ARCHETYPES IN LITERATURE

Archetype Universal , Collective Unconscious:

Archetypes--- Mother, child, hero, trickster, giant, temptress, sage, etc.

Archetypes developed by Jung, a student of Freud

Looking for symbols Humans were born innately knowing certain

archetypes Evidence lies in the fact that some myths are repeated

throughout history in cultures and eras that could not have possibly had contact with one another

Three Main Points of Study Archetypal Characters

HERO○ Search for self-identity results in own destruction○ “orphaned” prince: ignorant of heritage until rediscovered

SCAPEGOAT○ Innocent character on whom blame is placed or

assumes blame○ Punished in place of guilty party—which is often society

LONER/OUTCAST○ Separated from society○ Underdog○ Guilt-ridden figure in search of redemption

Three Main Points of Study Archetypal Characters

VILLAIN○ Personification of evil○ Unmotivated malice○ “Mad scientist” or bully

TEMPTRESS○ Possesses what the male (HERO) desires & uses it as means to

his destructionEARTH MOTHER

○ Nurturing, life-giving aspects of femininitySAGE

○ Wise one, teacher, mentor○ Stern authority figure○ Oracle, prophet, sooth-sayer

Three Main Points of Study Archetypal Images

COLORS○ Red—blood, anger, passion, violence○ Gold—greatness, wealth, value○ Green—fertility, luxury, growth○ Blue—holiness, peace, serenity○ White—purity, divine, blessed

NUMBERS○ 3 = Christian trinity; 4 = seasons; etc.

WATER○ Source of life, sustenance, cleansing, purification, baptism

FIRE○ Both protective & destructive○ Symbolizes human knowledge & industry

FOUR ANCIENT ELEMENTS○ Fire, water, air, earth

Three Main Points of Study Archetypal Images

GARDENS○ Natural abundance, New birth, Hope, Eden

SHAPES○ Triangle = trinity; circle = eternity

CELESTIAL BODIES○ Sun: masculine—giver /destroyer of life○ Moon: feminine—passage of time/controls course of human

events—seedtime, harvest, etc.MASCULINE: columns, towers, boats, trees, etc.FEMININE: bodies of water, caves, doorways, windowsCAVES

○ Represents the womb & the grave, entrance to underworldYIN & YANG: balance

Three Main Points of Study Archetypal Situations

QUEST○ Hero’s endeavor to fulfill destiny

RENEWAL OF LIFE○ Death & rebirth; resurrection in cycle of seasons or

dayINITIATION

○ Coming of age; rites of passageTHE FALL

○ Loss of innocence; devolution of paradisiacal life to a tainted life

REDEMPTIVE SACRIFICE: voluntary loss--life

Three Main Points of Study Archetypal Situations

CATALOG OF TASKS○ i.e. labors of Hercules

END OF THE WORLD○ Apocalyptic battle between good & evil○ Armageddon; Ragnarok; Great Flood

TABOO○ Culturally forbidden act—incest, patricide, etc.

BANQUET○ Fellowship, nourishment of body & soul, symbol of

salvation, Heaven