This PowerPoint presentation is ©2007 by Robin L. Simmons.

All Rights Reserved.

Adapted by: Lindsey Tillman

This PowerPoint presentation is ©2007 by Robin L. Simmons.

All Rights Reserved.

Adapted by: Lindsey Tillman

The Heroes Journey

The Heroes Journey

I m p o r t a n tBackgroundI m p o r t a n tBackground

Carl JungCarl Jung1875 – 19611875 – 1961

Swiss psychologist/ Swiss psychologist/ psychiatristpsychiatrist

Collaborator and Collaborator and friend of Freudfriend of Freud

Collective Collective unconscious unconscious = = inherited fantasy lifeinherited fantasy life

ArchetypesArchetypes = basic = basic components of human components of human psychic naturepsychic nature

The The herohero = an = an important archetypeimportant archetype

Just as everyone Just as everyone has two arms has two arms

and two legs, so and two legs, so too does too does

everyone share everyone share

common common ideas ideas for for

stories and the stories and the characters who characters who

populate the populate the tales.tales.

Just as everyone Just as everyone has two arms has two arms

and two legs, so and two legs, so too does too does

everyone share everyone share

common common ideas ideas for for

stories and the stories and the characters who characters who

populate the populate the tales.tales.

Joseph Joseph CampbellCampbellJoseph Joseph

CampbellCampbell1904 – 19881904 – 1988Mythologist, college Mythologist, college professor, authorprofessor, authorCampbell’s big Campbell’s big contribution: contribution: definition of a herodefinition of a hero [from mythical to [from mythical to ordinary human]ordinary human]Path with specific Path with specific stages, stages, all of whichall of which the potential hero must the potential hero must traveltravel

The Hero Journey:The Hero Journey:

Stage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureA A heraldherald or or announcerannouncer appears appears

OftenOften [but not [but not alwaysalways] someone dark, loathly, ] someone dark, loathly, terrifying, and/or unordinaryterrifying, and/or unordinarySometimes a beastSometimes a beast

The call is typically heard The call is typically heard someplace someplace remoteremote—for example, in a dark forest, near —for example, in a dark forest, near a great tree, beside a babbling spring, etc.a great tree, beside a babbling spring, etc.The call promises The call promises both treasure and both treasure and dangerdanger..The call requires The call requires traveltravel to a distant land, to a distant land, forest, or kingdom somewhere underground, forest, or kingdom somewhere underground, beneath the waves, above the sky, on a beneath the waves, above the sky, on a secret island, atop a lofty mountain—even secret island, atop a lofty mountain—even into a profound dream state.into a profound dream state.

Stage 2: Stage 2: Super-natural Super-natural

Aid/ HelperAid/ Helper

Stage 2: Stage 2: Super-natural Super-natural

Aid/ HelperAid/ HelperUsually [but not Usually [but not always] always] masculinemasculine in formin formTypically a wizard, Typically a wizard, hermit, shepherd,or hermit, shepherd,or smith—someone smith—someone peripheral peripheral to the to the communitycommunitySupplies the Supplies the amuletsamulets and and adviceadvice that the hero that the hero will require to beginwill require to begin

Remember Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, who called first Bilbo and

then Frodo?

Remember Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, who called first Bilbo and

then Frodo?

Hagrid comes to Harry Potter’s aidHagrid comes to Harry Potter’s aid

Campbell says this about Campbell says this about supernatural aidsupernatural aid::Campbell says this about Campbell says this about supernatural aidsupernatural aid::

For those who have For those who have notnot refused the call, the refused the call, the first first encounterencounter … is with a … is with a protective figureprotective figure … …

who provides the who provides the adventurer with adventurer with amuletsamulets

against the against the dragon dragon forcesforces he is about to he is about to

pass.pass.

For those who have For those who have notnot refused the call, the refused the call, the first first encounterencounter … is with a … is with a protective figureprotective figure … …

who provides the who provides the adventurer with adventurer with amuletsamulets

against the against the dragon dragon forcesforces he is about to he is about to

pass.pass.

Stage 3: Stage 3: Crossing the Crossing the

ThresholdThreshold

Stage 3: Stage 3: Crossing the Crossing the

ThresholdThresholdThis is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.

Campbell says this about the Campbell says this about the crossing of the first thresholdcrossing of the first threshold::Campbell says this about the Campbell says this about the crossing of the first thresholdcrossing of the first threshold::

The hero goes forward The hero goes forward in his adventure until he in his adventure until he

comes to … the comes to … the entrance zone of entrance zone of magnified power.magnified power.

Beyond … is Beyond … is darknessdarkness, , the the unknownunknown, and , and

dangerdanger..

The hero goes forward The hero goes forward in his adventure until he in his adventure until he

comes to … the comes to … the entrance zone of entrance zone of magnified power.magnified power.

Beyond … is Beyond … is darknessdarkness, , the the unknownunknown, and , and

dangerdanger..

Campbell says, “The hero … is swallowed into the

unknown, and would appear to have died.”

