learns to trust Dory even The Jelly Fish = Marlin learns to trust Dory even

though she not always together mentallythough she not always together mentally Whale = Marlin has to learn to just let go.Whale = Marlin has to learn to just let go.

EXPERIENCE WITH EXPERIENCE WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVEUNCONDITIONAL LOVE

During the Road of Trials, the hero During the Road of Trials, the hero experiences unconditional love from experiences unconditional love from A friendA friend A mentorA mentor A family memberA family member

This love usually drives the hero to continue This love usually drives the hero to continue their journey when they doubt themselves.their journey when they doubt themselves.

Ex. Dory never leaves Marlin no matter how rude Ex. Dory never leaves Marlin no matter how rude he is to her. She stays by his side and he is to her. She stays by his side and continues to help him.continues to help him.

THE ULTIMATE BOONTHE ULTIMATE BOON

The goal of the quest is achieved!The goal of the quest is achieved!

Ex. Dory meets Nemo, remembers the Ex. Dory meets Nemo, remembers the adventure, and helps him find his adventure, and helps him find his dad.dad.

REFUSAL OF THE RETURNREFUSAL OF THE RETURN

When the goal of the adventure has When the goal of the adventure has been accomplished, the hero may been accomplished, the hero may refuse to return with the boon or gift.refuse to return with the boon or gift.

Sometimes the hero prefers to stay Sometimes the hero prefers to stay in a better place rather than return in a better place rather than return to a normal life of pain and trouble.to a normal life of pain and trouble.

Ex. When Dory and the other fish are Ex. When Dory and the other fish are captured in the net, Marlin does not captured in the net, Marlin does not want to let Nemo help for fear of want to let Nemo help for fear of losing him again.losing him again.

THE MAGIC FLIGHTTHE MAGIC FLIGHT

The hero experiences adventure and The hero experiences adventure and perhaps danger as he or she returns perhaps danger as he or she returns to life as it was before the adventure.to life as it was before the adventure.

Ex. Marlin must face a great fear as he Ex. Marlin must face a great fear as he realizes that Nemo may not have realizes that Nemo may not have survived after the net broke and survived after the net broke and Dory and the other fish escaped.Dory and the other fish escaped.

RESCUE FROM WITHOUTRESCUE FROM WITHOUT

These guides/rescuers bring him/her These guides/rescuers bring him/her back to everyday life, especially if back to everyday life, especially if the hero has been weakened by the the hero has been weakened by the experience. experience.

Ex. Not AnyEx. Not Any

THE CROSSING/RETURN THE CROSSING/RETURN THRESHOLDTHRESHOLD

THE FINAL POINT IN THE ADVENTURE!THE FINAL POINT IN THE ADVENTURE!The hero must retain the wisdom The hero must retain the wisdom

gained on the quest.gained on the quest.The hero will integrate that wisdom The hero will integrate that wisdom

into his/her previous life.into his/her previous life.Perhaps decide how to share the Perhaps decide how to share the

wisdom with the rest of the world.wisdom with the rest of the world.Ex. Marlin learns to let his son explore Ex. Marlin learns to let his son explore

and to trust Nemo and himself.and to trust Nemo and himself.

CHARACTER ARCHETYPESCHARACTER ARCHETYPES

Common Hero PatternsCommon Hero Patterns The hero is born under unusual The hero is born under unusual

circumstances.circumstances. The son (daughter) of a great king or deity.The son (daughter) of a great king or deity. Marked for greatness by prophecy or Marked for greatness by prophecy or

physical trait.physical trait. While young is exiled or placed in harm’s While young is exiled or placed in harm’s

way in an attempt to kill or hinder him (her).way in an attempt to kill or hinder him (her). Must prove “royal” claim by test or trial.Must prove “royal” claim by test or trial. Accomplishes great deeds for his people.Accomplishes great deeds for his people. Often a mysterious or ambiguous death.Often a mysterious or ambiguous death. A suggestion or promise that the hero will A suggestion or promise that the hero will

someday return to reward or rescue.someday return to reward or rescue.

