Archetypes are fundamental “building blocks” of storytelling. Carl Jung, a German psychologist, came up with the term ARCHETYPE. He thought that most people fell into certain categories. Later, English teachers noticed that the way Mr. Jung described people were also the same as certain characters that showed up in stories. The term changed and students all over the planet study Literary Archetypes.
Certain characters, plots (situations), objects (symbols) and settings show up over and over in stories from all over the world and in all time periods. These archetypes have special symbolic meanings. Archetypes represent universal symbols of bigger ideas, just like a baby represents youth and innocence. A road may represent not just a trip, but the journey through life.Symbolic archetypes occur throughout literature to help the audience identify with and understand important parts of a text.
Common Symbolic Archetypes:
Light vs. Darkness Light usually suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; darkness implies the unknown, ignorance, or despair.
Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity Some characters exhibit wisdom and understanding of situations instinctively as opposed to those supposedly in charge. Loyal retainers often exhibit this wisdom as they accompany the hero on the journey.
Supernatural Intervention Spiritual beings intervene on the side of the hero or sometimes against him.
Fire and Ice Fire represents knowledge, light, life, and rebirth, while ice, like the desert, represents ignorance, darkness, sterility, and death.
Nature vs. Mechanistic World Nature is good while technology is evil.
The Threshold Gateway to a new world which the hero must enter to change and grow
The Underworld A place of death or metaphorically an encounter with the dark side of the self. Entering an underworld is a form of facing a fear of death.
Haven vs. Wilderness Places of safety contrast sharply against a dangerous wilderness. Heroes are often sheltered for a time to regain health and resources
Water vs. Desert Because Water is necessary to life and growth, it commonly appears as a birth symbol, as baptism symbolizes a spiritual birth. Rain, rivers, oceans, etc. also function the same way. The Desert suggests the opposite.
Heaven vs. Hell Man has traditionally associated parts of the universe not accessible to him with the dwelling places of the primordial forces that govern his world. The skies and mountaintops house his gods, the bowels of the earth contain diabolic forces.
The Crossroads A place or time of decision when a realization is made and change or penance results
The Maze A puzzling dilemma or great uncertainty, search for the dangerous monster inside of oneself, or a journey into the heart of darkness
The Castle A strong place of safety which holds treasure or princess, may be enchanted or bewitched
The Tower A strong place of evil, represents the isolation of self
The Magic Weapon The weapon the hero needs in order to complete his quest.
The Whirlpool Symbolizes the destructive power of nature or fate.
Fog Symbolizes uncertainty.
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