Joseph Campbells Hero Cycle

Joseph Campbell's Hero Cycle

Joseph Campbell

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is the first of the three part novel series about a young girl participating in the annual Hunger Games, which is controlled by the capital to maintain the power they are inforceing for each of the districts in North America. In the story the main character Katniss is thrown on an adventure which follows the Hero cycle as follows:

This story is a classic example of the hero cycle. Harry is starting his Fourth Year at Hogwarts. The Tri-Wizard Tournament is taking place and Harry's name is chosen from the Goblet as the fourth competitor. He encounters trials and tribulations and manages to overcome all of the tasks before facing his ultimate trial. He returns to the everyday world with a new perspective and information that will benefit those in the ordinary world.

This story is a prime example of the hero cycle.

Departure/Separation Stage

Departure/ Separation Stage

Separation/ Departure

Lucy hides in the wardrobe, and finds her way into another world. Lucy's stories about Narnia and Mr. Tumnus is dismissed by her siblings, especially when they investigate the wardrobe and find nothing. Lucy and her siblings speak to the old professor who owns the house, and once they all enter Narnia they meet Aslan.

In this stage Harry transitions from the ordinary world. He refuses his call to the adventure when his name is called, then he has no choice but to accept. He meets his mentor, Alastor Moody or Professor Moody as he is more commonly known as. He then crosses the threshold from the ordinary world into the world of the "champions". He continues to try and complete his tasks with the help of others.

Every year in North America the capital organizes The Hunger Games and chooses a male and female participant from each district. Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, has a sister named PrimRose whose name was called to participate. Katniss volunteers in her sister’s place accepting the call. Katniss is introduced to her mentor/ supernatural aid Haymitch Abernathy, the only survivor from district 12, who is to help Peeta and her in their journey. Katniss crosses the threshold when she enters the capital to train for the games. She enters the belly of the whale when she scores an 11 out of 12 on the testing and enters the game with a target on her back.

Initiation stage

Initiation Stage

Initiation

Peter, Susan and Lucy travel across Narnia with the Beavers, trying to escape the wolves and the Witch herself. The three kids met Aslan for the first time in his camp. Meanwhile, Edmund the last of the Pevensie kids is temped by the White Witch as she promises him power. The witch pulls out the rulebook and condemns Edmund to die because of his betray but is saved by one of Aslan's followers.

Harry continues on to his Second Task where he retrieves Ron from the Black Lake. He then moves on to the last task which is the Maze. He agrees to accept the Cup with Cedric and when they touch it they're transported to a graveyard. Harry confronts the newly formed Voldemort and has to escape with Cedric's body after fighting him off yet again.

Katniss endures the Road of Trials as she is faced with challenges, mainly resulting in injury. For example, she was hit with the flaming rocks and she was stung by cracker jacks. Katniss meets the goddess when she befriends Rue, after she tends to Katniss’ wounds. Katniss is tempted by Peeta and has mixed emotions when she see’s he is allied with her enemies. She then receives atonement with the father when Katniss receives medication from Haymitch in order to repair her wounds as well as Peeta’s, this repairs her trust with Peeta, where their relationship is blossomed. Katniss and Peeta ally themselves against the other tributes and work together to reach apotheosis. Katniss and Peeta threaten to eat poisonous berries together , knowing this would cause a riot the capital crowns both Katniss and Peeta as winners where we see the Ultimate Boon.

The Return Stage

The Return

The Return

After touching the cup once again Harry returns with news that Voldemort has returned and that Cedric Diggory has died by Voldemort's hands. His fight with Voldemort has given him an insight into the fact that he might be the only person that can defeat the Dark Lord.

Katniss and Peeta take the train to their new home in the victors village in a magical flight, but now have a target on their back because the capital is embarrassed that they lost control of the players and gave them what they wanted. Katniss becomes the master of both worlds of the people who have participated in the games and those who live in each district.

As all the children were successfully able to defeat the White Witch, and have saved everyone that lives in the magical land...they were brought to the throne. All of the Pevensies were called Kings and Queens of Narnia. As they all have grown to adulthood, they have decided to return back to their homeland. Once they had reached to the other side of the wardrobe, they were back to their own realities as regular children.