Mapping the Character Archetype with Adobe Spark Post

In this 60-minute strategy, students analyze and interpret their knowledge of character archetypes in literature.  Students map teacher-selected archetypes (e.g. Hero, Mentor/Guide, Companion) found  in a novel or play by creating an infographic using Adobe Spark Post. This strategy could be used at the beginning of a unit on archetypes in fiction or as part of the study of archetypes in a major work of fiction.

Adobe Spark Post promotes digital media skills that empower students to take  ownership of their learning and demonstrate their knowledge of character archetypes in a creative way.  Students can work individually or in groups.

Learn.

Introduce a sampling of character archetypes to students (e.g. Hero, Mentor/Guide, Companion, Damsel, Villain). Review traits of character archetypes by viewing a class compilation of student digital research presentations on archetypes.  Students will analyze three traits of their assigned archetype by selecting a character from a novel or play who embodies the archetype.  (10 minutes)

Evaluate.

Students reflect on a major work of fiction they have read, choose a character who demonstrates their assigned archetype, and interpret how their character fits the archetype. (20 minutes)

Create.

Students create an infographic with Adobe Spark Post to display how their selected character demonstrates the assigned archetype and use Adobe Acrobat to annotate their infographic with text evidence to support character archetype traits using these steps and this guidance. (30 minutes)

Share.

Students share and publish their infographics.

You will analyze how a character in a novel or play demonstrates the characteristics of an  archetype (e.g. Hero, Mentor/Guide, Companion, Damsel, Villain) selected by your teacher. Then you will create an infographic in Adobe Spark Post or Adobe Acrobat to share your analysis. 

Adobe Spark Post and Adobe Acrobat allow you to create unique presentations that demonstrate your learning.

Steps:

1. Examine the archetype (e.g. Hero, Mentor/Guide, Companion, Damsel, Villain) assigned by your teacher. Identify the three most significant traits of your archetype from the digital research presentation produced by your class. (10 minutes)

2. Identify a character from a novel or play who illustrates the archetype.  Use the guiding questions below  to consider how the selected character demonstrates the three most significant traits of the archetype. (20 minutes)

 Guiding Questions:

• How does the character function in the novel or play (protagonist, antagonist, supporting character), and how is this role similar to that of the archetype?

• How does the author describe the character in a way that supports the archetype trait(s)?

• What does the character say that shows they have the archetype trait(s)?

• What does the character do that shows they have the archetype trait(s)?

• What do other characters say about him/her that shows the character fits the archetype?

• What is the relationship of the character to other characters that shows the character fits the archetype?

• Does the character change throughout the novel or play in a way that fits the archetype? Explain.

• Overall, how does the character illustrate the features of the archetype?

3. Open Adobe Spark Post to create an infographic that displays how your selected character exhibits three traits of the archetype. In the infographic, include the following:

• Character Name and Archetype

• The title and author of the novel or play 

• Visual Background or Image that is relevant to the archetype

• An explanation of how the character illustrates each of the three traits of the archetype. 

You can view a student sample here, review guidance for using Spark post here,  and watch a tutorial here. 

When you complete your infographic, download as a PDF File.

4. Open your infographic PDF file using Adobe Acrobat. Review these steps for guidance.

Find evidence from the text of your novel/play that shows how the selected character fits the archetype traits.  

In Adobe Acrobat, use the sticky note Comment feature to annotate each character archetype trait with two direct quotes from the novel/play as text evidence. After the direct quote, include the speaker and chapter.

5. Share your Adobe Spark Post Infographic according to teacher directions.