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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