The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

The path to discoveryThe path to discovery

What is a classic hero?What is a classic hero?

• One who achieves One who achieves beyond common beyond common obstaclesobstacles

• Displays courage in Displays courage in the face of adversitythe face of adversity

• Operates for the Operates for the greater goodgreater good

• Serves as a moral Serves as a moral compasscompass

• Has a quest!Has a quest!

More Heroic CharacteristicsMore Heroic Characteristics• Mysterious identity/origin: no record of Mysterious identity/origin: no record of

parentage/info. about hero’s past; unknown true parentage/info. about hero’s past; unknown true identityidentity

• Special powers: physical/mental/spiritualSpecial powers: physical/mental/spiritual• Obstacle/challenge/foe (defines the quest): Obstacle/challenge/foe (defines the quest):

person/journey/redemption/salvationperson/journey/redemption/salvation• Assistance: helpers/advice/aid from gods/new source Assistance: helpers/advice/aid from gods/new source

of powerof power• Personal flaw, i.e. prideful/impulsive/fearful Personal flaw, i.e. prideful/impulsive/fearful • Descent into the Underworld/domain of evilDescent into the Underworld/domain of evil• Realization of the quest: turning point; discovers self-Realization of the quest: turning point; discovers self-

identityidentity• Reluctance to continue: fear/risks/choices/dilemmaReluctance to continue: fear/risks/choices/dilemma• Overcomes obstacles: internal or externalOvercomes obstacles: internal or external• Triumphs: saves a group of people or the world or an Triumphs: saves a group of people or the world or an

idea/returning honor/achieves a destiny of greatness idea/returning honor/achieves a destiny of greatness or wealthor wealth

Types of HeroesTypes of Heroes

• Physical deed/hero - is Physical deed/hero - is able to perform feats of able to perform feats of great strength, speed, great strength, speed, etc. Sacrifices self.etc. Sacrifices self.

• Spiritual deed/hero - Spiritual deed/hero - comes to a point of self-comes to a point of self-realization or realization or enlightenment, enlightenment, experiences experiences supernatural range of supernatural range of human psychological life human psychological life and shares with and shares with communitycommunity

Hero’s JourneyHero’s Journey

• Joseph Campbell: Joseph Campbell: A Hero with a Thousand FacesA Hero with a Thousand Faces• Basic pattern found in myths/narratives Basic pattern found in myths/narratives

throughout the worldthroughout the world

• Universal patternUniversal pattern– Important myths which have survived for thousands of Important myths which have survived for thousands of

years all share the same basic structure/stagesyears all share the same basic structure/stages

• A.K.A. “Monomyths”A.K.A. “Monomyths”• Include ‘archetypes’Include ‘archetypes’

– generic, idealized model of a person, object, or concept generic, idealized model of a person, object, or concept from which similar instances are derived, copied, from which similar instances are derived, copied, patterned. A bit like a stereotype, but more complex.patterned. A bit like a stereotype, but more complex.

Graphic Organizer of Graphic Organizer of JourneyJourney

Separation & CallSeparation & CallDeparture-The Call to Departure-The Call to

Adventure!Adventure!• SEPARATION: Hero dragged SEPARATION: Hero dragged

from the comforts of home from the comforts of home to experience growth and to experience growth and change; the hero may no change; the hero may no longer be content with the longer be content with the comforts of home.comforts of home.

• THE CALL: realization of THE CALL: realization of imbalance or injustice in the imbalance or injustice in the hero’s life that invites him hero’s life that invites him into the adventure, the into the adventure, the unknown.unknown.

• Given a task to complete, a Given a task to complete, a person to rescue, or a quest person to rescue, or a quest to fulfillto fulfill

• Can be by choice or forced Can be by choice or forced upon the heroupon the hero

• Begins in the “Known World”Begins in the “Known World”

The PreparationThe Preparation

• the hero prepares for the journey the hero prepares for the journey because she/he needs to do so. because she/he needs to do so. His/her needs may be physical (i.e. His/her needs may be physical (i.e. training, supplies, equipment, etc.) or training, supplies, equipment, etc.) or knowledge-based (i.e. information). knowledge-based (i.e. information). Sometimes the training is internal or Sometimes the training is internal or psychological (mental, i.e. mustering psychological (mental, i.e. mustering courage). courage).

