Archetypes Flashcards
Day
Safety; knowledge; order
Ex: Grendel does not attack during the day
Night
Danger; lack of knowledge; disorder
e.g.: Grendel attacks at night
Garden
Ordered and controlled environment that is usually safe, happy, and nurturing
e.g.: Garden of Eden in the Bible
The garden in “The Secret Garden”
Hero
Exhibits outstanding qualities and abilities; embodies the ideals of his society; embarks on a quest, confronts his adversary, has an epiphany, and returns
Example: Beowulf, Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter
Forest
Dangerous garden; a place of trials; the unconscious; “lost in the forest”
e.g.: The Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter
Innocent
A child or naïve young man who has been sheltered from evil; often wears white; this character moves from innocence to experience through a trial and initiation process
Example: Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker (originally)
Outcast
A figure who is banished from society for some crime (real of imagined) against his fellow man; destined to wander from place to place
Example: Grendel from “Beowulf”
Shadow
An alter-ego or double; represents the hidden or repressed parts of a character
Example: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, in relation to each other
Desert
death; spiritual loss; hopelessness; isolation; wasteland
Example: Arrakis in Dune, Tatooine in Star Wars
The Battle between Good and Evil
also seen as light versus dark; mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds
Example: Rebellion vs. Empire in Star Wars
Villain
An evil character who attempts to destroy the hero
Example: Darth Vader
Cave
descent into the unconscious or the inner self; a place to face innermost fears
Example: Aladdin goes into the cave for a genie
Natural World versus Mechanical World
usually nature is benevolent and technology/machines are malevolent
Example: Rebellion vs. Empire
Earth Mother
A wise feminine provider , nourisher, and nurturer
Example: Glinda the Good Witch from “The Wizard of Oz”?
Wise Old Man
A masculine counterpart of the Earth Mother; he cares for, instructs, and councils the hero
Example: Wizard of Oz, Obi Wan Kenobi
The Fall
the hero experiences a downfall; the downfall often involves an expulsion from a paradise; in continuing the cycle of life, this spiritual death maybe followed with a redemption or rebirth
e.g.: Downfall of Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader
Fatal Woman
A temptress; a witch; a woman who through her power can render a strong man weak and a wise man foolish
Example: The Weird Sisters from “Macbeth”
Damsel-in-Distress
A vulnerable woman who must be rescued by the hero; often used to trap or ensnare the unsuspecting hero
Example: Traditionally speaking, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty
Mountains
personal achievement; meeting place of heaven and earth; insight and enlightenment
e.g.: Mount Olympus in Greek Mythology
Initiation
the (usually young) character moves from innocence into experience; from childhood into adulthood
e.g.: Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight after learning his lesson about honesty and not living in a constant perpetuation of fear???
Quest
a journey or search for origins (roots), identity, perfection (nirvana), fulfillment, love, the true father or mother, treasure, fame, wisdom, or salvation; describes the search for someone or some talisman which, when brought back/destroyed, will restore fertility to a wasted land – the desolation of which is mirrored by a leader’s illness and disability
e.g.: Dorothy’s quest within the Wizard of Oz (restoring the land of Oz)
Follow the yellow-brick road—ultimately find a way home—realizes who is actually of upmost importance to her—becomes more reasonable—Aunt Em and Uncle Henry become closer to Dorothy as a result, even in a land as desolate as midwestern Kansas.
Faithful Companion(s)
Loyal retainers who are heroic themselves; their duty is to assist and protect the hero ALSO helpful animals – less heroic than the Faithful Companions, but no less helpful to the hero
Example: The Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow in relation to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz
The Task
A piece of the Quest; the hero must save the kingdom, win the fair lady, or identify himself so he may reassume his rightful position; the hero must perform superhuman deed
e.g.: Dorothy confronting the Wicked Witch of the West?
Scapegoat
A sacrificial victim; a character who suffers or is blamed unjustly in order that others may escape; his death often makes him a more powerful force
Example: Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars
Transformation
A character literally changes from one form to another form
e.g.: Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader???
Trickster
A character who, through superior wit or cunning, can deceive and manipulate those who seemingly have greater strength and authority; they also enjoy playing tricks on the stupid, pompous, or greedy
Example:
Cheshire Cat from “Alice in Wonderland”,
Loki
Han Solo from “Star Wars”
River
ever-flowing time and eternal change; also boundaries and borders; general water imagery can represent purification or new life
e.g.: River of Styx, Ganges River
Maze
difficult, confusing, challenging task; in order to escape from a maze, the hero must discover the essential reality of his nature
e.g.: Maze in Goblet of Fire
Sea
vast, alien, and dangerous; waves can represent infinity
e.g.: Grendel’s mother’s lair
Islands and Ships-at-Sea
a microcosm of society; spiritual as well as physical isolation or exile
e.g.: The island in Lord of the Flies
Three
Associated with the triangle and divinity; symbolizes spiritual awareness, light, and unity: “past, present, future” and “mind, body, soul”
Example: The three Weird Sisters from “Macbeth”, Deathly Hallows artifacts from “Harry Potter”
Four
Associated with the circle and the earth; symbolizes the cycle of earthly life and orderly arrangement: four seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter), four elements (water, earth, air, fire), four compass points/corners of the earth (north, south, east, west)
Example:
Four kingdoms in Avatar: The Last Airbender
Four areas of Oz (North, South, East, West)
Five
Associated with the pentagon and man; symbolizes divine love and justice: man has five senses, four limbs & head, four fingers & thumb
Example: The Muses from Hercules
Seven
Most potent of all symbolic numbers; signifies union of three and four: perfect order, harmony, completion of cycle (seven days on a week)
Example: ???
