Archetypes in Literature

[mhamley]

Can you share specific information on archetypes found in a novel you have recently read?

[L'EngleLover]

Okay, okay, okay. Since noone has posted under this thread, I guess I'll be the first.

In a nut shell, an archetype is the original model of an idea or plot from which other things of similar relation are based upon. Simply put, it is the prototype for later models to come.

The very first thing that came to mind was Romeo and Juliet, based on the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe. Although I read this in freshman year, I still felt it would be important to the post.

In Pyramus and Thisbe, (this is the ultra sparknote version I'm providing), the two young lovers were the most beautiful people in all of Babylonia and naturally fell in love with eachother. They met because their families lived in adjoining houses. Pyramus and Thisbe wanted to get married, but their parents wouldn't allow it, so they had to be secretive showing their affection. They discovered a crack in the wall seperating their houses and decided to get all lovey dovey with words by those means, even getting desperate enough to try to kiss through the crack in order to get as close as possible (which obviously did NOT succeed). They decided to meet by a white mulberry tree outside of the city limits. Thisbe got there first with a veil over her head and crossed paths with a lion that just fed. She fled leaving the veil and the lion wiped its blood choppers all over it after getting something to drink. Pyramus got there, assumed Thisbe was dead and stabbed himself through the heart with his sword, vowing to be with her forever in death. The ground soaked up his blood and the berries turned red. Thisbe came from hiding, saw him there, and decided to follow him in death. "The two bodies were buried in one sepulchre, and according to Ovid, Metamorphoses 4, the tree ever after brought forth purple berries, as it does to this day" (wikipedia.org).

Oh yah, Shakespeare also throws their storyline into A Midsummer Night's Dream, a play I did read recently, as an allusion.

Hmmmm...another one...I don't really know if this one really counts but I think the story of Christ in the Bible is the archetype for many different stories and novels. For example, in The Lord of the Rings, Frodo has chosen to take upon him the burden of the Ring much in the same way Christ took upon himself the sin of the world. Frodo's struggle to carry the Ring up Mount Doom is much like Christ's struggle to carry his cross to Calvary. Frodo "dies" to the power of the Ring like Christ dies to the limitations of an earthly body.

I can't think of anymore. I guess I need to read more myths and novels.:D

[Fire101]

" She stopped speaking as Solebum padded between them. The werecat stared at Eragon with unblinking eyes.
Yes Eragon asked, irritated.
Listen closely and I will tell you two things. When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Menoa tree. Then, when all seems lost and your power is insufficient, go to the rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the Vault of Souls (Paolini206)".

From this passage from the story, when can see that Solebum is acting as the herald because he is adivising what Eragon, who is the hero, should do in two upcoming events. Solebum adivises him to look for a weapon under the Menoa tree when it is needed and to speak his name to the rock of Kuthian if he needs more energy for magic. Eragon has no clue what Solebum means by this and he doesn't get the chance to ask him. I really have no clue either of what Solebum meant by this but I think in the Vault of Souls, Eragon will meet the previous riders who will give him a sufficient amount of energy to defeat Galbatorix. What do you think? :wave:

[Fire101]

"Where can the antidote be found?

It exist only two places outside of the Empire: with my own people and with the Varden. However, my home is beyond the reach of dragonback.

What about the Varden? We would have taken you straight to them, but we don't know where they are (Paolini340)".

With this passage, one can see that Eragon has just earned a new task that he has to complete. A task is an errand the hero has to do before he can progress in his quest or journey. To save Arya's life, he needs to go get the antidote for her quickly because she is dying by posion and she doesn't have a lot of time left. To do this, he must go to the Varden because that is the only place he is able to go to that has the antidote for this poison. :idea:

[ReynardtheFox]

For archtypes your two best bets are 1) psychoanalytic archtypes from Jung
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetypal_literary_criticism
Or Mythological archtypes from Joseph Campbell:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces

I'm not about to argue for the legitimacy of either, but they are both good points of view to argue from.

Enjoy - Also, if you can, check out the transcripts for Joseph Campbell's 'The Power of Myth'. It is worth your time.

[JBI]

We are talking about Jungian Archetypes right?

Plenty of archetypes in Finnegan's wake.

