Activity

1.Define stereotype:

2. Is there a stereotypical hero?

Archetypes occur frequently in literature, and especially in myth and folklore. Examples of common archetypes include the underdog, the hero, and helping animals. Examples of story settings using archetypes include gardens, forests, and rivers.

3.How are the ideas of stereotype and archetype different? How are they similar?

The Challenge of the Hero’s JourneySUGGESTED LEARNING STRATEGIES: Graphic Organizer, RevisitingPrior Work,think Aloud, Paraphrasing, Word Map

1.9

WordConneCtions

The Greek prefix arch- in archetype means “chief” or “principal” or “first.” This prefix is also found in archaic, archeology, and archive.

The Greek root -type-,meaning “impression” or “type,” also occurs in typical and stereotype.

AcAdeMicvOcABulARy

An archetype is a character, symbol, story pattern, or other element that is common to human experience across cultures.

26    SpringBoard® English Textual Power™level 3

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

ActiVity  1.9The Challenge of the Hero’s Journey

Materials:• Examples of various stages of the

hero’s journey

• Film clips (optional)

• Vocabulary Notebooks

Purpose:• To understand the archetype of a

hero’s journey

• To identify concrete examples of the hero’s journey

steps:1Direct students to revisit prior work and consider what they have read and written so far about heroes. Re-examine the Word Wall.

2Ask students to share their current definition of a hero. Emphasize challenges, attitudes, and responses to challenge.

3Ask students to think about the definitions of stereotype and archetype and the relationship between the concept of stereotype and a typical story about a hero.

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

�� SpringBoard® English Textual Power™ Level 3

continued

4.According to Joseph Campbell, the hero’s journey can be called archetypal because all heroes’ journeys follow a similar pattern. Following are what Campbell considers the key elements of such a journey. Think about different heroes’ stories you have encountered, and look for connections between their stories and this outline. Your teacher will give you some notes and examples as you discuss each category. Restate in your own words each stage of the hero’s journey.

Activity 1.9

Stage 1: Departure In Your Own Words Notes/Examples

thecall to Adventure: The future hero is first given notice that his or her life is going to change.

Refusal of thecall: The future hero often refuses to accept the Call to Adventure. The refusal may stem from a sense of duty, an obligation, a fear, or insecurity.

the Beginning of theAdventure: This is the point where the hero actually begins the adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are unknown.

StEPS

Bruce Wayne’s parents are murdered when he is a young boy. Soon after, he falls into a well with thousands of bats and is filled with fear.

Instead of following in his parent’s footsteps and seeking positive solutions to the problems of Gotham City, he disappears and ends up in a foreign prison.

After leaving prison, Bruce Wayne is invited to the top of the mountain to find what he’s looking for.

Unit 1 • The Challenge of Heroism 27

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

ActiVity  1.9 continued

steps:4Introduce students to the idea of a journey as a way of discovering oneself. The journey may be literally moving from place to place, or it may be an internal journey of self-discovery. To begin this exploration of the archetypal hero’s journey, you might activate prior knowledge by referring to novels or films students know in which the hero goes on adventures and either purposefully or accidentally discovers his or her true self by undergoing challenges.

5Ask students to think aloud about the types of challenges that might occur in a hero’s journey. The challenges might test the hero’s intelligence, bravery, physical prowess, or willingness to sacrifice himself. You may want to list these types of challenges or events on the board or on chart paper. Students may provide examples from film or literature to support their ideas.

6Discuss each step of the archetypal hero’s journey from Joseph Campbell’s classic study, The Hero With a Thousand Faces. These are listed in the left column of the graphic organizer. Emphasize that students use the organizational labels of the hero’s journey correctly: there are three main stages (Departure, Initiation, Return) and three or four steps within each stage. Also, remind students, when working through the Hero’s Journey archetype, that not ALL steps must be present in a text of a hero’s journey. In fact, there can be multiple hero’s journeys within one body of work.

7Direct students to take notes in the middle column, paraphrasing the explanation of each stage. Students may share responses with a partner. Clarify any questions that arise.

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

Unit 1 • The Challenge of Heroism ��

continued The Challenge of the Hero’s JourneyActivity 1.9

Stage 2: Initiation In Your Own Words Notes/Examples

the Road of trials: The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or challenges that the hero must undergo as part of the hero’s transformation. Often the hero fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes.

the Experience with Unconditional Love: Duringthe Road of Trials, the hero experiences unconditional love and support from a friend, mentor, or family member. This love often drives the hero to continue on the journey, even when the hero doubts him/herself.

the Ultimate Boon: The goal of the quest is achieved. All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step.

StEPS

After being trained as a ninja, Bruce Wayne must face his fear of bats as well as of death.

Bruce Wayne remembers and is inspired by the love of his parents as well as the values they stood for.

Batman defeats the League of Shadows and saves Gotham City.

28    SpringBoard® English Textual Power™ Level 3

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

ActiVity  1.9 continued

steps:8Provide students with examples of each step within the three stages. You may use the examples (provided as annotations on the reduced student pages) from the film Batman Begins, or you may want to use a different hero’s journey as a model. You also may want to show clips from the film that represent each step or stage of the journey. Ask students to take notes in the Notes/Examples column with examples of each step from film or literature.

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

�� SpringBoard® English Textual Power™ Level 3

continued

Activity 1.9

Stage 3: Return In Your Own Words Notes/Examples

Refusal of the Return: Whenthe goal of the adventure has been accomplished, the hero may refuse to return with the boon or gift, either because the hero doubts the return will bring change, or because the hero prefers to stay in a better place rather than return to a normal life of pain and trouble.

the Magic Flight: The hero experiences adventure and perhaps danger as he or she returns to life as it was before the adventure.

Rescue from Without: Justas the hero may need guides and assistants on the quest, oftentimes he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring him or her back to everyday life, especially if the hero has been wounded or weakened by the experience. Or, perhaps the hero doesn’t realize that it is time to return, that he or she can return, or that others need his or her gift.

the crossing, or Return threshold: At this final point in the adventure, the hero must retain the wisdom gained on the quest, integrate that wisdom into his or her previous life, and perhaps decide how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world.

StEPS

Bruce Wayne must decide if he should rebuild his burned home and his life in Gotham City, living as Bruce Wayne and Batman.

After defeating the League of Shadows, Batman decides he must dedicate his life to Gotham City, fighting crime and returning order.

Alfred serves as Bruce Wayne’s mentor and guide as he struggles to do what is right.

Bruce Wayne learns that he must always face his fears. Even though the situation in the city is bleak, it is not without hope. He must make personal sacrifices to give hope to the people.

Unit 1 • The Challenge of Heroism 29

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

ActiVity  1.9 continued

steps:9Direct students to expand on their response to the essential Question: What defines a hero? Students should consider strategies of definition (function, example, negation) as they consider the steps of the hero’s journey archetype.

0Direct students to use the definition graphic organizer (see page 1f ), copy it into their Vocabulary notebooks, and explore the concept of archetype. Add this word to the Word Wall.

teacher notes

© 2

011

Colle

ge B

oard

. All

righ

ts re

serv

ed.

Unit 1 • The Challenge of Heroism ��