Lecture
1, Topic d: Joseph Campbell: The Hero Cycle
The "hero
cycle" is Joseph Campbell's representation of the hero's adventure,
abstracted from hundreds of the world's mythologies. The hero cycle is a
going and returning, which occurs in four phases:
- First there is the call to adventure, with the possibility of a helper
(think of Luke Skywalker called by R2D2, and assisted by Obi Wan Kenobi
and the robots).
- Second there is the crossing, with tests and more helpers (the death
of Luke's aunt and uncle, and the appearance of more helpers - Hans Solo
and Chewbacca).
- Third there is the supreme ordeal (Luke's confrontation with his father,
Darth Vader).
- Fourth there is the return, with a possible boon to the hero's people
(Luke destroys the Death Star, the rebel alliance is saved).
We use four heroes to illustrate the hero cyle: Theseus,
Aeneas, Yorimitsu,
Tristan.
