There is an archetype or typical story structure in stories from all over the world and from many different periods of time.

Recognizing and understanding this story sturcture can be a powerful tool in analyzing works of literature as well as other story mediums such as movies, television, and plays.  Of course, not every story follow the hero structure exactly, but the ones that do are the stories that have the most emotional impact, longevity, and universal appeal.

Don't worry if it all sounds like Greek to you at first.  We'll be discussing "The Hero's Journey" in class and applying it to the stories we have read and movies you have seen.  By the end of this unit, you will be able to recognize the structure  in everything from "Star Wars" to Harry Potter.
 

In a nutshell, the Hero's Journey goes as follows:

In many stories, there is a mythological hero or heroine who we first see in his or her ordinary life.  Then the hero is lured, carried away, or voluntarily sets forth to the edge of adventure.  In many stories, the hero is helped by a wise old man or woman that gives him or her the courage to proceed.  With this help, the hero enters into a strange and often scary world.  There, the hero meets friends and foes who either help or hinder him or her in many tests and trails. If the hero or heroine succeeds in passing these tests, the hero makes his way to the innermost cave or sanctum of this strange world.  There, the hero is challenged to a supreme ordeal which brings him to the brink of failure.  But alas, the hero triumphs and captures some kind of spoils of victory to bring back with him to the ordinary world.  The road back to the ordinary world may be difficult, but finally, the hero returns home with an elixir.  In the end, the hero is transformed or learns something from his experiences--he or she may be a kinder, braver, or wiser soul.
 

Two types of Heroes.

Protagonist-
• mature hero
• already proven himself, either in battle or by undertaking difficult tasks
• often a soldier, king, or some member of royalty
• primary purpose(s) of journey:
    1) to restore order to the community
    2) to discover the flaw within himself that has kept him from true success; this flaw is often
        hubris or excessive pride

Initiate-
• a younder hero in training (learning the skills necessary to be a hero)
• primary purpose of journey:
    1) maturation
    2) leaving childhood behind
    3) becoming an adult/coming of age
• sometimes the hero is already mature, but he is "untried" and has hesitated in taking the journey, so he must be "pushed" out
 

Stages of the Journey

1) Separation
• hero leaves familiar surroundings and ventures out into the unknown
• hero must face unfamiliar conditions alone and test his or her abilities
• for the initiate, separation, is symbolic of leaving childhood behind
• this stage begins with Chaos, a disorder within the community or the hero's life.
• hero's quest to restore order

2) Transformation (Road of trials)
• primary stage of journey
• hero faces difficult tasks, tests, and obstables for example:  battles, monsters, riddles, etc
• hero must overcome obstacles or he cannot return home and restore order
• most difficult part of transformation is the
    DESCENT INTO HADES
        - descends into a place of darkness to battle his worst fears
        - sometimes the descent is physical, symbolized by a pit, cave, tunnel, forest, even Hell
          itself
        - sometimes hero must fight his own flaws and fears in Hades
• after battling, her experiences a "rebirth" or is reborn a "new man"
• now, he can return home and restore order
 

3)Return
• final stage of journey
• hero returns home, builds a new community, or restores order within himself
• hero is ready to take his place as leader
• however, restoration of order sometimes requires the death of the hero
    -IF this happens the hero turns the leadership over to a younger hero
    - with the death of the old hero, the younger hero will take his palce and continue the quest
 

More Information on the Journey Pattern

Open the Suitcase and follow the Hero's Journey!
 
 

© Lee Ann Spillane, November 2000
Notes adapted from Karla Owens