from hercules to harry potter: mythology in film

FROM HERCULES TO

HARRY POTTER:

Mythology in Film

Summer, 2010

Nissa Hales

Table of Contents • What is Myth?

• Myth and Truth

• The Cauldron of Story

• The Three Faces of Myth

• Archetypes & The Hero’s Journey

• Mythical Elements from…

• Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire

• Mulan

• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

• The Golden Compass

• Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

WHAT IS MYTH?

From Hercules to Harry Potter

WHAT IS MYTH?

Myths are…

WHO?: Constant among all humans in all times.

WHAT?: The ―glue‖ that holds societies together;

basis for morality, government, & national identity

WHEN?: The thread that holds past, present, &

future together.

WHY?: Essential ingredient in all codes of conduct;

patterns of beliefs that give meaning to life.

(Bierlein, p. 5)

A traditional story about heroes or supernatural

beings, often explaining the origins of a natural

phenomena or aspects of human behavior (Dickerson & O’Hara).

WHAT IS MYTH? (CONT.)

Myth is part of a broader

body of literature, with

fantasy & fairy tales, called

Fäerie

Fay-ry - the realm of the

Fay (a broad range of

creatures, not just fairies:

elves, dwarves, goblins,

etc.) (Tolkien).

Fairies, Goblins and Dwarfs by Howard David Johnson, 2007

Fäerie Myth Heroic Legend &

Fantasy

Fairy Tales

Geography

Historical Scope

Significance

Character Type

Meaning

Fäerie is a broad continuum, with myth on one side and fairy

tales on the other, and heroic tales and fantasy falling

somewhere in between (Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 26 – 28).

What is Myth? (cont.)

Fäerie Myth Heroic Legend &

Fantasy

Fairy Tales

Geography whole worlds or

other worlds

a kingdom or realm a single cottage, village,

or wood

Historical Scope timeless; may span

centuries

Span a few months to

a few years

in a mater of a few days

Significance affect the whole

history of the world

whole kingdoms are

affected; large cast of

characters

affects one to a handful

of characters

Character Type Gods Heroes Everyday people

Meaning Endless re-readings;

can be understood

on many levels

Moral or easily grasped

theme

What is Myth? (cont.)

Myth Fairy

Tale Legend

MYTH AND

TRUTH


Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy by François

Lemoyne, 1737

MYTH AND TRUTH The word myth has come to mean a story which is untrue. ―Myth may be true. Any myth that has survived centuries certainly contains truth. However, myth and history are not at odds, nor are myth and truth.‖

Muthos (Greek) = word or

speech, or logos = an account through reason

Later, both came to mean "an account or story" or an account of what was true

Later, muthos - an account through story; logos - an account through reason

Plato's time – fictionalized account; muthoi - philosophical ideas

(K. C. Davis, p. 11; Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 30 - 32)

If you believe in fairies, clap your hands!

MYTH AND TRUTH (CONT.)

―The truth of myth does not

depend on history or language.

The truth of myth stands beyond

history, enters history, and informs

history.‖

Realistic fiction contains truth about

human nature, the nature of God or

gods, love, or the absolute

corrupting power of the one Ring.

Myth holds an objective truth that is

independent of any time, place, or

culture.

The truth of myth or fairy tales is

through self recognition.

Myth reaches people in general;

universal and transcends culture.

Myth is how we comprehend our

own experience.

(Bierlein, p. 5; Dickerson & O’Hara, pp. 35 – 36;

Neal, pp. 14 - 15)

Harry Potter – The Mirror of Erised, Mary GrandPre

THE CAULDRON

OF STORY


The Cauldron of Story (Tolkien)

Story is a soup containing bones

Soup = story

Bones = ―its sources and material‖

Ladle = author

Cauldron = massive kettle containing

all of Story ever been told

Ingredients = history, myths, legends,

fairy tales

The pot has ―always been boiling, and to

it have continually been added new

bits,‖ savory or unsavory

Author serves up

their story

THE THREE FACES

OF MYTH AND FÄERIE


THREE FACES OF MYTH AND FÄERIE (TOLKIEN)

Three elements of reality: natural, supernatural, and man (Dickerson & O’Hara, p. 42)

