the monomyth & hero cycle

8/13/2019 The Monomyth & Hero Cycle

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Some Questions to Think About

Why do we tell stories to each other?Why do we tell stories to each other?Why do we tell stories to each other?Why do we tell stories to each other?Why do we tell stories to each other?Why do we tell stories to each other?Why do we tell stories to each other?Why do we tell stories to each other?

What do stories tell us about ourselves?What do stories tell us about ourselves?What do stories tell us about ourselves?What do stories tell us about ourselves?What do stories tell us about ourselves?What do stories tell us about ourselves?What do stories tell us about ourselves?What do stories tell us about ourselves?

What is your favorite story and why?What is your favorite story and why?What is your favorite story and why?What is your favorite story and why?What is your favorite story and why?What is your favorite story and why?What is your favorite story and why?What is your favorite story and why?

The Monomyth

Joseph Campbell discovered that essentially allJoseph Campbell discovered that essentially allJoseph Campbell discovered that essentially allJoseph Campbell discovered that essentially allJoseph Campbell discovered that essentially allJoseph Campbell discovered that essentially allJoseph Campbell discovered that essentially allJoseph Campbell discovered that essentially allstories are the same storyonly thestories are the same storyonly thestories are the same storyonly thestories are the same storyonly thestories are the same storyonly thestories are the same storyonly thestories are the same storyonly thestories are the same storyonly theperspective, place, and time changesperspective, place, and time changesperspective, place, and time changesperspective, place, and time changesperspective, place, and time changesperspective, place, and time changesperspective, place, and time changesperspective, place, and time changes

Campbells ideas were based on Carl JungsCampbells ideas were based on Carl JungsCampbells ideas were based on Carl JungsCampbells ideas were based on Carl JungsCampbells ideas were based on Carl JungsCampbells ideas were based on Carl JungsCampbells ideas were based on Carl JungsCampbells ideas were based on Carl Jungsnotions of the collective unconsciousnotions of the collective unconsciousnotions of the collective unconsciousnotions of the collective unconsciousnotions of the collective unconsciousnotions of the collective unconsciousnotions of the collective unconsciousnotions of the collective unconscious

Jung said that each of our fantasy lives wereJung said that each of our fantasy lives wereJung said that each of our fantasy lives wereJung said that each of our fantasy lives wereJung said that each of our fantasy lives wereJung said that each of our fantasy lives wereJung said that each of our fantasy lives wereJung said that each of our fantasy lives wereshaped on archetypal structures that areshaped on archetypal structures that areshaped on archetypal structures that areshaped on archetypal structures that areshaped on archetypal structures that areshaped on archetypal structures that areshaped on archetypal structures that areshaped on archetypal structures that arecommon across racial/cultural bounds.common across racial/cultural bounds.common across racial/cultural bounds.common across racial/cultural bounds.common across racial/cultural bounds.common across racial/cultural bounds.common across racial/cultural bounds.common across racial/cultural bounds.


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The Collective Unconscious

Just as the human body shows a

common anatomy over and above all

racial differences, so, too, the human

psyche possesses a common

substratum transcending all

differences in culture and

consciousness. I have called this

substratum the collective

unconscious, [which] is the brain

structure irrespective of all racial

differences (from Jung on Mythology,

p. 83).

Archetypes An archetype, according to Jung, is aAn archetype, according to Jung, is a

common theme or representation within thecommon theme or representation within the

human psyche.human psyche.

CharactersCharacters

The HeroThe Hero

The GuideThe Guide The OutcastThe Outcast

The StarThe Star--Crossed LoversCrossed Lovers

Situations/SymbolsSituations/Symbols

The QuestThe Quest

Loss of InnocenceLoss of Innocence

The InitiationThe Initiation

WaterWater

Green, growing thingsGreen, growing things

Can you think of others?Can you think of others?


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The Most Common Story: The Hero Cycle

Stage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to Adventure A herald or announcer appearsA herald or announcer appears

Often [but not always] someoneOften [but not always] someone dark and/ordark and/or unordinaryunordinary

Sometimes a beastSometimes a beast

The call is typically heard someplace remoteThe call is typically heard someplace remote----for example, in a dark forest,for example, in a dark forest,near a great tree, beside a babbling spring, etc.near a great tree, beside a babbling spring, etc.

The call promises both treasure and danger.The call promises both treasure and danger.

The call requires travel to a distant land, forest, or kingdom somewhereThe call requires travel to a distant land, forest, or kingdom somewhereunderground, beneath the waves, above the sky, on a secret island, atop aunderground, beneath the waves, above the sky, on a secret island, atop alofty mountainlofty mountain----even in a profound dream state.even in a profound dream state.


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Stage 2: Refusal of the CallStage 2: Refusal of the CallStage 2: Refusal of the CallStage 2: Refusal of the Call The consequences of accepting the call:The consequences of accepting the call:

The person gains an almost superhuman degree ofThe person gains an almost superhuman degree ofselfself--consciousness and masterful control.consciousness and masterful control.

The person responds only to the deepest, highest,The person responds only to the deepest, highest,richest answers to problems faced in liferichest answers to problems faced in life..

