Archetypes Student Name: Date: Period:

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1 Archetypes Student Name: Date: Period: An archetype is a pattern in literature that is found in a variety of works from different cultures throughout the ages. Archetypes include plot, types of characters, specific images, or even certain settings. Directions: There are many, many character archetypes. Below are a few. Come up with three examples for each archetype. The first must be from The Adventures of Odysseus, the second from a story/poem from unit 1, and the third from literature/pop culture. Character Archetypes Archetype Description Examples The Hero The hero is a protagonistic character who fulfills a task and restores balance to the community. He/she is a born leader. He/she is a real survivor who has faith in good. Others are willing to believe in this hero and will follow him/her. The Young Person from the Provinces/Orphan This special kind of hero was orphaned or taken away at a young age and raised by strangers. Later they return home as a stranger who offers a new perspective to some old problems. The Damsel in Distress Mentor The Prophet/reporter Again, an archetype with two distinct points of view, the damsel in distress may be a true victim who cannot save herself. Alternatively she may be a week-minded idiot who is too stupid or vain to save herself. Either way she is vulnerable and must be saved by the hero. Mentors are the teachers in literature who counsel initiates almost the way a parent does. They show examples, sometimes magical, to teach the initiate skills and information. The prophet (sometimes physically blind) serves as a way to warn heroes of the perils to come. Many prophets get ignored and the heroes who ignore them are always sorry about it later on. The modern prophet is the reporter who puts two and two together and predicts how things will turn out without being interested in the outcome. Plot Archetypes Directions: Come up with one example from an in-class text and one example from pop-culture/literature. Archetypal Story Definition Your Examples The battle between good and evil also seen as light versus dark; mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds The fall the hero experiences a downfall; the downfall often involves an expulsion from a paradise; in continuing the cycle of life, this spiritual death may be followed with a redemption or rebirth

2 Initiation (coming of age) The quest or the journey the (usually young) character moves from innocence into experience; from childhood into adulthood a journey or search for origins, identity, perfection, fulfillment, love, the true father or mother, treasure, fame, wisdom, or salvation; describes the search for someone or some talisman which, when brought back/destroyed, will restore fertility to a wasted land Directions: Watch this video and record the different steps in the plot archetype or developed by Joseph Campbell called the Hero s Journey. Directions: Now, you are going to organize Odysseus s journey into this structure. In your packet you will find the following: 1) Names of the Different Steps in the Journey 2) A piece of string to form the circle 3) Events from Edith Hamilton s Retelling of the Odyssey Please note that like Freytag s Pyramid, this is a guide. Odysseus journey might deviate in certain ways from Campbell s plot structure.

3 Odysseus leaves Ithaca to fight in the Trojan War. Odysseus and his men are tricked by Circe. Odysseus acts heroically in the Trojan War. The Greeks earn the wrath of Athena and Poseidon by allowing for Cassandra to be raped. Odysseus goes to the land of the Lotus Eaters. Odysseus and his men face the sirens. Odysseus is trapped on Calypso s Island. Odysseus meets with his son Telemachus.

4 Odysseus shoots an arrow through 12 axes. Odysseus is greeted by his wife Penelope. Odysseus faces the cyclops Polyphemus. Athena goes behind Poseidon s back to help Odysseus. Odysseus men eat the Oxen of the Sun. Odysseus men consult with the death of Tiresias. Odysseus kills his wife s suitors.

5 Status Quo Call to Adventure Assistance Departure Trials Approach Crisis Treasure Result Return New Life Resolution