The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey

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

- Joseph Campbell

Why do we tell stories?How can fiction reveal the truth?Why do patterns exist in stories?

Essential Questions

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)

Discovered common patterns across mythsHero’s Journey – Common stages across culture and timeAlso referred to as “The Monomyth”

Joseph Campbell

There are variations on the cycleSome basic elements are shared

1. The Ordinary or Known World2. Hero possesses certain qualities, such as Unusual Circumstances of BirthLeaves Family and Lives With OthersTraumatic Event Leads to Quest

Common Elements within the monomythic structure

The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy in KansasThe 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 world

But THEN… there’s a call TO ADVENTURE!3. The Call to Adventure

In the Call to Adventure, the hero:Can show reluctance or doubtCan experience a discovery or dangerCan learn that his known world is threatenedSometimes, the quest is an accident

But the hero isn’t 100% sure about this new realm.There is now a Refusal of the QuestThey can either accept or denyThey experience reluctance or doubt their ability to complete

The hero receives aid on the questJob of the aid is to give heroes what they need to finish the quest

4. Supernatural Aid

Supernatural doesn’t have to mean magicalSupernatural 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 powersAs Campbell says “One has only to know and trust, and the ageless guardians will appear”

Supernatural Aid

The Hobbit: GandalfStar Wars: Obi-Wan KenobiCinderella: 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 Aid

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

5. Accepting the Call

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 Threshold

Enter a new worldFilled with supernatural and the unknownNew rules different from familiar world

7. Entering the Unknown

The hero meets a mentor who provides guidance and help throughout the journeyThe mentor supports the hero in times of crisis and the unknown

8. Meeting the Mentor

The hero will encounterAlliesMythical beings Helpful animalsCompanionsCan you think of examples any of movie we’ve been discussing?

9. Allies & Helpers

The hero will experience various tests which: Prove his worthiness of the questDevelop skills needed to succeedPrepare him for the final ordeal

10. Tests and Challenges

In the final challenge the hero:Faces the true possibility of defeatThe 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 Resurrection

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

resurrection

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 transforms

Atonement

-

Hero

confronts

whatever

holds

power

over

his

or

her

life

Often

this

is

the

father

figure

or

male

entity

does

not

have

to

be

male;

just

someone

or

thing

with

incredible

power

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 ability

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

.