Archetypes in Literature, Slides of Literature

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Archetypes in

Archetypes in

Literature

Literature

What is an archetype

What is an archetype

Archetype

Archetype

a recurrent image, symbol,

a recurrent image, symbol,

character or even situation that is an instinctual

character or even situation that is an instinctual

expression of man’s nature and experiences that

expression of man’s nature and experiences that

are universal in nature.

are universal in nature.

Objects as Archetypal Images Objects as Archetypal Images

water

water

birth, death, resurrection, purification, redemption, birth, death, resurrection, purification, redemption,

fertility, growth fertility, growth

the sea the sea

mother of all life, the unconscious, timelessness mother of all life, the unconscious, timelessness

rivers rivers

baptism, flowing of time, phases of life cycle baptism, flowing of time, phases of life cycle

circle

circle

wholeness, unity, oneness wholeness, unity, oneness

serpent or worm

serpent or worm

evil, corruption, healing energy and force, (but also, evil, corruption, healing energy and force, (but also,

sometimes, sensuality) sometimes, sensuality)

tree

tree

growth, proliferation, life, immortality growth, proliferation, life, immortality

road or train

road or train

journey through life journey through life

colors

colors

red red

blood, sacrifice, immorality, passion, sometimes blood, sacrifice, immorality, passion, sometimes

violent violent

green green

growth, sensation, hope, fertility growth, sensation, hope, fertility

blue blue

truth, security, religiousness, spiritual purity truth, security, religiousness, spiritual purity

black or darkness black or darkness

chaos, mystery, unknown, death, chaos, mystery, unknown, death,

unconscious, evil, melancholy unconscious, evil, melancholy

white white

(positive) purity, innocence, light, timelessness (positive) purity, innocence, light, timelessness

(negative) death, terror, supernatural (negative) death, terror, supernatural

numbers

numbers

three three

holy trinity, spiritual awareness, light holy trinity, spiritual awareness, light

four four

life cycle, four seasons, the four elements (earth, life cycle, four seasons, the four elements (earth,

air, fire, water) air, fire, water)

seven seven

most potent of all symbolic numbers because it most potent of all symbolic numbers because it

signifies the union of 3 and 4, represents perfect order signifies the union of 3 and 4, represents perfect order

hero

hero

circumstances of his circumstances of his

conception and birth are conception and birth are

vague or unusual vague or unusual

little or nothing is known of his childhood little or nothing is known of his childhood

upon reaching manhood, he returns to his future kingdom upon reaching manhood, he returns to his future kingdom

after a victory of some sort, he reigns uneventfully for a time after a victory of some sort, he reigns uneventfully for a time

until he loses favor with gods until he loses favor with gods

often meets with a mysterious death often meets with a mysterious death

examples examples

Beowulf, King Arthur

Beowulf, King Arthur

scapegoat

scapegoat

the hero with whom the welfare of the people of the the hero with whom the welfare of the people of the

nation, kingdom, or tribe is identified and who must nation, kingdom, or tribe is identified and who must

die to atone for the people’s sins in order to return the die to atone for the people’s sins in order to return the

land to fruitfulness land to fruitfulness

examples examples

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ

devil figure

devil figure

offers worldly goods, fame, offers worldly goods, fame,

knowledge to the protagonist in knowledge to the protagonist in

exchange for possession of his soul exchange for possession of his soul

examples examples

Lucifer, Satan, Hades

Lucifer, Satan, Hades

Earth mother

Earth mother

symbolic of fruition and abundance as well as symbolic of fruition and abundance as well as

fertility fertility

example example

Mother Nature Mother Nature