Archetypes

Archetypes

• Basic patterns of human belief and behavior• Played out over and over in individuals and

societies• Hard-wired into the human brain• Exist in every culture

Archetypes

• Multi-valiant– Their meanings and values have variations from

person to person, society to society, age to age. Yet, their basic meanings always reveal a certain truth about man and society.

Symbols

• An object that stands for something else, generally an intangible ideal or abstract concept

Symbols

• Require prior learning in order to be fully processed

Symbols

• Archetypes are always symbols, but not all symbols are archetypes!

Traits of a Hero

• The hero has mysterious origins.

Traits of a Hero

• The hero is vulnerable; he can be wounded.

Traits of a Hero

• The hero dreads his quest but goes anyway.• The hero’s path is dangerous and confusing.

Traits of a Hero

• The hero is often solitary. His companions don’t share his sense/level of purpose

Traits of a Hero

• He has a mentor/guide and companions. These people may be able to help him, but they cannot do the task/quest for him.

Traits of a Hero

• The hero descends into darkness/death; he meets the enemy, essentially dying, and experiences a rebirth.

Traits of a Hero• The hero returns,

changed/wounded/scarred, with a new message/purpose for the community.

Traits of a Hero

• He is willing to risk his life for the good of the community.

Traits of a Hero• He has great

strength and/or courage.

• He is known for his honorable purpose and willingness to risk his life for the good of the community.

Purpose of the Hero• To serve as a role model• To save civilization

Hero’s Journey

• The journey begins in the ordinary world.• We have a sense of the place where the hero

starts and of his character and background.

Hero’s Journey

• The hero receives a call to adventure.– The hero fears to answer the call or may refuse

the call initially, but he will end up going.

The Hero’s Journey

• The hero meets his mentor/guide/teacher.

The Hero’s Journey

• The hero crosses the first threshold, stepping into the unknown world.

The Hero’s Journey

• The hero experiences his first test.• He meets both allies and enemies.

The Hero’s Journey

• The hero enters the inmost cave, the source of the item he seeks.

The Hero’s Journey

• The hero meets the supreme ordeal, the biggest challenge. Death and rebirth are almost experienced.

The Hero’s Journey

• The hero seizes the talisman, sword, grail, or object of his quest.

The Hero’s Journey• The hero experiences a resurrection or

transformation as he is tested one last time.• The hero embarks on the road back.

The Hero’s Journey

• The hero returns home with some benefit of the journey. He shares it with the land and renews society.

Additional Archetypes

Human Archetypes

• Mentor: the wizard/teacher/counselor who guides the hero.

• He usually serves as both role model and father figure.

• He helps the hero, but he won’t do the job/task/quest.

Human Archetypes

• Hunting Companions– The loyal friends– Willing to risk or face any number of perils in

order to accompany the hero

Human Archetypes

• Outcast– The figure who has been banished from society,

usually because of a crime.– The outcast often serves as a foil/opposite to the

hero, throwing light onto the hero and his character.– The outcast has failed the test which the hero passes.– The outcast often wanders, unable to rest, because

of his crime.

Nature Archetypes• Mountain–Ascent to a place of knowledge,

enlightenment, truth–The insurmountable obstacle

Nature Archetypes

• Home– The conscious

mind– Stability and safety– Stagnation and

lack of growth– Society as it exists,

which the hero feels is worthy of being saved

Nature Archetypes

• Sunrise– Beginning; birth; enlightenment

Nature Archetypes

• The sun• Sacrifice• Power• Energy• Purification• Burning• Associated with the

sun and male

Contrasts

• Light vs. Darkness– Light represents hope, renewal, knowledge, goodness, the

conscious mind.– Darkness represents evil, unknown, ignorance, despair,

unconscious mind

Color Archetypes

• Colors: – Gold: the sun; rational thought; life; fire; the

conscious mind; masculinity

Color Archetypes

• Black– Complexity– Mystery– Unconscious– Death– The

unknown– Knowledge– Night– Evil

Special Weapon

• Only the hero can wield his weapon– Luke’s light saber– Arthur’s Excalibur– Moses’ staff– Wallace’s sword– Neo’s power over the

matrix