1. Mythical toward the supernatural

A world of angels & demons & a supreme being

Fairy tales depend on the supernatural

Supernatural remain in the background

Viewed with a sense of mystery & awe

2. Magical toward Nature (Dickerson & O’Hara, p. 43)

Most important in the

definition of myth

Nature is magical (Trees can

move, speak, defend

themselves, get angry)

Does not deny science but it

does deny that science is the

only way to understand

nature


Treebeard and the Hobbits by Per Sjogren, 2003

3. The mirror of scorn and pity (mercy) towards man (Dickerson & O’Hara,

pp. 48 – 49)

Sorrow & the desire to see restoration (e.g., Gandalf to Frodo re:

Gollum, ―It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand.‖)

We pity ourselves as a race

We pity ourselves as individuals

We feel regret and remorse for our own actions

We feel sympathy for the perpetrators as well as the victims

We hope for redemption & justice (e.g., Frodo must hope Gollum can

be Smeagol; Luke must have faith Vader can be Anakin again)


ARCHETYPES & THE

HERO’S JOURNEY


The Legend of Susanuo by Howard David Johnson

Archetypes

Carl Jung :

Swiss psychiatrist & student of

Freud

Theorized there was a connection

between the psychology of people

& to universal cultural patters &

symbols

A number of symbols, themes, &

character-types existed in all

cultures

Found throughout religion, myths,

art, and folklore.

(Smith & Brown, 85 - 87)

Situational Archetypes

Quest

Initiation

Fall

Death and Rebirth

ARCHETYPES (CONT.)

Character Archetypes

Hero

Scapegoat

Outcast

Devil Figure

Archetypal Symbols

Lightness/Darkness

Water/Desert

Heaven/Hell

The Hero’s Journey

Joseph Campbell :

Scholar & world traveler

Read & analyzed myths from

around the world for 5 yrs.

straight

Theorized myths from all across

the globe, having survived

thousands of years, all have the

same basic structure. (Monomyth)

The Hero’s Journey is one of the

reoccurring patterns

• Three Phases with 17 steps

• Not every myth contains all the steps

• Phases: Departure, Initiation, and Return

(Smith & Brown, p. 91)

THE HERO’S JOURNEY: DEPARTURE

1. The Call to Adventure - the point in a person's life when

they are first given notice that everything is going to change,

whether they know it or not.

(Warren, et al. from Campbell)

ARCHETYPE

The Herald

The Herald character

issues challenges and

announces the coming

of significant change

(Campbell, p. 42)

2. Refusal of the Call - Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it.

Reasons:

sense of duty or obligation

fear

insecurity

a sense of inadequacy

anything to hold the person in his or her current circumstances



3. Supernatural Aid

Once the hero has committed to the quest, his or her

guide & magical helper appears, or becomes known



ARCHETYPE

The Mentor

The Mentor is a

helper who aids the

Hero in seeking a

guiding vision to help

him/her on the

journey

(Campbell, p. 59)

The Master of Jordan College gives Lyra the

alethiometer before she leaves Oxford with Mrs.

Coulter.

4. Crossing the First

Threshold

the person crosses into

the field of adventure

leaves the known limits of

his or her world &

ventures into an unknown

& dangerous realm where

the rules & limits are not

known.



ARCHETYPE

The Threshold Guardian

Threshold Guardians protect the Special World and its secrets from the Hero, and provide essential tests to prove a Hero's commitment and worth

(Campbell, p. 64)

General Li Shang

5. The Belly of the Whale

Final separation from the hero's

known world & self

Person's lowest point?

The person is transitioning

between worlds & selves

Experiences that will shape the

new world & self will begin

shortly

Often symbolized by something

dark, unknown, & frightening

By entering this stage, the

person shows their willingness

to undergo change



1. The Road of Trials

A series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin

the transformation.

Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in

threes.

THE HERO’S JOURNEY: INITIATION


AMULETS

Amulets, Advice, & Secret Agents

The hero is aided by the advice, amulets, and secret agents of

the Mentor, whom he or she met before his or her entrance

into this region.

(Campbell, p. 81)

ARCHETYPE

The Shapeshifter

The Shapeshifter's

mask misleads the

Hero by hiding a

character's intentions

and loyalties

(Neal, p. 85)

2. The Meeting with the Goddess

The person experiences love

All-powerful, all encompassing,

unconditional; love that a baby

experiences with his or her

mother.

May take place entirely within

the person

Very important step in the

process

Does not have to be

represented by a woman.



