ODS - The Hero & Mythology Lesson

Joseph Campbell, a well-known mythology scholar, put forth the theory of the monomyth. In his theory, he says that there is a general outline or pattern of a hero's journey ... a pattern that all true heroes on a journey follow to a degree. Some pieces may be left out, but the general pattern is still clear. Odysseus is said to be this type of hero - an epic hero.

Heroes that show up in a variety of stories, across multiple cultures, are said to be archetypal heroes. An archetype is a common character or symbol that can be found in many different types of stories.

Campbell took these archetypal behaviors and expanded them into characters, found in many stories across the world. They are intertwined into mythology to create the archetype as we know it today. The basis of the archetype is a behavior or character upon which others are based.

That being said, you may find similar characters in a variety of different stories who have the same basic qualities - an archetype. Some examples are the jester, the magician, the caregiver, the mother figure, and the mentor. Examples of these characters can appear in many types of literature, and while each character has unique traits, the underlying character distinctions are the same.

Before moving on, let's take a look at the presentation and video below. The presentation will walk through some of the terms mentioned above. Be sure to take notes as you watch.

The Hero Journey's Video

Take a look at the following video below. It make take a few minutes to load, so please be patient.

Epic Hero Q & A Self-Assessment

The Hero and Mythology Reading Assignment

Please read The Hero's Journey handout. Links to an external site.

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