1. Archetypes & TheArchetypes & The
Hero’s JourneyHero’s Journey
What Do Harry Potter, LukeWhat Do Harry Potter, Luke
Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur,Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur,
Moses, Frodo, and William WallaceMoses, Frodo, and William Wallace
all have in common?all have in common?

2. Jung and CampbellJung and Campbell
 Carl Jung and JosephCarl Jung and Joseph
Campbell developed the ideaCampbell developed the idea
of the archetypeof the archetype
 Archetype: A recurring patternArchetype: A recurring pattern
of images, situations, orof images, situations, or
symbols found in thesymbols found in the
mythology, religion, art, andmythology, religion, art, and
dreams of cultures around thedreams of cultures around the
worldworld
Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell
Carl JungCarl Jung

3. Event Archetypes: Stages of theEvent Archetypes: Stages of the
“Hero’s Journey” or “Monomyth”“Hero’s Journey” or “Monomyth”
 The CallThe Call
 The Shadow OR OtherThe Shadow OR Other
 The Journey & InitiationThe Journey & Initiation
 Helpers and GuidesHelpers and Guides
 The Treasure & ReturnThe Treasure & Return
 The TransformationThe Transformation
 ** Atonement with the Father (*not in everyAtonement with the Father (*not in every
story)story)

4. The Call (part one): The OrdinaryThe Call (part one): The Ordinary
World VS The Sacred WorldWorld VS The Sacred World
 The first stage of the journey is when the hero/mainThe first stage of the journey is when the hero/main
character gets the call or “itch” to do something new.character gets the call or “itch” to do something new.
 We have to understand who he is and the world he livesWe have to understand who he is and the world he lives
in. The hero usually begins in an ordinary, mundanein. The hero usually begins in an ordinary, mundane
world. He may seem like a common man and often willworld. He may seem like a common man and often will
not have any particular signs of greatness. He isnot have any particular signs of greatness. He is
comfortable in this world and these surroundings. It iscomfortable in this world and these surroundings. It is
only in leaving thisonly in leaving this ordinary worldordinary world for thefor the sacredsacred
worldworld that he can gain new experiences and change.that he can gain new experiences and change.

5. Ordinary WorldOrdinary World

6. The Call (part two):
 The callThe call is when the hero is either asked (often by ais when the hero is either asked (often by a
heraldherald) to leave the ordinary world and try something) to leave the ordinary world and try something
new, or when he realizes that he must do this. Heroesnew, or when he realizes that he must do this. Heroes
can have several “calls” in a story. Calls are requests orcan have several “calls” in a story. Calls are requests or
impulses to do something. For the hero to begin aimpulses to do something. For the hero to begin a
journey, he must first receive or experience a call.journey, he must first receive or experience a call.
 The Refusal: Sometimes the hero will refuse his missionThe Refusal: Sometimes the hero will refuse his mission
at first, but he usually accepts it eventually.at first, but he usually accepts it eventually.

7. The CALLThe CALL

8. Archetypal Hero TraitsArchetypal Hero Traits
 Unusual Circumstances of BirthUnusual Circumstances of Birth
 Leaves Family and Lives With OthersLeaves Family and Lives With Others
 Traumatic Event Leads to QuestTraumatic Event Leads to Quest
 Special WeaponSpecial Weapon
 Supernatural HelpSupernatural Help
 Proves Himself on QuestProves Himself on Quest
 Journey and Unhealable WoundJourney and Unhealable Wound
 Atonement With FatherAtonement With Father
 Spiritual ApotheosisSpiritual Apotheosis

9. Unusual BirthUnusual Birth
 Often in danger or bornOften in danger or born
into royaltyinto royalty
 Luke w/ aunt and uncleLuke w/ aunt and uncle
 Simba born a princeSimba born a prince
 Moses put in basketMoses put in basket
 King Arthur doesn’tKing Arthur doesn’t
know he is royalty until heknow he is royalty until he
pulls sword from stonepulls sword from stone
 Harry Potter’s parentsHarry Potter’s parents
were murdered bywere murdered by
VoldemortVoldemort

10. Leaves FamilyLeaves Family
 Raised away from hisRaised away from his
peoplepeople
 Luke w/Luke w/ auntaunt and uncleand uncle
 Simba w/ Timon andSimba w/ Timon and
PumbaPumba
 King Arthur w/ MerlinKing Arthur w/ Merlin
 William Wallace withWilliam Wallace with
uncleuncle
 Moses w/ Pharaoh’sMoses w/ Pharaoh’s
daughterdaughter

11. Traumatic EventTraumatic Event
 A hero’s life is changedA hero’s life is changed
foreverforever
 Luke’s aunt and uncle’sLuke’s aunt and uncle’s
deathdeath
 Wallace’s wife is killedWallace’s wife is killed
 Arthur pulls sword fromArthur pulls sword from
stonestone
 Simba is told father’sSimba is told father’s
death is his faultdeath is his fault
 Yahweh appears to MosesYahweh appears to Moses

12. The Shadow or OtherThe Shadow or Other
The hero will encounter hisThe hero will encounter his
otherother oror shadowshadow at someat some
point. The other/shadow ispoint. The other/shadow is
his opposite, the flip side ofhis opposite, the flip side of
the coin, and is a reminder ofthe coin, and is a reminder of
what the hero may yetwhat the hero may yet
become if he is not careful.become if he is not careful.
These two characters are foilsThese two characters are foils
for one another: they definefor one another: they define
each other througheach other through
comparison and contrast.comparison and contrast.

