Writing Warm-Up
IN THE “LITERATURE” SECTION OF YOUR BINDER....
The Hero’s Journey
An archetype
for creating OR analyzing
a story of a hero
What is a hero?
What characteristics make up a
hero?
Are there different types of
heroes?
Can a firefighter or a soldier who
takes the chance of risking his or
life everyday be compared to
What is a True Hero?
brings hope to society
is defined by acts of courage and bravery
inspires people to pursue and achieve dreams
Despite the media’s tendency to loosely use the term
“hero,” there are a few necessary components.
The true hero...
True Hero vs. Everyday Hero
A “true hero” is different than an “everyday
hero.”
The Anti-Hero
An “antihero” is someone who does
not have hero-like qualities and is
often a character with poor morals
and a lack of authority.
The Hero’s Journey of
Harry Potter
The Three Stages of Joseph
Campbell’s Hero’s Journey
1. Departure/Separation
2. Initiation
Stage One:
Departure:
Call to Adventure
The point in a person’s life when something important happens that sends the person in a new direction.
It can come in the form of an opportunity, an accident, a gift, a decision, a dream, a new piece of information.
The bottom line is that the to-be-hero receives a Call to Adventure, an invitation of sorts that will take him or her into a new world of
adventure.
Departure:
Refusal of the Call
Oftentimes, the hero-to-be tries to refuse the Call to
Adventure.
The future hero might be afraid OR feel that he can’t leave
responsibilities OR that he isn’t strong enough or smart
enough to start an adventure.
Departure:
Supernatural Aid
Once the hero has started the adventure, a guide or magical helper (Mentor) often appears to provide help.
Harry’s Guide/Mentor is Dumbledore, who often acts through other characters such as Hagrid and
Professor McGonagal.
The Mentor figure often offers items of importance (talismans) that will aid along the journey.
Throughout his journey, Harry receives several talismans, some from his mentor Dumbledore and some from others.
Departure:
Crossing of the First Threshold
This is the point when the person actually begins his or her adventure.
The adventure has been accepted and the hero is ready to begin!
The hero leaves his or her familiar neighborhood and normal life and goes into unknown and dangerous places where the rules are not known.
Departure:
The Belly of the Whale
At this point in the adventure, the hero is truly between worlds.
The familiar world has been left behind and the world of adventure lies ahead.
For many heroes, this is a very frightening moment when they feel all alone and very aware of the challenges to come/the important task they have taken on.
Harry Potter’s Belly of the Whale moment in The Scorerer’s Stone is when he is in Hogwarts the first night. He is
Stage Two:
Initiation:
The Road of Trials
The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks or ordeals
that a person must undergo as part of becoming
a hero.
A hero usually needs his or her magical helper or
objects on the road of trials.
Or he or she may discover hidden talents just when they are
needed most.
Harry Potter undergoes many trials in each book. In The
Initiation:
The Meeting with the Goddess
After surviving the road of trials, the hero may experience a great love. In many classical myths and stories, the great love is represented by a goddess figure.
In many stories, it is a romantic love. It may also be the warm, heart-filling love we feel for friends and family or an experience of a divine love.
In any case, the hero gains strength and a wonderful feeling of well-being from the experience.
Harry has never received love and acceptance from his aunt and uncle who raised him.
Initiation:
The Temptation
At some point in the adventure, the hero will be tempted to quit the
journey and go home.
Although the hero may not be tempted to return to the ordinary
world, the one he or she knew before the adventure, the hero might
be tempted to leave the adventure and take a different path in life.
Harry Potter experiences this Temptation more than once and in
different forms:
At times, he feels that he just isn’t capable of doing what
Initiation:
Atonement with the Father
This is the center point of the journey, much like the climax of a short
story or novel.
Everything that has happened so far has been moving the hero
toward this confrontation; everything that follows will move out from
it.
In this step, the person must face whatever holds the ultimate power
in his or her life.
In many myths and stories, this is the father,
or father figure who has life and death power.
Initiation:
Apotheosis
After facing and surviving the great power in his or her life, the
hero may have an experience of the oneness and beauty with the
universe.
It is a period of rest and reflection before
the return journey is made.
It is a “Life is good” type of moment.
After Harry defeats Voldemort, he has some
time to bask in this glory for a few days
before he must return to the Dursleys’
for the summer.
Aaah.... Lif e is good! I’m g
oing to bask in this
Initiation:
The Ultimate Boon
The ultimate boon is the achievement of the
goal of the quest.
It might come in the form of a physical
“prize” (like a pot of gold, the Holy Grail, or
even a person) or it might be in the form of
knowledge.
It is what the person went on the journey to
get.
Stage Three:
Return:
Refusal of the Return
Sometimes, when the adventure has been a glorious or very
satisfying one, the hero refuses, or almost refuses, to come
back to normal life.
Return:
The Magic Flight
Sometimes the hero must steal the boon and then
make a daring escape.
Return:
Rescue from Without
Just as the hero may have needed a magical guide or
helper to set out on the quest, sometimes he or she
must have help to come back to everyday life.
Return:
Crossing of the Return Threshold
The hero crosses a threshold to return just as when the
adventure began.
The hero’s task at this point is to remember what was learned
during the quest and to use it to make life better for him or
herself and others.
This is the point at which many stories end, “And they lived
happily ever after.”
Return:
Master of Two Worlds
At this point in the journey, the hero is
comfortable with him or herself and has learned
how to be comfortable with the everyday world
and the world of adventure.
The “Master of Two Worlds” step is a little
Return:
Freedom to Live
When a person has survived a great adventure and has
truly learned to accept him or herself, they often become
free from the fear of death.
Freedom from the fear of death is truly the freedom to
live.
QUICK CHECK
Write down the answers to the following questions. Turn these in to your teacher by the assigned date.
1. What are the three main stages of the Hero’s Journey?
2. What is the Call to Adventure and how does Harry Potter receive his Call to Adventure in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?
3. Why does Harry almost refuse his Call to Adventure?
4. Describe one of the events that could be seen as Harry’s Crossing of the First Threshold.
