Survival Mantra: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

To contrast [[Madness Mantra]], this is a prayer, [[Koan]], or just plain reassuring phrase that gives the speaker peace or confidence, or at least forestalls a [[Heroic BSOD|panic attack]] in a dangerous situation.

 

{{examples}}

* Death the Kid from ''[[Soul Eater]]'' manages to turn what was seemingly a [[Madness Mantra]] into one of these during his prologue chapter, right after he realizes {{spoiler|the actual body of the pharaoh isn't as symmetrical as he thinks}}

{{quote|'''Death the Kid''': "It's all in the way! In the way! In the way! In the way! In the way! In the way! In the way! '''''IT'S ALL IN THE WAY!!!'''''"}}

* ''[[Argento Soma]]:'' "Maki... Maki... Maki... Maki..." A Survival Mantra that tragically, TRAGICALLY borders on [[Madness Mantra]].

* Sakura from ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'' has her "invincible spell": ''"Everything will be all right". ''

* ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'': "I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away..." Not that it works very well. Sure, he doesn't run away when he starts chanting this... but it doesn't really stave off ''insanity''. We also have Asuka's, "I don't want to die!" in ''[[The Movie|The End of Evangelion]]''. Casebook example of Survival Mantra as [[Madness Mantra]] or vice versa.

** In an early episode, Shinji continually recites the steps for loading and firing the Eva's rifle to himself during practice. This being Evangelion, it naturally doesn't help in actual combat.

* In ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', Tomo and Osaka end up in the doldrums after summer vacation. To try and get them ready to go back to school, Chiyo starts up a chant of "Get motivated! Get motivated!" Unfortunately, keeping them motivated proves to be like spinning plates, and she quickly gets worn out.

 

* In an issue of ''[[Deadpool]]'', Weasel starts chanting the Litany Against Fear when he and Al are in the Box.

* With the heroes of ''[[Green Lantern]]'', their battles often involve battles of the spirit as well as physical, so when they are hard pressed and derided as weak and worthless in that moment of pressure, a Lantern can often find strength by remembering their [[Badass Creed]], "In Brightest Day/In Blackest Night/No evil shall escape my sight..."

 

* In the fanfic series ''[[Name]]'', the unnamed primary character repeats her mother's last words as a reminder to keep her cool under extreme pressure.

* In the ''[[Firefly]]'' fanfic ''[[Forward]]'', River uses the words "I am functional" as her Survival Mantra, after making the resolution that she is not going to let her traumatic past control her anymore.

 

== [[Film]] ==

* 1984's ''[[Dune]]'' and 2003's Children Of Dune adaptations both contain shortened versions of the Litany Against Fear above.

* In ''[[The Wicker Man]]'', the 23rd psalm is used at [[It Was His Sled|an appropriate moment]].

 

== [[Literature]] ==

* In [[Tad Williams]]' ''Tailchaser's Song'', the hero is taught a mantra/litany against fear to give him strength when in dire need {{spoiler|which is also used to restore an [[Obfuscating Stupidity|insane]] companion to his [[Sealed Good in a Can|true]] [[A God Am I|form]] }}.

* ''[[Nation]]:'' "Does not happen!"

{{quote|[[Punctuated! For! Emphasis!|THAT! IS!! NOT!!! MY!!!! COW!!!!!]]}}

* ''[[The Acts of Caine|Blade of Tyshalle]]:'' "Keep your head down and inch towards daylight."

* In ''Ripper'' Mountie Zinc Chandler turns the RCMP get-your-man slogan into one of these while struggling to suppress his epileptic seizure.

''Between myself and the powers of darkness.'' }}

* '''"The Lorica of Patrick"''' is also used in Alexander Yang's "[[Midnight World]]" series as a [[Vampire Hunter]] crew's battle prayer. They recite The Lorica in ''Bullets from Beyond'' {{spoiler|before and during the battle with four vampire mercenaries}}, and in ''Chance with No Rules'' {{spoiler|while Aeneas fights states-vampire Koshelev barehanded}}:

{{quote|''I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity

Through confession of the Oneness

Towards the creator. }}

{{quote|''I arise today''

''Through the strength of heaven:''

''Stability of earth''

''Firmness of rock...'' }}

** When Aeneas encounters two vampires at once (in the same book), he recites not "The Lorica of Patrick" but Psalm 27:

{{quote|''The LORD is my light and my salvation — ''

''whom shall I fear?''

''The LORD is the stronghold of my life —''

''of whom shall I be afraid?'' }}

{{quote|''When the wicked advance against me''

''to devour me,''

** Besides, Aeneas got his nickname because he'd chosen ''[[The Aeneid]]'' as his personal Survival Mantra.

*** And it was not the old chap Vergilius' masterpiece, but a Ukrainian burlesque poem by [[wikipedia:Ivan Kotlyarevsky|Ivan Kotlyarevsky]].

{{quote|''Though here at journey's end I lie''

''In darkness buried deep,''

* In John Bellairs' ''The Curse Of The Blue Figurine'', Professor Childermass is climbing a mountain on a stormy night, searching for Johnny Dixon, who has been abducted by a ghost. The professor is afraid of heights, so he repeatedly quotes the "Lay on, Macduff!" speech from ''Macbeth'' and recites a prayer to Saint Michael to keep himself from panicking and turning back.

