Name:

Period:
Archetypes Reference Sheet and Worksheet

Instructions: On a separate piece of paper, give a detailed example of each of these archetypes that you are familiar with. They can be from literature, films, or
songs - anything of your choosing as long as you can provide a detailed example of the archetype. An example is provided on the answer sheet.

Situational Archetypes
Archetype Description Archetype Description
What the Hero must accomplish in order to bring The actual ceremonies the Initiate experiences that will
fertility back to the wasteland, usually a search mark his rite of passage into another state. A clear sign of
1. The Quest for some talisman, which will restore peace, 5. The Ritual the character's role in his society
order, and normalcy to a troubled land.

The nearly superhuman feat(s) the Hero must perform The descent from a higher to a lower state of being usually
in order to accomplish his quest. 6. The Fall as a punishment for transgression. It also involves the loss
of innocence.

2. The Task The most common of all situational archetypes, this motif
grows out of a parallel between the cycle of nature and the
7. Death and Rebirth cycle of life. Thus morning and springtime represent birth,
youth, or rebirth, while evening and winter suggest old age
or death.

The journey sends the Hero in search of some truth Obviously, a battle between two primal forces. Mankind
that will help save his kingdom. 8. Battle between Good and Evil shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good
3. The Journey triumphing over evil despite great odds.
Either a physical or psychological wound that cannot be
9. The Unhealable Wound
fully healed. The wound symbolizes a loss of innocence.
The adolescent comes into his maturity with new
4. The Initiation awareness and problems.

Character Archetypes
Archetype Description Archetype Description
The Hero is a protagonist whose life is a series of A devil figure with the potential to be good. This person is
well-marked adventures. The circumstances of his usually saved by the love of the hero.
birth are unusual, and he is raised by a guardian. He
will have to leave his kingdom, only to return to it
upon reaching manhood. Characterized by courage, 13. The Evil Figure with
1. The Hero strength, and honor, the hero will endure hardship, Ultimately Good Heart
even risk his life for the good of all. Leaves the
familiar to enter an unfamiliar and challenging world.

The Hero returns to his home and heritage where he is A monster usually summoned from the deepest, darkest
2. Young Man from the a stranger who can see new problems and new part of the human psyche to threaten the lives of the
14. The Creature of Nightmare
Provinces solutions hero/heroine. Often it is a perversion or desecration of the
human body.
The Initiates are young heroes or heroines who must An animal, or more usually a human, whose death in a
go through some training and ceremony before public ceremony expiates some taint or sin of a
3. The Initiates undertaking their quest. 15. The Scapegoat community. They are often more powerful in death than in
life.
The Mentor is an older, wiser teacher to the initiates. A character banished from a social group for some real or
He often serves as a father or mother figure. He gives imagined crime against his fellow man, usually destined to
4. Mentor the hero gifts (weapons, food, magic, information), 16. The Outcast wander form place to place.
serves as a role model or as heros conscience.

In this relationship, the Mentor teaches the Hero/pupil A woman who is a source of inspiration to the hero, who
5. Mentor - Pupil
the necessary skills for surviving the quest. 17. The Platonic Ideal has an intellectual rather than physical attraction to her
Relationship
Tests the heros courage and worthiness to begin the A vulnerable woman who needs to be rescued by the hero.
6. The Threshold
journey 18. Damsel in Distress She is often used as a trap to ensnare the unsuspecting
Guardian
hero.
In this relationship, the tension is built due to Symbolic of fruition, abundance, and fertility, this
separation from childhood or some other source when character traditionally offers spiritual and emotional
the two meet as men. nourishment to those with whom she comes in contact.
7. Father - Son Conflict 19. The Earth Mother
Often depicted in earth colors, has large breasts and hips
symbolic of her childbearing capacities.

These are loyal companions willing to face hardship Characterized by sensuous beauty, this woman is one to
8. Hunting Group of and ordeal in order to stay together. 20. The Temptress or Black whom the protagonist is physically attracted and who
Companions Goddess ultimately brings about his downfall. May appear as a
witch or vampire

The Retainer's duty is to reflect the nobility and Good, beautiful maiden, usually blond, may make an ideal
9. Loyal Retainers power of the hero. 21. White Goddess marriage partner; often has religious or intellectual
overtones.
 An animal companion showing that nature is on the A woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant and
10. Friendly Beast side of the hero 22. The Unfaithful Wife is attracted to more virile or interesting men.

A worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle Two characters engaged in a love affair fated to end
in a fight to the end. Must be destroyed or neutralized. tragically for one or both due to the disapproval of society,
11. The Shadow Psychologically can represent the darker side of the 23. Star-Crossed Lovers friends, family, or some tragic situation.
heros own psyche.

12. The Devil Figure This character is evil incarnate.

Symbolic Archetypes
Archetype Description Archetype Description
Light usually suggests hope, renewal, or intellectual A place or time of decision when a realization is made and
1. Light vs. Darkness illumination; darkness implies the unknown, 10. The Crossroads change or penance results
ignorance, or despair.

Some characters exhibit wisdom and understanding A puzzling dilemma or great uncertainty, search for the
of situations instinctively as opposed to those dangerous monster inside of oneself, or a journey into the
2. Innate Wisdom vs. supposedly in charge. Loyal retainers often exhibit heart of darkness
this wisdom as they accompany the hero on the 11. The Maze
Educated Stupidity
journey.

Fire represents knowledge, light, life, and rebirth, A strong place of safety which holds treasure or princess,
3. Fire and Ice while ice, like the desert, represents ignorance, 12. The Castle may be enchanted or bewitched
darkness, sterility, and death.

4. Nature vs. Mechanistic Nature is good while technology is evil. A strong place of evil, represents the isolation of self
13. The Tower
World
Gateway to a new world which the hero must enter to The weapon the hero needs in order to complete his quest.
5. The Threshold change and grow 14. The Magic Weapon

A place of death or metaphorically an encounter with Symbolizes the destructive power of nature or fate.
6. The Underworld the dark side of the self. Entering an underworld is a 15. The Whirlpool
form of facing a fear of death.

Places of safety contrast sharply against a dangerous Symbolizes uncertainty.

Because Water is necessary to life and growth, it Red: blood, sacrifice, passion, disorder
commonly appears as a birth symbol, as baptism Green: growth, hope, fertility
symbolizes a spiritual birth. Rain, rivers, oceans, etc. Blue: highly positive, security, tranquility, spiritual purity
also function the same way. The Desert suggests the Black: darkness, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death,
opposite. wisdom, evil, melancholy
8. Water vs. Desert 17. Colors White: light, purity, innocence, timelessness (negatives:
death, horror, supernatural)
Yellow: enlightenment, wisdom

Man has traditionally associated parts of the universe 3light, spiritual awareness, unity (holy trinity), male
not accessible to him with the dwelling places of the principle
primordial forces that govern his world. The skies and 4associated with the circle, life cycle, four seasons,
mountaintops house his gods, the bowels of the earth female principle, earth, nature, elements
9. Heaven vs. Hell contain diabolic forces. 18. Numbers 7the most potent of all symbolic numbers signifying the
union of three and four, the completion of a cycle, perfect
order, perfect number, religious symbol
Name:

Period:

Archetypes Worksheet Answers

Hand this worksheet in at the end of class

Situational Archetypes
1 5

2 6

3 7

4 8

Character Archetypes
1 13

2 14

3 15

4 16

5 17

6 18

7 19

8 20

9 21

10 22

11 23

12
 Symbolic Archetypes
1 10

2 11

3 12

4 13

5 14

6 15

7 16

8 17

9 18