The Epic Hero

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The Epic Hero
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A Call to AdventureYou must go with me to
Alderaan. -Obi-Wan Kenobi

• The hero starts out living an ordinary life.
• He or she is called to go on a quest, often by a
  mentor.
• Glinda the Good Witch tells Dorothy she must
  visit the Wizard of Oz
• Obi-Wan Kenobi asks Luke Skywalker to help
  destroy the Empire
• Gandalf enlists Frodos help to destroy the One
  Ring.
• The hero might doubt that he or she is capable of
  completing a quest, and refuse the call.
• However, the mentor encourages the hero or even
  gives magical items to help.

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The Heros JourneyWere off to see the Wizard.
-Dorothy

• The hero goes through many trials on his or her
  way to achieving the quest.
• Threshold guardians will block their way to new
  places. The hero must either outsmart or defeat
  them.
• Allies join the hero to help.
• The Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion help
  Dorothy
• Luke and Obi-Wan hire Han Solo and Chewbacca
• The Fellowship of the Ring journey with Frodo

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Showdown with a ShadowThe force is with you,
young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.
-Darth Vader

• A shadow represents the dark side of the hero.
• The Wicked Witch an evil user of magic
• Darth Vader a fallen Jedi who uses the dark
  side of the Force
• Gollum a hobbit corrupted by the One Ring
• The shadow stands in the heros way of achieving
  his or her goal.
• Only the hero may fight the shadow. The heros
  mentor or his or her allies are not allowed to
  interfere.

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Claiming the Prize What have you learned,
Dorothy? -The Tin Man

• The hero defeats the shadow and is able to finish
  his or her quest.
• The hero returns back home as a different person
  than when the quest started.
• Sometimes the mentor or the allies leave the
  hero, knowing that the quest is completed.

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There and Back AgainTheres no place like
home. -Dorothy

• Others may not recognize the hero when he or she
  returns home because the hero has changed.
• Sometimes the hero has to clean up or fix
  something that happened to his or her hometown
  when the hero was on the quest.
• The hero has help along the way from magical
  items, mentors, and allies, but it is ultimately
  whats inside the hero that helps the hero win.

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Hero Characteristics

• The hero is introduced in the middle of the
  storys action previous events will be recounted
  in flashbacks.
• The hero is not only a warrior and a leader, but
  also a polished speaker.
• The hero, often a demi-god, possesses weapons of
  great size and power, which are often presents
  from the gods.
• Odysseus bow
• King Arthurs Excallibur
• The hero must undertake a long, perilous journey,
  often involving a descent into the Underworld,
  which tests his endurance, courage, and
  craftiness.