STAR WARS: A New HopeSTAR WARS: A New Hope

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

The The Star WarsStar Wars saga is based on a very old saga is based on a very old type of story called “The hero’s journey”.type of story called “The hero’s journey”.

This type of story is characterised byThis type of story is characterised by

A young heroA young hero

Faithful companionsFaithful companions

Wise guidesWise guides

Evil villainsEvil villains

In In Star WarsStar Wars who who

is the young hero?is the young hero?

are the faithful companions?are the faithful companions?

is the wise guide?is the wise guide?

is the evil villain?is the evil villain?

StructureStructure

The hero’s journey is structured according to The hero’s journey is structured according to three main parts:three main parts:

DepartureDeparture

InitiationInitiation

ReturnReturn

DepartureDeparture

Departure is when the hero leaves his Departure is when the hero leaves his common life and moves away to begin his common life and moves away to begin his journey of adventure.journey of adventure.

InitiationInitiation

Initiation is when the hero learns new skills, Initiation is when the hero learns new skills, usually under the guidance of a wise usually under the guidance of a wise master, and is tested by facing some kind master, and is tested by facing some kind of supreme ordeal.of supreme ordeal.

ReturnReturn

Return is when the hero returns from a Return is when the hero returns from a period of exile or more training in order to period of exile or more training in order to complete his heroic work once and for all.complete his heroic work once and for all.

The The Star WarsStar Wars Saga Saga

Each of these three parts (departure, Each of these three parts (departure, initiation, return) corresponds to one of the initiation, return) corresponds to one of the films in the original films in the original Star WarsStar Wars trilogy. trilogy.

A New HopeA New Hope, our film, shows us “departure”., our film, shows us “departure”.

DepartureDeparture

Departure has five main parts:Departure has five main parts:

1.1. The call to adventureThe call to adventure

2.2. The wise and helpful guideThe wise and helpful guide

3.3. The thresholdThe threshold

4.4. Into the labyrinthInto the labyrinth

5.5. Heroic deedsHeroic deeds

The call to adventureThe call to adventure

The hero’s journey begins with the call to The hero’s journey begins with the call to adventure. This “call” is usually something adventure. This “call” is usually something that signals that the hero is meeting his that signals that the hero is meeting his destiny. It is usually in the form of an destiny. It is usually in the form of an important message carried by a fairly important message carried by a fairly ordinary person or thing. The call can ordinary person or thing. The call can often be received purely by luck or a twist often be received purely by luck or a twist of fate.of fate.

And in And in Star WarsStar Wars??

Who delivers the call in Who delivers the call in Star WarsStar Wars??

What is the call asking Luke to do?What is the call asking Luke to do?

What twist of fate allows Luke receive the What twist of fate allows Luke receive the call?call?

The wise and helpful guideThe wise and helpful guide

After receiving the call, the hero must next After receiving the call, the hero must next encounter “threshold guardians”, encounter “threshold guardians”, characters who potentially block the way characters who potentially block the way to adventure. To escape these threshold to adventure. To escape these threshold guardians, the inexperienced hero often guardians, the inexperienced hero often needs the aid of supernatural forces in the needs the aid of supernatural forces in the form of a wise and helpful guide. This form of a wise and helpful guide. This guide usually provides advice and special guide usually provides advice and special tokens that help the hero on his journey.tokens that help the hero on his journey.

And in And in Star WarsStar Wars??

Who are the threshold guardians?Who are the threshold guardians?

Who is the wise and helpful guide?Who is the wise and helpful guide?

What special token does he give to Luke?What special token does he give to Luke?

What “advice” does he tell Luke?What “advice” does he tell Luke?

The thresholdThe threshold

The hero leaves his familiar surroundings The hero leaves his familiar surroundings and goes to a place that acts as a and goes to a place that acts as a threshold between the world of his old life threshold between the world of his old life and the world of adventure. Often at this and the world of adventure. Often at this point the hero meets some of his faithful point the hero meets some of his faithful companions.companions.

And in And in Star WarsStar Wars??

What place is the threshold?What place is the threshold?

Who are the faithful companions Luke Who are the faithful companions Luke meets here?meets here?

Into the labyrinthInto the labyrinth

Labyrinths are mazes, places difficult to Labyrinths are mazes, places difficult to journey through that offer potential journey through that offer potential dangers to the hero and his companions. dangers to the hero and his companions. Often, on entering such a place, the hero Often, on entering such a place, the hero will wear armour to accomplish his first will wear armour to accomplish his first heroic deed.heroic deed.

And in And in Star WarsStar Wars??

What is the labyrinth?What is the labyrinth?

What is Luke’s first heroic deed?What is Luke’s first heroic deed?

What “armour” does he wear to What “armour” does he wear to accomplish this first deed?accomplish this first deed?

Heroic deedsHeroic deeds

After his initial heroic deeds, the hero must After his initial heroic deeds, the hero must face a greater and more deadly heroic face a greater and more deadly heroic deed. In the end, he is personally deed. In the end, he is personally responsible for accomplishing such a task. responsible for accomplishing such a task. Good triumphs over evil and the hero is Good triumphs over evil and the hero is recognised for his valour.recognised for his valour.

And in And in Star WarsStar Wars??

What is the heroic deed Luke needs to What is the heroic deed Luke needs to accomplish?accomplish?

How does he personally accomplish this How does he personally accomplish this deed?deed?

How is Luke recognised for his valour?How is Luke recognised for his valour?

What else?What else?

Can you think of any other stories that Can you think of any other stories that feature the hero’s journey?feature the hero’s journey?