What is an archetype?
According to Carl Jung, an archetype is apart of the “collective unconscious
of mankind.” An archetype is a pattern or reoccurrence that is derived from
the experiences and inherited into the subconscious of an individual from
culture. The patterns can be seen myths, dreams, and literature through
character types, symbols, images, themes, or situations. (Harmon and Holman).
of mankind.” An archetype is a pattern or reoccurrence that is derived from
the experiences and inherited into the subconscious of an individual from
culture. The patterns can be seen myths, dreams, and literature through
character types, symbols, images, themes, or situations. (Harmon and Holman).
How are archetypes useful?
Archetypes are found most helpful in Epics. In, A Handbook to Literature
edited by William Harmon and C. Hugh Holman, it is “believed to evoke
profound emotions because it touches the unconscious memory and thus
calls into play illogical but strong responses (Harmon and Holman).”
edited by William Harmon and C. Hugh Holman, it is “believed to evoke
profound emotions because it touches the unconscious memory and thus
calls into play illogical but strong responses (Harmon and Holman).”
What May be learned from Archetypes?
Jung saw the collective unconscious as a set of fundamental concepts which we all share. These
concepts, which Jung called archetypes, relate to the basic elements of human life. For Jung, it is
the appearance of symbolic images in the conscious mind - as seen in dreams, visions, mythology and
the like - that betray the existence of these archetypes. In addition, the appearance of similar symbols
across cultures widely separated in time and space indicate an innate origin for archetypes - a collective
unconscious. At this unconsciousness level, archetypes link together experiences and encourage types
of behaviour appropriate to a given situation.
What may be learned from archetypes is that no matter the culture, race, or religion, that on an
unconscious level, we are all the same.
concepts, which Jung called archetypes, relate to the basic elements of human life. For Jung, it is
the appearance of symbolic images in the conscious mind - as seen in dreams, visions, mythology and
the like - that betray the existence of these archetypes. In addition, the appearance of similar symbols
across cultures widely separated in time and space indicate an innate origin for archetypes - a collective
unconscious. At this unconsciousness level, archetypes link together experiences and encourage types
of behaviour appropriate to a given situation.
What may be learned from archetypes is that no matter the culture, race, or religion, that on an
unconscious level, we are all the same.