1. STAR WARS: A New Hope
The Hero’s Journey

2. The Hero’s Journey
The Star Wars saga is based on a very old type of story called “The hero’s journey”.
This type of story is characterised by
A young hero
Faithful companions
Wise guides
Evil villains

3. In Star Wars who is the young hero? are the faithful companions?
is the wise guide?
is the evil villain?

4. Structure
The hero’s journey is structured according to three main parts:
Departure
Initiation
Return

5. Departure
Departure is when the hero leaves his common life and moves away to begin his journey of adventure.

6. Initiation
Initiation is when the hero learns new skills, usually under the guidance of a wise master, and is tested by facing some kind of supreme ordeal.

7. Return
Return is when the hero returns from a period of exile or more training in order to complete his heroic work once and for all.

8. The Star Wars Saga
Each of these three parts (departure, initiation, return) corresponds to one of the films in the original Star Wars trilogy.
A New Hope, our film, shows us “departure”.

9. Departure Departure has five main parts: The call to adventure
The wise and helpful guide
The threshold
Into the labyrinth
Heroic deeds

10. The call to adventure
The hero’s journey begins with the call to adventure. This “call” is usually something that signals that the hero is meeting his destiny. It is usually in the form of an important message carried by a fairly ordinary person or thing. The call can often be received purely by luck or a twist of fate.

11. And in Star Wars? Who delivers the call in Star Wars?
What is the call asking Luke to do?
What twist of fate allows Luke receive the call?

12. The wise and helpful guide
After receiving the call, the hero must next encounter “threshold guardians”, characters who potentially block the way to adventure. To escape these threshold guardians, the inexperienced hero often needs the aid of supernatural forces in the form of a wise and helpful guide. This guide usually provides advice and special tokens that help the hero on his journey.

13. And in Star Wars? Who are the threshold guardians?
Who is the wise and helpful guide?
What special token does he give to Luke?
What “advice” does he tell Luke?

14. The threshold
The hero leaves his familiar surroundings and goes to a place that acts as a threshold between the world of his old life and the world of adventure. Often at this point the hero meets some of his faithful companions.

15. And in Star Wars? What place is the threshold?
Who are the faithful companions Luke meets here?

16. Into the labyrinth
Labyrinths are mazes, places difficult to journey through that offer potential dangers to the hero and his companions. Often, on entering such a place, the hero will wear armour to accomplish his first heroic deed.

17. And in Star Wars? What is the labyrinth?
What is Luke’s first heroic deed?
What “armour” does he wear to accomplish this first deed?

18. Heroic deeds
After his initial heroic deeds, the hero must face a greater and more deadly heroic deed. In the end, he is personally responsible for accomplishing such a task. Good triumphs over evil and the hero is recognised for his valour.

19. And in Star Wars? What is the heroic deed Luke needs to accomplish?
How does he personally accomplish this deed?
How is Luke recognised for his valour?

20. Can you think of any other stories that feature the hero’s journey?
What else?
Can you think of any other stories that feature the hero’s journey?