Archetypal Settings
(For theme)
Archetypal settings have some universal aspect that is associated by most people with a particular human experience. For example, underground places suggest a “belly of the whale” experience in which the hero confronts the darker or more unpleasant aspects of self, including the fear of death. Archetypal settings enrich the reader’s understanding of the author’s theme. Below is a partial list of such settings:
The river—life; refreshment; bringer of prosperity and victory; oblivion; cleansing
The garden—new life; innocence; temptation; return to nature; harmony; place where inner life is cultivated; paradise; place without responsibility.
The wasteland—futility; despair
The maze—coming back to oneself; trials of a dark time; duality of entrapment and release; duality of death and birth; a pilgrimage; circuitous route to a goal; tension; twists and turns
The castle—power; authority; nobility; awakening of the conscious mind; search for divine grace
The tower—deity; grandeur; nobility; refuge; security; truth; virginity; battlement; execution; death; slavery; warning
The wilderness—misery, persecution, unfruitfulness, wandering, cleansing, salvation trial
The threshold—entry point which marks transition from one place to another; transition from one belief to another; boundary between two opposing regions
The desert—deprivation; death; terrifying aspects of life; barrier to the promised land; infinite access; purification; prophetic vision
The ocean—chaos; the unfathomable; the beginning of life; the way one can get lost on a journey through life
Remember that setting is the historical time, place, and social circumstances that create the world in which characters act and make choices. The social circumstances will often illuminate and provide insights into the meaning of a literary work. Setting creates mood or atmosphere. Setting is also a reflection of character. One should consider the way the characters respond to their environment and their adjustment to any changes in the setting. The setting can be revealed through the author’s use of details about one or more of the following:
- Geographic location—landscape, scenery, room layout, buildings
- Cultural backdrop/social context/time period—occupations/working
Conditions, way of life, way of speaking and behaving, clothing, gender roles, traditions, habits, attitudes, customs and beliefs, speech patterns, and laws.
- Artificial environment—rooms, cities, towns…
- Props—tools, implements, clothing, costumes…
Archetypal Concepts
(For analysis of plot and theme)
Partial list:
The quest for identity
The journey in search of knowledge
The epic journey to find the promised land
The tragic quest: the journey to the crossroads
The quest for vengeance
The quest to rid the land of danger
The warrior’s journey to save his people
The fool’s errand (because of his/her naïve viewpoint, the “holy fool” or madman/madwoman succeeds where others fail)
The search for love (including the quest to save the princess)
The grail quest (the search for human perfection or spiritual nourishment)
Other Archetypal Characters
(Characterization)
To be believable, a character must be relevant to people throughout all the ages. Their emotions and concerns are those of real people. We come to know and understand a character through the following ways:
- What (s)he says (dialogue)
- What (s)he does (actions)
- What (s)he things (interior monologue)
- What (s)he has and wears
- Where (s)he is
- The people with whom (s)he associates
- What others say about him/her (indirect characterization), and
- Through the author’s direct statements (direct characterization)
There are several types of characters:
- Flat—one dimensional
- Round—complex, fully rounded personality
- Static—one who changes little, or not at all over the course of the narrative; things may happen to him/her, but little happens in him/her
- Dynamic—one who changes in response to the actions through which (s)he passes
Archetypal characters are those who embody a certain kind of universal human experience. For example, the siren is a character who purposefully lures men to disaster through her beauty (i.e. the sirens in The Odyssey). In addition to the archetypes already given to you, here is a partial list of other common characters:
The orphan
-attractive to readers because (s)he is “the common person”
-feels deprived and as though (s)he has been treated unfairly through no fault of his/her own
-feels victimized
-doesn’t always understand what (s)he needs
-fears being exploited
-must learn to deal with pain and disillusionment
-must learn to accept help from others
-objective is to regain safety/security/stability/family
-struggles with despair
The Warrior
-celebrates the challenge of a struggle
-finds satisfaction in achieving his goal against all odds
-improves his/her life by taking continuous action
-doesn’t ask for help
-doesn’t complain about loss but forces ahead
-works hard
-feels worthy
-prepares for challenges
-assertive
-establishes boundaries
The martyr
-often an overachiever
-gives and sacrifices for others but not always for the right reasons
-often has a “why me?” attitude
-resents constant problems
-often feels abused or used
-sometimes seeks pain or death to gain fame (e.g. a suicide bomber)
-has the ability to go beyond his/her personal needs
-sometimes believes if one does whit is asked or sacrifices for another, one will receive appreciation/love
The magician
-believes there is no enemy, no culprit, no obstacles
-believes the flow of life is natural
-believes (s)he is safe even though experiencing pain/suffering
-moves with the energy of the universe
-doesn’t believe (s)he is a victim
-celebrates all experiences because each holds valuable lessons
-makes things happen
-makes dreams come true
-also known as the healer or the inventor
The innocent
-forgiving
-trusting
-honest
-optimistic
-enjoys the simple pleasures
-a romantic or a dreamer
-goal is to be happy
-when confronted with a journey, often feels betrayed or orphaned
-fears being punished for doing something bad or wrong
-powerless
The wanderer
-begins heroic journey fleeing from a villain (e.g. a person, a job, a belief)
-sees life as an adventure for exploring new ideas
-must find his/her own identity to claim independence
-risks becoming self-absorbed
-risks missing out on love and relationships
-the inward journey is for spiritual knowledge and awareness
-braves loneliness and isolation to seek new paths
Pearson, Carol The Hero Within: Six Archetypes to Live By. Expanded Edition
Harper Collins, 1989.
Roberts, Edgar V. Writing Themes About Literature. Pearson Education, Inc.,
Upper Saddle River, NJ.
The College Board