The Hero’s Journey Joseph Campbell described the Hero’s Journey as a circle – starting with the call to adventure [that information that get’s the hero started on the journey] and finishing with the Hero coming home having saved the day [bringing the elixir or magical item that brings peace]. The next slide diagrams what that journey may look like. Every hero does not go through everything in the diagram, but it gived you a good idea.

Hero’s Journey

Character Archetypes of the Hero’s Journey The one making the journey, facing the challenges, and attempting to carry out the mission [even if reluctantly]. Shadow Often the villain, but may simply be negative energy trying to defeat the mission. Mentor Wise giver of guidance and advice. Threshold Guardian Tries to prevent hero from proceeding on the mission.

Shapeshifter Trickster Herald Allies May be a helper or enemy or both. May literally change shape, form and allegiance. [Ex. A bum on street with a sign, later learn he’s an angel helping] Trickster May be hostile or helpful to the hero. Plays tricks, games, changes the rules, etc… [Ex. Bugs Bunny] Herald Signals to the hero something important is about to happen or points out the approach of significant people/events. [Ex. R2D2] Allies Assorted good guys/gals who assist hero on the journey.

Hero’s Journey Steps The Miraculous Birth The Ordinary World Usually at the hero’s birth, there was some astronomical sign [shooting star] or some other sign from the heavens that the hero is special. The Ordinary World Hero lives in the everyday world, but there may be something wrong or the hero may have some personal longing, need, or other problem that is throwing his life out of balance.

Meeting with the mentor The hero comes into contact with a more knowledgeable / experienced individual, who provides spiritual, emotional, tactical, or philosophical guidance as well as encouragement. Call to adventure Hero is called to move outside his/her ordinary life to perform a mission or quest usually in response to some crisis that has occurred or is impending. The call may be issued by a mentor, a herald, or other character. Refusal of the call Uncertain of his/her abilities, the hero will most often refuse the first call to adventure.

Crossing the first threshold Hero leaves the ordinary world and enters the “special world” of adventure. He/she may encounter threshold guardians along the way; however, the hero has often gained or realized he/she has some special powers to overcome the guardians and enter. Tests, allies and enemies Arriving in the special world, the hero encounters a succession of challenges and characters [some who help (allies), some who hinder (trickster), some who may do both (shapeshifter)]. Although the hero will make mistakes, he/she will learn from those mistakes and better harness his/her special powers.

Approach to the innermost cave Having overcome the preliminary challenges and obstacles, the hero must penetrate the most restricted place of the quest [often entering Hell or some symbolically similar place]. It is only here that the hero may find the elixir (object/ person/knowledge hero is searching for to solve the problem). Ordeal Within the innermost cave, the hero must face the greatest obstacle [often a battle with the Shadow (often a person but may be the hero facing his/her own fears)]. Reward Using skills gleaned from the adventure, the hero succeeds in obtaining the elixir. With the elixir, the hero can now resolve the problem that drove him/her from the ordinary world.

The road back Resurrection Return with the elixir Hero must return to the ordinary world with the elixir; however, the enemy may be in hot pursuit. At this point, the hero often undergoes some death experience [literally dies or can be the death of beliefs, wishes, dreams, or hopes]. Resurrection The worthy hero is reborn [either physically or spiritually]. The process of rebirth is a culmination of the hero’s transformation. He/she has leaned from the challenges and is now a better, stronger person. The hero makes it back alive to the ordinary world. Return with the elixir Once crossing back into the ordinary world, the hero provides the elixir [person, object, etc…] that restores balance to the world. Having died and been reborn, the hero is an older, wiser and better person for having gone on the quest. Supernatural powers and abilities gained in the “special world” are often lost in that world.