What is the “Hero’s What is the “Hero’s Journey”?Journey”?

Notes on The Pattern of Notes on The Pattern of Human ExperienceHuman Experience

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

• We usually divide the Hero’s Journey We usually divide the Hero’s Journey into THREE BASIC CATEGORIESinto THREE BASIC CATEGORIES

– SeparationSeparation

– Initiation and TransformationInitiation and Transformation

– The Return to the known worldThe Return to the known world

Step One: “The Separation”Step One: “The Separation”

• The SeparationThe Separation is divided into TWO is divided into TWO steps:steps:

– ““The Call,” where a hero is invited to The Call,” where a hero is invited to undergo a journey, mission, or questionundergo a journey, mission, or question

– ““The Threshold,” which contains The Threshold,” which contains guardians, helpers, and a mentor.guardians, helpers, and a mentor.

The Separation from the The Separation from the KnownKnown• What is the Call?What is the Call?

– The call invites the hero into adventureThe call invites the hero into adventure

– Offers him/her the opportunity to face the Offers him/her the opportunity to face the unknownunknown

– Allows him/her to gain something of Allows him/her to gain something of spiritual valuespiritual value

The Separation from the The Separation from the KnownKnown• The Response to the Call . . .The Response to the Call . . .

– The Hero may The Hero may choose willinglychoose willingly to undertake a quest. to undertake a quest.

– The Hero may be a “Reluctant Hero,” one who would The Hero may be a “Reluctant Hero,” one who would prefer not to undergo the trouble of a journey.prefer not to undergo the trouble of a journey.

– The Call may come The Call may come boldlyboldly as a “Transformative Crisis,” as a “Transformative Crisis,” a sudden, often traumatic change in his or her life.a sudden, often traumatic change in his or her life.

– The Call may be only a vague feeling of discontentment; The Call may be only a vague feeling of discontentment; a longing for “more”a longing for “more”

Consider the Call for these Epic Consider the Call for these Epic Hero’s . . .Hero’s . . .• Dorothy Dorothy in in The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz

– Discontentment in Kansas . . . Desires something “over the rainbow”Discontentment in Kansas . . . Desires something “over the rainbow”

• Luke Skywalker Luke Skywalker in in StarwarsStarwars– Discontentment . . . Until traumatic experience (Death of Aunt and Uncle)Discontentment . . . Until traumatic experience (Death of Aunt and Uncle)

• Odysseus Odysseus or or TelemakhosTelemakhos in inThe OdysseyThe Odyssey– Odysseus chooses willingly . . . HonorOdysseus chooses willingly . . . Honor

– Telemakhos is reluctant to act; must first undergo his own OdysseyTelemakhos is reluctant to act; must first undergo his own Odyssey

• Moses Moses in in The Bible The Bible (a “reluctant” hero)(a “reluctant” hero)– ““If you please Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past, nor If you please Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past, nor

recently. . . I am slow of speech and tongue”recently. . . I am slow of speech and tongue”

– ““If you please, Lord, send someone else”If you please, Lord, send someone else”

The Separation from the The Separation from the KnownKnown• STEP 2: “The Threshold”STEP 2: “The Threshold”

– Once called to adventure, Once called to adventure, The ThresholdThe Threshold is is the “jumping off point” of the adventurethe “jumping off point” of the adventure

– The “barrier” between the known and unknown The “barrier” between the known and unknown worldsworlds

– Guarded by “Threshold Guardians,” who protect Guarded by “Threshold Guardians,” who protect us from taking journeys we are not ready forus from taking journeys we are not ready for

The SeparationThe Separation

• What is the Threshold?What is the Threshold?

