Introduction to Archetypes in Literature

This presentation introduces the concept of archetypes commonly found in literature.

1. Introduction to
Archetypes
Lydia Elrod
8
th
grade ELA

2. Standard
•ELACC8RL9: Analyze how a modern work of
fiction draws on themes, patterns of events,
or character types from myths, traditional
stories, or religious works such as the Bible,
including describing how the material is
rendered new.

3. Objectives
•The student will define what an archetype is in
his or her own words.
•The student will find examples of different
archetypes in the novel.
•The student will compare the archetypal
characters in the class novel, The House of the
Scorpion to characters of the same archetype
in other stories, television shows, etc.

4. What’s an Archetype?
•An archetype is a first model from which
others are derived or copied. This can be a
symbolic character that fits a certain role, such
as the hero or the underdog.

5. What are some other examples?
•The mother or father figure
•The fatal woman/temptress
•The witch
•The monster/villain
•The innocent
•The alter ego or double
•The wise old man or woman
•The trickster or fool

6. Think-Pair-Share
•On your own paper, write your own definition
of “archetype” in your own words. Include an
example from a book, movie, or television
show that represents an archetype we’ve
discussed.
•When the timer goes off, turn to your
neighbor and discuss what you’ve written.

7. The Lesson/Activity
•The teacher will then discuss the many archetypes
represented in The House of the Scorpion.
•The students will work with a partner to research an
assigned archetype to create a presentation about this
particular archetype. It will include a description of
this archetype’s characteristics, examples of characters
from the book that identify with this archetype, and
other examples that they’ve recognized in books,
movies, television shows, etc.
•Pictures will be included in their presentations.