The 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. Years of research lead Campbell to discover several basic stages that almost every hero-quest goes through (no matter what culture the myth is a part of). He calls this common structure “the monomyth.” It is commonly referred to as "The Hero's Journey.“

The Hero's Journey is a great technique for analyzing all kinds of stories--myths, legends, films, novels, short stories, plays, or even comic books. The Hero's Journey encourages students to think about plot structure, character motivation, and theme. It also leads students to consider what qualities they associate with heroes.

What makes a hero? Are heroes born or are they made? Are there heroes in real-life or must they be larger-than-life? Who are the heroes in our society?

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve

What do these anti heroes have in common? Batman (D.C. Comics) Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby) Scarlett O’Hara (Gone with the Wind) Vito and Michael Corleone (The Godfather) Wolverine (Marvel Comics) Anti Hero is a main character of a story who is flawed in some way and often does not display admirable qualities.

George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, claims that Campbell’s monomyth was the inspiration for his groundbreaking films. Princes Leia and Luke Skywalker

Two worlds The ordinary world; the known The special world; the unknown

What is an archetype? Carl Jung said it’s an ideal model that describes how people behave. The father: Stern, powerful, controlling The mother: Feeding, nurturing, soothing The child: Birth, beginnings, salvation Story archetypes The hero: Rescuer, champion The maiden: Purity, desire The wise old man: Knowledge, guidance The magician: Mysterious, powerful The earth mother: Nature The witch or sorceress: Dangerous The trickster: Deceiving, hidden Animal archetypes The faithful dog: Unquestioning loyalty The enduring horse: Never giving up The devious cat: Self-serving

Your assignment: As you watch the assigned video clips of A Hero’s Journey, you will be looking for two things: (1)the journey from the ordinary world to the unknown and the return, and (2) the archetypes that help or hinder or do both.

EXAMPLE

Write a summary of The Hero’s Journey that you analyzed. Every hero’s journey begins with a call to adventure. It is the instigation, motivation, or need to go on a journey. But first a hero must be established. In the film Finding Nemo, the hero most definitely is Marlin, a clownfish living in the serenity of an anemone, who begins his journey when his only son, Nemo, is kidnapped by scuba divers. His drive to rescue Nemo is the desperate call to adventure. But following the call to adventure is the refusal of that call. Nearly convinced that Nemo has died in the hands of frightening creatures (humans), the vigor in Marlin temporarily dies. But the motivation to continue on his journey comes from a supernatural aid that he meets on the way, Dory. Although Dory doesn’t have a supernatural power, she encourages Marlin with her quirky humor to look on the bright side, and aids him in many obstacles. But mostly, Dory gives Marlin a sense of hope, which is supernatural in his time of despair. It is slightly before meeting his supernatural aid, that Marlin crosses the threshold from his safe anemone, to the dangers of the open sea, on the search for Nemo. Afterwards, both Marlin and Dory face the belly of the whale. This happens when the pair enters the depths of a shark’s house, and sharks happen to bring back vivid memories for Marlin. Nemo is his only son, because of a shark attack the killed Marlin’s wife and unborn children. Nemo was the only survivor of this attack, and Marlin will stop at nothing to retrieve him.

Summary continued… The Initiation The departure of a hero’s journey morphs into the initiation usually quickly, especially in Finding Nemo since time is crucial. Marlin and Dory come face to face with dangerous challenges when a sunken boat nearly falls on them; they tackle a fish fifty times the size of themselves, and go through the hazardous forest of stinging jellyfish. The only time Marlin was tempted away from his goal to find Nemo was when his discouragement dominated him. This especially happened when Marlin lost his only way of finding his son, the goggles that had the address of the location written on it. Luckily his supernatural aid, Dory, was there to help retrieve them and bring his spirit up. Although there was no goddess in Marlin’s journey, there was in fact a night or sea journey. One overnight- adventure brought Marlin from the middle of the ocean to Australia, which was where Nemo was. This was the time Marlin and Dory spent on the East Australian Current where they were guided by a turtle on where to go next. At this point of the journey, it is evident that Marlin’s journey has taught him a great deal. Well, it wasn’t too long before everyone had knowledge of his journey. When everyone began spreading Marlin’s incredible story around, apotheosis happened, and suddenly Marlin was the “god” of the ocean. But he had another obstacle awaiting him. When Marlin and Dory get stuck in a whale’s mouth, all hope was lost. And then the ultimate boon happens, when Marlin found the special solution; trust in his quirky aid, Dory. Together, they make is out of the whale through it’s back in a spirit-lifting, fountain explosion.

Summary continued… The Return The return of a hero’s journey starts with the refusal of the return. Marlin refuses to go back to his anemone until Nemo has been found. He refuses to give up, even when a bird desires him for lunch and nearly swallows him. But in the true nature of a hero, Marlin survives, only to be chased down by many more birds. This scene is the magic flight of the return of Marlin. But in the midst of being chased by hungry birds, it seems that Marlin’s journey has lost hope and will end in death. But suddenly, a rescue from without occurs. Another bird, Nigel, scoops Marlin up. But Nigel is aware of who Marlin is due to the apotheosis Marlin has achieved. Nigel also knows where Nemo is, so finally, with the help of Dory, the turtle of wisdom, and Nigel, Marlin finds Nemo. Reunited, Marlin and Nemo find atonement with each other. As most parents and children do, Marlin and Nemo fought. But now brought into each other’s lives after defying reality, the son and his father will never take each other for granted again. The pair clearly crosses the threshold when they swim back together. And now cherishing every moment they have with one another, Marlin and Nemo have mastered the roles of father and son and the worlds of despair and enjoyment. They lived in peace from that moment on.