joseph campbell’s hero journey the hero with a thousand faces a theory for all the ages

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Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

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Page 1: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Joseph Campbell’sHero Journey

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

a theory for all the ages

Page 2: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Monomyth

“It will always be the one, shape-shifting yet marvelously constant story

that we find, together with a challengingly persistent suggestion of

more remaining to be experienced than will ever be known or told.”

(Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 1949.)

Page 3: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 4: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 5: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 6: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 7: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 8: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 9: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

DEPARTURE(also known as Separation)

• The Call to Adventure• Refusal of the Call• Supernatural Aid• The Crossing of the First

Threshold• The Belly of the Whale

Page 10: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

INITIATION

• The Road of Trials• The Meeting with the Goddess• Woman as Temptress• Atonement with the Father• Apotheosis• The Ultimate Boon

Page 11: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

RETURN

• Refusal of the Return• The Magic Flight• Rescue from Without• The Crossing of the Return

Threshold• Master of the Two Worlds• Freedom to Live

Page 12: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Call = an invitation to adventure

• willingly or unwillingly • “transformative crisis” or gradual• something has been taken – the quest

is to find it; something is “missing” in life – the quest is to find what is lacking; honor has been sullied – it must be restored; something is not permitted – rights must be restored

• Interesting note: the “herald” is often an animal or stranger

Page 13: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.”

-- Princess Leia, A New Hope

Page 14: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Refusal of the Call = a polite “no thanks”

• a vehement denial or a last moment of hesitancy

• based on fears of the unknown or societal/familial/cultural constraints

• may be manifested through a regret or desire for normalcy

• can only result in stagnation, disintegration, and death

Page 15: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

"We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures.  Nasty uncomfortable things!  Make you late for dinner! I can't see what anybody sees in them...Good morning!...we don't want any adventures here, thank you!  You might try over The Hill or across The Water.“

- Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Page 16: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Call to Adventure Links:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My8Kwzbl10k

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOHVSi65bPk

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkAM0tRv5lM&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T1tvyfcezI

Page 17: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Supernatural Aid = helpers and mentors

• a protective figure offers advice• mentors are often little old men or

old crones• helpers often become sidekicks on

the quest• Aid is often presented in the form of a

talisman or divine gift (ring, sword, magical helmet, map, etc.)

Page 18: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

"I can guide you but you must

do exactly as I say.”-- Morpheus, The Matrix

Page 19: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Crossing of the Threshold

= “jumping off point” of the adventure

• passage must be earned • threshold is often blocked by an

adversarial guardian who requires the hero to rethink the plan

• threshold = the territory between the known and the unknown

Page 20: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

“You mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?”

-- Wesley, The Princess Bride

Page 21: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Belly of the Whale= transit into a sphere of rebirth

• a symbol of the womb• a form of self-annihilation• a near-death (or death of the old

ways/the old self) and a resurrection• sometimes called “Into the Abyss”

Page 22: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 23: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

A few more film clips…

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35cLo7d07Xs• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=VSnPjiLEA2Y&feature=related• http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Uc5skIrEiVE&feature=related• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U3Oti2L8S4• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js1clOdhNM8

Page 24: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Road of Trials(aka The Challenges, The Tests)

• tests may be physical or spiritual• the trials become progressively more

difficult• the hero “discovers and assimilates his

opposite either by swallowing it or by being swallowed” (Cambell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces).

• trials often include: brother battle, dragon battle, abduction/sea/night journey, ritual death or dismemberment

Page 25: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Meeting with the Goddess

(a sacred or mystical marriage)• a woman of mystical power who offers

gifts/ aid/healing/nurturing• woman represents “the totality of

what can be known” (Cambell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces).

• sometimes a hero finds the person he can love most deeply

• Sometimes a hero discovers feminine intuition; a heroine finds male reason

• the union of opposites can take place entirely within a person

Page 26: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages
Page 27: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Temptress= temptation as obstacle

• the meeting with a woman may be another obstacle to overcome

• woman = a symbol of life, so recognizing the woman as temptress = a revulsion of the flesh or earthly self

Page 28: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Atonement with the Father(at-one-ment)

• often involves an encounter with the father figure or recognition from a person of power

• the hero has taken the father’s place • the “ogre” father is seen in a more realistic

light and therefore the world view shifts• for the transformation to take place, a

death and rebirth must occur

Page 29: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Apotheosis= becoming godlike

• a god-like state free of strife and obstacles

• a period of rest before the hero returns to the “real world”

• the hero has moved beyond the pairs of opposites: male/female, time/eternity, enemy/friend, birth/death, yang/yin, etc.

Page 30: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Ultimate Boonthe quest realized

• the hero meets the original goal; finds what he was seeking all along

• sometimes leads to transcendence (especially since the quest is often for an elixir of immortality)

Page 31: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Refusal of the ReturnYou mean I have to go back?!?

• when the battles are won and the “elixir” is in hand, sometimes the hero balks at having to leave all the adventure behind and return to the real world

• the refusal may be adamant or brief, obvious or implied

• sometimes it is impossible to return to the real world because it has been destroyed

Page 32: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Magic Flight= help/hindrance for the return

• sometimes the hero wins the elixir and receives favor/power from the gods – in this situation, the return trip is magically shortened or made easier with gifts

• if the elixir is stolen rather than won, powers may conspire against the hero to prevent a successful return – in this case, the return trip can be as arduous as the original road of trials

Page 33: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Rescue from WithoutA little help, please?

• if the hero refuses the return or if powers conspire against a successful return, an outside source may step in to assist

• resurrection is often linked to this step – a literal visitation or a metaphorical “voice from the past” may coincide with the return

Page 34: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Crossing the Return ThresholdBack to the grindstone…

• the hero must find a way to retain the wisdom gained from the adventure and apply it to everyday existence

• it’s often difficult to deliver the boon, especially if it involves wisdom rather than a physical gift – the hero must translate “otherworld” experiences so that ordinary people understand them

• synonymous to “reverse culture shock”

Page 35: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

Master of Two Worldstranscendental heroes

• the hero releases the “ordinary” self and gives himself/herself over to destiny

• usually represented through transcendence from human to god-form (Jesus/Buddah)

• for human heroes, it means that a balance has been struck between the material and spiritual worlds.

Page 36: Joseph Campbell’s Hero Journey The Hero with a Thousand Faces a theory for all the ages

The Freedom to Live“denouement”

• open plot points in the story resolve themselves

• a reconciliation between consciousness and universal will

• mastery of the quest removes a fear of death which allows the hero “freedom to live”

• involves a realization that the journey is never really over