Archetypes

Archetypes

​Symbolical images we unconsciously understand.

Open Ended

What do you know about archetypes?

​What is an Archetype?

​An archetype (ARK-uh-type) is an idea, symbol, pattern, or character-type, in a story.

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It’s any story element that appears again and again in stories from cultures around the world and symbolizes something universal in the human experience.

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• ​Represent something we encounter in life.

• Can be things, settings, ​situations, pesonalities.​

Archetypes

• ​Serve to send a message on how to act.

• You probably already know a lot of them.

Character Archetypes

​Iron Man is an Archetype.

Heros want to save everyone from harm. The hero struggles but overcomes challenges and serves the greater good.

​Hero

Yoda is an Archetype.

​Mentors pass on knowledge to a Hero, often having to die as a final act of passing on to the next generation.

​Mentor

​Jack Sparrow is an Archetype.

Tricksters ​look afterthemselves, cause mischief, can help a hero or a villian.

​​Trickster

Open Ended

In your own words, what would you say an archetype is?

Let's look at some examples

​The Hero

• ​This character rises to meet a challange and saves the day.

• Struggles against evil and demonstrates courage to save the day. ​

• ​This character can be represented as a fairy godmother who guides and protects a child.

• A mother who gives spiritual and emotioal nourishment.

• Can also be seen as a step-mother who treats children poorly.​

​The Mother Figure

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​The Mentor

• ​This character's task is to protect the main character.

• ​Through the character's training the main character achieves success in the world.

• ​This character is inexperienced and has many weaknesses.

• ​People like this character because of the trust he shows in others.

• They usually come of age and gain experience as the story progresses. ​

​The Innocent Youth

• ​A duplicate or shadow character.

• It represents the evil side of the character's personality.​

​Doppelganger

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​The Villian

• ​The main purpose of this character is to oppose the hero.

• ​The bad guy in the story.

Multiple Choice

Represents the...

• Hero

• Mother Figure

• Innocent Youth

• Mentor

Multiple Choice

Represents the...

• Hero

• Villian

• Mother Figure

• Mentor

Multiple Choice

Represents the...

• Hero

• Villian

• Doppelganger

• Innocent Youth

Multiple Choice

Represents the...

• Hero

• Mother Figure

• Doppelganger

• Villian

Situational Archetypes

• ​The character goes on a journey, physically or emotionally, to better understand himself and/or the world around him.

• The character is not the same at the end​

• ​Kuzco from the Emperor's New Groove takes a journey and returns with a change of heart and perspective.

​The Journey

• ​The hero/character must perform some superhuman task to save the kingdom, and sometimes assume a position

• ​Mulan is a great example of this archetype because she had to go to great lengths to save her country.

​The Task

​

• ​A character who comes from unfortunate circumstances and rises up from poverty to wealth or a better life station.

• ​The opposite go from riches to rags.

​Rags to Riches

• ​Characters having to make tough decisions and encounter other characters or situations that gets in the way.

• ​An essential crisis the character has to go through in which he must decide which way to go.

• Good side versus Bad side.​

​Battle of Good vs. Evil

Poll

I have a better understanding of character and situational archetypes.

• Yes

• No

• A little