Archetypes OverviewEnglish Language Arts

Archetypes Literature and film can be classified into

different genres. Many short stories, novels, poems, plays and films share common features even though they were written by people from different parts of the world and at different times in history.

These recurring images, character types, symbols and narrative patterns are called ARCHETYPES.

Genres classify literature/film and archetypes are another method of classification albeit a more complex and intelligent method.

Conventional Plot Patterns (Recurring Narrative Patterns)

Archetypes

“Westerners”

Quest/Adventure Stories

“Rags to Riches”

Creation Story

Mistaken Identity

“Monster-slaying Story”

Wedding/RomanceLoss of Innocence Story (death)

Conventional Character Types

Archetypes

Wicked Witch Star-crossed lovers

Victim Hero

Evil Step-mother

Villain

Teacher

Child (and throughout various stages to adulthood)

Damsel in Distress

Plot PatternsEndings: Wedding, death, ride into

sunset, murder solved etc.

Symbols & Images

Water: creation, purification, redemption, fertility, growth Rising Sun: wisdom, birth, enlightenment Setting Sun: death Garden: paradise, innocence, fertility Tree: immortality Desert: hopelessness, death, spiritual emptiness Apple: knowledge, health Snake: evil, temptation, sensuality Rose: perfection, beauty Circle: wholeness, unity Red: blood, passion, sacrifice Green: growth, fertility Black: chaos, death, evil White: purity, innocence

Six Archetypes

Golden AgeGod-Teacher/HeroLoss of InnocenceFlood/DoomsdayMetamorphosisHuman Year

GOLDEN AGE The quest story – humanity’s ongoing search

for paradise (people lose paradise and often begin a quest to regain the paradise lost)

Characteristics: The Golden Age is based on the theory that

there was a utopia, which was destroyed but can be regained

Happy endings are usually the result of this archetype

The “Quest Story” is usually associated with GA because the search for paradise is often a quest

Reference to the “good old days” is often the desire for a lost paradise (even if realizing after consideration that the old days were not so good)

In terms of the human year, GA is usually associated with spring or early summer

Abundance, growth, love, peace, and reconciliation are all associated with this archetype

Examples: Matrix, Lion King, Back to the Future, Shrek

GOD-TEACHER/HERO Characteristics: Benevolent (charitable) with

knowledge – willing to teach humans the answers to hidden mysteries

Intermediary – acts as a bridge between humans and a divine power

Model for human behaviour May take the form of animals,

teachers, visionaries, political leaders, religious leaders, and sport or film idols

In terms of the human year, GT is usually associated with summer

May offer themselves as sacrifice (in early myths they were punished for revealing mysteries

Examples: Helen Keller/Annie Sullivan, Yoda, Gandalf, Coach Carter

END OF CHILDHOOD/LOSS OF INNOCENCE

Characteristics: Stories about the origin of evil are end of

childhood stories Movement away from a sense of security,

rosy outlook on life, and youth to a more cynical view of responsibility, greyer outlook on life, and awareness of aging

The end of childhood may come in the form of a personal tragedy, a rude awakening, or a shattered illusion. There is an awareness of loss – a favourite object is broken, a friend moves, beauty is lost

May come as an awareness of one’s own limitations. The realization that one cannot avoid death

May take the form of a new experience – first encounter with war, violence, crime, senseless destruction or a first love

The individual usually comes to realize a harsh truth and must deal with it

Initiation rites to welcome the child into the adult world are part of end of childhood

Examples: The Little Mermaid, To Kill a Mockingbird

FLOOD/DOOMSDAY Characteristics: A story that shows decay and

destruction, then the establishment of a new community. The earth and its inhabitants have come to the worst possible state of affairs

Water is a common image in stories containing this archetype. It destroys yet saves, takes and gives life

A method of rebirth is often included in these stories. This “ark” is a recurring detail and may take the form of a ship or some other vessel

This archetype offers hope. The people left after the destruction are good people. A new society, better than the last, will be the result

The flood is associated with winter Examples: The Day After Tomorrow

METAMORPHOSIS A concept that deals with

transformation. The “change” can be physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social, etc. Usually metamorphosis occurs as part of a process, and can come about as part of a ritual. Metamorphosis can be beneficial or detrimental

Characteristics: changes of form occur wishes and dreams may become reality fears and nightmares may become

reality similar to the direct comparison of

metaphor metaphor — this is this: “She is a rose” metamorphosis — this becomes this:

“She becomes a rose” recognition that boundaries are not fixed

(transformations may take place…) emphasis is on the similarities in life

rather than the differences Examples: Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde

HUMAN YEAR

The use of natures cycles to express human emotion and feelings.

Examples: Freedom Writers & On Golden Pond

All images obtained from “google images” via public domain