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Gill's Copy of Hero's Journey
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TED-Ed PRESENTS
The Hero's Journey
Questions about Ted-Ed video:
- Name one of the hero's given as an example in the video
Joseph Campell &
THE MONOMYTH
Joseph Campbell &
THE MONOMYTH
- Famous scholar who studied mythologies from around the world and along with Carl Jung further developed the idea of archetypes
- Wrote a book called The Hero with a Thousand Faces which was published in 1949
- Theorized that myths from around the world followed a specific plot or series of events
- In The Hero's Journey, these events are divided into 3 sections : The Separation (or Departure), The Initiation, and The Return.
- Note that not every hero will follow every step, but most will be present.
ARCHETYPES | are images and ideas, or basic units of expression, that appear in art and mythology around the world.
In a well-known quote from the introduction to The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell summarized 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."
Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. 1st edition, Bollingen Foundation, 1949. 2nd edition, Princeton University Press. 3rd edition, New World Library, 2008.
ARCHETYPES
found in literature
ARCHETYPES
found in literature
- Archetypes can be characters with specific traits or stories with a predetermined series of events that appear in many different cultures throughout time
- ex: creation or destruction myths and The Hero's Journey
- Some examples of character archetypes found in literature & media are:
Mother figure Father figure Hero
Leader, educator, strength
See also Anti-hero, the unbalanced hero, the tragic or the epic hero
Selfless, an "everyman", protagonist
See also Fairy godmother or Earth mother
Nurturing, caring, comfort
Wizard or Wise Man Villain Maiden
See also Supernatural Helper, or Mentor
Guidance, advice and wisdom
Malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime.
Evil, power-hungry,
See also Star-Crosee lovers, The innocent youth or princesses
Purity, youth, innocence
Trickster The Scapegoat Outcast
Takes the blame.
Innocence, alone, outsider
Live on the outside of society, sometimes self-banished.
Resourceful.
Breaks the rules, turns the world upside down and challenges authority.
Elusive, playful, rebelious
I. The Unusual Birth/Early Childhood
What sets Harry apart from his peers and gives him an unusual birth or childhood?
ORDINARY WORLD | The hero exists in a world is considered ordinary or uneventful by those who live there. Often, the heroes are considered odd by those in the ordinary world and have some sort of UNUSUAL BIRTH OR CHILDHOOD; they possess some ability or characteristic that makes them feel out-of-place or sets them apart from society.
SPECIAL WORLD | For heroes to begin their journeys, they must be called away from the ordinary world to some special world that removes them from their everyday life.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
OTHER EXAMPLES |
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Dorothy in Kansas
The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins in Hobbiton
Star Wars: Luke Skywalker on Tatooine
The Lion King: Simba at Pride Rock
What is Neo's call to adventure? How does he "acccept" the call?
II. Call to Adventure
- There is some event, or danger that spurs the hero to action and causes them to have to leave their ORDINARY WORLD behind.
- Sometimes, the hero happens upon their quest by accident. In other instances, the hero is continuously called upon.
- The new world the hero is forced into is much different than the old one. No matter where this SPECIAL WORLD is, there is sure to be adventure there.
- At first, the hero might refuse the call∫∫. But eventually, they must willingly accept and depart on their journey.
The Matrix
OTHER EXAMPLES |
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The tornado
The Hobbit: Gandalf the wizard arrives
Star Wars: R2D2’s cryptic message
Harry Potter: Harry receives letters from Hogwarts
If you're Harry Potter, crossing the threshold means running full speed at a wall in King's Cross Station to reach platform 93/4. For Sam and Frodo, it's more of a nice stroll...
III.Crossing the Threshold
- Behind the hero is his or her ordinary life, and ahead of them is the special world and adventure.
- When the hero crosses this threshold, they have committed to their quest and take their first steps on their journey.
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
OTHER EXAMPLES |
Beauty and the Beast: Belle sacrifices herself for her father's freedom
Finding Nemo: Marlin goes out into the open ocean
What are some of Mulan's trials?
