Notes on Archetypal Characters and Story based on a presentation by Annette Lyon:
The Writer’s Journey is a book that explains common types of characters and plots.
Archetypes
Hero – audience identification -- someone we can relate to on some level
if Malfoy were our main character, would we sympathize with him
growth, change –
action --
character flaw – biggest weakness (could be fear,
sacrifice -- (example, Harry willing to die for the greater good)
Mentor – often a wise old man or woman
(Dumbledore and Hagrid)
--Teaching
gift-giving (light-sabre) --
motivating hero – quelling fear, kick in the pants, etc
can turn out to be a villain shape-shifter
Threshold Guardian
obstacles
testing the Hero
(Dursley letters, purpose – to test the hero
Herald
issues the challenge
announce a coming change, that all is not well
provides motivation to Hero
person or object
Shape-shifter --
not what he or she appears to be (Shape)
“Real” self-revealed can force change
good or evil, can be any character
Shadow
the villain
tests the hero’s true abilities
forces Hero to rise to the challenge
often appear beautiful, elegant, or good (Shapeshifter)
Trickster
balances out the drama with a little laughter
brings things into perspective
Hero’s Journey
Ordinary World
forshadowing of special world
introduction of story quest
meeting of the hero and his or her problem (as the story progresses, the stakes get higher and higher)
Call to Adventure
herald arrives, announcing change
Hero is the one who must act
Refusal of the call
fear an other excuses
reluctant heroes vs willing heroes
more than one call
threshold guardian
Meeting with the mentor
before commitment to the adventure
gets the story moving
provides hero with training and or a helpful object
Crossing the First Threshold
shows hero’s commitment to go forward
leaving ordinary world, entering special world
threshold guardian
life will never be the same again
Test, Allies, Enemies (Bulk of story) If your character runs into an obstacle and overcomes it, he or she has to run into another obstacle close behind it. Challenges get progressively more difficult.
testing of hero indifferent situations
discovering who are allies, who are enemies
obtaining sidekicks
the rival
hero’s adjustment to New World is another test
watering holes – a scene where sitting in a gather place (Hogwart’s Express, tavern in Star Wars)
Approach to the Inmost Cave (may be about ¾ of way through)
bold vs. quiet approach
preparation and harder testing for the ordeal
illusions and Threshold Guardians
hero uses lessons already learned to overcome harder obstacles
a new Special World (example – going down where the Sorcerer’s Stone is kept)
Ordeal (where he overcomes fatal flaw – you flip the flaw upside down)
Hero must battle the Shadow (“final exam” using new knowledge)
Hero faces greatest fears
Hero willing to sacrifice and/or die
Hero appears to die (or sees death, or causes death)
Reward – Seizing the Sword
“capture” the treasure or reward
celebration (“campfire” scenes)
epiphany: Hero understands something new about self
Resurrection
The Road Back
hero heads back to ordinary world with elixer
common time for chase scenes
setbacks (villain steals back elixer, etc.
Return with the Elixir
Archetypes
Hero – audience identification -- someone we can relate to on some level
if Malfoy were our main character, would we sympathize with him
growth, change –
action --
character flaw – biggest weakness (could be fear,
sacrifice -- (example, Harry willing to die for the greater good)
Mentor – often a wise old man or woman
(Dumbledore and Hagrid)
--Teaching
gift-giving (light-sabre) --
motivating hero – quelling fear, kick in the pants, etc
can turn out to be a villain shape-shifter
Threshold Guardian
obstacles
testing the Hero
(Dursley letters, purpose – to test the hero
Herald
issues the challenge
announce a coming change, that all is not well
provides motivation to Hero
person or object
Shape-shifter --
not what he or she appears to be (Shape)
“Real” self-revealed can force change
good or evil, can be any character
Shadow
the villain
tests the hero’s true abilities
forces Hero to rise to the challenge
often appear beautiful, elegant, or good (Shapeshifter)
Trickster
balances out the drama with a little laughter
brings things into perspective
Hero’s Journey
Ordinary World
forshadowing of special world
introduction of story quest
meeting of the hero and his or her problem (as the story progresses, the stakes get higher and higher)
Call to Adventure
herald arrives, announcing change
Hero is the one who must act
Refusal of the call
fear an other excuses
reluctant heroes vs willing heroes
more than one call
threshold guardian
Meeting with the mentor
before commitment to the adventure
gets the story moving
provides hero with training and or a helpful object
Crossing the First Threshold
shows hero’s commitment to go forward
leaving ordinary world, entering special world
threshold guardian
life will never be the same again
Test, Allies, Enemies (Bulk of story) If your character runs into an obstacle and overcomes it, he or she has to run into another obstacle close behind it. Challenges get progressively more difficult.
testing of hero indifferent situations
discovering who are allies, who are enemies
obtaining sidekicks
the rival
hero’s adjustment to New World is another test
watering holes – a scene where sitting in a gather place (Hogwart’s Express, tavern in Star Wars)
Approach to the Inmost Cave (may be about ¾ of way through)
bold vs. quiet approach
preparation and harder testing for the ordeal
illusions and Threshold Guardians
hero uses lessons already learned to overcome harder obstacles
a new Special World (example – going down where the Sorcerer’s Stone is kept)
Ordeal (where he overcomes fatal flaw – you flip the flaw upside down)
Hero must battle the Shadow (“final exam” using new knowledge)
Hero faces greatest fears
Hero willing to sacrifice and/or die
Hero appears to die (or sees death, or causes death)
Reward – Seizing the Sword
“capture” the treasure or reward
celebration (“campfire” scenes)
epiphany: Hero understands something new about self
Resurrection
The Road Back
hero heads back to ordinary world with elixer
common time for chase scenes
setbacks (villain steals back elixer, etc.
Return with the Elixir
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