EpicA long, narrative poem, often

written in formal language, that tells about a series of quests undertaken by a great hero

•Follows a quest, or journey, of a hero who has incredible strength and courage.

•Focuses on the hero’s character traits

•Features hero’s tasks such as battles in which the hero is tested

Legend A story passed down through

many generations that is believed to be based on real people and

events.

•Tells about a hero or heroine who has unusual powers

•Focuses on the hero’s or heroine’s struggle to defeat a powerful force

•Highlights a positive quality or way of behaving

Hero Notes

The Journey of a Hero adapted from Joseph Campbell’sThe Hero of a Thousand Faces

The Hero is Introduced in his Ordinary World

• Most stories take place in a special world, a world new and alien to its hero.

» If you’re going to tell a story about a fish out of water, first create a contrast by showing ordinary, mundane world first.

• In Star Wars Luke Skywalker starts out as a bored farm boy.

The Call to Adventure

• The hero is presented with a problem, challenge, or adventure.

• Inciting Incident• Star Wars- holographic message to Obi Wan

Kenobi, asking Luke to join the quest.

The Hero is Reluctant at First

• At first the hero refuses or doesn’t want to go on the quest, to embark on his greatest fear, fear of the unknown.

• Luke Skywalker doesn’t want to join but finds his aunt and uncle killed. Now he is motivated, eager.

The Hero is Encouraged by the Wise Old Man or Woman

• At this point many stories, the hero is introduced to a Merlin-like character who is the hero’s mentor.

• The mentor gives advice and sometimes magical weapons.

• Obi Wan Kenobi gives Luke his father’s light sabre.

* The mentor can only go so far with the hero. Eventually the hero must face the unknown by himself.

The Hero Passes the First Threshold

• Here the Hero fully passes into the special world of his story for the first time. This is the moment at which the story takes off and the adventure really gets going.

The Hero Encounters Tests and Helpers

• The hero is forced to make allies and enemies in the special world. He must also pass certain tests and challenges.

• In Star Wars Luke makes an alliance with Han Solo at the cantina, introducing himself to enmity with Jabba the Hut.

The Hero Reaches the Innermost Cave

• The hero comes at last to a dangerous place, often deep underground, where the object of his quest is hidden.

• In Star Wars it’s Luke and company being sucked into the Death Star where they will rescue Princess Leia.

*This is a critical moment in any story, an ordeal in which the hero appears to die and is born

again. It’s a major source of the magic of the hero myth.

The Supreme Ordeal

• This is the moment at which the hero touches bottom. He faces the possibility of death, brought to the brink in a fight with a mythical beast.

• For us, the audience standing outside the cave waiting for the victor to emerge, it's a black moment. This is a critical moment in any story, an ordeal in which the hero appears to die and is born again. It's a major source of the magic of the hero myth.

* In STAR WARS, it's the harrowing moment in the bowels of the Death Star, where Luke, Leia and company are trapped in the giant trash-masher.

The Hero Seizes the Sword

• Having survived death, beaten the dragon, slain the Minotaur, the hero now takes possession of the treasure he’s come seeking. Sometimes it’s a special weapon like a magic sword, or it may be a token like the grail or some elixir to heal.

• Sometimes the “sword” is knowledge and experience that leads to greater understanding.

The Hero Seizes the Sword (cont.)

• Here the hero may settle a conflict with his father or his shadowy nemesis.

• The hero may be reconciled with a woman, maybe a love scene or sacred marriage at this point. Often these women or female heroes tend to be shape shifters.

The Road Back

• The hero is not out of the woods yet. Some of the best chase scenes come at this point, as the hero is pursued by the vengeful forces from whom he has stolen the treasure.

• In Star Wars this is the chase as Luke and his friends escape the Death Star.

The Resurrection

• The hero emerges from the special world, transformed by his experience. There is often a replay here of the mock death and rebirth, as the hero once again faces death and survives.

• The hero is transformed into a new being by his experience.

Return with the Elixir

• The hero comes back to his ordinary world, but his adventure would be meaningless unless he brought back the treasure or some lesson from the special world.