HCA is the Adam Archetype
ALP The Eve archetype
Shem and Shaun-Fighting brother archetype. (Cain and Abel)

[Fire101]

"An Urgal stood over him, face set in a gross leer. The monster was tall, thick, and broader than a doorway, with gray skin and yellow piggish eyes. Muscles bulged on his arms and chest, which was covered by a tool small breastplate. An iron cap rested over the pair of ram's horns curling from his temples, and a roundsheild was bound to one arm. His powerful hand held a short, wicked sword (Paolini132)."
From this paragraph, we can tell that the Urgal is a scary creature that is definitely not human but instead, the Urgal is the creature of nightmare. How do we know that this creature is not a friendly beast?
"The Urgal in front of Eragon roared and swung his sword mightily. Eragon jerked back with a startled yelp as the weapon whistled past his cheek (Paolini132)."
This shows us that the Urgal is an enemy of Eragon and not a friend because the Urgal is trying to kill him instead of trying to help him. If the Urgal were to join Eragon on his quest, then this would be a whole different situation and story. :argue:

[Black Flag]

Joyce's "Ulysses". Need I say more?

[JBI]

Joyce's "Ulysses". Need I say more?
Hmm, elaborate. I don't think he sticks to the Jungian archetypes half as much in this one as he does in other books.

[mummu:)]

I found some nice archetypes in Tales of Don Quixote by Miguel De Carvantes retold by Barbara Nichol.

Rocinante is Don Quixote's 'noble steed'. She goes everywhere with him and is one of his only transportations (9). I think that she would be considered the friendly beast in this book.

While Don Quixote is taveling down the road, he figures out that he has no place to stay and he's literally surrounded by trees. But "magically (10)" a castle appears on the side of the hill. This is an example of supernatural invention because the castle comes out of nowhere, when Quixote is in need of shelter and somewhere to stay.

For every 'hero' they have sidekicks. In this book, Don Quixote's 'pair' is Sancho Panza. Sancho Panza always accomponies where Don Quixote goes. Panza is there to help fight and help defend Quixote though his journey (27).

Has anyone read this book? Does anyone agree with me or found any other archetypes in this book?

[NickAdams]

Hmm, elaborate. I don't think he sticks to the Jungian archetypes half as much in this one as he does in other books.

One does not need to stick to Jugian archetypes, because they are already there.

Jung did not create them; he observed and categorized them.

They are part of the the archaic mind, which we all possess.

It's a natural pattern; but to parrallel The Odyssey on top of this instinct, how can it be only half?

[NickAdams]

Has anyone read this book? Does anyone agree with me or found any other archetypes in this book?

I have read a healthy portion, but Virgil would know more than I do.

From what I read, I would say Sancho is the hero. He follows the path: He is called to adventure; he accepts it after some doubt; he moves from the ordinary world to that of supernatural (Quixote's world); he is involved in the road of trials, in which the hero suceeds or fails (Quixote is mad and can create sucess at will); This is the path described by Jospeh Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. There is more, but I have not read all of Quixote.

If Virgil joins this thread, we can see if Sancho follows the rest of the hero myth.

[JBI]

One does not need to stick to Jugian archetypes, because they are already there.

Jung did not create them; he observed and categorized them.

They are part of the the archaic mind, which we all possess.

It's a natural pattern; but to parrallel The Odyssey on top of this instinct, how can it be only half?/
Yes, but one can argue certain works are more archetypal than others, being that the author deliberately alters his characters to swerve away from the archetype. If we agree with what you said, essentially this thread is useless, being that every character is an archetype, and every thing is archetypal. Perhaps we can debate that, though I don't think that was the message of this thread.

[NickAdams]

Yes, but one can argue certain works are more archetypal than others ...

Indeed.



... being that the author deliberately alters his characters to swerve away from the archetype ...

You would have to be concious of it to do so. I'm sure there are authors who work against this, but most exploit it. It's the basis for most formula-fiction. Star Wars and Harry Potter, have followed Campbell's outline.

[mummu:)]

I have read a healthy portion, but Virgil would know more than I do.

From what I read, I would say Sancho is the hero. He follows the path: He is called to adventure; he accepts it after some doubt; he moves from the ordinary world to that of supernatural (Quixote's world); he is involved in the road of trials, in which the hero suceeds or fails (Quixote is mad and can create sucess at will); This is the path described by Jospeh Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. There is more, but I have not read all of Quixote.

If Virgil joins this thread, we can see if Sancho follows the rest of the hero myth.

I think that Sancho could fall under the hero, but he really aides Don with everything. Sancho is always there and helps give him advice as well. I also agree that Quixote is a little coocoo :).

[>M<]

this is the first book.. im not a fan of harry potter but i finally decided to read one.. its not as good as i thought it would be :( heres some archetypes anyway

(1)call to adventure
- harry gets the invite to hogwarts school

(2)mentors
- dumbeldore(sp?) and hagrid.

(3) seperation
- he leaves home and goes on the train to hogwarts.

