can someone please explain exactly what archetypes are??

Question

im going to 9th grade and i got my first summer reading assignment for pre-AP english 1. i DON'T understand it! it's all about archetypes (in literature). it's not very clear what they really are. this is what the instructions say:
Assignments: Archetypes—plot elements common to all literature of the world. For example, “The Quest” is an archetype common to Lord of the Rings, The Legend of King Arthur and the Holy Grail, and many Greek fables. There are many different ways to study archetypes, but for this assignment you will study archetypes as they are broken into 3 main categories: situational archetypes, symbolic archetypes, and character archetypes.
1. Archetype Analysis (50 points):
As you read Mythology, look for the archetypes listed below. Choose three (3) of the myths told in Edith Hamilton's Mythology. For each myth you choose, identify one archetype from each category (situational, symbolic, and character). Explain why the myth is an example of each of these archetypes.

my teacher (the 8th grade one) didn't explain ANYTHING! she just showed us where the instruction packet was.

Answer 1

An archetype is essentially a repeating pattern found in literature (or movies, or any other medium for storytelling.) An archetype is a blueprint for a certain type of character or situation, and archetypal characters and situations always follow certain patterns. For example, a hero in the hero archetype will embark on a quest, face many challenges, and emerge victorious with a gift for society and having found his true self. (Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings) Hero archetypes always follow this general pattern.

A quest archetype is just that: a character (usually the hero and some helpers) embark on a journey to accomplish something, usually something very important, such as finding the Holy Grail or saving the world from evil. The quest in quest archetypes can also be read as the path to human enlightenment, for the hero must often make great sacrfices to achieve his ultimate (and usually apparently impossible) goal. Other examples of quest stories from mythology include Jason and the Golden Fleece and Hercules. The Lord of the Rings and the Arthurian Cycle revolve around a central quest.

I'm not sure what your teacher means by symbolic archetypes (maybe e-mail them and ask?) but certain symbols are typically associated with certain archetypes. A sword, for example, is a symbol of masculine power. The color white often implies innocence or purity.

There are many excellent books and online readings on archetypes in literature. Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With a Thousand Faces" is one of the defining works concerning archetypes.

Answer 2

The definition you've been provided with isn't bad, it's just lacking enough concrete examples. The archetype is just the original example of something... a model, if you will, or a pattern than others use, something seen and used widely. In this case, with literature, you are going to be looking for early examples of plots which we still see in literature today.

The mythical story of Echo and Narcissus might be a good start. You could call that an archetype of the "spurned lover", for instance. But you can pull any elements out of the story that you've seen repeated in comtemporary writings. When you are explaining why it's an archetype, use modern examples to back up your claim. I hope that helps!

Answer 3

Archtypes are a way of expalinging ideas used to interpurt observations. Anything can be an archetype. The great goddess would be the archetype of mother earth. In easier words, Gandolf, from lord of the rings would be an archetype of a wise old man. Anyone and anything can be an archetype, depending on how you look at it. In stories and fables. Like peter pan for childhood innocence. Greek heros for brave strength. That would be the most simplest way of expalining it. You can easily go in to archetypes much deeper if you were looking at them from a cultural or religious point of view. Like Jesus as the savour son, and the moon as the great mother. I hope this helped.

Answer 4

Think of an archetype as a model or prototype, from which specific characters, situations or symbols are created. As the instructions note, "The Quest" is an archetypical situation, repeated in different forms in different stories.

A familiar character archetype is "The Troubled Hero," which would include characters like Batman. Another character archetype would be "Sage," of which "Yoda" is a well-known example.

Answer 5

archetype in the dictionary = typical specimen.
So you basically have to find the main jist of something.... depending on the theme.
so what you have to do is choose the theme (situational, symbolic, character) and mention the main jist of each of those.

I'm sure your teacher might have given you loads of notes and hints on the main jists of the myths you have studied and the themes - situation, symbols, and characters...... ?