HARRY POTTER: THE HERO’S JOURNEY (MONOMYTH)
There are FOUR stages in Harry’s heroic journey and each stage has a series of steps.
1. BIRTH & CHILDHOOD (CHS. 1/2)
a. A child of destiny:

Harry, as a young child, has shown that he has
some ‘sort’ of magical power but does not know how
to control it yet

eg. Harry talks to the snake (zoo)

eg. He has a mark of importance (scar) which he
knows nothing about

abused and neglected – he is being raised by his
aunt and uncle (the Dursleys), who do not consider him to be part of the family

eg. They make him live in the cupboard under the stairs, give him no gifts or new
clothes

eg. Dudley and his gang beat him up
2. DEPARTURE (CHS. 3/4)
a. The Call to Adventure
 he receives tons of letters inviting him to Hogwarts which is an invitation to begin his
life as a wizard
 his destiny is partially defined – he finds out about Lord Voldemort’s attempt on his
life and how he survived
b. Supernatural Aid
 Hagrid arrives at the rock shack, saves him from the Dursleys and takes him off
to Hogwarts
c. Allies (Friends)
As the hero prepares to begin his quest, he encounters
friends/other adventurers who share his/her goals or
path
 Ron:

Hermione:
d. The Crossing of the First Threshold
 Harry leaves for Hogwarts – takes the train
from platform 9 ¾ (Kings Cross Station)
 he leaves the everyday world and into the
mythological world
3. THE QUEST
a. The Road of Trials
The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to
begin the transformation.








Harry’s initiation is when he attends the ‘sorting ceremony’
He wishes to be a Gryffindor and the hat grants him the
wish
Harry becomes an immediate enemy of Draco Malfoy,
who is a Slytherin
Harry is tempted by two off limit places: (1) The 3rd floor corridor
(2) The forbidden forest
 Harry encounters a three headed dog, the same
dog Cerberus, from mythology (used to guard
Hades in the underworld)
 the three headed dog, Fluffy, guards the corridor
that Harry and his friends race through
THE FINAL CONFRONTATION:
always an encounter with someone or something with incredible power:
Voldemort (the villain)
hero must be alone
there is an obstacle course of magical challenges (chapter
16)
Harry believes Quirrell is the villain, but then finds out it is
Voldemort, who is much worse!
WHY?
 because he is a world destroyer and killed Harry’s parents
 he probes Harry’s mind for weakness and taunts him
 both Harry and Voldemort are in physical pain while struggling with each other
 Harry thinks of others first, and holds onto Quirrell even though it is killing him
 he almost dies, but then defeats Voldemort
 (triumphs over villain a 2nd time)
4. THE RETURN
a. The Reward
 Harry has saved Hogwarts and his friends from disaster
(world)
 Gryffindor wins the house championship (social)
 Harry has brought honour to his family name (personal)
b. The Crossing of the Return Threshold
Harry returns to #4 Privet Drive – he must return to the world that he came
from to complete the hero’s journey