The Heroic Cycle Myths, Heroes, Quests

Carl Jung 1875 – 1961 Swiss psychologist/ psychiatrist Collaborator and friend of Freud Collective unconscious = inherited fantasy life Archetypes = basic components of human psychic nature The hero = an important archetype Explanation of the Archetype – Jung “Just as the human body shows a common anatomy over and above all racial differences, so, too, the human psyche possesses a common substratum transcending all differences in culture and consciousness.” http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Images/jung.jpg Collective unconscious = a pool of inherited psychic residue accumulated since the beginning of the human race, an echo of the sum of experience accessible to all humans, that manifests itself through archetypes, or patterns of expression. 2

Joseph Campbell 1904 – 1988 Mythologist, college professor, author Campbell’s big contribution: definition of a hero [from mythical to ordinary human] Path with specific stages, all of which the potential hero must travel The Matrix: Inspired by Joseph Campbell - While you watch this, think of movies you have watched recently. Can you apply these stages to a recent movie? Photo from http://www.jcf.org/jcbio1.htm 3

The Power of Myths They build civilizations They create empires They start wars They influence the lives of millions “Myth” is derived from the Greek “Mythos” “Mythos” – word or story Humans have traditionally used stories to describe or explain things that they could not explain otherwise Ancient myths were stories by means of which our ancestors were able to assimilate the mysteries that occurred around them and within them

The Power of Myths We should take myths seriously even though some of us might think they sound silly or childish Myths connect the relationship of the known and the unknown Each culture considers its myths to be true at that given period Some people view Christianity as mythology. Think of how our country was established. Think of how Christianity has influenced your life even if you are not a Christian. A Host of Heroes : TedEd

The Power of Myths What are Myths? An anonymous story that presents supernatural episodes as a means of interpreting natural events They are stories that answer people’s most basic questions about the mysteries of life Things that cannot be answered were created by myths They explain the human experience They tell us who we are, where we came from, and what we believe in They explain our place in the universe

The Power of Myths Two of the most common types of questions answered with myth: 1. Where did we come from? 2. How was the world created? - Imagine trying to answer these without any background knowledge or without modern science Joseph Campbell : Star Wars

The Monomyth Monomyth = One Story = Heroic Quest Journey taken in search of something valuable: Object, Person, Concept Pattern: Hero accepts call (B is going to kill Grendel) Hero leaves community (B goes to Hrothgar) Hero goes on a dangerous journey filled with adventure (B kills Grendel and his mother) Hero successfully shows his prowess against powerful enemies with help from the supernatural (B has God and fate on his side) Hero returns to community with fruits of the journey (B’s name will live on forever and he also has treasure)

DEPARTURE --- FULFILLMENT --- RETURN The Monomyth DEPARTURE --- FULFILLMENT --- RETURN Two Types of Deeds Physical Deed – War Act, Saving Lives, Sacrifice (Unconscious and Conscious) Psychological Deed / Spiritual Deed – Found mode of experiencing supernatural and communicated it. Has seen god(s), gone to death, come back

The Monomyth: Words to Know Archetype – Universal pattern or model that serves as a basis for different but related versions of a character, plot, or theme Pantheon – “All Gods” – deities personify the abstract value (wisdom, love, justice, anger) and concrete forces (wind, sea, rain, moon) Motif – A word, image, character, object, theme, or idea that recurs in a work or several works of literature Allegory – A symbolic narrative; abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material form

The Hero and the Quest Epic Hero – main character of an epic and embodies the values of a particular society he represents Almost every culture has a mythic hero Might wear a different “costume,” but is the same underneath Can be a male or female Usually has a remarkable birth Often the offspring of a god Usually possesses qualities of both immortals and mortals Early signs or being special

The Hero and the Quest Quests: A journey taken in search of something of value Often aided by others Doesn’t always go smoothly – usually runs into problems (makes it more entertaining) Temptation Flaw in character May involve a descent into the underworld or dark place Could involve greatest sacrifice of all – giving own life

Archetypes Before we discuss other archetypes, I want you to think about fairy tales, folk tales, movies, and various forms of literature… What types of “characters” commonly show up in stories? Campbell discussed the Samurai Sword Master / The Old Man as the Teacher

The Heroic Cycle

The Heroic Cycle

Questions to Consider Why does the heroic cycle still exist in modern entertainment? Where do you see the heroic cycle in modern entertainment? What have you recently read or watched that makes you think of the heroic cycle? What do you think about the collective unconscious? TED Link

Lord of the Rings Bilbo and Frodo Baggins are excellent examples of the heroic cycle Clash of the Gods: Tolkien’s Monsters (Beo: 19:50 min) Clash of the Gods: Beowulf