the hero’s journey

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

Harry Potter vs. Star WarsHarry Potter vs. Star Wars

The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

Archetype – a recurring universal Archetype – a recurring universal charactercharacter

Examples of archetypes: villain, hero, damsel in Examples of archetypes: villain, hero, damsel in distress, victim, artist, fool, etc.distress, victim, artist, fool, etc.

Just like making a cake, there is a recipe Just like making a cake, there is a recipe for having a hero. And, not all elements for having a hero. And, not all elements must be present in one text.must be present in one text.

The Ordinary WorldThe Ordinary World

Often where the story beginsOften where the story begins

Hero lives normal life with no idea that Hero lives normal life with no idea that things will soon radically changethings will soon radically change

The Ordinary WorldThe Ordinary World

Stairwell Cupboard

Tatooine

Call to AdventureCall to Adventure

The hero is compelled to begin a questThe hero is compelled to begin a quest

Life change is inevitable and will facilitate Life change is inevitable and will facilitate the hero’s maturitythe hero’s maturity

Call to AdventureCall to Adventure

Hogwarts’ Invitation

Princess Leia Message

Refusal of the CallRefusal of the Call

Often a hero will reject their initial call to Often a hero will reject their initial call to adventureadventure

Intuition causes them to deny their Intuition causes them to deny their responsibility and continue in “the ordinary responsibility and continue in “the ordinary world”world”

Refusal of the CallRefusal of the Call

Hagrid must fetch Harry

Obi-Wan seeks out Luke

Meeting with the MentorMeeting with the Mentor

Often after refusing their call, a mentor will Often after refusing their call, a mentor will visit the hero to encourage their visit the hero to encourage their engagementengagement

Otherwise, mentor will later appear as a Otherwise, mentor will later appear as a guiding force for the hero, providing advice guiding force for the hero, providing advice and tools to win the eminent battleand tools to win the eminent battle

Meeting with the MentorMeeting with the Mentor

Head Master Albus Dumbledore

Elderly and Wise

Master Yoda

Elderly and Wise

Crossing the First ThresholdCrossing the First Threshold

The initial point in which the hero decides The initial point in which the hero decides to become involvedto become involved

Once this point has been crossed, Once this point has been crossed, adventures ensue and the hero may never adventures ensue and the hero may never fully return to “the ordinary world”fully return to “the ordinary world”

Crossing the First ThresholdCrossing the First Threshold

The Sorting Hat

Tuskan Raider

Tests, Allies, EnemiesTests, Allies, Enemies

As the text progresses the hero will As the text progresses the hero will acquire friends, endure countless tests, acquire friends, endure countless tests, and often be challenged by their enemiesand often be challenged by their enemies

Too few challenges results in “the sagging Too few challenges results in “the sagging middle,” slowing the plotmiddle,” slowing the plot

Allies (Friends)Allies (Friends)

Hermoine and Ron

Hermoine is sister-like, Ron is sidekick (they hook-up)

Princess Leia and Han Solo

Leia is literal sister, Han Solo is sidekick (they hook-up)

Primary EnemyPrimary Enemy

Lord Voldemort Darth Vader

Approach to the “Inmost Cave”Approach to the “Inmost Cave”

An extremely dangerous part of the An extremely dangerous part of the journeyjourney

Often underground or in an ominous Often underground or in an ominous locationlocation

The hero must confront a great fearThe hero must confront a great fear

““Inmost Cave”Inmost Cave”

Chamber of Secrets Trash Compactor

OrdealOrdeal

The ABSOLUTE worst thing that can The ABSOLUTE worst thing that can happen…does happen.happen…does happen.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! inhale a new breath…inhale a new breath…

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

OrdealOrdeal

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RewardReward

The hero breathes a sigh of reliefThe hero breathes a sigh of relief

Enemy appears to be defeated and Enemy appears to be defeated and celebrations ensue.celebrations ensue.

Often a tangible reward is obtained in this Often a tangible reward is obtained in this phasephase

RewardReward

I am Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

The Road BackThe Road Back

It ain’t over yet!It ain’t over yet!

Realization that there is still a task to Realization that there is still a task to completecomplete

Villain thought to be dead often rises again Villain thought to be dead often rises again to thwart the heroto thwart the hero

The Road BackThe Road Back

He’s still alive!!! He’s my dad!!!

ResurrectionResurrection

The hero undergoes a figurative re-birth in The hero undergoes a figurative re-birth in which they have transformed into the which they have transformed into the person they were intended to becomeperson they were intended to become

The moral of the story is often revealed in The moral of the story is often revealed in this stagethis stage

ResurrectionResurrection

I am Amazing Again!!!!!!!!!!!

Return to normalReturn to normal

Hero often returns to “the ordinary world”Hero often returns to “the ordinary world”

Their extraordinary lessons learned help Their extraordinary lessons learned help them go forward into an insightful futurethem go forward into an insightful future

Very often a happy (if not bitter-sweet) Very often a happy (if not bitter-sweet) endingending

Other ElementsOther Elements

Unusual family situationsUnusual family situations

Animal familiarAnimal familiar

The weapon only a hero can wieldThe weapon only a hero can wield

An incurable injuryAn incurable injury

Unusual Family SituationsUnusual Family Situations

The Dursley Family

The Lars Family

Animal FamiliarAnimal Familiar

Hedwig

R2-D2

The Weapon only a Hero can WieldThe Weapon only a Hero can Wield

Harry’s Wand

Luke’s Light saber

An Incurable InjuryAn Incurable Injury

Harry’s Scar

Luke’s Mechanical Arm