k-frances:
Situational and Symbolic Archetypes
You can find my previous posts here [where I explain...
Situational and Symbolic Archetypes
You can find my previous posts here [where I explain how to use archetypes and what they are] and here [where I list character archetypes]. Bellow I have made a list of both situational and symbolic archetypes. I paired them together because they both have more affect on plot either by being a literal plot device, or by being influential themes to the plot.
Situational Archetypes
The Quest: This is what must be done for the world to be righted. The protagonist must do this thing to live happily ever after and save the world.
The Ritual: The ceremonial event that marks the initiate’s right of passage complete and their coming into their new role.
The Fall: Character’s decent from pure, to not so pure. This follows some transgression and can be some kind of punishment (implemented or natural).
Death and Rebirth: Certain situational cues are used to imply death or rebirth, and therefore add meaning to the plot. The morning and spring time represent birth or beginning while winter and evening represent death or end.
Battle Between Good and Evil: Self-explanatory.
The Unhealable Wound: Physical or mental scar that will always be there, showing change in a character, a loss of innocence in some way (gaining of painful, worldly knowledge, change of core values because of a choice made)Symbolic Archetypes
Light vs. Dark: light is good, wise, and hopeful. Dark is unknown, evil, and despair
Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity: Innately wise characters understand situations where those supposedly in charge or the experts are ignorant to the ‘obvious’ truths.
Supernatural Intervention: God or godly forces intervene to affect the plot for better or worse
Fire and Ice: Fire is wisdom, civility, birth and knowledge. Ice is isolation, death, and ignorance
Nature vs. Technology: Nature is good, tech is bad
The Underworld: This is a hell-like place that usually requires facing ones fears, facing the fear of death, ect.
The Crossroads: A time or place in which the previous course of action/way is changed due to some realization
The Maze: This is used to represent a character being lost in their own self, facing fears and monsters while attempting to navigate the impossibly complicated and jumbled maze.
The Tower: Represents isolation of the self, a place of evil
The Magic Weapon: This is needed for the hero to complete their quest
Fog: Uncertainty
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