THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
DAVID N CHUNG
PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
OCC GATE CONFERENCE 2010:
“MIND THE EXCELLENCE GAP”
SECONDARY STRAND
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE
What do Star Wars, Harry
Potter, Lois Lowry’s The Giver,
C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch,
and the Wardrobe and Homer’s
The Odyssey all have in
common? All have heroes that
partake in a journey of
significant change, that is, the
“hero’s journey”. All stories
have heroes that are truly
profound for our students
today — profound when
enabling students to explore
the archetype of the hero in
literature and in their own
lives.
Discover how to facilitate this literary, personal, and collaborative exploration on the hero’s journey archetype
enhanced with the elements of depth (patterns, big ideas, ethics) and the parallels content imperative that
culminates with a photo essay using iPhoto.
PREMISE: THE HERO IN ALL OF US
 The Hero
 The Journey
TERMS
SOURCES
ARCHETYPES:
 SYMBOLS
 SITUATIONS
 CHARACTERS
THE CONVERGENCE
 THE HERO’S JOURNEY
 VARIATIONS OF THE JOURNEY
 KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE JOURNEY
THE ORGANIZER
IPHOTO / IMOVIE / POWERPOINT / BIG HUGE LABS
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
ARCHETYPES
DEFINITION
ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS/ATTRIBUTES
or

An original model or pattern from which other later
copies are made, especially a character, an action, or
situation that seems to represent common patterns of
human life.

Often include a symbol, a theme, a setting, or a
character that some critics think have a common
meaning in an entire culture, or even the entire
human race.

Possess particular emotional resonance and power.

Universal “prototype” or template

Recur in different times and places in myth,
literature, folklore, fairy tales, dreams, artwork, and
religious rituals. [K. Wheeler]

In and throughout literature and film

Dr. Carl Jung, first identified universal patterns
within works and mythology regardless of culture or
historical period. 

Jung hypothesized that the human mind contained a
“collective unconscious” shared by all members of
the human species. This theory can be applied to the
concept of the hero and the hero’s journey. Recognizing archetypal patterns in literature brings
patterns we all unconsciously respond to in similar
ways to a conscious level. [MC Barmann]
THE TERM ARCHETYPE CAN BE APPLIED TO:
 An image
 A theme
 A symbol
 An idea
 A plot pattern
 A setting
THEREFORE, TO SUMMARIZE, THERE ARE ARCHETYPAL:
 Symbols
 Situations
 Characters
EXAMPLES
ARCHETYPES CAN BE EXPRESSED IN…






Myths
Dreams
Literature
Religions
Fantasies
Folklore
VARIATIONS
THE HERO’S JOURNEY [BARMANN]:
Stage
1:
Departure:
The
hero
is
called
to
adventure,
although
he
is
reluctant
to
accept.
Stage
2:
Initiation:
The
hero
crosses
a
threshold
into
a
new,
more
dangerous
world,
gaining
a
more
mature
perspective.
Stage
3:
The
Road
of
Trials:
The
hero
is
given
supernatural
aid,
endures
tests
of
strength,
resourcefulness,
and
endurance.
Stage
4:
The
Innermost
Cave:
The
hero
descends
into
the
innermost
cave,
an
underworld,
or
some
other
place
of
great
trial.
Sometimes
this
place
can
be
within
the
hero’s
own
mind.
Because
of
this
trial,
the
hero
is
reborn
in
some
way—
physically,
emotionally,
or
spiritually.
Through
this
experience,
the
hero
changes
internally.
Stage
5:
Return
and
Reintegration
with
Society:
The
hero
uses
his
new
wisdom
to
restore
fertility
and
order
to
the
land
APPLICATION:
 PHOTO ESSAY: IPHOTO, IMOVIE, POWERPOINT, MOVIEMAKER
[Apple & Microsoft both have fabulous, practical tutorials on how to use their media program]
 FLICKR, PICASA, GOOGLE IMAGES
 FREEPLAYMUSIC.COM
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
MAIN POINTS
DETAILS
MY EXAMPLES
NOTE CHARACTER’S NAMES AND THE NAME OF LITERATURE/FILM
1. Hero as WARRIOR (Odysseus): A near godlike hero faces physical challenges and
external enemies
2. Hero as LOVER (Prince Charming): A pure
love motivate hero to complete his quest
3. Hero as SCAPEGOAT (Jesus): Hero suffers
for the sake of others
4. TRANSCENDENT Hero: The hero of tragedy
whose fatal flaw brings about his
downfall, but not without achieving
some kind of transforming realization or
wisdom (Greek and Shakespearean
tragedies—Oedipus, Hamlet, Macbeth,
etc.)
HEROIC
ARCHETYPES:
5. ROMANTIC/GOTHIC Hero: Hero/lover with a
decidedly dark side (Mr. Rochester in
Jane Eyre)
6. PROTO-FEMINIST Hero: Female heroes (The
Awakening by Kate Chopin)
7. APOCALYPTIC Hero: Hero who faces the
possible destruction of society
8. ANTI-Hero: A non-hero, given the
vocation of failure, frequently humorous
(Homer Simpson)
9. DEFIANT ANTI-hero: Opposer of society’s
definition of heroism/goodness. (Heart
of Darkness)
10. UNBALANCED Hero: The Protagonist who
has (or must pretend to have) mental or
emotional deficiencies (Hamlet, One
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)
11. The OTHER—the DENIED Hero: The
protagonist whose status or essential
otherness makes heroism possible
(Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, The Joy
Luck Club by Amy Tan)
12. The SUPERHEROIC: Exaggerates the normal
proportions of humanity; frequently has
divine or supernatural origins. In some
sense, the superhero is one apart,
someone who does not quite belong, but
who is nonetheless needed by society.
(Mythological heroes, Superman)
http://teacherweb.com/OK/OklahoaCityPublicSchools/Barmann/Archetypes.doc.
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
ESSENTIAL PARTS OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY
MAIN POINTS
DETAILS

