1. The Hero’s
Journey

2. Purpose
The Hero's Journey is a great technique for analyzing all kinds of stories
myths, legends, films, novels, short stories, plays, or even comic books. 

4. Quickwrite Topic
Are heroes born or are they made? Are there heroes in real-life or must they be larger-than-life? Who are the heroes in our society?

5. Background Almost all stories with heroes have common patterns
No matter what culture or time period, almost all hero-quests involve many of the same steps.
These steps are commonly called “The Hero’s Journey”

6. These Heroes have a lot in Common
In Other Words…
These Heroes have a lot in Common

7. Modern Examples Popular Modern Examples
George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, found inspiration from the Hero’s Journey 
As we explore the different steps of the Hero’s Journey, we will look at its connection with the popular movie series.

8. Step I.

10. Ordinary World Step I. Ordinary World- The Light
The ordinary world: Heroes exist in a plain world
They are often considered odd possibly because of some ability or characteristic that makes them feel out-of-place.
Modern Examples: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Dorothy in Kansas
The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins in The Shire
Star Wars: Luke Skywalker on Tatooine
The Lion King: Simba at Pride Rock

11. Step II.

13. The Call to Adventure Step II The Call to Adventure
The call away from the ordinary
Most heroes show a reluctance to leave, possibly even doubting themselves
Usually there is a discovery, some event, or some danger that starts them on the heroic path.
The new world the hero is forced into is much different than the old one.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The tornado
The Hobbit: Gandalf the wizard arrives
Star Wars: R2D2’s cryptic message
Campbell describes this new world as a “fateful region of both treasure and danger…a distant land, a forest, a kingdom underground, beneath the waves, or above the sky, a secret island, lofty mountaintop, or profound dream state…a place of…unimaginable torments, superhuman deeds, and impossible delight”. The Matrix is an example.

14. Step III.

16. Refusal of the Call Step III. REFUSAL OF THE CALL
Often when the call is given, the hero refuses or hesitates to obey the call.
This may come from duty, fear, insecurity, or inadequacy
Star Wars: Luke refuses the quest until he learns his aunt and uncle are dead
The Lion King: Simba refuses to return to Pride Rock and accept his destiny
Groundhog Day: Example of the negative cycle caused by refusing the call
At the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises, Batman is hesitant to reclaim his mantle; he wants to remain retired.

17. Step IV.

19. Meeting the Mentor and the Talisman
Step IV. Meeting the Mentor
Once the hero has accepted the call, he is often given a guide
This guide often is magical in nature
The Hobbit: Gandalf
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Cinderella: Fairy Godmother
The hero may also be given a special item (often magical in nature)
This item is called the Talisman
The Wizard of Oz: Ruby Slippers
The Hobbit: The Ring
Star Wars: Lightsaber
The Karate Kid? You betcha!

20. Supernatural Aid/ Guide or Mentor

21. Guide/ Mentor

22. Talisman

23. Your Examples 1 2 3 4 Draw a quarter circle on your page.
Plot out the first 4 steps in the Hero’s Journey
Using a partner, try to come up with your own modern examples for each step in the Hero’s Journey

24. Step V.

26. Step V: Crossing Threshold into Darkness
The hero enters a world they have never experienced before
This new environment provides test after test for the hero
Very often it is filled with wonder and its own unique rules the hero must learn
The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy must learn the rules of Oz
The Matrix: Neo must come to grips with the realities and unrealities of the Matrix
21 Jump Street- going undercover into a new world
Talk about having to learn new rules!
From the ordinary world to extraordinary!

27. Threshold Guardians

28. Entering the Unknown/ Crossing the First Threshold

29. Step VI.

31. Step VI: Tests, Allies, & Enemies
A series of tests and tasks
Often the hero will fail one or more of these tests
Spiderman allowing his Uncle Ben to be killed
Mean Girls not sticking up for her real friends
Every hero needs a helper, much like every superhero needs a sidekick.
These sidekicks often are key to the hero’s success
Lord of the Rings: Samwise Gamgee
The Wizard of Oz: The Tin Woodsman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion
In Spiderman, the hero must learn to use his powers the correct way, often failing: “With great power, comes great responsibility.”