In these stories, the adventure that the hero isIn these stories, the adventure that the hero isready for is the one he gets.ready for is the one he gets. The adventure isThe adventure issymbolically asymbolically a manifestationmanifestation of his characterof his character. Even. Eventhe landscape and the conditions of thethe landscape and the conditions of theenvironment matches his readinessenvironment matches his readiness..

The consequences of refusing the call:The consequences of refusing the call: The person loses the power of significantThe person loses the power of significant

affirmative action and becomes a victim to beaffirmative action and becomes a victim to besaved.saved. According to Campbell, the persons floweringAccording to Campbell, the persons flowering

world becomes a wasteland of dry stones and hisworld becomes a wasteland of dry stones and hislife feels meaningless.life feels meaningless.

Stage 3: SuperStage 3: Super--natural Aidnatural Aid Usually [but not always]Usually [but not always] masculinemasculinein formin form

Typically a wizard, hermit,Typically a wizard, hermit, shepherd, orshepherd, or smithsmith----someonesomeoneperipheralperipheral

Supplies theSupplies the amuletsamuletsandand adviceadvicethat the hero will require to beginthat the hero will require to begin


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Stage 4: Crossing the Threshold TheThe hero goes forward in his adventure untilhero goes forward in his adventure until

he comes to the entrance zone of magnifiedhe comes to the entrance zone of magnified

power. Beyond is darkness, the unknown,power. Beyond is darkness, the unknown,

andand danger.danger. TheThe hero is swallowed into thehero is swallowed into the

unknown, and would appear to have diedunknown, and would appear to have died..

(Campbell, Hero with a Thousand Faces, p. 77)(Campbell, Hero with a Thousand Faces, p. 77)

Stage 5: The Belly of the WhaleStage 5: The Belly of the WhaleStage 5: The Belly of the WhaleStage 5: The Belly of the WhaleStage 5: The Belly of the WhaleStage 5: The Belly of the WhaleStage 5: The Belly of the WhaleStage 5: The Belly of the Whale

The passage of the threshold is a form of selfThe passage of the threshold is a form of self--annihilation.annihilation.

The hero is to be born again, undergo a metamorphosis, shed hisThe hero is to be born again, undergo a metamorphosis, shed his

character for a new one.character for a new one.


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Stage 6: The Road of Trials The hero must put aside pride, virtue, beauty, and life.The hero must put aside pride, virtue, beauty, and life.

He must bow and submit to the absolutely intolerable.He must bow and submit to the absolutely intolerable.

Dragons must be slain, victories won, barriers passed,Dragons must be slain, victories won, barriers passed,ecstasies experienced, etc.ecstasies experienced, etc.----usually in series of threes.usually in series of threes.


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Stage 7: Meeting with the Goddess Usually depicted young and/or beautifulUsually depicted young and/or beautiful

Teaches the hero an important lesson.Teaches the hero an important lesson.

Does not have to be a goddess [such as the GreekDoes not have to be a goddess [such as the GreekAthena or the Egyptian Isis]. Any strong female orAthena or the Egyptian Isis]. Any strong female orfeminine force meets the requirements for thisfeminine force meets the requirements for thisstage.stage.

Stage 8: Atonement/SacredStage 8: Atonement/SacredStage 8: Atonement/SacredStage 8: Atonement/Sacred

Marriage/Elixir TheftMarriage/Elixir TheftMarriage/Elixir TheftMarriage/Elixir Theft TheThe hero encounters his biological father, a fatherhero encounters his biological father, a father

figure, a strong male presence, or someone orfigure, a strong male presence, or someone orsomething with incredible power.something with incredible power.

At first, the father represents what the heroAt first, the father represents what the herodespises or disagrees with.despises or disagrees with.

The hero is killed during the encounterThe hero is killed during the encounter----eithereitherliterally or symbolicallyliterally or symbolically----so that a new self can comeso that a new self can comeinto being.into being.


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Stage 9: Apotheosis The hero is deified or achieves divine statureThe hero is deified or achieves divine stature

Stage 10: The Ultimate Boon All previous steps have prepared and purified the hero for the boon.All previous steps have prepared and purified the hero for the boon.

A difficult task is accomplished with great ease.A difficult task is accomplished with great ease.

The boon is sometimes the goal of the adventureThe boon is sometimes the goal of the adventure----a magical elixir,a magical elixir,the holy grail, a golden fleece.the holy grail, a golden fleece.


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Stage 11: The Refusal of Return The hero-quest requires that the hero return. The

responsibility has been frequently refused.

Stage 12: The Magical Flight or

Rescue from Without TheThe final stage offinal stage of the herosthe heros adventureadventure

is supported by all the powers of hisis supported by all the powers of his

supernaturalsupernatural patronorpatronor complicatedcomplicated

bymagicalbymagical obstructionobstruction.. The world mayThe world may

have to come and get him. Society ishave to come and get him. Society is

jealous of those who remain away fromjealous of those who remain away from

it, and will come knocking at the door.it, and will come knocking at the door.


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Stage 13: Crossing the Return Threshold

He [must] re-enter where men who are

fractions imagine themselves to be complete.



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The End Stages

The master of two worlds, free tocross between both. Freedom to pass back and forth

across the world division is thetalent of the master. Powerful ininsight, calm and free in action, the hero is the conscious vehicle of

the terrible, wonderful Law of theUniverse, whether his work be thatof butcher, jockey, or king.

The Hero Cycle

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the monomyth & hero cycle

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