Presentations text content in The Hero’s Journey The Structure of an Epic Tale
Slide1
The Hero’s Journey
The Structure of an Epic Tale
Slide2Epic -a
long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero in which a series of great obstacles and majestic achievements occur.
Myth
-
a story that explains an unexplainable event.
Slide3To Understand the Greeks, You Must Understand Their Values
GREEK VALUES/ THEMES
1. *cunning over strength
2. *homeland
3. *respect for the gods
4. *spiritual development
(“know thyself”)
5. *youth and beauty
6. *rhetorical abilities (admiration for those who speak well)
Slide4Traits of the Epic Hero
1. An epic hero is superhuman. He is braver, stronger, smarter, and cleverer than an ordinary person is. 2. The epic hero is on a quest
for something of great value to him or his people
.
3. The epic hero
fights monsters
. The villains that try to keep the hero from his quest are usually uglier, more evil, and more cunning than anyone we know in ordinary life.
Slide54. The epic hero is often of mixed divine and human birth
and so possesses human weaknesses. 5. The divine world (the gods) interferes with the human world.
6. The epic hero
returns home significantly transformed
by his journey
.
7. In his journey, the epic hero covers great geographical distances and even
visits the underworld
, other worlds, and/ or other times.
Slide6Setting
The setting of an epic is usually vast in scale.
Slide7Modern Epics
Modern “epics” take the reader on a hero’s journey while often adapting the storyline and setting.
Slide8Stages of a Hero’s Journey
Slide9The Call
An invitation to adventure either by a herald or an external event
The event is often traumatic
Voluntary or involuntary
Shrek decides to rescue Princess Fiona
Marlin decides to leave home to search for
Nemo
Odysseus goes to battle in Troy
God
appears
to
Moses
Slide10Refusal of the Call
Often, the hero refuses to answer the call, or is reluctant to do so.
Slide11Supernatural Help
Hero often has spiritual guidance from a wizard, elderly person, dwarf, fairy godmother,
etc
.
Slide12Talisman
A particular item that holds special power for the hero that helps him navigate the unknown.
Slide13The Guardian
Often there is a character who helps guard the hero. This character helps the hero to understand his life situation or helps him train for battle.
Slide14Companions
There are usually friends or other companions who follow the hero on his journey.
Slide15The Threshold
The place that marks the boundary from the known to the unknown
Sometimes there
is
something or someone that
blocks the
way.
The hero defeats, conciliates, or is murdered by the shadow and enters the unknown such as a cave or the belly of a
whale.
Slide16Road of Trials/Challenges
The hero is faced with challenges and battles which test his strength and goodness.
Night or Sea Journey
The hero usually travels a great distance,
often in the dark or across an ocean.
Slide17Entering the Belly of the Whale
This is the part of the story wherein the hero must face his deepest, darkest fear or most evil enemy.
Slide18Journey to Hell/Death and Rebirth
Hero descends into a hell-like area (land of the dead?). His return is like returning from the dead. Symbolically goes where normal humans can’t and finds truth about self.
The hero may just die symbolically or people may think he’s dead for a while.
Slide19Atonement (Payment for Wrongdoing) with
FatherHero either redeems father’s evil
deeds, his own mistakes,
or gains recognition by his
father, creator, god, or parent figure.
Slide20Apotheosis
Hero is treated as a god (deified) or is rewarded spiritually at the end of his life
Slide21Ultimate Boon/Magic Elixir
Sometimes the hero steals or receives something that benefits humans, such as fire, an elixir of long life, or a
bride.
Slide22The Return
Because of the new knowledge, the hero may not want to returnThere is a flight from a pursuer which marks the return back to the known worldOnce the hero returns, he is a product of 2 worlds with strong powers. He restores and heals societySometimes the society accepts his gifts while other times they may not be ready.
Slide23A Few Examples of Archetypal
JourneysThe quest for identity
The
quest for vengeance
The warrior’s journey to save his people
The search for love (to rescue the princess/damsel in distress)
The journey in search of knowledge
The tragic quest: penance or self-denial
The fool’s errand
The quest to rid the land of danger
The grail quest (the quest for human perfection)
The Hero’s Journey The Structure of an Epic Tale
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