The Hero's Journey according to Joseph Campbell - video by Matthew Winkler and Kirill Yeretsky

Ueber-Brands

22 Aug 201603:10

Summary

TLDRThe script explores the concept of the 'Hero's Journey' as introduced by Joseph Campbell, a universal narrative pattern found in myths and modern stories like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Lord of the Rings. It outlines the 12 stages of this journey, from the hero's ordinary world to their transformation and return, emphasizing how these tales resonate across cultures and time.

Takeaways

🌐 Joseph Campbell's book 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' explores the concept of the monomyth or hero's journey, a common narrative structure found in myths from around the world.
🚀 The hero's journey is a cycle that starts and ends in the hero's ordinary world but involves a quest through a special, unfamiliar world.
📜 Key events in the hero's journey include the status quo, call to adventure, assistance, departure, trials, approach, crisis, treasure, result, return, new life, and resolution.
💌 The 'call to adventure' is a pivotal moment where the hero receives a mysterious message, invitation, or challenge that sets the story in motion.
🧙‍♂️ 'Assistance' refers to the help the hero receives, often from a wiser, older character, to prepare for the journey ahead.
🚪 'Departure' is the point at which the hero leaves their safe, normal world and enters the realm of adventure.
🐉 'Trials' involve the hero overcoming obstacles, such as solving riddles or battling monsters.
🔥 The 'crisis' is the darkest moment for the hero, often involving a confrontation with death or a near-death experience.
💎 'Treasure' symbolizes the reward or recognition the hero gains as a result of their journey.
🏆 'Return' marks the hero's journey back to their ordinary world, often with a transformed perspective or status.
🔄 'Resolution' ties up loose ends in the story and shows how the hero's journey has led to a new status quo.
🎥 The script uses 'The Hunger Games' as an example to illustrate how modern stories can follow the ancient hero's journey template.

Q & A

Who is Joseph Campbell and what is his contribution to understanding hero narratives?
-Joseph Campbell was a mythologist who studied myths from around the world. His contribution is the concept of the 'monomyth' or 'hero's journey', which he detailed in his book 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces'. He retold numerous stories to show how they represent a similar pattern or journey of the hero.
What is the hero's journey and how is it typically structured?
-The hero's journey is a narrative pattern identified by Joseph Campbell, consisting of a cycle that begins and ends in the hero's ordinary world but includes a quest through a special, unfamiliar world. It involves key events such as the call to adventure, assistance, departure, trials, approach, crisis, treasure, result, return, new life, and resolution.
What is the significance of the 'call to adventure' in the hero's journey?
-The 'call to adventure' is the first step in the hero's journey where the hero receives a mysterious message, invitation, or challenge that disrupts the status quo and sets the story in motion.
How does the hero typically receive assistance on their journey?
-The hero often receives assistance from a mentor or guide, someone older or wiser, who provides them with the knowledge or tools needed to face the challenges ahead.
What is meant by the 'departure' stage in the hero's journey?
-The 'departure' stage is when the hero physically leaves their normal, safe environment and crosses the threshold into a special world filled with adventure and challenges.
What challenges does the hero face during the 'trials' phase?
-During the 'trials' phase, the hero faces various obstacles such as solving riddles, slaying monsters, or escaping from traps, which test their courage, intelligence, and skills.
What is the climax of the hero's journey known as?
-The climax of the hero's journey is known as the 'crisis' or 'approach' phase, where the hero faces their greatest challenge or deepest fear, often leading to a moment of death and rebirth.
What does the hero gain as a result of overcoming the crisis?
-As a result of overcoming the crisis, the hero gains a 'treasure', which can be a special recognition, power, or object that symbolizes their victory and growth.
How does the 'result' phase differ from story to story in the hero's journey?
-The 'result' phase can vary between stories. It often involves the hero's triumph over the antagonist or their escape from the special world, leading to a resolution of the story's conflicts.
What is the significance of the 'return' phase in the hero's journey?
-The 'return' phase is when the hero returns to their ordinary world, often with a transformed perspective or a new understanding of themselves and their place in the world.
How does the hero's journey end?
-The hero's journey ends with the 'resolution' phase, where all plotlines are resolved, and the hero's life is changed, often leading to a new status quo that is an upgraded version of their previous life.
Can you provide an example of how 'The Hunger Games' fits the hero's journey template?
-In 'The Hunger Games', Katniss Everdeen hears the 'call to adventure' when her sister's name is called in the lottery. She receives 'assistance' from Haymitch, and 'departs' from her ordinary world as she gets on a train to the Capitol, fitting the hero's journey template.

