1. Archetypes & TheArchetypes & The
Hero’s JourneyHero’s Journey
What Do Harry Potter, LukeWhat Do Harry Potter, Luke
Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur,Skywalker, Simba, King Arthur,
Moses, Frodo, and William WallaceMoses, Frodo, and William Wallace
all have in common?all have in common?
2. Jung and CampbellJung and Campbell
Carl Jung and JosephCarl Jung and Joseph
Campbell developed the ideaCampbell developed the idea
of the archetypeof the archetype
Archetype: A recurring patternArchetype: A recurring pattern
of images, situations, orof images, situations, or
symbols found in thesymbols found in the
mythology, religion, art, andmythology, religion, art, and
dreams of cultures around thedreams of cultures around the
worldworld
Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell
Carl JungCarl Jung
3. Event Archetypes: Stages of theEvent Archetypes: Stages of the
“Hero’s Journey” or “Monomyth”“Hero’s Journey” or “Monomyth”
The CallThe Call
The Shadow OR OtherThe Shadow OR Other
The Journey & InitiationThe Journey & Initiation
Helpers and GuidesHelpers and Guides
The Treasure & ReturnThe Treasure & Return
The TransformationThe Transformation
** Atonement with the Father (*not in everyAtonement with the Father (*not in every
story)story)
4. The Call (part one): The OrdinaryThe Call (part one): The Ordinary
World VS The Sacred WorldWorld VS The Sacred World
The first stage of the journey is when the hero/mainThe first stage of the journey is when the hero/main
character gets the call or “itch” to do something new.character gets the call or “itch” to do something new.
We have to understand who he is and the world he livesWe have to understand who he is and the world he lives
in. The hero usually begins in an ordinary, mundanein. The hero usually begins in an ordinary, mundane
world. He may seem like a common man and often willworld. He may seem like a common man and often will
not have any particular signs of greatness. He isnot have any particular signs of greatness. He is
comfortable in this world and these surroundings. It iscomfortable in this world and these surroundings. It is
only in leaving thisonly in leaving this ordinary worldordinary world for thefor the sacredsacred
worldworld that he can gain new experiences and change.that he can gain new experiences and change.
6. The Call (part two):
The callThe call is when the hero is either asked (often by ais when the hero is either asked (often by a
heraldherald) to leave the ordinary world and try something) to leave the ordinary world and try something
new, or when he realizes that he must do this. Heroesnew, or when he realizes that he must do this. Heroes
can have several “calls” in a story. Calls are requests orcan have several “calls” in a story. Calls are requests or
impulses to do something. For the hero to begin aimpulses to do something. For the hero to begin a
journey, he must first receive or experience a call.journey, he must first receive or experience a call.
The Refusal: Sometimes the hero will refuse his missionThe Refusal: Sometimes the hero will refuse his mission
at first, but he usually accepts it eventually.at first, but he usually accepts it eventually.
