The Heros Journey 9th Grade English Course by Steven Dewhurst
Start!!!
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What is the Heros Journey? Also known as the Monomyth, the
Heros Journey is a theory coined by a man named Joseph Campbell,
which suggests that all great stories include the same seven basic
character archetypes. In this lesson, we will familiarize ourselves
with each archetype so that we will be able to identify them in the
stories that we read in the future. Lets begin! Click the picture
to continue!
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The Journey Begins Select one to begin your journey. You must
face each one to overcome your trials The Hero The Herald The
Mentor The Threshold Guardians The Trickster The Shape-Shifter The
Shadow Face Your Trials
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The Hero All great stories have a Hero. Usually, the Hero
starts out as a normal person, nothing special. This allows the
audience to make a connection, being able to relate to or
sympathize with him/her. As the story progresses, the Hero gains
the power and wisdom to be able to overcome their conflicts and win
the day! Click the Rasengan to Return
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The Herald The Herald is what thrusts the Hero into his/her
journey. The Herald can be a person, an object, or an event that
provides some kind of incentive or piece of information that
encourages the Hero to take action. Positive or negative, the
Herald is what truly sets the story in motion. Click the Titan to
Return
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The Mentor The Mentor is a wise presence that guides and
teaches the Hero along his/her journey. Oftentimes, the Mentor may
also double as the storys Herald, though they can also easily be
separate characters. Either way, the Mentor is an essential part of
the Heros Journey! Click the Goof to Return
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The Threshold Guardians The Threshold Guardians are meant to
prevent the Hero from completing his/her journey. Threshold
Guardians are often called henchmen. Depending on the story, they
could be easy to defeat but large in number, they could be few in
number and extremely powerful, or anywhere in-between. Have No
Regrets to Return
Slide 9
The Trickster The Tricksters role in the story is to provide
comic relief, often byyou guessed ittricking or playing jokes on
the Hero or any of the storys other characters! However, many times
the Trickster may provide comedy relief by simply being quirky,
reckless, or clumsy. They are also oftentimes the Heros sidekick,
or become one at some time during his/her journey. Pull a Prank to
Return
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The Shape-Shifter The Shape-Shifter is a character that changes
his/her role at some point during the story. The Shape-Shifters
possibilities are nearly endless: a good guy could become a bad guy
or vice versa, a Threshold Guardian could become a Mentor, etc. The
Shape-Shifters change of heart could not only provide some of the
storys greatest plot twists, but he/she could also change roles as
much as he/she wants, potentially filling multiple roles one at a
time, all at once, or teetering back and forth between two roles.
Click a Pirate to Return
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The Shadow The Shadow is the main, ultimate villain of the
story, standing in the way of the Hero and his/her goal.
Oftentimes, the Shadows defeat is the Heros goal or a large part of
the goal. The strength and wisdom gained during the Heros Journey
is all for the sake of defeating the Shadow, but despite this, a
good story almost always makes the Shadow evenly matched withif not
still slightly superior tothe Hero, for the sake of suspense and an
exciting final showdown! Attack One of the Shadows to Return
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Trial of Wisdom How many different character archetypes make up
the Heros Journey? a.1010 b.88 c.55 d.77
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Trial of Courage What is the Heros Journey also known as? a.The
MonolithThe Monolith b.The HeraldThe Herald c.The MonotripThe
Monotrip d.The MonomythThe Monomyth
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Trial of Friendship Which of the seven character archetypes
often accompany the Hero as a sidekick? a.The MentorThe Mentor
b.The TricksterThe Trickster c.The Shape-ShifterThe Shape-Shifter
d.The HeraldThe Herald
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Trial of Strength All of these are correct examples of the
corresponding character archetype, except (Click the pictures for
this one!) a.Loki is the TricksterLoki is the Trickster b.Darth
Vader is the ShadowDarth Vader is the Shadow c.Indiana Jones is the
HeroIndiana Jones is the Hero d.Gandalf is the HeraldGandalf is the
Herald
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Gain Wisdom There arent quite that many different definable
archetypes that appear during the Heros Journey. Gather your
thoughts and try again. Return to the Trial of Wisdom
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Wisdom is a Tree of Life Wisdom will give you a full life. Your
