Archetypes: An Archetypes: An IntroductionIntroductionFeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

27 September 201127 September 2011

The original pattern/model of which The original pattern/model of which all things of the same type are all things of the same type are representations or copiesrepresentations or copies

A prototype or perfect exampleA prototype or perfect example According to C.G. Jung, it’s an According to C.G. Jung, it’s an

inherited idea or mode of thought inherited idea or mode of thought derived from racial experience; it’s derived from racial experience; it’s present in each individual’s present in each individual’s unconscious mindunconscious mind

A DefinitionA Definition

The Best Places to LookThe Best Places to Look If I ask you about archetypes, look If I ask you about archetypes, look

at:at: ImagesImages Themes/IdeasThemes/Ideas SymbolsSymbols Character TypesCharacter Types Plot PatternsPlot Patterns

You can find them in:You can find them in: Myths/Folklore/FantasiesMyths/Folklore/Fantasies LiteratureLiterature DreamsDreams ReligionReligion

Christopher Booker, a British literary Christopher Booker, a British literary critic, argues that humans have only critic, argues that humans have only produced seven basic plotsproduced seven basic plots

TragedyTragedy Hero with a fatal flaw meets tragic end (lots of Hero with a fatal flaw meets tragic end (lots of

Shakespeare)Shakespeare) ComedyComedy

Not necessary the laugh-out-loud kind; this Not necessary the laugh-out-loud kind; this refers more to a story with a happy ending, refers more to a story with a happy ending, typically featuring romantic fulfillment (lots of typically featuring romantic fulfillment (lots of Austen)Austen)

Overcoming the MonsterOvercoming the Monster With the odds stacked against you, you battle With the odds stacked against you, you battle

a horrifying, destructive enemya horrifying, destructive enemy ““Its psychological appeal is obvious and Its psychological appeal is obvious and

eternal” (think eternal” (think JawsJaws))

Booker’s Seven Stories IBooker’s Seven Stories I

Voyage and ReturnVoyage and Return The character leaves, encounters the new/unusual, and The character leaves, encounters the new/unusual, and

returns home as a new/reborn individual (returns home as a new/reborn individual (The Odyssey, The Odyssey, Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland))

QuestQuest Similar to Voyage and Return, except that the Quest Similar to Voyage and Return, except that the Quest

features an intentional journey centered around a features an intentional journey centered around a specific goal (specific goal (The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings))

Both Voyage and Return and Quest narratives can Both Voyage and Return and Quest narratives can feature symbolic “journeys” as wellfeature symbolic “journeys” as well

Rags to RichesRags to Riches A character begins with nothing, only to overcome A character begins with nothing, only to overcome

his/her disadvantages through ingenuity or virtuehis/her disadvantages through ingenuity or virtue The riches in question can be literal or symbolic The riches in question can be literal or symbolic

((CinderellaCinderella)) RebirthRebirth

A central character suddenly finds a new reason for A central character suddenly finds a new reason for living (living (A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol))

Booker’s Seven Stories IIBooker’s Seven Stories II

Every story has been told...Authors are, if you Every story has been told...Authors are, if you excuse the analogy, like fashion designers dressing excuse the analogy, like fashion designers dressing and re-dressing a body that will always have two arms and re-dressing a body that will always have two arms and two legs and a head.and two legs and a head.

Shakespeare, for instance, never bothered Shakespeare, for instance, never bothered himself with inventing plots. The story of himself with inventing plots. The story of HamletHamlet had had already been told several times before. Same with already been told several times before. Same with King LearKing Lear and and MacbethMacbeth and every other Shakespeare and every other Shakespeare work you can think of. work you can think of.

That does not mean a novel or a play or a film That does not mean a novel or a play or a film can't be truly original. Of course it can. It's just can't be truly original. Of course it can. It's just originality doesn't come through plot. It comes from originality doesn't come through plot. It comes from style and voice and the imagination that brings style and voice and the imagination that brings language and characters and settings to life. language and characters and settings to life.

