CONTEMPORARY HERO’S QUEST

S P I D E R MA N A

N D TH E G

R E E N GO B L I N

April Adams, Kimberly Hale, Mireya Garcia, and Mary Valencia

HUM 105

INTRODUCTION

SPIDERMAN

• Peter Parker

• Radioactive Spider

• Powers of a Spider

• Fight Crime

• Secret Identity

GREEN GOBLIN

• Norman Osborne

• Genius

• Power and Wealth

ARCHETYPES

There are several additional archetypes within the story of Spiderman. The archetypes are listed as follows:

• Aunt May Parker – Mentor• Uncle Ben Park – Father Role • Mary Jane Watson (M.J.) – Damsel in Distress • Harold Osborn – Best Friend

THE HERO’S QUESTSpiderman is a mythical American character created by Stan Lee. Lee introduced his colorful hero in 1962. Spider-Man is one of the most popular American icons. This hero’s quest is detailed by Spiderman’s:

• Separation• Initiation • Transformation• Return

MYTHOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM

• Mirrors

• Masks

• Spiders have saved great leaders

• Hopi believe in Spider goddess of the Earth

• West African God associated with Creation

• Cherokee believe in Grandmother Spider who brings light to the world

MYTHOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL ORIGINS OF THIS STORY

• True Origins unknown• Commonly said to be

Tricksters and Mischief-makers

• British folklore depicts goblins as malicious and spiteful murders

• Often shown carrying iron spikes and iron-shod boots

• Conflict between romance vs. fighting evil

• Conflict between personal desires vs. good of community

• Conflict is similar to ordinary human struggle

• Human conflicts retain relevance through the ages

• The heroes’ quest encourage individuals to rise to occasion

CONFLICTS BETWEEN PERSONAL DESIRE AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY

CONCLUSION• Hero’s Quests Can Teach Valuable Lessons• How One Deals With Conflict can Influence Journey• A Hero Steps Beyond Known Capabilities• Anyone can Easily Become a Hero or Villain Under the

Right Circumstances• Many Contemporary Stories Mimic Myths of Ancient

Times• The Battle of Good Versus Evil

REFERENCESBiography for green goblin from Spiderman, (2002). Retrieved from,

http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0001357/b

Google Images http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/266/spidey_goblin_aerobics.gif

Marvel Directory. (2012). Individuals- Spider-Man, May Parker, Ben Parker, Mary Jane Watson, Harold Osborn. Retrieved from http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/s/spiderman.htm

Meyer, M.D. (2003). Utilizing mythic criticism in contemporary narrative culture: Examining the "present-absence" of shadows in Spiderman. Retrieved from,https://classroom.phoenix.edu/afm211/secure/view-attachment.jspa?ID=24044881&messageID=155181920&name=Archetypes

New World Encyclopedia http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Goblin

Spider Mythology and Folklore http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhaintraditions/a/Spider-Mythology-And-Folklore.htm

Spiderman history. (no date). Retrieved from, http://www.vex.net/~dq711/spiderman.htm

Spider-Man series, (2002). Retrieved form the World Wide Web on July 7, 2012 at http://www.filmsite.org/series-spiderman.html

Tamburello, B. (2012). PersonalityPsych2011 - Peter Parker (Spider-Man). Retrieved from http://personalitypsych2011.wikispaces.com/Peter+Parker+(Spider-Man)