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The Hero's Journey: An Archetypal Story Pattern

Explore the ancient pattern of the hero's journey, as identified and developed by Joseph Campbell. Discover how this archetypal story template is used in literature and popular culture, including the Star Wars trilogy. Learn about the components of the hero's journey and its metaphoric representation of life itself.

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The Hero's Journey: An Archetypal Story Pattern

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  1. The Hero's Journey An Archetypal Story

  2. Archetype: A pattern, such as a type of character or type of story, that is repeated in literature.

  3. The hero’s journey is one of the oldest story archetypes on the planet.

  4. Some say it’s older than the Pyramids…

  5. And Stonehenge…

  6. And even cave drawings. (Vogler)

  7. The components of the hero’s journey were identified and developed by Joseph Campbell, who was the world’s foremost authority on mythology.

  8. In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell asserted that all storytelling follows the ancient patterns of myth, and …

  9. …that all stories use elements of the Hero’s Journey. Campbell called this archetype a Monomyth.

  10. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, consulted with Campbell while writing the scripts for the first Star Wars trilogy.

  11. The function of the story is to entertain, to instruct, and to inspire. The hero’s journey is a metaphor for life itself.

  12. Part I: Separation/ Departure

  13. Breaking away from the old life

  14. A. The Call to Adventure The hero is invited to leave a mundane life and seek adventure.

  15. Odysseus is called to fight the Trojan War

  16. Pinocchio wants to become a real boy.

  17. Dorothy wants to leave Kansas.

  18. B. The Refusal of the Call The hero has second thoughts; adventure looks too risky.

  19. Dorothy runs back to the farm and Auntie Em. A storm is brewing.

  20. Luke Skywalker doesn’t have time for the adventure - he has to help his Uncle Owen on the moisture farm.

  21. C. Supernatural Aid The hero receives a gift to help on the journey.

  22. The ruby slippers

  23. A conscience

  24. Luke receives his lightsaber from Obi-Wan Kenobi.

  25. D. Crossing the First Threshold The hero leaves the old world behind and enters the new.

  26. Dorothy is carried away to Oz by the tornado.

  27. Luke Skywalker leaves his home on Tatooine.

  28. E. The Belly of the Whale Like Jonah and Pinocchio, the hero experiences the “dark night of the soul” and must face his faults and the truth.

  29. This stage represents the final separation from the hero’s known world and self and the new world/self. This stage can appear here or later in a story. Look for evidence or reminders of the Belly of the Whale…

  30. For some, the belly of the whale experience is a situation in which the hero feels trapped. Luke, Han, and Leia trapped in the garbage compactor.

  31. Luke Skywalker trains with Yoda in a whale-like house.

  32. While on Yoda’s planet of Dagobah, Luke enters a whale-like cave and must face his own potential for evil, which is personified by Darth Vader.

  33. The message is that we all have a shadow self and must deal with it at some point in our lives.

  34. F. Intervention At the hero’s lowest point, someone or something comes in to encourage him/her to continue.

  35. Part II Initiation

  36. During the “Initiation” phase, the hero learns how to live in the new world.

  37. A. The Road of Trials The hero learns that life in the world of adventure can be difficult.

  38. B. Meeting with the Goddess A wise or magical woman gives guidance or advice to the hero.

  39. C. Temptation Someone or something tries to distract the hero from his goal. Circe the witch tries to keep Odysseus on her island.

  40. D. Atonement with the Father The hero resolves his/her issues with a parent figure.

  41. E. Apotheosis (from Greek roots meaning “from God”) The hero recognizes his/her true identity - that spark of divinity within.

  42. I am a Jedi, like my father before me!

  43. No.

  44. But you’ve always had the power to go home!

  45. F. The Ultimate Boon The hero succeeds in his/her mission. Dorothy returns to Emerald City with the witch’s broom.

  46. F. The Ultimate Boon The hero succeeds in his mission. Luke destroys the Death Star.

  47. Part III. The Return

  48. A. Refusal of Return The hero wonders if it’s possible to return to the old life. “How can I go back?”

  49. B. 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.)

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