Dr. J. Taylor THE HERO CYCLE Mythology in Art and Literature
In his famous study of heroes, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell claims that most heroic adventures follow the formula of the rites of passage: separation--initiation--return. Campbell calls this the nuclear monomyth:
A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a
region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there
encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes
back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow
boons on other humans. (Campbell 30)
DEPARTURE
Call to Adventure - Destiny summons the hero to leave society and enter a region of treasure and danger (dark forest, great trees, babbling spring)
Refusal of Call - Hero refuses call and brings disaster on himself and others.
Supernatural Aid - Motherly/fatherly guide protects hero with powers of a benign destiny.
Crossing the Threshold - First step beyond the familiar boundaries into dangerous unknown.
The Belly of the Whale - Transit into sphere of re-birth, symbolized by womb-like belly of the whale.
INITIATION
Road of Trials - Hero must survive succession of trials, aided sometimes by advice, amulets, and secret agents.
Meeting with the Goddess - Achieves mystical union or confrontation with Queen Goddess of the World, in her benign or horrible aspects.
Woman as Temptress - Hero must withstand temptations of destructive Mother-Bride.
Atonement with the Father - Hero abandons self and trusts that terrible Father is, in fact, benign and merciful.
Apotheosis - Hero becomes one with God or the universe.
The Ultimate Boon - Hero receives or captures key to happiness in social world.
RETURN
Refusal of the Return - Hero refuses return and denies his knowledge to social world.
Magic Flight - Having won trophy, hero uses supernatural powers to achieve an otherwise dangerous return.
Rescue from Without - Return requires assistance from without.
Crossing of Return Threshold - Transit from divine back to human world.
Master of Two Worlds - Hero able to cross and re-cross world division
Source: Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 2nd ed. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Pr., 1968).