The Quest

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The Quest

• Journey into Self-Discovery

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Introduction

• A quest represents a journey or search.
• The quest motif is a recurring pattern in fantasy
  and science fiction narratives.
• Each pattern is associated with a physical
  journey and a corresponding spiritual journey.
• This presentation will detail these patterns and
  journeys.

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What is the Quest?

• The quest is fundamentally a search for something
  that includes a journey.
• It functions in stories of heroism and valour.
• The hero or heroine can be searching for physical
  objects and encounter real or imaginary obstacles
  and helpers.
• These correspond to inner revelations and
  psychological states.

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The Quest continued

• The search for the Holy Grail is about internal
  transmutation like the alchemical quest for
  transforming lead into gold.
• The cup represents spiritual union, enlightenment
  and rebirth.

Grail.gif (the Ardagh Chalice) Matthews, John.
The Grail Quest for the Eternal. Thames and
Hudson London 1981 pg 33.

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Patterns or Motifs Physical and Spiritual
Correspondences

• Pattern One Purpose
• Pattern Two Obstacles
• Pattern Three Helpers
• Pattern Four Magical Transformations
• Pattern Five Happy Endings

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Pattern One PurposePhysical Journey

• Search, task, or banishment
• Lost, orphaned, or disinherited child
• Unlikely hero or heroine (heroine usually part of
  the prize or goal)

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Pattern One Spiritual Purpose

• Spiritual or Inward Journey
• Universal dreams and goals change, maturation,
  self-realization
• Rites of passage (a ritual or change marking the
  transition from child to adult)

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Pattern Two Obstacles

• Physical Obstacles
• Entities adversaries, monsters
• Environment landscape and elements

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Pattern Two Obstacles as Tests

• Tests and Trials as obstacles, certain
  characters can test the hero regarding his taking
  personal responsibility

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Pattern Two Spiritual Obstacles

• Fears, anxieties, personal limitations
• Monsters from the Id (Forbidden Planet 1956)
• Fighting internal demons
• Evil has human origins in our world (often
  metaphorically represented as an outer Force
  which tempts us to turn to the Dark Side)

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Pattern Three Helpers

• Physical or Literal Helpers
• Gods, Wise Old Ones, Spirits, Friends, Animals
• Rituals, Objects (staffs and wands), Spells
• Weapons, Technology, AIs

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Pattern Three Helpers

• Spiritual Meaning
• Inner resources, individual qualities, ingenuity,
  determination, resourcefulness, wisdom
• Power of friendship, teamwork, trust

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Pattern Four Magical Transformations (Physical)

• Physical Transformations to central characters
  move from negative to positive outcomes, while
  enemies usually transform in the opposite
  direction (evil turns to good or turns to ash,
  dust).
• Some of these physical changes are
• Ugliness to Beauty
• Poverty to Affluence
• Ignorance to Knowledge (Fools become wise)
• Rejection to Acceptance (The lost are found)
• Death to Rebirth/ Death to Life

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Four Magical Transformations (Spiritual
Correspondences)

• Spiritual Transformations are inward changes
  corresponding to outward changes.
• Revelations, visions, personal recognitions,
  epiphanies (high point or sudden flash of
  awareness like a light from heaven).
• Inner change, growth, new direction, change in
  outlook, change from victim to hero fear to
  courage.
• Redemption evil is reformed or subsumed into the
  Light.

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Spiritual Transformations contd

• This Celtic illumination represents inner
  spiritual transformation and is the front piece
  of the Gospel of St. John.
• Note the labyrinth design representing interior
  journeys.

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Pattern Five Happy Ending

• Physical or Literal Meaning
• Success, reward, unlikely winner, child power
• Return, mother and child reunion
• Lovers reunited, marriage
• Reversal of fortune, banishment of evil, justice
• Feasting, celebration, honours conferred
• New Order takes the place of the old or
• Old Order reinstated after having been subverted

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Pattern 5 Happy Ending

• Spiritual Parallels
• Rebirth, growth, fulfillment, success,
  consummation.
• Union of Inner and Outer Life
• Inner Spiritual Self is wedded or married to
  Outer Objective Self (Lead to Gold)
• Alchemical Wedding of Inner King and Queen
• Birth of the Sacred Inner Child (Nativity of
  Christ Consciousness Within/ Master Within)
• Cosmic Consciousness or Union with Divinity

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Conclusion Archetypes

• An original model or type after which similar
  things are patterned.
• Archetypes can be well-known story patterns,
  universal experiences or personality types.
• Myths, fairytales, fictional genres, and cultural
  heroes are generally archetypal as are the basic
  cycles of life and nature.

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Conclusion to the Quest

• The quest is a common archetype.
• The quest also demonstrates patterns that reflect
  physical journeys.
• However, these journeys and their patterns of
  activity also correspond to interior journeys
  that have spiritual significance, no matter what
  religious or secular tradition the hero comes
  from.