THE MONOMYTHJoseph Campbell

THE MONOMYTH Campbell’s thesis is that all myths follow this

structure to some extent The Odyssey The story of Moses in The Bible The Lord of the Rings Alice in Wonderland Harry Potter The Lion King King Arthur … and many more

PEOPLE INFLUENCED BY CAMPBELL Bob Dylan Jim Morrison George Lucas Jerry Garcia Christopher Vogler – Disney Studios Stanley Kubrick

THREE SECTIONS The Departure / Separation

The Initiation

The Return

STAGE 1: THE DEPARTURETHE CALL TO ACTION / ADVENTURE

Hero begins in his normal, mundane world

There is usually a trigger: a challenge, problem, or a request

There may be figurative or literal treasure

There is tension – will he/she accept or not?

The call may be gradual or forceful The hero may need encouragement to

begin

REFUSAL OF THE CALL Hero may initially hesitate Hero is reluctant to leave home /

normal, everyday life Call may not seem important Hero may have responsibilities

ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALL The hero realizes there is nobody better

to do the job There may be no one else available The hero may need the encouragement

of a mentor

SUPERNATURAL AID The hero is given help to make him

wiser, stronger, better able to face the challenges

Aid may be maps, information, weapons, or a special talisman

MENTOR The hero is given support and aid by a

teacher Often, the archetype of the wise, old

man is presented

COMPANIONS The hero is joined by friends who will

help with the adventure and support the hero in the different trials

Sometimes they contrast the hero to emphasize the positive traits of the hero

CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD This is the point of no return as the hero sets

out on the journey He must leave the home world and enter the

new world of adventure This is a very symbolic act often signifying a

stage in a rite of passage It is a defining, scary moment; the hero is now

independent It may be guarded by people, monsters, or

difficulties which have to be overcome

ENTERING THE BELLY OF THE WHALE The hero defeats the Threshold

Guardian and finds himself/herself in a dark place

The hero may find his true purpose The belly may be an ambiguous place There is definite danger This is based on the Biblical story of

Jonah It may involve the “lion’s den or

dragon’s lair”

STAGE 2: THE INITIATIONTHE ROAD OF TRIALS

The hero is on “the road” of the journey This is the pathway he/she must follow He/she will encounter physical and

mental challenges that will improve his/her skills

The hero grows in confidence and capability

There may be a “brother battle” with a familiar foe (also a “dragon battle / monster”)

The hero gains strength with each trial

THE MEETING WITH THE GODDESS The hero meets a powerful female

figure with whom he finds unity and bonding

She is the “amina” (female side) to his male side/soul; combined he is a total person

She is beautiful, queen-like, or motherly She gives support She may be ordinary or a mystical,

supernatural being

WOMAN AS TEMPTRESS FROM TRUE PATH Hero meets temptation in female form She offers short-term relief or

gratification To give in to her would cause the

mission to fail She is symbolic of short-term pleasures

that test the hero’s ability to make difficult judgments

She may be deliberately sent by a villain

ATONEMENT WITH THE FATHER Hero encounters a father-like, patriarchal

authority Father and son are often pitted against one

another but must be reconciled The father must be beaten, persuaded, or

approval gained The person may be a high authority or an

immortal The hero gains power by taking it from father

APOTHEOSIS The point at which the hero achieves a

greater understanding after overcoming these trials

It is a breakthrough moment in consciousness

The old hero “dies” and is reborn as a more resolved self

The hero may change in appearance The hero is ready for the difficult task,

even death (self-sacrifice)

THE ULTIMATE BOON The goal of the journey is achieved This happens after a battle with the

villain or a difficult trial The hero is psychologically balanced The hero is ready to receive the gift The is the climax of the story

STAGE 3: THE RETURNREFUSAL OF THE RETURN

The hero has finished his/her quest and Doesn’t want to leave the new world /

return to the old world He / she is afraid that the old world

may not accept the “new” person who changed because of the journey

THE MAGIC FLIGHT The hero decides to return home The hero may be accompanied by a

protector who helps overcome obstacles on the way home

The hero may have to face those who he angered on the journey

RESCUE FROM WITHOUT On the way home, the hero may need

rescued from A state of helplessness or bliss or from Death

CROSSING OF THE RETURN THRESHOLD On the way home, the hero must again

cross the threshold that separates the new and old worlds

The hero may have to defeat another gatekeeper

The hero is again symbolically “reborn” after his “death” of the first threshold crossing

MASTER OF TWO WORLDS The hero realizes there is nothing

separating his home and the new world The hero has achieved balance

between the safety and comfort of home and the new world

This balances his character and mind

FREEDOM TO LIVE With the journey complete, the hero

understands him/herself The hero can live freely between home

and the new world With new knowledge, the hero can be

beneficial to the world