8. Archetypal Hero TraitsArchetypal Hero Traits
Unusual Circumstances of BirthUnusual Circumstances of Birth
Leaves Family and Lives With OthersLeaves Family and Lives With Others
Traumatic Event Leads to QuestTraumatic Event Leads to Quest
Special WeaponSpecial Weapon
Supernatural HelpSupernatural Help
Proves Himself on QuestProves Himself on Quest
Journey and Unhealable WoundJourney and Unhealable Wound
Atonement With FatherAtonement With Father
Spiritual ApotheosisSpiritual Apotheosis
9. Unusual BirthUnusual Birth
Often in danger or bornOften in danger or born
into royaltyinto royalty
Luke w/ aunt and uncleLuke w/ aunt and uncle
Simba born a princeSimba born a prince
Moses put in basketMoses put in basket
King Arthur doesn’tKing Arthur doesn’t
know he is royalty until heknow he is royalty until he
pulls sword from stonepulls sword from stone
Harry Potter’s parentsHarry Potter’s parents
were murdered bywere murdered by
VoldemortVoldemort
10. Leaves FamilyLeaves Family
Raised away from hisRaised away from his
peoplepeople
Luke w/Luke w/ auntaunt and uncleand uncle
Simba w/ Timon andSimba w/ Timon and
PumbaPumba
King Arthur w/ MerlinKing Arthur w/ Merlin
William Wallace withWilliam Wallace with
uncleuncle
Moses w/ Pharaoh’sMoses w/ Pharaoh’s
daughterdaughter
11. Traumatic EventTraumatic Event
A hero’s life is changedA hero’s life is changed
foreverforever
Luke’s aunt and uncle’sLuke’s aunt and uncle’s
deathdeath
Wallace’s wife is killedWallace’s wife is killed
Arthur pulls sword fromArthur pulls sword from
stonestone
Simba is told father’sSimba is told father’s
death is his faultdeath is his fault
Yahweh appears to MosesYahweh appears to Moses
12. The Shadow or OtherThe Shadow or Other
The hero will encounter hisThe hero will encounter his
otherother oror shadowshadow at someat some
point. The other/shadow ispoint. The other/shadow is
his opposite, the flip side ofhis opposite, the flip side of
the coin, and is a reminder ofthe coin, and is a reminder of
what the hero may yetwhat the hero may yet
become if he is not careful.become if he is not careful.
These two characters are foilsThese two characters are foils
for one another: they definefor one another: they define
each other througheach other through
comparison and contrast.comparison and contrast.
13. The other may be a friend,The other may be a friend,
enemy, or stranger, but hisenemy, or stranger, but his
personality is, in every crucialpersonality is, in every crucial
respect, the exact opposite ofrespect, the exact opposite of
the hero’s. They are like athe hero’s. They are like a
photo and its negative, theyphoto and its negative, they
are simultaneously identicalare simultaneously identical
and opposites.and opposites.
By meeting the other, theBy meeting the other, the
hero is forced to examinehero is forced to examine
these aspects about himself,these aspects about himself,
to face his fears, and this aidsto face his fears, and this aids
in his self-discovery.in his self-discovery.
15. The Journey & InitiationThe Journey & Initiation
The hero must face many challenges in theThe hero must face many challenges in the sacredsacred
worldworld. His. His initiationinitiation into thisinto this sacred worldsacred world will causewill cause
him to change and grow.him to change and grow.
The trials serve as catalysts for inner change and may beThe trials serve as catalysts for inner change and may be
steps in his training, preparing him for his eventualsteps in his training, preparing him for his eventual
confrontation with ____ (to succeed in his main goal).confrontation with ____ (to succeed in his main goal).
In some cases, the hero is tried by forces within himself:In some cases, the hero is tried by forces within himself:
forces that tempt him to give up, to seek safety, to rest,forces that tempt him to give up, to seek safety, to rest,
to settle for less, to go back to the old life or the oldto settle for less, to go back to the old life or the old
ways of perceiving and experiencing things. In otherways of perceiving and experiencing things. In other
stories, the hero faces external enemies that he muststories, the hero faces external enemies that he must
overcome.overcome.
16.
17. Crossing a Threshold
Hero’s usually have to cross
some kind of
threshold/barrier when they
start the journey. It could be
an obvious physical dividing
point/marker or may be an
internal struggle.
There is usually a Threshold
Guardian who is there to try
and stop the hero from going
beyond this point.
18. Helpers and GuidesHelpers and Guides
Often the hero will have aOften the hero will have a
guide or an older, wiser,guide or an older, wiser,
person to give him advice onperson to give him advice on
the journey.the journey.
ThisThis mentormentor may be amay be a
teacher, spirit, god, shaman,teacher, spirit, god, shaman,
wizard, or just somebodywizard, or just somebody
who has valuable knowledgewho has valuable knowledge
and experience. Thisand experience. This
relationship echoes that ofrelationship echoes that of
the parent and child, teacherthe parent and child, teacher
and pupil, god and man.and pupil, god and man.
