The Hero’s Journey

What is a hero?

The Hero’s Journey• An archetype is the original pattern or

model and the hero’s journey is one of the world’s oldest story archetypes.

• The components of the hero’s journey were identified and developed by Joseph Campbell, who was the world’s leading authority on mythology. In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, he stressed that all storytelling follows the ancient patterns of myth, and that all stories use elements of the Hero’s Journey. Campbell called this archetype a monomyth.

The Stages of the Hero’s Journey

stage 1: the Ordinary World• The hero exists in a world that is considered

ordinary or uneventful by those who live there. Often the hero is considered odd by those in the ordinary world and possess some ability or characteristic that makes them feel out-of-place. •The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Dorothy in Kansas •The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins in Hobbiton •The Lion King: Simba at Pride Rock

The Stages of the Hero’s JourneyStage 2: The Call to adventure• For heroes to begin their journey, they must be called away

from the ordinary world. Heroes must be removed from their typical environment. Most heroes show a reluctance to leave their home, their friends, and their life to go on a quest. But in the end they accept their destiny.

• Usually there is a discovery, some event, or some danger that starts them on the heroic path. Heroes find a mystic object or discover their world is in danger. In some cases, heroes happen upon their quest by accident.

•The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The tornado •The Hobbit: Gandalf the wizard arrives •Star Wars: R2D2’s cryptic message

The Stages of the Hero’s JourneyStage 3: Refusal of the Call

• During the Call to Adventure heroes are given a task or quest which only they can complete. They are faced with a choice: accept the quest or deny it.

• The hero has fears and insecurities.• The hero prefers the safe haven of the ordinary world.• The refusal demonstrates the risks involved in the journey.• Each call and refusal increases the stakes until the hero has

no choice but to accept.

Stage 4: acceptance of the Call• The hero finally understands, realizing that there is no one

else who is better qualified to or available to accept the responsibility.

The Stages of the Hero’s JourneyStage 5: Entering the unknown

As they embark on their journey, the hero enters a world they havenever experienced before. Often it is filled with supernatural creatures,amazing sights, and the constant threat of death. This outside world hasits own rules, and the hero must quickly learn to respect them.

•The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy must learn the rules of Oz.

Stage 6: supernatural aid (Meeting the Mentor)Supernatural doesn’t have to mean magical. Supernatural simply means “above the laws of nature.” Heroes are almost always started on their journey by a “mentor” character who has mastered the laws of the outside world and has come back to bestow this wisdom upon them. This character often gives them the means to complete the quest. Sometimes the gift is simply wisdom. Other times it is an object with magical powers. In every instance it is something the hero needs to succeed. The mentor may not be an actual person. –The Hobbit: Gandalf–Cinderella: Fairy Godmother

The Stages of the Hero’s JourneyStage 7: Crossing the Threshold

• Signifies that the hero has finally committed to the journey; there is no turning back.

• The threshold separates the Ordinary World from the new world.

Stage 8: Tests, allies, and enemies• The hero must learn who they can and cannot trust.• Every hero needs a helper or helpers (allies), Without the

assistance of these companions (allies) along the way, most heroes would fail miserably. Lord of the Rings: Samwise Gamgee The Wizard of Oz: The Tin Woodsman, Scarecrow, & Cowardly Lion

• The hero progresses through a series of tests, a set of obstacles, that force them to face their fears and insecurities. These tests make them stronger and prepare them for their final showdown.

The Stages of the Hero’s JourneyStage 9: The Supreme ordeal

• All of the previous tests and ordeals lead to this final life-or-death crisis or crises.

• In this moment all of their training and preparation comes into play. The journey has changed them, and it’s time for them to show they are the true hero.

• The hero must face their greatest fear(s) and deepest insecurities; experiences “death”

• Only through “death” can the hero be reborn and gain greater powers and insight through this resurrection.

• Once this obstacle is overcome, the tension will be relieved. The worst is passed, and the quest, while not officially over, has succeeded.

The Stages of the Hero’s JourneyStage 10: Reward

• Having survived “death”, the hero receives the reward he sought.

• It comes in many forms (a magical sword, an elixir, knowledge, reconciliation).

• This allows the hero to replenish himself and the audience to “catch its breath.”

Stage 11: The Road Back• The hero must accept the road back to the ordinary world• As with “crossing the threshold”, the hero needs an event that

will push him back home (a force to chase him out of the special world).

The Stages of the Hero’s JourneyStage 12: Return with the elixir

• The hero’s final reward.• The hero has been resurrected and purified through the

supreme ordeal and has returned home as a stronger and better person.

• The hero has earned the right to be accepted back into the ordinary world.

• The hero shares the “Elixir” of the journey with others and/or heals a wounded land.

• All celebrate the journey’s end with celebration and/or marriage.

• Harmony and balance are restored to the ordinary world.

Archetype• An archetype is the original pattern or model of which all

things of the same type are representations or copies. • In literature archetypes may be a storyline, a symbol, the

theme, or the characters in the story.• Character archetypes are those characters which seem to

possess the same set of qualities that you see over and over in different books and movies.

• The following slides are a list of common archetypal characters which occur frequently in literature and their function(s) to the story.

The ArchetypesThe Hero (“to serve and sacrifice”)• His/her purpose is to separate and sacrifice self for the service of

the journey.• His/her qualities often include: intelligent, independent, unhappy

with the status quo (the ordinary), somewhat different from others in their society, and assertive.

• He/she does not have to be all good (antiheroes, outlaws, loner heroes).

• He/she grows and learns the most during the journey.

The Mentor (“to guide”)• The mentor provides the hero with motivation, insight, training, and

guidance.• Has traveled the road before.• May provide the hero with magical gifts.• May be an “inner mentor” like a code of honor or justice.

The ArchetypesThe Companions (“to help”)• Companions are friends or allies who show faithful and

loyal support to the hero throughout the journey.• Qualities: faithful, loyal, unselfish

The Villain/Evil Figure (“to allow evil to prevail”)

• The Villain/Evil Figure is the person who is capable of crime or wickedness. He/she is also the opponent with whom the hero must struggle. They are the “bad guy” in the story.

• Qualities: represents things we don’t like and would like to eliminate, negative forces, sneakiness

The ArchetypesThe Damsel in Distress (“to be rescued”)

• The damsel in distress is usually a vulnerable woman who needs to be rescued by the hero.

• They are often used as a trap to try to destroy the unsuspecting hero.

• Examples: Fiona, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty.

The Temptress (“to distract”)• The Temptress is someone whom the hero is physically

attracted to and who ultimately brings about his downfall.• Qualities: almost always a woman, physically beautiful, tries

to tempt the hero in order to get him off course• Examples: Helen of Troy, Sirens, Calypso

The ArchetypesThe Threshold Guardian (“to test”)• Protects the special world and its secrets from the hero.• Provides tests which the hero must pass to prove

commitment and worth.• May be characters, objects, or forces.The Herald (“to warn and challenge”)• Issues challenges or announces the coming of significant

change.• Often appears at the beginning of the journey.The Shapeshifter (“to question and deceive”)• Misleads the hero by hiding a character’s intentions and

loyalties.• Presence causes doubts and questions in the hero’s mind.• Creates suspense.

The ArchetypesThe Shadow (“to destroy”)• Represents our darkest or rejected desires.• Symbolizes our greatest fears and phobias.• May not be all bad.• May be another character or something lurking within

the hero that must be accepted or purged.

The Trickster (“to disrupt”)• Disrupts the “status quo”, turning the ordinary world into

chaos.• Uses laughter to help the hero see the absurdity of a

situation.• Often is the hero’s sidekick.