Archetypes

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Definition:

a pattern from which copies can be made. That is, it is a universal theme that manifests itself differently on an individual basis. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that these archetypes were the result of a collective unconscious. This collective unconscious was not directly knowable and is a product of the shared experiences of our ancestors. Jung believed it was: **Primordial:** That is, we, as individuals, have these archetypal images ingrained in our understanding even before we are born. Archetypes fall into two major categories: characters, situations/symbols. It is easiest to understand them with the help of examples. Listed below are some of the most common archetypes in each category.
 * Universal:** These archetypes can be found all over the world and throughout history. The manifestation of the idea may be different, but the idea itself is the same.

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 * Characters:**
 * 1) //The hero// – The courageous figure, the one who’s always running in and saving the day. Example: Dartagnon from Alexandre Dumas’s “The Three Musketeers”
 * 2) //The outcast// – The outcast is just that. He or she has been cast out of society or has left it on a voluntary basis. The outcast figure can oftentimes also be considered as a Christ figure. Example: Simon from William Golding’s “The Lord of the Flies”
 * 3) //The scapegoat// – The scapegoat figure is the one who gets blamed for everything, regardless of whether he or she is actually at fault. Example: Snowball from George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
 * 4) //The star-crossed lovers// – This is the young couple joined by love but unexpectedly parted by fate. Example: Romeo and Juliet from William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
 * 1) //The shrew// – This is that nagging, bothersome wife always battering her husband with verbal abuse. Example: Zeena from Edith Wharton’s “Ethan Frome”
 * Situations/symbols:**
 * //The task// – A situation in which a character, or group of characters, is driven to complete some duty of monstrous proportion. Example: Frodo’s task to keep the ring safe in J. R. R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy
 * //The quest// – Here, the character(s) are searching for something, whether consciously or unconsciously. Their actions, thoughts, and feelings center around the goal fo completing this quest. Example: Christian’s quest for salvation in John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress”
 * //The loss of innocence// – This is, as the name implies, a loss of innocence through sexual experience, violence, or any other means. Example: Val’s loss of innocence after settling down at the mercantile store in Tennessee William’s “Orpheus Descending”
 * //The initiation// – This is the process by which a character is brought into another sphere of influence, usually (in literature) into adulthood. Example: Ayla’s initiation both into the Clan and into adulthood in Jean Auel’s “The Clan of the Cave Bear”
 * //Water// – Water is a symbol of life, cleansing, and rebirth. It is a strong life force, and is often depicted as a living, reasoning force. Example: Edna learns to swim in Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening”

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Examples:

Activities: Archetypes in fairy tales Archetypes in movies Archetypes in TV