19. The mentor may give theThe mentor may give the
hero a gift (weapon,hero a gift (weapon,
amulet, knowledge,amulet, knowledge,
power) to aid the hero inpower) to aid the hero in
his questhis quest..
At some point in theAt some point in the
journey, the hero mustjourney, the hero must
be separated from thebe separated from the
mentor so that he mustmentor so that he must
stand-alone and provestand-alone and prove
himself.himself.
21. Special WeaponSpecial Weapon
Only the hero can wieldOnly the hero can wield
his weaponhis weapon
Luke’s light saberLuke’s light saber
Arthur’sArthur’s ExcaliburExcalibur
Moses’ staffMoses’ staff
Wallace’s swordWallace’s sword
Neo’s power over theNeo’s power over the
matrixmatrix
All of gifts DumbledoreAll of gifts Dumbledore
gives Harrygives Harry
22. Supernatural HelpSupernatural Help
Hero often has spiritualHero often has spiritual
guidanceguidance
Luke hears Obi-WanLuke hears Obi-Wan
KenobiKenobi
Arthur has MerlinArthur has Merlin
Yahweh guides MosesYahweh guides Moses
Wallace dreams of hisWallace dreams of his
dead fatherdead father
Simba sees Mufasa in theSimba sees Mufasa in the
sky and has Rafiki helpsky and has Rafiki help
himhim
23. Proves HimselfProves Himself
Hero performs feats whileHero performs feats while
on Queston Quest
Luke blows up Death Star,Luke blows up Death Star,
leadsleads rebellionrebellion
Arthur leads battles andArthur leads battles and
brings glory of Camelotbrings glory of Camelot
Moses performs miraclesMoses performs miracles
Simba contemplates his lifeSimba contemplates his life
and defeats Scarand defeats Scar
Wallace leads his men againstWallace leads his men against
BritishBritish
24. The TreasureThe Treasure
TheThe treasuretreasure is whateveris whatever
the hero is seeking. Itthe hero is seeking. It
can take a wide variety ofcan take a wide variety of
forms and may not evenforms and may not even
be a tangible object.be a tangible object.
The hero will probablyThe hero will probably
have to pass throughhave to pass through
another major thresholdanother major threshold
in order to find thein order to find the
treasure.treasure.
25. The reward or treasure may be anThe reward or treasure may be an
object of great monetary value orobject of great monetary value or
something important in some way.something important in some way.
It may be something likeIt may be something like
“knowledge” (about the world, the“knowledge” (about the world, the
answer to a mystery, etc.). Inanswer to a mystery, etc.). In
short, the prize the hero seeks mayshort, the prize the hero seeks may
assume as many different outwardassume as many different outward
forms as the trials required toforms as the trials required to
achieve it. In essence, however,achieve it. In essence, however,
the goal of the quest is always athe goal of the quest is always a
pricelesspriceless psychological gainpsychological gain: an: an
expanded consciousness, a savingexpanded consciousness, a saving
insight, or the release of long-insight, or the release of long-
suppressed creative powers.suppressed creative powers.
26. TransformationTransformation
The hero MUST change during theThe hero MUST change during the
course of his journey.course of his journey.
The change is usually gradual andThe change is usually gradual and
is a natural occurrence given all heis a natural occurrence given all he
goes through. Sometimes thegoes through. Sometimes the
change is very dramatic and thechange is very dramatic and the
hero willhero will transform physically ortransform physically or
will die and be reborn as a new andwill die and be reborn as a new and
better personbetter person..
The real victory comes when heThe real victory comes when he
learns about humanity and has truelearns about humanity and has true
understanding.understanding.
27. These stories are aboutThese stories are about changechange. The hero goes through a. The hero goes through a
TransformationTransformation, often through a, often through a death/rebirthdeath/rebirth sequencesequence
(signifying the new person that emerges).(signifying the new person that emerges). TheThe death anddeath and
rebirthrebirth can happen anywhere in the story and is usuallycan happen anywhere in the story and is usually
symbolic (though it can be literal).symbolic (though it can be literal).
