Last year (to the day!), I said I would do a series on various archetypal thought systems that can inspire a writer. Today (and until I get done with it), I'm going to discuss Joseph Campbell'
s breakdowns according to Christopher Vogler .
Vogler names the most useful, basic archetypes for writers:
- Hero
- Mentor
- Threshold Guardian
- Herald
- Shapeshifter
- Shadow
- Trickster
First things first. According to Vogler,
The concept of archetypes is an indispensable tool for understanding the purpose or function of characters in a story. If you grasp the function of the archetype which a particular character is expressing, it can help you determine if the character is pulling her full weight in the story. The archetypes are part of the universal language of storytelling, and a command of their energy is as essential to the writer as breathing. (p. 29, emphasis his)
It's very easy to call character A the Mentor, and that is her only function - to mentor and educate the Hero, then to let her go into the world on her own. But in order to make a story character interesting and three dimensional, the Mentor will most likely play many roles, just like real people. Someone can give you excellent advice one day, then the next tie your shoelaces together. This person has embodied both the Mentor and the Trickster/Shapeshifter archetypes.
For the next few days, I'll breakdown each individual archetype. This is going to be fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment