Joseph Campbell’s “Monomyth”

Heroic Journey through mythology,

heroes take great journeys such as:

slaying Medusa, killing the Minotaur,

finding the Golden Fleece.

But the Hero's Journey isn't just a pattern

from myth. It's the pattern of life, growth and experience -- for all of us.

It’s reflected everywhere, from television to great works of literature to real life.

Because it's the pattern of human experience, our experience, your experience.

Every challenge or change we face in life is a

journey.

Some examples:

Love found and lost; births and deaths; a move to a new school, job, or city; parent’s divorce or illness…

All have the potential of transforming us to a new level of understanding.

Every new confrontation challenges us to re-evaluate our thinking, behavior ,or perspective;

presents us with possibilities for insight and growth.

Why study The Hero‘s Journey?

Literature we read; movies we see; experiences which shape our life; helps us understand our world and our lives:

We develop a sense of awareness and be better able to make decisions and solve problems

We will begin to recognize our own points of passage and the importance they have for us

Separation (from the known):

1. Ordinary Life/Known World

2. The Call to Adventure

3. The Threshold Crossing

4. Departure

5. Allies

6. Gift

7. Mentor

Initiation and Transformation:

8. The Challenges

9. Final Ordeal/Confrontation (known as the “Abyss)

The Return (to the known world):

10. The Return (with a Gift)

11. Resurrection: Turning point for the hero who is forced to prevent their own death….

12. Return with the “elixir”: Hero returns to the ordinary world with new knowledge (or object) to heal or benefit the world, society, and/or family,

As we review the following stages of “The Hero’s Journey,” see what parallels you can draw to Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart and record your findings on the handout provided….

1. Ordinary Life/Known World

Hero is feeling at peace and happy

He/she is in their familiar environment with friends and family

2.

The Call to Adventure

Opportunity to face the unknown and gain something of physical or spiritual value

We choose willingly to undertake the quest, or we may be dragged into it unwillingly

Example: Something is taken from us like our family or our

society; our quest is to reclaim it,

Save or restore honor: our own, our family's, or our country's.

3. The Threshold Crossing

The “jumping off point” or “point of no return”

No turning back

Hero leaves the known world (feeling secure) and enters the unknown world (now insecure because of the dangers that are ahead)

4. Departure

Hero has mixed feelings about the adventure;

May feel fear, desperation, depression or anxiety about leaving his/her known world

5. Meeting Allies

Hero will meet people/friends who help on the way

Usually appear at the perfect time to give advice or help

Even though the ally wants to help and does , it is still the hero’s journey and the helper cannot take it for them

6. Gift

Hero gains a “gift “ to complete the journey

Must be something that is helping, not just simply a present

Not always a material object– example: can be a special power.

7. Mentor

An ally, but more---guide, teacher, who is consistently there

A single person who is wishing for the hero to complete the journey

8. Challenges and temptations

Early challenges are easier ; get harder as the hero becomes stronger in character

Hero must be tested

The “old” is being burned away and the new, stronger and more mature person begins to blossom

Strike at the hero’s greatest weaknesses, most vulnerable skill, knowledge or emotion

9. Final Ordeal/Confrontation (The Abyss)

Greatest challenge of the journey

Faces greatest fear, alone;

takes the shape of hidden fear or deep need that must be resolved;

A “flawed” hero is not ready for the final ordeal;

may fail and will have to try again

10. The Return (with a gift)

discover our gift, result of our new level of skill and awareness

Become richer or stronger, enlightened spiritually

May return with a great spiritual message, but find that our message is rejected

May ostracized or even killed for our ideals

Risk losing our new understanding, having it corrupted by allowing ourselves to slide back in the same old patterns as before…

11. Resurrection: Turning point for the hero who is forced to use this new knowledge (or magic) to prevent his/her own death. (may be a real death or a metaphoric death)

12. With the newfound knowledge and wisdom (the “elixir”), and after overcoming the final obstacle, the hero returns to an “old world” or more typical life as a changed person. There is balance between the two worlds.

To review, the “Journey first began in the ancient myths; it is still around us today…

Basis for almost all of the books and plays we read

A Lesson Before Dying, To Kill a Mockingbird…

Movies we enjoy -- Forrest Gump, Finding Nemo, Spiderman, Field of Dreams, The Matrix…all depictions of the Hero's Journey.

The pattern that we follow in our own lives---

Will be challenging and exciting;

Open the doors to knowledge and understanding;

Better able us to face difficulties and use our experiences to become stronger and more capable;

Help us achieve wisdom, growth, and independence, to become the people we want to be.

So where did okonkwo’S

journey lead him?