“Myths are dreams of the raceDreams are the myths of the

individual”

Movies/Stories you should know

Star WarsHarry PotterLord of the RingsIndiana JonesThe Lion KingThe Wizard of OzX-MenThe MatrixBatmanThe IncrediblesKing Arthur

SupermanThe TerminatorThe NaturalBraveheartAlice in WonderlandHerculesGladiatorAladdinSpidermanRobin HoodTheseus/Perseus/JasonKung Fu Panda

• Carl Jung ( 1875 – 1961) developed idea of the “collective unconscious”

• Each person has in their unconscious a racial memory, linking him or her to the rest of humanity, and Jung felt that myths come from this collective unconsciousness.

• Within this collective memory are “archetypes”

The Collective Unconscious

ARCHETYPES

• The term archetype can be applied to:

· An image· A theme· A symbol· An idea· A character type· A plot pattern

Archetype

– The original pattern or model on which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based

– Myths are the conscious manifestation of these

archetypes

– These archetypes link myths and legends across cultures, and across time

• Example: The Wicked Witch, Prince Charming

Archetypes

• Types of Archetypal Journeys

1. The quest for identity2. 2. The epic journey to find the

promised land3. The quest for vengeance4. The warrior’s journey to save his people5. The search for love (to rescue the

princess/damsel in distress)

Types of Archetypal Journeys

6. The journey in search of knowledge7. The tragic quest: penance or self-

denial8.The fool’s errand9. The quest to rid the land of danger10.The grail quest (the quest for

human perfection)

Joseph Campbell(1904 – 1987)

American writer on mythology and comparative

Religions

In his book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces", Campbell identified the underlying patterns in myths, stories, and the spiritual traditions. 

Heroic Archetypes

1. Warrior (Odysseus): A near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external enemies2. Lover (Prince Charming): A pure love motivate hero to complete his quest3. Scapegoat: Hero suffers for the sake of others4. Transcendent Hero: The hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall, but not

without achieving some kind oftransforming realization or wisdom (Greek and Shakespearean tragedies—Oedipus, Hamlet,

Macbeth, etc.)5. Romantic/Gothic Hero: Hero/lover with a decidedly dark side (Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre)6. Proto-Feminist Hero: Female heroes (The Awakening by Kate Chopin)7. Apocalyptic Hero: Hero who faces the possible destruction of society8. Anti-Hero: A non-hero, given the vocation of failure, frequently humorous (Homer Simpson)9. Defiant Anti-Hero: Opposer of society’s definition of heroism/goodness. (Heart of Darkness)10. Unbalanced Hero: The Protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional

deficiencies (Hamlet, One FlewOver the Cuckoo’s Nest)11. The Other—the Denied Hero: The protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes

heroism possible (Invisible Manby Ralph Ellison, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan)12. The Superhero: Exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity; frequently has divine or

supernatural origins. In somesense, the superhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is

nonetheless needed by society. (Mythological heroes, Superman)

“ 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”

– Joseph Campbell “The Hero With a Thousand Faces”

The Hero’s Journey

“I think emotionally, we haven’t changed much in 2,000 or 3,000 years.” “We retain “deep seated feelings about family, our place in society, and that’s why people relate to it (Star Wars).”

George Lucas, creator of “Star Wars”

The Pattern of Human Experience

• But The Hero's Journey isn't just a pattern from myth. – It's the pattern of life, growth and

experience -- for all of us. • We see it reflected everywhere, from

a TV comedy to the great works of literature to the experiences in our own lives.

The Hero’s Journey

• Part One: Departure

• Part Two: Initiation

• Part Three: Return

PART I: Innocence

The Hero

• The hero is naïve and inexperienced, but often shows promise and individuality

Home Culture

The protagonist has a home, a place that he or she thinks is normal, familiar, and common to his or her culture.

