1 00:00:14,185 --> 00:00:15,435 What do Harry Potter, 2 00:00:15,435 --> 00:00:16,561 Katniss Everdeen, 3 00:00:16,561 --> 00:00:17,578 and Frodo 4 00:00:17,578 --> 00:00:21,621 all have in common with the heroes of ancient myths? 5 00:00:21,621 --> 00:00:25,609 What if I told you they are all variants of the same hero? 6 00:00:25,609 --> 00:00:27,401 Do you believe that? 7 00:00:27,401 --> 00:00:28,982 Joseph Campbell did. 8 00:00:28,982 --> 00:00:31,044 He studied myths from all over the world 9 00:00:31,044 --> 00:00:32,537 and published a book called, 10 00:00:32,537 --> 00:00:34,658 "The Hero with a Thousand Faces," 11 00:00:34,658 --> 00:00:36,320 retelling dozens of stories 12 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,079 and explaining how each represents the mono-myth, 13 00:00:39,079 --> 00:00:40,904 or hero's journey. 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,750 So, what is the "hero's journey"? 15 00:00:44,750 --> 00:00:46,850 Think of it as a cycle. 16 00:00:46,850 --> 00:00:50,537 The journey begins and ends in a hero's ordinary world, 17 00:00:50,537 --> 00:00:55,220 but the quest passes through an unfamiliar, special world. 18 00:00:55,220 --> 00:00:57,602 Along the way, there are some key events. 19 00:00:57,602 --> 00:01:00,213 Think about your favorite book or movie. 20 00:01:00,213 --> 00:01:02,725 Does it follow this pattern? 21 00:01:03,464 --> 00:01:05,950 Status quo, that's where we start. 22 00:01:06,751 --> 00:01:09,555 1:00: Call to Adventure. 23 00:01:09,555 --> 00:01:12,105 The hero receives a mysterious message, 24 00:01:12,105 --> 00:01:13,187 an invitation? 25 00:01:13,187 --> 00:01:14,572 A challenge? 26 00:01:14,572 --> 00:01:16,421 2:00: Assistance 27 00:01:16,421 --> 00:01:17,840 The hero needs some help, 28 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,122 probably from someone older, wiser. 29 00:01:21,122 --> 00:01:22,706 3:00: Departure 30 00:01:22,706 --> 00:01:26,087 The hero crosses the threshold from his normal, safe home, 31 00:01:26,087 --> 00:01:29,078 and enters the special world and adventure. 32 00:01:29,078 --> 00:01:30,895 We're not in Kansas anymore. 33 00:01:30,895 --> 00:01:32,799 4:00: Trials 34 00:01:32,799 --> 00:01:34,048 Being a hero is hard work: 35 00:01:34,048 --> 00:01:35,355 our hero solves a riddle, 36 00:01:35,355 --> 00:01:36,598 slays a monster, 37 00:01:36,598 --> 00:01:38,433 escapes from a trap. 38 00:01:39,296 --> 00:01:41,548 5:00: Approach 39 00:01:41,548 --> 00:01:43,848 It's time to face the biggest ordeal, 40 00:01:43,848 --> 00:01:45,871 the hero's worst fear. 41 00:01:48,318 --> 00:01:50,843 6:00: Crisis 42 00:01:50,843 --> 00:01:52,801 This is the hero's darkest hour. 43 00:01:52,801 --> 00:01:55,674 He faces death and possibly even dies 44 00:01:55,674 --> 00:01:57,456 only to be reborn. 45 00:01:58,764 --> 00:02:00,980 7:00: Treasure 46 00:02:02,196 --> 00:02:05,866 As a result, the hero claims some treasure, 47 00:02:05,866 --> 00:02:08,251 special recognition, or power. 48 00:02:08,251 --> 00:02:09,977 8:00: Result 49 00:02:09,977 --> 00:02:12,221 This can vary between stories. 50 00:02:12,221 --> 00:02:14,416 Do the monsters bow down before the hero, 51 00:02:14,416 --> 00:02:18,347 or do they chase him as he flees from the special world? 52 00:02:18,347 --> 00:02:20,663 9:00: Return 53 00:02:20,663 --> 00:02:25,120 After all that adventure, the hero returns to his ordinary world. 