Mythological Archetypes and Symbols in Literature Analysis

Mythology

Analysis of a group or culture, including stories, rituals, images, and emotions that seeks to understand how/why a certain group came to be a group with their specific attitudes and behaviors.

Archetype

Universal symbols and the emotions they evoke; characters, themes, designs that will function as models for generations to follow and emulate; shaped by environment, geography, culture, history, economy, etc.

Water (as an archetype)

Mystery of creation, birth - death resurrection, purification, life, fertility, growth, unconscious.

The sea (as an archetype)

Mother of life, spiritual mystery and infinity, death and rebirth, all life, timelessness, eternity, unconsciousness.

Rivers (as an archetype)

Death and rebirth, baptism, movement of time to eternity, phases of a cycle, transformation, passage from one state of being to another.

Lakes (as an archetype)

Physical arena, romance centered, sexual, attractive forces (clean, healthy).

Rain (as an archetype)

Fertility, fertilization of mother earth.

Sun (as an archetype)

Creative energy, life force, law in nature, consciousness, thinking, enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision, passage of time, father principle.

Rising sun (as an archetype)

Birth, beginning, creation, enlightenment, hope, a new start, growth, positive.

Setting sun (as an archetype)

Death, an ending, destruction, ignorance, despair, repetition of the past, negative.

Moon (as an archetype)

Female, darkness, romance, power of physical attraction, associated with water (tides), linked to emotional and behavioral wildness and uncontrolled activity, unconscious.

Seasons (as an archetype)

Passage of time, eternal cycle, life.

Spring (as an archetype)

Hope, renewal, ascension, rebirth, fertility, new growth, hope, celebration of earth, childhood (comedy).

Summer (as an archetype)

Maturity, adult love, acceptance of others, gaining wisdom through experience (romance).

Autumn (as an archetype)

Aging, taking rewards from life's work, teaching, imparting wisdom (tragedy).

Winter (as an archetype)

Dying, death, secrecy, hidden aspects, long rests, denial (irony).

Garden (as an archetype)

Paradise, unspoiled beauty (especially feminine), innocence, fertility, womb.

Flower (as an archetype)

Beauty.

Tree

life in the cosmos, consistence, growth, proliferation, generative and regenerative process, inexhaustible life, immortality (Tree of Life)

Desert

spiritual aridity, death, nihilism, hopelessness

Path

the way to a goal, following the model behavior (attitude and emotional health), performing rituals

Caves and Tunnels

rebirth, passage, death of the old life; the womb; where self and ego unite; passage to the light

Islands

remoteness from society, isolation; refuge; lost paradise; blocks outside influences, transformation, resilience

Red

blood, sacrifice, violent passion, death, disorder, danger, intense love/hate

White

light, knowledge, civilization, the open & shown, purity, innocence, timelessness, death, terror, the supernatural, blinding truths of mystery revealed

Black

darkness, chaos, confusion, mystery, the unknown, the unconscious, evil, melancholy, death

Green

growth, sensation, hope, fertility, life; death, decay, fungus

Blue

highly positive, truth, religiosity, sky, water, security, spiritual purity

Yellow

friendship, warmth, sun; urine, decay, puss

Purple

royalty, pure blooded family line, passion in physical sense, royal sacrifice

Brown

earth, common, muddied, rot, feces

Circle

wholeness, unity, begun and ended, beginning-less and endless, completed cycle, self-generation

Yin-Yang

the union and balance and necessity of opposite forces, Yin is the female force: darkness, passivity, unconsciousness; Yang is the masculine force: light, activity, consciousness. Notice that in each both aspects contain the other and surround the other and support the other as they are contained in the other are surrounded by the other and supported by the other

Egg

(oval), the mystery of life and the forces of generation, birth

Serpent

(snake, worm), (phallic, libido), pure energy, pure force, corruption, sensuality, wisdom, destruction, mystery, the unconsciousness

Cross

power over all directions, symbol of human shape, a tree image, scepter, structure, directional

