Archetypes are fundamental psychological patterns within a person, and they are roles a person may play in society. In other words, archetypes are essential ways of interacting with others.
Jung: “When a situation occurs which corresponds to a given archetype, that archetype becomes activated and a compulsion appears."
Key point: archetype is part of the larger story system. The plot gives the characters the tests they need to deal with their unique shadow weakness.
Key point: always make the archetype specific and individual to your unique character.
Step 3. Twist the archetype in some way to make it a unique individual.
Mother’s weakness-shadow: forcing the child to remain a child, retaining power over another based on their weakness.
The warrior is skilled in action and the uses of power and is the practical enforcer of what is right.
Notice Tolkein twists the warrior archetype by also making him a healer and a king.
Key point: this archetype in not simply a teacher. He acts as a link between the unconscious and conscious realms.
Key point: The Wise Old Man/Woman is not simply a parent figure.
The maiden symbolizes an innocent childlike aspect of the psyche, being open to the moment.
Above all, the maiden’s flaw is her passivity.
The impulse of love expands each person beyond their small egos and reminds them to be open to the full range of human experience.
1. The addicted lover forces the other to stand under one's shadow or loses oneself in the other.
Anyone who has a facility for role-playing is expressing the magician.
Key point: the trickster is the most popular character in the world.
The trickster is very bright, but this is more intellect and wit than true wisdom.
Key point: just as you can mix genres, you can also mix archetypes.
Star Wars Luke (+ R2D2 + C3PO) Darth Vader (prince-warrior-magician) (king-warrior-magician) Han Solo (+ Chewbacca) Princess Leia (rebel-warrior) (princess-rebel)
Assignment for next class IF YOU ARE WRITING SCENES FOR YOUR STORY: 1. write the next three scenes in the story where there is dialogue That means three scenes, not three chapters. Be sure to start by listing the premise in 1 line
Assignment for next class IF YOU ARE WRITING SCENES FOR YOUR STORY: 2. write your hero’s weakness in 1 line 3. write the endpoint of your hero’s character change, In other words, his or her self-revelation
Assignment for next class IF YOUR STORY IS AT ANY OTHER STEP OF THE WRITING PROCESS 4. Important: state which assignment you are doing 5. follow the instructions for that month’s assignment Don’t hand in more than the assignment asks for. 6. send in any question you have about story in general or about your story in particular
Remember: hand in only 1 assignment at a time.
Next class: Wednesday, August 22
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