enemies and allies are not so great in number, but continue to
focus and the answer will become clear. Return to the Trial of
Wisdom
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Humility Precedes Honor Wisdom comes with experience. You will
meet more characters along your journey, but do not quit; you are
doing fine. Return to the Trial of Wisdom
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I Will Teach You Wisdoms Ways Excellent! Your mind clearly sees
the path before you. You may proceed to the next trial Continue to
the Next Trial
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Take Heart While it may take courage to face a monolith, it is
not the name of your journey. Take heart and try again! Return to
the Trial of Courage
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Answer the Call It certainly takes courage to answer the
Heralds call to adventure, but it is only one component of a much
larger event. Try again; you have proven that you have the
fortitude for such a demand! Return to the Trial of Courage
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The Journey of 1,000 Miles While trip is definitely a synonym
for journey, Im afraid this answer is a play on words. However, no
hero has ever begun as strongly as they finish; follow in their
footsteps and try again! Return to the Trial of Courage
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Courage! In the Face of Fear!!! Wonderful! You have show the
courage to continue on your journey in the face of adversity! You
have earned your place in your next trial Continue to the Next
Trial
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The Bond Between Teacher and Student The Mentor can beand
usually isfriends with the Hero on his/her journey, but his/her
main purpose is to teach and guide the Hero. Being friends with
your teacher has many advantages, but try again. Return to the
Trial of Friendship
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Friends 4 Life!!! Yes! The title Trickster is a bit well
tricky! But overall, the Trickster is usually the quirky sidekick
that sticks with the Hero like glue. You have proven that you truly
know who your friends are; you may proceed to the final trial
Continue to the Final Trial
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Jack of All Trades While it is true that the Shape-Shifter may
become the Heros friend or sidekick at one point or another, he/she
may still shift into roles that oppose the Hero. Whether the
Shape-Shifters roles oppose the Hero exclusively or not, the
frequent changes also make it difficult to truly call them friends
or sidekicks. Return to the Trial of Friendship
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Friends in High Places The Herald is another character who
could be the Heros ally, but they could also just as easily be
their enemy. The Herald may not even qualify as a sentient
(intelligent; self aware) being that could serve as a friend,
though it could still be an enemy, such as a natural disaster.
Having the Herald on the Heros side may hold an advantage, but that
is not his/her main purpose. Youre getting there; try again. Return
to the Trial of Friendship
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Tricky, Tricky Youve got it! This was meant to be a trick (get
it?) question by making a play on words: while Loki is a trickster
and the god of mischief, he is not the trickster in terms of the
Monomyth. The trickster in the Heros Journey is meant to provide
comedic relief by tricking others, but also to be a friend and
sidekick to the hero; Lokis manner of trickery is meant to deceive
and hurt the Hero, which means that he would be classified as the
Shadow, but you have seen through this deception! Finish Your
Journey
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I Am Your Father! Darth Vader is, to many, the high standard
for great villains, in any medium. He is, no doubt, the Shadow of
the original Star Wars movie trilogy. There isnt really much else
to say here, but do not give up hope! Gather the Force, and try
again! Return to the Trial of Strength
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Fortune and Glory Ahhhh, Indy When that classic theme song
starts playing, you know youre watching a Hero in action! But I can
see why you may have chosen this answer: Indy is one of the more
imperfect heroes, but he is a Hero nonetheless. Dont worry though,
youll get it! Just try again; no big deal! Return to the Trial of
Strength
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Such Hope As I Bring Gandalf is the Herald of The Hobbit and
The Lord of the Rings series. He may also be a Mentor to Bilbo and
Frodo, but remember: some characters can take on multiple roles;
neither of Gandalfs roles are any less true than the other. This
one was a little tricky, but try again. Youll get it! Return to the
Trial of Strength
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A Rest Well Deserved Congratulations, you have overcome your
trials, defeated the Shadow, and have completed your Heros Journey!
Now, watch this short video, which will give you further insight
into the Heros Journey and allow you to lead future generations to
success! Return to the Title Page
