The Hero’s Quest
Watership Down and the Monomyth,
Adapted from Joseph Campbell’s
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Thoughtful
Thursday
• “All stories consist of a few common structural
elements found universally in myths, fairy tales,
dreams, and movies. They are known collectively as
THE HERO'S JOURNEY. Understanding these
elements and their use in modern writing is the object
of our quest. Used wisely, these ancient tools of the
storyteller's craft still have tremendous power to heal
people and to make our world a better place.”
• Christopher Vogler, Mythic Structure for Storytellers and
Screenwriters
Freewrite
• Who are some literary heroes that go on a quest?
• Freewrite: Do you agree or disagree that knowledge of
this motif can impact the world for the better? Why or
why not?
Review of Literary
Terms
• A motif is a recurring pattern of thematic elements in
literature or art.
• The Hero’s Quest Motif examples:
• The Lord of the Rings
• Star Wars
• The Wizard of Oz
The Departure
• Call to Adventure: Hero sets forth: lured, kidnapped or
drawn by his own desire. How does the character receive the
call to adventure?
• Aid: Who or what helps the hero on his journey? Guide,
Mentor, Companions, Divine Aid?
• Crossing the Threshold: At what point in the story does the
hero leave the familiar world and move into a new,
unfamiliar circumstance?
The Initiation
• Road of Trials: What specific challenges does the hero face?
• Test: Does the hero battle some kind of monster? Does the
hero have to face some inner demon?
• Ultimate Boon/ Magic Elixir: Does the hero find some
special solution to the problem he is attempting to resolve?
• Supreme Ordeal: What is the moment of most danger?
• Expansion of Consciousness: illumination, transformation,
freedom. How is the hero changed and ready for return to
the world?
The Return
• Hero Returns from Kingdom of Adventure: Is there
some point (generally toward the end) where the hero
“escapes” or is pursued out of the “darkness?”
• Master of Two Worlds: Does it appear that the hero
has conquered life in both the familiar and unfamiliar
worlds?
• Freedom to Live or Return “Home”: Since the hero
typically begins the journey to resolve a problem, does
it appear the problem is at last resolved so that all can
life freely?
Note:
• Not all parts of the journey are used in every
story.
• They may appear in a different order.
• The more complex and interesting the story, the more
parts of the journey are present.
Groups
Group1: Call to Adventure/Aid
Kaley
Carolyn
Mina
Group 4: Ordeal/Consciousness
Yuenyuen
Sammi
Claudia
Cailee
Group 2: Threshold/Trials
Erika
Alli
Skylar
Anna
Group 5: Return
Savannah
Ryan
Nathan
Cate
Group3: Test/Boon
Carley
Emma
Austin
Aliya
Group 6: Challenge
Evan
Harrison
Lauren
Alexandria