THE HEROIC JOURNEY

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THE HEROIC JOURNEY
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Joseph Campbell (1904-1987)

• Revolutionized the study of people culture with
  his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces
• Took idea of archetypes from Bastian and Jung and
  used it to follow the common structure behind
  religion and myth
• Argued that all stories (heros journey) are
  fundamentally the same

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• Simple idea but suggests something much larger
• All religions are true, but none are literal
  essentially all religions are the containers or
  wrapping for the same truth or idea

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THE CALL

• Moment hero is called on a quest
• Hero may make deliberate decision to start
  journey (voluntary)
• Hero may have no choice (involuntary)

Help! Help!
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ALLIES

• Individuals who assist the hero more than a
  friend
• Acquired at any point during journey
• May be family members, friends, guides, animals,
  or even gods

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• Hero needs to prepare for journey
• Needs may be physical training, supplies
• Needs may be knowledge based information,
  learning
• Needs may be psychological hero may have to
  muster courage to begin adventure

THE PREPARATION
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GUARDIANS OF THE THRESHOLD

• Hero encounters obstacles which interfere with or
  delay the start of the journey
• Obstacles may be literal (physical barriers or
  individuals who oppose the hero)
• Obstacles may be figurative (fears and doubts)

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• Hero actually begins journey
• Hero crosses over into a new unfamiliar world
• Hero often realizes that in this new place
  (underworld) he/she must acquire new skills or
  knowledge to function well

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
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ROAD OF TRIALS

• Hero faces a series of difficult experiences
  which test courage, strength, intelligence,
  determination, wisdom of hero in underworld
• May seem that he/she has no hope or chance of
  getting out of a dangerous situation

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THE SAVING EXPERIENCE

• Just when things are at their worst for the hero,
  he/she meets a special person/has a powerful
  experience/receives a special gift that saves
  him or her, enabling him or her to achieve the
  journeys goal

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THE TRANSFORMATION

• Hero is changing
• Now understanding the underworld around him/her
  and adapting accordingly
• Transformation of hero is sometimes physical,
  often mental, emotional or spiritual

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THE RETURN

• Hero returns to the normal world but now sees
  life differently because of the journey

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• Hero shares the gift of experience, knowledge
  wisdom gained through the journey with the
  broader community

SHARING THE GIFT