The Hero and the QuestThe Hero and the Quest

Tales of the hero and the heroic Tales of the hero and the heroic quest occur in nearly every world quest occur in nearly every world

culture.culture.

What is a mythic hero?What is a mythic hero?

Simply put, he or she Simply put, he or she is the hero in a mythis the hero in a myth

Mythic hero characteristicsMythic hero characteristics

#1 Usually the hero #1 Usually the hero has a remarkable birth has a remarkable birth or childhood.or childhood.

Mythic hero characteristicsMythic hero characteristics

#2 He or she is often #2 He or she is often the offspring of a god the offspring of a god and a human being and a human being and possesses and possesses qualities of both qualities of both immortals and mortals.immortals and mortals.

Mythic hero characteristicsMythic hero characteristics

#3 Heroes are born #3 Heroes are born under remarkable under remarkable circumstances.circumstances.

Mythic hero characteristicsMythic hero characteristics

#4 Sometimes they are #4 Sometimes they are unaware of their unaware of their origins and are raised origins and are raised by foster parents.by foster parents.

Mythic hero characteristicsMythic hero characteristics

#5 The hero shows #5 The hero shows early signs of being early signs of being special, possessing special, possessing either superhuman either superhuman strength or strength or supernatural powers.supernatural powers.

What is a folktale hero?What is a folktale hero?

Again, simply put, it is Again, simply put, it is the hero of a folktale.the hero of a folktale.

Characteristics of a Folktale HeroCharacteristics of a Folktale Hero

#1 A folktale hero is #1 A folktale hero is often a very ordinary often a very ordinary person.person.

Folktale hero characteristicsFolktale hero characteristics

#2 Usually a step child #2 Usually a step child or a neglected or a neglected youngest child who is youngest child who is scoffed at by parents scoffed at by parents or older brothers and or older brothers and sisterssisters

Folktale hero characteristicsFolktale hero characteristics

#3 Folktale heroes lack #3 Folktale heroes lack any superhuman any superhuman qualities but might be qualities but might be out of the ordinary in out of the ordinary in other ways such as other ways such as being exceptionally being exceptionally kind, clever or kind, clever or resourceful.resourceful.

What is a quest?What is a quest?

A quest is a journey taken in search of a A quest is a journey taken in search of a person or object of great value.person or object of great value.

Mythic heroes are usually aided byMythic heroes are usually aided by

1. loyal friends1. loyal friends 2. gods and 2. gods and

goddessesgoddesses

Folktale heroes are aided by:Folktale heroes are aided by:

People, animals or People, animals or magical beings who magical beings who are repaying them for are repaying them for good deeds done good deeds done earlierearlier

PART I: SEPARATIONPART I: SEPARATION

Characteristics of a questCharacteristics of a quest

#1 The hero receives #1 The hero receives THE CALL but may be THE CALL but may be tempted to leave the tempted to leave the “true path” – usually for “true path” – usually for a woman or an easier a woman or an easier lifestyle.lifestyle.

Characteristics of a QuestCharacteristics of a Quest

#2 Sometimes the #2 Sometimes the character has a tragic character has a tragic flaw (hamartia) that flaw (hamartia) that causes him/her to causes him/her to falter on the quest, like falter on the quest, like pride (hubris) or pride (hubris) or impatience.impatience.

Characteristic of a QuestCharacteristic of a Quest

PART II: THE PART II: THE INITIATIONINITIATION

#3 The quest may #3 The quest may involve a decent into involve a decent into the underworld or the underworld or another dark and another dark and frightening place.frightening place.

Characteristic of a QuestCharacteristic of a Quest

#4 Sometimes heroes #4 Sometimes heroes give up the greatest give up the greatest sacrifice of all, his or sacrifice of all, his or her own life for others. her own life for others.

Characteristic of a QuestCharacteristic of a Quest

PART III: THE PART III: THE RETURNRETURN

#5 Often heroes return #5 Often heroes return with something new to with something new to share such as share such as knowledge, renewed knowledge, renewed commitment, or commitment, or greater compassion greater compassion and wisdom.and wisdom.

Characteristic of a QuestCharacteristic of a Quest

#6 The hero may be #6 The hero may be rewarded by entering rewarded by entering into a royal marriage or into a royal marriage or living “happily ever living “happily ever after”after”

Question Time????Question Time????

As a class, provide some examples of As a class, provide some examples of Heroes and Quests.Heroes and Quests.– Hercules, Theseus, King Arthur, Spiderman, Hercules, Theseus, King Arthur, Spiderman,

Perseus, Shrek 1,2,3, Superman, Aladdin, Perseus, Shrek 1,2,3, Superman, Aladdin, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Xmen, Princess Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Xmen, Princess and the Bride, Mulan, Lion King, Buddy-Elf, The and the Bride, Mulan, Lion King, Buddy-Elf, The Patriot, DorothyPatriot, Dorothy

Here are some ideasHere are some ideas