ARCHETYPE

The Trickster

Tricksters relish the

disruption of the

status quo, turning the

Ordinary World into

chaos with their quick

turns of phrase &

physical antics

3. Woman as the Temptress

Temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest

Does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman

This step is about the revulsion that the (usually male) hero may feel about his own nature

Attachment or projection of that revulsion to women

Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life



4. Atonement with the Father

The person must confront

whatever holds the ultimate power

Usually the father, or a father figure,

who has life and death power

Center point of the journey

Symbolized by an encounter with a

male entity or someone or thing

with incredible power

For the transformation to take

place, the person must be "killed"

so that the new self can come into

being

Sometimes this killing is literal, &

the earthly journey for that

character is either over or moves

into a different realm


(Campbell from Warren, et al.)

5. Apotheosis

When someone dies a physical

death, or dies to the self to live

in spirit (e.g., Qui-Gon Jinn,

Obi-Wan Kanobi, Yoda,

eventually Anakin)

A state of divine knowledge,

love, compassion, & bliss

Can simply be a period of rest,

peace, & fulfillment before the

hero begins the return


In the Riddle family graveyard, Cedric asks

Harry to take his body back to his father.


6. The Ultimate Boon

The achievement of the goal of the quest.

It is what the person went on the journey to get

All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step

The boon is something transcendent like the elixir of life itself, or a plant

that supplies immortality, or the holy grail.

Gains important self-knowledge & skills



1. Refusal of the Return

Having found bliss and

enlightenment in the other

world, the hero may not want

to return to the ordinary world

to bestow the boon onto his

fellow man

THE HERO’S JOURNEY: RETURN


2. The Magic Flight

Sometimes the hero must

escape with the boon, if it is

something that the gods have

been jealously guarding.

It can be just as adventurous &

dangerous returning from the

journey as it was to go on it.



3. Rescue from Without

Oftentimes the hero must have powerful guides & rescuers to bring them

back to everyday life

Especially if wounded or weakened by the experience

Perhaps the person doesn't realize that it is time to return, that they can

return, or that others need their boon.


Aragorn just before he is rescued by his horse


4. Crossing the Return Threshold

The trick in returning is to:

retain the wisdom gained on the quest

to integrate that wisdom into a human life

maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the

world.

This is usually extremely difficult



5. Master of the Two Worlds

Usually represented by a

transcendental hero, like Jesus

or Buddha.

For a human hero, it may mean

achieving a balance between the

material and spiritual.

The person has become

comfortable and competent in

both the inner and outer

worlds


Hermione Granger, the muggle-born witch


6. Freedom to Live

Mastery leads to freedom from

the fear of death, which in turn

is the freedom to live

This is sometimes referred to

as living in the moment

neither anticipating the future

nor regretting the past.



MYTHICAL ELEMENTS

FROM HARRY POTTER

AND THE GOBLET

OF FIRE


NAMES Harry James Potter

Harry = Middle English form of

Henry < Germanic name

Heinrich < the words heim,

meaning "home," and ric,

meaning "power, ruler‖

Also from Harold = ―leader of

the army.‖

James = the same Hebrew

name as Jacob, meaning ―holds

the heel‖.

Potter is a very common

surname of English origin. It

traditionally refers to the

occupation of making pottery.

NAMES (CONT.)

The English adjective "bilious"

also applies to those who have

an irritable temper, as is Ron

from time to time.

Ronald Bilius Weasley

Ronald = the Scottish form of

the Scandinavian name Ragnvald

< Old Norse Ragnvaldr;

ragn, "advice", and valdr, "ruler―

Reginald < Germanic Raginwald,

meaning "the prince's

counsellor."

Bilius comes from "bile," as one

of the 4 humors discussed by

Ancient Greek philosophers.

Yellow bile = the element of fire

(the element of Gryffindor

house)

someone with an excess of it

was believed to be bad-

tempered.

harrypotter.wikia.com/ron_weasley

NAMES (CONT.)

Hermione Jean Granger

derived from "Hermes", who

was the god of wit, invention,

and quick thinking.

from Greek mythology, in which

she was a princess of Sparta

and daughter of Helen of Troy

Jean, the female variant of the

name John, meaning "God is

gracious.