Campbell says, “The hero … is swallowed into the

unknown, and would appear to have died.”

Stage 4: The Stage 4: The Road of Road of

Trials/TestsTrials/Tests

Stage 4: The Stage 4: The Road of Road of

Trials/TestsTrials/TestsThe hero must put The hero must put aside pride, virtue, aside pride, virtue, beauty, and life.beauty, and life.He must He must bowbow and and submitsubmit to the to the absolutely absolutely intolerableintolerable..Dragons must be Dragons must be slain, victories won, slain, victories won, barriers passed, barriers passed, ecstasies ecstasies experienced, etc.--experienced, etc.--usually in series of usually in series of threesthrees..

Campbell says this about the Campbell says this about the road road of trialsof trials::Campbell says this about the Campbell says this about the road road of trialsof trials::

Once having Once having traversed the traversed the threshold, the threshold, the hero … must hero … must survivesurvive a a

succession of succession of trialstrials..

Once having Once having traversed the traversed the threshold, the threshold, the hero … must hero … must survivesurvive a a

succession of succession of trialstrials..

Stage 5: Stage 5: HelpersHelpers

Stage 5: Stage 5: HelpersHelpers

Usually depicted Usually depicted youngyoung and/or and/or beautifulbeautifulTeaches the hero an Teaches the hero an important lessonimportant lesson..Does not have to be a Does not have to be a goddessgoddess [such as the [such as the Greek Athena or the Greek Athena or the Egyptian Isis]. Any Egyptian Isis]. Any strong femalestrong female or or feminine forcefeminine force meets the meets the requirements for this requirements for this stage.stage.

[The goddess] is [The goddess] is the incarnation of the incarnation of the the promisepromise of of perfectionperfection …. ….

She … guides [the She … guides [the hero] to hero] to burst his burst his

fettersfetters..

[The goddess] is [The goddess] is the incarnation of the incarnation of the the promisepromise of of perfectionperfection …. ….

She … guides [the She … guides [the hero] to hero] to burst his burst his

fettersfetters..

Campbell says this about the Campbell says this about the meeting with the goddessmeeting with the goddess::Campbell says this about the Campbell says this about the meeting with the goddessmeeting with the goddess::

Stage 6: Stage 6: The Supreme The Supreme

OrdealOrdeal

Stage 6: Stage 6: The Supreme The Supreme

OrdealOrdealHere the fortunes of the hero hit bottom in a direct confrontation with his greatest fear. He faces the possibility of death and is brought to the brink in a battle with a hostile force. The Supreme Ordeal is a "black moment" for the audience, as we are held in suspense and tension, not knowing if he will live or die.

The Final Confrontation: The Innermost Cave

The Final Confrontation: The Innermost Cave

Stage 7: Stage 7: FlightFlight

Stage 7: Stage 7: FlightFlight

After accomplishing the mission, the hero must return to the threshold of adventure and prepare for a return to the everyday world. If the hero has angered the opposing forces by stealing the elixir or killing a powerful monster, the return may take the form of a hasty flight.

Stage 8:Stage 8:ReturnReturn

Stage 8:Stage 8:ReturnReturn

The hero again crosses the threshold of adventure and returns to the everyday world of daylight. The return usually takes the form of an awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or forest. Sometimes the hero is pulled out of the adventure world by a force from the daylight world.

He [must] re-enter … He [must] re-enter … where men who are where men who are fractionsfractions imagine imagine themselves to be themselves to be

completecomplete..

He [must] re-enter … He [must] re-enter … where men who are where men who are fractionsfractions imagine imagine themselves to be themselves to be

completecomplete..

Campbell says this about Campbell says this about crossing crossing the return thresholdthe return threshold::Campbell says this about Campbell says this about crossing crossing the return thresholdthe return threshold::

Stage 9:The Ultimate

Boon

Stage 9:The Ultimate

BoonAll previous steps All previous steps have have preparedprepared and and purifiedpurified the hero for the hero for the boon.the boon.A A difficult taskdifficult task is is accomplished with accomplished with great easegreat ease..The boon is The boon is sometimes the sometimes the goalgoal of the adventure--a of the adventure--a magical elixir, the magical elixir, the holy grail, a golden holy grail, a golden fleece.fleece.

Campbell says this about Campbell says this about the the ultimate boonultimate boon::Campbell says this about Campbell says this about the the ultimate boonultimate boon::

The The easeease with which the with which the adventure is here adventure is here

accomplishedaccomplished signifies signifies that the hero is a that the hero is a superior superior manman, a , a born kingborn king. Where . Where the usual hero would face a the usual hero would face a test, the test, the electelect encounters encounters

no delaying obstacleno delaying obstacle and and makes no mistakemakes no mistake..

The The easeease with which the with which the adventure is here adventure is here

accomplishedaccomplished signifies signifies that the hero is a that the hero is a superior superior manman, a , a born kingborn king. Where . Where the usual hero would face a the usual hero would face a test, the test, the electelect encounters encounters

no delaying obstacleno delaying obstacle and and makes no mistakemakes no mistake..