Fun fact though: Seven continents of the World
Twelve
Cosmic order and salvation; also signifies the union of three and four: 12 apostles, 12 tribes of David, 12 signs of the zodiac, measure of time (months, hours)
Example: 12 chapters in “Grendel” corresponding to astrological meanings/signs
Sword
A warrior’s honor, dignity, and name are tied to his sword; also represents a legacy or destiny passed from father to son
e.g.: Swords in the epic of Beowulf and historically treated as family heirlooms sort of, Riptide in Percy Jackson
Circle
Completion, especially of a cycle; eternity (as circles have no beginning or ending); inside a circle can offer protection or be a conduit of power
Example:
The path of a hero across much of literature
The cycle of wyrd in Beowulf and Grendel
The Knights of the Round Table
Unhealable Wound
this wound is either physical or psychological and cannot healed fully; indicates a loss of innocence and always aches
e.g.: Harry Potter’s scar
Darth Vader’s self-hatred
The Father-Son Conflict
Tensions often result from separation during childhood or from an external source when the individuals meet as grown men; a mentor often has a higher place in the affections of the hero than the natural parents
e.g.: Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader
Trees
The center or beginning of sacred power; the navel of the world; the cosmic axis that unites the underworld, the earth, and the heavens; essential symbol of connection
Example: Yggdrasill
Owl
Associated with acute vision and thereby wisdom. But rather than intellectual wisdom, owls are connected to the wisdom of the soul. Related to the night and the moon, owls are also connected to the feminine and fertility, as well as with the moon’s cycles of renewal. However, owls can also be messengers from the underworld and harbingers of death.
Example: Athena
Snake
a complex symbol that on one hand represents evil, cunning, and manipulation, while on the other hand represents eternal life and wisdom; the snake is kin to the dragon or monster which Western culture depicts as needing to be slain
Example: Python from Greek Mythology
Red
The color of blood and fire; symbolizes life, energy, passion, sacrifice, strength, and leadership, but also war, anger, too much ambition, danger, and disorder
Example:
Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz (movie version)
Green
The color of nature and the land; symbolizes renewal, hope, fertility, youth, and growth, but also the wild, uncontrolled forces of nature and man found in envy, jealousy, inexperience, and decay
Example: The Green Knight
Blue
The color of the sky and the sea; symbolizes nobility, steadfastness, security, truth, calmness, and spiritual purity, but also discouragement, doubt, and depression
Example: Color of the rebel’s lightsaber
Yellow/Gold
The color of the sun; symbolizes illumination, perfection, intuition, but also money and greed, cowardice, treachery, and adultery
Example: C3PO, Sir Gawain
Orange
The color of the vibrant sunsets; symbolizes adventure, change and vibrancy, but also forced change and disruption
Example: The Rebels main colors in Star Wars
Purple
The color of royalty; symbolizes wisdom, temperance, clarity of mind, but also power and its many abuses and injuries (bruises)
Example: Mace Windu’s lightsaber
Black
The totality of (or absorbs all) color; symbolizes maturity, wisdom, and mystery, but also death, chaos, and evil
Example: Dark Vader, Luke Skywalker in later movies
White
The absence of (or reflects all) color; symbolizes purity, innocence, timelessness, and the supernatural, but also mourning, hypocrisy, and terror, particularly in supernatural form
Example: Luke from Starwars, Leia from Starwars, Stormtroopers
The call to adventure
An invitation or opportunity to take part in an important quest or adventure.
Example: When Beowulf notices the situation affecting the Danes in the form of Grendel. Ignores it at first but later returns???
Crossing the Threshold
or passing through a door or gate: the hero moves from a known or safe place into a new, unknown place. Sometimes there is a “gatekeeper” (threshold guardian) who must be convinced to let the hero pass through.
Example: Dorothy stepping onto the yellow-brick road once already in Oz
Alice falling down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland—reaching Wonderland
Dangerous trials
The hero must overcome dangerous ordeals, monsters, or other difficulties – including the belly of the beast/whale when the hero appears to be swallowed up by oppositional forces and to the outside world may appear to die.
Example: The trials that Dorothy faces along the way to the Emerald City, especially the poppies.
Temptations
The hero is offered a chance to be safe and happy if s/he abandons the adventure
Example: ???
Meeting a wise or helpful guide
The hero meets someone who will teach, mentor and advise him or her. Usually this is an older man or woman who appears humble or weak, but is really powerful and wise. This person may give the hero a magical weapon or charm.
Example: Glinda in the Wizard of Oz
Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars
Companions
The hero meets or is given companions who will go with him or her on the journey
Example: The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion in the Wizard of Oz (also Toto!)
Making a sacrifice
The hero must give up something s/he loves or treasures; or the hero is badly wounded
Example: ???
Descent into the underworld
The hero goes into a place of darkness (a cave, Hades, or the belly of a beast are common examples) from which it is difficult to return. Sometimes the hero brings back some kind of treasure or knowledge.
Example: Beowulf descending into Grendel Mother’s Lair
Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, C-3PO, and R2-D2 entering the Death Star???
The triumphant return
The hero returns home after successfully completing the task or quest
Example: Luke Skywalker returning home to celebrations
Dorothy returning home with the joy of seeing her family again, accomplishing her goal of returning home after helping the people of Oz
