1. Reading Journal Entries The Hero’s Journey
6th Grade LASS
Butler
2017

2. The Hero’s Journey: An Archetype
You remember doing patterns in elementary school
There are patterns in stories
Star-crossed Lovers
Dystopian Revolutions
Fantastic Voyages
And…
THE HERO’S JOURNEY

3. RJ #30 – My Hero Describe the hero in your book 9 – At Standard
Physical Looks
Personality
Smart? What kind of smart?
Beliefs?
Background – childhood, etc.
Talents
9 – At Standard
Length – full page in comp journals and half page in spiral journals
I can read it - legible
Specific details, even a quote from the story
Includes physical, personality, beliefs, background, and talents

4. The Hero’s Journey: Leaving
Every hero’s journey begins with “leaving”
Odysseus left his wife and son to fight in the Trojan War
Hercules left his human parents to discover who his real father was
Alice fell asleep listening to her sister read a boring book, and tumbled down a rabbit hole
Bruce Wayne’s parents were killed and he left on a journey to discover why people commit crimes
Harry discovers he is a wizard and leaves for Hogwarts
What does a hero leave and why?

5. Paragraph 1 RJ #31 – My Hero Leaves Paragraph 2 9 – At Standard
Name your book
Describe how your hero leaves and why
Paragraph 2
Have you ever had to leave something?
Why did you leave?
9 – At Standard
Length – full page in comp journals and half page in spiral journals
I can read it - legible
Specific details, even a quote from the story
Good connection to your own life

6. The Hero’s Journey: The Special World
Every hero enters into a “Special” world
Odysseus leaves the human world and is suddenly battling cyclops, witches, and monsters.
Alice enters wonderland.
Bruce Wayne enters the world of criminals.
Harry enters a world of magic.
Does the world have to “magical” or “Supernatural”?

7. Paragraph 1 RJ #32 – The Special World Paragraph 2 9 – At Standard
Name your book
Describe the “special world” your hero enters
Paragraph 2
What “special world” have you entered?
What were the challenges?
9 – At Standard
Length – full page in comp journals and half page in spiral journals
I can read it - legible
Specific details, even a quote from the story
Good connection to your own life

8. The Hero’s Journey: Trials
Every hero has a flaw (hubris?) The hero goes through trials and tests – failing often – and during these trials their failures reveal what is wrong with their character
Odysseus is filled with pride and thinks he can trick his way out of any situation.
Alice is afraid and runs from situations.
Bruce Wayne blames himself for the death of his parents, and tries to get rid of his guilt.
Harry doesn’t know exactly who he is – he misses his parents terribly and is haunted by their deaths.
Does every person have a “flaw”?

9. Edmund’s Trials

10. Paragraph 1 RJ #33 – Trials Paragraph 2 9 – At Standard Name your book
Describe some of the trials and tests the hero endures.
What is the hero’s “flaw”?
Paragraph 2
Do you have a flaw?
How did you discover it?
9 – At Standard
Length – full page in comp journals and half page in spiral journals
I can read it - legible
Specific details, even a quote from the story
Good connection to your own life

11. The Hero’s Journey: Crisis (The Low Point)
Ancient stories have this thing about the hero dying and coming back to life again.
There is a reason for the “death”, for this horrible crisis where the hero has an “epiphany”, a realization about his/her fatal flaw.
The hero MUST make a choice.
That choice is a crucial turning point.

12. The Hero’s Journey: Crisis (The Low Point)
Can you identify these hero’s “Crisis”?
Odysseus
Hercules
Bruce Wayne
Harry Potter
Scrooge
George Bailey
Luke Skywalker
Frodo Baggins

13. RJ #34 – Crisis 9 – At Standard Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2
Name your book
What is your hero’s crisis? If you haven’t read that far. What do you THINK the crisis will be?
What does/will the hero do?
Paragraph 2
Think of one of your heroes – athlete, performer, etc. Have they been through a crisis? What choice did they face? Did it change them?
9 – At Standard
Length – full page in comp journals and half page in spiral journals
I can read it - legible
Specific details, even a quote from the story
Good connection to your own life

14. The Hero’s Journey: Reward, Redemption, Treasure
After the hero works through the “crisis” and sees the “flaw”, he/she begins to work on correcting it.
The hero sees how great life is without this flaw.
The hero is rewarded for his/her perseverance through all of the trials… the hero discovers the “treasure.”

15. The Hero’s Journey: Crisis AND Redemption
Redemption for Luke Skywalker and…

16. RJ #35 – Reward, Redemption, Treasure
Paragraph 1
Name your book
What happens after your hero’s crisis? Is it redemption? Reward? Treasure?
Paragraph 2
Look at your last reading journal entry on “Crisis”. Who did you write about? What happened after their “crisis”?
9 – At Standard
Length – full page in comp journals and half page in spiral journals
I can read it - legible
Specific details, even a quote from the story
Good connection to your own life

17. The Hero’s Journey: Return Home
The hero returns home as a CHANGED person.
In many stories, the hero faces one final challenge.
BUT… the hero faces it with humility, compassion, and wisdom.

18. The Hero’s Journey: Returning Home
Luke saves his father Luke has a family Luke does not have to be the hero – Han blows up the Death Star this time

19. Paragraph 1 RJ #36 – Return Home Paragraph 2 9 – At Standard
Name your book
Describe your hero’s “return home”. Does the hero face one final challenge?
Paragraph 2
Think of older people in your life. Do they display humility, compassion, wisdom? How did they get it?
9 – At Standard
Length – full page in comp journals and half page in spiral journals
I can read it - legible
Specific details, even a quote from the story
Good connection to your own life