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The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey. By Ron Eisenman (adapted from Bryan M. Davis and Martha Nelson). Jung and Campbell. Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell developed the idea of the archetype

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The Hero’s Journey

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  1. The Hero’s Journey By Ron Eisenman (adapted from Bryan M. Davis and Martha Nelson)

  2. Jung and Campbell • Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell developed the idea of the archetype • Archetype: A recurring pattern of images, situations, or symbols found in the mythology, religion, art, and dreams of cultures around the world Joseph Campbell Carl Jung

  3. Call to Adventure Elixir Threshold crossing Brother-battle Dragon-battle Dismemberment Crucifixion Abduction Night-sea journey Wonder journey Whale’s belly Helper Return Resurrection Rescue Threshold Struggle Threshold of Adventure Tests Flight Helpers 1. SACRED MARRIAGE 2. FATHER ATONEMENT 3. APOTHE0SIS 4. ELIXIR THEFT Stages Of The Hero’s Journey

  4. Unusual Birth • Often in danger or born into royalty • Jesus’ virgin birth • Simba and the Buddha are born princes • Moses put in basket • King Arthur in danger from Uther Pendragon’s rivals

  5. The Call • An invitation to adventure either by a herald or an external event • Voluntary or involuntary • Shrek decides to rescue Princess Fiona • Nemo decides to leave home and his dad tries to bring him back • God appears to Moses

  6. Supernatural Help • Hero often has spiritual guidance from a wizard, old man, dwarf, fairy godmother, etc… • A helper may give an aid or talisman to help the hero navigate the unknown • Arthur has Merlin and a sword • Yahweh guides Moses • Wallace dreams of his dead father • Simba sees Mufasa in the sky and has Rafiki help him

  7. The Threshold • The jumping off point for the adventure which marks the boundary from the known to the unknown • There is usually a presence which blocks the way. Ie, parents prevent children from harming themselves • The hero defeats, conciliates, or is murdered by the shadow and enters the unknown such as a cave or the belly of a whale

  8. Initiation and Tests • Hero is tested physically or psychologically. • The hero is required to perform great feats • In the end, the hero must face his greatest fear alone even though he may have a companion. • Eventually, he is reborn and transformed • Jesus faces the 3 temptations • Arthur leads battles • Moses perform miracles • Odysseus faces many obstacles trying to return home

  9. Atonement With Father • Hero either redeems father’s evil deeds or gains recognition by his father-creator

  10. Apotheosis • Hero is rewarded spiritually at the end of his life

  11. Elixir theft Sometimes the hero steals something that benefits humans, such as fire, an elixir of long life, or a bride

  12. The Return • Because of the new knowledge, the hero may not want to return • There is a flight from a pursuer which marks the return back to the known world • Once the hero returns, he is a product of 2 worlds with strong powers. He restores and heals society • Sometimes the society accepts his gifts while other times they may not be ready.

  13. Heroic Archetypes • Hero as warrior (Odysseus): A near god-like hero faces physical challenges and external enemies • Hero as lover (Prince Charming): A pure love motivate hero to complete his quest • Hero as Scapegoat (Jesus): Hero suffers for the sake of others • Transcendent Hero: The hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his downfall, but not without achieving some kind of transforming realization or wisdom (Greek and Shakespearean tragedies—Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth, etc.) • Romantic/Gothic Hero: Hero/lover with a decidedly dark side (Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre) • Proto-Feminist Hero: Female heroes (The Awakening by Kate Chopin) • Apocalyptic Hero: Hero who faces the possible destruction of society • Anti-Hero: A non-hero, given the vocation of failure, frequently humorous (Homer Simpson) • Defiant Anti-hero: Opposer of society’s definition of heroism/goodness. (Heart of Darkness) • Unbalanced Hero: The Protagonist who has (or must pretend to have) mental or emotional deficiencies (Hamlet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) • The Other—the Denied Hero: The protagonist whose status or essential otherness makes heroism possible (Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan) • The Superheroic: Exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity; frequently has divine or supernatural origins. In some sense, the superhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is nonetheless needed by society. (Mythological heroes, Superman)