28. Journey to Hell/Death & RebirthJourney to Hell/Death & Rebirth
Hero descends into a hell-likeHero descends into a hell-like
area (land of the dead?). Hisarea (land of the dead?). His
return is like returning fromreturn is like returning from
the dead. Symbolically goesthe dead. Symbolically goes
where normal humans can’twhere normal humans can’t
and finds truth about self.and finds truth about self.
The hero may just dieThe hero may just die
symbolically or people maysymbolically or people may
think he’s dead for a while.think he’s dead for a while.
29. Unhealable Wound The hero may suffer a
wound that will never
heal. This may occur in
his main fight, but could
happen anywhere in the
story/journey.
The wound may be
emotional or
psychological.
30. ApotheosisApotheosis
Hero is rewardedHero is rewarded
spiritually at the end ofspiritually at the end of
his lifehis life
He has a betterHe has a better
understanding of theunderstanding of the
world and has a sense ofworld and has a sense of
fulfillment and peace.fulfillment and peace.
31. Atonement With FatherAtonement With Father
Hero either redeems father’s evil deeds or reconciles with fatherHero either redeems father’s evil deeds or reconciles with father
over wrongs done by the hero.over wrongs done by the hero.
The “father” does not have to be his/her actual father.The “father” does not have to be his/her actual father.
Often the hero must find peace with his father, mother, orOften the hero must find peace with his father, mother, or
ancestors. This goes back to the belief that we cannot trulyancestors. This goes back to the belief that we cannot truly
know ourselves if we do not accept our past and our roots. Theknow ourselves if we do not accept our past and our roots. The
hero may be an orphan, or he may gain a surrogate parent alonghero may be an orphan, or he may gain a surrogate parent along
the journey. At any rate, he must accept his past and heritagethe journey. At any rate, he must accept his past and heritage
before he is able to move beyond this and change in anybefore he is able to move beyond this and change in any
significant way.significant way.
32.
33. Wanna find out more?Wanna find out more?
http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/http://titan.sfasu.edu/~beenet/
resources/heromain.htmlresources/heromain.html
34. 4am Productions “You can’t see the Hobbits if you’re asleep!”4am Productions “You can’t see the Hobbits if you’re asleep!”
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Hinweis der Redaktion
The archetypal hero appears in all religions, mythologies, and stories of the world. He is an expression of our personal and collective unconscious, as theorized by Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell (see below). All archetypal heroes share certain characteristics. This fact has only come to light this century, after people like Joseph Campbell began comparing mythologies of the world. Heroes are constructions; they are not real. All societies have similar hero stories not because they coincidentally made them up on their own, but because heroes express a deep psychological aspect of human existence. They can be seen as a metaphor for the human search of self-knowledge. In other words, the hero shows us the path to our own consciousness through his actions. Jung called the process of forming a consciousness "individuation," which means the process by which we reconcile the conscious/unconscious aspects of the psyche (Davies, et al. 327-331). Thus, when the hero slays a monster, he is not literally killing it in the real world, but facing an aspect of the unconscious, such as lust or rage, in order to control that side of his being. The hero stories can be thought of as road maps to successful assimilation of the conscious, rational mind with the unconscious, animal mind. The images of the hero conquering death or returning from a successful battle provide the restricted conscious mind with new raw material into which to expand, thereby forcing the consumers of the hero stories to expand their conscious image of themselves (Davies, et. al. 331). The hero stories are both a record of primitive encounters with the unconscious and a prompt for individuals to enter into the struggle for higher consciousness. Functioning in this way, heroes give men and women hope for such things as life after death, reprieve from suffering, and a sense that order rules their lives.
Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell are two of the most prominent explorers of the psychoanalytical and mythological origins for human and social behavior. Carl Jung expanded the work of Sigmund Freud and the unconscious mind to emphasize the mythological forces working within the individual to shape his or her personality. Jung formed the concept of archetype and collective unconscious to explain the commonality of dream images and situations found in all people. Jung believed individual and social behavior and thought have their roots in a common palette of characters and situations the mind retains from early human consciousness development. To Jung, the archetypal hero represents the psyche's quest for individuation, the process that makes each person unique. Joseph Campbell built on Carl Jung's concept of the collective unconscious to encompass all the world's mythologies. Campbell studied the world's religions, art, and stories and discovered common threads throughout all, including the hero. Campbell believed that mythology is the collective "dream" of mankind, the "song of the universe." Campbell's work highlights mankind's common search, both personally and socially, for meaning and truth through the ages.
Simply put, an archetype is a recurring pattern of character, symbol, or situation found in the mythology, religion, and stories of all cultures. In the context of archetypes, Campbell defined his work as a search for "the commonality of themes in world myths, pointing to a constant requirement in the human psyche for a centering in terms of deep principles." (The Power of Myth xvi). Jung defined his concept of the archetype as a formula that is the result of "countless experiences of our ancestors. They are, as it were, the psychic residue of numberless experiences of the same type." (quoted in Gordon ii). Both men felt that the experience of being human can be examined collectively across time, space, and culture, and that our commonality can be traced to the most primitive origins of the human consciousness, where the archetypal themes originate in modern men and women. Archetypes can be thought of as the precursor to conscious thought, existing in the unconscious mind as expressions of psychic happenings, but without a basis in the physical world. Humans didn't "invent" archetypes, but they do express archetypes in the conscious world of art, literature, and religion. Unconscious energies are given form in this way. Therefore, the hero is not someone "out there" in the world; he is all of us and our need to grow and mature.
A hero's birth will always have an unusual aspect to it. Many heroes are born to royalty or are in danger at birth. Either way, they are marked by these circumstances as different and destined for greatness. Remember the beginning of Lion King? Simba's birth is being celebrated. The unusual aspect of his birth is his royal status. His father, Mumfasa, is the King of the Jungle. Moses wasn't born into royalty like Simba, but he grew up in the Pharaoh's household. Ramses II had decreed that all Hebrew male babies under age two be killed, so Moses' mother placed him in a raft on the Nile, where he was found by one of the Pharaoh's daughters. Although viewers of Star Wars must wait until the second movie to find out the truth about Luke's birth, hints about the unusual circumstances are given, such as the fact he lives with his aunt and uncle and didn't know his parents. King Arthur was not only born a prince, his father Uther Pendragon used Merlin's wizardry to seduce Arthur's mother, the wife of another man.
Sometimes the circumstances are traumatic that force the hero to leave, as with Simba in The Lion King or Wallace in Braveheart , both of whom lose their fathers violently. With Luke in Star Wars and Arthur in the legends of King Arthur, the circumstances are more for protection than anything else. Either way, the hero must leave his home temporarily. Simba's father is murdered by Scar, which leaves our little hero helpless and forces him to leave his kingdom. Have no fear, however, heroes always return to their land. On the right is a small portion of a painting by Michelangelo in the Sistene Chapel. Michelangelo covered the walls and ceiling of this chapel with paintings depicting Biblical stories so people could see their heroes in action. Moses also had to leave. Remember what he did that forced him out of Egypt? He slew an Egyptian slavemaster in anger. That's Moses with the sword at the bottom of the painting. He is also shown at the top of the painting, fleeing Egypt. Moses appears many times in the same painting because Michelangelo tells Moses' entire life story in one picture. He did this because at the time most people couldn't read and depended on images to understand their religion. Now, granted, he was a man when this happened, but he still was forced out of his "land." Michelangelo showed the story of a hero visually, just like modern-day movies show the hero in action. The hero has remained the same through time, even until today. Pretty neat, huh?
