An archetype is a character, symbol or behavioral pattern that is basically a universal template for a character that is copied throughout all forms of storytelling. Some archetypes may even transcend cultural differences in stories. Because an archetype speaks to the basic human experience, it communicates meaning and emotion in all forms of literature Picture Rapunzel trapped in her tower, and you'll see one of the most classic and timeless forms of a character archetype: the damsel in distress. This archetype shows up in almost every adventure or love story, and you're almost 100% guaranteed to see her paired with the hero or another character archetype. Character archetypes are varied and include protagonists, antagonists and the people…
The reason we learn history is so that we do not allow for it to be repeated. Meaning we don’t let even that happened in the past happen again today. But in literature there are certain patterns in characters, plot, settings and items. These patterns are referred to as archetypes and they help make stories relatable. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut is no exception to the usage of archetypes.In this futuristic tale Vonngut gives their interpretation of how the world would be if someone…
tried and true characterization methods essential to any story: archetypes. Carl Jung first identified these universal archetypes and tropes prevalent in almost every story since The Odyssey. Jung believed that these archetypes existed in the psyches of human beings, which explains why people recognize archetypes so easily when hearing/reading a work of literature. However, as time went on, people noticed these archetypes and fictional works started to look indistinguishably similar. Evident…
choose to behave in the same manner as those around them. If everyone is shouting then even the shy people will start shouting, but if everyone is being quiet and reserved, the loudest individuals will remain quiet. Authors use archetypes to show the effect of society on people and their decision to be moral or corrupt. Many novels use the fight between barbarity and refinement to bring human nature into the stories and simplify the way people operate. In the novel Lord of the Flies, Golding…
categories, persona, shadow, anima/animus and archetypes. The easiest to recognize is persona. Persona is a social mask that we all show to the public. We change the roles in different situations in society. For instance, a student acts as an attentive respectful person who focuses on study at a school, but he/she becomes a father or mother who takes care of a household after going back home. I also have many social roles such as a student, daughter, sister, friend and girlfriend. I switch my…
meanings that are found in myths and religious cultures. The narrator takes an archetypal feminist approach when analyzing Mrs. Mallard’s steps in discovering a free life for herself, without the burdens her husband brought her. Kate Chopin uses a metaphorical archetype to describe Mrs. Mallard’s reaction when first hearing about her husband’s death stating, “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone” (Chopin; para. 3) Chopin refers to grief as a storm because…
In order to fully understand both characters, it’s important to look at their historical originals. One way to do this would be by considering common story archetypes, as discussed heavily by Professor Eiland in his mythical archetype list. The Other Mother fits very many of these archetype, so much so that it would be difficult to rank the accuracy of one over the other. In one way, she acts as the “temptress”, goading Coraline into staying in the other world with outfits, toys, and food,…
In Sophocles’ successful play “Oedipus the King” the main character, Oedipus, represents himself as a heroic archetype by overcoming such crazy obstacles by his family. In my eyes, a hero represents someone with much bravery and knowledge of what to do in life changing issues. Oedipus may not be the typical suit and armor, cape and magical powers type of hero, but he attempts to do what he believes is right for his own sake. Heroes can be known for their heroic events when they do something…
Opposites and archetypes in The Taming of the Shrew The perfect woman, the perfect villain, the perfect stereotype, all highlighted and discussed in The Taming of the Shrew. Starting with Bianca, she is a very archetypal character; who embodies the characteristics of the Quiet Woman, the Virgin, the Good wife, and the Worthie. To counterbalance her Katherine is introduced, she acts as an opposite to Bianca. Kate embodies the Wanton Woman, the Unquiet woman, and the Effeminate Fool. The two…
Carl Jung was a swiss psychiatrist who believed that the human psyche consisted of three parts: the ego, the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious. According to Jung, archetypes are universal patterns which exist in the collective unconscious. He believed these recurrent images possessed universal meanings that appear in literature. Carl Jung theorized that archetypes lead to insight on humans and the world around us. Jungian archetypes can be identified in nearly all literature,…