Hero’s Journey, Archetypes, and Symbols Trimester One – 8 th Grade.
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Transcript of Hero’s Journey, Archetypes, and Symbols Trimester One – 8 th Grade.
Archetypes
An original model or patternPart of the collective memory since
prehistoric timesOccurs through all elements of the arts-
literature, dance, painting, music and sculpture
In literature archetypes occur as: characters, symbols and colors, themes,
settings, life cycles
The Archetypal Hero
HERO can either be male or female (in western
literature, the hero is more often male) Usually superior to common people in three
ways:1. Morally2. Mentally3. PhysicallyException: Moral superiority allows him to fight the
villain, allowing good to triumph over evil if he is NOT mentally or physically superior
The Seven Stages of a Hero’s Life
1. Birth/Childhood = Exposition2. Call to Adventure = Conflict3. Preparation=1st Stage of Complications/Rising
Action4. Quests = 2nd Stage of Complications/Rising Action5. Ultimate Battle = Climax6. Road Back = Denouement / Falling Action7. Triumphant Return or Honorable Death =
Resolution
Picture of combined plot and hero journey diagram here
5 Stages of a Hero’s LifeBirth - Exposition
1. Birth/Childhood A sign that he or she is special A hero’s birth or childhood is
unusual or marked by something unusual.
Examples: Moses in the Bull Rushes, Macbeth who was “not of woman born”, Nemo (deformed fin) who saved himself and fellow fish, Luke Skywalker was orphaned, etc.
Stages of a Hero’s Life-Call to Adventure - Conflict
2. Call to Adventure
A herald or announcer appears Sometimes someone dark, loathly, terrifying,
and/or unordinary; possibly a beastThe call promises both treasure and
danger.The call requires travel to a distant land
(forest, kingdom, underground, beneath ocean,etc.)
Stages of a Hero’s Life-Preparation-Rising Action 1
2. Preparation A hero must prepare for surviving on
his/her own Undergoes physical rigors Goes through mental, moral and
intellectual development Mentor acts as coach
Stages of a Hero’s LifeQuest-Rising Action 2
3. Quest Quest is the perilous journey that the
hero must go alone. No one may help. The hero can try out what he/she has
learned During the quest, hero travels to and
through various wastelands. The hero sees the other side of life.
Stages of a Hero’s LifeUltimate Battle-Climax
4. Ultimate Battle The hero must use all the skills he has learned against the
enemy. Sometimes he/she receives divine
or other help but the hero must succeed on his/her own.
The battle itself becomes the initiation into adulthood or elevates him/her to hero status.
Stages of a Hero’s LifeRoad Back-Falling Action
4. Road Back The hero has won a prize
(treasure, a loved one, etc.). The hero must return home. He/she might meet resistance
or obstructions on the return home.
Stages of a Hero’s LifeReturn or Death-Resolution
5. Triumphant Return or Honorable Death Final Stage of Hero’s life Hero lives or dies If hero lives,
He/she returns to homeland and is honored. the return is triumphant and usually the story ends there.
If death occurs, it is usually fantastic or dramatic.survivors mourn the hero’s death and honor his deedsusually the survivors build a monument in hero’s honorEx: Beowulf
Archetypal Themes
Used in literature to express the need “to set the universe on the right course.”
Basis of legends and mythsHow we get heroes and villainsMoral life and righteous life succeeds.
Archetypal Themes
The 3 Big Ones: Love conquers all. Good will triumph over
evil. Hate, if victorious, will
destroy all.
Archetypal ThemesThink of themes of westerns, “Star
Wars”, cartoons, comic books with heroes and villains, legends and myths.
The bad deserve to lose, the good should always win, the power of love should be stronger than the power of hate.
Character Types - Villain
Archetypal Villain is: The counterbalance to
the hero Usually embodies the
evil the hero must battle in his search for self and the conquest of evil
Thwarts positive action of the hero
Character Types - Villain
Usually dark or clothed in dark clothes
Is the person the hero must battle in his search for himself
Is the person the hero must defeat to conquer evil.
Examples: Darth Vader, various dragons, the hell-hounds in Stephen King novels
Character Types - Fair Maiden/Love Interest
Archetypal Fair Maiden is: The romantic focus of the
hero and/or the villain The victim who must be
saved from evil. Pure and innocent of the
world’s evil ways.
Character Types - Mentor
Archetypal Mentor is: Is the one who prepares the hero for
the journey and the ultimate battle Is the person who provides the
lessons the hero uses during the quest and ultimate battle
Has lessons that provide moral strength
Character Types--Mentor
May give up his life or make sacrifice to save another or save the cause
Known as the shaman or wiseman
Examples: Gandalf (Lord of the Rings) or Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)
Character Types -Sidekicks or Henchmen
Archetypal Sidekick and/or Henchmen: Reinforces the heroic personality of the
hero Often adds humor or “warm fuzzies” Supports or is the best friend of the
hero/villain Examples:
Batman and Robin, Lone Ranger and Tonto