The Monomyth

*AN ASTERISK MEANS VOCAB WORD

Storytelling - The Hero’s Journey

*MONOMYTH - DEFINITION

The cyclical journey undertaken by the standard mythological hero

Narrative pattern Transcends time and tradition

5 STAGES OF THE QUEST

DEPARTURE 1. call / separation 2. descent / entry

INITIATION 3. trials / tests 4. triumph / emergence

RETURN 5. reintegration (shares learning / elixir / eternal

life / riches)

STAGE 1 - THE CALL

Status Quo The hero’s life before the call

Call to Adventure The hero may refuse or run from the call...this

sometimes functions as a means of accepting it. The hero may often not have a choice about accepting the call.

Assistance Encourages or forces hero on journey Could be a weapon or mentor or other

STAGE 2 - THE DESCENT

Departure/Cross the Threshold The hero leaves the normal world; crosses into the

new world Point of no return - the adventure MUST happen at

this point Initial challenge - confronting a literal /

figurative gatekeeper Painful - fight the gatekeeper Painless - enter a cave

STAGE 3 - TRIALS / TESTS

Series of challenges / tests / trials Tempted to stay in the new land, abandon journey,

give up Often reconciled to father figure Hero may have to fight battles,

Solve problems and riddles Often the majority of the story

Approach Hero prepares/trains to face the crisis

Crisis/biggest ordeal or fear

STAGE 4 - TRIUMPH / EMERGENCE

Triumph - The hero fully realizes and completes the calling by earning a treasure, triumphing over an enemy. (Result)

Emergence/New Life - new knowledge of the world

Often accompanied by a literal or figurative resurrection or new birth

STAGE 5 - REINTEGRATION

Return - Master of two worlds Freedom to live in either Often see some sort of return to normal world though

the New Life means it is seen or the hero is seen differently

Resolution - Share knowledge / elixir / eternal life / freedom from conflict with others

Hero may continue fight for others Other problems get resolved

JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Described by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Question: Why would he entitle his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces?

REMEMBER…

DEPARTURE Call / separation Descent / entry

INITIATION Trials / tests Triumph / emergence

RETURN Return

SOME MONOMYTHS IN TIME

0 2 AD

4 AD

6 AD

8 AD

10 AD

12 AD

14 AD

16 AD

18 AD

20 AD

2 BC

4 BC

6 BC

8 BC

Jesus (70 AD)

Roman

Superman (1932 AD)

American

Beowulf (1100 AD)

Anglo-Saxon

Odyssey (800 BC)

Ancient Greek

Moses (1400 BC)

Hebrew

Star Wars (1977 AD)

American

10 BC

12 BC

14 BC

King Arthur (1485 AD)

English

Siddhārtha (100 BC)

Indian

Avatar (2009 AD)

American

Al-Khiḍr (610 AD)

Islam

Batman (1939 AD)

American

Paradise Lost (1667 AD)

English

MATRIX AS MONOMYTH

Stage 1 - Neo is called

out of the Matrix and

to save people from

the Matrix.

Stage 2 - Neo takes the red

pill and wakes up in the ‘real

world.’

Stage 3 - Neo fights Smith, saves Morpheus, visits the Oracle, is shot by Smith.

Stage 4 - Neo realizes he

is the chosen one and that the Matrix is a

program.

Stage 5 - Neo returns to

the Matrix to begin the

rescue as the chosen

one.

LION KING AS MONOMYTH

Stage 1 - Simba is

called to be king by

Mufasa’s death

Stage 2 - Simba

descends into wilderness

- chased by hyenas - thought to

be dead

Stage 3 - Simba is confronted by and overcomes cowardice and laziness - he speaks with Mufasa and realizes his calling

Stage 4 - Simba defeats

Scar

Stage 5 - Simba ascends as

newly transformed king of Pride

Rock

OTHER MONOMYTHS?