Personally, I don't get too bothered about Personally, I don't get too bothered about whether or not a plot is considered 'original' or whether or not a plot is considered 'original' or 'unoriginal'. All stories are, to some degree, cover 'unoriginal'. All stories are, to some degree, cover versions. It's how you carry these universal plots into versions. It's how you carry these universal plots into the present age that's the challenge for every writer.the present age that's the challenge for every writer.

Matt Haig on Booker’s CaseMatt Haig on Booker’s Case

Jung recognized patterns in stories and Jung recognized patterns in stories and mythologies that recurred regardless of mythologies that recurred regardless of the storyteller’s culture or historical the storyteller’s culture or historical period.period.

He hypothesized that part of the human He hypothesized that part of the human mind contained a collective unconscious mind contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human shared by all members of the human species – a sort of universal, primal species – a sort of universal, primal memory.memory.

Jung’s work inspired Joseph Campbell, Jung’s work inspired Joseph Campbell, whose whose The Hero With a Thousand FacesThe Hero With a Thousand Faces refined the original hypotheses, refined the original hypotheses, highlighted the patterns we either highlighted the patterns we either respond to or seek out (even respond to or seek out (even unconsciously), and helped define the unconsciously), and helped define the concept of heroism in the modern age.concept of heroism in the modern age.

Jung’s ArchetypesJung’s Archetypes

Hero as WarriorHero as Warrior A god-like or impressive individual faces A god-like or impressive individual faces

physical challenges and external enemiesphysical challenges and external enemies

Hero as LoverHero as Lover A pure love motivates the individual to A pure love motivates the individual to

complete the questcomplete the quest

Hero as Scapegoat/MartyrHero as Scapegoat/Martyr Hero suffers for the sake of othersHero suffers for the sake of others

Transcendent HeroTranscendent Hero Common to tragedyCommon to tragedy A fatal flaw brings about his/her downfall, but A fatal flaw brings about his/her downfall, but

not before he/she reaches a transforming not before he/she reaches a transforming realization (wisdom)realization (wisdom)

Twelve Heroic ArchetypesTwelve Heroic Archetypes

Romantic/Gothic HeroRomantic/Gothic Hero Hero with a decidedly darker sideHero with a decidedly darker side

Proto-Feminist HeroProto-Feminist Hero Self-explanatory, no?Self-explanatory, no?

Apocalyptic HeroApocalyptic Hero Faces either the end of society or the Faces either the end of society or the

end of the worldend of the world Anti-HeroAnti-Hero

Typically prone to failure, blindness, or Typically prone to failure, blindness, or alienationalienation

Sometimes humorous or darkSometimes humorous or dark

Twelve Heroic ArchetypesTwelve Heroic Archetypes

Defiant Anti-HeroDefiant Anti-Hero Opposes societal values, particularly concepts Opposes societal values, particularly concepts

of heroism/goodness/virtueof heroism/goodness/virtue Unbalanced HeroUnbalanced Hero

Protagonist who has (or pretends to have) Protagonist who has (or pretends to have) mental or emotional deficienciesmental or emotional deficiencies

The Denied Hero/The OtherThe Denied Hero/The Other A protagonist whose status as an outsider A protagonist whose status as an outsider

makes heroic action possiblemakes heroic action possible The SuperheroThe Superhero

Exaggerates the normal possibilities of manExaggerates the normal possibilities of man Frequently of divine or supernatural originFrequently of divine or supernatural origin Someone who does not quite belong, yet is Someone who does not quite belong, yet is

needed by societyneeded by society

Twelve Heroic ArchetypesTwelve Heroic Archetypes

The hero must go on a journey, learn a lesson, The hero must go on a journey, learn a lesson, change in some way, and return homechange in some way, and return home

The hero is born and raised in a rural setting, The hero is born and raised in a rural setting, somewhat at a remove from civilizations and somewhat at a remove from civilizations and greater societygreater society

The hero has mysterious origins, or his parents The hero has mysterious origins, or his parents are lost at a young age, leaving him to be raised are lost at a young age, leaving him to be raised by relatives, a wise guardian, or even animalsby relatives, a wise guardian, or even animals

The hero is special/unique; he may represent or The hero is special/unique; he may represent or embody his entire culture or nationembody his entire culture or nation

