Carl Jung developed the concepts of the collective unconscious and archetypes. Archetypes are universal symbols that are shared across cultures and literature, buried deep in our collective unconscious. Archetypal criticism examines literature for these archetypes. Some common archetypes include characters like the hero, mentor, mother, father; natural symbols like the sun, fire, water; colors; and situations involving quests, journeys, initiation, creation and destruction. When analyzing works, critics look for these recurring archetypal patterns and symbols to understand how the work connects with deep unconscious meanings.

1. Name :- Gohil Devangiba Aniruddhsinh
Roll No. :- 14
Email id :- devangibagohil786@gmail.com
M.A . Semester - 2
Paper No. :- 7 (Literary Theory & Criticism)
Topic :- Archetypal Criticism
Submitted To :- Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University

2. Historical
Background
 Carl Jung (1875-1961) is a Swiss
Physician, Psychiatrist, and
Philosopher.
 He founded analytical
psychology.
 He developed concepts such as
“Collective Unconscious” and
“Archetypal Criticism”
 He believes that our unconscious
mind powerfully directs much of
our behavior.
 He said archetypes can be found
in the unconscious mind.

3.  The analysis of a piece of literature through the examination
of archetypal patterns.
 Archetypes are patterns that are shared across different
cultures as countless forms buried deep in our collective
unconscious.
 The study of archetypes in literatures is known as archetypal
criticism or mythical criticism. Archetypes are also called
universal symbols.
 Archetypes have originated in the unchanging situations of
human beings, such as the rotating seasons or the mysteries
of death, they are not intentionally created or culturally
acquired. Instead, they come to us instinctively as impulses
and knowledge hidden somewhere in our biological
psychologically, and social natures.

4. Key
Terms
Personal
Conscious :-
The state of
awareness in the
present moment
has passed, it
becomes part of
the individual’s
unique personal
unconscious.
Collective
Unconscious :-
Lies beneath the
personal
conscious and
personal
unconscious, it is
a storage house
of knowledge
experiences and
images of the
human race
Archetype :-
An image,
character, or
pattern of
circumstances that
occur throughout
literature and is
thought
consistently
enough to be
considered a
universal concept
or situation.

6. What to look for in the
work of Literature
Characters :-
 The hero becomes a leader
after many trials; a champion
 Devil figure-evil, opposes
hero, offers fame or success
in exchange for the hero’s
soul
 mentor - a role model,
guidance, knowledge
 mother - caring, nurturing
 father – powerful, judgment,
the guardian.

7.  Nature :-
 sun-brightness,
rebirth, healing
 rain-spiritual birth
 fire passion, love,
energy
 fall-death, dying,
loss of innocence
 summer-growth,
life
 winter-death
 Colors :-
 black- darkness,
death, evil
 red - passion, blood,
anger
 white – purity, peace,
innocence
 blue – devotion, truth,
cooling
 Situational :-
The Quest
 The Task
 The Initiation
 The journey
 The Fall
 Death and Rebirth
 Creation and Origin
 Destruction

8.  Archetypes :-
- Universal images that have existed since the remotest times
- Carl Jung said, “A figure that repeat itself in the course of history
wherever creative fantasy is fully manifested.
 Recognize :-
- Near identical images/patterns
- They are found in characters, images, and situations.
 Connection :-
We are connecting with archetypes, recreation of basic patterns that are
already in our unconscious making us respond, just as someone halfway
around the world from us might
 Repeat :-
Archetypes, Recognize, connection

9. The Hero’s Journey
Archetype