An event takes place that begins an adventure for the hero. Sometimes it is traumatic, like Wallace losing his wife in Braveheart , or it is coincidental, like Simba meeting Nala. Either way, the hero begins his adventure. Simba initially fights with Nala, but they soon realize they are friends. She tells him of Scar's reign, which begins Simba's quest to gain his father's kingdom back from Scar. William Wallace in Braveheart only begins to fight after his wife, Murron (on the right), is killed by the local British commander. Her death haunts him throughout the movie in addition to sparking the beginning of his quest for freedom. King Arthur began his quest by drawing the sword from the stone (not Excalibur). Not traumatic of course, but surprising because Arthur was a lowly squire at the time. Luke abruptly began his quest to fight the Empire when Stormtroopers murder his aunt and uncle. Luke left the farm and never returned, going on to become a Jedi master. Moses had nothing less than his god, Yahweh, appear in person to prompt Moses to go to Egypt and lead the Hebrews out of slavery. The picture on the right is another portion of the painting in the Sistene Chapel by Michelangelo. Yahweh (He's on the left) is telling a young Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Hebrews out of slavery.
You can't be a hero without a cool weapon, right? It's true. In most hero stories, the hero has a special weapon, often one that only he can use. Luke uses a light saber, an outdated weapon of the Jedi Knights, in Star Wars . Here's Luke testing the light saber Ben has just given him. The saber belonged to Luke's father. Only a Jedi can master this weapon. This is an illustration from the 1800's of Arthur receiving Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake. When Arthur died, Excalibur was thrown back into the lake because only Arthur could wield this weapon. Here's Wallace with his sword. While it doesn't appear to be anything special, only he was allowed to carry it because it represented his power and prowess as a warrior. Here's another painting by Michelangelo from the Sistine Chapel depicting Moses at the Red Sea. Notice his staff (He's on the left, in yellow and green, with the staff over his right shoulder). That's the same one he used to perform miracles for Pharaoh, and also what Yahweh told him to raise to part and close the Red Sea.
Heroes always seem to receive some sort of supernatural help, whether it be from a god, a wizard, or a spirit. Luke in Star Wars gets help from Ben even after Ben is slain by Darth Vader. Here is Ben healing Luke after Luke has been attacked by the Sand People. Ben has many powers that make him a wizard-like character, similar to Merlin. Ben teaches Luke about the Force and later guides him from the spirit world. Perhaps the most famous supernatural hero helper is Merlin, a wizard and counselor for King Arthur. Merlin is very powerful in sorcery and can even change shapes. His command of the supernatural world benefits Arthur both as a boy learning from Merlin and later as King. Simba sees his father's spirit and also gets helps from Rafiki, a medicine man-type character. Rafiki is the supernatural force in The Lion King . He doesn't play as large a part as Merlin or Ben, but he does influence Simba and provide him with guidance. This image by Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel is of Moses first displaying the Ten Commandments, then destroying them after he sees the idol worship. Notice the person standing behind him in blue and yellow. That's an angel, representing Yahweh's supernatural help for Moses.
A hero just can't claim he's a hero and assume his position, now can he? The hero must prove to himself and others that he is the true hero. For instance, Moses performs many miracles to free his people from Egypt as well as help them survive the desert and reach Canaan. Luke faces Darth in battle several times during the Star Wars trilogy. These battles, along with other services Luke provides for the Rebellion, his training with Yoda, and his personal maturing are part of the trials he must successfully pass through to become the hero. Here's Wallace at the front of his men, about to charge the enemy. Wallace's success in battle against overwhelming odds, along with his political ability, help him to overcome the obstacles to freedom, which was his ultimate quest. Here's Arthur leading a charge in one of the many battles into which he led his men. Arthur's success in battle, just like Wallace's, is part of the proof of his heroic status. Leadership and courage allow the hero to overcome obstacles that lesser men could not. That's the hero for ya'! Moses proves himself to the Pharaoh by performing miracles that the Pharaoh's magicians cannot equal, showing Moses' power through his god. Simba, like Luke, is immature at first and unable to be the hero he will eventually become. However, once Simba realizes Scar must be removed and Simba is the only one who can do it, Simba assumes his proper role as the hero and saves the land from the evil Scar. Hmmmmm, that -does- sound just like Luke, doesn't it?
