Hero’s Journey Notes

I. Archetype: In literature, this is ________________________ of something--like a character, situation,

symbol, or theme--that occurs over and over again, ____________________________

II. Origins of Archetypes:

a) Carl Jung: “the Collective Unconscious”

• __________________________________________ other, cultures all around the world

have used similar archetypes to build their stories, whether separated geographically or

by time

b) Joseph Campbell: The components of the hero’s journey were identified and developed by

Joseph Campbell, who was the world’s foremost authority on mythology.

i. In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces , Campbell states that

__________________________________________________________.

Example stories/movies:

Monomyth: _____________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

III. Hero’s Journey:

i. The function of the story is ______________________________________

ii. The hero’s journey is ____________________________________________

1) The Call to Adventure

-The hero’s ordinary life is disrupted and he __________________________

______________________________________________________________.

- The hero’s __________is made clear.

Such as ____________________________________________________

a. Refusal of the Call

i. The hero _________________________________________________ or

insecurities of leaving his ordinary world

ii. And because of the risks involved; he is facing the greatest of all fears—

____________________________________.

b. Acceptance of the Call

2) Assistance (aka ______________________________________________________)

a. The hero usually meets a mentor for

_____________________________________________________________________

3) Departure

a. The hero leaves the ordinary world and _______________________________________

b. The special world has its __________________________________________ the hero’s

endurance, strength, and temperament

4) Trials:

a. The Hero progresses through _____________________________________________

____________________, preparing him for his final showdown

b. These scenes allow for character development as we see how the hero (and his

companions_____________________________.

c. Woman as Temptress: Someone or something tries to _______________ the hero from

his goal, often an alluring female

5) Approach (aka The Belly of the Whale):

a. The hero arrives at __________________________________________________,

where the ________________________________ is hidden, and this may even be the

headquarters of the hero’s greatest enemy, thus the most dangerous spot in the Special

World

b. Heroes pause to prepare

c. Belly of the Whale:

i. ________________________ zone of danger.

ii. ________________________

6) Crisis

a. The fortunes of the hero __________________________, in a direct confrontation with

his greatest fear

b. The hero often _________________________________________________________

c. This battle is for much more than the Hero’s life. _____________________________

____________________________________________________________________ and

the Hero must no prove that he has achieved Hero status and willingly accept his

sacrifice for the benefit of the Ordinary World.

7) Treasure:

a. The Hero has survived death, overcome his greatest fear, slain the dragon, or weathered

the crisis of the heart, and now earns the _________________________ that he has

sought.

b. The Hero’s Reward comes in many forms: ____________________________________

8) Result (aka The Road Back):

a. The hero begins to deal with ________________________ of confronting the dark

forces

b. Just because the majority of the adventure has passed doesn’t mean that the

_________________________________________________________________

9) Return

a. The hero ___________________________________________________________

b. The true hero brings back this ____________________ (whether it is a potion, prize, or

knowledge that the hero has gained) to _______________, often healing a wounded

land

10) New Life

a. The hero is __________________________________, and realizes that he can be at

home in both worlds (the Ordinary World and the Special World)

11) Resolution

a. ________________________________________________

IV. Common mythic elements

a) Friends and Allies:

i. Hunting group of companions

1. loyal group of companions who are ___________________________________

in order to be together

ii. Loyal retainers

1. These individuals are somewhat like __________________but are heroic

themselves

2. Their duty _________________________ and reflect the nobility of the hero

b) Archetypal hero traits

i. __________________________________________________

ii. Leaves family and is raised by others

iii. ______________________________________________________

iv. Special weapon and/or supernatural/mentor help

v. Proves himself on a quest

vi. Often receives an unhealable wound

vii. Atonement with the father

c) Other archetypes