The Hero's Journey An Archetypal Story
The hero’s journey is one of the oldest story archetypes on the planet.
The components of the hero’s journey were identified and developed by Joseph Campbell, who was the world’s foremost authority on mythology.
In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell asserted that all storytelling follows the ancient patterns of myth, and …
…that all stories use elements of the Hero’s Journey …that all stories use elements of the Hero’s Journey. Campbell called this archetype a Monomyth.
George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, consulted with Campbell while writing the scripts for the first Star Wars trilogy.
The function of the story is to entertain, to instruct, and to inspire. The hero’s journey is a metaphor for life itself.
Departure/Separation Part I: Departure/Separation Breaking away from the old life
The hero is invited to leave a mundane life and seek adventure. A. The Call to Adventure The hero is invited to leave a mundane life and seek adventure.
Odysseus is called to fight the Trojan War
Pinocchio wants to become a real boy.
Dorothy wants to leave Kansas.
Frodo leaves the Shire
The hero has second thoughts; adventure looks too risky. B. The Refusal of the Call The hero has second thoughts; adventure looks too risky.
Dorothy runs back to the farm and Auntie Em. A storm is brewing.
Luke Skywalker doesn’t have time for the adventure - he has to help his Uncle Owen on the moisture farm.
C. Supernatural Aid The hero receives a gift to help on the journey.
The ruby slippers
A conscience
Luke receives his lightsaber from Obi-Wan Kenobi.
D. Crossing the First Threshold The hero leaves the old world behind and enters the new.
Dorothy is carried away to Oz by the tornado.
Luke Skywalker leaves his home on Tatooine.
E. The Belly of the Whale Like Jonah and Pinocchio, the hero experiences the “dark night of the soul” and must face his faults and the truth.
For some, the belly of the whale experience is a situation in which the hero feels trapped. Luke, Han, and Leia trapped in the garbage compactor…
Luke Skywalker trains with Yoda in a whale-like house.
While on Yoda’s planet of Dagobah, Luke enters a whale-like cave and must face his own potential for evil, which is personified by Darth Vader.