The quest for identity

The epic journey to find the promised land/to found the
good city
TYPES OF

The quest for vengeance
ARCHETYPAL
JOURNEYS

The warrior’s journey to save his people

The search for love (to rescue the princess/damsel in
distress)

The journey in search of knowledge

The tragic quest: penance or self-denial

The fool’s errand

The quest to rid the land of danger

The grail quest (the quest for human perfection)

The hero is naïve and inexperienced

The hero meets monsters or monstrous men

The hero has a strange, wise being as a mentor

The hero years for the beautiful lady who is sometimes his
guide or inspiration

The hero must go on a journey, learn a lesson, change in
some way, and return home

The hero often crosses a body of water or travels on a
bridge.

The hero is born and raised in a rural setting away from
cities

The origin of the hero is mysterious or the hero losses
his/her parents at a young age, being raised by animals or a
wise guardian

The hero returns to the land of his/her birth in disguise or
as an unknown

The hero is special, one of a kind. He/she might represent a
whole nation or culture

The hero struggles for something valuable and important

The hero has help from divine or supernatural forces

The hero has a guide or guides

The hero goes through a rite of passage or initiation, an
event that marks a change from an immature to a more
mature understanding of the world

The hero undergoes some type of ritual or ceremony after
his/her initiation

The hero has a loyal band of companions

The hero makes a stirring speech to his/her companions

The hero engages in tests or contests of strength (physical
and/or mental) and shows pride in his/her excellence

The hero suffers an unhealable wound, sometimes an
emotional or spiritual wound from which the hero never
completely recovers.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE HERO’S
JOURNEY
EXAMPLES IN __________________________
http://teacherweb.com/OK/OklahomaCityPublicSchools/Barmann/Archetypes.doc.
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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HERO’S JOURNEY IN _____________________________________
AUTHOR / DIRECTOR:



GENRE:
THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
Name:
Class:
Date:
STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY:
SEPARATION FROM THE KNOWN WORLD:
o
THE CALL, THE THRESHOLD
INITIATION & TRANSFORMATION:
o
THE CHALLENGES, THE ABYSS, TRANSFORMATION, REVELATION, ATONEMENT
THE RETURN TO THE KNOWN WORLD:
o
THE RETURN
SEPARATION
FROM
THE
KNOWN
WORLD
STAGE & CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTER:____________________
CONNECTION OR ILLUSTRATION
CHARACTER:____________________
CONNECTION OR ILLUSTRATION
THE CALL


Invites us into adventure
Offers the opportunity to gain something of value
(physical or spiritual) by facing the unknown
 May choose willingly to undertake quest or may be dragged into it
 Reasons for quest:
1. Something was taken and we need to reclaim it
2. Something is lacking in our life and we must find what is
missing
3. We want to save or restore honor
4. We realize something is not permitted and must gain these
rights
THE THRESHOLD







