The Archetypal Hero

What Do Luke Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur, Moses, Wonder Woman, William Wallace, &

Optimus Prime all have in common?

ANSWER:

They are all Archetypal Heroes

But what is an Archetype?

And what does it have to do with Heroes?

Let’s start with the two guys who came up with the concept:

Carl JungJoseph

Campbell

A recurring pattern of images, situations, or symbols found in the mythology, religion, art, and dreams of cultures around the world.

Archetype:

Okay, so what exactly characterizes an Archetypal Hero then?

–And what does this have to do with the charactersmentioned?

Traits of the Archetypal Hero

• Unusual Circumstances of Birth

• Leaves Family and Lives With Others

• Traumatic Event Leads to Quest

• Special Weapon

• Supernatural Help

Unusual BirthOften in danger or

born into royalty…

Leaves FamilyRaised away from…

-or separated from home

Traumatic Event

The hero’s life is changed forever…

Special Weapon

Only the hero can wield it…

Supernatural Help

-The hero often has spiritual/magical guidance

• Proves self on Quest• Journey and Suffers a wound that cannot

be healed• Is not recognized upon return because of

disguise, deception, or change in form or manner

• Atonement With Father• Loves and admires a beautiful lady• Prepared to fight or die at any moment

More Heroic Traits…

Proves Him or HerselfThe hero performsheroic feats…

Journey & Unhealable Wound

Hero descends into a hell-like area and suffers wounding from an encounter with evil

Atonement With FatherThe hero either redeems father’s

evil deeds or reconciles with father over wrongs done by the hero

Ready to fight or die at any momentChooses the short, glorious life of battle

or the long life of the maturing journey

Aha! –But not all of these charactershave all of the characteristics!

That’s okay. -They don’t really have to…

As long as a hero displays several of these characteristics, he/she, is in the club!

Now, can you think of any other Archetypal Heroes?

Davis, Bryan M. "The Archetypal Hero in Literature, Religion, Movies, and Popular Culture." 11 Oct 1997. Stephen F. Austin University. (07/07/2009). <http://www.tatsbox.com/hero?

Nilsen, Alleen P., & Donelson, Kenneth L. Literature for Today’s Young Adults, 8th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. 2009.

References