Who’s Afraid of the

Big Bad Wolf?

Middle School Level

Understanding of Archetypes, Motifs, and Allegories in
Literature
 What is an “archetype?”
An archetype (pronounced ark-tipe), is a model, or prime
example of a concept, ideal, and is usually represented by using
a character in a story.

The character or person in the story is who they are, but they
also represent something else; a common, shared thought
amongst a culture or society.

This requires some thought, and examples. We’ll ask the

question again to check for understanding.
 Purpose of this Presentation
There are numerous examples of each archetype in
“real life.”

However, in order to focus on archetypes in

literature, we will review fictional characters.

This will aid in being more objective in the

classifications and examples.
 The Hero
The Hero is so well-known that his journey
has been mapped out long ago. There are
variations in his/her path, but the role the
hero plays is basically the same:

A person, who at first usually doesn’t want

to, must do something dangerous in order
to save someone or something other than
himself.
 The Anti-Hero
The Anti-Hero is very similar to the
hero, except, the anti-hero is usually
an unlikeable person who has to save
someone or something, too, and they
are very resistant. In fact, may even
sabotage or jeopardize the quest.

For a fun list of anti-heroes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_anti-heroes

 The Scapegoat
This animal or person is a “sacrifice” made by the
group in order to try to erase some wrongdoing or
sin in the community. By using a scapegoat, the
community transfers the blame from themselves
to the animal or person.

By the way, this doesn’t work, ever.

 The Outcast
The Outcast is a character who has
been banished from the
group/community because of a
crime, or perceived “difference” that
can’t be resolved, such as a physical
deformity.

Grendel in Beowulf (1100 AD) is

one of the first outcasts in fiction.

Frankenstein – just because

he’s made from dead peoples’
body parts, is that any reason
not to love him?
 The “Devil” Figure
Beetlejuice personifies greed,
evil, rudeness, and bad breath!
The Devil figure is “evil incarnate”
which means “bad to the bone!”
This character offers something of
great value to the protagonist of the
story in exchange for his/her “soul.”
The soul can be something which is
irreplaceable, and once given or
exchanged, cannot be easily restored.
 The Star-Crossed Lovers

These two can’t get a break. Two people fall in love, but they can’t be together
because of family differences, cultural, or other interferences. Their story usually
ends tragically, including a misunderstanding of traumatic scale, maybe even
death. Romeo and Juliet are perhaps the most famous of star-crossed lovers.
 The Earth Mother
The Earth Mother symbolizes
abundance, nurturing,
unconditional love (she will always
love you, no matter what), and
emotional support.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a prime

example of the Earth Mother personified.

Personification: the representation of a human

quality in an animal or object.
 Father Figure:
The King, The Boss, The Patron
The Father Figure is the boss, the big
“kahuna” or the chief, or the wise man who
offers guidance, is firm but often kind, or
presents a challenge to the youth to “step it
up.” He is firm but kind.
There is another “father figure” archetype,
though: it is a man who expects something for
his support. His love and respect is conditional.
Sometimes the father figure is someone the
“young buck” must physically or mentally
challenge and defeat in order to be considered
a man; that’s his “rite of passage.”
 Loveable Sidekick
The Loveable Sidekick is
always at the hero’s side,
ready to lend a hand, or a
hoof, crack a joke, or ease
the hero’s suffering.
 The Shrew I hate you
I hate you. more.

The Shrew is a nagging, spiteful woman. She usually

pretends that she is above love or romance, but is really
looking for a partner who can match her in intelligence,
wit, and respect.
 The Joker
This character is often
named Jack in fables, fairy
tales, legends, and lore.
The archetype of the joker,
or Jack, is reckless, a loner,
immature, impulsive,
Jack Black…as well as…
brash, with a dash of Jack and the Beanstalk, Captain Jack
insensitivity. They can also Sparrow, Jack be nimble, Spring-heel
Jack, Jack Kvetch, Jack Skellington, (the
be charming, funny, and Pumpkin King), Jack O’Lantern, Jack in
captivating characters. the Box, Jack the Ripper, Jack and Jill,
Jack Sprat, and of course, The Joker.
 The Queen

The Queen is often portrayed as a woman who is in complete control of

herself, her surroundings, and her subjects. Sometimes the phrase “Ice
Queen” is used to describe her stand-offish attitude. She will care for you, but
you must be loyal. You won’t get a lot of hugs from her, but she will save your
head from the chopping block (maybe) or finance a voyage to the new world.
The Witch
The Witch in mythology, fables, and fairy
tales is a female character who really
ruins everyone’s day. She’s the antagonist
on a rampage – no one is really sure why
she’s so upset, or wants to be so evil, but
she sure is cranky. She can also be found
somewhere on the scale of “evil
stepmother” to “evil queen” too.
 The Temptress
The Temptress is usually a
very beautiful woman or
handsome man, but they
have a cold heart, and are
manipulative, destructive
characters. The Temptress
brings down the Hero
using her “wily feminine
ways” of seduction!

