The Heros Journey Purpose The Heros Journey is

The Hero’s Journey

Purpose • The Hero's Journey is a great technique for analyzing all kinds of stories – myths, legends, films, novels, short stories, plays, or even comic books.

Quickwrite Topic • Are heroes born or are they made? Are there heroes in real-life or must they be larger-thanlife? Who are the heroes in our society?

Background • Almost all stories with heroes have common patterns • No matter what culture or time period, almost all hero-quests involve many of the same steps. • These steps are commonly called “The Hero’s Journey”

In Other Words… These Heroes have a lot in Common

Modern Examples • Popular Modern Examples • George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, found inspiration from the Hero’s Journey • As we explore the different steps of the Hero’s Journey, we will look at its connection with the popular movie series.

Step I.

Ordinary World • Step I. Ordinary World- The Light • The ordinary world: Heroes exist in a plain world • They are often considered odd possibly because of some ability or characteristic that makes them feel out-of-place. ü Modern Examples: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Dorothy in Kansas ü The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins in The Shire ü Star Wars: Luke Skywalker on Tatooine ü The Lion King: Simba at Pride Rock

Step II.

The Call to Adventure • Step II The Call to Adventure • The call away from the ordinary • Most heroes show a reluctance to leave, possibly even doubting themselves • Usually there is a discovery, some event, or some danger that starts them on the heroic path. • The new world the hero is forced into is much different than the old one. ü The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The tornado ü The Hobbit: Gandalf the wizard arrives ü Star Wars: R 2 D 2’s cryptic message Campbell describes this new world as a “fateful region of both treasure and danger…a distant land, a forest, a kingdom underground, beneath the waves, or above the sky, a secret island, lofty mountaintop, or profound dream state…a place of…unimaginable torments, superhuman deeds, and impossible delight”. The Matrix is an example.

Step III.

Refusal of the Call • Step III. REFUSAL OF THE CALL At the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises, Batman is hesitant to reclaim his mantle; he wants to remain retired. • Often when the call is given, the hero refuses or hesitates to obey the call. • This may come from duty, fear, insecurity, or inadequacy ü Star Wars: Luke refuses the quest until he learns his aunt and uncle are dead ü The Lion King: Simba refuses to return to Pride Rock and accept his destiny ü Groundhog Day: Example of the negative cycle caused by refusing the call

Step IV.

Meeting the Mentor and the Talisman • Step IV. Meeting the • Once the hero has accepted the call, he is often given a guide Mentor • This guide often is magical in nature ü The Hobbit: Gandalf ü Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi ü Cinderella: Fairy Godmother • The hero may also be given a special item (often magical in nature) • This item is called the Talisman The Karate Kid? You betcha! ü The Wizard of Oz: Ruby Slippers ü The Hobbit: The Ring ü Star Wars: Lightsaber

Supernatural Aid/ Guide or Mentor

Guide/ Mentor

Talisman

Your Examples 1 2 3 4 • Draw a quarter circle on your page. • Plot out the first 4 steps in the Hero’s Journey • Using a partner, try to come up with your own modern examples for each step in the Hero’s Journey

Step V.

Step V: Crossing Threshold into Darkness • The hero enters a world they have never experienced before • This new environment provides test after test for the hero • Very often it is filled with wonder and its own unique rules the hero must learn ü The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy must learn the rules of Oz ü The Matrix: Neo must come to grips with the realities and unrealities of the Matrix ü 21 Jump Street- going undercover into a new world Talk about having to learn new rules! From the ordinary world to extraordinary!

Threshold Guardians

Entering the Unknown/ Crossing the First Threshold

Step VI.

Step VI: Tests, Allies, & Enemies • A series of tests and tasks • Often the hero will fail one or more of these tests ü Spiderman allowing his Uncle Ben to be killed ü Mean Girls not sticking up for her real friends § Every hero needs a helper, much like every superhero needs a sidekick. § These sidekicks often are key to the hero’s success In Spiderman, the hero must learn to use his powers the correct way, often failing: “With great power, comes great responsibility. ” ü Lord of the Rings: Samwise Gamgee ü The Wizard of Oz: The Tin Woodsman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion

Allies/ Helpers

Road of Trials/ Tests

Step VII.

