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Archetypal patterns are recurring characters and plot devices in literature and film, such as the hero versus villain, quest narratives, and star-crossed lovers. These patterns are universally recognized and ingrained in society, with examples in almost every culture. Carl Jung used archetypes in psychotherapy to understand human motivations.
Archetypal models are characters or basic plot devices that appear repeatedly in various forms across different narratives portrayed in literature and film. Archetypes are like blueprints for creating different characters and storylines in works of fiction. Names and details may differ, but the underlying theme remains the same from text to text. Examples of archetypal patterns include the interactions between the hero and villain, the fate of star-crossed lovers, and the quest pattern.
The main thing about archetypal patterns is that they are universally recognized, which means that the basic characteristics and interactions between archetypes translate into different cultures. These patterns are typically ingrained in society and children learn them from an early age. Almost every culture has at least one story that fits into one of the patterns.
The hero versus villain is one of the most popular archetypal models in the world. Examples exist in almost every culture, from Beowulf’s epic adventure against Grendel from Beowulf to modern TV story arcs about criminals fighting the police. A hero can’t exist without a villain to fight, nor can there be a villain without a hero to stop him from succeeding in his evil plans. The two are mutually dependent on each other and together they bring a sense of urgency and climax to a story.
Another of the common archetypal patterns involves characters who set out on a quest. King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table sought the Holy Grail; Hercules of Greek mythology went on a quest to complete the 12 labors with which he was sentenced as punishment for killing his wife and his son. Ferris Bueller can also be interpreted as someone who spends his infamous “day off” researching. The quest itself rather than the ultimate goal the hero hopes to achieve is usually the main point of a quest narrative, as the hero learns the most valuable lessons throughout the adventure.
The star-crossed lovers theme is another popular archetypal pattern; the story of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet offers one of the best known examples of this archetype. The overarching theme of this narrative revolves around two lovers, typically young and innocent, who are doomed to be separated by an unstoppable force of some kind. Their lives traditionally end in tragedy. Although Shakespeare popularized the pattern, examples of star-crossed lovers can be seen throughout ancient mythology. Greek mythology, for example, is full of lovers drawn to each other only to be torn apart by the wrath of the gods.
Archetypal patterns repeat themselves over and over in stories, movies, and television shows. Archetype strains are so prevalent in human cultures that psychologist Carl Jung devised his own set of archetypes and applied them to his psychotherapy to help patients better understand their motivations. Jung’s theories were based on years of research which determined that nearly all cultures follow the same archetypal patterns. He speculated that these models could be used to create a unified view of how the human mind works.
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