Wisdom, Mystery, and Dangerous Knowledge: Exploring Depictions of the Archetypal Sage in Young Adult Literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2376-5275.2018.3.1.25-50Abstract
The archetypal sage character is a common, though relatively unexplored character, in young adult literature (YAL). Employing a sociocultural, constructivist understanding of archetypes, we unpack features of the sage through an examination of three sagacious characters: the Receiver of Memory in The Giver, Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games, and Anatov in Akata Witch. Our analysis reveals how these characters are each marked with physical or behavioral abnormalities, are isolated from society and its institutions, and possess dangerous knowledge of eros (The Giver), power (The Hunger Games), and identity (Akata Witch). They are also depicted as standing in sharp contrast to other, more typical teachers in the intimate relationships they form with students and degree of vulnerability they display. All of these characteristics, we argue, might explain the appeal of the sagecharacter in YAL, as well as its curious absence from our common understanding of K-12 teachers and curriculum. Indeed, we see these characterizations of fictional teachers as raising interesting questions about sagacious mentorship and wisdom in schools.
References
Berkson, Larry C., and Steven Hays. 1976. The Forgotten Politicians: Court Clerks. University of Miami Law Review 30: 499-517.
Berkson, Larry C., Steven Hays, and Susan Carbon. 1977. Managingthe State Courts. St. Paul, MN: West.
Boswell, Robert B., and Erica Fairchild. 1982. Legal Values, Administrative Values, and Political Realities: The Trial-Court Administrator in Local Judicial Districts. In Philip Dubois, ed., The Politics of Judicial Reform. Lexington, MA: Lexington Press.
Eisenstein, James, and Herbert Jacob. 1977. Felony Justice: An Organizational Analysis of Criminal Courts. Boston: Littie, Brown.
Gertz, Marc G. 1977. Influences in Court Systems: The Clerk as Interface. The Justice System Journal 3: 30-37.
Glick, Heniy R. 1988. Courts, Politics, and Justice, 2d ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Jacob, Herbert. 1984. Justice in America, 4th ed. Boston: Little, Brown.
Metzger, Paul S., and Shelia M. Conley. 1981. Relationship of the County Clerk to the Circuit Court. Michigan Bar Journal 11: 849-852.
Thompson, Joel A. 1967. Organizations in Action. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Winkle, John W. III. 1982. Judicial Planning and the Politics of Nonrenewal. In Philip Dubois, ed., The Politics of Judicial Reform. Lexington, MA: Lexington Press
