EPIC HERO CYCLEEPIC HERO CYCLE

A hero is someone who has given his or A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than one’s her life to something bigger than one’s

self" self" -- Joseph Campbell-- Joseph Campbell      

Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell American mythologistAmerican mythologist

Wrote “The Hero with A Thousand Faces”Wrote “The Hero with A Thousand Faces”

Introduced the idea of the MONOMYTHIntroduced the idea of the MONOMYTH

Campbell explores the theory that Campbell explores the theory that important myths from around the important myths from around the world that have survived for world that have survived for thousands of years all share a thousands of years all share a fundamental structure fundamental structure

HERO JOURNEY/CYCLEHERO JOURNEY/CYCLE The Monomyth…The Monomyth…

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

For all Humans…..For all Humans…..As a person goes through life, many psychological As a person goes through life, many psychological challenges will be encountered. Understanding this challenges will be encountered. Understanding this journey may serve as a guide for successful journey may serve as a guide for successful passage through the stages of one's life.passage through the stages of one's life.

The Call to Adventure – life will change

Refusal of the Call – scared, fearful

Supernatural Aid – help from gods or other magical beings

The Crossing of the First Threshold – a new and dangerous world

DEPARTUREDEPARTURE

INITIATIONINITIATION•The Road of Trials – series of tests

•The Meeting of the Goddesses – falling in love

•Abyss (death and rebirth) – greatest challenge of the journey.

Atonement with the Father – must confront what holds power over him/her – usually a symbolic death occurs to TRANSFORM - so that a new self can come into being

•The Ultimate Boon – achieve goal

RETURNRETURN Refusal of Return – why go back?Refusal of Return – why go back?

The Crossing of the Return Threshold – The Crossing of the Return Threshold – Retain the wisdom gained on the questRetain the wisdom gained on the quest

Master of Two Worlds – Achieving balance Master of Two Worlds – Achieving balance between material and spiritual worldbetween material and spiritual world

Freedom to Live – Freedom from fear of Freedom to Live – Freedom from fear of death = living in the moment!death = living in the moment!

Call to AdventureCall to Adventure

The Call to Adventure – when the hero is first given notice that everything is going to change

Refusal of the Call – scared, fearful

Supernatural AidSupernatural Aid

Aided by some supernatural or other Aided by some supernatural or other worldly beingworldly being

This could be someone with intimate This could be someone with intimate knowledge of the trials/challenges, or with knowledge of the trials/challenges, or with some extraordinary ability that will aid the some extraordinary ability that will aid the herohero

Crossing the ThresholdCrossing the Threshold

the person actually crosses into the field of adventure

leaving the world he/she knows and venturing into an unknown and dangerous place

Challenges and TemptationsChallenges and Temptations

These are the trials and challenges the These are the trials and challenges the hero faceshero faces

They may face temptation of some sort, or They may face temptation of some sort, or someone/something may try to temptsomeone/something may try to tempt

Often a hero will fail in some way one or Often a hero will fail in some way one or more of these challengesmore of these challenges

AbyssAbyss

the greatest challenge of the journey. Usually the hero must face the abyss

alone and overcome his/her greatest fears This may be the point where the hero

faces the thing he/she fears most and must overcome

TransformationTransformation

As a result of successfully meeting the As a result of successfully meeting the challenge of the abyss, the hero is challenge of the abyss, the hero is transformed in the way he/she views the transformed in the way he/she views the world or himself/herselfworld or himself/herself

AtonementAtonement

Accepting the new transformed selfAccepting the new transformed self Goal of the quest has been achievedGoal of the quest has been achieved

ReturnReturn

Return to everyday normal lifeReturn to everyday normal life This is the elevated “status quo”This is the elevated “status quo”

Artists Influenced by this MythArtists Influenced by this Myth

Harry PotterHarry Potter Ender’s GameEnder’s Game

AladdinAladdin Star WarsStar Wars Bob DylanBob Dylan

Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast LostLost

Jim Morrison Watership DownJim Morrison Watership Down

Lion KingLion King Hitchhiker's GuideHitchhiker's Guide

Harry

Potter

&

Star

Wars

AssignmentAssignment

Select a film or book and compare Select a film or book and compare the character’s journey to the the character’s journey to the hero cycle, or hero cycle, or use your ownuse your own..

Star WarsStar Wars Harry PotterHarry Potter

MulanMulan Lord of the Lord of the RingsRings

http://readwritethink.org/materials/herosjourney/