Archetypes
Golding makes a point to focus on human nature and what happens when we are without the laws and rules set by society. Pay close attention to the following as you read:
- The description of their school clothing.
- The boys’ appearances and how it changes.
- The boys being described more like an animal would be described.
- How the atmosphere is described like the heat, different archetypes that are included.
- Anytime lowering or descending is mentioned.
Archetype: a pattern or universally recognizable characters, situations, or symbols that have their origin within the works of Plato and Sophocles. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, categorized archetypal characters who fit into a model based on literary function, emotional traits, or community role.
Color Archetypes | Shape Archetypes |
|---|---|
Black (darkness) – chaos, mystery, the unknown, before existence, death, the unconscious, evil Red – blood, sacrifice; violent passion Green – hope, growth, envy White (light) – purity, peace, innocence Orange – fire, pride, ambition. Blue – truth, spirituality, Violet – nostalgia, memory. Gold – sun, wealth Silver – Moon, wealth | Oval – woman, passivity Triangle – communication, space between heaven and earth, trinity, Square & Rectangle– firmness, stability, trust Cross – the Tree of life, axis of the world Circle – unity, eternity, oneness. |
Nature Archetypes | |
|---|---|
Air – activity, creativity, breath, light, freedom (liberty), movement Ascent – transcendence, inward journey, Descent – animal nature Duality – Yin-Yang, opposites Earth – receptive, solid Fire – the ability to transform,regeneration Lake – mystery, depth, unconscious Crescent moon – change, transition Mountain – ambition, goals
| Valley – depression, low-points, evil, unknown Sun – life force Stars – guidance Wind –messenger Ice/Snow – coldness, barrenness Clouds/Mist – mystery, sacred Rain – life giver Cave – feminine Lightning – intuition, inspiration Tree – where we learn, tree of life, tree of knowledge Forest – evil, lost, fear |
Objects | |
|---|---|
Feathers – lightness, speed Shadow – our dark side, evil, devil Masks – concealment Boats/Rafts – safe passage Bridge – change, transformation Right hand – rectitude, correctness Left hand – deviousness Feet – stability, freedom Skeleton – mortality Heart – love, emotions Hourglass – the passage of time |
Character Archetypes | |
|---|---|
The Hero – In its simplest form, this character is the one ultimately who may fulfill a necessary task and who will restore fertility, harmony, and/or justice to a community. The hero character is the one who typically experiences an initiation, who goes the community’s ritual (s), et cetera. The Initiates – These are young heroes who, prior to the quest, must endure some training and ritual. They are usually innocent at this stage. Mentors – These individuals serve as teachers or counselors to the initiates. Sometimes they work as role models and often serve as father or mother figure. They teach by example the skills necessary to survive the journey and quest. Hunting Group of Companions – These loyal companions are willing to face any number of perils in order to be together. Loyal Retainers – These individuals are like the noble sidekicks to the hero. Their duty is to protect the hero. Often the retainer reflects the hero’s nobility. | The Devil Figure – This character represents evil incarnate. He or she may offer worldly goods, fame, or knowledge to the protagonist in exchange for possession of the soul or integrity. This figure’s main aim is to oppose the hero in his or her quest. The Scapegoat – An animal or more usually a human whose death, often in a public ceremony, excuses some taint or sin that has been visited upon the community. This death often makes theme more powerful force to the hero. The Outcast – This figure is banished from a community for some crime (real or imagined). The outcast is usually destined to become a wanderer. The Creature of Nightmare – This monster, physical or abstract, is summoned from the deepest, darkest parts of the human psyche to threaten the lives of the hero/heroine. Often it is a perversion or desecration of the human body. |