Archetypes Flashcards
The task
To save the kingdom, to win the fair lady, to indenture himself so that he may resume his rightful position- the hero must perform some nearly super human deed
The quest
Describes a search for someone or an object which, when brought back, will restore fertility to a wasted land. This wasteland is mirrored by a leaders illness and disability
The initiation
Usually is the initiation into adult life- the adolescent comes to his/her maturity with new awareness and problems along with new hope for the community or land. Often the climax
The journey
Sends the hero in search of truth or information necessary to restore fertility to the kingdom. Hero travels through psychological hell. Strengthens the character
The fall
Heros loss of innocence or high position, hubris (extreme arrogance) often causes the fall and humility results from it
Death and rebirth
Most common situational archetype. Parallel between the cycle of nature and the cycle of life: morning and springtime represent birth, youth, or rebirth and evening and winter represent old age or death
Nature vs. mechanical world
This suggests that nature is good whole technology and society are often evil
Battle between good and evil
The battle that occurs between two prime forces. Mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds
The unhealable wound
Either physical or mental and cannot he fully healed. The wound also indicates a loss of innocence and always aches and drives the sufferer to desperate measures
The ritual
The actual ceremonies that initiate experiences that will mark the passage into another state- the ritual rites cannot be stressed over as they provide signs for the characters role as well as our own position in the world
The magic weapon
This symbolizes the extraordinary quality of the hero because no one else can wield the weapon or use it to it’s full potential. It is usually given by the mentor figure
Light vs. dark
Light suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual illumination; dark implies the unknown, ignorance, or despair
Fire vs. Ice
Fire represents knowledge, light, life, rebirth; while ice represents ignorance, darkness, sterility and even death
Supernatural intervention
The gods intervene on the side of the hero most of the time
Water vs. desert
Water represents growth, rebirth, life and spiritual birth; the desert represents a time of self awareness, deprivation, solitude, and loneliness
Innate wisdom vs. educated stupidity
Sometimes characters exhibit an understanding of situations because of their instincts better than those who are educated to do the job or be in charge
Heaven vs. hell
Man associates part or the universe not accessible to him as the dwelling places of those who govern his world; the skies and the mountain tops house his gods and the bowels of earth contain the diabolical forces
The threshold
Gateway to a new world the hero must enter to change and grow
The underworld
The encounter with the dark side of the self; fear of death
The garden
State of innocence and reconciliation; a place of peace and harmony with nature
The wasteland
Represents infertility, death of inspiration, hopelessness; usually the product of industrial technology and spiritual deprivation
The city
Norms, law, order and civilization; represents corruption and hypocrisy
The crossroads
The is the place where the decision must be made by the hero
The winding stairs
This represents a dangerous way to the unknown
The castle
Holds treasure or a princess, may be enchanted or bewitched
The hero
Self sacrifice; endures separation and hardship for the sake of his people. Must pay a price to attain goal. Enters a challenging world; the pattern of a heroic journey is often fight/flight/learn/return
The young man from the provinces
This hero is spirited away as a young man and raised by strangers; he later returns to his home where he is a stranger who can see problems but offer solutions
The mentor
Counselors or teachers of the hero; older an wiser; gives the hero weapons, food, magic, and often serves as a hero’s conscious
The shadow
The worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle with in a fight to the end, this opponent must be destroyed, neutralized or assimilated (joined in)
Father-son conflict
Tension often results from separation during childhood or from an external source when the individuals meet as men; the mentor often has a higher place in the affections of the hero rather than the natural parent
Loyal retainers
Somewhat like servants who are heroic themselves; their duty is to protect the hero and reflect his nobility
The threshold guardian
Tests the hero’s courage and worthiness to begin a journey; shows that the journey will be difficult
Friendly beast
This shows that nature is on the side of the hero
The initiates
Young hero’s who prior to their quest must endure some training or ceremony; they are usually innocent and often wear white
The group of companions
Loyal companions willing to face any number of perils in order to be together
The devil figure
Offers Worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the protagonist in exchange for possession of the soul
The evil figure with the ultimately good heart
A redeemable devil figure saved but the nobility or live of the hero
The scapegoat
Hero that just die for the people’s wrongdoings and to restore the nation to health; the death is public and makes then more of a force in society in death than when they lived
The outcast
A figure who is banished from a social group for some crime, real or imagined, against his fellow man. The outcast is usually destined to become a wanderer from place to place
The earth mother
The protector of good, the home and the family; associated with warmth, security, growth and fertility
The temptress
Sensuous beauty; a woman in which the protagonist is physically attracted to
The platonic ideal
This woman is A source of inspiration and spiritual ideal for whom the protagonist has an intellectual rather than a physical attraction to
The unfaithful wife
A woman married to a man she sees as full or distant and is attracted to a more virile interesting man
The damsel in distress
The honorable woman who must be rescued by the hero; she is often used as a trap to lure the unsuspecting hero
The star- crossed lovers
Two characters that are engaged in a love affair that is fated to end tragically for one or both due to the frigidly of society, friends, or family
The creature of nightmare
A monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest part of the human psyche to threaten the life of the hero
Purple
Royalty
Yellow
Cowardice
Dishonesty
Earth tones
Natural
Pure
Conscious
Earthly
White
Purity
Void
Green
Growth
Generation
Hope
Red
Blood
Sacrifice
Passion
Disorder
Black
Chaos
Mystery
Dead
Evil
