Star Wars and the hero myth

Star Wars and the Hero Myth

Preparation: Vocabulary

Reference: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/sites/podcasts/files/LearnEnglish-Reading-B2-Star-Wars-and-the-hero-myth.pdf

Multiple Choice

to be exactly the same as

• a mentor

• to pre-date

• to mirror

• a threshold

• an obstacle

Multiple Choice

to happen before a later event

• a mentor

• to pre-date

• to mirror

• a threshold

• an obstacle

Multiple Choice

the line between one place and another

• a mentor

• to pre-date

• to mirror

• a threshold

• an obstacle

Multiple Choice

to travel across a line or border

• to cross

• to pre-date

• a mentor

• a threshold

• an obstacle

Multiple Choice

a difficult thing that stands in your way, a challenge

• to cross

• to pre-date

• a mentor

• a threshold

• an obstacle

Multiple Choice

someone who acts as a teacher and guide to help you in your life

• to cross

• to pre-date

• a mentor

• a threshold

• an obstacle

Star Wars and the Hero Myth

Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?
*Do this after reading the text.

Multiple Choice

Joseph Campbell’s original book cover has links to the Star Wars films.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Ancient Greeks also based their stories on Campbell’s ideas.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Other film directors after George Lucas have carefully followed the hero myth structure.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Obi-Wan Kenobi sends Luke a message and starts his adventure.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The hero is always willing to accept the call to adventure.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The hero often finds strength from some kind of loss.

• True

• False

Star Wars and the Hero Myth

Task 2
Write the correct form of the word in brackets.

Fill in the Blanks

Critics of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens complained that the film was ……………………………… . (origin)

Fill in the Blanks

The film was so similar to the first Star Wars film that the story was really ……………………………… . (predict)

Fill in the Blanks

The front cover of later ……………………………… of the book, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" had Luke Skywalker on the front cover. (edit)

Fill in the Blanks

George Lucas was one of the first film ……………………………… to use the ideas in Joseph Campbell’s book to plan his hero’s journey. (direct)

Fill in the Blanks

Lucas based Luke Skywalker’s story ……………………………… on the 17 stages of the hero’s journey described by Campbell. (direct)

Fill in the Blanks

The hero has to overcome obstacles on the way such as ……………………………… or loss. (die)

Fill in the Blanks

When Luke loses his mentor, he finds the ……………………………… he needs for the rest of his journey. (strong)

Fill in the Blanks

When heroes are finally ……………………………… , they return from the special world, changed by their experiences forever. (succeed)

Star Wars and the Hero Myth

Discussion
What are your favourite hero stories?