The Archetypal The Archetypal Hero’s QuestHero’s Quest

What Do Luke Skywalker, What Do Luke Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur, Moses, Simba, King Arthur, Moses,

and William Wallace all have and William Wallace all have in common?in common?

Jung and CampbellJung and Campbell Carl Jung and Joseph Carl Jung and Joseph

Campbell developed Campbell developed the idea of the the idea of the archetypearchetype– Archetype: A recurring Archetype: A recurring

pattern of images, pattern of images, situations, or symbols situations, or symbols found in the found in the mythology, religion, mythology, religion, art, and dreams of art, and dreams of cultures around the cultures around the worldworld

Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell

Carl JungCarl Jung

The Monomyth

Definition: “the one story”The monomyth or archetypal heroic

quest story, has remarkably the same structure from culture to culture.

It seems as if the hero might wear different clothes but scratch the surface and they are the same and face the same kinds of challenges.

Archetypal Hero TraitsArchetypal Hero Traits Unusual Circumstances of BirthUnusual Circumstances of Birth Leaves Family and Lives With OthersLeaves Family and Lives With Others Traumatic Event Leads to QuestTraumatic Event Leads to Quest Special WeaponSpecial Weapon Supernatural HelpSupernatural Help Proves Himself on QuestProves Himself on Quest Journey and Unhealable WoundJourney and Unhealable Wound Atonement With FatherAtonement With Father Spiritual ApotheosisSpiritual Apotheosis

The Nature of the Quest Hero

A mythic hero can be male or femaleThis hero usually has a remarkable birth

or childhood.He or she is often the offspring of a god

or goddess and a human being, and so possesses qualities of both immortals and mortals.

Unusual BirthUnusual Birth Often in danger or Often in danger or

born into royaltyborn into royalty– Luke w/ aunt and Luke w/ aunt and

uncleuncle– Simba born a Simba born a

princeprince– Moses put in Moses put in

basketbasket– King Arthur in King Arthur in

danger from Uther danger from Uther Pendragon’s rivals Pendragon’s rivals

The Nature of the Quest Hero

Heroes can be born under unusual circumstances.

Sometimes they are unaware of their origins and are raised by foster parents.

The hero often shows early signs of being special, possessing either superhuman strength or supernatural powers.

The Folk Tale Hero

An ordinary personA stepchildA neglected youngest childInstead of using supernatural powers

they are often exceptionally kind, clever, or resourceful.

Leaves FamilyLeaves Family Raised away from Raised away from

his peoplehis people– Luke w/ Luke w/ auntaunt and and

uncleuncle– Simba w/ Timon Simba w/ Timon

and Poobahand Poobah– King Arthur w/ King Arthur w/

MerlinMerlin– William Wallace William Wallace

with unclewith uncle– Moses w/ Pharaoh’s Moses w/ Pharaoh’s

daughterdaughter

Both Mythic and Folktale

Are called to participate in an adventure or forced to face a series of challenges or tests.

They may initially refuse the challenge, but they suffer until they begin the adventure and overcome the obstacles place before them.

Traumatic EventTraumatic Event A hero’s life is A hero’s life is

changed foreverchanged forever– Luke’s aunt and Luke’s aunt and

uncle’s uncle’s deathdeath– Wallace’s wife is Wallace’s wife is

killedkilled– Arthur pulls sword Arthur pulls sword

from stonefrom stone– Simba fights NalaSimba fights Nala– Yahweh appears Yahweh appears

to Mosesto Moses

Hero’s Quest

Quest: A journey taken in search of a person , object, or idea of great value.

Possible goals: a beautiful princess; an abstract concept such as truth or the meaning of life; or a concrete object, such as treasure or a magical charm.

A hero can also be searching for the truth about his or her parents or origins.

Hero’s Quest

Supernatural aid: Often heroes are helped along the way by gods or goddesses.

Mentors and Helpers: Heroes are often are aided by loyal friends and benefactors.

This stage is referred to as Initiation because the hero learns what he needs to complete his journey.

Special WeaponSpecial Weapon Only the hero can Only the hero can

wield his weaponwield his weapon– Luke’s light saberLuke’s light saber– Arthur’s Arthur’s

ExcaliburExcalibur– Moses’ staffMoses’ staff– Wallace’s swordWallace’s sword– Simba’s ... claws?Simba’s ... claws?

Folktales

Folktale heroes are helped by people, animals, or magical beings who are repaying them for good deeds done earlier.

Supernatural HelpSupernatural Help Hero often has Hero often has

spiritual guidancespiritual guidance– Luke hears Obi-Luke hears Obi-

Wan KenobiWan Kenobi– Arthur has MerlinArthur has Merlin– Yahweh guides Yahweh guides

MosesMoses– Wallace dreams of Wallace dreams of

his dead fatherhis dead father– Simba sees Mufasa Simba sees Mufasa

in the sky and has in the sky and has Rafiki help himRafiki help him

The Quest: Temptation

The hero may be tempted to leave the quest by succumbing to temptation such as:A beautiful womanLure of an easier lifestyle

Proves HimselfProves Himself Hero performs feats Hero performs feats

while on Questwhile on Quest– Luke blows up Death Luke blows up Death

Star, leads Star, leads rebellionrebellion– Arthur leads battlesArthur leads battles– Moses perform Moses perform

miraclesmiracles– Simba contemplates Simba contemplates

his lifehis life– Wallace leads his Wallace leads his

men against Britishmen against British

Hero and Flaws

Sometimes the hero reveals a flaw like overwhelming pride (hubris) or impatience which can cause them to falter on the quest.

The Quest: The Abyss

The quest may involve a descent into the underworld or another dark and frightening place such as an enchanted cave or forest.

This is often referred to as the abyss where the hero is alone and must overcome the obstacles on his own.

Journey & Unhealable Journey & Unhealable WoundWound

Hero descends Hero descends into a hell-like into a hell-like area and suffers area and suffers wounding from wounding from encounter w/ evilencounter w/ evil– Symbolically goes Symbolically goes

where normal where normal humans can’t and humans can’t and finds truth about finds truth about selfself

The Quest & The Return

The hero may encounter situations that may require him to risk life in order to serve the needs of his or her culture.

If the hero survives the journey into the abyss, he or she returns to society, often with something to share.

Atonement With FatherAtonement With Father Hero either Hero either

redeems father’s redeems father’s evil deeds or evil deeds or reconciles with reconciles with father over father over wrongs done by wrongs done by the herothe hero

Revelation:

New knowledgeA renewed commitmentGreater compassion or wisdomThe hero may be rewarded by entering

into a royal marriage and living “happily ever after.”

ApotheosisApotheosis Hero is rewarded Hero is rewarded

spiritually at the spiritually at the end of his lifeend of his life

Wanna find out more?Wanna find out more?

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