13.  The other may be a friend,The other may be a friend,
enemy, or stranger, but hisenemy, or stranger, but his
personality is, in every crucialpersonality is, in every crucial
respect, the exact opposite ofrespect, the exact opposite of
the hero’s. They are like athe hero’s. They are like a
photo and its negative, theyphoto and its negative, they
are simultaneously identicalare simultaneously identical
and opposites.and opposites.
 By meeting the other, theBy meeting the other, the
hero is forced to examinehero is forced to examine
these aspects about himself,these aspects about himself,
to face his fears, and this aidsto face his fears, and this aids
in his self-discovery.in his self-discovery.

14. ShadowsShadows

15. The Journey & InitiationThe Journey & Initiation
 The hero must face many challenges in theThe hero must face many challenges in the sacredsacred
worldworld. His. His initiationinitiation into thisinto this sacred worldsacred world will causewill cause
him to change and grow.him to change and grow.
 The trials serve as catalysts for inner change and may beThe trials serve as catalysts for inner change and may be
steps in his training, preparing him for his eventualsteps in his training, preparing him for his eventual
confrontation with ____ (to succeed in his main goal).confrontation with ____ (to succeed in his main goal).
 In some cases, the hero is tried by forces within himself:In some cases, the hero is tried by forces within himself:
forces that tempt him to give up, to seek safety, to rest,forces that tempt him to give up, to seek safety, to rest,
to settle for less, to go back to the old life or the oldto settle for less, to go back to the old life or the old
ways of perceiving and experiencing things. In otherways of perceiving and experiencing things. In other
stories, the hero faces external enemies that he muststories, the hero faces external enemies that he must
overcome.overcome.

17. Crossing a Threshold
 Hero’s usually have to cross
some kind of
threshold/barrier when they
start the journey. It could be
an obvious physical dividing
point/marker or may be an
internal struggle.
 There is usually a Threshold
Guardian who is there to try
and stop the hero from going
beyond this point.

18. Helpers and GuidesHelpers and Guides
 Often the hero will have aOften the hero will have a
guide or an older, wiser,guide or an older, wiser,
person to give him advice onperson to give him advice on
the journey.the journey.
 ThisThis mentormentor may be amay be a
teacher, spirit, god, shaman,teacher, spirit, god, shaman,
wizard, or just somebodywizard, or just somebody
who has valuable knowledgewho has valuable knowledge
and experience. Thisand experience. This
relationship echoes that ofrelationship echoes that of
the parent and child, teacherthe parent and child, teacher
and pupil, god and man.and pupil, god and man.

19.  The mentor may give theThe mentor may give the
hero a gift (weapon,hero a gift (weapon,
amulet, knowledge,amulet, knowledge,
power) to aid the hero inpower) to aid the hero in
his questhis quest..
 At some point in theAt some point in the
journey, the hero mustjourney, the hero must
be separated from thebe separated from the
mentor so that he mustmentor so that he must
stand-alone and provestand-alone and prove
himself.himself.

20. FRIENDSFRIENDS

21. Special WeaponSpecial Weapon
 Only the hero can wieldOnly the hero can wield
his weaponhis weapon
 Luke’s light saberLuke’s light saber
 Arthur’sArthur’s ExcaliburExcalibur
 Moses’ staffMoses’ staff
 Wallace’s swordWallace’s sword
 Neo’s power over theNeo’s power over the
matrixmatrix
 All of gifts DumbledoreAll of gifts Dumbledore
gives Harrygives Harry

22. Supernatural HelpSupernatural Help
 Hero often has spiritualHero often has spiritual
guidanceguidance
 Luke hears Obi-WanLuke hears Obi-Wan
KenobiKenobi
 Arthur has MerlinArthur has Merlin
 Yahweh guides MosesYahweh guides Moses
 Wallace dreams of hisWallace dreams of his
dead fatherdead father
 Simba sees Mufasa in theSimba sees Mufasa in the
sky and has Rafiki helpsky and has Rafiki help
himhim