The hero is naïve, inexperienced, or reluctantThe hero is naïve, inexperienced, or reluctant The hero encounters monsters – or monstrous The hero encounters monsters – or monstrous

menmen

Heroic Journey TraitsHeroic Journey Traits

The hero has a mentor – sometimes strange, The hero has a mentor – sometimes strange, usually wise, and not always humanusually wise, and not always human

The hero also often receives help from divine or The hero also often receives help from divine or supernatural forces, and enjoys the company of a supernatural forces, and enjoys the company of a guide or guidesguide or guides

The hero yearns for a beautiful woman – The hero yearns for a beautiful woman – sometimes from afar, and at other times in close sometimes from afar, and at other times in close proximityproximity She can serve as a guide or an inspirationShe can serve as a guide or an inspiration

The hero often crosses a body of water, travels The hero often crosses a body of water, travels across a great plain or pass, or traverses a across a great plain or pass, or traverses a bridge – all of which serve to unequivocally bridge – all of which serve to unequivocally separate him from his pastseparate him from his past

The hero struggles for something valuable and The hero struggles for something valuable and importantimportant

Heroic Journey TraitsHeroic Journey Traits

The hero goes through a rite of passage or The hero goes through a rite of passage or initiation, an event that marks a change to a initiation, an event that marks a change to a more mature understanding of the worldmore mature understanding of the world

The hero undergoes some type of The hero undergoes some type of ritual/ceremony after his initiationritual/ceremony after his initiation

The hero has a loyal band of companions (to The hero has a loyal band of companions (to whom he can give stirring speeches)whom he can give stirring speeches)

The hero engages in tests or contests of The hero engages in tests or contests of strength, skill, and will – physical and mental strength, skill, and will – physical and mental challenges that force him to draw on his challenges that force him to draw on his endurance and resourcefulness while allowing endurance and resourcefulness while allowing him to show pride in his excellencehim to show pride in his excellence

The hero suffers an “unhealable” wound; this is The hero suffers an “unhealable” wound; this is sometimes an emotional or spiritual wound from sometimes an emotional or spiritual wound from which the hero never completely recoverswhich the hero never completely recovers

The hero returns to the land of his birth in The hero returns to the land of his birth in disguise or as an unknowndisguise or as an unknown

Heroic Journey TraitsHeroic Journey Traits

The HeroThe Hero A protagonist whose life consists of a series of A protagonist whose life consists of a series of

adventures. adventures. The circumstances of his birth are often The circumstances of his birth are often

unusual, and he’s often tended to by surrogate unusual, and he’s often tended to by surrogate figures (guardians, relatives, animals) while figures (guardians, relatives, animals) while growing up. growing up.

He will often need to leave his kingdom on an He will often need to leave his kingdom on an adventure while young, only to return to it adventure while young, only to return to it upon reaching manhood. upon reaching manhood.

Common characteristics include strength and Common characteristics include strength and integrity. integrity.

The hero will endure hardship, even risking his The hero will endure hardship, even risking his life for the collective good, and leaves the life for the collective good, and leaves the familiar to enter an unfamiliar and challenging familiar to enter an unfamiliar and challenging world (or to walk an unfamiliar and challenging world (or to walk an unfamiliar and challenging road).road).

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

Young Man from the Young Man from the ProvincesProvinces The hero returns to his The hero returns to his

home or a place home or a place connected to his heritage; connected to his heritage; he’s now a stranger whose he’s now a stranger whose outsider status allows him outsider status allows him to see new problems and to see new problems and new solutionsnew solutions

The InitiatesThe Initiates Young heroes or heroines Young heroes or heroines

who must go through who must go through some training and some training and ceremony before ceremony before undertaking their questundertaking their quest

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

MentorMentor An older, wiser teacher to An older, wiser teacher to

the initiates who often acts the initiates who often acts as a paternal figure. He as a paternal figure. He gives the heroes gifts gives the heroes gifts (weapons, food, (weapons, food, information, magic) and information, magic) and serves as a role model or serves as a role model or heroic conscienceheroic conscience

The Mentor must now The Mentor must now teach the hero the skills teach the hero the skills necessary for surviving the necessary for surviving the quest aheadquest ahead

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes The Threshold GuardianThe Threshold Guardian

