English-Lang Arts Standard 3.0 Literary response and Analysis

•3.6 Analyze the ways in which authors…use

archetypesarchetypes…

archetype• A pattern or modelA pattern or model• The original pattern or model from which all The original pattern or model from which all

things of the same kind are copied or on things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based. which they are based.

• A A generic (non-specific)generic (non-specific) or or idealized idealized model of a person, object, or concept from model of a person, object, or concept from which similar instances or versions are which similar instances or versions are derived, copied, patterned, or emulated.derived, copied, patterned, or emulated.

Two types of archetypes:

• StereotypeStereotype – generic personality – generic personality type observed multiple times, type observed multiple times, especially an especially an oversimplification of of such a type.such a type.– When people think of Manhattan When people think of Manhattan

Beach they often think about the Beach they often think about the stereotypicalstereotypical ( (stereotype ofstereotype of) the surfer ) the surfer dude.dude.

Two types of archetypes:• Epitome Epitome – idealized example; – idealized example;

the “perfect” or “greatest” the “perfect” or “greatest” example of somethingexample of something–He is the He is the epitomeepitome of the scholar- of the scholar-

athlete. athlete.

–Her home Her home epitomizedepitomized elegance elegance and warmth.and warmth.

Archetype in literature• An image, An image, descriptive detaildescriptive detail, ,

plot patternplot pattern, or , or character character typetype that occurs frequently in that occurs frequently in literature, myth, religion or folklore.literature, myth, religion or folklore.

• A A “type” of story or character “type” of story or character we recognize and see used we recognize and see used over and overover and over in different stories. in different stories.

Examples of character archetypes• The heroThe hero

– The elite skills “kick butt and show no mercy” typeThe elite skills “kick butt and show no mercy” type– The common man/woman caught in extraordinary The common man/woman caught in extraordinary

circumstances that compel him/her to become a herocircumstances that compel him/her to become a hero• The perfect mother/ bad motherThe perfect mother/ bad mother• The abusive father/ perfect fatherThe abusive father/ perfect father• The underdogThe underdog• The wise old man (often who adopts a protégé)The wise old man (often who adopts a protégé)• The "eternal boy" (guy who won’t grow up)The "eternal boy" (guy who won’t grow up)• The “fallen woman” with a heart of goldThe “fallen woman” with a heart of gold• The artist-scientistThe artist-scientist • The kid genius

Stock Characters

•Generic or Generic or epitomized epitomized archetypes used archetypes used in literature/filmin literature/film

Stock Characters - Heroes• The Honest Thief The Honest Thief

• The Lovable Rogue The Lovable Rogue • The Outlaw The Outlaw

• The Humbled Hero The Humbled Hero • The Nerd The Nerd

• The Prodigy The Prodigy • The Whiz kid The Whiz kid • The Repentant The Repentant

Traitor Traitor • The Rookie The Rookie

• The Bad Boy The Bad Boy

• The Chosen One The Chosen One • The Orphaned Hero The Orphaned Hero • The Haunted Hero The Haunted Hero • The Born Loser/The The Born Loser/The

Fall Guy Fall Guy • The Competent Man The Competent Man

or Adventuress or Adventuress • The Everyman The Everyman • The Contender The Contender

• The Loose cannon, The Loose cannon, or Cop on the Edge or Cop on the Edge

• The Wise Old Man The Wise Old Man

Examples of STOCK PLOTS• A downtrodden individual finds a mentor who A downtrodden individual finds a mentor who

helps him straighten out his life. Both mentor and helps him straighten out his life. Both mentor and downtrodden individual grow from the experience.downtrodden individual grow from the experience.

• Boy and girl hate each other. Boy and girl are Boy and girl hate each other. Boy and girl are thrown into circumstances that require them to thrown into circumstances that require them to work together to overcome obstacle. Boy and girl work together to overcome obstacle. Boy and girl grow to respect one another. Boy and girl fall in grow to respect one another. Boy and girl fall in love and live “happily ever after.”love and live “happily ever after.”

• Common man’s family faces a hardship or Common man’s family faces a hardship or injustice. Common man must fight an unfair injustice. Common man must fight an unfair “system” to get what they need and gains respect “system” to get what they need and gains respect from others.from others.

Coming of Age Story• Stock plot (archetypal pattern of action)Stock plot (archetypal pattern of action)

• Usually includes a journey motifUsually includes a journey motif

• Generally recounts one incident or a Generally recounts one incident or a closely related series of incidents that closely related series of incidents that cause an adolescent to gain a new cause an adolescent to gain a new level of maturity.level of maturity.

• Adolescent begins to move Adolescent begins to move emotionally, socially, and cognitively emotionally, socially, and cognitively from childhood into adulthood.from childhood into adulthood.

From http://www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/CLit/study_criticism.htm

Archetypal CriticismArchetypal criticism depends heavily on symbols and patterns operating on a universal scale. It is based on Carl Gustav Jung’s (1875-1961) psychological theory. Jung believed in a collective unconscious that lay deep within all of us and contained the “cumulative knowledge, experiences, and images of the entire human race” (Bressler, 1994, p. 92). Jung identified certain archetypes, which are simply repeated patterns and images of human experience found in literature, such as the changing seasons; the cycle of birth, death, rebirth; the hero and the heroic quest; the beautiful temptress. The basis of archetypal criticism is that all literature consists of variations on a great mythic cycle within the following pattern: 1.  The hero begins life in a paradise (such as a garden)2.  The hero is displaced from paradise (alienation)3.  The hero endures time of trial and tribulation, usually a wandering (a journey)4.  The hero achieves self-discovery as a result of the struggles on that journey5.  The hero returns to paradise (either the original or a new and improved one)The journey motif is very common in children’s stories and usually takes one of the two forms: 1.  The linear journey: The hero moves away from home, encounters adventures, and finds a new home better than the first.2.  The circular journey: The hero moves away from home, encounters adventures, and returns home a better person. Strength: It allows us to see the larger patterns of literature Limitation: It tends to ignore the individual contributions of the author and the specific cultural and societal influences.  

Archetypes

• Archetypes, according to Jung, are "primordial images"; the "psychic residue" of repeated types of experience in the lives of very ancient ancestors which are inherited in the "collective unconscious" of the human race and are expressed in myths, religion, dreams, and private fantasies, as well as in the works of literature (Abrams, p. 10, 112). Some common examples of archetypes include water, sun, moon, colors, circles, the Great Mother, Wise Old Man, etc. In terms of archetypal criticism, the color white might be associated with innocence or could signify death or the supernatural.