23. Proves HimselfProves Himself
 Hero performs feats whileHero performs feats while
on Queston Quest
 Luke blows up Death Star,Luke blows up Death Star,
leadsleads rebellionrebellion
 Arthur leads battles andArthur leads battles and
brings glory of Camelotbrings glory of Camelot
 Moses performs miraclesMoses performs miracles
 Simba contemplates his lifeSimba contemplates his life
and defeats Scarand defeats Scar
 Wallace leads his men againstWallace leads his men against
BritishBritish

24. The TreasureThe Treasure
 TheThe treasuretreasure is whateveris whatever
the hero is seeking. Itthe hero is seeking. It
can take a wide variety ofcan take a wide variety of
forms and may not evenforms and may not even
be a tangible object.be a tangible object.
 The hero will probablyThe hero will probably
have to pass throughhave to pass through
another major thresholdanother major threshold
in order to find thein order to find the
treasure.treasure.

25.  The reward or treasure may be anThe reward or treasure may be an
object of great monetary value orobject of great monetary value or
something important in some way.something important in some way.
It may be something likeIt may be something like
“knowledge” (about the world, the“knowledge” (about the world, the
answer to a mystery, etc.). Inanswer to a mystery, etc.). In
short, the prize the hero seeks mayshort, the prize the hero seeks may
assume as many different outwardassume as many different outward
forms as the trials required toforms as the trials required to
achieve it. In essence, however,achieve it. In essence, however,
the goal of the quest is always athe goal of the quest is always a
pricelesspriceless psychological gainpsychological gain: an: an
expanded consciousness, a savingexpanded consciousness, a saving
insight, or the release of long-insight, or the release of long-
suppressed creative powers.suppressed creative powers.

26. TransformationTransformation
 The hero MUST change during theThe hero MUST change during the
course of his journey.course of his journey.
 The change is usually gradual andThe change is usually gradual and
is a natural occurrence given all heis a natural occurrence given all he
goes through. Sometimes thegoes through. Sometimes the
change is very dramatic and thechange is very dramatic and the
hero willhero will transform physically ortransform physically or
will die and be reborn as a new andwill die and be reborn as a new and
better personbetter person..
 The real victory comes when heThe real victory comes when he
learns about humanity and has truelearns about humanity and has true
understanding.understanding.

27.  These stories are aboutThese stories are about changechange. The hero goes through a. The hero goes through a
TransformationTransformation, often through a, often through a death/rebirthdeath/rebirth sequencesequence
(signifying the new person that emerges).(signifying the new person that emerges). TheThe death anddeath and
rebirthrebirth can happen anywhere in the story and is usuallycan happen anywhere in the story and is usually
symbolic (though it can be literal).symbolic (though it can be literal).

28. Journey to Hell/Death & RebirthJourney to Hell/Death & Rebirth
 Hero descends into a hell-likeHero descends into a hell-like
area (land of the dead?). Hisarea (land of the dead?). His
return is like returning fromreturn is like returning from
the dead. Symbolically goesthe dead. Symbolically goes
where normal humans can’twhere normal humans can’t
and finds truth about self.and finds truth about self.
 The hero may just dieThe hero may just die
symbolically or people maysymbolically or people may
think he’s dead for a while.think he’s dead for a while.

29. Unhealable Wound The hero may suffer a
wound that will never
heal. This may occur in
his main fight, but could
happen anywhere in the
story/journey.
 The wound may be
emotional or
psychological.

30. ApotheosisApotheosis
 Hero is rewardedHero is rewarded
spiritually at the end ofspiritually at the end of
his lifehis life
 He has a betterHe has a better
understanding of theunderstanding of the
world and has a sense ofworld and has a sense of
fulfillment and peace.fulfillment and peace.

31. Atonement With FatherAtonement With Father
 Hero either redeems father’s evil deeds or reconciles with fatherHero either redeems father’s evil deeds or reconciles with father
over wrongs done by the hero.over wrongs done by the hero.
 The “father” does not have to be his/her actual father.The “father” does not have to be his/her actual father.
 Often the hero must find peace with his father, mother, orOften the hero must find peace with his father, mother, or
ancestors. This goes back to the belief that we cannot trulyancestors. This goes back to the belief that we cannot truly
know ourselves if we do not accept our past and our roots. Theknow ourselves if we do not accept our past and our roots. The
hero may be an orphan, or he may gain a surrogate parent alonghero may be an orphan, or he may gain a surrogate parent along
the journey. At any rate, he must accept his past and heritagethe journey. At any rate, he must accept his past and heritage
before he is able to move beyond this and change in anybefore he is able to move beyond this and change in any
significant way.significant way.

33. Wanna find out more?Wanna find out more?
http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/
resources/heromain.htmlresources/heromain.html

34. 4am Productions “You can’t see the Hobbits if you’re asleep!”4am Productions “You can’t see the Hobbits if you’re asleep!”
bdavis@inu.netbdavis@inu.net