Archetypes

4.3B  The student will compare and contrast the adventures and exploits of characters like the trickster in traditional and classical literature

     An archetype is a character that is classic example of some type.  The character has a trait that is a defining characteristic.  In fables there are certain animals that are used to play certain roles that will teach the reader.  The fox is almost always shown as clever or tricky.  A lion is brave or powerful.  There are other archetypes that inhabit stories throughout time.  The young hero or the aged teacher are good examples. The young hero follows a common set of experiences that allows the astute reader to make predictions of what will happen to the young hero.  Almost certainly the old teacher will be killed or taken out of the way somehow to allow the young hero to shine.  Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenonbi are perfect examples of these two archetypes.

Fox-Tricky