2. The Hero: Tools for AnalysisThe Hero: Tools for Analysis
Joseph Campbell – most popular
3. The Hero: Joseph CampbellThe Hero: Joseph Campbell
◦ The Hero’s Journey involves the following
common elements (dubbed the “monomyth”)
Departure: Call to adventure, Refusal of the call,
Supernatural aid, etc.
Initiation: Road of trials, meeting the goddess,
atonement with father, ultimate boon, etc.
Return: Refusal of return, magic flight, return
threshold, freedom to live
4. The Hero: Joseph CampbellThe Hero: Joseph Campbell
◦ The Hero’s Journey and the “Monomyth”
Very popular among Hollywood writers and
directors:
Popular examples:
Star Wars
The Matrix
5. The Hero: Joseph CampbellThe Hero: Joseph Campbell
◦ In Myth and Knowing, Leonard & McClure have
strong reservations about Campbell’s
approach.
“Campbell carries forward the 19th
-century bias against
the “primitive” races who still believed in their myths.”
(12)
Focuses on the “rugged individual,” which may actually
be specific to western/American culture. (17)
6. The Hero: Joseph CampbellThe Hero: Joseph Campbell
◦ In Myth and Knowing, Leonard & McClure say:
“Campbell promoted what he called a ‘living
mythology,’ a nonsectarian spiritual path through
which the individual might gain a sense of spiritual
and social purpose and through which society might
be returned to simplicity and moral virtue.” (18)
7. The Hero: Joseph CampbellThe Hero: Joseph Campbell
◦ Does Joseph Campbell’s monomyth tell you
more about the story, or Campbell’s vision of
a “nonsectarian spiritual path?”
8. The Hero: Tools for AnalysisThe Hero: Tools for Analysis
So, how do we analyze hero stories?
9. The Hero: Tools for AnalysisThe Hero: Tools for Analysis
So, how do we analyze hero stories?
◦ Examine the context of the story (Greek,
Sumerian, Chinese, American, etc.)
10. The Hero: Tools for AnalysisThe Hero: Tools for Analysis
What does the story mean for the
people who produce/use it?
◦ The telling of myths should be treated as
performances or texts through which the structure
of the performer’s culture may be reconstructed
and understood.
-Robert Layton, University of Durham
11. The Hero: Tools for AnalysisThe Hero: Tools for Analysis
What values are
expressed in the story?
How are these
messages the same or
different than those of
another culture?
12. The Hero: Tools for AnalysisThe Hero: Tools for Analysis
How would you apply these tools to
the following myths and stories?
13. The Hero: PerseusThe Hero: Perseus
Click for Perseus' story
Perseus is a premiere
example of Greek heroism.
He overcomes all obstacles
to defend his family and exact
revenge. He proves
honorable and valiant, calm
and clever.
As he fights for his
mother's respect and hopes
for his estranged father's
love, he values family and
loyalty above all else (Source)
14. The Hero: JonahThe Hero: Jonah
Click for Jonah's story
Set in mid-8th
century
Israel. Under King
Jeroboam II, Israel achieved
its most prosperous time
since Solomon, regaining
lost territory and wealth.
Messages include God’s
sovereignty and man’s
need to obey the laws and
calling of God.
15. The Hero: Joan of ArcThe Hero: Joan of Arc
Click for Joan's story
15th
-century French
heroine and Roman
Catholic saint. Led
miraculous military
victories over English and
Burgundian forces.
Seen as an example of
Catholic devotion, a
woman in a traditionally
male leadership position, a
martyr for her faith, etc.
16. The Hero: QuestionsThe Hero: Questions
How are hero stories used to inspire
individuals
How do hero stories convey the values
of a society?
Can a story originate in one context, yet
take on another meaning in a different
social context? (Please give examples.)
