The Hero’s Quest (with thanks to Joseph Campbell)

The Hero is usually, though not always, male. Often in myth, women represent creation and ultimate wisdom.

The hero is usually of low birth (not very high social standing) but he may be secretly endowed with special powers or a high birthright he knows not of.

The hero’s parents (especially the father figure) are dead, absent, or uncaring. The hero usually cannot begin a journey where he intends to become a man if his father figure is still present.

The call to adventure may be chosen by others, begin journey by mistake or blunder, or be told to go by a dream or vision.

Refusal of the call The hero may resist or refuse the call to adventure. This brings negative events upon himself or his people. Accepting the quest reverses these effects.

The herald The adventure is sometimes announced to the listener, the reader, or the hero himself by a character known as the herald.

The guide A guide appears to the hero to offer guidance and advice. Usually has supernatural powers and appears as an old, mysterious protective figure (often an old man). shows wisdom and power to the hero, sometimes with magical weapons.

Preparation The hero may receive instruction, help, or magical objects to aid him on his quest. He may also undergo training.

Allies The hero may find he has new friends, who will aid him (often in unexpected ways) He may also find allies as his quest continues…

Crossing the first threshold The hero leaves his home to enter a realm of darkness, danger, geographically by a desert, jungle, forest, swamp, or deep sea. There he encounters temptation, danger, and tough moral decisions.

Guarding the Threshold The threshold is often guarded by powerful beings, who must be defeated.

The road of trials The hero conquers the temptation, dangers, darkness with the help, perhaps, of magic weapons and good advice.

Saving Experience or Gift Often a religious experience May also be a gift—an object or a power—given to the hero by someone else (often in the nick of time!)

Transforming In the process of achieving his quest, the hero changes some aspect of himself. It may be his viewpoint, his skills, or his entire life.

The return After he has completed his quest, reached his goal, he may go back to his own people. In some myth, the hero is asked to stay with the gods and to live in the special afterlife for heroes.

Sharing the Gift In many myths, the hero then shares his new knowledge or power with his people. This enables the cycle to begin anew, with a different hero

Why the myth Besides entertainment, these stories represent a person’s search for something within themselves like courage, maturity, wisdom. Many heroes are young because the search for these qualities is part of the natural path to adulthood.