In literature, an archetype is a typical character, an action, or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature.
Explanation:
Function of Archetype
The use of archetypical characters and situations gives a literary work a universal acceptance, as readers identify the characters and situations in their social and cultural context. By using common archetypes, writers attempt to impart realism to their works, as the situations and characters are drawn from the experiences of the world.
An archetype, also known as “universal symbol,” may be a character, a theme, a symbol, or even a setting. Many literary critics are of the opinion that archetypes – which have a common and recurring representation in a particular human culture, or entire human race – shape the structure and function of a literary work.
Examples of Archetype in Literature
Below is the analysis of common archetypes that exist in literature.
Archetypes in Characters
Example #1: The Hero He or she is a character who predominantly exhibits goodness, and struggles against evil in order to restore harmony and justice to society. Examples of hero include Beowulf, in the book Beowulf, Hercules, in the book Hercules, and d’Artagnan, from The Three Musketeers.
Example #2: The Mother Figure Such a character may be represented as a Fairy God Mother, who guides and directs a child, Mother Earth, who contacts people and offers spiritual and emotional nourishment, or a Stepmother who treats their stepchildren poorly. Examples of a mother figure include:
In Literature:
Lucy and Madame Defarge, from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities
Disely, from William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury
Gladriel, from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
Glinda, from the Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
In Fairy Tales:
The wicked stepmother in Charles Perrault’s Cinderella
The fairy godmothers in Charles Perrault’s Sleeping Beauty
Mother Goose The grandmother in Charles Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood
In Mythology: The mythological figures of Persephone, Demeter, Hecate, Gorgon, Medusa
Example #3: The Innocent Youth He or she is inexperienced, with many weaknesses, and seeks safety with others. Others like him or her because of the trust he or she shows in other people. Usually, the experience of coming of age comes in the later parts of the narratives. Examples of innocent youth include:
Pip in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations
Nicholas in Charles Dickens’ The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Joseph from Henry Fielding’s The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews
Example #4: The Mentor His or her task is to protect the main character. It is through the wise advice and training of a mentor that the main character achieves success in the world. Examples of mentor include:
Gandalf in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
Parson Adams in Henry Fielding’s Joseph Andrews
Senex in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wind in the Door
Example #5: The Doppelganger It is a duplicate or shadow of a character, which represents the evil side of his personality. Examples of doppelganger in popular literary works include:
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Edgar Allen Poe’s William Wilson
Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Example #6: The Scapegoat A character that takes the blame for everything bad that happens. Examples of scapegoat include:
Snowball, in George Orwell’s Animal Farm
Example #7: The Villain A character whose main function is to go to any extent to oppose the hero, or whom the hero must annihilate in order to bring justice. Examples of villain include:
Shere Khan, from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book stories
Long John Silver, from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island
Archetypes in Situations
Example #8: The Journey The main character takes a journey, which may be physical or emotional, to understand his or her personality, and the nature of the world. Examples of archetype in journey include:
Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy
Henry Fielding’s The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams
Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels
Example #9: The InitiationThe main character undergoes experiences that lead him towards maturity. Examples of archetypes in initiation include:
Henry Fielding’s History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
Laurence Sterne’s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Voltaire’s Candide
Example #10: Good Versus Evil It represents the clash of forces that represent goodness with those that represent evil. Examples of this archetype include:
William Shakespeare’s King Lear
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness
Example #11: The Fall
The main character falls from grace in consequence of his or her own actions. Examples of archetype in fall include:
Oedipus, from Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex
Lear, from William Shakespeare’s King Lear
