ArchetypesArchetypesThe Models of Our Entertainment The Models of Our Entertainment

and Philosophiesand Philosophies

What is an Archetype?What is an Archetype?

An original model which other things are An original model which other things are similarly patterned after.similarly patterned after.

An image, story pattern, character type, An image, story pattern, character type, representation, or recurring idearepresentation, or recurring idea

Evokes strong associations to the reader Evokes strong associations to the reader or observer.or observer.

What should I look for to What should I look for to identify archetypes?identify archetypes?

A shared idea with all humanity.A shared idea with all humanity.

An inherited part of the human being that An inherited part of the human being that we can all relate to.we can all relate to.

A constant and universal idea.A constant and universal idea.

What kinds of Archetypes are What kinds of Archetypes are there?there?

There are three main archetypes:There are three main archetypes:

SituationalSituationalSymbolicSymbolicCharacter Character

What is a Situational Archetype?What is a Situational Archetype?

An experience that a hero or character An experience that a hero or character must endure to move from one place in life must endure to move from one place in life to the next.to the next.

Actions and events that add to the plot.Actions and events that add to the plot.

A common event seen throughout stories A common event seen throughout stories in many different genres.in many different genres.

Situational ArchetypesSituational Archetypes These are examples of different situational These are examples of different situational

archetypes:archetypes: The Quest

The Task

The Initiation

The Journey

The Fall

Death and Rebirth

Nature vs. Mechanistic World

Good vs. Evil

The Unhealable Wound

The Ritual

Symbolic ArchetypesSymbolic Archetypes

Serve as a representation Serve as a representation of a specific person, act, of a specific person, act, deed, place or conflict. deed, place or conflict. The Symbolic The Symbolic

Archetypes Include: Archetypes Include:

Light vs. DarknessLight vs. Darkness Water vs. DesertWater vs. Desert Heaven vs. HellHeaven vs. Hell The Magic WeaponThe Magic Weapon Innate Wisdom vs. Innate Wisdom vs.

Educated StupidityEducated Stupidity Heaven vs. WildernessHeaven vs. Wilderness Supernatural Supernatural

InterventionIntervention Fire vs. IceFire vs. Ice

Character Character ArchetypesArchetypes

A person or being that serves as a A person or being that serves as a representative of a greater ideal.representative of a greater ideal.

Characteristics, actions, abilities, or Characteristics, actions, abilities, or powers contribute to the archetype powers contribute to the archetype characterizationcharacterization

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

Character Archetypes Character Archetypes include the following:include the following: Unfaithful WifeUnfaithful Wife TemptressTemptress Star-Crossed LoversStar-Crossed Lovers Damsel In DistressDamsel In Distress The Scapegoat The Scapegoat The Devil FigureThe Devil Figure The Creature of The Creature of

NightmaresNightmares Friendly BeastFriendly Beast

The HeroThe Hero MentorMentor Young man from the ProvincesYoung man from the Provinces The InitiatesThe Initiates Hunting Group of CompanionsHunting Group of Companions Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers The OutcastThe Outcast The Evil Figure with the The Evil Figure with the

Ultimately Good HeartUltimately Good Heart EarthmotherEarthmother

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes:: The HeroThe Hero Traditionally the Traditionally the

protagonist of a protagonist of a storystory

Often his past is a Often his past is a mysterymystery

He is the champion, He is the champion, king, leader or king, leader or savior of manysavior of many

Endures pain and Endures pain and sorrow that all lead sorrow that all lead to a greater goodto a greater good

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: MentorMentor

Serve as a teacher or Serve as a teacher or counselor to the counselor to the initiate or future heroinitiate or future hero

Role ModelRole Model

Sometimes a Father Sometimes a Father or Mother figureor Mother figure

The Karate Kid’s Mr. Miyagi

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: The InitiatesThe Initiates

Young heroes who Young heroes who must endure trainingmust endure training

Must complete some Must complete some type of quest type of quest

They are Innocent They are Innocent and often wear whiteand often wear white

In order to become a Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker must complete his training (quest).

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Orphaned HeroOrphaned Hero

A hero is spirited A hero is spirited away as a young man away as a young man and raised by and raised by strangersstrangers

Later returns home Later returns home where he is a where he is a stranger who looks to stranger who looks to find a solution to find a solution to problemsproblems

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes:

Hunting group of companionsHunting group of companions

Loyal to the heroLoyal to the hero

Group willing to Group willing to face dangers in face dangers in order to be order to be together together

Robin Hood’s Merry Men never abandoned him despite the danger

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: EarthmotherEarthmother

Symbolic of Symbolic of abundance, abundance, fertility, and fertility, and knowledgeknowledge

Offers spiritual and Offers spiritual and emotional advice emotional advice or nourishment to or nourishment to those she meetsthose she meets