The hero is always on some type of adventure with a purpose--a quest if you will. He experiences many things on this quest, among which is a descent into a kind of "hell." In this hell he experiences a low point in his life that leaves him scarred forever with a real or psychological wound that will not heal. The hero learns from this descent into "hell" much about himself and usually matures greatly from the experience. Luke in Star Wars perhaps illustrates this stage best. His quest, without knowing it at first, is to rescue his father from the dark side of the Force. Luke's descent into hell occurs when he decides to rescue his friends trapped on Cloud City, Lando Calrissian's gas mining operation. He leaves his Jedi training before it is completed to perform this rescue. Luke is not prepared to face Darth Vader, who is waiting for him at the gas mine. Check this out. This scene (above right) is in the carbon-freeze chamber on Cloud City, where Darth plans to trap Luke. Does the lighting and characters remind you of anything? Thought so. In the duel that takes place between Luke and Darth in this chamber and beyond (right), Luke loses his hand and chooses to jump to almost certain death rather than give in to Vader's proposal to join the dark side of the Force. Luke's loss of his right hand in the duel is his Unhealable Wound. Clearly, this is the lowest point in Luke's journey to become a Jedi Knight and save his father. His wound and this low point teach him about himself, however, and eventually help him to become a true hero. Other heroes suffer low points in their journeys. Arthur never recovers from the affair Guinevere has with Lancelot. William Wallace knew his execution would make him a martyr, so he was courageous as he was in his "hell"--the dungeon. Moses' doubt of himself and Yahweh cause him to suffer his Unhealable Wound: denial of entry to the Promised Land. Simba's descent into "hell" is combined with his defeat of Scar and the hyenas. Remember all the flames in the background as he fights Scar? He symbolically goes where none of the other lions could go in order to help his tribe and prove himself. Simba's Unhealable Wound? His past, where his courage failed him and his tribe, will always haunt him.
After the hero's journeys are over, the hero is rewarded spiritually in some way. Normally, the hero achieves a life in bliss, often in a place with other heroes, like Valhalla or the Isle of the Blessed from mythology. Examples differ widely at this point. Although the movie version of his life takes many liberties, the real William Wallace lives on in the spirit of his country, as shown by his statue in Stirling, Scotland (right). There is no indication of what happens to Simba but we can infer from the appearance of his father's spirit that immortality awaits him. Arthur is called the "Once and Future King" for good reason. Here's Arthur being placed on his funeral ship. His body is set adrift to let the sea carry him off, but he is promised to return one day to reclaim his throne of England. This promise implies his spirit is waiting somewhere and is not really dead, his reward for his sacrifice as king. Here's the painting from the Sistine Chapel showing Moses' life. He's in two places in this shot, one on the left praying, and again on the right in blue being carried to heaven by angels. Even though he didn't get into the Promised Land, Moses' service to the Yahweh gained him spiritual reward of heaven. Here's Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Anakin Skywalker in spirit form. They all were Jedi Knights and are now rewarded spiritually for being on the Good Side of the Force, implying that a Jedi like Luke will be rewarded when his body dies.
Atonement means to offer payment for a wrongdoing. Very often, heroes must avenge a father or make up for the father's evil. William Wallace's revolt was driven in part to avenge his father's death in the war with England. Indeed, the father's ghost haunts Wallace's dreams throughout the movie. Moses' "father," Yahweh, doesn't allow Moses into the Promised Land as a way of Moses atoning for his doubt, a situation that reverses the traditional atonement by the hero for the father. The spirit of Mumfasa, Simba's father, tells Simba to be strong and assume his place on the throne. Simba, who has been reluctant up to this point to return to his kingdom, realizes he has little choice but to avenge his father's murder. Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon, is unscrupulous and lustful. He uses his power to satisfy his personal urges, fathering Arthur deceitfully with a woman under a spell of Merlin that makes her think Uther is her husband. He looks a bit on the evil side, doesn't he? His father's evil legacy puts Arthur in a position to atone for his father's sins and be a good king, helping his people with selfless service. Luke's ultimate quest is rescuing his father from the evil of the Dark Side. Here, Luke consoles his dying father after his father saves Luke and atones for his own past by killing the Emperor, the leader of the Empire. Much like Arthur, Luke chooses to be good, the opposite of what the father chose, and therefore atones for the father's sins.
