Morgan DeCastro

4-7-16
3B
White lion: Europe and Russia
When Ms. Plummer first assigned this project I thought it was going to be just
another project I was going to do get a grade for and not understand like any other
assignment. Believe it or not I really enjoyed this project I found it interesting and I
also learned a lot in the process. Ive always had an interest in mythology, but the
only mythology I was familiar was that of the Greeks and Romans. When we were
given the area of Europe and Russia and I started looking into it more I was dumb
founded at how many different archetypes there was and I was familiar with. My
group and I found ourselves wanting to do more than what was assigned. The
person I chose was Morgan le Fay. She stood out to me because of her name which
matched mine. Another thing that drew me to her was the depiction of her in the
encyclopedia I was reading. Morgan appeared on the page as a queen with a
beautiful royal crown, grown, and scepter. Reading more into it I found that she was
the exact opposite, a witch. The deeper I researched the more intriguing she got
which is another reason I enjoyed not only the person I chose but this project.
Character:
An archetype is a character, symbol or behavioral pattern that a universally a
template for a character that is copied throughout all forms of historical storytelling.
Some archetypes, though are the same they may have differences in various

cultures. Since archetypes speak to the basic human experience, it communicates

meaning and emotion in all forms of literature - from folklore to the classics.
Archetypes can be applied to:
A theme
A symbol
An idea
A character type
A plot pattern
Archetypes can be shown or practiced in:
Myths
Dreams
Literature
Religions
Fantasies

Folktales

Situational:
A situational archetype is an experience that a hero or character must go
through to move from one place in life to the next. Almost every story is based on a

version of the archetypal characters quest and contains other situational and
symbolic archetypes.
Some examples include:

The Quest
The Task
The Journey
The Initiation
The Ritual
The Fall
Death and Rebirth
Battle between Good and Evil
The Unhealable Wound

Symbolic:
Symbolic archetypes usually appear in pairs due to the primitive mind
tending to think in terms of polarities (opposites) rather than make distinct
decisions. Symbolic archetypes often also appear in dreams and can be interpreted.
They can also tap a deep level of meaning and truth in movies and literature.
Some examples of symbolic archetypes:
Light vs. Darkness

Innate Wisdom vs. Educated Stupidity

Supernatural Intervention
Fire vs. Ice
Nature vs. Mechanistic
Haven vs. Wilderness
Water vs. Desert
Heaven vs. Hell
Character archetype: The Witch in Celtic Mythology: Morgan Le Fay
Various cultures have different variations of the character/mythical goddess
Morgan le Fay. also known by such other names, such as Morgaine, Modron, Morgan
le Fee, Fata Morgana, Argante, The Fae and Faery Morgana. What all the cultures
have in common is that no matter what country you are in Morgan le Fay is
associated with evil. She is a fairy, a queen, a mermaid, a beautiful young woman, a
crone, a hag, an enchantress or a witch. Morgan is a woman of mystery and would
often shape shift into whatever was desired. She cannot be trusted, and easily
disguises herself to achieve her own purposes. She can change her appearance,
becoming old, young, beautiful, or ugly when needed.
Celtic:
In the Celtic culture she depicted as a witch/sorceress of some sort who was
daughter to the king of Avalon her home, the oldest and most powerful of nine
sisters, the half-sister and antagonist to King Arthur, and the wife of the famous

wizard Merlin which is the one that introduced her to her dark ways of magic. She
practiced herbal healing, but dont let the innocent sound of that sway your views.
Morgan was said to the manipulative winter goddess of darkness and death. She
plotted against her own brother to steal his sacred sword (Excalibur), but later
showed sympathy for him and aided his wounds. She is sometimes connected with
the Irish goddess Morrgan who was associated with prophecy, war and death on the
battlefield. An earlier name for Avalon (Morgans Home) was Ynys Wydrin, or the
"Isle of Glass", and glass is a substance associated in the Celtic mind with the
Otherworld. Many legends speak of fantastic castles or towers made of glass, i.e.
made from air or sea water, and Otherworld castles are frequently said to be islands
in the sea or the sky.

Welsh:
In the area of the Welsh she is shown as a fairy of the lake: who lures in
her prey by seducing, appealing here sexual appetite and killing and or abandoning
the said victim. In Welsh mythology and literature, and she have often been
compared with the goddess Modron, a taken from the continental Dea Matrona, who
is featured with frequency in medieval Welsh literature. Avalon, which means "Apple
Trees," (Morgans Home) is a magical paradise-type island of the dead which is
usually described as an island in the seas of the west, and Morgana originally was a
sea Goddess. Avalon is also identified with Glastonbury, a great hill or tor in presentday Somerset England, in modern Welsh is called Ynis Afallach, which translates to
"Isle of Apples." (Glastonbury Tor was once an island in a shallow marshy lake
before the land was drained).