In the film The Matrix, the Oracle gives spiritual advice to Neo in his quest for the truth

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: TemptressTemptress

Sensuous with beautySensuous with beauty The hero is physically attracted to her but she will The hero is physically attracted to her but she will

ultimately bring about his downfallultimately bring about his downfall

From the X-men comics and movies, Jean Grey and Cyclopes fall in love but she ultimately brings his downfall by turning into the Phoenix and killing him

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: The Unfaithful WifeThe Unfaithful Wife

Woman, married to a Woman, married to a man she sees dullman she sees dull

Attracted to a more Attracted to a more interesting or interesting or handsome manhandsome man

Commits an act of Commits an act of InfidelityInfidelity

Helen of Troy left her husband to be with Paris, a more attractive and virile man

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Damsel in DistressDamsel in Distress

Vulnerable woman Vulnerable woman who must be rescued who must be rescued by the heroby the hero

She is often used as She is often used as bait to trap the herobait to trap the hero

Mary Jane Watson is often being tossed around by villains. Lucky for her Spider-man is her boy-toy!

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Star-Crossed LoversStar-Crossed Lovers

These two characters These two characters are engaged in a love are engaged in a love affairaffair

Fated to end tragicallyFated to end tragically

Society, family, or Society, family, or friends do not approve friends do not approve of the relationshipof the relationship Romeo & Juliet ultimately pay the price for

their love through their tragic death

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers

Somewhat heroicSomewhat heroic

Similar to a servant Similar to a servant with hero like with hero like qualitiesqualities

Duty: Protect the Duty: Protect the HeroHero Sam from Lord of The Rings is

the loyal retainer of Frodo.

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: The OutcastThe Outcast

Banished by Society Banished by Society or a social groupor a social group

Destined to become a Destined to become a wandererwanderer

Moves from place to Moves from place to placeplace

Until he learns manners, Hancock is the outcast of Los Angeles

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: The Friendly BeastThe Friendly Beast

Shows characteristics of Shows characteristics of the herothe hero

Finds villains threatening Finds villains threatening and may attempt to warn and may attempt to warn the herothe hero

Loyal only to the hero & Loyal only to the hero & the hero’s companionsthe hero’s companions

Chewbacca, Han Solo’s companion, may look scary…but he’s really just a big, hairy, heroic baby

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Evil figure w/ ultimately good Evil figure w/ ultimately good

heartheart A Redeemable DevilA Redeemable Devil

Saved by the love or Saved by the love or faith of a herofaith of a hero

May have started out May have started out good, then through a good, then through a fall becomes evil, but fall becomes evil, but returns to good in the returns to good in the endendBah! Hum-Bug! Ebenezer

Scrooge realizes his faults and finds good in the world

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Creature of a NightmareCreature of a Nightmare

Monster usually Monster usually summoned from the summoned from the deepest, darkest parts of deepest, darkest parts of the mindthe mind

Threatens the life of the Threatens the life of the herohero

Often a perverse or Often a perverse or desecrate form of humandesecrate form of human

Summoned from nightmares, Freddy Krueger terrorized teens in the 80’s and 90’s in the Nightmare on Elm Street films

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: The ScapegoatThe Scapegoat

Human or Animal Human or Animal

Public Death is a sin Public Death is a sin of the communityof the community

Death makes him a Death makes him a more powerful force more powerful force than when he livedthan when he lived

Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Devil FigureDevil Figure

Evil IncarnateEvil Incarnate

Offers Worldly GoodsOffers Worldly Goods

Will tempt, cheat, Will tempt, cheat, steal, lie, and destroy steal, lie, and destroy anyone or anything anyone or anything he comes into contact he comes into contact withwith

Let’s Review! Let’s Review! Character Archetypes include the following…Character Archetypes include the following…

Unfaithful WifeUnfaithful Wife TemptressTemptress Star-Crossed LoversStar-Crossed Lovers Damsel In DistressDamsel In Distress The Scapegoat The Scapegoat The Devil FigureThe Devil Figure The Creature of The Creature of

NightmaresNightmares Friendly BeastFriendly Beast

The HeroThe Hero MentorMentor Young man from the ProvincesYoung man from the Provinces The InitiatesThe Initiates Hunting Group of CompanionsHunting Group of Companions Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers The OutcastThe Outcast The Evil Figure with the The Evil Figure with the

Ultimately Good HeartUltimately Good Heart EarthmotherEarthmother

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

Archetypes are everywhere, but we Archetypes are everywhere, but we often just overlook themoften just overlook them

They can be found in every book, They can be found in every book, short story, TV show, or movieshort story, TV show, or movie

Archetypes represent ideas larger Archetypes represent ideas larger than themselves!than themselves!

The EndThe End