EXEMPLIFICATION ESSAY
The exemplification essay is an essay that states a claim (thesis) and then proceeds to back up that claim by providing a series of examples (body).
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ASSIGNMENT:
This semester we are engaging with fantasy and myth. For this assignment in particular we will be discussing a key aspect of any myth: archetypes.
Psychiatrist and great thinker Carl Jung famously introduced the concept of archetypes:
“The archetype concept derives from the […] observation that myths and […] stories contain well defined themes which appear every time and everywhere.”
Jung described many, many different archetypes that pop up in stories throughout the history of the world, but I’d like us to take a look at the following list:
Sage, Innocent, Explorer, Villain, Scholar, Ruler, Creator, Trickster, Caregiver, Magician, Hero, Hermit, Outlaw, Lover, Jester, Scientist/Inventor, Sidekick, and Regular Guy/Girl
PROMPT: Choose one of the above archetypes and write an exemplification paper that describes and defines that archetype by way of example.
EXAMPLE: (sample introduction) Imagine a hero setting out on a journey. They are young and ready for adventure—but they also lack experience. How will they know what to do when they encounter the villain? Should they save the innocent villagers or commit resources to the strategically located fortress? Luckily, in most heroes’ journeys, there is the Sage—the wise character who councils the hero and instructs them on how best to accomplish the task of saving the world. The Sage is a Jungian archetype and often appears as an old wizard, mentor, or immortal being. Without the help of the Sage, the hero may never be able to complete their journey. (thesis) Not surprisingly, examples of The Sage archetype abound throughout literature and film; their wisdom and sheer “cool” factor often make them the audience members’ or readers’ favorite character. Three excellent examples of The Sage are Mama Odie from The Princess and the Frog, Dumbledore from Harry Potter, and Morpheus from The Matrix.
EXAMPLE: (thesis) The Outlaw is perhaps one of the most beloved archetypal characters in all of fiction. Three of the most popular are Han Solo from the Star Wars trilogy, Mal Reynolds from Firefly, and Robin Hood.
Note: In order for either of the theses to work, it’s really important that you define the archetype (sage, outlaw, etc.) in the preceding sentences of the introductory paragraph really well.
If you look closely enough, you can also see the topics for the three supporting body paragraphs in the second sentence of the theses above.
(CAN’T THINK OF ANYONE? TRY THESE)
Hero [a seemingly normal person with extraordinary abilities; the main character; the savior of their people] – Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Captain America, Superman, Simba, Wonder Woman, T’Challa, She-Ra, Rey
Regular Guy/Girl [an actually normal person who somehow manages to accomplish astounding feats of bravery and heroism] – Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins, Shrek, Lilo, Jon Snow
Sage [a wise mentor who assists and guides the hero or heroes on their journey] – Gandalf, Dumbledore, Morpheus, Fairy godmother, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda
Outlaw [sometimes the hero, sometimes not, a roguish individual who defies the law but has a heart of gold] – Han Solo, Mal Reynolds, Robin Hood, Jack Sparrow
Explorer [sometimes the hero, sometimes not, this person’s entire narrative revolves around their desire to explore the world/universe around them] – Jean-Luc Picard, Kathryn Janeway, Odysseus, Indiana Jones
Villain [the main antagonist to the hero; their goal is to defy the hero at all costs] – Scar, Cersei Lannister, The Master, Mr. Smith, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine
Trickster [straddling the line between good and evil, this character lives to make mischief, often for the hero] – Loki, Maui, The Joker, Catra
Inventor [known for their grand inventions and experiments, the inventor is sometimes the main character, but often is not; often provides support for the hero] – Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Princess Shuri, Hank McCoy, Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, Hermione Granger
Lover [this character serves as inspiration to the hero, who dearly loves them; can be romantic love or platonic (friendship)] – Leia Organa, Nala, The Beast, Bucky Barnes, Lois Lane; please note that the Lover is NEVER the main character and can be any gender.
Sidekick – Chewbacca, Bow, Glimmer, Ron Weasley, Falcon
If you have an idea for your own archetype, let me know!!
Tips:
o Remember, your essay is about only ONE archetype. Each body paragraph is about a character who exemplifies that archetype. Therefore, you will be writing about THREE characters.
o Your essay cannot be about real people! Real people aren’t archetypes. Only characters in stories can be archetypes.
o Your characters don’t have to all be from different movies, books, games, or franchises, but it’s really rare for two examples of one archetype to appear in the same story.
o Your thesis can be about a certain version of an archetype, if you like. For example: the fallen hero, or the redeemed villain.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Page length: 4 pages—must go all the way down to the bottom of the fourth page; can go onto the fifth page if necessary
Essay: Essay (including heading) must be typed, double-spaced, using the correct font and font size (12 pt. Times New Roman), and must be uploaded to Turn-It-In via Canvas. Do not add extra spaces after the heading, after the title, or between paragraphs! Remember to select “Remove space after paragraph” in MS Word or Google Docs.
