1. The Hero’s Journey
Joseph Campbell

2. Background American mythologist born in 1904
Best known for his work in comparative religion and comparative mythology
Professor, writer, lecturer, and master storyteller

3. Monomyth
Campbell’s concept of the monomyth (one myth) refers to his theory that sees all mythic narratives as variations of a single great story.
Common patterns exist beneath the stories of most great myths, regardless of their origin or time of creation.
The central pattern most studied by Campbell is often referred to as the hero's journey.

4. The Hero’s Journey
Campbell first outlined and explained the archetypal hero’s journey in his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. (1949)
It has become one of the most influential books of the 20th century.

5. The Hero’s Journey Monomyth
The hero’s journey unfolds in a series of stages that fall in a consistent pattern across time and cultures.

7. Archetypal Characters
Hero
Mentor
Threshold Guardian
Herald
Shapeshifter
Shadow
Trickster

8. The Purpose of the Hero Gives the audience a window into the story
Has qualities that we all can recognize in ourselves.
To be loved and understood
To succeed
To survive
To be free
To get revenge
To right wrongs
To seek self-expression

9. Mentor Usually a positive figure who aids or trains the hero
Wise Old Man or Wise Old Woman
Expressed through all characters who teach and protect heroes

10. Threshold Guardians Obstacles on the road to adventure
Powerful guardians at the threshold placed to keep the unworthy from entering
Not the main villain or antagonist

11. Threshold Guardians
May represent the ordinary obstacles we face every day in life
Bad weather
Bad luck
Prejudice
Oppression
Hostile People
Stand for our internal demons
Emotional scars
Vices
Dependencies
Self-Limitations

12. Herald
Usually issues challenges and announces the coming of significant change
Delivers the Call to Adventure
Positive, negative, or neutral figures
Psychological Function: Call for Change
Dream
Figure
Real Person
New Idea
Encounter
Dramatic Function: Motivation
Offers the hero a challenge and gets the story rolling

13. Shapeshifter
Primary characteristic is that they change from the hero’s point of view
Dazzle and confuse the hero rather than try to kill him or her
Can include characters that change their own archetype

14. Shadow
Represents the energy of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized , or rejected aspects of something.
Suppressed monsters of the inner world
Things we don’t like about ourselves

15. Trickster Embodies the energies of mischief and desire for change
Natural Enemies of the status quo
Psychological Function
Cut big egos
Point out folly and hypocrisy
Bring about healthy change and transformation
Dramatic Function: Comic Relief

16. The Hero’s Journey

17. Glove and Boots Present: The Hero’s Journey
Herald
Mentor
Threshold guardians
Tricksters
Shape-shifter
Shadow