Granger is another word for

farmer

derived from the Anglo-

Norman grainger and the

French grangier, both of which

come from Latin granica,

meaning "granary."

(Harrypotter.wikia.com/hermione_granger)

NAMES (CONT.)

Brian

Old Celtic meaning high or noble

Dumbledore

an old 18th century English word

for 'bumblebee.'

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian

Dumbledore

Albus:

an Italian word meaning

"sunrise.‖

Latin word for white.

Percival

legendary Arthurian knight

involved in the quest for the

Holy Grail

Wulfric

From Anglo-Saxon, Wulfric

translates literally as "wolf-

power", & is reminiscent of

another similar name, Beowulf,

which means "powerful wolf-

bear".

NAMES (CONT.)

Alastor Moody

Ancient Greek for "he who

does not forget", or avenger,

persecutor, tormenter

one who suffers from divine

vengeance

Similar to Alastair, which is the

Scottish form of Alexander

What about your name?

http://www.thinkbabynames.com/

http://www.thinkbabynames.com/

MAGIC

The Source of Magic

Magical power = an internal

source? Is inherent in the

individual?

Gandalf - ―There are many

powers in the world, for good

or for evil."

Aragorn: healer - symbolic of

spiritual gift The power comes from some

external source?

potions and spells and herbs

part of nature or the natural

world

a belief in the magical

properties of the earth

(Dickerson & O’Hara, p. 234)

MAGIC (CONT.) Used to Harm or Heal?

Father Christmas in The Lion, the

Witch, and the Wardrobe gives

Lucy a vial of magical ointment

that will heal any wound

Aragorn uses kingsfoil to try &

save Frodo

Something or someone that the magician is in service to?

call upon evil spirits to do their bidding

a genie in a bottle

have no choice

the One Ring - controls the ringwraiths

The magician is often deceived

become the slave of the demon?

The word Horcrux

may be derived from

the French dehors,

meaning "outside," and

crux, meaning

"essence.― (harrypotter wikia.com)


MAGIC (CONT.) Uses of Magic in Harry Potter

internal power is used by the

good character (those who side

with Dumbledore)

Hagrid – ―Never made things

happen when you were scared

or angry?‖

external power

potions class and herbology

class

For good or evil

Madame Pomfrey vs. Wormtail cutting

off his own hand

Summoned power

Malfoy uses Serpensortia to conjure a

snake to attack Harry

house elves

dementors


ACTIVITY

Potions Class

To train up your potion making

skills, we will practice making

green slime.

Ingredients:

½ school glue

½ laundry starch

Add glue to a bowl. Then gradually

add starch while stirring,

beginning with ¼ cup. Keep

working slime with your hands

until it reaches he desired

consistency.

MYTHICAL ELEMENTS

FROM MULAN


WESTERN DRAGONS a symbol of evil.

seen as unwanted & something that a

hero must work to get rid of.

try to kill people by breathing out

fire.

great wings & sharp claws.

able to live in deserts or even in fire.

greedy, keeping hordes of gold &

other precious treasure.

represents the dark side of humanity,

including greed, lust, & violence

slaying a dragon represents the

confrontation & extinguishment of

those evil instincts.

(Owens, Smith & Brown, pp. 227 - 228)

WESTERN DRAGONS

Western Dragons

There are very few dragons in

medieval literature

Tolkien's Smaug brought

dragons as we know dragons

into modern fantasy literature

Midgardsormr, who was to

destroy the god Thor at

Ragnorok

Fafnir, who is killed by the

Norse hero Sigurd

Beowulf's dragon

(Dickerson and O’Hara, p. 124)

http://www.draconika.com/cultures/western.php

EASTERN DRAGONS

called Lung or Long in Chinese

value dragons for their magic & beauty

held with high respect

symbolizes heroism, beauty, luck, & power

live in some sort of damp place, more likely a lake or the ocean

used in ceremonies and parades

control the rain, rivers, lakes, & sea.

can ward off wandering evil spirits, protect the innocent, & bestow safety unto all

(Owens, Smith & Brown, pp. 227 - 228)

CHINESE DRAGONS

Tianlong,: Celestial Dragons -

pull the chariots of the gods &

guard their palaces.

Shenlong: Spiritual Dragons -

control the wind & the rain.

Fucanglong: the Dragons of

Hidden Treasures - underworld

dragons which guard buried

treasures. Volcanoes are said to

be created when they burst out

of the ground to report to

heaven.

