Transcript The Hero Archetype

The MIDAS Project: Supported by the Science Education Partnership Award Program of the
National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (Grant No. R25 RR018634)
The Hero Archetype
This is the pattern all heroes in fiction (and
sometimes non-fiction) follow. Stanley from
Holes is an unlikely hero but he follows all
parts of the hero archetype.
Archetype
NOUN:1. An original model or
blueprint after which other similar
things are patterned; a prototype
1. The Unusual Birth
This is something out of the ordinary
about the hero’s birth. It may be
circumstances surrounding the birth, a
particular place of birth or something
unusual about the hero’s family.
Unusual Birth: Fiction
Harry Potter
Harry Potter’s parents
were wizards who are
killed by the evil
wizard Voldemort
shortly after his birth.
Stanley Yelnats
Stanley’s parents were
poor. His family is
cursed because his
great-great grandfather,
Elya Yelnats, broke a
promise to a gypsy
which affects every
aspect of Stanley’s life.
2. The Separation
The hero is separated from his or her parents
and is raised or looked after by others (often a
stranger). Sometimes this separation is
caused by the villain’s actions.
Childhood is often difficult or traumatic.
The Separation: Fiction
Harry Potter
Stanley Yelnats
After Harry’s parents
are killed, Harry is
raised by his aunt
and uncle, The
Dursleys, who hate
him.
Stanley is accused
of a crime he did
not commit and
was sent to Camp
Green Lake where
life is miserable.
3. The Call
The Call is a crisis or other event that leads the
hero on a quest or a journey. The hero is often
reluctant to begin the quest due to a variety of
reasons. This is sometimes a “change of life”, or
epiphany, moment for the hero.
The Call: Fiction
Harry Potter
Harry’s situation
changes when receives
a letter inviting him to
attend Hogwarts and he
learns that he is a
wizard.
Stanley Yelnats
Stanley is called to action
when his friend Zero runs
away and he overhears
the counselors talking
about destroying his file
and letting him die.
4. The Quest
or Journey
A quest is a journey with a specific goal in
mind. Sometimes the goal of the journey
is not defined. Either way this time is
usually filled with a series of challenges
for the hero to overcome.
The Quest: Fiction
Harry Potter
Stanley
Harry is trying to keep
Voldemort from killing him
or hurting the ones he
loves. Eventually Harry
learns of a prophecy that
says either he or Voldemort
must perish in the end.
Stanley wants to save
Zero and prove that he
is innocent.
5. The Strength
This is an unusual power that the
hero has over others. This can be
either physical or mental. Sometimes
the strength is a special weapon that
has special value to the hero.
Strength: Fiction
Harry Potter
Stanley
Harry Potter is a wizard
(which is not unusual in his
world) but he is somehow
immune to the powers of
Voldemort. He also has the
special Marauder’s Map
and the invisibility cloak.
Stanley has nothing to
lose. He has strong moral
character and is a loyal
friend.
6. The Weakness
The hero usually has some vulnerability that
causes him or her problems during the
journey. Sometimes the weakness is caused
by the same thing that caused the separation
and can be either internal or external.
The Weakness: Fiction
Harry Potter
Stanley
Harry is young and
inexperienced. His scar
becomes a window between
his mind and Voldemort’s. He
has difficulty living up to the
high expectations people
have of him. Dumbledore also
keeps many secrets from him
that Harry has to figure out
difficult tasks on his own.
Stanley is young and
inexperienced. He is
out of shape and has
low self-esteem. He
has no direction in his
life.
7. The Advisor
This is a person that assists the hero during
the journey or quest. The advisor is older and
wiser and often they are supernatural beings.
Often the advisor only appears when help is
needed but in other cases the advisor is with
the hero throughout the journey.
The Advisor: Fiction
Harry Potter
Harry Potter turns to his
Hogwarts Headmaster,
Albus Dumbledore in
times of need.
Stanley
Stanley is guided by the
stories of his greatgrandfather, Stanley Yelnats
I, who survived for many
days on the same
mountain.
8. The Villain
This is the person who attempts to stop the hero
from completing the tasks in the quest. The villain
is often responsible for the demise of the hero’s
parents. Sometimes the villain is part of the hero’s
family. In some cases, there are many villains or
the villain takes on many forms.
The Villain: Fiction
Harry Potter
Stanley
Voldemort is Harry’s main
enemy but he takes on many
different forms. Harry has
minor villains as well such as
Draco Malfoy and Severas
Snape.
Stanley has to fight the
legal system, the camp
counselors (especially
Mr. Sir) and the
elements.
9. The Atonement
This is a reconciliation with the hero’s lost family
or rights the wrongs that occur early on in the
story. Sometimes the hero learns the truth about
something and often this is revealed by the villain
during his demise. In some stories the hero is
reunited with his family or this is the time where
the hero attains his/her ultimate goal.
The Atonement: Fiction
Harry Potter
Stanley
Harry is reunited with his
parents and other parental
figures in spirit several times
before the end of the story.
Stanley is reunited with
his parents after the
curse is broken. Stanley
breaks the curse by
fulfilling his great-greatgrandfather’s promise
when he saves Zero
10. The Reward
This is when the hero is recognized and
rewarded for completing the journey.
Sometimes this occurs after the hero’s death
or in his absence.
The Reward: Fiction
Harry Potter
Stanley
Harry Potter completes a
mini-quest in each book
but also finishes the main
quest by beating
Voldemort in the last
book.
After the curse is broken,
Stanley and Zero find the
treasure and are released from
Camp Green Lake, Stanley’s
father solves his invention
problems, and the camp
counselors are arrested.