FROM HERCULES TO HARRY POTTER:Mythology in FilmSummer, 2010Nissa Hales

Table of Contents • What is Myth?

• Myth and Truth• The Cauldron of Story• The Three Faces of Myth• Archetypes & The Hero’s Journey• Mythical Elements from…

• Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire

• Mulan• The Lord of the Rings: The

Fellowship of the Rings• The Golden Compass• Star Wars: The Phantom

Menace

WHAT IS MYTH?From Hercules to Harry Potter

WHAT IS MYTH?

Myths are…WHO?: Constant among all humans in all

times.WHAT?: The “glue” that holds societies

together; basis for morality, government, & national identity

WHEN?: The thread that holds past, present, & future together.

WHY?: Essential ingredient in all codes of conduct; patterns of beliefs that give meaning to life.

(Bierlein, p. 5)

A traditional story about heroes or supernatural beings, often explaining the origins of a natural phenomena  or aspects of human behavior (Dickerson & O’Hara).

WHAT IS MYTH? (CONT.)Myth is part of a broader body of literature, with fantasy & fairy tales, called FäerieFay-ry - the realm of the Fay (a broad range of creatures, not just fairies: elves, dwarves, goblins, etc.) (Tolkien).

Fairies, Goblins and Dwarfs by Howard David Johnson, 2007

Fäerie Myth Heroic Legend & Fantasy

Fairy Tales

Geography

Historical Scope

Significance

Character Type

Meaning

Fäerie is a broad continuum, with myth on one side and fairy tales on the other, and heroic tales and fantasy falling somewhere in between (Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 26 – 28).

What is Myth? (cont.)

Fäerie Myth Heroic Legend & Fantasy

Fairy Tales

Geography whole worlds or other worlds

a kingdom or realm

a single cottage, village, or wood

Historical Scope

timeless; may span centuries

Span a few months to a few years

in a mater of a few days

Significance affect the whole history of the world

whole kingdoms are affected; large cast of characters

affects one to a handful of characters

Character Type

Gods Heroes Everyday people

Meaning Endless re-readings; can be understood on many levels

Moral or easily grasped theme

What is Myth? (cont.)

MythFair

y Tale

Legend

MYTH ANDTRUTH

From Hercules to Harry Potter

Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy by François Lemoyne, 1737

MYTH AND TRUTH

If you believe in fairies, clap your hands!

MYTH AND TRUTH (CONT.)“The truth of myth does not depend on history or language. The truth of myth stands beyond history, enters history, and informs history.”

Realistic fiction contains truth about human nature, the nature of God or gods, love, or the absolute corrupting power of the one Ring.

Myth holds an objective truth that is independent of any time, place, or culture.

The truth of myth or fairy tales is through self recognition.

Myth reaches people in general; universal and transcends culture.

Myth is how we comprehend our own experience.

(Bierlein, p. 5; Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 35 – 36; Neal, pp. 14 - 15)Harry Potter – The Mirror of Erised, Mary GrandPre

THE CAULDRONOF STORY

From Hercules to Harry Potter

The Cauldron of Story (Tolkien) Story is a soup containing bonesSoup = storyBones = “its sources and material”Ladle = authorCauldron = massive kettle containing all of Story ever been toldIngredients = history, myths, legends, fairy talesThe pot has “always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits,” savory or unsavory

History Legend

Fairy Tale

Author serves up their story

THE THREE FACESOF MYTH AND FÄERIE

From Hercules to Harry Potter

THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE (TOLKIEN)Three elements of reality: natural, supernatural, and man (Dickerson & O’Hara, p. 42)

1.Mythical toward the supernatural1.A world of angels & demons & a supreme

being2.Fairy tales depend on the supernatural3.Supernatural remain in the background4.Viewed with a sense of mystery & awe

2. Magical toward Nature (Dickerson & O’Hara, p. 43)

Most important in the definition of myth

Nature is magical (Trees can move, speak, defend themselves, get angry)

Does not deny science but it does deny that science is the only way to understand nature

THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE (TOLKIEN)

Treebeard and the Hobbits by Per Sjogren, 2003

3. The mirror of scorn and pity (mercy) towards man (Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 48 – 49)

Sorrow & the desire to see restoration (e.g., Gandalf to Frodo re: Gollum, “It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand.”)

We pity ourselves as a race We pity ourselves as individuals We feel regret and remorse for our own actions We feel sympathy for the perpetrators as well as the victims We hope for redemption & justice (e.g., Frodo must hope

Gollum can be Smeagol; Luke must have faith Vader can be Anakin again)

THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE (TOLKIEN)

References

Bierlein, J. F. (1994). Parallel myths. New York: Ballantine Books.

