Theories Of The Monomyth

1489 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Literary analysis the odyssey

Coincidentally, when thought about, all mythological stories seem to be written with the same communal ideas in mind. Back in ancient times, all of the authors were oblivious to the fact that they were all writing stories that were hypothetically the same. Authors nowadays are much more familiar with the theory of the Monomyth. Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, describes the theory that all archetypical heroes follow a single supernatural journey throughout their story. The Monomyth consists of three main stages: The Departure, Initiation, and the Return. Joseph Campbell theorized that all mythological stories follow this outline one way or another. The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer, demonstrates this theory very …show more content…

In Slaughterhouse Five, Billy Pilgrim endures many trials such as witnessing the fire storm at Dresden, sniper fire, and a few unwieldily allies that ultimately turn into Billy’s worst enemies. On Tralfamadore (The alien planet Billy temporarily lives on from time to time) Montana Wildhack poses as worthy temptress for Billy Pilgrim. Montana Wildhack is a blue movie star. The apotheosis in Billy’s never ending journey, is when his Enemy, Paul Lazzaro, kills him. Billy actually receives his ultimate reward when he all-knowingly has sexual intercourse with his wife Valencia and creates a Green Beret. “Billy made a noise like a small, rusty hinge. He had just emptied his seminal vesicles into Valencia…” (Vonnegut 118). In the Odyssey, Odysseus is put threw many more trials than Billy that thwarted his journey home, such as encountering a vicious cyclopes, plundering a village, losing men to lotus eaters, escaping a ban of unfriendly giants, hearing the seductive sirens, living with Circe (a sexy goddess), almost dying from the feared monsters, Charybdis and Scylla, and finally eating immortal cows. After all of these trials, every single crew member died but Odysseus. Odysseus’ temptation was a woman named Circe that offered Odysseus immortality if he stayed with her. He and his crew ended up staying with circe for seven years. The apotheosis of Odysseus’ journey comes when he is given safe passage home from the king of Phaeacia who pities him. Odysseus makes it all the way back to Ithaca thanks to the king. Meanwhile on Ithaca, Odysseus’ wife Penelope is being bothered by suitors that assume he is dead. Odysseus naturally hates these men. While Odysseus is dividing a plan to kill the

Show More
Related

  • The Odyssey: The Success Of Odysseus As A Hero

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    When challenged during his excursion, Odysseus was prepared to give up any of his men if it meant saving himself. While he was absent for twenty years, Penelope did everything that she could to remain faithful to her husband. Penelope was unsure if her husband was even alive, but felt that moving on to a different man would not be just. While Penelope was at the palace awaiting Odysseus’ return, Odysseus was at Aeaea with Kirke. Odysseus was off living his life without thinking of how his actions could affect his wife. In book eleven, Odysseus is instructed by Kirke to go to the underworld to talk to Tiresias. When he arrives, one of the first people he spoke with was his mother, Anticlea. She goes on to inform her son that she died of grief waiting for him to return home. Odysseus only ever thought about how he would be affected by this prolonged journey and never about the lives of those who cared about him, such as his wife and his

    Read More

  • Harry Potter and The Hero's Journey

    1096 Words  | 3 Pages

    After Campbell studied a lot of the great myths and realized this pattern, he published his findings in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Ever since then, authors have used “The Hero’s Journey” as an outline to tell their stories. “It is important to note that not all of these individual steps are present in every hero’s tale, nor is it important that they be in this exact order” (Vogler 20). The Hero with a Thousand Faces gives a sense of significance as it looks into the inner mind and soul. The author, Joseph Campbell, performs two extraordinary accomplishments: compelling his readers that myth and dream, those are the most effective and everlasting forces in life and a unification of mythology and psychoanalysis with a gripping narrative.