– At the Threshold, the Hero encounters a At the Threshold, the Hero encounters a Helper, Guardian, or MentorHelper, Guardian, or Mentor, who , who provides assistance and protectionprovides assistance and protection

– The Helper often brings a “divine gift,” The Helper often brings a “divine gift,” known as a known as a talismantalisman, which aids the hero, which aids the hero

The Separation from the The Separation from the KnownKnownThe “Guardians” of Epic HeroesThe “Guardians” of Epic Heroes

– DorothyDorothy: : • Gilda, the Beautiful Witch of Gilda, the Beautiful Witch of

the Westthe West

– Luke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker::• Ben Kinobe or YodaBen Kinobe or Yoda

– James BondJames Bond::• His gadget guruHis gadget guru

– Odysseus and TelemakhosOdysseus and Telemakhos• Athena, Hermes, LeukotheaAthena, Hermes, Leukothea

– MosesMoses• GodGod

The “Talisman” of Epic HeroesThe “Talisman” of Epic Heroes

--Dorothy--Dorothy• The Ruby SlippersThe Ruby Slippers

– Luke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker• The Light SaberThe Light Saber

– James BondJames Bond• His high-tech cars. . . .His high-tech cars. . . .

– Odysseus and TelemakhosOdysseus and Telemakhos• Eloquence, Re-assurance, Eloquence, Re-assurance,

Disguises, Beauty, Potions, Disguises, Beauty, Potions, “immoral veil”“immoral veil”

– MosesMoses• Staff (“take this staff in your hand; Staff (“take this staff in your hand;

with it you are to perform the with it you are to perform the signs”)signs”)

The InitiationThe Initiation• Step Three: The ChallengesStep Three: The Challenges

– Once past the threshold, Once past the threshold, we journey into the “unknown”we journey into the “unknown”

• Hero Faces “Temptations” and “Challenges”Hero Faces “Temptations” and “Challenges”

• Great Threat comes from Great Threat comes from “Tempters“Tempters,” who attempts to ,” who attempts to convince the hero to end the Journeyconvince the hero to end the Journey

– Luke Skywalker: Darth Vader, “Come to the Dark Side”Luke Skywalker: Darth Vader, “Come to the Dark Side”

– Christ’s “temptation” by Satan . . . . . To give up his journeyChrist’s “temptation” by Satan . . . . . To give up his journey

• Temptations almost always reflect Hero’s greatest fears or Temptations almost always reflect Hero’s greatest fears or needsneeds

– Odysseus: Tempted by comfort and dangerous beautyOdysseus: Tempted by comfort and dangerous beauty

The InitiationThe Initiation

Step four: What is the Abyss?Step four: What is the Abyss?

The AbyssThe Abyss represents the great challenge on the journey. represents the great challenge on the journey.

The Abyss The Abyss is where the hero must “slay the dragon,” which often is where the hero must “slay the dragon,” which often represents their greatest fear.represents their greatest fear.

Luke Skywalker: Challenging and killing Darth Luke Skywalker: Challenging and killing Darth VaderVader

Dorothy: Throwing Water on the Wicked Witch of Dorothy: Throwing Water on the Wicked Witch of the the EastEast

Odysseus: Journey to the UnderworldOdysseus: Journey to the Underworld

Christ: The CrucifixionChrist: The Crucifixion

The InitiationThe Initiation

• Steps 5: “Transformation and Revelation”?Steps 5: “Transformation and Revelation”?

– As the hero conquers the Abyss, he or she is As the hero conquers the Abyss, he or she is “transformed” or “changed”“transformed” or “changed”

– The Hero is literally a new personThe Hero is literally a new person

– Transformation is a symbol for “re-birth” (Dying and Living Transformation is a symbol for “re-birth” (Dying and Living again); “Resurrection”again); “Resurrection”

• Christ and Odysseus are obvious examples of thisChrist and Odysseus are obvious examples of this

• Dorothy’s revelation that “there’s no place like home” (story Dorothy’s revelation that “there’s no place like home” (story is a circle), just like Odysseus . . . is a circle), just like Odysseus . . .

The InitiationThe Initiation

• Step 6: What is “Atonement”?Step 6: What is “Atonement”?

