The Hero’s Journey

As a group, list as many stories as you can name in which the main character faces an obstacle and learns from it.

 Role Models. We want to strive to be like someone who is better than we are.  We want someone to pave the way for all of us – someone to “break the mold”  We want someone to make the world safe at an unsafe or uncertain time.

 A theorist who closely studied comparative mythology and comparative religion.  Focused largely on the role of the hero in his studies, and discovered a pattern (an archetype) that spanned time and culture…

 Monomyths (one myth) look surprisingly alike.  A cyclical story  Hero undergoes a transformation  Offers a sacrifice to save the world

The cycle has multiple steps that most heroes follow. The hero learns the truth about his world and himself. The journey symbolizes the search for individual identity and the culture’s concept of the idealized member of society.

The Known The Unknown or Shadow Realm STAGE ONE: SEPARATION STAGE TWO: INITIATION STAGE THREE: RETURN Call to Adventure Threshold Guardians Crossing the Threshold Helpers Atonement with the Father Transformation/ Revelation Ultimate Boon The Return Reward (Freedom to Live)

Call to Adventure  Something inspires the journey  Luke Skywalker’s Aunt & Uncle are killed  Dorothy awakens in Oz  The Lion King’s father is murdered  Frodo is asked to carry the ring by Gandalf  Sometimes the hero refuses the call  The Lion King leaves his pride for the jungle- “Hakuna Matata” Supernatural Aid (Helpers):  A guide or helper appears to assist with the journey.  Glenda the Good Witch of the North instructs Dorothy/ Toto travels with Dorothy  Obewon Kenobe guides Luke Skywalker  Samwise travels with Frodo

Crossing the Threshold:  The move from the known and comfortable world into the unknown world. Sometimes the hero has to pass one or more threshold guardians.  Luke leaves home  Dorothy wakes up in Oz  Frodo leaves the shire  Nemo leaves the tank

The Road of Trials (Tests):  Series of tasks that the hero must undergo to begin the transformation.

Beginning Initiation:  Glenda the Good Witch of the North puts the ruby slippers on Dorothy’s feet Meeting of a Goddess or redeeming female figure:  Glenda the Good Witch (for example)  Princess Leia in Star Wars

Atonement with the Father (Supreme Test):  Center point of the journey; this is when the hero must confront whatever holds ultimate power in his life. To understand himself, the hero must reckon with this ultimate authority figure. This will typically result in some transformation and revelation that the hero must understand in order to achieve his goal.  Luke Skywalker has to confront his father- Darth Vader

Reaching the Bottom:  This is the point when all seems hopeless, and the hero has seemingly been defeated.  Jonah is trapped in the whale (or Ishmael inside of Moby Dick) Marriage, Baptism, or Blessing:  The hero comes out of the “belly of the whale” and receives a positive reward that is not financial– he gets the girl, has the child, or is blessed by some spiritual being/ advisor.  The Little Mermaid gets her guy  Bella gets married to Edward

Ultimate Boon:  The achievement of the goal of the journey.  What examples can you think of???

The Crossing of the Return Threshold:  Sometimes this involves a magical flight or rescue… but sometimes the hero does not want to go back home– he wants to keep on “adventuring.”  Examples??? Sharing the gift/ Living in the world/ preparing for next call:  The hero is now comfortable and confident in both the known world and the shadow realm and is free to live in the moment.  Examples???

 Create a Hero Cycle Chart for Beowulf in the Notes section of your Writer’s Notebooks.