Two of Shakespeares Character Archetypes The Jester Archetype A Jester similar to the clown of today was an occupation during the Elizabethan eratypically a jester was employed by a member of the royal court and charged with the task of keeping himher entertained ID: 287286
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Slide1
Jesters and Fools
Two of Shakespeare’s Character ArchetypesSlide2
The Jester Archetype
A Jester (similar to the clown of today) was an occupation during the Elizabethan era—typically a jester was employed by a member of the royal court and charged with the task of keeping him/her entertained
The
Shakespearean Jester Archetype
: Tells jokes (often silly, always cleaver, & occasionally rude)Behaves mischievously (a prankster)Sings and/or talks in riddlesOften speaks the truth as he knows itSlide3
The Fool Archetype
A fool
(s)
exists in most Shakespearean plays—not only in his comedies. These characters elicit humor, but often do so un-intentionally
(intentionally by Shakespeare, unintentionally by the character) The Shakespearean Fool Archetype: UndereducatedFickleEasily confusedSporadically quick-wittedoccasionally he is sharp; often he’s too dumb to understand what he is saying
Often egotisticalSlide4
The Jester & Fool in
MSND
The Jester
Who is the jester in
A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
How does he/she fulfill the Shakespearean archetype of a jester?
The Fool
Who is the
fool in
A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
How does he/she fulfill the Shakespearean archetype of a
fool?Slide5
The Roles they Play
How Jesters &Fools Contribute to A playSlide6
Comic Relief
Shakespeare includes jesters and fools in his plays as a tool to create comic relief—this is typically their main function
Comic relief
is a humorous instant of catharsis woven in to a serious or tragic moment in a work of literature (
Catharsis
is an emotional release)
How do Puck and Bottom create comic
relief in
A Midsummer Night’s Dream?Slide7
Foil Characters
Shakespeare often includes jesters and fools in his plays to serve as foil characters—this is typically a secondary function
A
foil
is a character who contrasts with another (typically the protagonist or another main character) in order to highlight various characteristics of him/her character, throwing said characteristics into sharper focus
Do Puck and Bottom serve as foils in
A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
If so, how?Slide8
Puck the jester
Inspiring Art still todaySlide9
Puck (Robin
Goodfellow
)
Inspired “Puck” in
BerserkSlide10
Puck (Robin
Goodfellow
)
Inspired “Puck” in
Final Fantasy IXSlide11
Puck (Robin
Goodfellow
)
Inspired “Noah
Puckerman” from GleeSlide12
Puck (Robin
Goodfellow
)
Played by “Neil” in
Dead Poets Society