The Monomyth

Inspired by the History Channel's new feature on Star Wars: "Star Wars: A Legacy Revealed," I have been reading up on Joseph Campbell's concept of The Hero's journey. He develops this thesis in his book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces."

I had to study this in my Literature class in College but unfortunately I had to use it in studying a horrible, horrible book of which I gladly do not even remember the name involving quantum strand theory and a love triangle. What I did enjoy though was the concept of the Hero's journey.

Joseph Campbell was a professor and author whose work centered around the study of mythologies and religions from around the world. He found that for the most part all hero's stories, consistent throughout cultures around the world have many of the same themes in common.

Here is an outline:

I. Departure

• 1. The Call to Adventure
• 2. Refusal of the Call
• 3. Supernatural Aid
• 4. The Crossing of the First Threshold
• 5. The Belly of the Whale

II. Initiation

• 1. The Road of Trials
• 2. The Meeting with the Goddess
• 3. Woman as the Temptress
• 4. Atonement with the Father
• 5. Apotheosis:
  
• 6. The Ultimate Boon

III: Return

• 1. Refusal of the Return
• 2. The Magic Flight
• 3. Rescue from Without
• 4. The Crossing of the Return Threshold
• 5. Master of the Two Worlds
• 6. Freedom to Live

This outline, found on www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html, is an example of how similar two similar popular hero stories are:




This is very intriguing to me. Everyone loves hero stories. It is also interesting that the story of Christ, as well as stories of many other religious heroes follow this pattern very closely. It makes you wonder, whose copying who?