Instructions
To begin, choose a movie that fits the Hero’s Journey pattern and map the Hero’s Journey. You can choose a different movie, but these are some good examples:
Jaws / Alice in Wonderland / Avatar / Captain America / The Black Panther / Finding Nemo / Harry Potter / Indiana Jones / Iron Man / The Lion King / Monty Python’s The Holy Grail / Princess Bride / Shrek / Spider Man / Star Wars / The Chronicles of Narnia / The Dark Night / The Lord of the Rings / The Matrix / Silence of the Lambs / Aladdin / Spirited Away!
Using the following 12 stages as a guide, take notes while you watch the film. Do not submit these in your assignment; this list is for taking notes only. You will apply what you learned to the assignment as described below.
The Ordinary World
The Call of Adventure
Refusal of the Call
Meeting the Mentor
Crossing the First Threshold
Tests, Allies, Enemies
Approach to the Inmost Cave
The Ordeal
Reward (Seizing the Sword)
The Road Back
Resurrection
Return with the Elixir
If you’d like to learn about each of them in more detail, see The Hero’s Journey 101 at https://blog.reedsy.com/heros-journey/ (Links to an external site.)
Once you have done this, answer the questions outlined in the tabs below for your assignment.
Copy the questions into a document and address them in complete sentences, providing fully developed paragraphs to include details and examples. Remember to include internal documentation and a reference page for the resources used, including helpful articles and the film being analyzed.
Part 1 – Film analysis
Part II – Reflection
Use specific examples from your notes on the 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey.
What qualities does the hero possess that make them heroic according to Campbell’s the Hero’s Journey?
In what respect does the hero deviate from the monomyth (the Hero’s Journey)?
Describe the villains or monsters that the hero must vanquish. Do not just name the villains or monsters. Provide examples of why they were villains or monsters.
Describe the role of the mentor in allowing the hero to be successful in their quest. Do not just name the mentor. Provide at least one example of something the mentor did to help the hero on their quest.
Would the hero have been successful on their own? Give an example to support your answer.
According to Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, what ultimately defines a hero?