    Read More

  • Odysseus's Qualities in The Odyssey

    754 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of Odysseus's many qualities is determination. He remains determined throughout the entire saga to get back to his family. During Odysseus's Odyssey he encounters many obstacles, beast, god, and nature. Odysseus must get through all of these hardships before he can make it back to his family and home. On his way back Odysseus is next to Charybdis and she swallows his boat. He must holds on to the branches of a fig tree to survive, "But I clung grimly, thinking my mast and keel would come back to the surface when she spouted. And ah! How long, with what desiree, I waited! Till, at the twilight hour...the long poles at last reared from the sea"(12.560-64). Odysseus shows his determination to get home, because it would be easy for him to just let go and drown, but no Odysseus hangs on so he can see his wife again. Once he is at home he finds suitors at his house. Odysseus kills one of them and the others beg for mercy, ??Not for the whole treasure of your fathers, all you enjoy, lands, flocks, or any gold put up by others, would I hold my hand??(22.65-67). Odysseus is determined to get revenge on all of the suitors and he will not be satisfied until they are all dead. Without his strong will and determination Odysseus would not have made it through his trials. Although determination is a must for a journey such as Odysseus?s cunning is also just as essential.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Joseph Campbell's Myth Atalanta '

    282 Words  | 1 Pages

    To understand humankind, one must understand myths. Joseph Campbell wrote that all myths, even though the may be from different places, they are very similar. All myths about heroes follow the same path. In the myth Atalanta, the heroine follows all three stages of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, departure, decisive victory, and they return.

    Read More

  • Odysseus as an Epic Hero

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Odysseus was an epic hero depicted in the Homer's The Odyssey. He responded to the call to travel to Troy to help Agamemnon get Helen. He encountered great confrontation along the way. He fought the Cicones, the Lotus Eaters, the Cyclops, Polyphemus, the Laestrygonians, the witch goddess Circe, the lonely Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, the Sun, and Calypso. He and his men traveled great distances under severe circumstances. Odysseus answers a second call to return home to his family. He returns a more mature warrior and a wiser man. Because of this he is able to conquer the suitors and reclaim his palace and his family. As in all Greek literature, the epic hero Odysseus answers a call to action, suffers through great confrontation, and returns with a better understanding of life.

    Read More

  • Explaining the Hero’s Journey

    796 Words  | 2 Pages

    The “Hero’s Journey” is a very eye opening idea that Joseph Campbell has presented us with. It really makes me wonder what myths were derived from each other and which religion is influenced by another religion. It’s been very easy for me to get wrapped up and lost in some of the things Campbell wrote, and I could be completely overthinking the entire thing. It makes me wonder what religion is real and where did some of these mythological stories come from if they weren’t influenced by another myth? I hope I have influenced you to raise the same questions by bringing up these ideas and comparing these myths over the three divisions Campbell gives us.

    Read More

  • The Odyssey

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Odyssey is a tale that has changed literature and storytelling. In this tale Odysseus is a Soldier from the battle of Troy trying to get home to his island of Ithaca, where he is king. His wife and son must wait ten years while he is trying to make his way home. In Odysseus’s absence wooer’s, or better known as suitors, learn of his absence and travel to Ithaca to win his wife’s hand in marriage. These men come every day feasting on Odysseus’s food and wine, and give his servant’s orders. His son Telemachus, does his best to keep the suitors from ruining his fathers house but he is only a boy, and doesn’t receive the respect of an adult. Telemachus then has a visit from the god Athena, whom Odysseus is friends with, who advises him to travel to find out about his father. In his travels he hears that Odysseus may still be alive. Meanwhile Odysseus goes through a series of adventures and hardships that prove his wisdom. It is interesting in contrast of the Iliad, even though Achilles was much stronger and a better warrior, Odysseus was portrayed as a greater hero due to his wisdom. He uses this wisdom to escape from the Cyclops.

    Read More

  • The Alchemist as a Monomyth

    1931 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the years, certain writers were able to set off a deep sympathetic resonance within readers by their usage of archetypal patterns. One of those patterns is known as the hero's journey, which Joseph Campbell gave an understandable idea of in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. According to his book, while comparing world's mythology, he found that no matter how far cultures are from each other, they will still have the same structure of hero's journey in their legends (Voytilla vii).

