Q. What are some archetypes (e.g. common character types) of fantasy fiction?
Fantasy fictions have been loved by everyone for a long time, regardless of age and gender. I think the reason is that there are characters who we hope that we become and are helped by in reality. Because of this reason, the characters have never been changed in fantasy fiction, in spite of other story.
Firstly, there is a hero in fantasy fiction, but the hero is not special but common like us. Although the hero is common, he becomes stronger through a travel. For example, there are Harry of Harry potter and Frodo of The lord of the rings.
Harry didn’t know that he was wizard, and he knows the truth at eleven years old. So he goes to the wizard’s world and becomes a student there. As growing up, he learns magical elements, and he become stronger through the lessons.
On the other hand, Frodo of The lord of the rings was one of common hobbits before inheriting the Ring from Bilbo, his cousin. With the Ring, he was stronger, but he lost the Ring. While he travels for the Ring, he already is stronger without the Ring.
Secondly, many heroes always have mentors. Most mentors are old, and fantasy movies use white and long beards to express their appearance. They are very helpful characters to heroes as wise men. For instance, Albus Dumbledore of Harry potter is represented.
Albus Dumbledore of Harry potter is a principal in Hogwarts. Rowling expressed his wizard in Harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban (1999). Professor Dumbledore is very old, but he always impressed other people. He had long silver hair and beard. He was usually regarded as the best wizard of the age. We can find her expression through other fantasy fictions or movies. He also plays a helpful role for Harry and his friends.
Reference
Bunker, L. W. (2001). Albus percival wulfric brian dumbledore: data. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/dumbledore.html
Jimmy. (n.d). A frodo christmas. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://ibelieveinhumans.com/index.php/a-frodo-christmas/
Naver. (2006). Harry potter. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://movie.naver.com/movie/bi/mi/photoView.nhn?code=37883&imageNid=5325538
Paramount35. (2006). Albus Dumbledore. Retrieved September 17, 2012 from http://blog.naver.com/paramount35?Redirect=Log&logNo=90002728651
Rowling, J. K. (1999). Harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban.
Wikipedia. (n.d). Harry potter. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter
Wikipedia, (n.d). The lord of the rings. Retrieved September 17, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings
Nicely done Sora - and great to see the references. Who are the mentors in Earthsea? What is Ged's quest?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. In Earthsea, there were a lot of mentors. I can say Ogion, Ged’s mentor, and the Arch Magus from that school where Ged went to learn magic. And, Ged’s quest is to stop declining magical power from Earthsea.
DeleteHi Sora, I think this is very thoughtful post. I can understand the archetypes of fantasy fiction after reading your post.
ReplyDeleteI think Ged's first mentor is aunt because she was the first people to recognise Ged's abilities. second, I also want to say Ogion is a mentor who gave the boy his "true name", Ged. fianlly, there are Nine master of Roke who taught differnet lessons of wizard to Ged.
Hi Sora your posting is very well done. The effort to put in pictures make all the difference. I also got a good sense of understanding of what an archetype is now thanks to your posting. I am a big fan of Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter also.
ReplyDelete