Triangle

Holy Trinity.

light

a source of illumination or enlightenment

star (star of David)

a symbol representing spiritual awareness and unity

One

the individual, the path, the way, the god, the most important element or set of conditions

Two

union of mature relationship (romance or friendship), duality of nature, duality of human nature

Three

male, holy trinity, support structure, found often in nature (see triangle)

Five

associated with humans - as in 5 fingers on each hand; ten and factors of 5 will work in the same way

Seven

highly potent union of 3 and 4, the completion of a perfect cycle/order, holy union

Twelve

working from factors of 3 and 4, used to present elements of time, seasons, life cycle, whole groups

Thirteen

an unnatural number not found in nature, signifies an unholy group or cycle

Twenty-eight

a very natural number, factors of 3 and 4, skin, menstrual, moon, pregnancy, months, insects

Infant

innocence, purity, hope, beginning, positive creation

Child

curiosity, hope, vocalizes, truth, observes with clarity, innocence

Friend

companion, confidante, aid, partner, fellow warrior, sharer, selfless, trust

Fool

offers relief through light emotion, offers a counter behavior as a foil for hero to observe right behavior

HERO

transformation and redemption model, selfless, works for society's betterment, must pass the tests; held up to a higher standard, suffers silently, usually bigger/stronger/smarter/faster/more able/more willing than other men, will attempt to save humanity even unwillingly, solves riddles, kills monsters, brings peace to the people, surmounts horrible odds to win; marries the beautiful/patient/kind/submissive princess and continues the royal line

Scapegoat

dies to atone for or remove the sins of the group, can be selected by the group, volunteer, or be chosen by an immortal, dies to return the land to peace and fruitfulness, dies to allow the group to live free from guilt, often seen as a key or door to a world free of sin (back to the garden)

Wise Old Man

personification of the spirit, a moral/intellectual guide for the hero, savior, redeemer, guru, teacher, knowledge, wisdom, insight, willingness to help, goodwill, appears to the hero in times of need and hopelessness, helps the man who needs/attempts to go outside himself for answers

Demon

tempter, personification of everyman's worst fears or imagination

Good Mother

often seen as the great mother, includes all the positive aspects of mother earth, life principle, birth, nourishment, warmth, protection, the home, growth, abundance, light, encouragement, support through changes, spiritual goodness

Terrible Mother

the negative aspects of mother earth, death through purposeful neglect or abuse, starvation, lack of emotion, barren, witch, *****, siren, sorceress, femme fatale, associated with sensuality, fear, danger, darkness, dismemberment, emasculation, death, the terrifying aspects of the unconscious

Soul Mate

holy mother, princess or beautiful lady, innocent or virginal, usually young, incarnation of inspiration and spiritual fulfillment, the completion of the male model, often seen as needing to be saved by the hero

Creation

almost every mythology is built on its own story of how the universe, mankind, animals, all of it was created, many creation stories include elements of flood, animals, paradise, fire/light in the sky, voices from above

Journey

call to adventure, immortal/spiritual aid, departure, crossing the 1st threshold, tests & trials, pit experience, reward/boon, return, re-crossing the threshold, elixir

Initiation Ritual

three phases of initiation: SEPARATION => TRANSFORMATION => RETURN the hero must pass from selfishness/immaturity/ignorance to selflessness/maturity/wisdom in all aspects of life: physical, social, interpersonal, spiritual, cosmic; must prove he is worthy to be a member of the group and that he is familiar with the group's customs, rituals, rules, behaviors, symbols

Redemption

sin, crime, wrongdoing; acknowledge mistake/ wrongdoing; punishment or penance, the price to pay for sin; redemption or forgiveness

Time

escape from time, return to paradise, a state of perfect bliss enjoyed by a man before his fall into corruption and mortality; mystical submersion into cyclical time, an endless death and regeneration, man submits to the vast rhythm of nature's eternal cycles

Sleep/The Void

loss of personal awareness and sense of self. Healing and true peace or loss of self can be achieved in this state.