Most people have a general knowledge of what mythology is, such as Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. However when applied to literature, it takes on an entirely different meaning. Archetypes and symbols are methods commonly used by authors to unify their stories without blatantly stating the theme of the work. They drop subtle hints that lead into the universal meaning that the work revolves around to engage the reader and force them to think in a new way. In his short story “Sleeping Beauty”, Walt Disney uses archetypes and symbols to demonstrate the expectations in modern society and the happy ending that many people today strive after. In “Sleeping Beauty” almost every character represents an archetype. The Queen represents a loving mother because she tried her hardest to protect her daughter from the curse, believing that if she did this, her daughter could escape it. She had only the best intentions for her daughter, however she could not avoid the inevitable. And when the Princess did prick her finger, the Queen was “so heart-broken that she died.” The Witch, whom the Queen forgot to invite to the birth, easily corresponds to the evil villain archetype. She arrives unwanted and uninvited at the christening and immediately casts a spell on the child. This barging in and intentionally harming an innocent child conforms directly to the behavior of a villain and causes an instantaneous feeling of hatred of the Witch. Then there is the caring grandmother, embodied by the good fairy. Once she finds out about the spell the Witch cast upon the Princess, she quickly counters it to lessen the danger the Princess may happen upon. The good fairy tries her best to calm the Queen, but to no avail. In the end, a respect for the fairy h... ... middle of paper ... ...ses this strategy to reach into the ideas that motivate people in their everyday lives and brings them out into the open. This adds to the overall style of the work, which imitates many of his other works such as “Cinderella”, “Snow White” and “The Little Mermaid.” All of these works allow people to realize their inner hopes of that happy ending, because it has the ideal plot and characters, which they can easily identify because they remain the same throughout each piece of literature. These archetypes eventually permeate the culture and become socially accepted by people around the world. Works Cited Disney, Walt. "Original Tale: Sleeping Beauty." Disney Storybook. Frank Pilhofer, 05 Dec. 2006. Web. 04 Jan. 2012. . Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. New York: St. Martin's, 1987. Print.
The realm of myths and magic have captivated the attention of masses for decades. Most of the myths and creatures originated from folklore from diverse cultures around the world. The mythological world usually contains myths and stories about fantastic beasts, immortal gods and goddesses, unearthly beings, and bizarre creatures that rule or roam the depths of the earth. Since the rise of the internet, classic myths like mermaids, vampires, dragons, werewolves, zombies, and unicorns continue to have a certain appeal to the public. Due to this advancement of technology, myths like vampires and zombies can tap into people’s needs or yearnings. Either by filling a psychological need, symbolizing the rejected and inexpungable or by creating an
Mythological and archetypal techniques coupled with the interpretation of symbolism found within a piece of literature tells the reader something about the mind and character of a people or culture. Not only does it allow you to delve deeper into this collective mind and speculate about the meaning of a particular work, it can give you something more. I believe that by using these techniques you also get a better glimpse into the main character’s state of mind. It also gives you clues as to is going on ‘behind the scenes’ that will affect the character’s mental state.
In literature, the word archetype is a worldwide blueprint. Its symbolism can be used again and again in different forms, including archetypical heroes, are involved in many diverse cultures (PBS 1). Archetypes explain worldly views, so people created archetypes to elaborate on it. Some explain how cities and holy sites came into being. They can also be used to teach or show us things. According to PBS, the quest archetype shows us that the hero must overcome self-obstacles to achieve what they want (PBS 1).
There are many archetypical symbols used in hundreds of works, new and old. Some of these symbols include: war, peace, love, nature, birds, mountains, and darkness. These symbols have deep meaning which help embellish a certain work. They also help the reader to better understand the theme or plot of a work. They are used freely and abundantly in most modern and pre-modern works.
An archetype is a human experience or symbol that is universally known and accepted. Archetypes can be images or stories passed on through history. Carl Jung, a prominent psychiatrist in the early 1900’s, used archetypes in his theory about the human psyche and how humans can recognize these symbols because they reside in the collective human subconscious. Some common examples of archetypes are The Hero, The Mentor, The Mother, The Villain and many more. Archetypes like these can be seen in everyday things like books, tv or movies. In The Complete Stories by Zora Neale Hurston there are many different archetypes in each story but three prominent ones are The Trickster, The Devil or Evil, and The Hero. In the novel The Trickster archetype
Beauty and the Beast is one of the oldest fairytales known to man. A little bit of fantasy with a little bit of fiction. It provides life lessons that society, deems important to learn. Throughout the years one lesson has remained constant beauty is only skin deep. Generation to generation the story has been passed down, changing ever so slightly but still maintaining that fairytale edge. Differences are slim but still recognizable. In Beaumont's version that we had read in class Beauty and the Beast is told more for an older crowd because of the language and dialogue as well as the ability to understand it, but the message was the same as the Disney version just the Disney version isn’t as in depth.
In literature, Archetypal Criticism is a critical approach where the reader interprets the meaning of a story by looking at the archetypal characters, events, and symbols that it contains. In general, an archetype is a universal, primordial representation of an event or character that is seen as a general blueprint for stories and myths, such as the Hero or Death and Rebirth (Meyer 1587). Archetypes can be very important in identifying and supporting a theme by giving us background and references for aspects throughout the story. Carol Joyce Oates uses a couple vital archetypes in her short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” a tale about Connie, a teenage girl, who goes through an innocence to experience situation, signifying a transition from childhood to adulthood.
As for his character, it reveals that he can find beauty in the smallest things in life, meaning in the smallest revelation, but that he is a down-to-earth man (at the time he relates the story) who canget his point across, but not romanticize things. He expresses things as he sees them, but he sees them in a unique and detailed way. He mak...
Thury, Eva and Margaret K. Devinney. “Theory: Man and His Symbols.” Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013. 519-537. Print.
In her poem "Myth," Natasha Trethewey uses mythology, a unique structure, rhyme pattern, and punctuation to make form and content inseparable. Each of these elements serves to share the stages of grief one goes through one feels at the death of a loved one as well as the feelings of deep loss and longing.
The Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky is another ballet that is based on a fairy tale, and was first presented to the Tsar of Russia.
Throughout the years, the story of Cinderella has changed as different authors, including the Brothers Grimm and Walt Disney have weaved their perspectives, morals, and agendas into their retellings. Just as varying rhetors can ha...
The biological differences that set apart the male and female gender throughout any culture remain eminent. Men are perceived as the stronger and dominant gender; women play the role of the weaker. In each culture the expectation of the manner in which men and women behave are influenced by the ideals and customs of that culture. In most predominant cultures, the man undertakes the role as a leader, and the woman devotes her life to the husband. Throughout history, traditions and literature provide a template to the identities of various cultures. Sleeping Beauty’s classic tale of a beautiful princess takes a central precept that previous patriarchal archetypes dominated during the 17th Century. The archetypal perceptions of women resulted from conscious and unconscious literature influenced by male-dominated perspectives and social standards.
Perrault, Charles. "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood." 1697. Perrault's Complete Fairy Tales. Trans. A.E. Johnson. USA: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. 1961. 1-15.
Folktales such as the “Little Red Riding Hood” by Charles Perrault and “The Grandmothers Tale” told by Louis and François Briffault tell us how appearance and symbolism of different settings develop meanings about innocence and maturity. In the “Little Red Riding Hood” by Perrault conveys to us the meaning behind the red hood worn by the little girl, and how that captures the interest of sexual predators. Perrault also expresses how the little red riding hood was not mature enough to resist the approach of the wolf leading to her demise. “The Grandmother’s Tale” shows us how maturation influences the decisions made by the little girl through the use of symbolism.