Campbell, J. (2008). The hero with a thousand faces. Novato, Ca.: New World Library. Bollingen Series XVII, 3rd ed.

Davis, Bryan M. (1997). The Archetypal Hero in Literature, Religion, Movies, and Popular Culture. Retrieved 7/29/10 from http://www.tatsbox.com/hero

Davis, K. C. (2005). Don’t know much about world myths. New York: Harper Collins.

Dickerson, M. & O’Hara, D. (2006). From Homer to Harry Potter: A handbook on myth and fantasy. Grand Rapids, MN: Brazos.

Dirk, T. (2010). Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). Retrieved on 8/13/10 from http://www.filmsite.org/starw.html.

References (cont.)

Greydanus, S. D. (2010). Why Star Wars still matters. Retrieved 8/12/10 from www.decentfilms.com/articles/starwars.html.

harrypotter.wikia.com

hdm.wikia.com

Myth encyclopedia: Myths and legends of the world. Animals in mythology. Retrieved on 8/12/10 from www.mythencyclopedia.com/Am-Ar/Animals-in- Mythology.html. Advameg.

Neal, C. (2007). Wizards, wardrobes and wookies: Navigating good and evil in Harry Potter, Narnia and Star Wars. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

REFERENCES (CONT.)Owens, K. (2009) Draconika Dragons. Retrieved 8/8/10 from

www. Draconika.com/index.Reihla (2004). The way of the Jedi: A comparison of the Jedi

order to the Japanese Samurai. Retrieved on 8/15/10 from www.sagajournal.com/rwayofjedi.html.

Smith, E.L., & Brown, N. R. (2007). The complete idiot’s guide to world mythology: Timeless tales and legends from every corner of the globe. New York: Alpha.

Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed. Dir. Kevin Burns. 2007. The History Channel.       Videocassette

Tolkien, J. R. R. (1989). “On fairy-story.” Tree and leaf. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, p. 9-73.

Warren, L., et al. (2000). The hero’s journey. Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction: Maricopa Community Colleges. Retrieved 7/29/10 fromhttp://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/journey/main.html.

Original Artwork!!! Myth Takes. 2008. !!! Warp, Web. 13 Aug. 2010. <http://pitchfork.com/ reviews/albums/9956-myth-takes/>. (Cover Artist unknown)

Fairies, Goblins and Dwarfs by Howard David Johnson, 2007

Game Wallpapers. com.The Golden Compass. 2007. Wallpapers-s.oorg. Shiny      Entertainment. Web. 13 Aug. 2010. </http://wallpaper-s.org/      18__The_Golden_Compass,_2007.htm>.

The Legend of Susanuo by Howard David Johnson

The Lightning Thief (book jacket) by John Rocco, 2008.

Meditation by Kuro Samarai. http://artzone.daz3d.com/index.php?/gallery/user/vi/&mid=

134537&aid=32859

Harry Potter – The Mirror of Erised, Mary GrandPre

Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy by François Lemoyne, 1737

Treebeard and the Hobbits by Per Sjogren, 2003Every effort was made to provide information for every image used in this presentation.

Photos from Movies:

Beowulf. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. 2007, Paramount Pictures. Warner Home Video, 2008. DVD.The Golden Compass. Dir. Chris Weitz. 2007. New Line Cinema.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Dir. Christopher Columbus. 2002. Warner       Bros. , 2003. DVD.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Dir. David Yates. 2010. Warner       Bros. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Dir. Mike Newell. 2005. Warner       Bros. , 2006. DVD.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Dir. David Yates. 2009. Warner       Bros. , 2009. DVD.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Dir. David Yates. 2007. Warner       Bros. , 2007. DVD.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Dir. Alfonso Cuaron 2004. Warner       Bros. , 2004 DVD.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Dir. Christopher Columbus. 2001. Warner       Bros. , 2002. DVD.Hero. Dir. Yimou Zhang. 2002. Miramax, 2004. DVD.

PHOTOS FROM MOVIES (CONT.)

The Last Samurai. Dir. Edward Zwick. 2003 Warner Bros. 2004, DVD.Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Dir. Peter Jackson. 2001. New Line Cinema.Mulan. Dirs. Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook. 1998. Buena Vista.Star Wars Episode II: The Attack of the Clones. Dir. George Lucas. 2002 Lucasfilms.Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Dir. Irving Kershner. 1980. Lucasfilms.Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Dir. George Lucas. 1977. Lucasfilms.Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Dir. George Lucas. 1999. Lucasfilms.Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Dir. Richard Marquand. 1983. Lucasfilms.Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Dir. George Lucas. 2005. Lucasfilms.

All images were located using Google images search. Credit was provided when available.