IV. Trials
- The challenges or trials are considered the rising action and make up the bulk of the story.
- These are the things (other characters, personal struggles, monsters, emotional conflicts, societal standards, etc.) that the hero must fight and overcome to become a true hero.
- These obstacles ultimately make the hero stronger.
Mulan
- Defeat the Huns
- Hide the fact that she's a girl
- Impress Shang
- Soldier's training
- Become the perfect wife
- Save China
... to name a few!
The Hobit | Gandalf | The ring
V. Super Natural Helper and Mentor
Star Wars | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Lightsaber
Also known as Meeting the Mentor and SUPERNATURAL AID |
- The hero meets someone, usually a wise old man type, who helps them on their quest.
- They may offer sage advice and usually give the hero a SPECIAL WEAPON or TALISMAN that only he or she can wield.
- Usually the mentor or aid has to be out of the picture, or dead, in order for the hero to complete their quest.
The Wizard of Oz | Galinda | Ruby slippers
ALLIES & HELPERS | The hero may often have an "ordinary" helper or sidekick that helps them out along the way.
EX | Ariadne helpes Theseus with the golden thread.
The cowardly lion, the tinman, and the scarecrow accompany Dorothy to Oz.
Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief | Chiron | The pen-sword
What does Nala ask Simba to do?
Approach
- Refers to the Approach to the Inmost Cave. This means, the biggest ordeal the hero will have to face.
- The hero must make final preparations before entering the "Inmost Cave". These might include refueling: physically and emotionally, reviewing plans and maps, or reflection on the journey thus far.
- At this point the hero might be tempted to give up.
The Lion King
OTHER EXAMPLES |
Harry Potter: Harry, Ron and Hermione plan to get the philosopher's stone.
Spider-man: The Green Goblin asks Spiderman to join him, but he refuses.
Star Wars: The Death Star destroys Alderaan, they invade the Death Star and save Princess Leia
And sometimes the reward is straight up treasure, which is seen in The Goonies when the kids find One-Eye Willie's treasure...
VI. Special Weapon
- Also sometimes called SEIZING THE SWORD Typically, there is some kind of reward for passing the supreme ordeal.
- The Reward may come in many forms: an object of great importance or power, a secret, greater knowledge or insight, or even reconciliation with a loved one or ally.
The Goonies
OTHER EXAMPLES |
Harry Potter: Harry finds the Philosopher's Stone
Divergent: Tris successfully completes initiation and is rewarded by a #1 ranking.
What does Harry have to confront in his ultimate ORDEAL or CRISIS?
VII. The Abyss or Temptation
- CRISIS or Abyss is the central life-or-death crisis, during which he faces his greatest fears, confronts this most difficult challenge, and experiences “death”.
- Only through “death” can the Hero be "reborn", experiencing a resurrection that grants greater powers or insight to see the Journey to the end allowing them to claim the title of true hero.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
OTHER EXAMPLES |
Lord of the Rings: Mount Doom.
The Lion King: Simba must choose to save his kingdom or keep living his life
VIII. The Transformation
- The world must have some reaction to the hero's success; What happens after they complete their quest? Are they praised and revered? Are they chased away by the family of the monster they slew?
XI. Road Home
- To complete their quest. the hero must usually return home
- Some heroes may only stay for a little while. then realize they cannot return to their ordinary and thus go off to find new adventures or lives among others.
X. New Life or The Mastery of Two Worlds
Having conquered his or her own fears in the quest, the hero is also master of the world inside them as well as the external world.
This patterning of spiritual growth can also be achieved vicariously by an audience who have linked their selves to the hero, although perhaps not quite as idealistically as the hero in the story.
This recognition of mastery is another transition in the story and further cements the position of ultimate power of the hero
In Star Wars, Luke finally becomes a Jedi Knight.
In Lord of the Rings, Aragorn, Isildur's heir, takes the his rightful position on the throne of Gondor and is crowned King. He receives the responsibility of protection in the world as Gandalf passes from Middle Earth.