 

** In "Valley of Darkness" Lee Adama mutters, "Headshot, reload, headshot, reload" as they wait for the Cylon boarding party, as he had only a few explosive rounds, each of which had to be individually loaded into the under-barrel attachment of his pistol.

* ''[[Lost]]:'' "One...two...three...four...five."

* ''[[M.I. High]]'', in the episode "Millionaire Flatley": "Frank's a good man in a crisis...Frank's a good man in a crisis..."

 

* Art Brut's "Rusted Guns of Milan":

{{quote|"I know I can, I know I can, I know I can..."}}

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

** Most Notably "THE EMPEROR PROTECTS!". Poor, poor Imperial Guard.

*** Too bad they're not [[Amazon Brigade|Adepta Sororitas]] (them the Emperor really ''does'' protect). Speaking of whom, there's also the inquisitorial battlecry/creed/mission statement, "BURN THE HERETIC! KILL THE MUTANT! PURGE THE UNCLEAN!"

* [[Played for Laughs]] in ''[[Ruddigore]]'', where saying the word "Basingstoke" always succeeds at bringing Mad Margaret to her senses.

* In ''[[Sweeney Todd]]'', Johanna repeats lines from her earlier song with Anthony, in order to stay sane while locked within Fogg's Asylum.

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* Lampshaded in ''Alter Echo'' by Stome when he reveals his mantra.

* Volgin from ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 3'' was severely [[Fear of Thunder|afraid of thunder]]. Many gamers have fond memories of his "Kuwabara, kuwabara" chant.

* ''[[Half Life]]:'' "Although they call me crazy, I care not, for thou art my helper, my strength, and my saviour. I have been laid down in a pit of darknesses and the shadow of death. And thy anger has pressed down upon me; and all thy cares have come down upon me. And from this bed I cry out for the kindling of thy Light! For the days of my life have vanished like smoke, and my bones are parched like ash, and let all my impurities be as... fuel for that fire! Until nothing remains, but the Light alone." Of course, this being [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Father_Grigori Father Grigori], the line between Survival and [[Madness Mantra]] may be a bit blurred...

* In ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]] II: The Sith Lords'', at least three of the main characters have Survival Mantras playing in their heads, discovered when Kreia teaches you how to read minds. These three are arguably the most traumatised out of all the team members (An eyeless Dark Jedi, a Sith torturer-turned-smuggler, and a reformed war criminal), and have some pretty interesting mantras.

{{quote|'''Visas Marr''': As my feet walk the ashes of Katarr, I shall not fear, for in fear lies death...

'''Bao-Dur''': Your command echoes still, General. And I obey, as I did at Malachor... }}

* ''[[Phantom Brave]]'': "One Day....." One day...people will stop hating Marona and [[All of the Other Reindeer|telling her so]]. She ''must'' believe this.

* ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops|Call of Duty Black Ops]]:'' "Dragovich...Kravchenko...Steiner... ''[[Kill'Em All|All must die.]]"''

* ''[[Halo]]'': In the novel ''[[Halo the Flood]]'', Captain Jacob Keyes recites his name, rank, and service number constantly to resist [[Mind Rape]] by [[Eldritch Abomination|the Flood]], which is stripping away his memories systematically. It works for a while, but he eventually he is forced to forget his own name. The scene was [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8O09zQ-YkM adapted] into video for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]] [[Updated Rerelease|Anniversary]]'', to many [[Tear Jerker|tears]].

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* In ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]'', Abel starts [http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_707.php mentally reciting] the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear, when Merlitz's (who he's disguised as) old adventuring group stops by, on the look out for Cubi (which Abel is).

* In ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'' the use of the 23rd Psalm is parodied [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0203.html here].

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* ''[[Animaniacs]]'': "A clown is not a hairy spider. A clown will not bite me and throw me in the basement." Admittedly, it doesn't work very well...

* Used in the begining of ''[[A Bug's Life|A Bugs Life]]'' when the swarm of grasshoppers come to take the ants' offering of food. The ants are all gathered underground in the colony waiting and listening. Atta, terrified, chants, "They come, they eat, they leave. They come, they eat, they leave."

* ''[[Finding Nemo]]:'' "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

** When Marlin and Dory are stuck in the Jellyfish fields, Marlin invokes this trope while playing it straight. He keeps Dory awake by asking her to repeat where P. Sherman lives, and keeps himself awake by repeating 'Stay awake!'

* In ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "Kamp Krusty," Bart is seen keeping himself sane by reminding himself that "Krusty is coming...Krusty is coming...Krusty is coming..."

* In ''[[Drawn Together]]'', we have "Strong, Xander... Strong, Xander..."

 

== [[Real Life]] ==

Forever and ever,

Amen. }}

** And the Divine Mercy Prayer: Jesu Ufam Tobie (Jesus I trust in you).

** O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Madness Tropes]]

[[Category:Dialogue]]

[[Category:Characterization Tropes]]