Monomyth

1

Select the sentence that supports the idea that the monomyth is timeless.

• A. "(The pattern) was discovered by Joseph Campbell, a scholar of myths, stories, and religions from all over the world."

• B. "Ancient examples of the hero's journey... fit Campbell's outline and form the basis for its existence."

• C. "Of note, the hero's journey was traditionally told with a male hero, although many modern interpretations tell the monomyth through a heroine's adventure."

• D. "The stages of the hero's journey have been interpreted by scholars and creators with slightly different twists, names, and interpretations."

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2 Part A

A central idea of the theory is that the hero's journey is a common thread across stories, from ancient to modern. Which statement below would best develop this central?

• A. Research shows most authors follow the monomyth pattern like a formula.

• B. Stories following the hero's journey are more successful than those with other formats.

• C. Examples showing how novels, movies, and even real-life stories all follow the monomyth pattern.

• D. Details showing how ancient myths like The Odyssey follow each portion of the hero's journey.

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2 Part B

Which of the following details best supports the central idea in Part A?

• A. "Campbell proposed that the formula isn't set in stone."

• B. "Chances are, as you read the description of each stage, one or more stories you know came to mind."

• C. "The hero's journey contains characters that represent certain archetypes. These are typical examples of a type of character like a villain or hero."

• D. "The hero's journey begins in the normal world. Typically, the hero is unremarkable, or sometimes considered out of place or odd."

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3 Part A

Based on our discussions, what impact does the hero's journey have on his or her world?

• A. It allows the hero to offer knowledge or something physical that benefits the world.

• B. It allows the hero to survive a terrible ordeal.

• C. The world remains unchanged when he or she returns from the mystical land.

• D. The journey is repeated in the next story of the quest.

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3 Part B

Which statement supports the answer in Part A?

• A. "The hero has survived death, weathered catastrophe, and/or overcome the beast. He receives a reward for completing the final test, a prize for the strength and fortitude shown."

• B. "But often, [the journey home] isn't easy. The hero may face obstacles or be hindered by forces in pursuit of his reward."

• C. "The hero returns to his world more knowledgeable and changed....The hero delivers an elixir to benefit the ordinary world."

• D. "While the monomyth is most easily applied to the story of a quest...thousands of modern novels, movies, and even real-life stories follow the journey's pattern."

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4

Read this article excerpt.

"George Lucas, creator of Star Wars, has acknowledged that Campbell's monomyth was the inspiration for the Star Wars saga. He credits the success of the saga to the timeless appeal of the hero's journey."

Choose a word that would best replace "timeless" in the excerpt without changing its meaning.

• A. unchangeable

• B. short-lived

• C. enduring

• D. timely

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5

The information we discussed in class orders ideas on the monomyth by:

• A. comparing and contrasting ancient and modern myths.

• B. proving that the hero's journey causes literary success.

• C. showing that the hero's problem is solved through magic.

• D. providing a sequential look at the elements of the hero's journey.

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6

The theory indicates the hero's journey mimics the human experience. Which of the following excerpts supports this statement?

• A. "As the hero takes on a series of test, the obstacles faced (and hopefully conquered) provide strength."

• "Literary archetypes are based on psychologist Carl Jung's personality archetypes. He considered these ancient patterns of personality a shared heritage of the human race."

• C. "And even true stories from the events in the real world often follow the pattern. The monomyth is an ageless description of the journey of life."

• "The structure lends itself to growth, which each piece of the pattern an opportunity for a writer to tell the story, using Campbell's stages as inspiration."

8

Which two of the following statements best supports the idea that the hero's journey may represent a personal real-life journey?

• A. "The structure lends itself to growth, with each piece of the pattern an opportunity for a writer to tell the story, using Campbell's stages as inspiration."

• B. "The hero's journey is every writer's journey because it tells the story of life."

• C. "Ancient examples of the hero's journey...fit Campbell's outline and form the basis for its existence."

• D. "This supports the belief held by some experts that the hero's journey mimics an individual's journey through life."

• E. "Nearly any Disney movie, frequently based on a fairy tale, follows the hero's journey."

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10

Characters who help the hero

• Allies/Sidekick

• Herolds

• Mentors

• Shadows

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