The Archetypal Hero

1
The Archetypal Hero

• What do Luke Skywalker, Simba, Moses, and
  Hercules all have in common?

2
What is an archetype?

• Archetype A recurring pattern of images,
  situations, or symbols found in the mythology,
  religion, art, and dreams of cultures around the
  world

3
Archetypal Hero Traits

1. Unusual Circumstances of Birth
2. Leaves Family and Lives With Others
3. Traumatic Event Leads to Quest
4. Special Weapon
5. Supernatural Help
6. Proves Himself on Quest
7. Journey and an Unhealable Wound
8. Atonement With Father
9. Spiritual Apotheosis

4
Heros Unusual Birth

• Often in danger or born into royalty
• Luke was sent to his aunt and uncle
• Simba was born a prince
• Moses was put in basket by his mother
• Hercules was half god, half man

5
Hero Leaves Family

• Raised away from his people
• Luke w/ aunt and uncle
• Simba w/ Timon and Poobah
• King Arthur w/ Merlin
• William Wallace with uncle
• Moses w/ Pharaohs daughter

6
Heros Traumatic Event

• A heros life is changed forever
• Lukes aunt and uncles death
• Wallaces wife is killed
• Arthur pulls sword from stone
• Simba fights Nala
• Yahweh appears to Moses

7
Heros Special Weapon

• Only the hero can wield his weapon
• Lukes light saber
• Arthurs Excalibur
• Moses staff
• Wallaces sword
• Simbas ... claws?

8
Hero receives Supernatural Help

• Hero often has spiritual guidance
• Luke hears Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Arthur has Merlin
• Yahweh guides Moses
• Wallace dreams of his dead father
• Simba sees Mufasa in the sky and has Rafiki help
  him

9
Hero Proves Himself

• Hero performs feats while on Quest
• Luke blows up Death Star, leads rebellion
• Arthur leads battles
• Moses perform miracles
• Simba contemplates his life
• Wallace leads his men against British

10
Journey Unhealable Wound

• Hero descends into a hell-like area and suffers
  wounding from encounter w/ evil
• Symbolically goes where normal humans cant and
  finds truth about self

11
Atonement With Father

• Hero either redeems fathers evil deeds or
  reconciles with father over wrongs done by the
  hero

12
Apotheosis

• Hero is rewarded spiritually at the end of his
  life