FLVS English 4: 03.07 Archetypes Familiar Expressions Quiz – Flashcards

Essay Response: "What else is there left for Superman to do that hasn't been done?" Reeve said in 1983 after donning the cape for a third movie. I believe Reeve said this because most heroes have flaws or grow up normal and become extraordinary, but with Superman, he was extraordinary from birth. " But Superman was extraordinary from infancy, the survivor of a doomed world, and he didn't have to overcome any odds." He only had one vulnerability, a rock, unlike most heroes, who's are more complicated than that. "His vulnerability wasn't self-doubt or human intransigence, but a glowing green rock." Usually American heroes are like Spiderman or Batman, they have to become the hero because of a spider bite or a need for excitement. "American heroes are usually rugged individuals linked to the Horatio Alger archetype—plain folks from humble, often rural beginnings who react gracefully to the hands they are dealt or achieve the impossible against the odds." Also, "In comic books, it's the Batmans and the Spider-Mans who adhere to the American citizen-soldier notion—reluctant superheroes pressed into service by the murder of parents or the happenstance bite of a radioactive insect. They're self-doubting and intense—but ultimately they prevail."

Essay Response: A hero's definition is as follows: "A born leader who believes in good and inspires others." Superman is an example of a traditional archetypical hero, because he was a strong, good hero, that only wanted the best for the people. "One could bend steel from the moment he arrived; the other insisted, over and over, that "nothing is impossible." One took to the skies heroically and effortlessly;...". He was a hero that cared for the people and flew around to save them.

Essay Response: The Russian proverbial definition applies to Po because he is a random panda that gets picked to be the "Kung Fu King Warrior". ""So it's just very relatable to find this kind of average guy who's working in his dad's noodle restaurant suddenly have an ambitious fantasy to be something great, only to learn that being the best version of yourself is greatness."" Po has not one skill, but he still continues on to become the best. "Po's allies include a tiger, a viper and a monkey, whose graceful martial-arts skills put the lumbering panda to shame." The writers took a regular panda with no experience and made him a hero that saves the world. ""Take the most unlikely guy and bring him all the way to being a hero."" (A quote from Osborne, the co-director of the film.) Also, Po had to find the skills and strength to go on, when he had nothing left. "...He actually has to find the hero within, and I think we all have a hero within us." (A quote from the other co-director, Katzenberg.)

Essay Response: A flawed character or an unlikely hero both are different from the typical hero. Usually these characters are either lovable like Po or are love-hate lovable like Ironman/Tony Stark or Shrek. ""I do think that Po the panda is going to give Shrek a run for his money, because I think that Po in a very different way is without question the most lovable character we've ever created," Katzenberg said." Also, flawed characters that can overcome their problems/flaws are more relatable than a character that is mythical or completely indestructible with no problems/flaws. ""If you can have a good guy who's got hang-ups and flaws and failings, he's more interesting because he not only has to defeat the villain, but he has to defeat and conquer his own flaws and inabilities," Lee says. "It rounds him out and makes the character empathetic.""

Essay Response: I believe my mom is an archetype hero. (Archetype means "original pattern and the definition of a hero is "A born leader who believes in good and inspires others.") My mom was born as an optimistic young girl that had many bumps in the road as a child and young adult. But, she never let that get in her way, she is brilliant and loves to help others. She loves acts of kindness and her motto is ""No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." She also believes that, "Even if no one is looking, do the right thing." She will return lost items or hold a door for someone or even return forgotten groceries to the store for the person to be able to pick them up. She also will pay for someone else's food or pay for a part of their meal or send someone she barely knows a card for anything. She is a kind and loving person, that no matter what, she will always be there for everyone and be that guardian angel for someone who does not even know her. My mom is a hero!