The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey Project

• According to noted American mythologist and historian Joseph Campbell, this is not at all a coincidence. Campbell believes that nearly all heroic stories have certain things in common that help us understand truths about the human experience.

The Hero’s Journey Project

Part 1: The Hero’s Adventure• Watch Campbell’s interview with journalist

Bill Moyers entitled “The Hero’s Adventure” wherein Campbell explains his beliefs in detail. A transcript of the interview is available on Blackboard to refresh your memory. After you have finished reading, you will participate in the blog discussion entitled “The Hero’s Journey” on the class Blackboard site.

Post a response that includes the following:

The Hero’s Journey Project

• Your thoughts on at least one aspect that Campbell states is universal to heroic stories

• Your opinion on the theory in general. Do you see where Campbell is coming from, or do you think it’s a stretch and why?

• After you have posted an initial response, comment on at least two of your classmate’s responses.

• This assignment is worth 20 points. See the attached rubric for details on how this assignment will be graded.

• This part is due at midnight on Monday, September 30th.

The Hero’s Journey Project

Part 2: Hero Presentation• After reading “The Hero’s Adventure” and

discussing it on the blog, you are now ready to analyze how Campbell’s theories apply in other stories. In small groups of three to four students, you are to now to choose a heroic story from anywhere in the world, any time, and in any medium that you feel typifies the hero’s journey. You will familiarize yourselves with the story and then pick out aspects of it that align with the elements of Campbell’s “monomyth.”

The Hero’s Journey Project

• Your group will then create a multimedia show to present your findings to the rest of the class.

• This will be due in class on Monday, October 14th.

• This presentation should be at least seven to ten minutes in length, and should include the following:

The Hero’s Journey Project

• Oral narration (live or recorded) with participation by all members of the group.

• A description of the known origins of the story (time period, part of the world, medium in which it was originally told, etc.)

• A fairly comprehensive summary of the story from beginning to end.

• Explanations of the elements in the story that align with the elements of the hero’s journey.

• Explanation of the value of the story. What does it tell the modern audience about the values of the period and society of its origin?