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    Monomyth and The Epic Hero Cycle

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    serenity42
    The document discusses Joseph Campbell's theory of the "monomyth" or "hero's journey". It summarizes that Campbell discovered all stories follow a similar structure involving separation, initiation, and return. This structure is based on Carl Jung's theory of a "collective unconscious" containing archetypes common across cultures. The document then outlines the typical stages of the hero's journey, including the call to adventure, crossing the threshold, tests/helpers, climax/battle, flight, return, and elixir. It provides examples of different types of hero archetypes.

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    Monomyth and The Epic Hero Cycle

    Uploaded by

    serenity42
    22 views3 pages
    The document discusses Joseph Campbell's theory of the "monomyth" or "hero's journey". It summarizes that Campbell discovered all stories follow a similar structure involving separation, initiation, and return. This structure is based on Carl Jung's theory of a "collective unconscious" containing archetypes common across cultures. The document then outlines the typical stages of the hero's journey, including the call to adventure, crossing the threshold, tests/helpers, climax/battle, flight, return, and elixir. It provides examples of different types of hero archetypes.

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    Monomyth and the Epic Hero Cycle

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    The document discusses Joseph Campbell's theory of the "monomyth" or "hero's journey". It summarizes that Campbell discovered all stories follow a similar structure involving separation, initiation, and return. This structure is based on Carl Jung's theory of a "collective unconscious" containing archetypes common across cultures. The document then outlines the typical stages of the hero's journey, including the call to adventure, crossing the threshold, tests/helpers, climax/battle, flight, return, and elixir. It provides examples of different types of hero archetypes.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    22 views3 pages

    Monomyth and The Epic Hero Cycle

    Uploaded by

    serenity42
    The document discusses Joseph Campbell's theory of the "monomyth" or "hero's journey". It summarizes that Campbell discovered all stories follow a similar structure involving separation, initiation, and return. This structure is based on Carl Jung's theory of a "collective unconscious" containing archetypes common across cultures. The document then outlines the typical stages of the hero's journey, including the call to adventure, crossing the threshold, tests/helpers, climax/battle, flight, return, and elixir. It provides examples of different types of hero archetypes.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    You are on page 1of 3

    10/14/09


      The“One Great Story” told across time/


    space/culture

      Joseph Campbell discovered that essentially,


    all stories are the same story—only the
    Cailey Thomas perspective, time, and place changes.
    CMHS English Department
      Based on Carl Jung’s “Collective Unconscious”
    theory
      Our lives are based on ARCHETYPAL structures
    common across time and culture

    “Just as the human body shows a common anatomy   Separation


    over and above all racial differences, so, too, the
    human psyche possesses a common substratum
    transcending all differences in culture and   Initiation
    consciousness. I have called this substratum the
    collective unconscious, ... [which] is ... the brain
    structure irrespective of all racial differences”
      Return

    Which means…maybe every human…anywhere…


    anytime…thinks in a similar way.

    1

    10/14/09


    Birth/Home
     
      A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of
      Tests
    supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive   The hero travels through the dream-like world of adventure
    victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the where he must undergo a series of tests. These trials are often
    power to bestow boons on his fellow man. violent encounters with monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces
    of nature. Each successful test further proves the hero's ability
      Call to Adventure and advances the journey toward its climax.
      The hero is called to adventure by some external event or messenger. The Hero
    may accept the call willingly or reluctantly.
      Helpers
      Helpers/Amulet   The hero is often accompanied on the journey by a helper who
      During the early stages of the journey, the hero will often receive aid from a assists in the series of tests and generally serves as a loyal
    protective figure. This supernatural helper can take a wide variety of forms, companion. Alternately, the hero may encounter a supernatural
    such as a wizard, and old man, a dwarf, a crone, or a fairy godmother. The helper in the world of adventure who fulfills this function.
    helper commonly gives the hero a protective amulet or weapon for the journey.

      Crossing the Threshold   Climax/Battle


      Upon reaching the threshold of adventure, the hero must undergo some sort of   This is the critical moment in the hero's journey in which there is
    ordeal in order to pass from the everyday world into the world of adventure.
    This trial may be as painless as entering a dark cave or as violent as being often a final battle with a monster, wizard, or warrior, which
    swallowed up by a whale. The important feature is the contrast between the facilitates the particular resolution of the adventure.
    familiar world of light and the dark, unknown world of adventure.

      Flight (PART OF INITIATION!)   Willing/Warrior Hero (Odysseus): A near god-like hero faces
    physical challenges and external enemies
      After accomplishing the mission, the hero must return to the threshold
    of adventure and prepare for a return to the everyday world. If the hero
    has angered the opposing forces by stealing the elixir or killing a   Lover Hero (Prince Charming): Love motivates this hero to complete
    powerful monster, the return may take the form of a hasty flight. If the his quest
    hero has been given the elixir freely, the flight may be a benign stage of
    the journey.   The Professor: Hero is logical, scientific, introverted, and a little
    nerdy. Brains save the day!
      Return
      The hero again crosses the threshold of adventure and returns to the   Scapegoat Hero: Hero suffers for the sake of others
    everyday world of daylight. The return usually takes the form of an
    awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or   Tragic Hero: The hero of tragedy whose fatal flaw brings about his
    forest. Sometimes the hero is pulled out of the adventure world by a downfall, but not without achieving some kind of transforming
    force from the daylight world. realization or wisdom (Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth, etc.)

      Elixir   Romantic/Gothic Hero: Hero/lover with a decidedly dark side (Mr.


      The object, knowledge, or blessing that the hero acquired during the Rochester in Jane Eyre)
    adventure is now put to use in the everyday world. Often it has a
    restorative or healing function, but it also serves to define the hero's   Heroine: Female heroes (The Awakening by Kate Chopin)
    role in the society.

    2

    10/14/09


      Apocalyptic Hero: Hero who faces the possible destruction of society


      Wizard of Oz
      Anti-Hero: A non-hero, given the vocation of failure, frequently
    humorous (Homer Simpson)

      Swashbuckler Hero: He has no fear, he's a daredevil, or an explorer.   Applying the Monomyth to Contemporary
      Unbalanced Hero: The Protagonist who has (or must pretend to Movies…
    have) mental or emotional deficiencies (Hamlet, One Flew Over the
    Cuckoo’s Nest)

      The Other—the Denied Hero: The protagonist whose status or


    essential otherness makes heroism possible (Invisible Man by Ralph
    Ellison, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan)

      The Superheroic: Exaggerates the normal proportions of humanity;


    frequently has divine or supernatural origins. In some sense, the
    superhero is one apart, someone who does not quite belong, but who is
    nonetheless needed by society. (Mythological heroes, Superman)

    3


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