Archetypal Criticism

A Critical Approach to Literature

What is an archetype?

An archetype means “original form”

It refers to the universal symbols,

theme, characters and images we find
repeated throughout literature
Another Definition:

 In Literary Criticism: Ten Approaches, the

editors, E.A. Watson and E.W. Ducharme,
discuss archetypal criticism.

 It is defined by Watson and Ducharme as “a

recurrent, universal pattern or motif holding the
same or similar meaning and significance for all
individuals in every age and in every part of the
world.” (321)
Archetypal criticism is said to
increase both the knowledge of a
literary piece and the satisfaction in
reading the work
Watson & Ducharme write:

“One is able to see that an idea, image,

character, setting or theme in a literary
work corresponds to or is based upon the
same or similar patterns in other works of
literature and in present and past religious
cultures”. (320)
Furthermore…

“Archetypal criticism looks in literature for

patterns and traces them through works of
classical antiquity into modern texts, and
interprets those reverberations as symbols
or manifestations of universal human
conflicts and desires.” (321)
And this is the description I like best:

Watson and Ducharme further describe the

ability of archetypes to move us:
– “Great art is durable and always relevant
precisely because, in the words of
William Faulkner, it ‘grieves on
universal bones’”. (321)
Archetypal Criticism

Archetypal or Mythological Critics look

for underlying, recurrent patterns in
literature (archetypes)
These patterns reveal universal meaning
and basic truths about the human condition
for readers regardless of where or when
they live
In simple terms…

An archetype is a pattern in literature , the

meaning of which is understood by any
reader
An archetype will elicit the same response
from a reader of a literary work in China
5000 years ago as it will a reader in South
Windsor today
Wow!

 Consider the implications of this idea.

 An archetypal critic would suggest that all human
experience is linked through literature and that
this experience is expressed again and again
using the same patterns throughout time and
space.
 An archetypal critic would also say that the
recurring patterns in literature prove that there are
universal truths and we can learn them by reading
Archetypes: Where does this idea
come from?

Archetypes were first suggested by Carl

Jung, pronounced “Young” (1875-1961)
Jungian Psychology

Jung was a psychologist who applied

the term archetype to the “primordial
images” that spring from our common
human experience
Jung suggested that we all share a
“collective unconscious” in which all
of the history of human experience in
contained and to which we all have
access through our subconscious
minds
These images, or archetypes are
expressed by our subconscious
through the myths, religion, dreams,
fantasies and literature of the human
race
Because we all share in the “collective
unconscious”, we all recognize these
archetypes or patterns when we see or read
them
Categories of Archetypes

How can I recognize them in

literature?
Categories of Archetypes

Archetypes can be divided into categories:

– Conflicts
– Characters
– Situations
– Themes
– Myths
– Symbols
Archetypal Conflicts

These are conflicts we see appear again

and again in literature:
– Young v. Old
– Strong v. Weak
– Rich v. Poor
– Insiders v. Outsiders
– Dreams v. Reality
– Men v. Women
Archetypal Characters

 Innocent Youth  Shrew (Nag)

 Bully  Warrior
 Everyman  Dragon Slayer
 Devil  Outsider
 Dreamer  Hero
 Scapegoat  Seductress
 Outcast  Wanderer
 Magician
Archetypal Situations

Coming of Age Dying

Being Tempted Being Reborn
Making a Sacrifice Loss of Innocence
Falling from a Quest
High Position
Archetypal Myths

 Adam and Eve  Faust &

 David and Goliath Mephistopheles
 Garden of Eden  Sampson & Delilah
Archetypal Symbols
Every symbol is an archetype!

Water Flowers
Sea Rain
Garden Fire
Sun Flooding
Colours Animals
Circle of Stories

Northrop Frye, an archetypal critic,

suggests that literary archetypes can
be classified by genre and these
genres seem to correspond to the
seasons of the year and the life cycle
of humanity
Frye’s Mythos

 Notice how each

archetypal genre of
literature corresponds to a
season
 Each of the four genres
share characteristics of
the genres next to them
 You might have
encountered this system
of classifying archetypes
in ENG 3U1
Why discuss archetypes?

The recognition of patterns in literature,

and the understanding the universal truths
associated with these patterns can help
students of literature to unravel the
meaning of the literature we read.
Will it be on a test?

Yes, you will be responsible for the basic

theory behind archetypes as well as
memorizing examples of each category
and also finding common archetypes in the
literature we study in class.
Liana Cote Montminy

Under-simplified for you by your

loving teacher,