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Language Arts – Grade 12March 20th, 2013

Archetypes

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Standard 1, Objective 3, Section B Use vocabulary and text elements and structures to

comprehend Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness.

Comprehend and compare culturally and historically significant archetypes.

Analyze archetypes in works from a variety of cultures and historical periods (e.g., the questing hero, the trickster, the anti-hero, the superhero).

Objectives

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Researchers, such as Carl Jung, have been able to collect and compare myths, legends, and religions of cultures from all around the world.

They discovered that for centuries, people who had NO contact with each other had passed down stories through generations that were similar to the stories of other cultures. For example, there are hero/villain myths from

ancient Greece that have similar constructs to stories from the Navajo tribes.

The basic elements of these stories are called ARCHETYPES.

Introduction

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An archetype is a character, action, or situation that is a prototype (or pattern) of human life.

A situation that occurs over and over again in literature

Archetypes can be:Characters: The HeroSettings: The WildernessQuests: Attempt to overcome evil

What is an archetype?

Character Description Example

The Hero• A larger-than-life

character that often goes on some kind of journey or quest

• Little or nothing is known of his childhood

• In the course of his journey, the hero demonstrates the qualities and abilities valued by his culture

• Hercules (Greek Mythology/Disney)

• Beowulf

• King Arthur

• Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)

• Frodo (The Lord of the Rings)

• Harry Potter

Archetypal Characters

Character Description ExampleThe Father

Figure• The protector and

leader.

• Loving, kind and authoritative, but not wrathful.

• His guidance and knowledge lawfully lead his family through the generations. In western culture, it also serves as a role model for adolescent males by showing them what manhood should be.

• Mufasa (The Lion King)

• Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Archetypal Characters

Character Description Example

The Sage/ Wise Old

Man

• Represents knowledge, spirituality of soul, and insight.

• Shows profound wisdom.

• Often serves as a substitute for father figures to The Heroes in training.

• Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)

• Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

• Ben Kenobi (Star Wars)

• Yoda (Star Wars)

• Merlin

Archetypal Characters

Character Description Example

The Villain• The antagonist (opposes

the protagonist).

• Constantly plotting.

• Often working against the hero to succeed in their own end.

• Sometimes out to make mischief for mischief's sake.

• Offers worldly goods.

• Mr. Burns (The Simpsons)

• Iago (Othello)

• Voldemort (Harry Potter)

• Mordred (King Arthur)

• Scar (Lion King)

Archetypal Characters

Character Description ExampleThe

Damsel in Distress

• Woman who needs to be rescued.

• Persecuted maiden.

• Often a young virgin.

• Usually placed in bad situation by The Villain.

• The helplessness of the damsel in distress is often portrayed as foolish and ineffectual.

• Rapunzel (not Disney Version)

• Snow White

• Sleeping Beauty

• Daphne (Scooby Doo)

• Princess Peach (Mario Bros)

• Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars)

Archetypal Characters

Character Description ExampleThe

Underdog• Characters who are

always in the wrong place at the wrong time, but who usually win something of value in the end

• A competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest.

• Has low societal status.

• Neville Longbottom (Harry Potter)

• Seabiscuit

• Wilbur (Charlotte’s Web)

• Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings)

• Lennie Small (Of Mice and Men)

• Oliver Twist

Archetypal Characters

Place DescriptionThe Crossroads

The place of suffering and decision

Dark Places The inability to see. Represents unhappiness, distress, or gloom

The Wilderness

The place where rules don’t apply, and people and things run wild.

The Winding Stair

The long and difficult way into the unknown.

Archetypal Settings

PatternsThe Quest to Know Who You AreThe Quest to Find KnowledgeThe Quest to Find the Promised Land or to Build a Beautiful CityThe Warrior’s Quest to Save the People and Rid the Land of DangerThe Quest to Get RevengeThe Quest for Fame and FortuneThe Fool’s Quest (a silly person saves the land because of his innocence or foolishness)The Search for Love (to rescue the princess)

Archetypal Journeys

What other type of Archetypes can you think of?

+~ Portfolio Assignment ~

Interview Your Archetype

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AddictArtist

CowardDictatorGoddessInnovator

MysticPoliticianPuppet

RedeemerRobotScoutSeekerSage

StudentVampireWarrior

~ Portfolio Assignment ~

ActorAnarchistCaregiver

CompanionDreamer

FoolHealerKnightPoetRebel

ScholarSidekick

StorytellerThief

NetworkerVisionary

AvengerAthleteBullyClown

CraftspersonDamsel

DivaGamblerGossipJudgeLover

Nature Boy/GirlPioneerRescuerScribeSpoilerTeacher

Interview Your Archetype

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Imagine the archetype you chose is sitting in a chair across from you. What kind of questions would you like to ask that archetype? How do you think it would respond?

Allow the archetype to respond, the answers coming from the deepest levels of your own intuition. Or simply ask yourself, and wait for the answer to come to you.

Interview Your Archetype~ Portfolio Assignment ~

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Here’s the assignment - Decide between these three:

Write a letter to your archetype asking questions. Then write a response letter from the archetype. When writing the response you should consider with what voice that archetype would respond, would it be the same as your voice?

Write a dialogue between you and your archetype as if you were conducting an interview. Once again, pay attention to voice. Would you archetype respond to the questions the same way you would?

Grab a blank body template. Draw a line down the middle of the body. Use your artistic skills and draw yourself as you see in the mirror on one side and the vision of your chosen archetype on the other side. Use the questions on the next slide to fuel your drawing.

~ Portfolio Assignment ~Interview Your Archetype

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Here’s some example questions you can use to get started (remember to phrase the questions as interview questions to your archetype):

What events or personal characteristics led me to choose this archetype?

How long has this archetypal pattern been a part of my life?

What role has this archetype played for me?

Which prominent people have interacted with this archetype? (For instance, if it's the Teacher archetype, think of the people who have played important roles in your own education or inspired you to be a teacher to others.)

What relationship might it have to my personal unfinished business - to those people I haven't forgiven, or to events in the past that I can't let go of? And might this archetype now help me in healing those situations?

What myths, fairy tales, or spiritual stories that have meaning for me do I associate with this archetype?

Has this archetype appeared in my dreams?

Does thinking of this archetype make me feel empowered or disempowered?

~ Portfolio Assignment ~Interview Your Archetype