    Read More

  • 's Journey In Joseph Campbell's The Hero With A Thousand Faces

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    (200)This mythic study will define the first ten stages of the hero’s journey as defined by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Campbell defines the various stages of the hero’s journey within the context of a universal mythic "cycle” found in world ligature. These similar events define the universal stages of the hero’s journey in (1) the call to adventure, (2) refusal of the call, (3) supernatural aid, (4) the first threshold, (5) challenges, (6)revelation (7) abyss (rebirth), (8) transformation, (9) atonement, and (10) the return in the gift of the goddess. These ten stages define the cycle of the heroic journey, which

    Read More

  • The Hero’s Journey in Homer's The Odyssey

    1885 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Hero’s Journey is never an easy one. This particular journey, as detailed in Homer’s The Odyssey, is one of struggle, loss, heartache, pain, growth and triumph. It is comprised of many steps that Odysseus has to overcome and battle through in order to achieve his final goal of reaching his home and his loved ones. From the Call to Adventure to the Freedom or Gift of living, Odysseus conquered them all. The story begins in the middle of the story, as many of the oral Greek traditions did, with the Journey of Telemachus to find his father. Although Telemachus has not yet met his father, it is almost as if they are journeying together, where the end of both of their journeys results in being reunited. Telemachus journeys from being a boy to becoming a man, while out in the sea Odysseus is battling Poseidon to return to the home that wife that he loves and the home he has left behind.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Relationship Between Hamlet And Horatio

    1760 Words  | 4 Pages

    The relationship between Odysseus and his wife Penelope is one of loyalty, love, and faith. Both characters are driven by these characteristics. Odysseus displays his loyalty in his constant battle to get home to his wife. This love helps him persevere through the many hardships that he encounters on his journey home. Odysseus spent 20 years trying to return to his home in Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War. Along the way he manages to offend both gods and mortals, but through his intelligence, and the guidance of Athena, he manages to finally return home. There he discovers that his home has been overrun by suitors attempting to win Penelope’s hand in marriage. The suitors believed that Odysseus was dead. Odysseus and his son, Telemachus,

    Read More

  • Explaining the Three Stages in "The Hero's Journey"

    1745 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the course of this World Literature class, several stories have been covered that accurately describe Joseph Campbell's mono-myth, or basic pattern found in narratives from every corner of the world. The Hero's Journey in it's entirety has seventeen stages or steps, but if boiled down can be described in three; the departure, the initiation, and the return (Monomyth Cycle). Each stage has several steps, but the cycle describes the hero starting in his initial state, encountering something to change him, and this his return as a changed person. To further explain this concept, there are a few stories covered in this class that can be used.

    Read More

  • The Role of Penelope in The Odyssey

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    The character of Penelope in Homer's Odyssey reflects the faithful wife who waits twenty years for the arrival of her husband. Only a strong woman could sustain the stress, anxiety and confusion resulting from the chaos of a palace with a missing king whose fate is unknown. Her responsibilities and commitments toward the man she loves are particularly difficult to keep, under the strain of the situation. Although she does not actively pursue an effort to find him, her participation in the success of Odysseus' homecoming can be seen in her efforts to defend and protect the heritage, reputation and the House of Odysseus in his absence. As Odysseus withstands his trial, Penelope withstands her trials against temptations to give in to the many anxious suitors, to give up on her faith and respect for her religion, her husband and even her self. Penelope's strength in keeping the highest standards in her function as a wife, woman and mother contributes to the success of Odysseus' homecoming by keeping the home and family for him to come back to.

    Read More

  • The Role of the Gods in the Odyssey

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... In Homer’s Odyssey, both Odysseus and his son Telemachus embark on long, difficult journeys; Odysseus trying to return from Troy to his home in Ithaca, escaping Calypso and the island of Ogygia, and Telemachus from Ithaca to Pylos and Sparta in search of his lost father. While The Odyssey tells of the courage both men demonstrate during their respective travels, their quests are the results of the intentions and desires of gods. Odysseus is trapped in exile on Ogygia by the will of Poseidon, whose anger Odysseus attracts when he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, and by the love of Calypso, who wishes to make Odysseus her husband.

    Read More

  • Odysseus Character Analysis

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    Homer’s The Odyssey is a Greek story that follows the journey of its primary character, Odysseus, back to his home in Ithaca after the Trojan War. Odysseus encounters many challenges in his journey home, from encounters with Polyphemus the Cyclops, the witch Circe and even the ghosts of dead Greeks. Meanwhile, his household in Ithaca is being threatened by suitors of his wife, Penelope, all wanting to inherit Odysseus’ possessions in the belief that he was already dead. Like many epic heroes, Odysseus possesses many admirable qualities. Three good characteristics of Odysseus are—cleverness, bravery and strength—here are some supporting instances from the epic that demonstrates Odysseus possession of such characteristics.

    Read More

More about Theories Of The Monomyth

Open Document