The Call to Adventure

• The point in the person (hero’s ) life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they like it or not.– Call to adventure can come in many

forms, and is sometimes brought by a herald

The Call to Adventure

“Help me Obi Wan, you’re my only hope.” Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope

The Call to Adventure

“Follow the white Rabbit” The Matrix

The Call to Adventure

Letter of acceptance to Hogwarts: Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone

The Call to Adventure

Odysseus mocking Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon.

The Refusal of the Call

"In many stories, the hero initially refuses the call to adventure. When this happens, the hero suffers somehow, and eventually chooses the quest."

This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances.

Supernatural Aid

The inexperienced hero is provided with a supernatural, guiding and/or guarding character, or an instrumental item (sword, ring, etc.) to assist his or her journey into the unknown

Known as the “Guide,” “Wise Man”

The Wise and Helpful Guide

The Wise and Helpful Guide

Magical Talisman

A special weapon or charm to ward off evil

Hero PartnersHero may begin adventure alone, but

may meet “partners” who will accompany him.

Part II : Initiation

Crossing the Threshold

1st step of the journey– This is the point where the person actually crosses

into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known. Leaves the known limits of his or her world and ventures into an unknown and dangerous realm region

Threshold Guardians

– Often the hero must pass by or through some type of guardians• These guardians may be firm or

fearsome, and they measure the hero’s readiness for the journey

The Belly of the Beast– Represents the final separation from the

hero’s known world and self– Can often be the hero’s lowest point– Exit from the beast can symbolize

rebirth-beginning of hero’s transformation• Examples: Matrix The Hobbit Pinocchio

Star Wars

PART III: Chaos

The Road of Trials

– A series of tasks, tests, or ordeals that the hero must undergo to begin the transformation.

– Often the person fails one or more of these tasks, which often occur in threes.

Examples: Harry Potter

The Meeting With the Goddess• This symbolizes the hero’s facing the

opposing forces in his/her life.• It is essentially when the hero is no

longer at odds with themselves.• The goddess symbolizes the other

half of the hero that must be overcome, paid attention to, or come to terms with.

• The goddess may be a mother, sister, lover, wife… even an actual goddess

Frodo and Galadriel from “The Fellowship of the Ring”

Rambo and Co Bao from “Rambo”

Indiana Jones and Miriam Ravenwood from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

Losing the Guide

The Wise and Helpful Guide can take the hero only so far

The hero must continue alone, and grow without his or her mentor

Examples: Lord of the Rings Star Wars Lion King

Atonement with the Father

• The hero must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or her life– In many myths this is the father, or father

figure who has life and death power– This is the center point of the journey.

Luke Skywalker faces his father Darth Vader in “The Return of the Jedi”

Luke helps Anakin redeem himself.

“I am your father!

“I am your father!

Apotheosis

To apotheosize is to deify(make god-like)When someone dies a physical death, or dies

in spirit, he or she moves beyond a state of divine knowledge, love, compassion, and bliss

The hero is now willing to accept what is required of him/her and complete the mission

This is a god-like state; the person is in heaven and beyond all strife. A more mundane way of looking at this step is that it is a period of rest, peace and fulfillment before the hero begins the return.

Apotheosis

Gandalf the grey “dies”… and becomes…

…Gandalf the White

The Ultimate Boon

• The achievement of the goal– All the previous steps serve to prepare

and purify the person for this step

– Destroying the Death Star

– Defeating the Joker

– Destroying the OmniDroid

PART IV: Resolution or Acceptance

Refusal of the Return

• Not actually a true refusal– Hero has a difficult transition returning to a

“normal” life with new abilities and knowledge• Harry Potter (The Dursleys)• Lord of the Rings (Frodo)• The Incredibles

Master of Two Worlds

• "Once the final threshold is crossed, the hero is now free to move back and forth between the two worlds at will. He has mastered the conflicting psychological forces of the mind." – Often represented by a transcendental “hero” such as

Buddah

• Harry Potter - Wizards vs Muggles• Tarzan - Jungle vs. Civilization• Luke Skywalker - Jedi vs. “regular” world• Batman - Bruce Wayne vs. Batman