This is the address for a graduate school research project I shaped into a web site. It contains a Q&A section that addresses the darker aspects of the hero, like the hegemony inflicted on minority groups by the dominant group through the image of the hero. It also has sources and archetypal hero traits in HTML form, so the kiddos can surf the same images and text that are in the notes of this Powerpoint presentation. WORKS Breen, Myles, and Farrel Corcoran. "The Myth in the Discourse." Annual Meeting of the Central States Speech Association. Milwaukee, April 15-17, 1982. Burke, Ken. "Mythical Structures in Community Vision." Annual Meeting of the Central States Communication Association. Cleveland, April 9-12, 1992. Campbell, Joseph. The Hero With a Thousand Faces . Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1949. Campbell, Joseph, and Bill Moyers. The Power of Myth New York: Doubleday, 1988. Davies, Robert, James Farrell, and Steven Matthews. "The Dream World of Film: A Jungian Perspective on Cinematic Communication." The Western Journal of Speech Communication. 46 (1982): 326-343. Gordon, Walter. Literature in Critical Perspectives New York: Meredith Corp., 1968. Prentice, Penelope. "Tell Me a Story I'll Never Forget or Deconstructing Traditional Narrative Plot/Myths to Challenge the Ethics of Conflict." Annual Meeting of the College English Association. 23rd Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, 27-29 Mar. 1992. Valesio, Paolo. "The Beautiful Lie: Heroic Individuality and Fascism." Reconstructing Individualism: Autonomy, Individuality, and the Self in Western Thought . Ed. Thomas Heller, Morton Sosna, and David E. Wellbery. Stanford, California: Stanford UP, 1986. 163-183. Wilkerson, Norma. "Archetype in Fiction and Film." College Board Vertical Teams AP English Conference. Hotel Sofitell, Houston. 15 Nov. 1997. Williams, Raymond. Marxism and Literature . Oxford: Oxford UP, 1989. LINKS The Camelot Project, The University of Rochester: http://rodent.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/cphome.htm The Joseph Campbell Foundation: http://www.jcf.org C.G. Jung: Analytical Psychology and Culture: http://www.cgjung.com Paramount Studios ( Braveheart ): http://voyager.paramount.com/braveheart/Braveheart.html Official Lucasfilms Star Wars Site: http://www.starwars.com Sistine Chapel: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/sistine/0-Tour.html The Irresistible Force ( Star Wars ): http://swa.simplenet.com/iforce/ The New Republic ( Star Wars ): http://www.ovnet.com/userpages/mrblond/index.html Unofficial Lion King WWW Archives: http://www.lionking.org Official Lion King Disney Site: http://www.disney.com/DisneyVideos/masterpiece/shelves/thelionking/index.html IMAGES Pyle, Howard (1853-1911). “Merlin” from: The Story of King Arthur and His Knights . New York: Scribner's, 1903. Pyle, Howard (1853-1911), “Uther-Pendragon” from: The Story of King Arthur and His Knights. New York: Scribner's, 1903. Rhead, George Wooliscroft & Louis. “Arthur Leading the Charge at Mount Badon” from Tennyson, Alfred. Idylls of the King : Vivien, Elaine, Enid, Guinevere. New York: R. H.Russell, 1898. Smith, John Moyr. “Excalibur.” From a set of twelve tiles illustrating the Idylls of the King for Minton, c. 1875. Smith, John Moyr. “Morte D'Arthur.” From a set of twelve tiles illustrating the Idylls of the King for Minton, c. 1875.
If you feel this presentation is useful to you, please consider supporting my efforts by sending a little money. I’m asking only $20 for a project that has taken at least two and a half years to create. I’m a fellow teacher who only wants to support his computer habit! Thanks. Make checks payable to: Bryan M. Davis 3917 Water Oak Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 [email_address]