Archetypal literary criticism is based on the works of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell and examines recurring characters, themes, and plots in literature that are derived from ancient mythology and religion. Key concepts in archetypal criticism include archetypes, which are original patterns or figures like "The Hero" that reappear across stories. A fundamental archetypal plot is the hero's journey, where a protagonist moves from innocence to experience by descending into danger, battling monsters, and returning home transformed. Critics following this approach believe it reveals deep truths in literature but it is limited as it only analyzes works through the lens of archetypes.