Shapeshifter and shadow

Question 0

Can a same sex ally of the hero be a shapeshifter?

Answer 0

Yes.

Question 1

What is a shapeshifter?

Answer 1

A character that changes constantly from the Hero’s POV.
Often a different sex from the hero.
Often changes appearance or mood.
May mislead the hero or keep them guessing about their loyalty or sincerity.

Question 2

What is the psychological function of the shapeshifter?

Answer 2

To express the animus and anima.

Question 3

What is the Animus?

Answer 3

The male element in the female consciousness.

Question 4

What is the Anima?

Answer 4

The female element in the male consciousness.

Question 5

What is projection?

Answer 5

The act of putting one’s animus or anima onto another person. Idealizing that person with qualities one is looking for but that person doesn’t possess.

Question 6

What does the shapeshifter represent?

Answer 6

A catalyst for change. A symbol of the psychological urge to transform.

Question 7

What is the dramatic function of the shapeshifter?

Answer 7

To bring doubt and suspense to the story.

Very common in film noir and thrillers.

Question 8

What is a Femme Fatale?

Answer 8

A type of shapeshifter. The woman as temptress or destroyer.

Question 9

What is a Homme Fatale?

Answer 9

A male shapeshifter representing man as the tempter or destroyer.

Question 10

What are some of the signs of a shapeshifter?

Answer 10

Changes in appearances, dress, manner of speaking.

Question 11

A hero can wear the mask of a shapeshifter to defeat a threshold guardian. True or false.

Answer 11

True.

Question 12

Mentors and tricksters are often shapeshifters. True or false.

Answer 12

True.

Question 13

War does the shadow represent?

Answer 13

The energy of the dark side. The unexpressed, unrealized or rejected aspects of someone.

The thing we can’t admit to anyone, even ourselves.

Question 14

Can the shadow shelter positive traits?

Answer 14

Yes. Positive traits can be forgotten or rejected for some reason.

Question 15

What is the psychological function of the shadow?

Answer 15

The shadow represents the power of repressed feelings, psychosis that can destroy the hero.

Question 16

What other archetype is the shadow often also?

Answer 16

The shapeshifter.

Question 17

What is the dramatic function of the shadow?

Answer 17

To challenge the hero as a worthy opponent in the struggle.

Question 18

What is the best way to give depth to a shadow character?

Answer 18

Give them some flaws or vulnerabilities.

Question 19

Name two types of shadows.

Answer 19

Internal and External.

Question 20

True or false. A shadow is the hero of his own story.

Answer 20

True.

Question 21

Can a shadow be either positive or negative?

Answer 21

Yes. The positive aspects can be forgotten or neglected, causing them to manifest in the shadow.

Question 22

How does a hero defeat an internal shadow?

Answer 22

By bringing the issue into the light and confronting it.