Elizabeth Taylor plays

Cleopatra
 The Platonic Ideal
The Platonic Ideal is the typical
“girl next door.” She’s nice,
intelligent, but she’s not
someone others want to be
involved with romantically. She
provides intellectual or spiritual
support and inspiration, but she
can’t compete with the
Temptress in terms of physical
attraction.
Poor Velma – can’t compete with Daphne, and
has to wear that orange sweater all the time!
 The Unfaithful Wife
The Unfaithful Wife sees
her husband as boring, or
no fun. The spark has left,
if there ever was one. She
is attracted to someone
more handsome and
romantic. It usually doesn’t
end up well, though.
Guinevere is one of the most famous
“unfaithful wives” in fiction,
dumping King Arthur for Lancelot.
 Maiden-Mother-Crone
These archetypes represent the three main stages of life, from
youth, to middle age, to old age. The concept of life and death is
the most predominant theme of all, and is represented in many
archetypes.
 Father Time

Father Time is actually based on the Ancient

Roman god, Chronos-Saturn. He symbolized
agriculture and the harvest, and was often
seen with a scythe. Now, he is represented
by the “Grim Reaper” (death) or Father Time.
 Themes
Themes are the “big ideas” in
literature, artwork, and movies.
 Motifs
Motifs are repeated ideas, patterns, and themes, in literature,
artwork, or movies.

Example:

In The Outsiders, Ponyboy keeps focused on his hair, what hair

symbolizes and represents. The way the Greasers and the Socs
look, their clothes, and their appearance, is mentioned again and
again, too, to support the theme of “rich versus poor.”
 The Quest
This is the hero’s search or journey
for the object or person who has
“power” or “the cure” for the
community. The quest often
involves the hero and others who
are there to assist him, and they
meet many of the archetypes along
the way who often try distract or
sabotage the quest.

Now, whether or not going on the

quest was a “good idea” in
hindsight is up to us, the readers, to
judge.
 The Task
There is a job to do, a goal to achieve…is it to save the town from
impending disaster? To rescue the fair damsel in distress? There
is a superhuman assignment that the hero must complete in
order to prove himself as “the one.”

Arthur pulls Excalibur out when no

one else can, thus proving he’s the
“one” to lead England.
 The Initiation
The initiation ritual is a “rite of
passage,” usually from childhood to
an adult. It can also be a new
awareness or perception, or new
knowledge, that the hero has had
to “pay a price,” usually
demonstrated during the climax of
the story.

Luke loses his hand during a battle

with Darth Vader. It happens also at the
moment when Luke is told of who his
real father is…Darth Vader!
 The Journey
The Journey represents
the pitfalls and perils of
the “path,” whether
literally (real) or
figuratively (symbolic). The
hero is in in motion, either
on foot, horse, train, car,
boat, well, you name it,
but is ultimately seeking
information, Captain Jack Sparrow have many adventures on and
enlightenment, or off the Black Pearl. The Black Pearl symbolizes
freedom, the and the enjoyment of the journey, not
truth/justice. necessarily the destination.
 The Fall
Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) sells
his soul to try to save his father,
and he himself falls out of grace,
and works to redeem himself by
fighting other evil-doers.
The Fall is when the hero
descends into a “lower state,”
either morally, spiritually, and/or
physically. There is a loss of
innocence and happiness. They
are usually expelled from the
community via a misstep or error
of judgment. Getting back “on
the right path” becomes their
next objective.
*The Ghost Rider is also a good
example of an anti-hero.
Allegory
A metaphor, or fable, by which an idea or
message is portrayed using archetypes.

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, farm

animals represent different personalities
and characters in the human world.
Check for understanding:
Archetype: Your Example from Reason or
a novel or story: Justification:
Hero
Anti-Hero
Scapegoat
Outcast
Star-Crossed Lovers
Temptress
Your Choice:
Name the
archetype or
theme:
 Resources

Images: See hyperlinks on images.

Content:
Melendez, M. Prof., Myth in Literature, Sinclair Community College, Retrieved
December 2008;
http://people.sinclair.edu/mildredmelendez/docs/267/lecture05.pdf

Music that may be heard:

Ravel’s String Quartet in F, Second Movement
Tchaichovksy’s Peter and the Wolf

Power Point written, designed and prepared by K.C. Love, December 2008