The Quest

1
The Quest

• Journey into Self-Discovery
• Prof. Ingrid Hutchinson

2
Introduction

• A quest represents a journey or search
• The quest motif is a recurring pattern in fantasy
  and science fiction narratives
• Each pattern is associated with a physical
  journey and a corresponding spiritual journey
• The quest-motif is about transformation,
  learning, growth, and redemption (to set
  freechange from lower to a higher form)

3
What is the Quest?

• The quest is fundamentally a search for something
• It functions in stories of heroism and valour
• The hero or heroine can be searching for physical
  objects and encounter real or imaginary obstacles
  and helpers
• These correspond to inner revelations and
  psychological states
• One is literal, the other symbolic.

4
The Quest continued

• The search for the Holy Grail is about internal
  transmutation like the alchemical quest for
  transforming lead into gold
• The cup represents spiritual union, enlightenment
  and rebirth

Grail.gif (the Ardagh Chalice) Matthews, John.
The Grail Quest for the Eternal. Thames and
Hudson London 1981 pg 33.

5
Patterns or Motifs Physical and Spiritual
Correspondences

• Pattern One Purpose
• Pattern Two Obstacles
• Pattern Three Helpers
• Pattern Four Magical Transformations
• Pattern Five Happy Endings

6
Pattern One PurposePhysical Journey

• Search, task, or banishment
• Lost, orphaned, or disinherited child
• Unlikely hero or heroine (heroine usually part of
  the prize or goal)

7
Pattern One Spiritual Purpose

• Spiritual or Inward Journey
• Universal dreams and goals change, maturation,
  self-realization
• Rites of passage (a ritual or change marking the
  transition from child to adult)

The hero learns to be independent.
8
Pattern Two Obstacles

• Physical Obstacles
• Entities adversaries, monsters
• Environment landscape and elements

9

Landscape as obstacle to progress on the quest.
10
Pattern Two Obstacles as Tests

• Tests and Trials as obstacles, certain
  characters can test the hero regarding his taking
  personal responsibility

11
Pattern Two Spiritual Obstacles

• Fears, anxieties, personal limitations
• Monsters from the Id (Forbidden Planet 1956)
• Fighting internal demons
• Evil has human origins in our world (often
  metaphorically represented as an outer Force
  which tempts us to turn to the Dark Side)
• If we turn to evil, we lose our souls.

Owning ones father means owning rejected
aspects of the self.
12
Pattern Three Helpers

• Physical or Literal Helpers
• Gods, Wise Old Ones, Mentors, Spirits, Friends,
  Animals
• Weapons, Technology, AIs
• Rituals, Objects, Spells

13
Sam Gamgees (Sean Astin) is Tolkiens archetypal
friend Sams loyalty is without question, and
his steadfastness without equal (J. R. R.
Tolkiens Return of the King Peter Jackson,
2004). Sam is a representation of Tolkiens
friends during WWII combat (most of whom were
killed).
14
A. I. as Helper
15
Pattern Three Helpers

• Spiritual Meaning
• Inner resources, individual qualities, ingenuity,
  determination, resourcefulness, wisdom
• Power of friendship, teamwork, trust
• Hope overcoming despair.

16
Pattern Four Magical Transformations (Physical)

• Physical Transformations to central characters
  move from negative to positive outcomes, while
  enemies usually transform in the opposite
  direction
• Some of these physical changes are
• Ugliness to Beauty
• Poverty to Affluence
• Ignorance to Knowledge
• Rejection to Acceptance
• Death to Rebirth/Death to Life

17
Four Magical Transformations (Spiritual
Correspondences)

• Spiritual Transformations are inward changes
  corresponding to outward changes
• Revelations, visions, personal recognitions,
  epiphanies (high point or sudden flash of
  awareness like a light from heaven)
• Inner change, growth, new direction, change in
  outlook, change from victim to hero fear to
  courage
• Some inner transformations may be regressive in
  order to demonstrate the temptations of evil.

18
Spiritual Transformations contd

• This Celtic illumination represents inner
  spiritual transformation and is the front piece
  of the Gospel of St. John
• Note the labyrinth design representing interior
  journeys

19
Pattern Five Happy Ending

• Physical or Literal Meaning
• Success, reward, unlikely winner, child power
• Return, mother and child reunion
• Lovers reunited, marriage
• Reversal of fortune, banishment of evil, justice
• Feasting, celebration, honours conferred
• New Order takes the place of the old or
• Old Order reinstated after having been subverted

20
Arthurs marriage to Guinevere is the literal
symbol of the Alchemical Marriage or Inner
Union of Archetypal Opposites.
21
Pattern 5 Happy Ending

• Spiritual Parallels
• Rebirth, growth, fulfillment, success,
  consummation, reintegration, redemption
• Union of Inner and Outer Life
• Alchemical Wedding of Inner King and Queen
• Inner Spiritual Self is wedded or married to
  Outer Objective Self (Lead to Gold)
• Birth of a new self or reintegrated being

22
Birth of the Sacred Inner Child (Gilbert
Williams 1975) Nativity of Christ Consciousness
(Master Within) Literal images represent
interior changes or awarenessa new
coming-to-consciousness and a larger view that
encompasses both good and evil the All is in
the all of alchemical transformation. Fantasy is
one of the best vehicles of symbolic
representations. All religions are true, though
not necessarily literally trueJoseph Campbell.
23
Archetypes

• An original model or type after which similar
  things are patterned.
• Archetypes can be well-known story patterns,
  universal experiences or personality types.
• Myths, fairytales, fictional genres, and cultural
  heroes are generally archetypal as are the basic
  cycles of life and nature.

24
Sample ArchetypeCrossing the Threshold

• Transition from one state (often of mind) to
  another (fear of the threshold).
• Sometimes literally represented as a doorway,
  tunnel or arch.
• Hero may enter another dimension or realm that
  corresponds to the need for an internal change.

Rita Addison as seen in her VR CAVE installation
"DETOUR Brain Deconstruction Ahead." "If the
doors of perception were cleansed, everything
would appear to man as it is, infinite."--William
Blake
25
Conclusion

• The quest is a common archetype.
• The quest also demonstrates patterns that reflect
  physical journeys.
• However, these journeys and their patterns of
  activity also correspond to interior journeys
  that have spiritual significance, no matter from
  which religious or secular tradition the hero
  comes.
• Achieving the goal of the quest marks or
  transforms the hero in significant ways.