1. The Hero's Journey
An Archetypal Story

2. Archetype:
A pattern, such as a type of character or type of story, that is repeated in literature.

3. The hero’s journey is one of the oldest story archetypes on the planet.

4. Some say it’s older than the Pyramids…

5. And Stonehenge…

6. And even cave drawings.
(Vogler)

7. The components of the hero’s journey were identified and developed by Joseph Campbell, who was the world’s foremost authority on mythology.

8. In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell asserted that all storytelling follows the ancient patterns of myth, and …

9. …that all stories use elements of the Hero’s Journey
…that all stories use elements of the Hero’s Journey. Campbell called this archetype a
Monomyth.

10. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, consulted with Campbell while writing the scripts for the first Star Wars trilogy.

11. The function of the story is to entertain, to instruct, and to inspire.
The hero’s journey
is a metaphor
for life itself.

12. Part I:
Separation

13. Breaking away from the old life

14. The hero is invited to leave a mundane life and seek adventure.
A. The Call to Adventure
The hero is invited to leave a mundane life and seek adventure.

15. Odysseus is
called to
fight the
Trojan War

16. Katniss
volunteers to
go to the
Hunger
Games

17. Dorothy wants
to leave Kansas.

18. The hero has second thoughts; adventure looks too risky.B.
The Refusal of the Call
The hero has second thoughts; adventure looks too risky.

19. Dorothy runs back to the farm and Auntie Em. A storm is brewing.

20. Luke Skywalker doesn’t have time for the adventure - he has to help his Uncle Owen on the moisture farm.

21. C. Supernatural Aid
The hero receives a gift to help on the journey.

22. The ruby
slippers

23. Katniss’
Bow and
Arrow

24. A
conscience

25. Luke receives his lightsaber from Obi-Wan Kenobi.

26. D. Crossing the First Threshold
The hero leaves the old world behind and enters the new.

27. Dorothy is carried away to Oz by the tornado.

28. Luke Skywalker leaves his home on Tatooine.

29. Frodo leaves the Shire

30. Harry Potter takes the Hogwarts Express.

31. E. The Belly of the Whale
Like Jonah and Pinocchio, the hero experiences the “dark night of the soul” and must face his faults and the truth.

32. For some, the belly of the whale experience is a situation in which the hero feels trapped.
Luke, Han, and Leia trapped in the garbage compactor.

33. This is the low point of the journey, where the hero feels scared and overwhelmed.

34. Luke Skywalker trains with Yoda in a whale-like house.

35. While on Yoda’s planet of Dagobah, Luke enters a whale-like cave and must face his own potential for evil, which is personified by Darth Vader.

36. The message is that we all have a shadow self (dark side) and must deal with it at some point in our lives.

37. Part II
Initiation

38. During the “Initiation” phase, the hero learns how to live in the new world.

39. A. The Road of Trials
The hero learns that life in the world of adventure can be difficult by facing a series of tasks or challenges.

40. Katniss must survive many trials during the games (including the tracker jackers, the hounds, and the attacks from the other kids).

41. Indiana Jones must survive a series of tests and traps in order to get to the Holy Grail.

42. B. Meeting with the Goddess
A wise or magical woman gives guidance or advice to the hero.

43. C. Battle with the Dragon
The hero must confront and vanquish a malevolent being.

44. D. Temptation
Someone or something tries to distract the hero from his goal. This is often love, money, or the comfort of going home and abandoning the goal.

45. Princess Leia is sometimes a distraction to both Luke and Han.
Frodo tries to rid himself of the burden of the ring.

46. Katniss is distracted, because of her feelings for Peeta and the care she gives him.

47. E. Atonement with the Father
The hero resolves his/her issues with a parent figure.

48. Simba realizes he is not responsible for his father’s death and he must make his father proud.

49. (from Greek roots meaning “from God”)
F. Apotheosis
(from Greek roots meaning “from God”)
The hero recognizes his/her true identity - that spark of divinity within.

50. I am a Jedi,
like my father
before me!

51. No!

52. But you’ve
always had the
power to
go home!

53. G. The Ultimate Boon The hero succeeds in his/her mission.
Dorothy returns to Emerald City with the witch’s broom.

54. Luke destroys the Death Star.
Frodo destroys the ring.

55. Simba defeats scar and returns order to the kingdom.

56. Part III.
The Return

57. A. Refusal of Return
The hero wonders if it’s possible to return to the old life.
“How can I go back?”

58. Luke stays with the rebels rather than returning to Tattoine.

59. B. Magic Flight
Upon deciding to return home, the hero must “flee” from yet another danger.
(Here, “flight” refers to fleeing, not flying, though sometimes flying is involved.)

60. Austin Powers and James Bond always escape just before the bad guy’s hideout self-destructs.

61. Indiana Jones still faces many traps, even after he retrieves the treasure.

62. C. Rescue from Without
The hero escapes with a little outside help.

63. Frodo and Sam rescued from the slopes of Mordor by giant eagle.

64. “Deus ex Machina” (God in a machine)
“Dodge
this!”

65. D. Crossing the Return Threshold
Finally, the hero returns to “Kansas.”

66. Frodo returns to the Shire
Katniss returns to District 12

67. E. Mastery of Two Worlds
The hero realizes that s/he can be at home in two worlds.
S/he is wiser and more confident.

68. Simba becomes King over all creatures.
Katniss is champion of the games and a hero to her community

69. F. Freedom to Live
Having faced evil - both from within and without - the hero is free from powerlessness and fear.

70. Scar is defeated and Simba is free to raise his own family in peace.
The death star has been destroyed and the universe is free from danger.

71. Common Mythic Elements
Like the inevitable chase scene in action films,
this monomyth contains some standard features.

72. The Young Hero who yearns for adventure.

73. Two worlds:
The Mundane
And the Fantastic

74. The Mentor who trains the hero in special skills.

75. The Oracle
A wise - almost omniscient - seer who guides the hero.

76. The Prophecy
A legend or ancient prophecy that the hero is expected to fulfill.

77. Failed Hero
The guy who didn’t make it.
In Memory of Biggs Darklighter

78. Wearing the Enemy’s Skin
The hero must disguise himself as the enemy.

79. The Shape Shifter
An archetypal friend or enemy with ambiguous or shifting loyalties.

80. Why?
The monomyth of the hero’s journey helps us answer the most profound questions of the universe.

81. Why…
… am I here?
…is there suffering?
What…
…is the meaning of life?

82. Profound:
from the Latin “profundus,” meaning “just before the bottom” or “at the edge of death.”
(Brennan)

83. “A hero is someone who reaches the edge of death, steals a piece of magic, then brings the magic home to share with his community.” (Brennan)

84. the world a better place.
We are all heroes on our separate journeys
and
our mission
is to make
the world a better place.

85. References
Brennan, Kristen. “Star Wars Origins.” Jitterbug Fantasia. < orgins/myth.html> 20 Sept
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New York: Mythos Books, 1949.
Vogler, Christopher. “The Writer’s Journey.” Michael Weiss Productions. < /pages/bookswritourmore.html> 20 Sept

86. Written & performed by Mark Knopfler
Written and produced by Mollie Kelleher
Teacher of English Longmont High School
St. Vrain Valley School District
Adapted and edited by Matthew Opal
Teacher of English Silver Creek High School St. Vrain Valley School District
“What it Is”
Written & performed by Mark Knopfler
MMII

87. “Follow your bliss.”
- Joseph Campbell