Threshold & GuardiansThreshold & Guardians

• THRESHOLD: the jumping off point for the THRESHOLD: the jumping off point for the adventure; the point between known and adventure; the point between known and unknown (a new and unfamiliar world). unknown (a new and unfamiliar world).

• GUARDIANS OF THE THRESHOLD: The threshold GUARDIANS OF THE THRESHOLD: The threshold may have guardians (obstacles) that interfere may have guardians (obstacles) that interfere with or delay the start of the journey. Can be with or delay the start of the journey. Can be literal (physical barriers, people, animals, etc.) or literal (physical barriers, people, animals, etc.) or figurative/internal (doubts, fears, etc.). figurative/internal (doubts, fears, etc.). Sometimes these are necessary because the hero Sometimes these are necessary because the hero is not yet ready for the journey (i.e. because of is not yet ready for the journey (i.e. because of youth). youth).

Initiation: Initiation: Challenges/Temptations/”The Challenges/Temptations/”The Road of Trials”Road of Trials”• Set of tests/trials/ordeals/obstacles/difficult Set of tests/trials/ordeals/obstacles/difficult

experiences that test and trip up the hero. experiences that test and trip up the hero. It may even seem that he/she has no hope or It may even seem that he/she has no hope or

chance of getting out of a dangerous situation, but chance of getting out of a dangerous situation, but he/she emerges stronger after each challenge.he/she emerges stronger after each challenge.

• Begins the transformationBegins the transformation• Sometimes the hero failsSometimes the hero fails• Often comes in 3sOften comes in 3s test the courage, strength, intelligence, test the courage, strength, intelligence,

determination, and wisdom of the hero in the determination, and wisdom of the hero in the “underworld.”“underworld.”

Help the hero prepare for the greatest challenge Help the hero prepare for the greatest challenge

Supernatural Aid: Mentor, Supernatural Aid: Mentor, Helpers, & Talisman/Saving Helpers, & Talisman/Saving

ExperienceExperience• MENTOR: Once the quest is accepted, there MENTOR: Once the quest is accepted, there is often a guide who acts as mentor, is often a guide who acts as mentor, teacher, trainer and gives hero a focus, teacher, trainer and gives hero a focus, hints on how to succeed. Guide keeps the hints on how to succeed. Guide keeps the hero focused on goal. Helps hero obtain the hero focused on goal. Helps hero obtain the skills to overcome challenges. Must die so skills to overcome challenges. Must die so that hero can face biggest challenge alone. that hero can face biggest challenge alone.

• HELPERS: Help & support hero along the HELPERS: Help & support hero along the way; are not present during the final battle. way; are not present during the final battle. Individuals who assist the hero during the Individuals who assist the hero during the journey. They may be acquired at any point journey. They may be acquired at any point during the journey and may be family during the journey and may be family members, friends, guides, animals, or even members, friends, guides, animals, or even gods. gods.

• TALISMAN: Just when things are at their TALISMAN: Just when things are at their worst, help in the form of a supernatural gift worst, help in the form of a supernatural gift that produces magical effects that ‘saves’ that produces magical effects that ‘saves’ the hero (SAVING EXPERIENCE). Often this the hero (SAVING EXPERIENCE). Often this occurs when things are at their worst for the occurs when things are at their worst for the hero, and he/she meets a special person, hero, and he/she meets a special person, has a powerful experience, or receives a has a powerful experience, or receives a special gift that “saves” him/her, enabling special gift that “saves” him/her, enabling him/her to achieve the journey’s goal. Can him/her to achieve the journey’s goal. Can be a person or thing (tools, weapons, be a person or thing (tools, weapons, magical items to assist the hero on the magical items to assist the hero on the quest).quest).

The AbyssThe Abyss• greatest challenge of the journey where one must "slay greatest challenge of the journey where one must "slay

the dragon” alonethe dragon” alone• Usually includes the archetype “Belly of the Whale,” Usually includes the archetype “Belly of the Whale,”

which symbolizes how just before or during the abyss, which symbolizes how just before or during the abyss, the hero appears to have been “swallowed” by opposing the hero appears to have been “swallowed” by opposing forces/negative powers, with difficulties “closing in” on forces/negative powers, with difficulties “closing in” on him/her. It is the descent into the darkness. The whale him/her. It is the descent into the darkness. The whale represents all that is in the unconscious (water is the represents all that is in the unconscious (water is the unconscious) that is dangerous and powerful and needs unconscious) that is dangerous and powerful and needs to be controlled by consciousness (it must submit to the to be controlled by consciousness (it must submit to the consciousness). Can be literal or not.consciousness). Can be literal or not.

