#1 ARCHETYPES AND ALLUSIONS C.N.
Our connection to stories
WHAT IS AN ARCHETYPE?
• An original model (TYPE) after which other things are similarly
patterned
• An image, story pattern, character type, representation, or
recurring idea
• It evokes strong associations to the reader or observer
WHAT KINDS OF ARCHETYPES
ARE THERE?
• Situational
• Symbolic
• Character
CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
•
A person or being that serves as a
representative of a greater ideal (TYPE)
•
Characteristics, actions, abilities, or
powers contribute to the archetype
characterization
•
There are many different archetypes
present in literature
COMMON CHARACTER ARCHETYPES
• The Sage (Yoda!)
• The Initiates
• Temptress
• Loyal Retainers
• Star-Crossed Lovers
• The Outcast
• The Scapegoat
• The “Evil” figure who actually has a
good heart
• The Devil Figure
• The Outlaw or Destroyer
• Jester
• Earth Mother
• The Innocent
• The Hero
• The Ruler
Just to name a few…
CHARACTER ARCHETYPES: THE HERO
• Traditionally, the protagonist of
a story
• Often his past is a mystery
• He is the champion, king, or
savior of many
• Endures pain and sorrow that
all leads to a greater good
CHARACTER ARCHETYPES: THE SAGE
• Serves as a teacher or
counselor to the initiate or
future hero
• Usually the “Wise Old Man”
• Helps the hero see his
potential or inner strength
• Sometimes a Father or
Mother figure
• Guides the Hero on his
Quest
The Karate Kid’s Mr. Miyagi
WHAT IS A SITUATIONAL ARCHETYPE?
• A TYPE of experience that a hero/character must
endure to move from one place in life to the next
• Actions and events that add to the plot
• A common event seen throughout stories in may
different genres
EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONAL
ARCHETYPES
• The Quest
• The Task
• The Initiation
• The Journey
• The Fall
• Death and Rebirth
• Nature vs. Mechanistic
World
• Good vs. Evil
• The Unhealable Wound
• The Ritual
SITUATIONAL ARCHETYPES:
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
• Sends the hero on a search
for some truth or quest
• Forces the hero to discover
many unpleasant truths
• At his lowest point, the
hero will return to the
world of the living
SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPES
These serve as a TYPE of representation
(symbol) of a specific person, act, deed, place
or conflict. They are easily recognizable but
not as common as situational archetypes.
•
•
•
•
Light vs. Darkness
Water vs. Desert
Heaven vs. Hell
The Magic Weapon
• Innate Wisdom vs. Educated
Stupidity
• Haven vs. Wilderness
• Supernatural Intervention
• Fire vs. Ice
SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPES:
LIGHT VS. DARKNESS
• Light suggests goodness,
hope, renewal, or
enlightenment
• Darkness implies evil,
mystery, ignorance, or
despair
The battle of light and darkness will stretch beyond
actual light and dark. The good (light) and bad (dark)
can be seen through a story’s characters and their
actions.
WHAT IS AN ALLUSION?
• Allusion: an indirect (rather than direct) and usually
brief reference to a person, place, or event.
• This reference is probably explicit, but its meaning
can be understood only if the person, place, or event
is well known by all or known by the reader.
• An allusion can help the reader develop their
understanding of the text.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ALLUSIONS?
• We, as readers, need to know what allusions are so
we can identify them in our reading.
• They help us avoid long, roundabout explanations
• For example, if the name of a character was an
allusion to a different character in another literary
work, that similarity could reveal something about
the character that we wouldn’t have known if we
hadn’t found the allusion.
FOR EXAMPLE:
If you were trying to instill confidence
in a friend and said, “Use the force,”
that would be an allusion to the text
Stars Wars.
HOW ABOUT THIS PHRASE…
It’s elementary my dear Watson!
It is an allusion to The Adventures of
Sherlock Holmes.
WHERE ARE ALLUSIONS USED?
• In a book, a song, movie, or a poem.
• Even visual allusions can be made to art or film. Movies that
are parodies are filled with allusions.
• Comedians rely on allusions. They allude to current events in
a humorous matter.
ALLUSIONS AND GREEK
MYTHOLOGY…
• Writers often make allusions to Greek Myths in a
text.
• Myths are ancient stories about gods and heroes.
• Many words used as allusions come from the names
in the myths.
“HERCULEAN” STRENGTH
HERCULES…
• was the strongest man in the world.
• The Greek half-god had to perform 12 tasks so
difficult that they seemed impossible. By the end
of these tasks, he was a hero to the people.
ALLUSIONS TO HERCULES…
• He had many Herculean tasks ahead
of him.
• Meaning—tasks that seem
impossible
ALLUSIONS TO HERCULES…
• The weight lifter used his Herculean
strength to lift the 200 pound weight.
• Meaning—very strong
“ACHILLES HEEL”
“Perimeter
shooting has
been
Louisville’s
Achilles heel all
season.”
ACHILLES…
• A great warrior.
• When he was a baby, his mother dipped him in a
magical river. Where ever the water touched him, he
could not be harmed. But his mother held him by his
heel, so that was his one weakness (his “mortal”
area), so he was only defeated when an enemy struck
his heel.
ALLUSIONS TO ACHILLES…
• “I can’t read your answer because of your messy
handwriting!” the teacher said.
• “Neatness has always been my Achilles heel!” replied the
student.
• Meaning—someone’s Achilles heel means his or
her area of weakness
ODYSSEUS & THE ODYSSEY
Honda
“Odyssey”
ODYSSEUS…
• A Greek king who went to war against the Trojans. During the
war, he hid his men inside a large wooden horse. Then he gave
the horse to the Trojans as a gift. The Trojans brought the
horse inside the city walls. That night, the Greeks attacked.
• The Odyssey is a very long poem about Odysseus’s long
journey home after the Trojan war.
ALLUSIONS TO ODYSSEY/ODYSSEUS…
• “The family set out on their 24 hour
odyssey to Florida for vacation.”
• Meaning—any long trip or
adventure
THE TROJAN HORSE
THE TROJAN HORSE…
• The large, wooden horse that Odysseus sent as
a gift to the Trojans. The Greek warriors were
hiding inside. The Trojans brought the horse
inside the city walls. That night, the Greeks
attacked and won the war.
ALLUSIONS TO A TROJAN HORSE…
• “Try some of the casserole,” Mom
begged Bryan, but Bryan was afraid it
was a Trojan horse.
• Meaning—something that wasn’t
quite what it seemed
OTHER ALLUSIONS
• Pandora’s Box
• King Midas
• Nemesis
• Cupid
CORNELL NOTES SUMMARY:
• Something that is becoming
clear to me about archetypes
and allusions…