The Hero’s Journey Freshman Honors English Coronado High School Edited for non-honors by Letty Burr

 Joseph Campbell "Myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human manifestation..." (Joseph Campbell, Hero with a Thousand Faces) Hero with a Thousand Faces 

Quotes about Heroes  A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Christopher Reeve  “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Joseph Campbell

 Elements of the Epic Hero Cycle  (from  The main character is a hero, who is often possessed of supernatural abilities or qualities.  The hero is charged with a quest.  The hero is tested, often to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest.  The presence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals, and human helpers and companions.  The hero’s travels take him to a supernatural world, often one that normal human beings are barred from entering.  The cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up his quest or appears defeated.  A resurrection.  Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining his rightful place on the throne.

Home/Ordinary World  A place of security, support, familiarity  Known patterns of thinking and behaving

Call to Adventure  The “hero” is called to adventure.  He or she is chosen for a task / m/wiki

Refusal of the call  Hero expresses fear  Becomes reluctant or refuses

Meeting the Mentor  The Hero meets with a mentor. Usually an elder who gives advice, train, teaches, and/or helps with the pursuit.

The Threshold  The hero crosses from the old life to the new

Test, Allies and Enemies  Dark, lonely, dangerous  No longer has support of “home”  Many ordeals, trials from allies and enemies tournament

Approach the Inmost Cave  Hero makes final preparations for the big battle

The Ordeal  Temptation Endures temptations of the soul  Ordeals Tests of strength and inner power Faces greatest fear/death

The Reward  Hero enjoys the reward of having confronted fear and death. t html

The Road Back  Hero returns home  Recommits to completing the journey. arry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2- film/ deathly-hallows-part-ii/

Resurrection  Purifies, redeems, and transforms the hero on the threshold home.  Hero possibly faces a climactic ordeal. potter-vs-voldemort-in-deathly-hallows-part- ii-clips

Returns Home with Elixir  Survives ordeals  Gains self knowledge  Able to help others create a new world  Elixir mostly metaphorical hallows-ending-did-you-prefer/ Sign-of-the-Deathly-Hallows screencap

Where are you going to find the hero’s journey? Movies Video Games Religion/Mythology Television Nonfiction---Real Life

Are heroes “archetypes”?  A common understanding of a type of person, character  Crosses cultural lines The epitome of a hero, a monster, etc.  An archetype is merely a defining example of a personality type. The "mother figure" can be considered an archetype and instances can be found in various female characters with distinct (non-generic) personalities.

What is an archetype?  Archetypes have been present in folklore and literature for thousands of years and appear to be present in prehistoric artwork.folklore  The use of archetypes to analyze personality was advanced by Carl Jung early in the 20th century.Carl Jung20th century  The value in using archetypal characters in fiction derives from the fact that a large group of people are able to unconsciously recognize the archetype, and thus the motivations, behind the character's behavior. fiction

 Quest: This is the hero quest, which the archetypal character sets out on. The hero may not realize he is on such a quest until it is too late to retreat.

Works Cited  s.doc s.doc    wallpaper/Cinderella/cinderella_1024x768.jpg&imgrefurl= ress.com/&h=768&w=1025&sz=453&hl=en&start=73&tbnid=fMl7oIUShIcH_M:&t bnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dprince%2Bcharming%26start%3D 60%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Da ctive%26sa%3DN  Dragon-port.jpg Dragon-port.jpg  savior.com/End%2520of%2520the%2520World/dragon_2.jpg&imgrefurl= savior.com/End%2520of%2520the%2520World/dragons_in_the_bible.htm&h=3 12&w=322&sz=14&hl=en&start=21&um=1&tbnid=0l8hYh- ohxtqjM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddragon%26start%3D20 %26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN     (from  monomythic.wordpress.com/.../ monomythic.wordpress.com/.../