Dilong: the Underground Dragons

- earth dragons who preside over

rivers and streams.

Yinglong, the Winged Dragons, are

the oldest of all eastern dragons &

the only kind with wings.

(Owens)

CHINESE DRAGONS (CONT.)

Huanglong: the Yellow Dragons,

once emerged from the River Luo

and presented the legendary

Emperor Fu Hsi with the elements

of writing. They are known for

their scholarly knowledge.

Lóng Wáng: the Dragon Kings -

rulers over each of the four seas;

they have the ability to shapeshift

into human form. They live in

crystal palaces guarded by shrimp

soldiers and crab generals.

(Owens)

Qiulong: the Horned Dragons - the mightiest

dragons.

Panlong: the Coiling Dragons - water dragons

who inhabit the lakes of the Orient.

ACTIVITY

Divinations Class: Chinese Fortune Sticks

1. Get 78 coffee stirrers or popsicle sticks and dip one end in red paint (about ½‖)

2. Once dry, number each stick 1 through 78 in both Chinese and Arabic numbers.

3. Ask a yes or no question and pull a stick.

4. Look up the answer to the question here.

http://chineseculture.about.com/library/extra/character/bls_numbers.htm

http://www.springsgreetingcards.com/catalogs/store.asp?pid=335750&catid=22647

ACTIVITY Divination Class – Period 2

I Ching: The Book of Changes

One of the oldest Chinese

texts

Themes: the balance of opposites,

the evolution of events as a

process, and acceptance of

change.

1. Get three coins.

2. Hold a yes or no question in your head.

3. Flip your coins and add up the total of your flips. Heads = 3 and Tails = 2.

4. Draw the hexagram that corresponds to the total of your coin flips and draw it.

6 = —

7 = —

8 = - -

9 = - -

5. Repeat 5 more times, placing the new results on top of your first, until the hexagram is complete.

6. Look up the hexagram meaning here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching

MYTHICAL ELEMENTS

FROM THE FELLOWSHIP

OF THE RING


BEOWULF IN THEODEN

long life as king (Geats vs. Rohan)

goes up against a monstrous

enemy (Grendel vs. the Lord of

the Nazgul)

enemy is defeated by a kinsperson

(Wiglaf vs. Eowyn)

mead hall (Heorot vs. Meduseld)


BEOWULF IN OTHERS

Aragorn

rises from obscurity to become

king

endures the scorn of a better-

known warrior who is close to

the current ruler of his kingdom

does not show Beowulf's desire

for glory

does not die as a result of

battle

Boromir

appears to have superhuman

strength

shows pride in his battle

prowess

dies fighting orcs

seeks personal glory on the

battlefield

doesn't live a long life

is not ever king


WHAT BEOWULF HAS CONTRIBUTED TO

THE CALDERON OF STORY

The synthesis of the

Germanic heroic spirit with

the Christian sense of

morality

The overarching sense of

moral purpose in the great

War that defines so much

of fantasy

the ability to choose

"rightly" in matters of

conduct


ARTHURIAN LEGEND

King Arthur = Aragorn

Merlin = Gandalf

Avalon (Arthur’s

―resting place‖) =

outermost city of the

Undying Lands of

Valinor (resting place

of immortal beings) is

called Avalonne


ACTIVITY

Divinations Class – Period 3:

Rune Casting

Writing used by the peoples of Northern Europe from the first century C.E.

Also a system of symbols used for magic & divination

each rune has a meaning

Runes also have magical & religious significance as well, transforming the simple process of writing into a magical act

Tolkien’s Dwarvish language is based on Norse Runes

Make a set of your own with Sculpy or air dry clay!

http://www.tarahill.com/runes/

MYTHICAL ELEMENTS

FROM THE GOLDEN

COMPASS


ANIMALS IN MYTHOLOGY

people have always lived in close contact with animals

developed myths & legends about them

give special meaning or extraordinary qualities to common animals

other creatures that have never existed

(Myth Encyclopedia)

ANIMALS IN MYTH (CONT.)

