Unit 1 - Literary Criticism (Jung)

Question 1

What are the 9 character archetypes in literature

Answer 1

The hero, scapegoat, outcast, devil, good mother, temptress, muse, unfaithful wife

Question 2

Hero archetype

Answer 2

(e.g Harry Poter, Superman, Jesus, Prince Charming)
- Birth with unusual circumstances
- Barely dodged death at a young age
- Defeats an antagonist, then goes back home to marry a princess
- Upon return, gets banished or dies a mysterious death

Question 3

Scapegoat archetype

Answer 3

(e.g Minotaur, Ram sacrificed to make shofar)
- A sacrifice put to death by a community to remove guilt and restore health/well being
- Sometimes the hero himself can be a scapegoat

Question 4

Outcast archetype

Answer 4

(e.g Romeo, Pandora, Beast, Elsa)
- A character banished from a community as punishment
- The outcast is destined to wander throughout eternity

Question 5

Devil archetype

Answer 5

(e.g Ursula)
- Embodies evil principles that intrudes the life of a character to tempt/destroy him
- Offers wealth, fame or knowledge in exchange for his soul

Question 6

Good mother archetype

Answer 6

(e.g Fairy god mother)
- Represents fertility, abundance, nurturing of the people around her

Question 7

Temptress archetype

Answer 7

(e.g Sirens)
- Uses her beauty and sensuality to attract men and bring them to their demise

Question 8

Muse archetype

Answer 8

(e.g Fasion designers)
- Inspires the minds and souls of men

Question 9

Unfaithful wife archetype

Answer 9

(e.g Estelle from huis clos)
- A woman married to a less desirable man leaves him for someone “better”
- Leads to unhappy consequences

Question 10

What are the 6 archetypal images

Answer 10

Colours, numbers, water, gardens, circles, the sun

Question 11

Colours archetype

Answer 11

Red: Blood, violence, sacrafise
Green: Fertility, life, hope
Blue: Holiness, sanctity, sadness
Light: Hope, inspiration, enlightenment
Dark: Death, hopelessness, ignorance

Question 12

Numbers archetype

Answer 12

3: Represents spirituality, as in the Holy
Trinity
4: Associated with the 4 seasons, or 4 elements
7 (3+4): A perfect product that is whole and complete

Question 13

Water archetype

Answer 13

• Represents creation, birth, rebirth
• Lack of water (like deserts) represent a spiritually barren state

Question 14

Gardens or other images of nature archetype

Answer 14

• Paradise or innocence (e.g the Garden of Eden)

Question 15

Circles archetype

Answer 15

• Lack of beginnings or ends
• Wholeness and union

Question 16

Sun archetype

Answer 16

• Passing of time
• Beginning life, or a phase of life
• Sun setting may indicate death

Question 17

What are the 3 archetypal situations

Answer 17

The quest, death and rebirth, initiation

Question 18

Quest archetype

Answer 18

• Pursued by the hero searching for an item to restore a broken community
• Must perform a task that is nearly impossible
• There is often a journey that includes physical movement as well as mental challenges

Question 19

Death and Rebirth archetype

Answer 19

Rebirth: can natural regeneration
Death: can be an escape from a troubled life into a paradise before suffering the aftermath of mortality

Question 20

Initiation archetype

Answer 20

• Progression from one stage of life to another (moving from childhood to adulthood)
• Going from innocent to understanding
• Protagonist goes through tests and challenges to return wiser or more mature