The Hero

1
The Heros Journey

• A Summary of the Hero Cycle
• or Hero MonoMyth

2
Josephs Campbells Hero Cycle

• Developed an archetype for heroes in literature
  and folklore
• A pattern or theme that reoccurs in many
  different cultures
• Good (light) vs. evil (darkness)

• Also known as a monomyth, Campbell created an
  outline that most heroic tales follow
• General pattern of adventures that mythological
  heroes encounter during their quests.

3
Hero Cycle Structure

• Separation (or Departure)
• Initiation
• Return

4
http//hubcap.clemson.edu/sparks/heroj.html
5
Separation

• Call to Adventure
• Hero is in state of anguish call comes when
  psychological forces of mind are unbalanced
• Lured to, carried away to, or volunteers for
  adventure
• Refusal to Call
• Hero is sometimes distracted or turns back on
  call things then go sour
• Supernatural Aid
• Hero encounters a helper, usually a wise, old
  man, who gives both psychological and physical
  weapons
• Comic relief often provided here by tricksters

6
Separation (cont.)

• Threshold Crossing
• Hero eventually must cross into dark underworld,
  where they face evil they must first pass a
  guardian before finding true enlightenment
• May defeat guardian or be slain and descend into
  death
• Belly of the Whale
• Having gotten past the guardian, the hero is in a
  place of darkness, or fluid, dream-like forms

7
Initiation

• Road of Trials
• Once in the underworld, the hero is repeatedly
  threatened with mental and physical obstacles to
  overcome
• Supernatural aid comes in handy here!
• Meeting with the Goddess
• With all obstacles overcome, the hero can find
  bliss in the arms of a lover (the ultimate prize
  for the hero)
• Woman as a Temptress
• Negative side to goddess in the form of lustful
  temptation, meant to distract hero from ultimate
  goal (back to darkness)

8
Initiation (cont.)

• Atonement with the Father
• Father and son are often pitted against each
  other to understand the father (and the self),
  the hero must reconcile with his father (ultimate
  authority figure)
• Apotheosis
• Must face darkness alone and conquer it
• Hero experiences breakthrough expansion of
  consciousness. Their idea of reality is changed
  they have new talents/powers
• Often have larger point of view, allowing them to
  sacrifice themselves
• Ultimate Boon
• Heros psychological forces are balanced again
  heros newfound knowledge (or boon) has potential
  to benefit society

9
Return

• Refusal of the Return
• Having found bliss and enlightenment in the
  underworld, the hero may not want to return with
  the boon
• Magic Flight
• Hero makes mad dash to return with prize
• Rescue from Without
• Hero needs to be rescued from underworld

10
Return (cont.)

• Crossing of Return Threshold
• Hero must confront guard again
• First crossing was symbolic death, second is
  symbolic rebirth
• Master of Two Worlds
• Hero is now free to move back and forth between
  two worlds at will hero has mastered
  psychological forces
• Freedom to Live
• Hero has found true freedom and can turn efforts
  to helping humanity