Animals may serve as stand-ins for humans or human characteristics (e.g., the Greek storyteller Aesop.)

animals perform heroic deeds or act as mediators between heaven and earth

can be helpful to humans or harmful—sometimes both

(Myth Encyclopedia)


Transformations (i.e.,

people turn into

animals or animals

turn into people) take

place in stories from

around the world

about crossing the

boundaries that set

humans apart from the

rest of the world

trickster mischievous

figure appearing in

various forms

mediator go-

between

shaman person

thought to possess

spiritual and healing

powers

dualistic consisting of

two equal and

opposing forces


Native American myth -

boundaries between

people & animals were

less sharply drawn (i.e.,

shape shifting)

Bears were especially

close to humans

The Tsimshian people of

the northwestern U.S. tell

about Asdiwal, a young

man who follows a white

bear up a mountain to the

sky.

Lyra with Iorek Byrnison, the Panserbjørne, or

―amored bear‖ wearing his sky-iron armor.

(Myth Encyclopedia)

ANIMALS IN MYTH (CONT.) Transformation = a sign

of power (Myth Encyclopedia)

Some shamans were thought to have supernatural abilities:

the power to communicate with animals

transform themselves into animals

Above: Harry speaks Parseltongue.

Below: Masters Moony, Wormtail,

Padfoot, and Prongs, all animagi*

(*Moony, a.k.a. Professor Remus Lupin -- a werewolf,-- is technically not an animagus.)


Fäerie often highlights the close

links between people &

animals.

West Africans & Native

Americans believe that each

person has a magical or

spiritual connection to a

particular animal that can act

as a guardian, a source of

wisdom, or an inspiration.

Some Native American

religions include nagualism,

the idea that each person's

life is linked to an animal or

object called a nagual

If the nagual is hurt or killed,

the person suffers or dies.

(Myth Encyclopedia)

HIS DARK MATERIALS: THE GOLDEN COMPASS

- DAEMONS

All humans of Lyra’s world

have daemons

the ancient Greek notion of

Daimon, a helpful spirit )

Like human souls but

external and visible in the

form of animals

Can talk

Cannot go far from their

humans

Human and daemon are

considered one

―familiar‖

(hdm.wikia.com/wiki/daemons)

Lyra Balacqua’s daemon, Pantalaimon,

as an Ermine, a symbol of purity. Pan

can change his appearance because

the daemons of children are not

permanent until their child comes of

age.

DAEMONS (CONT.)

Lord Asriel and Stelmaria

snow leopard

aloof and highly intelligent

with piercing blue eyes,

like her human

Symbolism: understanding

one’s shadow side;

associated with the devil

(hdm.wikia.com/wiki/daemons)

DAEMONS (CONT.)

Marisa Coulter and

Ozymandias

Symbolizes cleverness &

curiosity in Chinese

astrology

Ozymandias is a Greek

name for the Egyptian

pharaoh Ramses II

Percy Bysshe Shelley

wrote a poem about

Ozymandias in the 1800’s

(hdm.wikia.com/wiki/daemon)

ACTIVITY

Divinations Class – Period 4

Make an Alethiometer

Simple

Very involved

Online

http://psiboy.webs.com/alethiometer.htm

http://www.dadcando.com/default_MAKING.asp?project=Alethiometer&catagory=AdvancedModels

http://www.pagan-heart.co.uk/freeware.html

MYTHICAL ELEMENTS FROM

STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE


THE STAR WARS SAGA & ARTHURIAN LEGEND

Merlin =

Qui-Gon Jinn

Obi Wan Kenobi

Yoda

Mentor to both Arthur and Uther

Pendragon, Arthur’s father


MERLIN, THE IDEALIST PROPHET

Merlin prophecies that a man

will soon rise to bring order to

the chaos that engulfs the land

= Uther Pendragon

Qui-Gon Jinn believes that

Anakin Skywalker is the one

who will return balance to the

Force

Obi-Wan assumes the task of

training Anakin once Qui-Gon is slain

by the Sith apprentice Darth Maul.


MERLIN, THE DISAPPOINTED MENTOR

Merlin chooses to help Uther

Pendragon, believing he is the

one to restore order to the

land.

Pendragon rises to power but

uses that power only to serve

his own selfish interests.


Obi-Wan Kanobi when Anikin

Skywalker becomes a Sith lord and

turns to the dark side of the Force.

MERLIN AND A NEW HOPE

Merlin watches over and becomes tutor to a young Arthur, who grows up unaware of who his true father is.

In Arthur, Merlin sees ―a new hope‖ of fulfilling the original prophecy.