Outlines

00:00

🧭 The Hero's Journey

This paragraph introduces the concept of the hero's journey, a narrative pattern identified by Joseph Campbell in his book 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces.' Campbell's work suggests that various heroes from different mythologies and modern stories, such as Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen from 'The Hunger Games,' and Frodo from 'The Lord of the Rings,' all follow a similar journey. The hero's journey is described as a cycle that begins and ends in the hero's ordinary world but involves a quest through a special world filled with trials and challenges. The paragraph outlines the key stages of this journey, including the call to adventure, assistance, departure, trials, approach, crisis, treasure, result, return, new life, resolution, and the upgraded status quo. It also suggests that many popular books and movies adhere to this ancient formula, using 'The Hunger Games' as an example to illustrate how the story fits the template.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey is a narrative template that describes the typical structure of a hero's story arc, as identified by Joseph Campbell. It's a pattern found in myths and heroic tales from around the world. The video uses this concept to show how various heroes, like Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Frodo, follow a similar path in their stories. The journey includes a departure from the ordinary world, a series of trials, and a return with a transformation.

💡Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell was an American mythologist who introduced the concept of the Hero's Journey. His book 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' explores this archetype. In the video, Campbell's work is mentioned as the foundation for understanding the commonalities among different heroes from various stories.

💡Ordinary World

The Ordinary World represents the starting point of the Hero's Journey, where the hero exists before the adventure begins. It's the familiar setting that provides a contrast to the challenges and changes that follow. In the script, it's mentioned as the place where the journey begins and ends.

💡Call to Adventure

The Call to Adventure is a pivotal moment in the Hero's Journey when the hero receives a summons or invitation to embark on their quest. It's the disruption of the status quo. In the transcript, it's exemplified by Katniss Everdeen's sister's name being called in the lottery.

💡Assistance

Assistance refers to the help or guidance the hero receives from a mentor or other characters during their journey. This support is crucial for the hero's survival and success. In the script, Haymitch is mentioned as the assistance for Katniss in 'The Hunger Games'.

💡Departure

Departure signifies the hero's physical exit from the Ordinary World and entry into the Special World, where the adventure takes place. This step is marked by a significant change in setting and circumstances. The script mentions Katniss getting on a train to the capital as her departure.

💡Trials

Trials are the challenges and obstacles the hero must overcome during their journey. These tests are designed to strengthen the hero's character and resolve. The video describes trials as the hard work heroes must undertake, such as solving riddles or slaying monsters.

💡Crisis

The Crisis is the point of maximum danger and tension in the story, often involving a confrontation with death or the hero's worst fear. It's a critical turning point that leads to transformation. The video describes it as the hero's darkest hour.

💡Treasure

Treasure represents the reward or prize the hero gains as a result of overcoming the crisis. It could be a physical object, special power, or recognition. The video mentions the hero claiming some treasure after the crisis.

💡Return

Return is the phase where the hero comes back to their Ordinary World, often with a newfound understanding or power. This step is about bringing the journey's lessons back home. The script refers to this as the hero's return after the adventure.

💡Resolution

Resolution is the final stage of the Hero's Journey where the story's loose ends are tied up, and the hero's transformation is complete. It signifies the end of the journey and the beginning of a new life for the hero. The video describes it as the straightening out of all the tangled plot lines.

💡Status Quo

Status Quo refers to the initial state of equilibrium before the adventure begins. It's the normal, everyday life that the hero leaves behind. The video mentions the Status Quo as the starting point and how it's upgraded to a new level after the hero's journey.

Highlights

Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Frodo are all variants of the same hero archetype.

Joseph Campbell studied myths from around the world and published 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces'.

The book explains how myths represent the monomyth or hero's journey.

The hero's journey is a cycle that begins and ends in the hero's ordinary world.

The quest passes through a special, unfamiliar world.

Key events in the hero's journey include the status quo, call to adventure, assistance, departure, trials, approach, crisis, treasure, result, return, new life, and resolution.

The hero receives a mysterious message or invitation to start their journey.

Assistance often comes from a wiser, older character.

The hero crosses a threshold into a new world, leaving their safe home.

Trials involve the hero solving riddles, slaying monsters, or escaping danger.

The approach is when the hero faces their biggest ordeal and worst fear.

The crisis is the hero's darkest hour, often facing death and rebirth.

The hero claims a treasure, recognition, or power as a result of their journey.

The result can vary, such as monsters bowing down or the hero fleeing the special world.

The hero returns to their ordinary world after the adventure.

The hero's quest leads to a new life, outgrowing their old one.

Resolution involves untangling plot lines and reaching a new status quo.

Many popular books and movies follow the ancient hero's journey formula closely.

The Hunger Games fits the hero's journey template, with Katniss Everdeen receiving a call to adventure when her sister's name is called.

Haymitch provides assistance to Katniss on her adventure.

Katniss leaves her ordinary world to go to the Capitol by train.