The Concept of the Monomyth

Mono = one
Myth = story
The theoryall of literature, media, and human
story-telling can be boiled down to a constant
repetition of structures, incidents, character
archetypes, and themes that somehow speak to
our basic humanity and needs as humans.

Carl Jung (1875-1961)Swiss philosopher

that developed the idea of the collective
unconsciousness
Humans have two layers of the unconscious
thought
o Personal unconscious thoughtforgotten
or repressed memories unique to the
individual
o Collective unconsciousnessmemory
traces that connect to the experiences of
all humankind. (Think of it as instinctual
behavior)
Examplesconfronting death, having
parents, seeking a mate, having
children
Jung noticed a pattern of repeating
symbols and themes in religions,
mythological stories, etc throughout

o Answering questions such as why do we

exist? What purpose do we serve?
How did we come to be?

Joseph Campbell- The Hero With A Thousand

Faces (1949)
- Studied many texts from Ancient Greek,
Ancient Aramaic, Native American, Chinese,
Asian, etc and discovered that the lasting
stories had similar characters, events,
structure, symbols, and themes that these
cultures (who did not interact) had in
common.
o Supported Jungs idea of the collective
unconsciousness
- Developed the idea of the monomyth and
broke it into stages (17), characters, tropes,
and archetypes. Basically
o A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a
region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there
encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes
back from this mysterious adventure with the power to
bestow boons on his fellow man.

Christopher Vogler The Writers

Journey
- Hollywood development executive (used to
work for Disney, WarnerBros, Fox, etc)

- Simplified the monomyth to 12 stages and

used it as a playbook for many movies
Disney produced in the 90s and 2000s

The Heros Journey

Characters
Archetypes

Journey Stages

Themes/ Tropes/
Symbols

1. Hero-

1. The Ordinary
World- The hero, uneasy,

1. Struggle between
Good and Evilmans
constant struggle

the main
character. Generally young,
male, brave, idealistic, feels
some lacking in current
existence. Usually the hero
experiences some major
change by end of story

Tragic hero-

uncomfortable or unaware, is
introduced sympathetically so the
audience can identify with the
situation or dilemma. The hero is
shown against a background of
environment, heredity, and personal
history. Some kind of polarity in the
a hero with heros life is pulling in different
directions and causing stress.

some kind of tragic flaw that

brings about his downfall

2. The Call to
Adventure- Something

Anti-hero- a hero

shakes up the situation, either from

external pressures or from something
rising up from deep within, so the hero
must face the beginnings of change.

without many of the noble

characteristics of a
traditional hero,

2. Villain/ Shadowsa character working against

the hero, sometimes internal
to the hero, often sharing
important characteristics
with the hero. Usually
defeated by hero.

3. Refusal of the
Call-

2. Reconciliation with
the Father

The hero feels the fear of the

unknown and tries to turn away from
the adventure, however briefly.
Alternately, another character may
express the uncertainty and danger
ahead.

4. Meeting the
Mentor- The hero comes
across a seasoned traveler of the
worlds who gives him or her training,
equipment, or advice that will help on
the journey. Or the hero reaches
within to a source of courage and
wisdom.

3. Mentor-

the heros
guide, or coach, often a
wizard or old man. Often
dies or leaves hero.

5. Crossing the
3. Quest for
Threshold- At the end of Act Immortality/
One, the hero commits to leaving the
Acceptance of Death
Ordinary World and entering a new
as Inevitable
region or condition with unfamiliar
rules and values.

6. Test, Allies, and

Enemies-

The hero is tested and sorts out

allegiances in the Special World.

4. Allies-

sidekicks or
buddies that help the hero
on their quest or through
their change.

7. Approach to the
Innermost Cave- The

4. Symbiosis of Man
and Woman

hero and newfound allies prepare for

the major challenge in the Special
world. Often central conflict is
introduced

8. Supreme Ordeal,
Death, Rebirth- Near
the middle of the story, the hero enters
a central space in the Special World
and confronts death or faces his or
her greatest fear. Out of the moment
of death comes a new life. (Can be
metaphorical death or defeat)

5. Tricksters-

Clowns or 9. Reward, Seizing

mischief makers that urge
the Sword- The hero takes
change in hero
possession of the treasure won by
facing death. There may be
celebration, but there is also danger of

5. Change as an
inevitability (growing
up)

losing the treasure again.

10. The Road BackAbout three-fourths of the way

through the story, the hero is driven to
complete the adventure, leaving the
Special World to be sure the treasure
is brought home. Often a chase
scene signals the urgency and danger
of the mission.

6. Threshold
guardians- Impede the
heros progress, or stand in
the way at important points
of the story

7. Powerful female/
goddess- the hero
usually encounters some

11. Resurrection-

At
the climax, the hero is severely tested
once more on the threshold of home.
He or she is purified by a last
sacrifice, another moment of death
and rebirth, but on a higher and more
complete level. By the heros action,
the polarities that were in conflict at
the beginning are finally resolved.

6. Self-sacrifice to
save others

12. Return with the 7. Achieving greater

Elixir- The hero returns home or meaning and purpose
continues the journey, bearing some
in life
element of the treasure that has the

kind of powerful woman,

often a goddess, that
supports or guides the hero
(sometimes a love interest,
sometimes a mother figure)

power to transform the world as the

hero has been transformed

The Heros Journey

Characters Archetypes

Journey Stages

Themes/ Tropes/ Symbols

1.

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

2.

4.

3.

5.

3.

6.

4.

7.

4.

8.

5.

9.

5.

10.

6.

11.

6.

7.

12.

7.

Works Cited:
http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/jung.htm
http://www.newworldlibrary.com/BooksProducts/ProductDetails/tabid/64/SKU/15936/Default.aspx#
http://www.christophervogler.com/#!about-chris/c161y
http://www.thewritersjourney.com/hero's_journey.htm#Heroine