and the Quest Pattern
Characteristics of a hero:
Brave
High values
Strong leader
Honest
Courageous
Trustworthy
Good communicator
Motivated
Inspirational
Confident
Extraordinary Talent
Strength
Hopeful
Adventurous
Responsible to others
Positive
Good Role Model
Intelligent
The answer is as different as you are...
Real-life heroes from history
Hatred paralyzes life; love
releases it. Hatred confuses
life; love harmonizes it. Hatred
darkens life; love illuminates it.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Real-life heroes from history
Houston, Tranquility Base here. The eagle has landed.
That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.
Neil Armstrong,
Upon landing on the Moon,
July 20, 1969
Superheroes
I'm here to fight for
truth, and justice,
and the American
way.
Superheroes
All women can do
wonders if they’re
put to the test.
Real-life heroes from today
"Firemen are going to get killed. When they
join the department they face that fact.
When a man becomes a fireman his
greatest act of bravery has been
accomplished. What he does after that is
all in the line of duty. They were not
thinking of getting killed when they
went where death lurked. They went there
to put the fire out, and got killed.
Firefighters do not regard themselves as
heroes because they do what the business
requires."
Edward Croker
Source: Chief, FDNY 1899-1911
Real-life heroes from today
I have missed more than 9000
shots in my career. I have lost
almost 300 games. On 26
occasions I have been
entrusted to take the game
winning shot . . . and missed.
And I have failed over and over
and over again in my life. And
that is why . . . I succeed.
Michael Jordan
Who are your heroes?
Real-life heroes from today
Mother
Uncle
Aunt
Father
Grandparents
Friends
In stories or films, what
is a hero?
A person who has demonstrated
courage or has done something
particularly noble, especially one
who has risked or sacrificed his
or her life for the greater good.
In mythology and
legend, what is a hero?
•
A man, often of divine ancestry (one or more
parents is a god or has special powers)
•
He is endowed with great courage and strength
•
He is celebrated for his bold exploits
•
He is favoured by the gods (ie. Good luck seems
to follow him)
Can the word ‘hero’
mean anything else?
Hero can also mean the main male
character in a novel, poem, or
dramatic presentation.
Note: The word “hero” is considered to be a gender-neutral
term. It is used to refer to admired women as well as men.

In legends and myths, no matter what country
or era they are from, quite often the hero’s
story follows a pattern.

That means that a hero story written two
thousand years ago in China will be similar to a
hero story from Greece and even similar to
many hero stories written today.
Birth
Fabulous circumstances surrounding
conception, birth and childhood mark
the hero as ‘different’.
Eg. One of the parents is immortal, or
the hero comes from “mysterious
circumstances”.
Call to Adventure
Something big happens so that the
hero knows he or she has to do
something.
Eg. Someone dies and the hero has to
avenge the crime, something bad is
going to happen and only the hero can
stop it.
Helpers/Amulet
The hero gets help from someone or
something else (eg. a wizard, an old
man, a dwarf, a crone, or a fairy
godmother).
The helper commonly gives the hero a
protective amulet (charm worn against
evil) or weapon for the journey.
Crossing the Threshold
The hero starts on the adventure. Often
there is some sort of ordeal or a
“threshold” to cross.
This shows that the hero is not just some
ordinary person.
Eg. goes on a journey, crosses an ocean,
enters a dream, travels through time etc.
Tests
Hero travels through the world of adventure
where he must undergo a series of tests.
Tests are often violent encounters with
monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of
nature.
Each successful test further proves the
hero’s ability and advances the journey
towards its climax or ‘final battle.’
Final Battle
The critical moment in the hero’s journey.
Often a final battle with a monster, wizard
or warrior.
Final battle allows for resolution of the
adventure.
Flight
After accomplishing the mission:
•Hero must return to the threshold of adventure
and prepare for a return to the everyday world.
•The “flight” stage may be quick (because the
hero is being chased by something crazy) or
relaxed (because nothing is chasing him).
Return
Hero again crosses the threshold of
adventure and returns to the everyday
world
Eg. an awakening, a rebirth, a
resurrection, or a simple emergence from
a cave or forest.
Home
Hero comes back from the adventure
changed and able to make his or her
world better.
The End