1. Joseph Campbell The Journey of a Hero

2. Hero Archetypes
Hero as warrior : A near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external enemies
Odysseus
Hero as lover : A pure love motivates hero to complete his quest
Prince Charming
Hero as Scapegoat : Hero suffers for the sake of others
Jesus
Transcendent Hero: The hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall, but not without achieving some kind of transforming realization or wisdom
Greek and Shakespearean tragedies—Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth, etc.
Romantic/Gothic Hero: Hero/lover with a decidedly dark side
Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre
Batman
Proto-Feminist Hero: Female heroes
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Mulan

3. Hero Archetypes
Apocalyptic Hero: Hero who faces the possible destruction of society
The Avengers
Anti-Hero: A non-hero, given the vocation of failure, frequently humorous
Homer Simpson
Defiant Anti-hero: Opposer of society’s definition of heroism/goodness.
Unbalanced Hero: The Protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional deficiencies
The Hulk
Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Other—the Denied Hero: The protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Joy Luck Club by Amy (Invisible Tan)
Super Heroic: Exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity; frequently has divine or supernatural origins. In some sense, the superhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is nonetheless needed by society.
Mythological heroes, Superman, Spiderman

4. Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey
Campbell’s Hero Journey is composed of three stages:
1. Departure
2. Initiation
3. Return

5. Departure
The Call: the hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure.
a realization of an imbalance in injustice in life.
Someone or something invites the person to “adventure”
Hero may experience some type of loss
Something has to be taken
Senses that there is something lacking in life.
Wants to save or restore honor
Something is not permitted to members of society

6. Departure– The Call continued
Examples include
 In the Matrix, it’s Morpheus finding Neil, showing him the matrix and giving him the choice who then asks Luke to join the quest. 
In detective stories, it maybe the hero being offered a new case. 
In a romantic comedy, it could be the first sight of that special but annoying someone the hero or heroine will be pursuing/sparring with.

7. Departure: The Threshold
Once called to adventure, the initiate must pass over the Threshold.
Threshold Guardians: people, beings, or situations which block our passage into the journey.
They protect us from taking journeys before we’re ready – Ex. parents.

8. Departure: Refusal of the Call
The hero is reluctant at first.
Often at this point the hero balks at the threshold of adventure. 
After all, he or she is facing the greatest of all fears – fear of the unknown. 

9. Initiation: The Road of Trials
Hero faces trials and adventures.
The early challenges are relatively easy. By meeting them successfully, he builds maturity.
As the journey progresses, the challenges become more and more difficult.

10. Initiation: The Experience with Unconditional Love
On the journey the initiate will encounter a helper or helpers.
Mentor or guide : Most important helper
Helps keep the hero focused
Often appears at most opportune times

11. Initiation: Challenges
In stories, testing can include fighting, monsters, battling a brother, abduction, crossing the sea, crucifixion, etc.
In life, testing can be anything that forces a person to change and grow (disease, grief, job loss, etc)

12. Initiation The Ultimate Boon Greatest challenge of the journey.
Transformation and Revelation
Hero slays the dragon or otherwise achieves his/her goal.
Similar to a Rite of Passage where the child moves from dependence to independence, from selfish to giving; he accepts the responsibility it brings.
The Revelation
a sudden, dramatic change in the way one thinks or view life.
This change in thinking is crucial because it makes the initiate truly a different person.
Atonement
The point at which the initiate is “at-one” with his new self and life.
He has absorbed the changes caused by the journey and is fully “reborn”
Hero receives a gift or “boon”
The Ultimate Boon
Greatest challenge of the journey.
The hero must overcome all fear and face things alone.
“Slaying the dragon”

13. Return Hero returns to everyday life
Hero begins contributing to one’s society.
In mythology, the person may return as a great hero because she has saved or renewed her community in some way.

14. Return Departure Initiation Atonement with a gift
Identity in Doubt
Departure
Transformation & Revelation
(The Call)
Threshold
The Abyss
Initiation