and the Quest Pattern

Brave

TrustworthyHonest

Good communicator

Strong leader

Intelligent

Confident

Inspirational

High values

Responsible to others

Strength

Courageous

Positive

Adventurous

Motivated

Hopeful

Good Role Model

Extraordinary Talent

Characteristics of a hero:

The answer is as different as you are...

Real-life heroes from history

Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Real-life heroes from history

Houston, Tranquility Base here. The eagle has landed. That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.

Neil Armstrong, Upon landing on the Moon,July 20, 1969

Superheroes

I'm here to fight for truth, and justice, and the American way. 

Superheroes

All women can do wonders if they’re put to the test.

Real-life heroes from today

"Firemen are going to get killed. When they join the department they face that fact. When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of duty. They were not thinking of getting killed when they went where death lurked. They went there to put the fire out, and got killed. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they do what the business requires."

Edward CrokerSource: Chief, FDNY 1899-1911

Real-life heroes from today

I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot . . . and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why . . . I succeed.

Michael Jordan

Who are your heroes?

Father

Mother

Grandparents

AuntUncle

Friends

Real-life heroes from today

In stories or films, what is a hero?

A person who has demonstrated courage or has done something particularly noble, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life for the greater good.

In mythology and legend, what is a hero?

• A man, often of divine ancestry (one or more

parents is a god or has special powers)

• He is endowed with great courage and strength

• He is celebrated for his bold exploits

• He is favoured by the gods (ie. Good luck seems

to follow him)

Hero can also mean the main male

character in a novel, poem, or

dramatic presentation.

Can the word ‘hero’ mean anything else?

Note: The word “hero” is considered to be a gender-neutral

term. It is used to refer to admired women as well as men.

In legends and myths, no matter what country

or era they are from, quite often the hero’s

story follows a pattern.

That means that a hero story written two

thousand years ago in China will be similar to a

hero story from Greece and even similar to

many hero stories written today.

Birth

Fabulous circumstances surrounding conception, birth and childhood mark the hero as ‘different’.

Eg. One of the parents is immortal, or the hero comes from “mysterious circumstances”.

Call to Adventure

Something big happens so that the hero knows he or she has to do something.

Eg. Someone dies and the hero has to avenge the crime, something bad is going to happen and only the hero can stop it.

Helpers/Amulet

The hero gets help from someone or something else (eg. a wizard, an old man, a dwarf, a crone, or a fairy godmother).

The helper commonly gives the hero a protective amulet (charm worn against evil) or weapon for the journey.

Crossing the Threshold

The hero starts on the adventure. Often there is some sort of ordeal or a “threshold” to cross.

This shows that the hero is not just some ordinary person.

Eg. goes on a journey, crosses an ocean, enters a dream, travels through time etc.

Tests Hero travels through the world of adventure where he must undergo a series of tests. Tests are often violent encounters with monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of nature.

Each successful test further proves the hero’s ability and advances the journey towards its climax or ‘final battle.’

Final Battle

The critical moment in the hero’s journey.

Often a final battle with a monster, wizard or warrior. Final battle allows for resolution of the adventure.

Flight

After accomplishing the mission:

•Hero must return to the threshold of adventure and prepare for a return to the everyday world.

•The “flight” stage may be quick (because the hero is being chased by something crazy) or relaxed (because nothing is chasing him).

Return

Hero again crosses the threshold of adventure and returns to the everyday world

Eg. an awakening, a rebirth, a resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or forest.

Home

Hero comes back from the adventure changed and able to make his or her world better.

The End