The Hero’s Journey - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Hero’s Journey

“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure

- Joseph CampbellSlide2

Why do we tell stories?

How can fiction reveal the truth?

Why do patterns exist in stories?

Essential QuestionsSlide3

One

of

Joseph

Campbell's influences was Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jungand his theory of the collective unconscious involved archetypes or recurring images, patterns,and ideas from dreams and myths across various cultures.

Here

are

several

archetypes

often

found

in

myths:

HEROES

:

central

figures

in

stories.

everyone

is

the

hero

of

their

own

myth.

SHADOWS

:

Villians

,

enemies,

or

the

enemy

within.

MENTORS

:

The

hero's

guide

or

guiding

principles.

HERALD

:

They

one

who

brings

the

call

to

adventure.

THRESHOLD

GUARDIANS

:

Forces

that

stand

in

the

way

at

important

turning

points,

-

jealous

enemies,

professional

gatekeepers,

or

even

the

heros

own

fear

and

doubts.

SHAPESHIFTER

:

vampires,

werewolves,

or

a

representation

of

change.

TRICKSTER

:

clowns

and

mischief-makers

ALLIES

:

Characters

who

help

the

hero

throughout

the

quest.

WOMAN

AS

TEMPTRESS

:

Sometimes

a

female

character

offers

danger

to

the

hero

(as

the

femme

fatale)Slide4

Discovered common patterns across myths

Hero’s Journey – Common stages across culture and time

Also referred to as “The Monomyth”Joseph CampbellSlide5
Slide6

There are variations on the cycle

Some basic elements are sharedSlide7
Slide8

1. The Ordinary or Known World

2. Hero possesses certain qualities, such as

Unusual Circumstances of BirthLeaves Family and Lives With OthersTraumatic Event Leads to Quest

Common Elements within the

monomythic

structureSlide9

The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy in Kansas

The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins in

HobbitonStar Wars: Luke SkywalkerThe Lion King: Simba at Pride RockOther examples: http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v

=ny68V2PgULw

Examples of Characters in the Known/Ordinary worldSlide10

But THEN… there’s a call TO ADVENTURE!

3. The Call to Adventure Slide11

In the Call to Adventure, the hero:

Can show reluctance or doubt

Can experience a discovery or dangerCan learn that his known world is threatenedSometimes, the quest is an accidentSlide12

But the hero isn’t 100% sure about this new realm.

There is now a Refusal of the Quest

They can either accept or denyThey experience reluctance or doubt their ability to completeSlide13

The hero receives aid on the quest

Job of the aid is to give heroes what they need to finish the quest

4. Supernatural AidSlide14

Supernatural doesn’t have to mean magical

Supernatural only means “above the laws of nature”

Can be a character or objectThis supernatural character often gives them the means to complete the questCan be wisdomCan be an object with powers

As Campbell says

“One has only to know and trust, and the ageless guardians will appear”

Supernatural AidSlide15

The Hobbit: Gandalf

Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi

Cinderella: Fairy GodmotherSometimes a TALISMAN is used. It’s a special (and often magical) item that assist the heroes on their quest.Ex:The Wizard of Oz: Ruby Slippers The Hobbit: The RingStar Wars:

Lightsaber

Examples of Supernatural AidSlide16

Once the adventure is accepted, the heroes advance into the next stage of their journey

5. Accepting the CallSlide17

The new world the hero is forced into is much different than the old one.

Campbell describes this new world as a:

fateful region of both treasure and danger – a distant land, a forest, a kingdom underground, beneath the leave, or above the sky, a secret island, a lofty mountaintop, or profound dream state… a place of strangely fluid and polymorphous beings, unimaginable torment, superhuman deeds, and impossible delight.

6. Crossing the ThresholdSlide18

Enter a new world

Filled with supernatural and the unknown

New rules different from familiar world7. Entering the UnknownSlide19

The hero meets a mentor who provides guidance and help throughout the journey

The mentor supports the hero in times of crisis and the unknown

8. Meeting the MentorSlide20

The hero will encounter

Allies

Mythical beings Helpful animalsCompanionsCan you think of examples any of movie we’ve been discussing?

9. Allies & HelpersSlide21

The hero will experience various tests which:

Prove his worthiness of the questDevelop skills needed to succeedPrepare him for the final ordeal10. Tests and ChallengesSlide22

In the final challenge the hero:

Faces the true possibility of defeat

The hero appears to give up or is woundedThe hero must overcome obstaclesThey must apply what they learnedHero overcomes and experiences the resurrection

11. Facing

the Abyss and ResurrectionSlide23

Facing

the

Abyss

and ResurrectionIn the final challenge the hero:Faces the true possibility of defeatthe hero appears to give up or is woundedthe hero must overcome obstacles-they must

apply

what

they

learned

Hero

overcomes

and

experiences

the

resurrectionSlide24

12. Reward

,

Transformation

& the Journey Home:Hero is successful and earns a reward- the girl, money, the kingdomHero begins journey homehero experiences change and views world differently - and transformsSlide25

Atonement

-

Hero

confronts whatever holds power over his or her lifeOften this is the father figure or male entitydoes not have to be male; just someone or thing with incredible

powerSlide26

Return

with

the

Gift, Master of 2 Worlds, and Restoration of World- Hero returns home victorious in quest-brings an elixir, or gift back which restores balance to world- can be knowledge,

object

or

abilitySlide27
Slide28

The

Monomyth

:

Not just for Mythology!Think about how the steps and experiences that occur within the hero's journey can be applied to real world events. Perhaps you might consider

how

the

monomythic

structure

could

apply

to

some

of

your

own

quests

or

transitions

.