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The hero's journey story concept outline
The hero's journey story concept outline
Hthe heroes journey analytical essay
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Over the course of history the definition of what makes a hero has made many changes. Beowulf, Superman, and firefighters are all examples of heroes, but they are very different when broken down. Today’s society defines a hero by his values, his strength, and his journey.
How a society describes its heroes says a lot about its values. In Anglo-Saxon times, men aspired to be like Beowulf. Raffel describes Beowulf as “the strongest of the Geats—greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in the world” (2007, p 26). Anglo-Saxons admired a daring and powerful leader. Beowulf was these things; for example, he killed Grendel with his bare hands and fearlessly led the charge against Grendel 's mother. Beowulf is the praised and long-sought after
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The hero’s journey is a straightforward, easy to follow and predictable path that many male protagonists follow. Ever since Joseph Campbell discovered the concept, it has been the building block for almost every movie. Joseph Campbell’s student, Maureen Murdock, once asked him about the Heroine’s Journey, and Joseph Campbell replied, “Women don’t need to make the journey” (Soloway, 2011, p. 2). Whether this was intended as put down or not, the statement is correct. Males and females are different and society has put them on separate journeys. While females do not make the journey, they still make a journey. Unlike male heroes, who have an arched type structure to their adventures, females have a slinky affect. One structure is not better than the other, but simply reflect how the respective gender’s role is viewed in society. For many centuries, women were expected to stay in the house to bear and raise children. As times changed and women gained more freedoms, the storylines also changed. A male hero’s story line mostly focuses on saving others, while a female’s is more likely to better herself. In the process of creating a stronger self, a woman changes others around her. In the movie Juno, the female protagonist who is the title’s namesake, has sex, and becomes impregnated by her boyfriend. She makes the sacrifice to carry the baby and give it to a couple who could not have one. While it may seem like Juno doesn’t adventure anywhere, she is on the heroine’s journey. Traveling up and down the spiral ladder, she learns about herself and her body and betters the world by making the best of what she considers a “bad situation” and gives her baby
Although not every hero shouts “Avengers Assemble” before a worthy deed, heroism is shown in all aspects of the everyday world. Webster Dictionary has exactly 5 definitions under the word hero and still no two people explain heroism the same. Superman and Captain America are a glimpse of the fictional characters society titles a hero. Firefighters and Military portray heroism each day in the lives of every civilian. As Sullivan and Venter stated “individuals are referred to as ‘heroes’ for seemingly different reasons” and even through endless studies the adjectives referring heroes is ever changing. Among the various ideas of what it means to be a hero, boldness and valiance capture the essence of heroism.
Assignment details: Analyze the components of the hero’s journey. Basically, support the argument that Jaws follows the epic hero cycle. Name specific examples from the movie and connect them to the hero’s journey. However, this is not a plot summary. You are not retelling the story, but selecting examples to support the analysis.
Watching a film, one can easily recognize plot, theme, characterization, etc., but not many realize what basic principle lies behind nearly every story conceived: the hero’s journey. This concept allows for a comprehensive, logical flow throughout a movie. Once the hero’s journey is thoroughly understood, anyone can pick out the elements in nearly every piece. The hero’s journey follows a simple outline. First the hero in question must have a disadvantaged childhood. Next the hero will find a mentor who wisely lays out his/her prophecy. Third the hero will go on a journey, either literal or figurative, to find him/herself. On this journey the hero will be discouraged and nearly quit his/her quest. Finally, the hero will fulfill the prophecy and find his/herself, realizing his/her full potential. This rubric may be easy to spot in epic action films, but if upon close inspection is found in a wide array of genres, some of which are fully surprising.
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
The Hero’s Journey is an ancient archetype that we find throughout our modern life and also, in the world of literature.Whether metaphorical or real, the journey that a character goes on shows not only the incredible transformation of the hero but it also gives them their life meaning. It is the ultimate human experience and it reflects on every aspect of life. Take Logan, also known as Wolverine, from the X-Men movie as an example. His adventure starts with “The Call,” which is the first step of the Hero’s Journey. This step happens due to the realization of imbalance and injustice that the character has in their life. Logan steps into the first stage of the pattern but is hesitant to start his adventure because he does not know what and
A hero is defined as a person who is admired for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. A hero is strong in mind and body, courageous in spirit, and selfless where others are involved. Superman and Beowulf both exhibit these characteristics. The differences between Beowulf and Superman are as obvious as their similarities.
