Archetypes KCLove

8/9/2019 Archetypes KCLove

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Whos Afraid of the

Big Bad Wolf?

Middle School Level

Understanding of Archetypes, Motifs, and Allegories in

Literature


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What is an archetype?

An archetype (pronounced ark-tipe), is a model, orprimeexample ofa concept, ideal, and isusually represented by using

a characterin a story.

The characterorperson in the story is whothey are, but they

alsorepresentsomething else; a common, shared thought

amongst a culture orsociety.

This requires some thought, and examples. Well ask thequestion again to check for understanding.


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Purpose of this Presentation

There are numerous examplesofeach archetype in

real life.

However, in ordertofocuson archetypes inliterature, we will review fictional characters.

This will aid in being more objective in the

classifications and examples.


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The Hero

The Heroisso well-known that his journey

has been mapped out long ago. There are

variationsin his/herpath, butthe role the

heroplaysis basically the same:

A person, who atfirstusually doesnt want

to,must do something dangerous in order

to save someone or something other thanhimself.


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The Anti-Hero

The Anti-Herois very similartothe

hero, except, the anti-heroisusually

an unlikeable person who hastosave

someone orsomething, too, and theyare very resistant. In fact, may even

sabotage or jeopardize the quest.

For a fun list of anti-heroes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_anti-heroes


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The Scapegoat

This animal orperson is a sacrifice made by the

groupin ordertotry to erase some wrongdoing or

sin in the community. By using a scapegoat, the

community transfersthe blame from themselves

tothe animal orperson.

By the way, this doesnt work, ever.


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The OutcastThe Outcastis a character who has

been banished from the

group/community because ofa

crime, orperceived difference that

cant be resolved, such as a physical

deformity.

Frankenstein just because

hes made from dead peoples

body parts, is that any reason

not to love him?

Grendel in Beowulf (1100 AD) is

one of the first outcasts in fiction.


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The Devil Figure

The Devil figure is evil incarnate

which means bad tothe bone!

This characterofferssomething ofgreat value tothe protagonistofthe

story in exchange for his/her soul.

The soul can be something which isirreplaceable, and once given or

exchanged, cannot be easily restored.

Beetlejuice personifies greed,

evil, rudeness, and badbreath!


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The Star-Crossed Lovers

These two cant get a break. Twopeople fall in love, butthey cant be together

because offamily differences, cultural, orotherinterferences. Theirstory usually

endstragically, including a misunderstanding oftraumatic scale, maybe even

death. Romeo and Juliet are perhapsthe mostfamousofstar-crossed lovers.


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The Earth MotherThe Earth Mothersymbolizes

abundance, nurturing,

unconditional love (she will always

love you, no matter what), and

emotional support.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a prime

example ofthe Earth Motherpersonified.

Personification: the representation of a human

quality in an animal or object.


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Father Figure:

The King, The Boss, The PatronThe Father Figure isthe boss, the big

kahuna orthe chief, orthe wise man who

offers guidance, isfirm butoften kind, or

presents a challenge tothe youth to stepit

up. He isfirm butkind.

There is another fatherfigure archetype,

though: itis a man who expectssomething for

hissupport. His love and respectis conditional.

Sometimesthe fatherfigure issomeone the

young buck mustphysically or mentally

challenge and defeatin orderto be considered

a man; thats his rite ofpassage.


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Loveable Sidekick

The Loveable Sidekickis

always atthe herosside,

ready to lend a hand, or a

hoof, crack a joke, or easethe herossuffering.


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The Shrew

The Shrew is a nagging, spiteful woman. She usually

pretendsthatshe is above love orromance, butisreally

looking for a partner who can match herin intelligence,wit, and respect.

I hate you

more.I hate you.


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The Joker

This characterisoften

named Jackin fables, fairy

tales, legends, and lore.

The archetype ofthe joker,

or Jack, isreckless, a loner,

immature, impulsive,

brash, with a dash of

insensitivity. They can also

be charming, funny, and

captivating characters.

Jack Blackas well as

Jack and the Beanstalk, Captain Jack

Sparrow, Jack be nimble, Spring-heel

Jack, Jack Kvetch, Jack Skellington, (thePumpkin King), Jack OLantern, Jackin

the Box, Jackthe Ripper, Jack and Jill,

Jack Sprat, and ofcourse, The Joker.


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The Queen

The Queen isoften portrayed as a woman whoisin complete control of

herself, hersurroundings, and hersubjects. Sometimesthe phrase Ice

Queen isused to describe herstand-offish attitude. She will care for you, but

you must be loyal. You wont get a lotofhugsfrom her, butshe will save your

head from the chopping block(maybe) orfinance a voyage tothe new world.


