The monomyth, or Hero’s Journey, was first recognized as a pattern in mythology by Joseph Campbell, who noticed that heroes in mythology typically go through the same 17 stages in their journey toward hero-dom.
The Hero’s Journey follows a path which is represented by a circle in which the hero travels into the unknown and is faced with many trials only to come full circle, returning to the known world. The path includes but is not limited to the following segments:
A popular interpretation of the Hero’s Journey is Luke Skywalker’s journey toward Jedi Knighthood in the original Star Wars films. George Lucas found tremendous inspiration in the monomyth when creating the original trilogy. Fans will notice how closely the films mirror the monomyth pattern. Luke’s call to the rebellion, his aid of the force, the assortment of guides and companions, the many trials he faces along the way, his confrontation with Vader, the temptations of power, the destruction of the Empire, and the freedom of the galaxy from the Emperor’s evil tyranny. Several documentaries and books have been published on Campbell’s influence on the Star Wars films.
The Monomyth, or Hero's Journey, is a path commonly represented by a circle. Along this path the hero encounters numerous stages which he must overcome in order to progress.
Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth [videorecording] by |
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