The

Hero’s Journey

 

Birth

1.          The hero usually had an unusual birth

•            Father was often immortal and mother mortal

•            Born into royalty; mother was a queen or a princess

2.          Often a prophecy about the hero’s birth

•            Family abandons the infant for fear of the prophecy

•            Infant survives and is rescued by a family of lower social class (or by an animal)

 

Childhood

3. Some accomplishment in childhood indicates the hero’s potential

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Adulthood--The Journey

4. When he reaches manhood he chooses a dangerous adventure

•            Takes him far away and he has to perform some heroic feat, such as kill a king, monster, or ferocious wild animal

 

•            In doing so, he makes the community safer

 

•            Comes face to face with death by traveling into another world, such as the Underworld

 

5.  He returns home from the encounter with death, having achieved honor and fame, and married to a princess

 

Maturity

6.        Personal suffering follows, however, leading to his exile from the country

•            He makes an error in judgment

•            He is forced to leave

•            He recognizes his error in his suffering

7.          After his death, he is forgiven and wins immortal fame

•            While he was alive, he always had good intentions and kept his dignity

 

THE HERO’S JOURNEY

Birth

1.          The hero usually had an unusual birth

2. Often there is a prophecy at the hero’s birth

Childhood

3.          Some accomplishment in childhood shows the hero’s greatness

Adulthood

4.          When he reaches manhood he chooses a dangerous adventure

5.          He returns home famous and gets married

6.  He makes a mistake and ends up having to leave his country

 

7.  When he dies, he is forgiven and becomes famous