CAN ANYONE BE A HERO?
Hero’s Journey
EXAMPLES
• A legendary or mythical person
• Someone who helps others on a
daily basis
• Individual with a dangerous job
• Literary character whose
determination led to great
accomplishments
How are archetypes
expressed today?
Film Books Television
SO… WHAT IS AN ARCHETYPAL
CHARACTER?
• A recurring character type
• One that appears in the literature of different times and
places
• An original model of a person, ideal example, or a
prototype upon which others are copied, patterned or
emulated; a symbol universally recognized by all.
ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS
a d o w
Sh Wise Old Man
Hero
In fact, MODERN mythological archetypes are
often very similar to Ancient mythological characters.
Like Hercules
Has popular mythology changed during the past few
millenniums?
Not really…
Lets take the examples of
Spiderman and Hercules
SPIDERMAN
• Protects
• Saves damsels
• Fights evil, both in the
form of physical
monsters…
First appeared as a comic character in 1962.
• …and evils in his own First cartoon in 1967.
personality Blockbuster film released in 2002.
HERCULES
• Protects
• Saves damsels
• Fights evil, mostly
dangerous, malevolent
monsters
Hero from ancient Greek mythology.
HERO ARCHETYPE IN LITERATURE
• Unusual Birth/Childhood
• Preparation
• Quest
• Ultimate Battle
• Triumphant Return/Death
ARCHETYPAL NARRATIVE PATTERNS
• Basic storytelling patterns found in stories of cultures
around the world
• Often appear in oral traditions such as fairy tales, myths
and legends
● Patterns make the stories easier to remember and retell
ARCHETYPAL SITUATIONS:
CHICK FLICKS/ROMANTIC COMEDIES
• Boy meets girl
• Boy falls in love with girl
• Boy loses girl
• Boy wins girl back
• Boy and girl get married and live happily ever after.
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
THE HERO’S JOURNEY
• The hero’s journey is an example of an archetypal plot.
• Classic quest tales—from ancient Egyptian myths to Star
Wars stories to the modern Harry Potter stories—
typically follow a certain pattern and share certain
elements.
The hero’s quest symbolizes the larger journey of life
Maturity & Growing Up
The story begins in an ordinary world.
• The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is
introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify
with the situation or dilemma.
• The hero is shown against a background of environment,
heredity, and personal history.
• Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in
different directions and causing stress.
The adventure begins with the hero receiving a call to action.
The call is often announced to the hero by another character
who acts as a “herald”.
The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn
away from the adventure (or refuse the call to action),
however briefly.
I can’t go anywhere, I have
I think you must have made to help my uncle with the
a mistake. I don’t think I harvest.
can be a wizard
The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds
who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that
will help on the journey (meets with mentor).
Crossing the threshold—The hero commits to leaving the
Ordinary World and enters a new region or condition with
unfamiliar rules and values.
• Threshold Guardians—the forces that stand in the way
at important turning points, including jealous enemies,
professional gatekeepers, or your own fears and doubts.
• Talisman– A special (and often magical) item that
assists the heroes on their quest.
The hero receives help from his/her friends (allies) or from
supernatural forces to complete tasks and battle enemies.
• Road of Trials-The hero and newfound allies prepare for
the major challenge in the Special world.
• Belly of the Whale--The final separation from the hero’s
known world and self. By entering this stage, the person
shows willingness to undergo a metamorphosis.
• The Supreme Ordeal—This is the final showdown. The
obstacle they have journeyed so far to overcome. All the
hero’s training comes into play now.
• Reward and the Journey Home– There is often a
reward for the hero’s endurance and strength. After they
receive the reward, they return home.
• Master of Two Worlds/Restoring the World– Hero
returns home with new knowledge to help save their
world. Their mastery of the outside world qualifies them
to be giants in their own home.
Theseus or Orpheus?
• Write a paragraph in response to the question below on
your own piece of paper or type on a document.
• Who follows the Hero’s Journey better
Orpheus or Theseus and why do you
believe this is true?