Step VII: Innermost Cave (Belly of the Whale) • Final separation from the hero’s known world and self. • By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to change by knowingly putting themselves in harm’s way • Sometimes can be when the hero is stuck in a life or death situation • May include a ritual death Katniss separates herself from her old world and finally plays the game when she kisses Peeta. ü ü Pinocchio- Quite literally! The Hobbit- Frodo meets Gollum The Hunger Games- Rue’s Death Top Gun- Goose’s death

Belly of the Whale

Ritual Death

Step VIII.

Step VIII: Ordeal • The hero’s progress through temptations, tests and obstacles that make them stronger, preparing them for their final showdown. • At long last they reach the Supreme Ordeal, the obstacle they have journeyed so far to overcome. Defeating the Wicked Witch provides us with a great example of the hero’s ordeal ü Star Wars: Blowing up the Death Star ü Lord of the Rings: Mount Doom ü The Wizard of Oz: Defeating the Wicked Witch

Ordeal/ Dragon Battle

Supreme Ordeal

Step IX.

Step IX: Reward (Ultimate Boon) • All previous steps prepare the hero for this step • The hero finally achieves the goal or completes the quest • This may include a gift of the goddess • This may also include atonement of the father • With completion the hero becomes cool-headed, steady, almost completely changing The ring is finally dropped into the molten fires of Mount Doom ü Star Wars-Luck Skywalker destroys the Deathstar ü Rocky- Lasts the entire fight with Apollo Creed

Gift of the Goddess

Ultimate Boon/ Elixir

Atonement with the Father

Step X.

Step X: The Road Back (Rescue From Without) Smaug= Ordeal Five Armies= Road Back • There are still lesser homebound obstacles to overcome. • Often weakened or wounded at this stage, the hero needs the help of others to be brought back ü The Hobbit: Bilbo defeating Smaug but then having to fight in the Battle of Five Armies ü Indiana Jones: Saving his father, but then having to escape the Nazis

Road Back/ Pursuit

Rescue from Without

• Draw a half circle on your page. • Plot out the steps the hero takes in the unknown world of darkness • Using a partner, try to come up with your own modern examples for each step in the Hero’s Journey Your Examples 10 5 6 9 1 3 8 7

Step XI.

Step XI: Resurrection: Return to Light • Stage XV: Resurrection: Return to Light Luke Skywalker makes a complete metamorphosis • The hero heals and becomes a Master of 2 Worlds • The hero achieves a balance between the material and spiritual, the light and the dark • The hero returns able to share wisdom to other human life and his ordinary world ü Star Wars: Luke becomes a full Jedi-Knight ü Harry Potter: Harry masters his powers ü The Odyssey: Odysseus returns home and claims his kingdom

Resurrection/ Return

Master of Two Worlds

Step XII.

Step XII: Return with Elixir (Freedom to Live) • Stage XII: Return with Elixir (Freedom to Live) The world is saved by the end of Independence Day • The hero no longer fears death; this allows the hero freedom to live • The hero now can live in the moment • His return brings with it peace to the ordinary world ü The Wizard of Oz ü The Hobbit ü Star Wars ü Independence Day

Return with Elixir

Freedom to Live

12 11 • Draw your other quarter of the circle. • Plot out the final 2 steps as the hero returns to ordinary world • Using a partner, try to come up with your own modern examples for each step in the Hero’s Journey Your Examples

Hero’s Journey Board Game!

Hero’s Journey: The Lion King

The Lion King

The Ordinary World Pride Rock

Call to Adventure

Entering the Unknown Crossing

Enemies/Threshold Guardians

Road to Trials/ Tests

Brother Battle

Ritual Death

Refusal of the Call

Allies/ Helpers

Meeting the Goddess

Sacred Marriage

Supernatural Aid/ Guide or Mentor

Supreme Ordeal

Master of 2 Worlds

Freedom to Live

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