“Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth: Hero with a

Thousand Faces

By Dr. L. Nicosia

Based on the pattern of :

SeparationSeparation

InitiationInitiation

ReturnReturn

Separation:

The Call to AdventureThe Call to Adventure

Refusal of the CallRefusal of the Call

Supernatural Supernatural

InterventionIntervention

Crossing the first Crossing the first

thresholdthreshold

Initiation:

The Road of The Road of TrialsTrialsMeeting with the Meeting with the Goddess/WitchGoddess/WitchTemptationTemptationAtonement with Atonement with FatherFatherApotheosisApotheosisThe BoonThe Boon

The Hero returnsThe Hero returns

Upon His Return He Faces:Upon His Return He Faces:

A fallen homelandA fallen homelandA land in disarrayA land in disarrayA trapA trap

OROR

A warm welcome as A warm welcome as saviorsavior

Campbell identifies the hero’s Campbell identifies the hero’s journey with even more journey with even more

specificity…specificity…

Stages of the Hero’s Journey:Stages of the Hero’s Journey:

Birth with fabulous Birth with fabulous circumstancescircumstances

Call to adventureCall to adventure

Helper/Amulet Helper/Amulet (wizard, dwarf, fairy (wizard, dwarf, fairy godmother)godmother)

Crossing the Crossing the threshold (The threshold (The Ordeal)Ordeal)

And then…And then…

The Test —violent The Test —violent encounters with encounters with monsters, sorcerers, monsters, sorcerers, warriors or forces of warriors or forces of naturenature

Helpers assist in the Helpers assist in the tests and serve as tests and serve as loyal companions.loyal companions.

The final battle The final battle facilitates resolutionfacilitates resolution

There’s still more…There’s still more…

The Flight The Flight The Return The Return (awakening, rebirth, (awakening, rebirth, resurrection or resurrection or emergence from a cave emergence from a cave or forest)or forest)The Elixir (may be a The Elixir (may be a restorative or healer, restorative or healer, but may also define the but may also define the hero’s role in society)hero’s role in society)HomeHome

These characters tussle with These characters tussle with critical moral and ethical critical moral and ethical

dilemmas:dilemmas:

They struggle with their own human flaws They struggle with their own human flaws and weaknessesand weaknessesThey confront external obstacles and They confront external obstacles and injustices (successfully or not)injustices (successfully or not)They learn to navigate power structuresThey learn to navigate power structures

Through their struggles,they teach us about who we are and who we wish to be (or not to be).

What is YOUR definition of a Hero?What is YOUR definition of a Hero?