Common Archetypes Building Background Reading

Common Archetypes Building Background Reading

Common Archetypes Reading

Common archetypes are symbols, ideas, or types of characters which appear over and over again in literature. Authors utilize common archetypes in their writing in order to develop the story in a way which most people will recognize and understand. Common archetypes can refer to specific themes, like the ongoing battle between good and evil, or they can be reflective of a character and their personality traits, like when a hero develops because he or she is thrust into a position of power and called “the chosen one.” Many authors employ archetypes throughout their writing, so it is important for readers to understand the concept.

Common Archetypes Reading

Students and teachers study the common literary archetypes so they can better comprehend the reasons why the characters behave in a certain matter. By knowing and understanding the archetypes, readers can also begin to recognize the author’s motivations in their writing. Each literary archetype has their own specific descriptions and by knowing these specifications a reader can not only pinpoint what an author is trying to do in the text, but they can also make connections to ways authors might be trying to draw upon common themes that may appear in traditional stories. Once the reader can detect the archetype, the reader is then able to identify how the author used the motif or representation and then determine how they made the archetype their own. Archetypes are not exclusive to literature. They can also appear in mass media communications like television programs and movies.

Common Archetypes Reading

Often when referring to archetypes that appear in television series or films, the analyst will call them tropes. Archetypes and tropes are clearly connected in that they both present a particular character or situation and then align that character or situation with its assigned traits. Almost every story ever told contains some sort of archetype or trope. It is up to the audience members to find them, recognize their importance, and decide how the newest iteration does justice to the originals. It can be easy as comparing and contrasting the old with the new, but if readers and viewers really want to stretch their minds, they should try to see the archetype for what it is and then also determine how the author builds upon it by adding fresh aspects. Understanding archetypes and tropes can also lead a reader to becoming better to make predictions and inferences. If the reader knows the usual or accepted version of the way a character is supposed to behave, then the reader may be able to decipher what that same character will do in any given situation. 

Common Archetypes Reading

Students and teachers should study archetypes and tropes regularly so as to build upon their knowledge of characters and how they develop. Once a student can determine how and why a character is behaving in a certain manner, then the student will also be able to expand their thinking and begin to interpret why the author made decisions in regards to word choices, character interactions, and even the setting.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the central idea of this text?

• The author is trying to explain motifs, archetypes, tropes, and alliteration.

• The author is describing archetypes and why it is important for students and teachers to study them.

• The author is describing tropes and how they are used in cinema.

• The author is displaying an interest in archetypes and listing different types of archetypes that can be found in literature.

Multiple Choice

2. Select the piece of textual evidence that most strongly supports your answer to the first question.

• Common archetypes can refer to specific themes, like the ongoing battle between good and evil, or they can be reflective of a character and their personality traits, like when a hero develops because he or she is thrust into a position of power and called “the chosen one.”

• It can be easy as comparing and contrasting the old with the new, but if readers and viewers really want to stretch their minds, they should try to see the archetype for what it is and then also determine how the author builds upon it by adding fresh aspects.

• Each literary archetype has their own specific descriptions and by knowing these specifications a reader can not only pinpoint what an author is trying to do in the text, but they can also make connections to ways authors might be trying to draw upon common themes that may appear in traditional stories.

• Students and teachers study the common literary archetypes so they can better comprehend the reasons why the characters behave in a certain matter.

Multiple Choice

3. What is the difference between an archetype and a trope?

• An archetype appears at the end of the story, while a trope is at the beginning.

• Archetypes are associated with characters, while tropes refer to situations.

• Archetypes is the term used when discussing literature, while tropes is the term used to discuss television or movies.

• Archetypes do not appear as often as tropes. Tropes are far more popular.