Amélie And Pay It Forward: A Hero's Journey

Do you ever wonder if your favorite movie follows the hero's journey? You might ask yourself what even is the hero’s journey. Well the Hero’s journey was made by Joseph Campbell. Joseph Campbell was born March 26 1904 and died October 30 1987. There’s 12 stages for the hero’s journey,which does not mean that all movies follow them,but most do. For example, one movie that follows the hero’s journey is Maleficent. In the movie maleficent, Maleficent displays the hero’s journey when Stefan cuts her wings, then later on she meets Diaval, and a few years later she gets to know Aurora and got to see her more than a monster.

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

This conflict further develops through the hero’s journey archetype and later reveals the theme as the problem is solved. In addition, Richard Connell conveys Rainsford’s initial refusal to confront the problem during the Refusal of the Call, instead telling the general, “ ‘I wish to leave this island at once’ ”(10) and “I will not hunt”(10). Rainsford’s refusal to take part in the general’s sick practice is a natural reaction, and humanizes the character for the reader. The Refusal of the Call is an important aspect of the exposition, because it allows the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the character and make it easier later on to learn the same lesson Rainsford would. Even as Rainsford refuses the call, General Zaroff gives him encouragements and tries to coax him into participating in his hunt, foreshadowing that Zaroff himself would be Rainsford’s Experience with Unconditional Love in the Initiation Stage. Furthermore, in the final third of the Departure Stage, the Beginning of the Adventure, Mr. Connell reveals that the hunt had begun, and that “Rainsford had fought his way through the bush for two hours” (11). The Beginning of the Adventure marks the first event in the rising action of the story, when Rainsford accepted the call and ventured into the unknown wilderness. This section of the archetype is the reason for every other action in the archetype—Rainsford attempting to achieve his goal of not being hunted, overcoming his conflict

The archetype of the Hero’s Journey holds a prevalent pattern in the works of “Initiation” by Sylvia Plath, “A & P” by John Updike, and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. These works all follow the 17 stages of Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth which are separated in three stages; separation, initiation, and return. The main characters have different characterizations; however, they all follow the basic structure of the Hero’s journey archetype. There are many similarities and differences between the stages that are shown through many context clues and literary devices in each work. The Hero’s Journey archetype expressed in these literary works follow a similar and direct narrative pattern.

The second stage in the Hero Journey is the most visible—the trials that must be

Change is inevitable. Whether it be positive or negative, change is constantly happening. More than often change can take you from the known world and spit you into the unknown, where you return a changed person. While embarking on the journeys provoked by change, you are on a hero’s journeys. The hero’s journey was popularized by Joseph Campbell. When describing what prompts hero’s journeys, Joseph Campbell said,

All stories consist of a similar structure of stages, ranging from using a couple to all twelve, that help the protagonist in their journey to better themselves or others. The sole concept of this is called a Hero’s Journey. Now in The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the whole plot is based off of the hero’s journey. The protagonist, Santiago, goes through all twelve stages in his quest to reach his personal goal which ultimately makes The Alchemist a great example for the hero’s journey. In the book, Coelho introduces Santiago as a boy who is a shepard that was raised to be a priest. He is pleased being a sheep herder but is also fond of wanting to travel and dreams of finding a treasure. This starts off the “ordinary life” stage thus followed

In the late 1940’s a man named Joseph Campbell shared his Mythic principal with the world. He explains that there is a three-stage formula that he calls a Hero Journey which is the structure of every story. Though most stories are completely different on the outside, the stories are almost structured around these three stages. Stage 1 is the hero leaves the everyday world and enters another world. While Stage 2 the hero is challenged by opposing forces and must pass a series a test throughout the movie. That will then determine who will be victorious, either the hero or the opposing forces. Stage 3 is tied into Stage 2 because if the hero is victorious, they will return to the ordinary world with a gift for the world.

The first phase of the hero’s journey archetype is called the “ordinary world.” according to Christopher Vogler, this is the stage in which “The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma.” In the beginning of the story, the author discusses how the story makes him uncomfortable:

As you already know the story(The Palace Thief)Is being told by the main character,Mr Hundert a dedicated teacher trying is best to help a young man make it in life and not give him shortcuts like everyone else in his life.

The “hero’s journey”, coined by Joseph Campbell, is a pattern in the plot structure of literature, myths, and oral tradition in which the hero is consistently faced with similar obstacles and achieves many of the same goals. The first part of the hero’s journey is “The Call.” The hero is usually living a very comfortable and easy life, unaware of the journey ahead. The hero is then faced with a situation or dilemma which eventually causes them to seek change. The hero, at this point, tends to refuse the call to adventure in fear of the unknown. Once the hero has been given the strength to push past the unknown, they have entered the threshold. The hero will experience many challenges and temptations where the hero is tested, eventually reaching “The Abyss,” the most difficult challenge. The hero is then transformed by these trials and returns home to every-day life and begins to contribute to their society. The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the protagonist, Janie, experiences the hero’s journey first-hand through overcoming obstacles and transforming herself. In Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, the heroine Janie overcomes many obstacles and is therefore transformed into a self reliant woman.

In the beginning stages of the hero’s journey, we tend to see the main character/hero in their “ordinary world”, so to speak. The older stories will most likely have more typical and obvious characters, plot, and setting as they display elements of the classic version of the monomyth. In modern film specifically, the writers and directors will most likely bend and shape the hero’s journey to fit whatever the audience wants and will relate to. For example, in the

1. Ordinary World –the Hero’s home. A safe haven he must leave to start the journey The ordinary world is on a farm that is somewhere in Europe and it is near a village. (pg.

The American author, teacher, and mythologist, Joseph John Campbell, is universally known for his work in comparative folklore and culture. His studies led him to discover the pattern, journey of the hero. The sequence consists of three stages and exists in many dealings with Greek mythology as well as current popular culture. A modern example of the occurring cycle is the 2001 production, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In the film, an orphaned young boy named Harry Potter is invited to study at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In time, he is involved in a dangerous quest to save the wizarding community from the grasps of the Dark Lord. The film demonstrates aspects of a traditional journey of the hero because Harry

Joseph Campbell, an American scholar, defined the Hero’s Journey in twelve separate stages within two halves,