Archetypes and Heroes: Archetypes and Heroes: The Introduction The Introduction (Continued)(Continued)FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

15 September 200915 September 2009

Journey OnwardJourney Onward Plots are about journeys – descents Plots are about journeys – descents

and ascents, quests and returns, and ascents, quests and returns, adventures both physical and adventures both physical and emotionalemotional A story without movement – without A story without movement – without

development of either plot or character development of either plot or character – is fairly pointless– is fairly pointless

A book is a static medium, but its A book is a static medium, but its content must be dynamic!content must be dynamic!

Your college essays must also be Your college essays must also be about journeys – demonstrating both about journeys – demonstrating both personal growth and your potential personal growth and your potential for further developmentfor further development

Archetypal JourneysArchetypal Journeys These may not be college-essay fodder – These may not be college-essay fodder –

but you may also be surprised!but you may also be surprised! The quest for identityThe quest for identity The epic journey to find the promised The epic journey to find the promised

landland A common variant is the quest to found the A common variant is the quest to found the

“good city” – a land where our characters “good city” – a land where our characters and values can prosperand values can prosper

The quest for vengeanceThe quest for vengeance The warrior’s journey to save his peopleThe warrior’s journey to save his people The search for love / to rescue one’s loveThe search for love / to rescue one’s love

Archetypal Journeys ContinuedArchetypal Journeys Continued The journey in search of knowledgeThe journey in search of knowledge The tragic quest (penance, self-The tragic quest (penance, self-

denial, redemption)denial, redemption) The fool’s errandThe fool’s errand The quest to defend the land, or to The quest to defend the land, or to

rid the land from dangerrid the land from danger The search for homeThe search for home The “grail quest” (i.e., the search for The “grail quest” (i.e., the search for

human perfection)human perfection)

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey Campbell identified five major stages Campbell identified five major stages

of the typical Hero’s Journeyof the typical Hero’s Journey Regardless of the archetypal nature Regardless of the archetypal nature

of said journey, legend after legend of said journey, legend after legend incorporates the following stagesincorporates the following stages

Campbell also established certain Campbell also established certain characteristics of a hero’s journey; characteristics of a hero’s journey; while it’s impossible to find every while it’s impossible to find every characteristic in every legend, most characteristic in every legend, most of these appear with startling of these appear with startling frequencyfrequency

Stage One: DepartureStage One: Departure The hero is called to adventureThe hero is called to adventure

This can be something he/she discovers This can be something he/she discovers independently, but it’s usually an independently, but it’s usually an imperative from someone else – imperative from someone else – sometimes from a divine source, other sometimes from a divine source, other times for a national leader, and even from times for a national leader, and even from a familial dictatea familial dictate

Interestingly, this call to adventure is Interestingly, this call to adventure is met with resistance nearly as met with resistance nearly as frequently as it’s enthusiastically metfrequently as it’s enthusiastically met Many heroes are reluctant to leave what Many heroes are reluctant to leave what

they know, even when the necessity of they know, even when the necessity of their departure is cleartheir departure is clear

Stage Two: InitiationStage Two: Initiation The hero, having left behind the The hero, having left behind the

familiar, must cross the threshold of familiar, must cross the threshold of adventureadventure

This usually requires entrance into a This usually requires entrance into a new, somewhat dangerous realmnew, somewhat dangerous realm

This entrance is also often This entrance is also often accompanied by a more mature accompanied by a more mature perspectiveperspective

Also something of a planning stage; Also something of a planning stage; most reluctant heroes also abandon most reluctant heroes also abandon their trepidation once they’ve their trepidation once they’ve departed homedeparted home

Stage Three: The Road of Stage Three: The Road of TrialsTrials Usually the longest stage of any heroic Usually the longest stage of any heroic

plot – the “adventure segment”plot – the “adventure segment” The hero often undergoes tests of The hero often undergoes tests of

strength, and these tests are not always strength, and these tests are not always immediately recognized or understoodimmediately recognized or understood

Other tests include trials of endurance Other tests include trials of endurance and resourcefulness – combinations of and resourcefulness – combinations of physical and psychological prowessphysical and psychological prowess

The tests themselves often require The tests themselves often require creative solutions – it’s rarely as simple as creative solutions – it’s rarely as simple as it should be!it should be!

The hero sometimes enjoys supernatural The hero sometimes enjoys supernatural or divine aid along the way; in other or divine aid along the way; in other instances, the hero is accompanied by instances, the hero is accompanied by mortal help (sidekicks, loyal backers, mortal help (sidekicks, loyal backers, friends, family, warriors, etc.)friends, family, warriors, etc.)

Stage Four: The Innermost Stage Four: The Innermost CaveCave Also called the “descent” because our heroes Also called the “descent” because our heroes

almost always fall or stumble along the wayalmost always fall or stumble along the way It’s highly unusual for a heroic journey to consist of It’s highly unusual for a heroic journey to consist of

an endless series of triumphsan endless series of triumphs Heroes suffer setbacks, particularly during the Heroes suffer setbacks, particularly during the

third stage, and these setbacks lead them to third stage, and these setbacks lead them to the Cave – an underworld or place of great the Cave – an underworld or place of great trial, sometimes within the hero’s own mindtrial, sometimes within the hero’s own mind

This trial results in the hero’s rebirth, whether This trial results in the hero’s rebirth, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritualit be physical, emotional, or spiritual

Most importantly, the hero undergoes an Most importantly, the hero undergoes an internal transformationinternal transformation

It is the lowest point of the journey, but its It is the lowest point of the journey, but its presence is necessary for true triumphpresence is necessary for true triumph

Stage Five: Stage Five: Return/ReintegrationReturn/Reintegration At the end of the journey – assuming he At the end of the journey – assuming he

isn’t killed and doesn’t sacrifice himself isn’t killed and doesn’t sacrifice himself along the way – the hero must return homealong the way – the hero must return home

This can be a dicey proposition; This can be a dicey proposition; reintegration in particular often proves reintegration in particular often proves difficultdifficult

However, patience often proves a virtue However, patience often proves a virtue during heroic journeys, and this stage is during heroic journeys, and this stage is no exceptionno exception

Ideally, the hero uses the lessons he’s Ideally, the hero uses the lessons he’s learned/wisdom he’s gained through his learned/wisdom he’s gained through his adventure to benefit his home – to restore adventure to benefit his home – to restore the land to former glory, for examplethe land to former glory, for example