The Hero’s Cycle and The Hero’s Cycle and Traditional Journey Traditional Journey

NarrativesNarratives

ArchetypesArchetypes

►Universal symbol Universal symbol ► Ideal exampleIdeal example

►Carl Jung – early 20Carl Jung – early 20thth Century Century ► Joseph Campbell Joseph Campbell The Hero With a The Hero With a

Thousand FacesThousand Faces

Joseph Campbell’s Hero Joseph Campbell’s Hero CycleCycle

SeparationSeparation

The key steps here are:The key steps here are:

a a ‘Call to Adventure’‘Call to Adventure’ the ‘Refusal of the Call’the ‘Refusal of the Call’ and ‘Crossing the First Threshold’and ‘Crossing the First Threshold’

InitiationInitiation

During this phase, the hero endures:During this phase, the hero endures:

‘‘The Road of Trials’The Road of Trials’ ‘‘Meeting with the Goddess’ or ‘Meeting Meeting with the Goddess’ or ‘Meeting

the Temptress’the Temptress’ ‘‘Atonement with the Father/Mentor’ – Atonement with the Father/Mentor’ –

again potential for a good or evil version.again potential for a good or evil version. ‘‘The Ultimate Boon’ – ‘Apotheosis’The Ultimate Boon’ – ‘Apotheosis’

ReturnReturn

The Return begins with:The Return begins with: ‘‘Refusal of the Return’Refusal of the Return’ ‘‘The Magical Flight’The Magical Flight’ or the ‘Rescue from Without’or the ‘Rescue from Without’

Then the narrative brings the hero full cycle Then the narrative brings the hero full cycle by ‘Crossing the Return Threshold’. The by ‘Crossing the Return Threshold’. The results of the journey and return are:results of the journey and return are:

‘‘Master of Two Worlds’Master of Two Worlds’ ‘‘Freedom to Live’Freedom to Live’

Qualities of the Hero and the Qualities of the Hero and the Anti-HeroAnti-Hero

►http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4TdPxOXuYw (Mad Max)v=c4TdPxOXuYw (Mad Max)

Mad Max: an anti-heroMad Max: an anti-hero

► Mad Max is a great example of an anti-hero. Mad Max is a great example of an anti-hero. He walks away from being a cop to wage a war of He walks away from being a cop to wage a war of

vengeance, and as the world falls apart,vengeance, and as the world falls apart, he re-appears, always thinking about himself first, he re-appears, always thinking about himself first,

and willing to help survivors only if they had and willing to help survivors only if they had something to offer him. something to offer him.

By the third movie he’s just a shell, who refuses to By the third movie he’s just a shell, who refuses to go with people who would care for him, love him, go with people who would care for him, love him, because he goes alone. He only helps others when because he goes alone. He only helps others when he has something to lose by not doing so, making he has something to lose by not doing so, making Mad Max one of the most beloved anti-heroes of all Mad Max one of the most beloved anti-heroes of all time.time.

Examples of Anti-HeroesExamples of Anti-Heroes

Various Types of Journey Various Types of Journey NarrativesNarratives

►Exploration and Escape Exploration and Escape ►Home-seekingHome-seeking►Return Return ►Heroic Quest (Campbell’s Hero Cycle)Heroic Quest (Campbell’s Hero Cycle)►Wandering Wandering ►ShipwreckShipwreck

The Battle Over Narrative The Battle Over Narrative StructureStructure

First described in ancient times by Indian and Greek First described in ancient times by Indian and Greek (Aristotle and Plato) philosophers.(Aristotle and Plato) philosophers.

Then, in the mid- to late- twentieth century, the Then, in the mid- to late- twentieth century, the structuralist literary theorists (Roland Barthes, structuralist literary theorists (Roland Barthes, Vladimir Propp, Joseph Campbell, and Northrup Vladimir Propp, Joseph Campbell, and Northrup Frye) argued that all human narratives have certain Frye) argued that all human narratives have certain universal, structural elements in common. universal, structural elements in common.

Now, this argument tends to be considered out of Now, this argument tends to be considered out of fashion under the influence of the poststructuralists fashion under the influence of the poststructuralists (Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida). The (Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida). The poststructuralists argue that universality of poststructuralists argue that universality of structure is logically impossible. structure is logically impossible.