Heroes 101English 9 Honors

Defining Hero…• How do you define HERO?

• Matthew Winkler “What Makes a Hero?”

What are Joseph Campbell’s Hero Traits?

1. Unusual birth and/or childhood2. Called to complete a quest3. Hard work of preparation/purification4. Receive supernatural help5. Tragic flaw/weakness6. Return and claim what was theirs but was

denied them before7. Hero’s path is filled with dangers

Hero Example #1Harry Potter 1. Unusual birth and/or

childhood2. Called to complete a quest3. Hard work of preparation/purification4. Receive supernatural help5. Tragic flaw/weakness6. Return & claim what was theirs but was denied

them before7. Hero’s path is filled with danger

Hero Example #2

Marlin from Finding Nemo

1. Unusual birth and/or childhood

2. Called to complete a quest3. Hard work of preparation/purification4. Receive supernatural help5. Tragic flaw/weakness6. Return & claim what was theirs but was denied

them before7. Hero’s path is filled with danger

Is your Hero a Hero?• Groups of 2-3• Choose a “HERO”. (Must choose a NEW hero, do NOT pick Harry

Potter or Marlin.) • Use the hero traits to determine whether he/she/it is actually a

hero. • 1 answer sheet per group

1. Unusual birth and/or childhood2. Called to complete a quest3. Hard work of preparation/purification4. Receive supernatural help5. Tragic flaw/weakness6. Return & claim what was theirs but was denied

them before7. Hero’s path is filled with dangers

Sample Sheet

Group Names: ________________________________________Hero: _______________________________

Trait How it is present

1. Unusual childhood

2. Quest

3. Preparation

4. Supernatural help

5. Tragic flaw

6. Return “home”

7. Dangerous path