1. THE HERO’S JOURNEY CSCI 11, FALL 2011

2. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: DEFINED Described by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces Campbell called it the monomyth A basic narrative pattern found in storytelling traditional all over the world “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder; fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won; the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

3. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: SO WHAT? Do any of these sound familiar from the world of video games? hero ventures forth from the world of common day a region of supernatural wonder fabulous forces are then encountered a decisive victory is won

4. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: STAGES The Stages of the Hero’s Journey 1.Introduction to the Hero and the “Normal” World must have as contrast to the world of adventure 2.The Call to Adventure an internal or external event 3.Refusal of the Call the hero turns away 4.Meeting with the Mentor a mentor teaches the student (the hero to be)

5. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: STAGES The Stages of the Hero’s Journey (continued) 5.Crossing the first threshold the hero is drawn into the adventure 6.Tests, Allies, and Enemies the new world of adventure is a stark contrast to the hero’s “normal” world 7.Approach to the inmost cave final preparations for the central ordeal of the adventure 8.The Ordeal the hero faces her or his greatest challenge

6. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: STAGES The Stages of the Hero’s Journey (continued) 9.Reward time to recuperate 10.The Road Back time for the hero to renew her or his dedication to the adventure 11.The Resurrection the last challenge, the hero must be purified to return to the “normal” world 12.Return with the Elixir the hero returns with something to share with others

8. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: YOU ARE A HERO Challenge: Can you map your journey through a semester of college onto the Hero’s Journey? Call to adventure (sign of for classes!) Refusal of the call (but I’m enjoying my summer!) Meeting with the mentor (I hope this teacher isn’t a jerk…) Crossing the first threshold (I just got my first homework back) Test, Allies, and Enemies (pretty obvious?) Approach to the inmost cave (gotta study for finals) The Ordeal (final exam?! I’m ready!) Reward (one step closer to my degree!)

9. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: THE “NORMAL” WORLD

10. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: CALL TO ADVENTURE

11. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: MEETING WITH THE MENTOR

12. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES

13. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: THE ORDEAL

14. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR

15. THE HERO’S JOURNEY: USEFUL FOR GAME DESIGNERS? Yes, most definitely cross-cultural appeal useable across a variety of media, including games The hero in your game first-person games: your player third-person games: your main character Your game is the journey