1. Context for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit
The Heroic Journey
Context for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit  

2. The Big Idea Humans need heroes to show pathways to success
Brainstorm a list of heroes (either real or fictional).
In what ways have these heroes helped people find success?

3. Joseph Campbell (1904 – 1987):
Title of major study on hero’s journey: The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Speculate on the meaning of the title.
Why must a hero have multiple faces?

4. The Hero with a Thousand faces
Traces the story of the hero’s journey through virtually all the mythologies in the world, revealing one archetypal hero in them all = the monomyth
In narratology and comparative mythology, the monomyth, or the hero’s journey is the common template fo a broad category of tales that involve a hero going on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, and then comes home changed or transformed.

5. Campbell’s conclusion:
Human beings all want and need the same things, and our heroic stories reflect this need.
Do you agree or disagree with Campbell’s conclusion?

6. Unit Focus:
Analyze Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, using Joseph Campbell’s model of the hero’s journey

7. The Hero’s Journey: Three stages
Departure
Initiation
Return 

8. Departure – 5 parts: The call to adventure The refusal of the call
Supernatural aid
The crossing of the first threshold
The belly of the whale

9. Initiation – 4 Parts The road of trials The ultimate boon
Atonement with the father
Apotheosis

10. Return (May include one or more)
The magic flight
Rescue from without
The crossing of the return threshold
Master of the two worlds
Freedom to live

11. Departure: The call to adventure
An unexpected world is revealed, drawing the hero in.
The world may be revealed accidentally, through mistake, or even through something eye-catching.
A messenger appears, calling the hero to adventure
Adventurous destination of both treasure and danger is always a place of changing beings, unimaginable torments, superhuman deeds, and impossible delight -- it’s exciting
The force to attend becomes so strong that the summons cannot be denied.
The hero seems to outgrow the old life; the time for moving on is at hand

12. Departure: The Refusal of the Call
The hero tries to ignore the call and pursues other interests.
By refusing the call, the hero makes the adventure seem negative.
Life begins to feel meaningless.
The hero digs deep to find secret reserves of courage, often in response to a predicament following the initial refusal.
Ultimately, the hero goes forth willingly on the adventure.

13. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapters 1 – 2.
Using either your blue Post-its or a blue highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “The Call to Adventure”.
Using either your yellow Post-its or a yellow highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “The Refusal of the Call”.

14. Departure: Supernatural Aid
The hero encounters a figure who provides the adventurer with protective amulets against evil
fairy lore = a little fellow of the wood, an old crone, some wizard, hermit, shepherd, or smith who appears to supply the amulets and advice the hero will require
higher mythologies = great figure, a teacher, a ferryman, a conductor of souls to the underworld
Each supernatural event represents the protecting power of destiny – reassurance that all will be OK in the end.

15. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapters
Using either your green Post-its or a green highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “Supernatural Aid”.

16. Departure: The crossing of the first threshold
The hero crosses a threshold (figurative doorway) into the unknown, darkness, and danger.
The hero becomes like an infant beyond parental watch, crossing the boundary beyond the protection of society.
The regions of the unknown (woods, desert, jungle, deep sea, alien land, etc.) are filled with deceitful and dangerous presences not experienced in the normal world.
The crossing of the threshold is the first step toward self-understanding, yet the action is tremendously risky – often life or death.

17. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapter 8.
Using either your pink Post-its or a pink highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “The Crossing of the First Threshold”.

18. Departure: The belly of the whale
Some time after crossing the threshold, the hero, instead of conquering of giving in, is swallowed, unknown, and would appear to have died.
The passing of the threshold is a possible life sacrifice, making the hero a new person.
After shedding fear of sacrifice, the hero is free to pass back and forth across the horizons of the world, traveling in and out of space and/or time.

19. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapter 9.
Using either your orange Post-its or an orange highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “The Belly of the Whale”.

20. Stage 2: Initiation, The Road of trials
The hero moves through a landscape in which places and life forms are strange and unknown.
The hero must survive a series of increasingly difficult tasks.
The hero is assisted by the advice, amulets (good luck tokens), and secret agents of the supernatural helper.
A chance is provided for the hero to purify the self and think about salvation. The hero must be willing to put aside pride, virtue, beauty, and/or life.

21. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapter
Using either your blue Post-its or a blue highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “The Road of Trials”.

22. Initiation: The ultimate boon
The final heroic task is usually accomplished with great ease, signifying the hero as a superior man – a born king.
The ultimate boon is the ultimate treasure won by the hero.
The boon can only be received by the hero after all personal limitations are gone.

23. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapter 17.
Using either your yellow Post-its or a yellow highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “The Ultimate Boon”.

24. Initiation: Atonement with the father
The hero must reconcile with a “father” figure who has been an opposing figure.
The father can be a figure whom the hero has loved or even hated.  
This coming together after complete self-sacrifice is called atonement = “at onement”.

25. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapter 17.
Using either your yellow Post-its or a yellow highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “Atonement with the Father”.

26. Initiation: apotheosis
The hero transcends to a place of bliss.
In a more ordinary sense, it is a period of rest and fulfillment before the hero begins the return.

27. Stage three: The Return (may include one or more)
The Return: The adventurer must return with the life-changing trophy (boon).
Refusal of the Return: The hero might not want to share the boon.
The Magic Flight: Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding.
Rescue from Without: The hero is aided on the journey home by supernatural forces.
The Crossing of the Return Threshold: The hero brings the prize and stories of wisdom from the journey back home.
Master of Two Worlds: The hero is able to live in the material and spiritual worlds.
Freedom to Live: The hero does not fear death, but lives in the moment.

28. Application to The hobbit
Read Chapter 19.
Using either your pink Post-its or a pink highlighter, identify places in the chapters that are clear examples of “Apotheosis” and/or “The Return”.