Hero Journey & Star Wars

8/3/2019 Hero Journey & Star Wars

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AnAn ArchetypalArchety

pal

StoryStory

The Hero's JourneyThe Hero's Journey


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ArchetypeArchetypeA type of story orA type of story orcharacter that is oftencharacter that is oftenrepeated in literature.repeated in literature.


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The heros journey is oneThe heros journey is oneof the oldest storyof the oldest story

archetypesarchetyp

es on theon theplanet.planet.


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Contemporary storytelling follows theContemporary storytelling follows theancient patterns of the Hero Journey.ancient patterns of the Hero Journey.


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George Lucas, theGeorge Lucas, thecreator ofcreator of StarStarWarsWars, consulted, consultedwith Campbellwith Campbell

while writing thewhile writing thescripts for thescripts for thefirstfirst Star WarsStar Wars

trilogy.trilogy.

Which means....?Which means....?


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The heros journey isThe heros journey isa metaphor for life.a metaphor for life.

How? In what way?How? In what way?


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Stage I:Stage I:

TheThe

SeparationSeparation


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Breaking away from:Breaking away from:

- The hero's old life;- The hero's old life;- The known world;- The known world;

- The familiar.- The familiar.


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A. The CallA. The Call

The hero is compelled toThe hero is compelled to

leave a ordinary lifeleave a ordinary lifeto seek adventureto seek adventure

or begin a quest.or begin a quest.


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Dorothy dreams ofDorothy dreams of

a land beyond thea land beyond therainbow . . .rainbow . . .


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Luke dreams ofLuke dreams of

going on angoing on anadventure . . .adventure . . .


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B: The RefusalB: The Refusal

(of the call)(of the call)

The hero has secondThe hero has second

thoughts; adventurethoughts; adventurelooks too risky.looks too risky.


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Marlin loosesMarlin looses

sight of thesight of theboat and isboat and islost in thelost in theopen ocean.open ocean.

Marlinbelieves hewill never

find Nemo.


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C. Acceptance ofC. Acceptance ofthe Callthe CallThe hero finally acceptsThe hero finally accepts

the responsibility ofthe responsibility of

the journey / quest.the journey / quest.


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After the death of Luke'sAfter the death of Luke's

family, he agrees to go withfamily, he agrees to go withObiwan...Obiwan...


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D. Crossing the FirstD. Crossing the First

ThresholdThreshold

The hero leavesThe hero leavesthe old worldthe old world

behind andbehind and entersentersthe new.the new.


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Dorothy is carried away to OzDorothy is carried away to Oz

by the tornado and lands inby the tornado and lands inMunchkin landMunchkin land


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E. GuidanceE. Guidance

The hero receives assistanceThe hero receives assistancefrom others, possible a mentor.from others, possible a mentor.


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F. The AbyssF. The Abyss

(Belly of the Whale)(Belly of the Whale)

The hero faces hisThe hero faces hisgreatest fear or death.greatest fear or death.


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For some, the belly of theFor some, the belly of the

whale experience is awhale experience is asituation in which the herosituation in which the heroenters a physical zone ofenters a physical zone of

danger.danger.


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Marlin & Dory in the whale.Marlin & Dory in the whale.


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Trapped in the Death Star!Trapped in the Death Star!


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Dorothy is trapped in theDorothy is trapped in the

witch's castlewitch's castle


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Stage IIStage II

Initiation &Initiation &

TransformationTransformation


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The hero meetsThe hero meets

challengeschallengesand is changedand is changed

in some way.in some way.


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A. ChallengesA. ChallengesEach challengeEach challengeplaces the hero inplaces the hero in

greater danger.greater danger.

The hero developsThe hero develops

his skills.his skills.


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D. Atonement with the

FatherThe hero may come up against aThe hero may come up against a

'father figure' who must be beaten,'father figure' who must be beaten,persuaded, or whose approval must bepersuaded, or whose approval must beachieved in some way. Ultimately, byachieved in some way. Ultimately, by

whatever means, the difficultwhatever means, the difficultrelationship between the two must berelationship between the two must be

reconciled.reconciled.


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Part III.

The Return


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A. Refusal of Return

The hero wonders if itspossible to return to theold life.

How can I go back?


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D. Crossing the

Return Threshold

Finally,the heroreturns to

Kansas.


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Why?The monomyth of theheros journey helps

us answer the most

profound questionsof the universe.


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Why am I here?is there suffering?

Whatis the meaning of life?


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Profound:

from the Latinprofundus, meaning

just before the bottomor at the edge of death.

(Brennan)


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A hero is someone who

reaches the edge of death,steals a piece of magic,

then brings the magichome to share with his

community. (Brennan)


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We are all heroes on our separate journeys

and

our missionis to make

the world a better place.

Documents

Hero Journey & Star Wars