(4)(im not sure what this one was called but i think it was trickster)
- ron cuz he does stupid things and provides comic relief.

(5) ressurection
- harry is a whole different new person :)

[nimely78]

• Prepare a 1,400- to 1,750-word autobiographical research paper that analyzes the influences of race as it relates to your community. In your paper, write your first-person account of how human interactions in your community have been racialized. For the community, you can consider relations within your neighborhood, local government, service groups, clubs, schools, workplace, or any environment of which you are a part. In your paper, be sure to answer and provide examples for the following core questions:

o Do members of your community look like you? In what ways do they look the same or different?

o How do leaders within your community treat people who are like you? How do they treat people who are different?

o How do other members of your community treat people who are like you? How do they treat people who are different?

o Do your texts or work manuals contain information by or about people like you?

o Do the local media represent people like you? If so, in what ways?

o What are some similarities and differences between you and the people who are in leadership positions in your community? Do you feel minority group interests are represented within your community?

o If you could resolve any inequities within your community, what would you change? How and why?

o Which main concepts from the text relate to race? Apply some of these concepts to your project.

• Ensure the following elements are included:

o The thesis addresses racial issues in your local community.

o The content is comprehensive and accurate.

o The paper itself draws on your personal experiences with and opinions about cultural diversity in your community.

o Three sources are used, and one source is a community member, leader, or representative from a local community organization.

o The paper is written in first-person point of view, with an autobiographical approach.

o Text concepts are applied to your observations.

o Assignment questions are answered.

o The paper includes perspectives from supporting sources.

o The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points.

o Paragraph transitions are present.

o The tone is appropriate.

o Sentences are well-constructed.

o The paper, title page, and references follow APA guidelines.

o Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed.

o Spelling is correct.

[PvtPyle]

A book I recently read is Patriot Games by Tom Clancy. The following are some archetypes that I found in the book.
Quest- Is to stop the Irish terrorists from terrorizing Jack Ryan's Family. pg Through out book

Fall- The terrorists cause Jack Ryan's wife to get in a car accident which begins the start of the terrorists trying to kill his family pg 148

Death and Rebirth- At the start of the book Jack Ryan is shot by members of the Irish Republic Army (terrorists) and nearly dies but miraculously recovers. pg 6

Unhealable Wound- Jack Ryan never fully recovers from the wounds he received when he was shot. pg 28

[PvtPyle]

Also here are some more Archetypes in Patriot Games:
Light vs Darkness- Light= CIA Darkness= Ireland

Hero- Jack Ryan, who saves his family from terrorists.

Mentor- Bill Homes, who is Jack Ryan's Boss at CIA

Scapegoat- Wilson gets killed by the terrorist at the beginning.

[HoOkEdOnReAdInG]

I finished Shattered Sky by Neal Shusterman about a week and a half ago.

The archetypes that I have found so far are:

Hero- Dillon Cole; he tries to save the world from being ruled over by soul-eating shadow creatures.

Loyal Retainers- Winston, Tory, Maddy, and Michael; they help Dillon from when they are alive to the end of the book (prevent the shadow creatures from entering their dimension/world.

Mentor- Elon Tessic; he tries to get Dillon and Winston to resurrect all the dead from the Holocaust but instead helps them to control their powers.

Shadow- Vectors; they try to tear a hole through the dimensions so that the shadow creatures can escape from the parasites in their world

[HoOkEdOnReAdInG]

The other archetypes in this book are:

Quest- Prevent the shadow creatures from entering the human world.

Task- Resurrect the dead from the Holocaust; Tessic wants the dead to be resurrected before letting Dillon go fight the Vectors.

Star-Crossed Lovers- Dillon and Maddy; they love each other but Dillon has a shard of a star in his soul while Maddy is an ordinary human until later in the book (sorry, no spoilers).

Light vs. Darkness- Star shards and soul-eating shadow creatures; the shards bring and life happiness to those around them while the shadow creatures eat the souls of humans and remove all emotion from them.

Death and Rebirth (happens too many times in this book)- Dillon has the power of reconstructing an object based on its remains and shape and Winston has the power of making things grow and regenerate; there are at least 5000 dead people (not all specific) in this book that Dillon and Winston resurrect (Shusterman 302-305)

[HoOkEdOnReAdInG]

My first post contains the character archetypes while my second post contains the other types of archetypes.

I just realized one archetype that I should have put in my first post.

Herald/Outcast- Okoya; he tells Dillon why and how the other shadow creatures are leaving their dimension and entering Dillon's dimension and is a shadow creature that is considered a wanted criminal to the other shadow creatures