THE HERO AND THE QUEST

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What is a Hero ?
Take a moment and think of your own definition of
a hero
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BRAVE COURAGEOUS LOYAL CONFIDENT DETERMINED STRONG
MUSCULAR FOCUSED GOOD
HONEST HELPFUL KIND SELFLESS UNIQUE or
PLAIN SUPERHUMAN
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Who are heroes in todays world?

• Who is your hero? Why?

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THE HERO AND THE QUEST

• Archetypes and
• The Hero Cycle

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MythologyStoriesMoviesNovels

• The Heros Journey

Archetypes
Joseph Campbell
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Characteristics seen in heroes

• Unusual birth
• A royal lineage about which he grows up ignorant
• an orphan
• Raised in a simple, obscure way

Ordinary World the Hero seems ordinary at the
beginning
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Fig. 1 The Cupboard Under the Stairs. Harry
Potter Wiki.. 25 November, 2011.
Fig. 24 Privet Drive. Harry Potter Wiki. 25
November, 2011.
Fig. 3. Dursley Family. Harry Potter Wiki. 25
November, 2011.
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• How does it all start?

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Call to adventure

• The hero is presented with a problem, challenge
  or adventure to undertake.

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Refusal of the Call

• The hero refuses the challenge or journey,
  usually out of fear.

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Companions

• The hero meets allies who want to help.

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Fig. 7 Ron and Hermoine Screen Caps fanpop.com
November 25, 2011
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• Hero is not alone.
• A companion lends a steady hand through a series
  of ordeals.
• 4 types or a combination
• large number of anonymous companions
• alter ego who is not distinguished
• alter ego who is a foil
• companions who help out and have special
  abilities

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Meeting a Mentor

• The hero meets the mentor to gain confidence,
  advice or training to face the adventure.

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Fig. 4Albus Dumbledore. Harry Potter Wiki. 25
November, 2011
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Magical Talisman or Supernatural Aid

• The hero gets some tool that is advantageous in
  the Special World

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Fig. 5 Wand. Harry Potter Wiki. 25 November,
2011
Fig. 6 Invisibility Cloak.. Harry Potter Wiki.
28 November, 2011
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Guides (can also be the mentor)

• Traditionally Two Kinds
• wise old man
• beautiful young woman

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Fig. 8. Remus Lupin. Harry Potter Wiki.
November 25, 2011.
Fig.9. Rebeus Hagrid. Harry Potter Wiki.
November 28, 2011.
Fig.10. Dobby. Harry Potter Wiki. November
28, 2011.
Fig.11. Fawkes. Harry Potter Wiki. November
28, 2011.
Fig.12. Firenze. Harry Potter Wiki. November
28, 2011.
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The Journey

• hero and companions set out across hostile
  terrain
• encounter a series of life threatening ordeals
• often a period of respite to regain strength
  after trial

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• In classic mythology, the hero reluctantly leaves
  the homeland on a quest that takes him over a
  supernatural threshold into a strange land.
• Hero must set out on a journey
• Something has gone wrong
• Given direction as to goal must aim for

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Crossing the First Threshold

• The hero crosses the gateway that separates the
  ordinary world from the special world

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Fig.13. Fluffy. Harry Potter Wiki. December 1,
2011.
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The Road of Trials

• The hero faces tests, confronts enemies, and
  learns the rules of the Special World.

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Trials

• Monsters
• Deadly opposite (choose a path between two
  equally dangerous paths)
• Underworld

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Fig.14. Devils Snare Harry Potter Wiki.
December 1, 2011.
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Fig.15. Flying Keys. Harry Potter Wiki.
December 1, 2011.
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Fig.16. Wizards Chess. Harry Potter Wiki.
December 1, 2011.
Fig.17. Ron Weasly. Harry Potter Wiki. December
1, 2011.
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The Temptation

• The hero is tempted in some way to abandon the
  adventure, to compromise or give in.

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Fig. 18. The Mirror of Erised Harry Potter
Wiki. December 1, 2011.
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Approach to the Innermost Cave

• The hero has hit setbacks during the tests and
  may need to reorganize his helpers or rekindle
  morale with mentors rally cry.
• Stakes heightened.

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Arrival and Frustration

• Hero arrives within sight of goal
• On edge of goal
• Has new and terrible obstacles to overcome

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Final Ordeal

• The biggest life or death crisis the hero faces
  his greatest fear and only through death can
  the hero be reborn experiencing even greater
  powers to see the journey to the end.

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Final Ordeal

• Ultimately, the hero must stand on his own, face
  the darkness and conquer it before returning to
  reality, stronger and wiser.
• Last series of test for hero (often three)
• Can culminate in great battle

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• After the hero prevails, the final showdown
  with the villain, either real or psychological,
  can begin.

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Fig. 19. Quirinus Quirrel Harry Potter Wiki.
December 1, 2011.
Fig. 20. Voldemort on the back of Quirrels
Head Harry Potter Wiki. December 1, 2011.
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Fig. 21. Voldemorts Mangles Soul. Harry Potter
Wiki. December 1, 2011.
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Reward for Seizing the Sword
The hero has survived death, overcome his great
fear and now earns the reward he sought.
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Fig. 22. The Philosophers Stone. Harry Potter
Wiki. December 1, 2011.
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The Road Back
The hero must recommit to completing the
journey and travel the road back to the Ordinary
World.
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Resurrection
Hero faces most dangerous meeting with death
this shows that the hero can apply all the wisdom
hes brought back to the Ordinary World.
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Return Home with the Elixir
The hero returns from the journey with the
elixir, so everyone in the world can use it to
heal physical or emotional wounds.
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Fig. 23. End of Year Feast. Harry Potter Wiki.
December 1, 2011.
Fig. 24. Gryffindors celebrate winning the House
Cup in 1992. Harry Potter Wiki. December 1,
2011.