Tests the hero’s courage Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin and worthiness to begin the journeythe journey

Hunting Group of Hunting Group of CompanionsCompanions These are loyal These are loyal

companions willing to face companions willing to face hardship and ordeal in hardship and ordeal in order to stay togetherorder to stay together

Similar to the Loyal Similar to the Loyal Retainers, whose duties Retainers, whose duties are to reflect the power are to reflect the power and nobility of the heroand nobility of the hero

Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes The Friendly BeastThe Friendly Beast

An animal companion An animal companion showing that nature is on showing that nature is on the hero’s sidethe hero’s side

The Devil FigureThe Devil Figure This character is evil This character is evil

incarnateincarnate

The Evil Figure with the The Evil Figure with the Ultimately Good HeartUltimately Good Heart A devil figure, but one with A devil figure, but one with

the potential for the potential for redemption or goodnessredemption or goodness

This person is usually saved This person is usually saved by the hero’s loveby the hero’s love

Other Character ArchetypesOther Character Archetypes The Conflicted FatherThe Conflicted Father

In this relationship, the tension is built due to In this relationship, the tension is built due to separation from childhood or some other source when separation from childhood or some other source when the two meet as menthe two meet as men

The ShadowThe Shadow A worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle in A worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle in

a fight to the end, and who must be destroyed or a fight to the end, and who must be destroyed or neutralizedneutralized

The Shadow can represent the darker side of the hero’s The Shadow can represent the darker side of the hero’s own psycheown psyche

The Creature of NightmaresThe Creature of Nightmares A monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest A monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest

part of the human psyche to threaten the lives of the part of the human psyche to threaten the lives of the hero and his followershero and his followers

Oftentimes it is a perversion or desecration of the Oftentimes it is a perversion or desecration of the human bodyhuman body

The ScapegoatThe Scapegoat An animal – or, more frequently, a human – whose death An animal – or, more frequently, a human – whose death

in a public ceremony is supposed to remove some in a public ceremony is supposed to remove some degree of sin from a communitydegree of sin from a community

They are often more powerful in death than in lifeThey are often more powerful in death than in life

Other Character ArchetypesOther Character Archetypes The OutcastThe Outcast

A character banished from a social group for some real A character banished from a social group for some real or imagined crime against his fellow man, usually or imagined crime against his fellow man, usually destined to wander from place to placedestined to wander from place to place

The Platonic IdealThe Platonic Ideal A woman who is a source of inspiration to the hero, who A woman who is a source of inspiration to the hero, who

has an intellectual rather than physical attraction to herhas an intellectual rather than physical attraction to her Damsel in DistressDamsel in Distress

A vulnerable woman who needs to be rescued by the A vulnerable woman who needs to be rescued by the hero; she is often used as bait in a traphero; she is often used as bait in a trap

The Earth MotherThe Earth Mother Symbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility, this Symbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility, this

character traditionally offers spiritual and emotional character traditionally offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those with whom she comes in contactnourishment to those with whom she comes in contact

Other Character ArchetypesOther Character Archetypes The Temptress or Black GoddessThe Temptress or Black Goddess

Characterized by sensuous beauty, this woman is one to Characterized by sensuous beauty, this woman is one to whom the protagonist is physically attracted and who whom the protagonist is physically attracted and who ultimately brings about his downfall (i.e. witches, ultimately brings about his downfall (i.e. witches, vampires, etc.)vampires, etc.)

White GoddessWhite Goddess Good, beautiful maiden, usually blond in Western myth, Good, beautiful maiden, usually blond in Western myth,

and may make an ideal marriage partner; often has and may make an ideal marriage partner; often has religious or intellectual overtonesreligious or intellectual overtones

The Unfaithful WifeThe Unfaithful Wife A woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant A woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant

and is attracted to more virile or interesting menand is attracted to more virile or interesting men Star-Crossed LoversStar-Crossed Lovers

Two characters engaged in a love affair fated to end Two characters engaged in a love affair fated to end tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of society, friends, family, or some tragic situationsociety, friends, family, or some tragic situation

Tomorrow, we’ll cover archetypal journeys and Tomorrow, we’ll cover archetypal journeys and symbols.symbols.