It is Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin, who returns balance to the Force as Qui-Gon Jinn prophesized.

Both take up the weapons of their fathers to fulfill their destinies.


MERLIN, THE PESSIMIST

Merlin watches how Arthur

changes as he grows into

manhood as King of the

Britons.

His treatment of Arthur

becomes harsher.

Yoda is harsher in his treatment of Luke than Obi-Wan was.

Yoda forces Luke to confront his hatred of his father -- Darth Vader -- as opposed to Obi-Wan, who shields Luke from the truth.


JEDI AND SAMURAI

Jedi were patterned after the

samurai warriors of Japan

the samurai were strictly a

warrior class

a shogun ruled over the daimyo,

his provincial lords

daimyo hired numerous samurai.

(Reihla; Smith & Brown, p. 301)

JEDI AND SAMURAI (CONT.)

Similarities in social structure between medieval Japan & the world of the Jedi

serve the greater good of their governing bodies

the preservation of order

preferred pacifist tactics often failed to achieve the desired results

Jedi prefer more peaceful means of conflict resolution than the samurai

Do not hesitate to proceed to ―aggressive negotiations‖ by using exceptional swordsmanship if needed

(Reihla)

JEDI AND SAMURAI: THE FORCE

Jedi possess a strong spiritual side –

The Force

A mystical energy field that wraps

around all living beings

Samurai had no specific religion by

which they defined themselves

In the late middle ages, however,

the majority were Zen Buddhists

Acknowledge a mystical life

energy, the chi.

Drew on it for strength and used

it for a variety of purposes,

including healing.

Meditation by Kuro Samarai

(Reihla)

JEDI AND SAMURAI: WEAPONS

Weaponry and extensive training

Daisho, a pair of curved swords

made by master craftsmen

wakizashi

katana

In 1587, shogun Hideyoshi

decreed that only samurai

would be allowed to carry the

daisho

(Reihla)

STAR WARS: A MODERN MYTH WITH

ANCIENT AND POP CULTURE ORIGINS

An American take on:

King Arthur

Previous science fiction books & films

James Bond

Joseph Campbell

The Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda

Tolkien

samurai / wuxia epics

Fäerie (myth, heroic legend, & fairy tale)

―dressed in the space-opera trappings of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon‖

―festooned with a variety of nostalgic Hollywood influences — serial-adventure swashbuckling, WWII movie dogfights, movie-Nazi villains, Western saloon shootouts.‖

(Greydanus, Dirks)

http://asian-films.suite101.com/article.cfm/wuxia-films-chinese-stories-of-martial-chivalry



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Rogers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordon

STAR WARS CONNECTIONS

History Religion Literature Fäerie Archetypes

Samurai Moses Wizard of Oz Arthurian

Legend/Excalibur

Good/Evil

Dido Cain Harry Potter The Iliad/Achilles &

Agamemnon/Hector

Hero/Villain

Wild West Sins of the father Hamlet The Odyssey/Aeneas Mentor

Dictators & Tyrants Jesuits The Lord of the Rings Hercules Damsel

Roman Empire Theism Robin Hood Zeus & Cronus Mercenary Pirate

Bread & Circuses Chi The Three

Musketeers

Chiron Outcast

Julius Caesar Spiritual

Enlightenment

Faust Earth Mother Fool

Napoleon Jonah Paradise Lost Apollo & Artemis Child-like Innocent

George

Washington

Eve & the Serpent Jason & the Argonauts Parasite

George W. Bush Dragons Man/Machine

Third Reich Nemeses

(Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, 2007)

STAR WARS CONNECTIONS

The Connections to history, literature, Fäerie, religion, and pop culture

are endless and ongoing.

What connections will you add to the saga? The Cauldron?

Safe travels on your own Hero’s Journey.

May the Force be with you!

References

Bierlein, J. F. (1994). Parallel myths. New York: Ballantine Books.

Campbell, J. (2008). The hero with a thousand faces. Novato, Ca.: New World Library.

Bollingen Series XVII, 3rd ed.

Davis, Bryan M. (1997). The Archetypal Hero in Literature, Religion, Movies, and Popular

Culture. Retrieved 7/29/10 from http://www.tatsbox.com/hero

Davis, K. C. (2005). Don’t know much about world myths. New York: Harper

Collins.