32. Allies/ Helpers

33. Road of Trials/ Tests

34. Step VII.

36. Step VII: Innermost Cave (Belly of the Whale)
Final separation from the hero’s known world and self.
By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to change by knowingly putting themselves in harm’s way
Sometimes can be when the hero is stuck in a life or death situation
May include a ritual death
Pinocchio- Quite literally!
The Hobbit- Frodo meets Gollum
The Hunger Games- Rue’s Death
Top Gun- Goose’s death
Katniss separates herself from her old world and finally plays the game when she kisses Peeta.

37. Belly of the Whale

38. Ritual Death

39. Step VIII.

41. Step VIII: Ordeal
The hero’s progress through temptations, tests and obstacles that make them stronger, preparing them for their final showdown.
At long last they reach the Supreme Ordeal, the obstacle they have journeyed so far to overcome.
Star Wars: Blowing up the Death Star
Lord of the Rings: Mount Doom
The Wizard of Oz: Defeating the Wicked Witch
Defeating the Wicked Witch provides us with a great example of the hero’s ordeal

42. Ordeal/ Dragon Battle

43. Supreme Ordeal

44. Step IX.

45. Step IX: Reward (Ultimate Boon)
All previous steps prepare the hero for this step
The hero finally achieves the goal or completes the quest
This may include a gift of the goddess
This may also include atonement of the father
With completion the hero becomes cool-headed, steady, almost completely changing
Star Wars-Luck Skywalker destroys the Deathstar
Rocky- Lasts the entire fight with Apollo Creed
The ring is finally dropped into the molten fires of Mount Doom

46. Gift of the Goddess

47. Ultimate Boon/ Elixir

48. Atonement with the Father

49. Step X.

50. Step X: The Road Back (Rescue From Without)
There are still lesser homebound obstacles to overcome.
Often weakened or wounded at this stage, the hero needs the help of others to be brought back
The Hobbit: Bilbo defeating Smaug but then having to fight in the Battle of Five Armies
Indiana Jones: Saving his father, but then having to escape the Nazis
Smaug=
Ordeal
Five Armies=
Road Back

51. Road Back/ Pursuit

52. Rescue from Without

53. Your Examples 10 5 6 9 7 3 1 8 Draw a half circle on your page.
Plot out the steps the hero takes in the unknown world of darkness
Using a partner, try to come up with your own modern examples for each step in the Hero’s Journey
Your Examples 10 5 6 9 7 3 1 8

54. Step XI.

55. Step XI: Resurrection: Return to Light
The hero heals and becomes a Master of 2 Worlds
The hero achieves a balance between the material and spiritual, the light and the dark
The hero returns able to share wisdom to other human life and his ordinary world
Star Wars: Luke becomes a full Jedi-Knight
Harry Potter: Harry masters his powers
The Odyssey: Odysseus returns home and claims his kingdom
Stage XV: Resurrection: Return to Light
Luke Skywalker makes a complete metamorphosis

56. Resurrection/ Return

57. Master of Two Worlds

58. Step XII.

59. Step XII: Return with Elixir (Freedom to Live)
The hero no longer fears death; this allows the hero freedom to live
The hero now can live in the moment
His return brings with it peace to the ordinary world
The Wizard of Oz
The Hobbit
Star Wars
Independence Day
Stage XII: Return with Elixir (Freedom to Live)
The world is saved by the end of Independence Day

60. Return with Elixir

61. Freedom to Live

62. Your Examples 12 11 Draw your other quarter of the circle.
Plot out the final 2 steps as the hero returns to ordinary world
Using a partner, try to come up with your own modern examples for each step in the Hero’s Journey

63. Hero’s Journey
Board Game!

65. Hero’s Journey:
The Lion King

66. The Lion
King

67. The Ordinary World
Pride Rock

68. Call to Adventure

69. Entering the Unknown Crossing

70. Enemies/Threshold Guardians

71. Road to Trials/ Tests

72. Brother Battle

73. Ritual Death

74. Refusal of the Call

75. Allies/ Helpers

76. Meeting the Goddess

77. Sacred Marriage

78. Supernatural Aid/ Guide or Mentor

79. Supreme
Ordeal

80. Master of 2 Worlds

81. Freedom to
Live

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