9/24/2008

The Monomyth & Hero Cycle

Monsters::Wappett Monsters:: Wappett 09/24/2008

Overview
Summaries Assignments for next time The Monomyth Discussion The Hero Cycle Your Hero Journey

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Some Questions to Think About

What is your favorite story and why? Why do we tell stories to each other? What do stories tell us about ourselves?

The Monomyth
Joseph Campbell discovered that essentially all stories are the same storyonly the perspective, place, and time changes Campbells ideas were based on Carl Jungs notions of the collective unconscious Jung said that each of our fantasy lives were shaped on archetypal structures that are common across racial/cultural bounds.

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The Collective Unconscious

Just as the human body shows a common anatomy over and above all racial differences, so, too, the human psyche possesses a common substratum transcending all differences in culture and consciousness. I have called this substratum the collective unconscious, [which] is the brain structure irrespective of all racial differences (from Jung on Mythology, p. 83).

Archetypes
An archetype, according to Jung, is a common theme or representation within the human psyche.
Characters
The The The The Hero Guide Outcast Star-Crossed Lovers Star-

Situations/Symbols
The Quest Loss of Innocence The Initiation Water Green, growing things

Can you think of others?

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The Most Common Story: The Hero Cycle

Stage 1: Call to Adventure

A herald or announcer appears
Often [but not always] someone dark and/or unordinary Sometimes a beast

The call is typically heard someplace remote-remote--for for example, in a dark forest, near a great tree, beside a babbling spring, etc. The call promises both treasure and danger. The call requires travel to a distant land, forest, or kingdom somewhere underground, beneath the waves, above the sky, on a secret island, atop a lofty mountain-mountain--even even in a profound dream state.

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Stage 2: Refusal of the Call

The consequences of accepting the call:
The person gains an almost superhuman degree of selfself -consciousness and masterful control. The person responds only to the deepest, highest, richest answers to problems faced in life. life. In these stories, the adventure that the hero is ready for is the one he gets. The adventure is symbolically a manifestation of his character. Even the landscape and the conditions of the environment matches his readiness. readiness.

The consequences of refusing the call:

The person loses the power of significant affirmative action and becomes a victim to be saved. According to Campbell, the persons flowering world becomes a wasteland of dry stones and his life feels meaningless.

Stage 3: SuperSuper-natural Aid

Usually [but not always] masculine in form Typically a wizard, hermit, shepherd, or smith smith---someone someone peripheral Supplies the amulets and advice that the hero will require to begin

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Stage 4: Crossing the Threshold

The hero goes forward in his adventure until he comes to the entrance zone of magnified power. Beyond is darkness, the unknown, and danger. The hero is swallowed into the unknown, and would appear to have died. died. (Campbell, Hero with a Thousand Faces, p. 77)

Stage 5: The Belly of the Whale

The passage of the threshold is a form of selfself-annihilation. The hero is to be born again, undergo a metamorphosis, shed his character for a new one.

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The Most Common Story: The Hero Cycle

Stage 6: The Road of Trials

The hero must put aside pride, virtue, beauty, and life. He must bow and submit to the absolutely intolerable. Dragons must be slain, victories won, barriers passed, ecstasies experienced, etc.-etc.--usually usually in series of threes.

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Stage 7: Meeting with the Goddess

Usually depicted young and/or beautiful Teaches the hero an important lesson. Does not have to be a goddess [such as the Greek Athena or the Egyptian Isis]. Any strong female or feminine force meets the requirements for this stage.

Stage 8: Atonement/Sacred Marriage/Elixir Theft

The hero encounters his biological father, a father figure, a strong male presence, or someone or something with incredible power. At first, the father represents what the hero despises or disagrees with. The hero is killed during the encounter-encounter--either either literally or symbolically-symbolically--so so that a new self can come into being.

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Stage 9: Apotheosis
The hero is deified or achieves divine stature

Stage 10: The Ultimate Boon

All previous steps have prepared and purified the hero for the boon. A difficult task is accomplished with great ease. The boon is sometimes the goal of the adventure-adventure--a a magical elixir, the holy grail, a golden fleece.

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Stage 11: The Refusal of Return

The hero-quest requires that the hero return. The responsibility has been frequently refused.

Stage 12: The Magical Flight or Rescue from Without

The final stage of the heros adventure is supported by all the powers of his supernatural patronor complicated bymagical obstruction obstruction.. The world may have to come and get him. Society is jealous of those who remain away from it, and will come knocking at the door.

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Stage 13: Crossing the Return Threshold He [must] re-enter where men who are fractions imagine themselves to be complete.

The Most Common Story: The Hero Cycle

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The End Stages

The master of two worlds, free to cross between both.
Freedom to pass back and forth across the world division is the talent of the master. Powerful in insight, calm and free in action, the hero is the conscious vehicle of the terrible, wonderful Law of the Universe, whether his work be that of butcher, jockey, or king.

The Hero Cycle

http:// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AG4rlGkCRU www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AG4rlGkCRU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anjoJkOZtNg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anjoJkOZtNg

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