Archtypes

In class we were talking about archetypes and how it is repeated over and over again stories plot lines. The most common of the archetypes is the heroic.

It usually follows this general pattern:
-the character beginning in a land that's secure and dependent
-call to adventure
-involves divine helpers/guide
-many tests/challenges
-gains treasure
-then the ultimate challenge
-sometimes death/resurrection
-returns home victorious or with a new sense of self-realization

Many of today's movies follow this plot line closely, if not exactly.

I recently finished reading the book Twilight and noticed that it had almost the same structure as the heroic archetype.

It started out with Bella living in the small town of Forks with her dad. Her life was secure, but pretty boring. So when the mysterious Edward Cullen came into her life things changed from boring to exciting and when she began to discover the secrets behind Edward, that he indeed was a vampire, a whole new adventure unfolded. Bella decided that she too wanted to become a vampire and certain members of Edward's family helped guide and support her in her choice, while others disagreed with her choice and tried to influence her in the opposite way. There was also the Volturi that proved to be a huge obstacle that Bella had to overcome. She also had to battle with the fact that she would never be able to see her parents again, but she made her decision anyway.
In Twilight I'd have to say that the treasure she ultimately gained was Edward. The climax in the book, or the ultimate challenge, was when Bella was finally bitten by Edward. Not all heroic archetypes have the seventh step, death or resurrection, but I'd consider the transformation Bella went through to be the same thing in a sense. Although in this book, Bella doesn't return to her actual home in Forks with her dad, but rather finds a new home with Edward and his family.