The jumping off point for the adventure
Interface between the known (familiar world) and
the unknown (a world filled with challenges and dangers)
At the threshold, people and situations block our passage until we
are truly ready to meet the challenge
Threshold guardians: for children (parents), for adults (fears and
doubts)
Encounter helpers who provide assistance (often bringing a divine
gift or talisman)
Most important helper is a mentor or guide (keeps us focused on
goal)
Mentors/helpers cannot take the journey for us, we must do it
ourselves if we are to benefit from it and grow
INITIATION
&
TRANSFORMATION
STAGE & CHARACTERISTICS
THE CHALLENGES






Begin journey into unknown (outward into a physical unknown or
inward into a psychological unknown)
Puts hero more and more at risk (emotionally, mentally,
psychologically, and/or physically)
Face a series of challenges or temptations that increase in
difficulty
Challenges always strike at greatest weakness
Greatest test is to differentiate real helpers from “tempters”
Tempters try to pull us away from our path
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
INITIATION
&
TRANSFORMATION
[CONTINUED]
STAGE & CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTER:_____________________
CONNECTION OR ILLUSTRATION
CHARACTER:_____________________
CONNECTION OR ILLUSTRATION
THE ABYSS



Greatest challenge of the journey, we must surrender
ourselves completely to it
We must face our greatest fear, and face it alone (known as
“slaying the dragon”)
A possibility the challenge will beat us, or we can’t surrender
to it and thus retreat
THE TRANSFORMATION


As we conquer and overcome our fears, the transformation is
complete
Final step is the moment of death and rebirth (part of us dies
so a new part can be born)
THE REVELATION


Part of the Transformation is a Revelation (a sudden, dramatic
change in the way we think or view life)
The change in thinking is what makes us a different person
ATONEMENT


We achieve atonement [compensation, restoration or the
payment for a mistake] when we are “at one” with our new
self.
We are in harmony with life and the world (an imbalance has
been corrected)
THE
RETURN
TO
THE
KNOWN
WORLD
STAGE & CHARACTERISTICS
THE RETURN


Our return to everyday life
We discover our gift and may become a great leader or are
spiritually enlightened
 We begin contributing to our society (possibly renewing or
even saving it)
 Sometimes things don’t go smoothly:
1.
Our message is rejected
2.
We are ostracized or killed for our ideal
3.
We lose our new understanding or are corrupted
4.
We leave society because our understanding is greater
than others around us
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
FRAMES
TASK
NAME:
DATE:
SCORE:
TITLE OF LITERATURE:
AUTHOR:
ASSIGNMENT:
BREAK DOWN A STAGE OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY. START FROM THE CENTER, NOTE THE STAGE, AND COMPLETE THE FRAME.
PATHWAY
SYNOPSIS
SUMMARIZE THE PART OF THE STORY THAT REVEALS THE ABYSS.
[NOTE 5-8 IMPORTANT EVENTS]
REVEALING PASSAGES OR
QUOTES
STAGE OF THE JOURNEY:
CITE A PASSAGE OR QUOTE THAT SHOWS THE
KEY PARTS OF THIS STAGE…
___________________________
LIST THE
THIS STAGE:

…

…

…

…
CHALLENGES, ISSUES,
VALUES
EXPLAIN WHAT CRITICAL ISSUES AND/OR
CONFLICT THE HERO IS DEALING WITH IN THIS
STAGE…
[KEY COMPONENTS] OF
Taken from Frames, Kaplan & Gould.
Educator to Educator
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE
EVOLUTION OF THIS CHARACTER
IDENTIFY, LIST, AND EXPLAIN WHAT OTHER CHARACTERS AND/OR EVENTS ARE CAUSING
THIS HERO TO CHANGE…
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
FRAMES
NAME:
DATE:
SCORE:
TITLE OF LITERATURE:
AUTHOR:
ASSIGNMENT:
CONSIDER ALL THE PARTS OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY AND EXPLAIN THE CONVERGENCE OF THE HERO.
TASK

