An Archetypal Hero, the Hero’s Journey, and a
Hemingway Code Hero

 Joseph Cambell
 1940s
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The Hero with a Thousand Faces
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Identified underlying patterns in myths, stories, and spiritual traditions
Brought public’s attention to them and created language with which to uncover and communicate the archetypes in narratives
He is the guy who brought us readers the Hero’s
Journey….HOORAY!!!!

Even though you might not know it yet, almost every narrative you read, person’s life story you hear, and movie you see will have some or all elements of the
Hero’s Journey
…yes… Superbad, The Odyssey, your grandmother’s life story, YOUR life story, Star Wars,
Shrek, Old Man and the Sea…and on and on and on

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Unusual circumstances of birth; sometimes in danger or born into royalty
Leaves family and lives with others
An event, sometimes traumatic, leads to an adventure or quest
Hero has a special weapon only he can wield
Hero always has supernatural help
Hero must prove himself many times while on adventure
The Journey
Hero experiences atonement with the father figure
When the hero dies, he is rewarded spiritually

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Hero
Mentor
Threshold Guardian
Herald
Shapeshifter
Shadow
Trickster

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Ordinary World
Call to Adventure
Refusal of the Call
Meeting with the Mentor
Crossing the Threshold
Tests, Allies, and Enemies
Approach to the Inmost Cave
Ordeal
Reward (Seizing the Sword)
The Road Back
Resurrection
Return with the Elixir

 Hemingway Code Hero
 A man’s man – drinking, love affairs, bull fights, etc.
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Involved in things the typical male is not
Does not talk about what he believes in
Man of action rather than theory
 Not a talker, a doer

 Death is the basis of the actions of Hemmingway’s
Heroes
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“when you’re dead, you’re dead”
Death ends all; man must seek his reward here, now, immediately
Exists in large part for gratifying his sensual desires
(eating, drinking, sex)
Devoted to the rewards (physical pleasures)

 The Hemingway Hero must avoid death at all costs
 Life is enjoyable…we like life…we want to live
 Hemingway often places his heroes in harms way and makes them choose to confront death
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Courage and grace under pressure
Fear of death but not afraid to die; never a coward
In death’s presence, a man discovers his own sense of being…his potential

 It is consistent from day to day
 Hemingway’s hero is never a sloppy drunk – he can hold his liquor – he is disciplined
 Action is important – talking about it is not
 Emotions….no thank you; it takes away from the importance

 The Hemingway Code Hero is skilled
 When he does what he is good at, he finds himself
 Does not put up with mediocrity
 Loyalty is handed in small doses
 Intense, personal , immediate friendships with those like him

The test of Heroism is courage
The essence of Heroism is conduct