A comparison of Achilles and Superman The Heroic Archetype What is an Archetype A recurring pattern of images situations or symbols found in the mythology religion art and dreams of cultures around the world ID: 416304
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Slide1
Men of Steel with an Achilles Heel
A comparison of Achilles and Superman Slide2
The Heroic Archetype
What is an Archetype
A recurring pattern of images, situations, or symbols found in the mythology, religion, art and dreams, of cultures around the world.
What is an Archetypal
Hero
A hero with specific traits. Born under unusual circumstances, leaves family and lives with others, traumatic event leads to quest, receives supernatural help, and has special abilities. These series of events resemble Joseph Campbell’s
monomyth
structure. Slide3
Born Under Unusual Circumstances
Achilles
Born a demigod as the son of
Peleus and Thetis. Thetis was the goddess of the water and
Peleus
was a mortal man.
SupermanBorn on a world that was on the verge of destruction so he was rocketed to earth.Slide4
Leaves Family and Lives with Others
Achilles
Raised by his mother and centaur Chiron but not his father.
SupermanRaised by farmers on Earth after escaping the destruction of his world.Slide5
Life-Changing Event
Leads to Quest
Achilles
Achilles was called upon by Agamemnon to fight the Trojans to win back Helen. His mother warned him that he was destined a good life at home if he didn’t go or glory and remembrance of his name after his death if he did go. He decides to go for the glory.
Superman
The loss of his home and father lead him to use his powers to try to protect and later on save his new world, planet earth.Slide6
Receives Supernatural Help
Achilles
Athena was Achilles’ supernatural aid because she’s a goddess and she helped him defeat Hector of Troy
SupermanReceived help from his father from crystals that were programmed with his planet’s science and his father’s memories.Slide7
Has Special Abilities & One Weakness
Achilles
Superhuman strength, stamina, and immortality. His only weakness was the spot where he wasn’t immortal which was the area by his heel.
Superman
Super strength, heat vision, flight, etc. and immortality. Only weakness was Kryptonite.Slide8
Are Archetypal Heroes
Their lives or journeys are similar to that of Joseph Campbell’s
monomyth
structure. This goes on to say that Achilles and Superman are archetypal heroes.