The Hero’s Journey

What does Luke, Bilbo, Arthur, Neo and Frodo have in common?

Campbell’s paradigme• Joseph Campbell saw three distinct section in any tale

» The beginning» The trials» The conclusion

• He claimed that all myths follow the same structure

The monomyth (mono = one)

Campbell’s paradigme• He then saw that this also applied to Hero stories… They all follow the

same basic principal idea• The idea is that all heroes:

» Leave their mundane lives to go on some journey» Are tested and they go through hardships» Find a cause and meet with the ultimate evil» Return as masters

• Campbell’s theory was welcomed by many, one of them was George Lucas

Campbell’s paradigme

Refusal of the call

Supernatural aid

Crossing of the first threshold

Belly of the whale

The road of trials

Meeting with the godess

Woman as the temptessAtonement with

the father

Apotheosis

The ultimate boon

Refusal of the return

The magical flight

Rescue from without

The crossing of the return threshold

Master of two worlds

The call to adventureFreedom to live

Beginning Conclusion

The Trials

Leaving

• Sometimes our hero really, really wants to leave but is stuck some how.

• Our hero discovers a problem! (Siddhartha understands that his world is sheltered)

• Leaving is never easy: our hero doubt him/her own abilities• The guide urges the hero on.Because…

• He/She is too old• He/She is not the one who can do anything• He/She is not strong enough• He/She might not even be human

The Threshold

• Our hero meet a new and darker world• He isn’t in control and might be a bit scared

The unknown

• Our hero is flung in into a dark and hostile world• He is faced with the problem that led him into the adventure

The first fightLucas tosses his hero into a fierce battle he might not be ready for.

Then again faced with his first obsticle: no hero manages to get it right the first time around…just look at Neo

This is where the ”belly of the whale” step comes in and our hero seemes lost

LearningLuke then faces the difficult road of trials, which includes:• getting to know the ”godess” he helped save,• be tempted by her• having to take charge (grow up a bit)• Kill people

… This results in a bigger battle between our hero’s mentor and the ultimate villain, in this case

Final battle…which makes the hero go into Atonement and Apoteosis. Learning that Ben was more than a firend or a mentor. He was a father.

He is a bit angry with Ben but he has to let that anger go = Atonement

Obi Wan Kenobi comes to luke in spirit form and tells him that he is ready

And thus is a hero born, taught and fully made

Returning

Some Heroes find returning problematic but Luke has no problem coming back because he is now a pilot and a hero to many … much he has to learn, still

Can we see this journey in any book?

The Spy who Came in from the Cold?• Let me help you:

• Yes we do have a beginning of some sort. Leamas wants out, we do meet a mentor of some sort• No, he does not really follow the trials and does not

have some close father figure. We do not get to know that much about his physical journey• Perhaps Leamas’ journey is more psychological. Does

he struggle with conflicts in his mind?

Can we see this journey in any book?

Pride and Prejudice?• Let me help you:

• Yes, Elizabeth is annoyed with her situation, hell – she is annoyed with womens situation and wish for something else – to marry out of love.• No she does not go on a journey like Luke but she does

travel to Bingley’s house and a new and different way of life. She is tempted in a way as well• Perhaps we have to dig deeper into her emotional side

and her pride. Maybe it is a journey of letting go?