  14. Archetypal Journeys • The quest for identity • The epic journey to find the promised land/to found the good city • The quest for vengeance • The warrior’s journey to save his people • The search for love (to rescue the princess/damsel in distress) • The journey in search of knowledge • The tragic quest: penance or self-denial • The fool’s errand • The quest to rid the land of danger • The grail quest (the quest for human perfection)

  15. Characteristics of the Hero’s Journey • The hero is naïve and inexperienced • The hero meets monsters or monstrous men • The hero has a strange, wise being as a mentor • The hero years for the beautiful lady who is sometimes his guide or inspiration • The hero must go on a journey, learn a lesson, change in some way, and return home • The hero often crosses a body of water or travels on a bridge. • The hero is born and raised in a rural setting away from cities • The origin of the hero is mysterious or the hero losses his/her parents at a young age, being raised by animals or a wise guardian • The hero returns to the land of his/her birth in disguise or as an unknown • The hero is special, one of a kind. He/she might represent a whole nation or culture • The hero struggles for something valuable and important • The hero has help from divine or supernatural forces • The hero has a guide or guides • The hero goes through a rite of passage or initiation, an event that marks a change from an immature to a more mature understanding of the world • The hero undergoes some type of ritual or ceremony after his/her initiation • The hero has a loyal band of companions • The hero makes a stirring speech to his/her companions • The hero engages in tests or contests of strength (physical and/or mental) and shows pride in his/her excellence • The hero suffers an unhealable wound, sometimes an emotional or spiritual wound from which the hero never completely recovers.

  16. Character Archetypes

  17. Symbolic Archetypes

  18. Star Wars Viewing Questions • Is Princess Leia a hero or simply a lady in distress? Why? • What do the costumes of the characters tell us about the characters personality? Give three examples. • Give two examples of sound effects, and explain how they help the story. Be specific. • What role do the ‘droids fill? How do you react to them emotionally? • Give an example of how the music is used in this film. Be specific. • What makes Darth Vader such a good villain? Give specific reasons.

  19. Call to Adventure Elixir Helper Threshold of Adventure Tests Flight Helpers Hero’s Journey for Star Wars

  20. Power of Myth Review Questions (pp. 123-130) • According to Campbell why are there so many hero myths? • What is a hero? • What is the basic motif of the hero’s journey? • According to Campbell, can women be heroes? Explain • Is being a hero easy? Explain • Does a hero always serve a moral objective? Explain. For example, using Campbell’s conception of a hero, can Osama Bin Laden be considered a hero? Explain • In a vision quest myth, what is the ultimate objective? • According to Campbell, what are the 2 types of heroes? • Skim the rest of the chapter and locate a discussion about a person Campbell considers a hero. Why does Campbell consider him/her a hero? Do you agree? • Look at p. 136. What does Campbell mean by the “hero with a thousand faces?”

  21. Call to Adventure Elixir Helper Threshold of Adventure Tests Flight Helpers The Hero’s Journey Watch Star Wars and chart the Hero’s journey using specific examples

  22. Projects  Choice of projects • Do you have a hero? Explain what makes that person a hero. Do you think our society values this person as a hero like you? Are there certain professions that are more heroic than others? Your opinions should reflect consideration of Campbell’s ideas of a hero and the various hero archetypes. • Do you think that you have the capability to become a hero? If so, explain the qualities you possess that have the potential for acts of heroism. Are there any situations in which you think it would be beneficial to put yourself so as to “evoke your higher nature?” • Pick a movie (ie, Star Wars) or a story (ie, the Gilgamesh or Ramayana). Analyze the work in terms of its use of the archetypes from the Hero myth.  

  23. Sources and Credits • Joseph Campbell • Various websites from http://www.webenglishteacher.com/hero.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces • http://ias.berkeley.edu/orias/hero/ • http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/resources/heromain.html • http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/resources/heromain.html • http://www.yourheroicjourney.com/ • http://www.skepticfiles.org/atheist2/hero.htm

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