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The Hero’s Journey. An Archetypal Story. The components of the hero’s journey were identified and developed by Joseph Campbell , who was the world’s foremost authority on mythology. .
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The Hero’s Journey An Archetypal Story
The components of the hero’s journey were identified and developed by Joseph Campbell, who was the world’s foremost authority on mythology.
In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell asserted 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.
Archetype: An archetype is a character, symbol, story pattern, or other element that is common to human experience across cultures. Examples of an archetype are: the underdog, the hero and helping animals. Common story settings are gardens, forests and rivers.
The steps in the journey There are multiple steps and stages within the hero’s journey.
Stage 1: Departure Breaking away from the old life. There are three steps in this stage.
Step 1: The call to adventure Dorothy wants to leave Kansas. The future hero is first given notice that his or her life is going to change.
Step 2: Refusal of the call • Dorothy runs back to the farm and Auntie Em. A storm is brewing. The future hero often refuses to accept the Call to Adventure. The refusal may stem from a sense of duty, an obligation, a fear or insecurity.
Step 3: The beginning of the adventure Acceptance of the call is when the hero finally realizes that there is no one who is better qualified or available to accept the responsibility. This is the point where the hero actually begins the adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are unknown.
Supernatural Aid The hero may receive a gift during this stage that will help him or her on the journey.
Crossing the first threshold • Dorothy is carried away to Oz by the tornado. The hero leaves the old world behind and enters the new world.
Stage 2: Initiation During the “Initiation” phase, the hero learns how to live in the new world.
Step 1: The road of trials The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks or challenges that the hero must undergo as part of the hero’s transformation. Often the hero fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes.
Meeting with the Goddess The hero may receive guidance or advice from a wise or magical woman.
Step 2: The experience with unconditional love During the road of trials the hero experiences unconditional love and support from a friend, mentor, or family member. This love often drives the hero to continue on the journey, even when the hero doubts him/herself.
Step 3: The ultimate boon • Dorothy returns to Emerald City with the witch’s broom. The goal of the quest is achieved. All of the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step.
Stage 3: The Return The return to everyday life is one of the most difficult stages of the journey. The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world. This is usually extremely difficult. The hero(ine) may find frustration when her old world does not understand or accept her new found life view.
Step 1: Refusal of the return When the goal of the adventure has been accomplished, the hero may refuse to return with the boon or the gift, either because the hero doubts the return will bring change, or because the hero prefers to stay in a better place rather than return to a normal life of pain and trouble. How can I go back?
Step 2: The magic flight Upon deciding to return home, the hero must “flee” from yet another danger. (Here, “flight” refers to fleeing, not flying, though sometimes flying is involved.) The hero experiences adventure and perhaps danger as he or she returns to life as it was before the adventure.
Step 3: Rescue from without Just as the hero may need guides and assistants on the quest, oftentimes he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring him or her back to everyday life, especially if the hero has been wounded or weakened by the experience. Or, perhaps, the hero doesn’t realize that it is time to return, that he or she can return, or that others need his or her gift.
Step 4: The crossing, or return threshold • Finally, the hero returns to “Kansas.” At this final point in the adventure, the hero must retain the wisdom gained on the quest, integrate that wisdom into his or her previous life, and perhaps decide how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world.
“A hero is someone who reaches the edge of death, steals a piece of magic, then brings the magic home to share with his community.” (Brennan)
