Transcript Archetypes and the Monomyth

The Hero’s Journey
As a group, list as many stories as you can
name in which the main character faces an
obstacle and learns from it.
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Role Models. We want to
strive to be like someone
who is better than we are.
We want someone to pave
the way for all of us –
someone to “break the
mold”
We want someone to make
the world safe at an unsafe
or uncertain time.
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A theorist who closely
studied comparative
mythology and
comparative religion.
Focused largely on the role
of the hero in his studies,
and discovered a pattern
(an archetype) that
spanned time and
culture…
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Monomyths (one myth) look surprisingly
alike.
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A cyclical story
 Hero undergoes a transformation
 Offers a sacrifice to save the world
• The cycle has multiple steps that most
heroes follow.
• The hero learns the truth about his world and
himself.
• The journey symbolizes the search for
individual identity and the culture’s concept
of the idealized member of society.
STAGE ONE:
SEPARATION
STAGE THREE: RETURN
Call to Adventure
Reward
(Freedom to Live)
The Return
The Known
The Unknown or Shadow Realm
Threshold
Guardians
Crossing the Threshold
Helpers
Ultimate Boon
Transformation/
Revelation
STAGE TWO: INITIATION
Atonement
with the Father
Call to Adventure
 Something inspires the journey
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Luke Skywalker’s Aunt & Uncle are killed
Dorothy awakens in Oz
The Lion King’s father is murdered
Frodo is asked to carry the ring by Gandalf
Sometimes the hero refuses the call
The Lion King leaves his pride for the
jungle“Hakuna Matata”
Supernatural Aid (Helpers):
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A guide or helper appears to assist with the
journey.
Glenda the Good Witch of the North instructs
Dorothy/ Toto travels with Dorothy
Obewon Kenobe guides Luke Skywalker
Samwise travels with Frodo
Crossing the Threshold:
The move from the known and comfortable world into
the unknown world. Sometimes the hero has to pass
one or more threshold guardians.
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Luke leaves home
Dorothy wakes up in Oz
Frodo leaves the shire
Nemo leaves the tank
The Road of Trials (Tests):
 Series of tasks that the hero must undergo
to begin the transformation.
Beginning Initiation:
 Glenda the Good Witch of the North puts the
ruby slippers on Dorothy’s feet
Meeting of a Goddess or redeeming female
figure:
 Glenda the Good Witch (for example)
 Princess Leia in Star Wars
Atonement with the Father (Supreme Test):
 Center point of the journey; this is when the
hero must confront whatever holds ultimate
power in his life. To understand himself, the
hero must reckon with this ultimate authority
figure. This will typically result in some
transformation and revelation that the hero
must understand in order to achieve his goal.
 Luke Skywalker has to confront his father- Darth
Vader
Reaching the Bottom:
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This is the point when all seems hopeless, and the
hero has seemingly been defeated.
 Jonah is trapped in the whale (or Ishmael inside of Moby
Dick)
Marriage, Baptism, or Blessing:
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The hero comes out of the “belly of the whale” and receives a
positive reward that is not financial– he gets the girl, has the
child, or is blessed by some spiritual being/ advisor.
 The Little Mermaid gets her guy
 Bella gets married to Edward
Ultimate Boon:
 The achievement of the goal of the journey.
 What examples can you think of???
The Crossing of the Return Threshold:
 Sometimes this involves a magical flight or
rescue… but sometimes the hero does not want
to go back home– he wants to keep on
“adventuring.”
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Examples???
Sharing the gift/ Living in the world/ preparing for
next call:
 The hero is now comfortable and confident in
both the known world and the shadow realm
and is free to live in the moment.
 Examples???
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Create a Hero Cycle Chart for Beowulf in the
Notes section of your Writer’s Notebooks.