Storytelling - The Hero’s Journey The Monomyth *AN ASTERISK MEANS VOCAB WORD

*MONOMYTH - DEFINITION The cyclical journey undertaken by the standard mythological hero Narrative pattern Transcends time and tradition

5 STAGES OF THE QUEST DEPARTURE INITIATION RETURN 1. call / separation 2. descent / entry INITIATION 3. trials / tests 4. triumph / emergence RETURN 5. reintegration (shares learning / elixir / eternal life / riches)

STAGE 1 - THE CALL Status Quo Call to Adventure Assistance The hero’s life before the call Call to Adventure The hero may refuse or run from the call...this sometimes functions as a means of accepting it. The hero may often not have a choice about accepting the call. Assistance Encourages or forces hero on journey Could be a weapon or mentor or other

STAGE 2 - THE DESCENT Departure/Cross the Threshold The hero leaves the normal world; crosses into the new world Point of no return - the adventure MUST happen at this point Initial challenge - confronting a literal / figurative gatekeeper Painful - fight the gatekeeper Painless - enter a cave

STAGE 3 - TRIALS / TESTS Series of challenges / tests / trials Tempted to stay in the new land, abandon journey, give up Often reconciled to father figure Hero may have to fight battles, Solve problems and riddles Often the majority of the story Approach Hero prepares/trains to face the crisis Crisis/biggest ordeal or fear

STAGE 4 - TRIUMPH / EMERGENCE Triumph - The hero fully realizes and completes the calling by earning a treasure, triumphing over an enemy. (Result) Emergence/New Life - new knowledge of the world Often accompanied by a literal or figurative resurrection or new birth

STAGE 5 - REINTEGRATION Return - Master of two worlds Freedom to live in either Often see some sort of return to normal world though the New Life means it is seen or the hero is seen differently Resolution - Share knowledge / elixir / eternal life / freedom from conflict with others Hero may continue fight for others Other problems get resolved

JOSEPH CAMPBELL Described by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces Question: Why would he entitle his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces?

REMEMBER… DEPARTURE INITIATION RETURN Call / separation Descent / entry INITIATION Trials / tests Triumph / emergence RETURN Return

SOME MONOMYTHS IN TIME Avatar (2009 AD) American King Arthur (1485 AD) English Superman (1932 AD) American Moses (1400 BC) Hebrew Siddhārtha (100 BC) Indian Jesus (70 AD) Roman 14 BC 10 BC 6 BC 2 BC 2 AD 6 AD 10 AD 14 AD 18 AD 4 AD 8 AD 12 AD 12 BC 8 BC 4 BC 16 AD 20 AD Odyssey (800 BC) Ancient Greek Beowulf (1100 AD) Anglo-Saxon Batman (1939 AD) American Star Wars (1977 AD) American Al-Khiḍr (610 AD) Islam Paradise Lost (1667 AD) English

MATRIX AS MONOMYTH Stage 1 - Neo is called out of the Matrix and to save people from the Matrix. Stage 5 - Neo returns to the Matrix to begin the rescue as the chosen one. Stage 2 - Neo takes the red pill and wakes up in the ‘real world.’ Stage 4 - Neo realizes he is the chosen one and that the Matrix is a program. Stage 3 - Neo fights Smith, saves Morpheus, visits the Oracle, is shot by Smith.

LION KING AS MONOMYTH Stage 1 - Simba is called to be king by Mufasa’s death Stage 5 - Simba ascends as newly transformed king of Pride Rock Stage 2 - Simba descends into wilderness - chased by hyenas - thought to be dead Stage 4 - Simba defeats Scar Stage 3 - Simba is confronted by and overcomes cowardice and laziness - he speaks with Mufasa and realizes his calling

OTHER MONOMYTHS?