1. The Monomyth – The Hero’s Journey

2. I. Why Do We Need Heroes?
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.

3. II. Joseph Campbell
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…

4. III. Archetypal Heroes The Self-doubting Hero The Lost Soul The Chief
The Bad Boy
The Best Friend
The Charmer
The Professor
The Swashbuckler
The Warrior

6. III. The Monomyth (The Hero’s Journey)
STAGE 1: SEPARATION
Call to Adventure
Supernatural Aid (Helpers): A guide or magical helper appears to assist with the journey.
Crossing the Threshold: The move from the known and comfortable world into the unknown world (The Shadow Realm).

7. III. The Monomyth (The Hero’s Journey)
STAGE 2: INITIATION
The Road of Trials (Tests): Series of tasks that the hero must undergo to begin the transformation.

8. III. The Monomyth (The Hero’s Journey)
STAGE 2: INITIATION (Continued) B. 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.

9. III. The Monomyth (The Hero’s Journey)
STAGE 2: INITIATION (Continued) C. Ultimate Boon: The achievement of the goal of the journey.

10. III. The Monomyth (The Hero’s Journey)
STAGE 3: THE RETURN
The Crossing of the Return Threshold
The Master of the Two Worlds/The Freedom to Live (Reward): The hero is now comfortable and confident in both the known world and the shadow realm and is free to live in the moment.