– After Transformation, the hero becomes “at-one” with new selfAfter Transformation, the hero becomes “at-one” with new self

– There is There is HarmonyHarmony between Self and World (no more between Self and World (no more “discontentment”“discontentment”

• Think of Think of Wizard of OzWizard of Oz: each character realizes they already : each character realizes they already possess what they soughtpossess what they sought

• Odysseus “purifies” his hall of sin, the suitorsOdysseus “purifies” his hall of sin, the suitors

• Christ’s resurrection established “Harmony” or “Reconciles” Christ’s resurrection established “Harmony” or “Reconciles” sinners with God sinners with God

• Telemakhos is recognized as “Odysseus’s one True son”Telemakhos is recognized as “Odysseus’s one True son”

Final Category: The ReturnFinal Category: The Return

• Step 8: What is Step 8: What is The ReturnThe Return??

– Upon his or her return, the hero realizes Upon his or her return, the hero realizes their gift . . . (leadership, new levels of their gift . . . (leadership, new levels of awareness, spiritual enlightenment)awareness, spiritual enlightenment)

•Dorothy’s realization that “there is no place Dorothy’s realization that “there is no place like home”like home”

The ReturnThe Return

• Some Heroes return to create a great nation or citySome Heroes return to create a great nation or city

• Some Heroes return to RejectionSome Heroes return to Rejection

• Often Enlightened Heroes are Killed because of Often Enlightened Heroes are Killed because of their gift or level of Enlightenmenttheir gift or level of Enlightenment– SocratesSocrates (forced to drink Hemlock for corrupting the (forced to drink Hemlock for corrupting the

minds of the young)minds of the young)– ChristChrist– Martin Luther King JrMartin Luther King Jr. . – John Lennon (if you consider him a Hero)John Lennon (if you consider him a Hero)

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

• Why are we not all “heroes”?Why are we not all “heroes”?

– We reject our CallWe reject our Call

– We reject true mentors and their gifts, embrace TemptersWe reject true mentors and their gifts, embrace Tempters• Reject our gifts (talents, educational opportunities, wisdoms)Reject our gifts (talents, educational opportunities, wisdoms)• Embrace “what everyone else” is doingEmbrace “what everyone else” is doing• Heroes must be “unique”Heroes must be “unique”

– We give in to TemptationWe give in to Temptation• Delays or Ends our journey to EnlightenmentDelays or Ends our journey to Enlightenment• Laziness, greed, envy, materialism, selfishness, fear, Laziness, greed, envy, materialism, selfishness, fear,

dishonestydishonesty

Assignment:Assignment:

• Write TWO paragraphsWrite TWO paragraphs

•Discuss Discuss two heroestwo heroes (examples may come (examples may come from history, literature, film, or personal from history, literature, film, or personal experience).experience).

– Explain their Explain their separationseparation

– Explain their Explain their initiation and transformationinitiation and transformation

– Explain their Explain their return to the knownreturn to the known

AssignmentAssignment• Topic Sentences for each paragraph:Topic Sentences for each paragraph:

– ““Jem Finch, from Harper Lee’s novel, Jem Finch, from Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a To Kill a Mockingbird, Mockingbird, depicts each of the basic attributes depicts each of the basic attributes of the an epic hero, a separation from the known of the an epic hero, a separation from the known world, an initiation and transformation, and a world, an initiation and transformation, and a return.”return.”

– ““Not only does Jem Finch, a character from Not only does Jem Finch, a character from literature, depict the characteristics of an epic literature, depict the characteristics of an epic hero, so does Neo, a character from the film hero, so does Neo, a character from the film The The MatrixMatrix..

AssignmentAssignment

Paragraph ExamplesParagraph Examples::

– The SeparationThe Separation (Atticus kills Tim Johnson, changing (Atticus kills Tim Johnson, changing Jem’s perception that Atticus is incapable of bravery)Jem’s perception that Atticus is incapable of bravery)

– Initiation and TransformationInitiation and Transformation

• Ms. Dubose’s cruel ranting and Jem’s punishment of Ms. Dubose’s cruel ranting and Jem’s punishment of reading to herreading to her

• Jem’s retrieval of his pants from the Radley gateJem’s retrieval of his pants from the Radley gate

– ReturnReturn

• Jem’s decision to become a lawyer like his fatherJem’s decision to become a lawyer like his father