Hero's Journey

Hero's Journey

Hero's Journey

• Joseph Campbell, an American mythological researcher, wrote a famous book entitled The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

• In his lifelong research Campbell discovered many common patterns running through hero myths and stories from around the world.

• Years of research lead Campbell to discover several basic stages that almost every hero-quest goes through (no matter what culture the myth is a part of).

• He calls this common structure “The Monomyth.” 

1. THE ORDINARY WORLD

Heroes exist in a world is considered ordinary or uneventful by those who live there. Often the heroes are considered odd by those in the ordinary world and possess some ability or characteristic that makes them feel out-of-place.

Multiple Choice

In the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, what is Dorthy's ORDINARY WORLD?

• Oz

• California

• Kansas

• alternate universe

2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE

For heroes to begin their journeys, they must be called away from the ordinary world.

Fantastic quests don’t happen in everyday life. Heroes must be removed from their typical environment. Most heroes show a reluctance to leave their home, their friends, and their life to journey on a quest. But in the end they accept their destiny. Usually there is a discovery, some event, or some danger that starts them on the heroic path. Heroes find a mystic object or discover their world is in danger. In some cases, heroes happen upon their quest by accident. Campbell puts it like this, “A blunder—the merest chance—reveals an unsuspected world.”

Multiple Choice

In the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, what is Dorthy's CALL TO ADVENTURE?

• tornado

• gypsy

• Toto

3.0REFUSAL OF THE QUEST

During the Call to Adventure heroes are given a task or quest which only they can complete. They are faced with a choice: accept the quest or deny it. Their choice might seem like a no-brainer. If they don’t accept the quest, there won’t be much of a story—or will there? Actually there are stories where heroes don’t accept their destinies. When this happens, the stage is set for disaster.

Campbell notes that heroes who refuse their quest often become characters in need of rescuing or in Minos’ case, the villain of another hero’s journey.

4. ENTERING THE UNKNOWN

As they embark on their journey, the heroes enter a world they have never experienced before. Very often it is filled with supernatural creatures, breathtaking sights, and the constant threat of death. Unlike the heroes’ home, this outside world has its own rules, and they quickly learns to respect these rules as their endurance, strength, and mettle are tested time and time again. After all, it is not the end of the journey which teaches, but the journey itself.

 The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy must learn the rules of Oz 

5. MEETING THE MENTOR / SUPERNATURAL AID

Supernatural doesn’t have to mean magical. There are plenty of hero stories that don’t have wizards or witches per say. Supernatural simply means “above the laws of nature.” Heroes are almost always started on their journey by a character who has mastered the laws of the outside world and come back to bestow this wisdom upon them. This supernatural character often gives them the means to complete the quest. Some of the time the gift is simply wisdom. Other times it is an object with magical powers. In every instance it is something the hero needs to succeed. As Campbell says, “One has only to know and trust, and the ageless guardians will appear.” The job of the supernatural assistor is to give the heroes what they need to finish the quest—not finish it for them. 

 TALISMAN: A Special (and often magical) items that assist the heroes on their quest.

Multiple Choice

In the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, what is Dorthy's SUPERNATURAL AID?

• RUBY SLIPPERS

• MAGIC WAND

• YELLOW BRICK ROAD

 ALLIES/HELPERS

Every hero needs a helper, much like every superhero needs a sidekick. Without the assistance of their companions and helpers along the way, most heroes would fail miserably.

Multiple Select

In the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, what/who is Dorothy's Ally or Aid?

There may be more than one correct answer.

• Lion

• Tin Man

• Scarecrow

• Glenda the Good Witch

• The flying monkeys

6. Entering the Unknown ‘Crossing the Threshold’

• The hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and enters unknown territory.

7. TESTS & THE SUPREME ORDEAL

The heroes progress through a series of tests, a set of obstacles that make them stronger, preparing them for their final showdown. At long last they reach the Supreme Ordeal, the obstacle they have journeyed so far to overcome. All the heroes’ training and toil comes into play now. The journey has hardened them, and it’s time for them to show their prowess. Once this obstacle is overcome, the tension will be relieved. The worst is passed, and the quest, while not officially over, has succeeded.

 The Wizard of Oz: Defeating the Wicked Witch

Multiple Choice

In the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, what is Dorthy's TEST AND SUPREME ORDEAL?

• Change Oz

• Defeating the wicked witch

• Make friends

8. Ordeal

The hero confronts death or faces their greatest fear.

9. REWARD AND THE JOURNEY HOME

Typically, there is a reward given to heroes for passing the Supreme Ordeal. It could be a kingdom. It could be the hand of a beautiful princess. It could be the Holy Grail. Whatever it is, it is a reward for the heroes’ endurance and strength. After the heroes complete the Supreme Ordeal and have the reward firmly in hand, all that is left is for them to return home. Just because the majority of the adventure has passed doesn’t mean that the return journey will be smooth sailing. There are still lesser homebound obstacles to overcome.

10. MASTER OF TWO WORLDS/ RESTORING THE WORLD

Success on the heroes’ quest is life-changing, for them and often for many others. By achieving victory, they have changed or preserved their original world. Often they return with “the exilir,” an object or personal ability that allows them to save their world. The heroes have also grown in spirit and strength. They have proved themselves worthy for marriage, kingship, or queenship. Their mastery of the outside world qualifies them to be giants in their own.

Multiple Select

In the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, how does Dorthy's RESTORE THE WORLD AND/OR MASTER THE TWO WORLDS?

There may be more than one correct answer.

• Returns to Kansas

• Frees the wizard

• Saves her family

• Rids Oz of the wicked witch