WHAT
EVENTS,
PEOPLE,
OR
OTHER
FACTORS
CAME
TOGETHER
TO
CAUSE
THIS
CHARACTER
TO
CHANGE
INTO
A
HERO?
PATHWAY
SEPARATION FROM THE KNOWN WORLD:
THE CALL, THE THRESHOLD
INITIATION & TRANSFORMATION:
THE CHALLENGES
TRANSFORMATION, ATONEMENT
THE RETURN TO THE KNOWN WORLD
TRANSFORMATION, REVELATION,:
THE RETURN
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
ANSWER THE KEY QUESTION/S
T
H
E
R
Taken from Frames, Kaplan & Gould. Educator to Educator
E
T
U
R
N
INITIATION & TRANSFORMATION:
THE ABYSS
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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THE HERO’S JOURNEY ARCHETYPE
REFERENCES
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<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/education/lesson4_overview.html>
Barmann, MC. “Archetypes-Tragic Hero Notes.” TeacherWeb Inc, 2009. <http://teacherweb.com/OK/OklahomaCityPublicSchools/Barmann/photo2.aspx>
“Bear Exposed.” Man vs. Wild, Season 2. Bear Grylls. Discovery Channel. 2008. Apple iTunes TV Show. Discovery Communications, 2008.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1981.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Dir. Andrew Adamson. Perf. William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley,
Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton. DVD. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2006.
Finding Forrester. Dir. Gus Van Sant. Perf. Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham. DVD. Columbia Pictures Corporation, 2001.
Great Books Foundation. An Introduction to Shared Inquiry: A Handbook for Junior Great Books Leaders. Illinois: The Great Books Foundation,
1999. < http://www.greatbooks.org >
Harris, Reg. Educational Home of the Hero’s Journey. Napa, CA: Harris Communications, 2008. Web. < http://www.yourheroicjourney.com/ >
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Dir. Chris Columbus. Perf. Daniel Radcliffe, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
DVD. Warner Home Video, 2002.
The Hero’s Journey: An Environment to Explore the Classic Mythical Story Structure and to Create Your Own Stories. Maricopa Center for
Learning and Instruction, 15 Aug 02. Web. < http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/journey/ >
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<http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/herosjourney/ > < http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=1152 >
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1997. 486-507.
The Incredibles. Dir. Brad Bird. Perf. Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee. DVD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2005.
Jimenez, Francisco. “The Circuit.” The Language of Literature. IL: McDougal Littell , Inc., 2002. 264-270.
Kung Fu Panda. Dir. Mark Osborne and John Stevenson. Perf. Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane.. DVD. DreamWorks Home
Entertainment, 2008.
Lessing, Doris. “Through the Tunnel.” The Language of Literature.
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Lowis Lowry. The Giver. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993.
Minority Report. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow. DVD. Dreamworks Home Entertainment, 2002.
Ni Tuama, Shelley. Archetypes in Life, Literature, and Myth. OH: Center for Learning, 1997.
Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. NY: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1996.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Dir. Gore Verbinski. Perf. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly, Geoffrey Rush. DVD.
Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Walt Disney Studios, 2007.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Dir. Gore Verbinski. Perf. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly, Bill Nighy, Geoffrey Rush. DVD.
Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Walt Disney Studios, 2003.
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Seven Valleys Software. “Archetypes, Myths, and Characters.” Storybuilder User's Manual. Glen Rock, PA.: Seven Valleys Software, 1998.
< http://www.svsoft.com/Archetypes,%20Myths%20and%20Characters.htm >
Sky High. Dir. Mike Mitchell. Perf. Michael Angarano, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston. DVD. Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2005.
Star Wars Espisode IV: A New Hope. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher. Alec Guinness. DVD. Twentieth Century Fox
Home Entertainment, 1997.
WEBSITES
Apple Computers: iPhoto Support, Tips. Troubleshooting, & Tutorials: < http://www.apple.com/support/iphoto/ >
Apple Computers: iMovie Support, Tips. Troubleshooting, & Tutorials: < http://www.apple.com/support/imovie/ >
Yahoo! Flickr. < http://www.flickr.com/ >
The Hero’s Journey. Read, Write, Think. International Reading Association, NCTE. Web. 17 Oct. 2009.
<http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/herosjourney/ > < http://readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=1152 >
Web English Teacher: < http://www.webenglishteacher.com/index.html >
DAVID N. CHUNG. LANGUAGE ARTS, PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA USD. 2010. EMAIL: dnchung@pylusd.org BLOG http://thinkthriveabound.blogspot.com
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