Download Common Archetypes

Common Archetypes in
Mythololgy
What is an Archetype?
Archetype- (n.) An original model on which similar things are
patterned (syn., mold, model, standard, example, ideal)
Carl Jung also used the term to refer to “…a universal and recurring image, pattern, or
motif representing a typical human experience." It is this that gives archetypes their
power--the ability to evoke themes that a vast majority of people can relate to.
Character Archetype: standard characters that other characters
can be compared to
Story Archetype: standard plot type that almost all stories can be
categorized by
Common Character Archetypes
The Hero
The Mentor
The Everyman
The Innocent
The Villian
The Hero
• always the protagonist (though the
protagonist is not always a hero)
• in traditional literature, the hero is
usually a male, but more female
heroes appearing
• is after some ultimate objective, but
encounters and overcomes
obstacles along the way to
achieving this goal
• usually morally good, though that
goodness will likely be challenged
throughout the story
• ability to stay true to themselves
despite the trials they face
• willingness to sacrifice themselves
• is often responsible for saving
others
The Hero
• Mythological
examples of the
hero include:
Hercules,
Achilles
• Present fictional
examples
include Harry
Potter, Luke
Skywalker,
Katniss
Everdeen, Tris
Prior
• Other examples?
The Mentor
• typically represented as a kind and wise, older
father/mother-type figure
• uses personal knowledge of people and the world to tell
stories and offer guidance
The Mentor
• In mythology, this
characteristic is generally
given when one of the
gods comes to speak to a
mortal.
• Zeus and Hera are all
examples of mentor
gods/goddesses in
different contexts.
• In modern fiction, we see
the mentor in characters
like Yoda, Haymitch,
Dumbledore, and Gandalf
• Other examples?
The Everyman
• a normal person, but must
face extraordinary
circumstances.
• can be the protagonist or a
supporting figure
• does not feel a moral
obligation to his or her task;
often find themselves in the
middle of something they
have barely any control over
• Not trying to make a great
change or work for the
common good- just trying to
get through a difficult
situation
The Innocent
• often women or children
• pure in every way
• surrounded by dark
circumstances, do not
become jaded by the
corruption and evil of
others
• not stupid: just so
morally good that the
badness of others
cannot seem to mar
them
• Examples: Primrose
Everdeen, Frodo, Tiny
Tim
The Villian
• wants to stop the hero archetype from
achieving his or her goal.
• often evil, though there is often a
reason—however warped that reason
may be—why villains are so bad
• often want nothing more than to
control and have power over everyone
and everything around them, probably
because most of them are secretly
strongly motivated by fear
• are often the moral foil of the hero: that
is, their main vice will parallel the
hero's main virtue (antagonist)
• Examples: Voldemort, The Joker,
President Snow, Jeanine Matthews
Common Story Archetypes
Overcoming the Monster
Rags to Riches
The Quest
Voyage and Return
Comedy
Tragedy
Rebirth
Overcoming the Monster
• the hero must destroy
the monster to restore
balance to the world
• In the real world this
could be overcoming
an addiction, debt,
beating an illness or
any thing else that
requires something to
be defeated for the
hero to win
Rags to Riches
• a modest and moral
but downtrodden
character achieves a
happy ending when
their natural talents
are displayed to the
world at large
• In the real world this
applies to anyone with
an undeniably
incredible talent who
wants to break
through and be
successful
The Quest
• The hero, often
accompanied by sidekicks,
travels to save the world or
some other noble pursuit
• Often "Quest" stories make
our hero(s) encounter a
variety of challenges that
are all seemingly unrelated
Voyage and Return
• Stories of normal
protagonists who
are suddenly thrust
into strange and
alien worlds and
must make their
way back to normal
life once more
Comedy
• a type of dramatic
work that is amusing
and satirical in its
tone, mostly having
cheerful ending
• triumph over
unpleasant
circumstance by
which to create comic
effects, resulting in
happy or successful
conclusion
Tragedy
• a drama that presents
a serious subject
matter about human
suffering and
corresponding terrible
events in a dignified
manner
Rebirth
• almost always has a
threatening shadow
that seems nearly
victorious until a
sequence of fortuitous
(or even miraculous)
events lead to
redemption and
rebirth, and the
restoration of a
happier world