The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey

Who are your heroes?What characterizes them as heroes?List three heroes from history, film, or literature, and complete the chart below.

Why do we need heroes?

Hero Character Traits/Accomplishments

Essential QuestionsWhy is the heroic myth important to so many cultures ?What do they teach us about the culture in which they were created?What characterizes someone as a hero?

After studying stories from around the world, Joseph Campbell noticed the reoccurrence of ancient hero-myths. In, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell calls the hero-quest archetype, the monomyth.

The Monomyth“ A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder; fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won; the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

-Joseph Campbell

Hero myths contain the goals and virtues of an entire nation or culture; they are conveyed through the quest and adventures of a legendary figure who is stronger, smarter, and more courageous than most other people. The hero undertakes a journey, during which he must perform impossible tasks. With few exceptions, mythological heroes are usually male.Heroes often have an obscure, mysterious, or partially divine origin.The hero’s way is not always direct or clear to him.The hero often receives help from loyal allies and supernatural forces.What the hero seeks is usually no more than a symbol of what he really finds.

The Hero’s Journey

All heroes go through a journey in one form or another (archetypal). Campbell outlined 17 stages of the monomyth. Here is a simplified version that is often used.

Basic structure: The ordinary world Call to adventure Refusal of call/reluctant hero Meeting wise mentor Crossing the first threshold Tests, allies, and enemies Approach Supreme ordeal Reward The road back Resurrection Return with elixir

Basic Structure

The Hero’s Journey

Meeting Wise Mentor

Call to Adventure

Refusal of Call

Ordinary World

Elixir

Crossing the Threshold

Tests, Allies, Enemies

ApproachSupreme Ordeal

The Road Back

Resurrection

Reward

Fabulous circumstances surrounding conception, birth, and childhood establish the hero's background and often constitute their own myth. In the ordinary world, the protagonist is introduced to the audience. He (or she) doesn't know his personal potential or calling.

Birth/Ordinary World

The hero is called to adventure by some external event or messenger. The hero may accept the call willingly or reluctantly. The Hero refuses to answer or even recognize the call because of fear, obligation, or a sense of inadequacy.Herald – Carrier of the power of destiny, appears and marks a new period for the hero.Hero must leave the known and enter the unknown. The hero is summoned to a fateful, unknown region full of danger and treasure.

Call to AdventureRefusal

Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known. Hero comes to boundary between known world and the unknown and steps into the unknown.This is the true beginning of the adventure.The hero is commonly given a protective amulet or special weapon for the journey.

MentorCrossing Threshold

The hero must undergo a series of tests. These trials are often violent encounters with monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of nature. This is the series of trials and tribulations in which the hero must go through to be come the hero.Each successful test further proves the hero's ability and advances the journey toward its climax, and they end up forever changing the hero.He may also meet loyal allies who will aid in his quest.The hero may hit setbacks and may need to try a new idea.

Tests and AlliesApproach

This is the critical, life or death, moment in the hero's journey in which there is often a final battle with a monster, wizard, or warrior.The separation has been made between the old world and old self and the potential for a new world/self. By entering this stage, the person shows his willingness to make a change, to die and become a new person. Here the hero has survived death, overcomes his fears, and now earns the reward.

Supreme OrdealReward

The hero must return to the ordinary world. A flight may be necessary. The return usually takes the form of an awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or forest.

Road BackResurrection Elixer

The old self dies physically or spiritually and moves beyond the normal human state. This is a god-like state (apotheosis).The return with elixir is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It may be a physical object or newfound knowledge or spirituality. The object, knowledge, or blessing that the hero acquired during the adventure is now put to use in the everyday world.Often it has a restorative or healing function, but it also serves to define the hero's role in the society.

Harry PotterStar WarsThe Lord of the RingsThe Lion KingThe MatrixSiddharthaShrekEnder’s GameThe Wizard of OzDeltora QuestRamayanaEpic of GilgameshThe Little PrinceThe Alchemist

Hero’s Journey Examples