Primitive Primitive HeroHero Usually a Usually a slayer of slayer of monstersmonsters •BeowulfBeowulf•Conan Conan •Ripley from Ripley from AlienAlien

Warrior HeroWarrior Hero

Fights for personal Fights for personal glory and/or a glory and/or a dying or doomed dying or doomed culture or causeculture or cause

A.A. Has no fear of Has no fear of death (usually)death (usually)

B.B. Seeks to create or Seeks to create or revive a societyrevive a society(Ex. Achilles, Rambo, (Ex. Achilles, Rambo,

Hercules, Odysseus)Hercules, Odysseus)

Metaphysical Metaphysical HeroHero

On a quest for On a quest for enlightenment enlightenment or very spiritual or very spiritual journey.journey.

The conquest is The conquest is against himself against himself as he conquers as he conquers selfish urges selfish urges and undergoes and undergoes great great temptation. temptation.

(Buddah)(Buddah)

Character ArchetypesCharacter ArchetypesHelpersHelpers

The hero’s The hero’s “sidekick”“sidekick”

usually has his own usually has his own abilities but abilities but somehow lacks the somehow lacks the necessary traits of necessary traits of being a hero himself. being a hero himself.

Ex. Ex. Sam for FrodoSam for Frodo in in Lord of the RingsLord of the Rings

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

MentorMentor – “Wise Old Man” ; gives the – “Wise Old Man” ; gives the hero wisdom and often has trained or hero wisdom and often has trained or helped the hero develop his abilities. helped the hero develop his abilities. ((Gandalf, DumbledoreGandalf, Dumbledore))

Character ArchetypesCharacter ArchetypesFemme FataleFemme Fatale – “Deadly Lady” ; a – “Deadly Lady” ; a

temptress who seeks to destroy the temptress who seeks to destroy the Hero or keep him from completing Hero or keep him from completing his mission (often times is truly his mission (often times is truly attracted to the hero and vice versa). attracted to the hero and vice versa). ((Cat womanCat woman))

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

Good (or Earth) MotherGood (or Earth) Mother – opposite – opposite of the Femme Fatale ; she possesses of the Femme Fatale ; she possesses all the positive aspects of life all the positive aspects of life (protection, warmth, nurturing).(protection, warmth, nurturing).

Ex. Glinda The Good Witch from Ex. Glinda The Good Witch from Wizard of Wizard of OzOz

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

6. 6. Father FigureFather Figure – Represents all that – Represents all that the hero is trying to attain or find in the hero is trying to attain or find in his search or possesses or is involved his search or possesses or is involved in a secret that can change the in a secret that can change the hero’s destiny. hero’s destiny.

Ex. Mufasa from Ex. Mufasa from The Lion KingThe Lion King

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes7. Trickster7. Trickster - many times a “helper” to - many times a “helper” to

the hero (does things w/out meaning to) the hero (does things w/out meaning to) Although he/she may often cause problems, Although he/she may often cause problems,

he/she does not want to hurt the hero. he/she does not want to hurt the hero. The Trickster may be an adversary despite the The Trickster may be an adversary despite the

fact that an “enemy trickster” can border on fact that an “enemy trickster” can border on maliciousness.maliciousness.

Ex. Ex. Fred and George Weasley in Fred and George Weasley in Harry Potter Gollum is an “enemy Harry Potter Gollum is an “enemy

trickster”trickster”

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

8. Nemesis – The Hero’s “sworn 8. Nemesis – The Hero’s “sworn enemy” enemy”

Perfect adversary for the HeroPerfect adversary for the Hero Usually evenly matched in ability yet Usually evenly matched in ability yet

opposite in temperament or values.opposite in temperament or values.EX. VoldemortEX. Voldemort