Dickerson, M. & O’Hara, D. (2006). From Homer to Harry Potter: A handbook on myth

and fantasy. Grand Rapids, MN: Brazos.

Dirk, T. (2010). Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). Retrieved on 8/13/10

from http://www.filmsite.org/starw.html.

References (cont.)

Greydanus, S. D. (2010). Why Star Wars still matters. Retrieved 8/12/10 from

www.decentfilms.com/articles/starwars.html.

harrypotter.wikia.com

hdm.wikia.com

Myth encyclopedia: Myths and legends of the world. Animals in mythology. Retrieved

on 8/12/10 from www.mythencyclopedia.com/Am-Ar/Animals-in-

Mythology.html. Advameg.

Neal, C. (2007). Wizards, wardrobes and wookies: Navigating good and evil in Harry

Potter, Narnia and Star Wars. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

REFERENCES (CONT.)

Owens, K. (2009) Draconika Dragons. Retrieved 8/8/10 from www.

Draconika.com/index.

Reihla (2004). The way of the Jedi: A comparison of the Jedi order to the

Japanese Samurai. Retrieved on 8/15/10 from

www.sagajournal.com/rwayofjedi.html.

Smith, E.L., & Brown, N. R. (2007). The complete idiot’s guide to world

mythology: Timeless tales and legends from every corner of the globe.

New York: Alpha.

Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed. Dir. Kevin Burns. 2007. The History Channel.

Videocassette

Tolkien, J. R. R. (1989). ―On fairy-story.‖ Tree and leaf. Boston: Houghton

Mifflin, p. 9-73.

Warren, L., et al. (2000). The hero’s journey. Maricopa Center for Learning

and Instruction: Maricopa Community Colleges. Retrieved 7/29/10

fromhttp://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/journey/main.html.

Original Artwork

!!! Myth Takes. 2008. !!! Warp, Web. 13 Aug. 2010. <http://pitchfork.com/

reviews/albums/9956-myth-takes/>. (Cover Artist unknown)

Fairies, Goblins and Dwarfs by Howard David Johnson, 2007

Game Wallpapers. com.The Golden Compass. 2007. Wallpapers-s.oorg. Shiny

Entertainment. Web. 13 Aug. 2010. </http://wallpaper-s.org/

18__The_Golden_Compass,_2007.htm>.

The Legend of Susanuo by Howard David Johnson

The Lightning Thief (book jacket) by John Rocco, 2008.

Meditation by Kuro Samarai. http://artzone.daz3d.com/index.php?/gallery/user/vi/&mid=

134537&aid=32859

Harry Potter – The Mirror of Erised, Mary GrandPre

Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy by François Lemoyne, 1737

Treebeard and the Hobbits by Per Sjogren, 2003

Every effort was made to provide information for every image used in this presentation.

Photos from Movies:

Beowulf. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. 2007, Paramount Pictures. Warner Home Video, 2008.

DVD.

The Golden Compass. Dir. Chris Weitz. 2007. New Line Cinema.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Dir. Christopher Columbus. 2002. Warner

Bros. , 2003. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Dir. David Yates. 2010. Warner

Bros.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Dir. Mike Newell. 2005. Warner

Bros. , 2006. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Dir. David Yates. 2009. Warner

Bros. , 2009. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Dir. David Yates. 2007. Warner

Bros. , 2007. DVD.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Dir. Alfonso Cuaron 2004. Warner

Bros. , 2004 DVD.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Dir. Christopher Columbus. 2001. Warner

Bros. , 2002. DVD.

Hero. Dir. Yimou Zhang. 2002. Miramax, 2004. DVD.

PHOTOS FROM MOVIES (CONT.)

The Last Samurai. Dir. Edward Zwick. 2003 Warner Bros. 2004, DVD.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Dir. Peter Jackson. 2001. New Line Cinema.

Mulan. Dirs. Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook. 1998. Buena Vista.

Star Wars Episode II: The Attack of the Clones. Dir. George Lucas. 2002 Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Dir. Irving Kershner. 1980. Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Dir. George Lucas. 1977. Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Dir. George Lucas. 1999. Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Dir. Richard Marquand. 1983. Lucasfilms.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Dir. George Lucas. 2005. Lucasfilms.

All images were located using Google images search. Credit was provided when available.

from hercules to harry potter: mythology in film

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