“The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us; the uncanny discovery that the seeker is the mystery which the seeker seeks to know. The hero journey is a symbol that binds, in the original sense of the word, two distant ideas, and the spiritual quest of the ancients with the modern search for identity always the one, shape-shifting yet marvelously constant story that we find.” (Phil Cousineau) The Hero's Journey has been engaged in stories for an immemorial amount of time. These stories target typical connections that help us relate to ourselves as well as the “real world”.
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself ” (Moyers 1). The Hero’s Journey consists of three major parts: the separation, the initiation and the return. Throughout a character’s journey, they must complete a physical or spiritual deed. A physical deed involves performing a daunting and courageous act that preserves the well-being of another person. A spiritual deed calls for action that improves another individual’s state of mind. While fulfilling their journey, a hero must undergo a psychological change that involves experiencing a transformation from immaturity into independence and sophistication.Campbell states that these events are what ultimately guides a hero into completing
Stephen Richards once said, “When you do what you fear most, then you can do anything.” Joseph Campbell has written a three stage theory that every hero in a story goes through, a journey if you will. Every journey is different, but it's always structured around his formula, a hero will: separate from his/her known world into a new one, they'll challenge opposing forces or complete a series of tests, and lastly they return to their world again with a gift. Going along with this formula I've gone through my own hero's journey, and succeeded.
For my hero´s journey, I chose to create a superhero called Violet. I chose the name Violet because the powers that Violet possess is a unique violet color. Violet is different from others people because she has magic powers that are like magicians. Her powers include optical illusions, levitation, and the power to make things disappear. Violet wears a blue cloak and uses a magic wand, to resemble an ordinary stage magician among the humans. She also wears purple striped pants and long brown boots. She must save the world from a powerful wizard named Alanzam, that wants to take over the universe and erase the human race. Along her journey, she meets another magic superhero named Jasper. Who lived on earth in secret, like Violet. The two face
The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative that appears in novels, storytelling, myth, and religious ritual. It was first identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell in his book A Hero with Thousand Faces. Campbell also discussed this pattern in his interview to Bill Moyers which was later published as a book The Power of Myths. This pattern describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds. Campbell detailed many stages in the Hero’s Journey, but he also summarized the pattern in three fundamental phases: Separation, Ordeal, and Return that all heroes, in spite of their sex, age, culture, or religion, have to overcome in order to reach the goal. Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, provides a good example of the Hero's Journey. This story describes the adventures of Alice, a young English girl, in Wonderland. Although she lacks some of the stages identified by Campbell, she still possesses many of them that are necessary for a Hero to be considered a Hero.
According to google.com a hero is someone who “is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievments, or noble equalities.” (google.com). For example, superman , superman is an all time american classic modern hero who is admired for his courage and for saving earth multiple times from super villains. Another example of a hero is Beowulf. Beowulf was created around 1000 AD and was known far and wide throughout the lands for his selflessness,bravery, and courage .
Scott LaBarge's article, "Heroism: Why Heroes are Important," LaBarge explains that the qualifications for one to define a hero are blurry, not everyone sees eye to eye. LaBarge helps clarify that the term “hero” is lost in translation, meaning that people have different definitions; is confused with idols, regular pop stars, and superheroes; and is not given to worthy beings, people think a “hero” is supposed to be perfect. These things are clarified by the use of definition, exemplification, ethos, and logos. Labarge completely changes the way one thinks about the word hero.
Over time the definition of a hero has changed. Today’s hero can be defined as a person who is admired for having performed a brave and courageous act. The definition of a hero has had different meanings during different time periods. The classical hero, the medieval hero, the romantic hero, and the modern hero all have different characteristics that define them.
When I think of a hero I immediately think of someone who is strong, intelligent, handsome, and daring. Upon closer examination, many different qualities than these become apparent. Courage, honesty, bravery, selflessness, and the will to try are just a few of the overlooked qualities of a hero. The definition of heroism changes with the context and time. Heroes of the past are not necessarily heroes of present time and vise versa.