54 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,169 10:00: New Life 55 00:02:27,169 --> 00:02:29,478 This quest has changed the hero; 56 00:02:29,478 --> 00:02:32,318 he has outgrown his old life. 57 00:02:32,318 --> 00:02:34,620 11:00: Resolution 58 00:02:34,620 --> 00:02:38,284 All the tangled plot lines get straightened out. 59 00:02:38,284 --> 00:02:40,593 12:00: Status Quo, 60 00:02:40,593 --> 00:02:42,780 but upgraded to a new level. 61 00:02:42,780 --> 00:02:45,784 Nothing is quite the same once you are a hero. 62 00:02:45,784 --> 00:02:47,469 Many popular books and movies 63 00:02:47,469 --> 00:02:50,177 follow this ancient formula pretty closely. 64 00:02:50,177 --> 00:02:53,911 But let's see how well "The Hunger Games" fits the hero's journey template. 65 00:02:53,911 --> 00:02:55,968 When does Katniss Everdeen hear her call to adventure 66 00:02:55,968 --> 00:02:57,926 that gets the story moving? 67 00:02:57,926 --> 00:03:01,459 When her sister's name is called from the lottery. 68 00:03:01,459 --> 00:03:03,098 How about assistance? 69 00:03:03,098 --> 00:03:05,462 Is anyone going to help her on her adventure? 70 00:03:05,462 --> 00:03:06,735 Haymitch. 71 00:03:06,735 --> 00:03:08,307 What about departure? 72 00:03:08,307 --> 00:03:10,428 Does she leave her ordinary world? 73 00:03:10,428 --> 00:03:12,645 She gets on a train to the capital. 74 00:03:12,645 --> 00:03:14,094 OK, so you get the idea. 75 00:03:14,094 --> 00:03:15,609 What do you have in common 76 00:03:15,609 --> 00:03:16,546 with Harry Potter, 77 00:03:16,546 --> 00:03:17,391 Katniss Everdeen, 78 00:03:17,391 --> 00:03:18,522 and Frodo? 79 00:03:18,522 --> 00:03:21,981 Well, you're human, just like them. 80 00:03:21,981 --> 00:03:24,897 The hero's journey myth exists in all human cultures 81 00:03:24,897 --> 00:03:26,606 and keeps getting updated 82 00:03:26,606 --> 00:03:28,891 because we humans reflect on our world 83 00:03:28,892 --> 00:03:33,082 through symbolic stories of our own lives. 84 00:03:33,082 --> 00:03:35,079 You leave your comfort zone, 85 00:03:35,079 --> 00:03:37,558 have an experience that transforms you, 86 00:03:37,558 --> 00:03:40,459 and then you recover and do it again. 87 00:03:40,459 --> 00:03:43,464 You don't literally slay dragons or fight Voldemort, 88 00:03:43,464 --> 00:03:46,026 but you face problems just as scary. 89 00:03:46,026 --> 00:03:47,243 Joseph Campbell said, 90 00:03:47,243 --> 00:03:52,143 "in the cave you fear to enter lies the treasure you seek." 91 00:03:52,143 --> 00:03:55,111 What is the symbolic cave you fear to enter? 92 00:03:55,111 --> 00:03:57,522 Auditions for the school play? 93 00:03:57,522 --> 00:03:59,266 Baseball tryouts? 94 00:03:59,266 --> 00:04:00,813 Love? 95 00:04:00,813 --> 00:04:04,664 Watch for this formula in books, movies, and TV shows you come across. 96 00:04:04,664 --> 00:04:06,409 You will certainly see it again. 97 00:04:06,409 --> 00:04:09,616 But also be sensitive to it in your own life. 98 00:04:09,616 --> 00:04:12,083 Listen for your call to adventure. 99 00:04:12,083 --> 00:04:13,665 Accept the challenge. 100 00:04:13,665 --> 00:04:14,936 Conquer your fear 101 00:04:14,936 --> 00:04:17,293 and claim the treasure you seek. 102 00:04:17,293 --> 00:04:18,593 And then, 103 00:04:18,593 --> 00:04:20,439 do it all over again.