Hero’s
Journey
The Journey
A
process of separation, transformation
and return
 All must be completed successfully to
become heroic
 Individual growth
 8 cumulative steps
The Call
 Invites
us into the adventure
 Face the unknown
 Gain something of physical or spiritual
value
 Willingly or unwillingly
The Threshold
off point”
 Interface between known and unknown
 “threshold guardians” try to block the
passage, but become mentor/helper in
quest once we’re ready for challenge
(i.e. parents)
 “Jumping
The Challenges
 Early
challenges are easier and build
confidence
 Become more difficult
 “tempters” try to pull us from our call
with fear, doubt or distraction
 Challenges strike our greatest weakness
Into the Abyss
 Greatest
challenge
 “slay the dragon”
Transformation
 Part
of us dies so that a new part can be
born (i.e. fear dies to make way for
courage)
Revelation
A
dramatic change in the way we think or
view life
The Atonement
 Become
“at one” with ourselves
 Incorporated the changes in ourselves
spiritually
The Return
 Return
to our life
 May become richer, stronger, a great
leader, spiritual guide or teacher
Where do we see this today?
 Forrest
Gump
 The Lion King
 Finding Nemo
 Your own life from childhood into
adulthood
Sir Gawain and
the Green
Knight
Honors English IV
Ms. Hardison
DECHS 2014
Anticipation Guide
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Men often act macho to try to impress women.
There are many double standards in society regarding men
and women.
Chivalry is dead.
If a married man/woman is unhappy he/she should seek
companionship elsewhere.
It is worth it to die to save one’s honor.
Sir Gawain
Romantic Hero
 Brave
 Childhood initiation
 Fights against evil to promote peace
 Performs extraordinary deeds with the
help of magic
 Sacrifice
Major Characters
Sir Gawain
The story’s protagonist. A loyal knight to King
Arthur, as well as his nephew. Gawain
goes on his quest to meet the Green
Knight in order to uphold his knightly
values.
The Green Knight
Sir Gawain’s main opposition in the story.
He is a richly decorated knight, who has
green skin and hair.
King Arthur
The King of Camelot. Uncle of Sir Gawain. It
is at his celebration feast that the Green
Knight challenges the court to a game.
Bertilak de Hautdesert
The Lord of the castle at which Gawain
spends his time before meeting the Green
Knight. We learn his true identity at the
end of the story.
Minor Characters

Bertilak’s wife- During the competition
between Gawain and her husband, she tests
Gawain’s integrity and honesty

Morgan le Faye (The old lady)- Powerful
sorceress trained by Merlin. Assists Lady
Bertilak in testing Gawain

Guinevere- King Arthur’s wife and Queen.
Seated next to Gawain during the court’s
feast.
Settings
Camelot
The Holiday celebrations take place at King Arthur’s
castle in Camelot. It is here that the Green Knight
challenges Gawain to exchange blows with him.
Bertilak’s Home
On his quest to meet the Green Knight,
Gawain stays here for a short period of
time.
The Green Chapel
The supposed home of the Green Knight.
Gawain is sent here to keep his end of the
bargain which he made with the Green
Knight at Arthur’s holiday celebration a
year prior
Major Conflict
 Gawain’s
struggle to decide between his
duties as a knight and the worth of his
own life.
Examples of The Code of
Chivalry







Thou shalt defend the Church.
Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt
constitute thyself the defender of them.
Live to serve King and Country.
Live to defend Crown and Country and all it
holds dear.
Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect
and honor.
Live for freedom, justice and all that is good.
Never attack an unarmed foe.
Examples from The Laws of
Courtly Love






Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence
and shalt embrace its opposite.
Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her
whom thou lovest.
Boys do not love until they reach the age of
maturity.
When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is
required of the survivor.
No one should be deprived of love without the
very best of reasons.
No one can love unless he is propelled by the
persuasion of love.
STOP
HERE!!!
Let’s Act!
 Narrator
 King
Arthur
 Sir Gawain
 Bertilak
 Lady of the Castle
 Guide
 Lords and Ladies
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Did Sir Gawain live up to the Code of
Chivalry? The Laws of Courtly Love?
What does Gawain’s faults as the hero
tell us about society?
If you were King Arthur would you have
allowed Sir Gawain to accept the Green
Knight’s challenge? Why?
Is it more important to achieve one’s
goals or learn from one’s mistakes?
Links to YouTube video
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrb
9nj3c64A
Narrator
Lady of
the
Castle
Sir
Gawain
King
Arthur
King of the
Castle
Green
Knight