Examples: the bowels of (under the) school in Examples: the bowels of (under the) school in Harry Harry Potter, Potter, the closing trash compactor in the closing trash compactor in Star WarsStar Wars, the , the whale in Pinocchio whale in Pinocchio

• Usually includes the archetype of the Journey to Usually includes the archetype of the Journey to Underworld, which equates the abyss with facing deathUnderworld, which equates the abyss with facing death

• The abyss can include both the belly of the whale and The abyss can include both the belly of the whale and underworld archetypes but not necessarily (the abyss underworld archetypes but not necessarily (the abyss may also have neither)may also have neither)

• This can be in an unknown place This can be in an unknown place • Hellish, purgatory, feeling of doomHellish, purgatory, feeling of doom• Establishes a turning point for the heroEstablishes a turning point for the hero• Catalyst for transformationCatalyst for transformation• Represents the separation of hero from the known worldRepresents the separation of hero from the known world• Stepping over the threshold and accepting Stepping over the threshold and accepting

transformationtransformation• Recognizes the potential of The End or a new world/selfRecognizes the potential of The End or a new world/self

Meeting with the Meeting with the Goddess/TemptressGoddess/Temptress

• The hero is tempted by The hero is tempted by lovelove

• Is a distraction from Is a distraction from the trials that the trials that threatens completionthreatens completion

• Offers unconditional Offers unconditional love, but may threaten love, but may threaten the hero’s ability to the hero’s ability to pass the trialspass the trials

• Choice to accept or Choice to accept or reject reject

Revelation, Transformation, Revelation, Transformation, Atonement with the FatherAtonement with the Father

• REVELATION: a sudden REVELATION: a sudden change in the way one thinks change in the way one thinks or views lifeor views life

• TRANSFORMATION: The hero TRANSFORMATION: The hero is “killed” or experiences a is “killed” or experiences a death & rebirth. A part of death & rebirth. A part of initiate dies so another can initiate dies so another can be born (transformation be born (transformation occurs through death and occurs through death and rebirth); the hero changes rebirth); the hero changes (mentally, physically, (mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually); it is emotionally, spiritually); it is symbolic of an old part of the symbolic of an old part of the hero dying and a new one hero dying and a new one being reborn; hero may being reborn; hero may become psychologically more become psychologically more mature/independent mature/independent

• ATONEMENT: Encounter with ATONEMENT: Encounter with a father figure or being with a father figure or being with ultimate power. The hero ultimate power. The hero must make a sacrifice or must make a sacrifice or choice. The hero is in perfect choice. The hero is in perfect harmony with life and the harmony with life and the world.world.

(Symbolism of) The Ultimate (Symbolism of) The Ultimate BoonBoon

• The quest or task is The quest or task is completedcompleted

• What the hero found is What the hero found is only a representation of only a representation of what was really neededwhat was really needed

• The item or person The item or person saved was just a vehicle saved was just a vehicle for the hero to for the hero to transform into who he transform into who he must ultimately becomemust ultimately become

Magic Flight & The Return with Magic Flight & The Return with GiftGift• Sometimes must escape with the Sometimes must escape with the

boonboon• Can be dangerous Can be dangerous • Sometimes there are rescuers or Sometimes there are rescuers or

assistants to help the hero make the assistants to help the hero make the escapeescape

• final stage where the hero final stage where the hero contributes to society. contributes to society.

• shares the gift, i.e. experience, shares the gift, i.e. experience, knowledge, and wisdom, gained knowledge, and wisdom, gained through the journey with the broader through the journey with the broader community and sees life differently.community and sees life differently.

• The hero must now retain the The hero must now retain the wisdom, strength of character, etc. wisdom, strength of character, etc. after crossing the thresholdafter crossing the threshold

• Hero is now competent or capable in Hero is now competent or capable in both worldsboth worlds

• Hero is now free to live as intendedHero is now free to live as intended