Joseph Campbell The Journey of a Hero

What is Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey”? Joseph Campbell, an American psychologist and mythological researcher, wrote a famous book entitled The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In his lifelong research, Campbell discovered many common patterns running through hero myths and stories from around the world. There are several basic stages that almost every hero-quest goes through (no matter what culture the myth is a part of). This structure is called “the monomyth.” It is commonly referred to as “The Hero’s Journey.”

Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey Campbell’s Hero Journey is composed of three parts: 1.Separation (Departs home ) 2.Initiation (challenges along the way) 3.Return (Coming back home)

Before the Journey… The hero is safe at home in his or her ordinary world. The hero begins in a mundane situation of normality. Examples: –Dorothy in Kansas, bored on the farm –Alice in the garden of her home, bored –Frodo in the Shire, enjoying the peaceful life –Katniss at her district home, hunting Then, some information is recieved that forces the hero’s life as he or she knows it to change forever, and so begins….

PART 1: SEPARATION

SEPARATION/DEPARTURE The Call To Adventure: The Call (departure) invites the person to “adventure” The Herald enters here.The Herald enters here. The Call is a realization of an imbalance in injustice in life; hero may experience some type of loss; senses that there is something lacking in life. Refusal of the Call: Sometimes the character is reluctant to go, but then something happens to make/convince him/her to answer the call.

SEPARATION/DEPARTURE Meeting with the Mentor: Character who helps the hero to understand his situation; often older Gives advice Provides training/magical weapons Can’t go with the hero to the end. Hero must complete the task alone.

SEPARATION/DEPARTURE Companions On the journey the initiate will encounter a helper(s) who help him with challenges. The Threshold – Once called to adventure, the initiate must pass over the Threshold. Often at the threshold, the initiate may find people, beings, or situations which block our passage into the journey. They are “threshold guardians”. They protect us from taking journeys before we’re ready – like parents. See them throughout the story, not just in separation.

PART 2: INITIATION

INITIATION Testing/Road of Trials Hero faces trials and adventures. The early challenges are relatively easy. By meeting them successfully, he builds maturity. As the journey progresses, the challenges become more and more difficult.

INITIATION Testing/Road of Trials Continued… In stories, testing can include fighting, monsters, battling a brother, abduction, crossing the sea (which means rebirth), meeting with a goddess, atonement (makes peace) with the father, sacred marriage, crucifixion, near death/dismemberment, etc. In life, testing can be anything that forces a person to change and grow (disease, grief, job loss, etc)

INITIATION Entering the Cave/Belly of the Whale Preparation to face “the big one” (the abyss) Often deep underground, a cave, a dream, or deep within his own mind. Object of the quest is hidden here.

INITIATION THE SUPREME ORDEAL Occurs in the belly of the whale Hero faces the greatest challenge of the journey. The challenge is so great at this point that he or she must overcome all fear and face things alone. Sometimes called “slaying the dragon”

INITIATION SEIZES THE SWORD OR REWARD – Hero slays the dragon or otherwise achieves his/her goal. Hero appears to die and is reborn. Magic. Similar to a Rite of Passage where the child moves from dependence to independence, from selfish to giving; he accepts the responsibility it brings. Often, the hero fails to achieve the original goal, but discovers more importantly….

INITIATION SEIZES THE SWORD OR REWARD Contd… He disovers the “real reason” for his/her quest was SELF KNOWLEDGE! Hero is transformed by his new self-knowledge. The Revelation is a sudden, dramatic change in the way one thinks or views life. This change in thinking is crucial because it makes the hero truly a different person. Ressurrection: sometimes the hero appears to die and is reborn a “hero”

INITIATION RESURRECTION/ ATONEMENT WITH SELF (OR FATHER) The point at which the hero is “at-one” with his new self and life; May appear to have died and been reborn. (resurrected) He has absorbed the changes caused by the journey and is fully “reborn” Sometimes he will heal a broken relationship with a father (figure) May receive a gift which is bestowed upon him based on his new level of skill and awareness.

PART 3: THE RETURN TO THE ORDINARY WORLD

RETURN ROAD BACK/MAGIC FLIGHT On his way home, hero is often chased by vengeful forces. (not out of the woods yet) RETURN WITH THE ELIXER The essence of the return is to begin contributing to one’s society. The mythology, the person may return as a great hero because she has saved or renewed her community in some way.

Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey Pattern of the Quest The KnownThe UnknownThe Known Threshold Challenges and Temptations Return at a higher level