The Monomyth

Joseph Campbell

THE MONOMYTH

THE MONOMYTH Campbell’s thesis is that all myths follow this structure to some extent  The Odyssey  The story of Moses in The Bible  The Lord of the Rings  Alice in Wonderland  Harry Potter  The Lion King  King Arthur … and many more 

PEOPLE INFLUENCED BY CAMPBELL Bob Dylan  Jim Morrison  George Lucas  Jerry Garcia  Christopher Vogler – Disney Studios  Stanley Kubrick 

THREE SECTIONS  The

Departure / Separation

 The

Initiation

 The

Return

STAGE 1: THE DEPARTURE THE CALL TO ACTION / ADVENTURE

Hero begins in his normal, mundane world  There is usually a trigger: a challenge, problem, or a request  There may be figurative or literal treasure  There is tension – will he/she accept or not?  The call may be gradual or forceful  The hero may need encouragement to begin 

REFUSAL OF THE CALL Hero may initially hesitate  Hero is reluctant to leave home / normal, everyday life  Call may not seem important  Hero may have responsibilities 

ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALL The hero realizes there is nobody better to do the job  There may be no one else available  The hero may need the encouragement of a mentor 

SUPERNATURAL AID The hero is given help to make him wiser, stronger, better able to face the challenges  Aid may be maps, information, weapons, or a special talisman 

MENTOR The hero is given support and aid by a teacher  Often, the archetype of the wise, old man is presented 

COMPANIONS The hero is joined by friends who will help with the adventure and support the hero in the different trials  Sometimes they contrast the hero to emphasize the positive traits of the hero 

CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD This is the point of no return as the hero sets out on the journey  He must leave the home world and enter the new world of adventure  This is a very symbolic act often signifying a stage in a rite of passage  It is a defining, scary moment; the hero is now independent  It may be guarded by people, monsters, or difficulties which have to be overcome 

ENTERING THE BELLY OF THE WHALE The hero defeats the Threshold Guardian and finds himself/herself in a dark place  The hero may find his true purpose  The belly may be an ambiguous place  There is definite danger  This is based on the Biblical story of Jonah  It may involve the “lion’s den or dragon’s lair” 

STAGE 2: THE INITIATION THE ROAD OF TRIALS

The hero is on “the road” of the journey  This is the pathway he/she must follow  He/she will encounter physical and mental challenges that will improve his/her skills  The hero grows in confidence and capability  There may be a “brother battle” with a familiar foe (also a “dragon battle / monster”)  The hero gains strength with each trial 

THE MEETING WITH THE GODDESS The hero meets a powerful female figure with whom he finds unity and bonding  She is the “amina” (female side) to his male side/soul; combined he is a total person  She is beautiful, queen-like, or motherly  She gives support  She may be ordinary or a mystical, supernatural being 

WOMAN AS TEMPTRESS FROM TRUE PATH Hero meets temptation in female form  She offers short-term relief or gratification  To give in to her would cause the mission to fail  She is symbolic of short-term pleasures that test the hero’s ability to make difficult judgments  She may be deliberately sent by a villain 

ATONEMENT WITH THE FATHER Hero encounters a father-like, patriarchal authority  Father and son are often pitted against one another but must be reconciled  The father must be beaten, persuaded, or approval gained  The person may be a high authority or an immortal  The hero gains power by taking it from father 

APOTHEOSIS The point at which the hero achieves a greater understanding after overcoming these trials  It is a breakthrough moment in consciousness  The old hero “dies” and is reborn as a more resolved self  The hero may change in appearance  The hero is ready for the difficult task, even death (self-sacrifice) 

THE ULTIMATE BOON The goal of the journey is achieved  This happens after a battle with the villain or a difficult trial  The hero is psychologically balanced  The hero is ready to receive the gift  The is the climax of the story 

STAGE 3: THE RETURN REFUSAL OF THE RETURN

The hero has finished his/her quest and  Doesn’t want to leave the new world / return to the old world  He / she is afraid that the old world may not accept the “new” person who changed because of the journey 

THE MAGIC FLIGHT The hero decides to return home  The hero may be accompanied by a protector who helps overcome obstacles on the way home  The hero may have to face those who he angered on the journey 

RESCUE FROM WITHOUT On the way home, the hero may need rescued from  A state of helplessness or bliss or from  Death 

CROSSING OF THE RETURN THRESHOLD On the way home, the hero must again cross the threshold that separates the new and old worlds  The hero may have to defeat another gatekeeper  The hero is again symbolically “reborn” after his “death” of the first threshold crossing 

MASTER OF TWO WORLDS The hero realizes there is nothing separating his home and the new world  The hero has achieved balance between the safety and comfort of home and the new world  This balances his character and mind 

FREEDOM TO LIVE With the journey complete, the hero understands him/herself  The hero can live freely between home and the new world  With new knowledge, the hero can be beneficial to the world 