The hero's journey

Definition

The hero's journey is a narrative structure that describes the typical adventure of the archetypal hero as they go through various stages, including a call to adventure, facing trials, achieving a victory, and returning transformed. This framework is crucial for understanding storytelling across cultures, revealing universal themes of growth, struggle, and transformation in literature and mythology.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The hero's journey consists of several stages, including the Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting with the Mentor, Crossing the Threshold, Tests and Allies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, Ordeal, Reward, The Road Back, Resurrection Hero, and Return with the Elixir.
2. Joseph Campbell popularized the concept of the hero's journey in his work 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces,' where he analyzed myths from various cultures to identify this common pattern.
3. Many popular stories and films follow this framework, including 'Star Wars,' 'The Lord of the Rings,' and 'The Lion King,' showcasing how it resonates with audiences.
4. The hero's journey often involves themes of self-discovery and personal growth, where the hero learns valuable lessons and gains new perspectives through their experiences.
5. In psychoanalytic criticism, the hero's journey can be viewed as a representation of inner psychological processes, with characters reflecting different aspects of the self.

Review Questions

• What are the main stages of the hero's journey and how do they reflect universal themes in storytelling?
  • The main stages of the hero's journey include the Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting with the Mentor, Crossing the Threshold, Tests and Allies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, Ordeal, Reward, The Road Back, Resurrection Hero, and Return with the Elixir. These stages reflect universal themes such as growth through challenges and transformation as a result of overcoming adversity. This structure resonates across different cultures because it mirrors fundamental human experiences.
• Discuss how psychoanalytic criticism interprets the hero's journey in terms of inner psychological processes.
  • Psychoanalytic criticism interprets the hero's journey as an exploration of inner psychological conflicts and development. Each stage can be seen as representing different aspects of the psyche: for instance, the call to adventure signifies an awakening desire for growth or change. The trials faced by the hero can symbolize internal struggles or fears that must be confronted for personal development. Ultimately, this journey reflects a deeper understanding of oneself and one's place in the world.
• Evaluate how the hero's journey can be applied across different cultures and literary traditions to understand character development.
  • The hero's journey serves as a lens through which we can evaluate character development across various cultures and literary traditions. By applying this framework universally, we can see how different societies express common human concerns such as identity formation and moral dilemmas through their heroes' trials. This approach not only highlights similarities but also illuminates cultural nuances in how heroes embody virtues or confront societal challenges. Understanding these connections deepens our appreciation for diverse narratives while emphasizing shared human experiences.

Related terms

Monomyth: A term used to describe the common structure of the hero's journey that appears in many cultures and myths, suggesting a shared human experience.

Archetype: A typical example of a character or theme that recurs across different stories, representing universal patterns of human nature.

Mythology: A collection of myths or traditional stories that often involve gods, heroes, and explanations of natural or social phenomena, serving as cultural narratives.