ARCHETYPES IN LITERATURE AND FILM Archetypal Symbols Characters

ARCHETYPES IN LITERATURE AND FILM Archetypal Symbols, Characters and Stereotypes What are a few examples of archetypes commonly found in literature and movies? -Austin Hughes-

ARCHETYPE Archetype: a repeating pattern with longstanding historical value Archetypes meet a universal need within humans. They unify humanity across cultures and time. Archetypes can be characters, plots, settings, even colors and symbols

COMMON TYPES OF ARCHETYPES Protagonist • The Hero • The Anti-Hero • The Mentor Antagonist • Villain • The Trickster • The Shadow

“THE GOOD GUYS”

TYPES OF HEROES • The Willing Hero • Willing to undertake any quest courageously • The Unwilling Hero • Doubtful, passive, unwilling to journey • The Loner Hero • Able to overcome opposition alone • Tragic Hero • Have a tragic flaw that hurt them in the end

EXAMPLES OF HEROES • The Willing Hero • King Arthur; Superman; Captain America • The Unwilling Hero • Bilbo; Aragorn; Iron Man • The Loner Hero • James Bond; Batman; Indiana Jones • Tragic Hero • Romeo; Hamlet; The Hulk

TYPES OF MENTORS • The “Wise Old Man/Woman” • Possesses wisdom and experience • The Comic Mentor • Provides humorous advice • Continuing Mentor • Recurring character such as boss or best friend • Fallen Mentor • Have faced a similar crisis; provides warning

EXAMPLES OF MENTORS • The “Wise Old Man/Woman • Yoda, Gandalf • The Comic Mentor • Glenda the Witch, Fairy Godmothers, c 3 po • Continuing Mentor • Alfred, Nick Fury, parental figures • Fallen Mentor • Haymitch, Obi-Wan Kenobi,

ANTI-HEROES • • Generally oppressive, pessimistic, and/or corrupt. Motivated by own personal desires • Reluctant • Classic Anti-Hero • Frankenstein, Han Solo, Jack Sparrow • The Tragic Anti-Hero • Darth Vadar, John Proctor

HEROES & THEIR MENTORS • Heroic characters typically have a guide that enlightens them near the beginning of their journey and/or in times of hardship. • Frodo had Gandalf • Batman had Alfred • Luke Skywalker had Ben Kenobi

“THE BAD GUYS”

THE VILLAIN • The foil of the hero • Dueling personalities, tricky • Classic Villains • Dracula, Satan, Loki • Modern Villains • The Joker, Hannibal Lector, Natzis

THE SHADOW • Hero’s foil (Mirror Image of the hero) • Dueling personalities, tricky • The arch enemy • Classic Example • Mr. Hyde • Modern Example • The Joker

THE TRICKSTER • Seek to humiliate or outwit the Hero • Antics cause the adventure • Cunning and foolish • Classic Tricksters • Loki • Modern Tricksters • Bugs Bunny, The Riddler, the Joker

OTHER ARCHETYPES • The CHIEF - a dynamic leader, he has time for nothing but work The BAD BOY - dangerous to know, he walks on the wild side The BEST FRIEND - sweet and safe, he never lets anyone down The LOST SOUL - a tormented being, he lives in solitude The CHARMER - a smooth talker, he creates fantasies The PROFESSOR - coolly analytical, he knows every answer The WARRIOR - a noble champion, he acts with honor

ARCHETYPAL PLOTS Romantic Comedies Action-Adventure Quests

ARCHETYPAL SETTINGS Spooky House or Forest Fantasy Setting Outer Space Recent or Distant Past

ARCHETYPAL COLORS • • Black: Death/mourning, emotional darkness, hidden desires/instincts, un-enlightenment. Black: darkness, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil, melancholy. Blue: The color of the spirit, the spiritual, the heavenly, the divine, intuition, inspiration. Has the association with the unconscious and feminine qualities. Green: In positive terms, Mother Nature, fertility, hope, renewal, health, youth, harmony, prosperity. The color of sensual and spiritual passion. Orange: Balance, creative expression, pride and ambition, cruelty, ferocity, luxury. As the color of fire, can represent burning away impurities.

ARCHETYPAL COLORS • • Purple: The color of royalty, imperial power, pride, justice, intuition, wisdom, truth. As a blend of red and blue, it is the color of authority/ power and the wisdom to know how to use it. Red: Blood, life-force; embarrassment, anger; fire, lust, passion. Associated with activity, energy, courage, will power, and war. White: Purity, holiness, sacredness, redemption, mystical enlightenment, innocence, joy, light and life it is transcendent perfection. It signifies the union of opposites to form a whole as well as the symbolic death of transformation and renewal. Yellow: The sun, illumination, intellect and generosity, maturity. The color of fire and thus the purification of flame. Yellow: enlightenment, wisdom.