Italian:
In Italy, she was known by Fata Morgana, which had to do with a particular
mirage that would frequently appear in the Straits of Messina, and which was
believed to be the result of her magic.
Symbolic:
She most often automatically was able to shape-shift into the form of a
raven or crow which can, quite frequently, mean death.
Another symbol associated with this enchantress is the Apple. Due to the fact
of her residence Avalon translating to mean Isle of Apples. She is also the princess
of the isle for the mere fact of her father occupied the position of king.

Situational:
When Arthur, King Urien and Accolon of Gaul (France) went hunting for a
hart, they came upon a ship, filled with women. They were entertained on board. As
each of them retired for the night in separate chambers, Urien was magically
transported back to Camelot, while Arthur found himself in prison of unknown castle
that belonged to Sir Damas. The damsel told Arthur that he could gain freedom if he
fight in single combat. This young woman was really Morgan le Fay, disguised as an
ordinary damsel. She visited Accolon who became her lover. She asked Accolon to
fight a knight, and give her enemy's head to her. Morgan gave her lover, Excalibur
and Arthur's magic scabbard. While she gave the fake Excalibur and scabbard to her
brother. When Arthur engaged the other knight, he did not realize it was Accolon.
They fought until Arthur realized he had been traded and tricked. His sword didnt

affect Accolon, while all the wounds he received were legit. He realized his sword
was fake. He tried to push on bravely defending himself as best he could, but his
shield soon wore out, while he received many wounds. Arthur's sword (the fake
Excalibur) broke in two. Instead of surrendering to his enemy, Arthur perused him
with force with what left of his shield. Right on time the arrival of Niniane (Nimue),
the Lady of the Lake, saved Arthur's life. Niniane knew what Morgan le Fay was
plotting, because Merlin had told her. Niniane cast a spell, which caused Accolon to
surrender Excalibur. Arthur immediately acted to the advantage, obtaining
Excalibur. Arthur then went to defeat his enemy mortally wounding Accolon Arthur
discovered the identity of his opponent. Accolon told him of his sisters theft from
him. Accolon explained that if Arthur was killed in combat, then she wouldve
murdered her husband, King Urien of Gorre. Thereupon, she would marry and make
Accolon, who will become king of Logres and Gorre. By night-time Accolon was
pronounced dead from his battle wounds Morgan le Fay believed her brother to be
dead. she was then going to murder her husband, while Urien was asleep. Their son,
Yvain, found out the plot against his father. Yvain alerted his father, but he would
not harm his mother. Yvain allowed her (Morgan) to escape. The next day, Morgan le
Fay heard news that Arthur lived and was on his way to Camelot, and that her lover
(Accolon) had died. When Arthur was asleep in an abbey, Morgan went into her
brother's room to attempt to steal Excalibur again. But Arthur had slept with
Excalibur in his hand, so Morgan took the magic scabbard, before leaving. When
Arthur awoke and found that his sister had stolen his scabbard, he went to find her.
Before being caught Morgan, threw the scabbard into the lake. Then she shape
shifted to look like rocks. Not able to find her, Arthur was forced to continue on to
Camelot without his magical scabbard. Later, Morgan sent one of her damsels to her

brother, in Camelot. she brought to Arthur a beautiful robe, as a peace offering.

Arthur took it, but Niniane, the Lady of the Lake, sensed it was a trap and advised
Arthur not to wear the robe. Arthur immediately told the damsel to wear the robe.
The damsel obeyed and put on the robe and immediately died. Arthur was furious
that his sister still wanted hi, dead. At Camelot, Arthur knew his brother-in-law
(Urien) had nothing to do with his sister's plot against him, since Accolon said that
Morgan wanted to kill her husband. However, he wasnt sure about the innocence
and loyalty of his nephew Yvain. Arthur kicked his nephew from his court. Gawain
loved his cousin, enough to go with Yvain in an adventure where they met the Irish
knight Marhaus (Thomas Malory called him Morholt) After the companions'
individual adventure of the three damsels of the fountain was done. Arthur
welcomed Yvain back to the Round Table, and Marhaus also became the latest
member of the fellowship of the Round Table.