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The Witch

The Witch in mythology, fables, and fairy

talesis a female character whoreally

ruins everyones day. Shesthe antagonist

on a rampage noone isreally sure why

shessoupset, or wantsto be so evil, but

she sure is cranky. She can also be found

somewhere on the scale ofevil

stepmother to evil queen too.


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The Temptress

The Temptressisusually a

very beautiful woman or

handsome man, butthey

have a cold heart, and are

manipulative, destructive

characters. The Temptress

brings down the Hero

using her wily feminine

ways ofseduction!

Elizabeth Taylor plays

Cleopatra


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The Platonic IdealThe Platonic Ideal isthe typical

girl next door. Shes nice,

intelligent, butshes not

someone others wantto be

involved with romantically. She

providesintellectual orspiritual

support and inspiration, butshe

cant compete with the

Temptressin termsofphysicalattraction.

oor Velma cant compete with Daphne, and

has to wear that orange sweater all the time!


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The Unfaithful WifeThe Unfaithful Wife sees

her husband as boring, or

nofun. The spark has left,

ifthere ever wasone. She

is attracted tosomeone

more handsome and

romantic. Itusually doesnt

end up well, though.

Guinevere is one of the most

famous unfaithful wives in

fiction, dumping King Arthur for

Lancelot.


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Maiden-Mother-CroneThese archetypesrepresentthe three main stagesoflife, from

youth, to middle age, toold age. The conceptoflife and death is

the mostpredominanttheme ofall, and isrepresented in many

archetypes.


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FatherTime

Father Time is actually based on the Ancient

Roman god, Chronos-Saturn. He symbolized

agriculture and the harvest, and wasoften

seen with a scythe. Now, he isrepresented

by the Grim Reaper (death) or Father Time.


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Themes

Themes are the big ideas in

literature, artwork, and movies.


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MotifsMotifs are repeated ideas, patterns, and themes, in literature,

artwork, or movies.

Example:

In The Outsiders, Ponyboy keepsfocused on his hair, what hair

symbolizes and represents. The way the Greasers and the Socs

look, their clothes, and their appearance, is mentioned again and

again, too, tosupportthe theme ofrich versuspoor.


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The Quest

Thisisthe herossearch or journey

forthe objectorperson who has

power or the cure forthe

community. The questoften

involvesthe hero and others who

are there to assist him, and they

meet many ofthe archetypes along

the way whooften try distractor

sabotage the quest.

Now, whetheror not going on thequest was a good idea in

hindsightisuptous, the readers, to

judge.


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The Task

There is a job to do, a goal to achieveisittosave the town from

impending disaster? Torescue the fair damsel in distress? There

is a superhuman assignmentthatthe hero must complete in

ordertoprove himselfas the one.

Arthur pulls Excalibur out when no

one else can, thus proving hes the

one to lead England.


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The Initiation

The initiation ritual is a rite of

passage, usually from childhood

to an adult. It can also be a new

awarenessorperception, or new

knowledge, thatthe hero has had

to pay a price, usually

demonstrated during the climax of

the story.

Luke loses his hand during a battle

with Darth Vader. It happens also at the

moment when Luke is told of who his

real father isDarth Vader!


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The Journey

The Journey represents

the pitfalls and perilsof

the path, whether

literally (real) or

figuratively (symbolic). Theheroisin in motion, either

on foot, horse, train, car,

boat, well, you name it,

butisultimately seeking

information,enlightenment, or

truth/justice.

Captain Jack Sparrow have many adventures on and

off the Black Pearl. The Black Pearl symbolizes

freedom, the and the enjoyment of the journey, not

necessarily the destination.


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The Fall

The Fall is when the hero

descendsinto a lowerstate,

either morally, spiritually, and/or

physically. There is a lossof

innocence and happiness. Theyare usually expelled from the

community via a misstepor error

ofjudgment. Getting back on

the rightpath becomestheir

nextobjective.Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) sellshis soul to try to save his father,

and he himself falls out of grace,

and works to redeem himself by

fighting other evil-doers.

*The Ghost Rider is also a good

example of an anti-hero.


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Allegory

A metaphor, orfable, by which an idea or

message isportrayed using archetypes.

In George Orwells Animal Farm, farm

animalsrepresent differentpersonalitiesand charactersin the human world.


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Archetype: Your Example from

a novel or story:

Reason or

Justification:

Hero

Anti-Hero

Scapegoat

Outcast

Star-Crossed Lovers

Temptress

Your Choice:

Name the

archetype or

theme:


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Resources

Images: See hyperlinkson images.

Content:

Melendez, M. Prof., Myth in Literature, Sinclair Community College, Retrieved

December 2008;

http://people.sinclair.edu/mildredmelendez/docs/267/lecture05.pdf

Music that may be heard:

Ravels String Quartet in F, Second Movement

Tchaichovksys Peter and the Wolf

Power Point written, designed and prepared by K.C. Love, December 2008

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