Lewis University Philosophy Essay

Background.  In 1949, Joseph Campbell published The Hero With a Thousand Faces, arguing that stories of mythic heroes typically follow a cyclic pattern, which he called the “monomyth” or “hero’s journey.”  His notion, that the power of heroic stories derives from this deeply-ingrained pattern, has been enormously influential to writers and interpreters of fiction – Campbell’s lectures on the Hero’s Journey, for example, famously inspired George Lucas to create Star Wars.  The notion has been considerably more controversial among scholars of mythology, who have been concerned, less with what makes a gripping yarn, than with whether the patterns of the monomyth truly reflect the history of mythology.

Question.  In an essay of 1250-1500 words (5-7 pages), evaluate the applicability of Campbell’s theory of the monomyth to the ancient hero myths we have considered.   With his “hero’s journey,” did Campbell discover a genuinely universal historical pattern, or (given its popularity with novelists and screenwriters) is the monomyth an effort to force modern standards for fictional entertainment onto the sacred stories of the past?  In addressing the question, your essay should incorporate the following elements:

What are the elements of the monomyth? Are all stages of the hero’s journey equally important?

To what extent do the stages of the monomyth correspond to our own hero myths? Are there any points where the theory doesn’t apply?  What does this mean for the applicability of the theory to the myth?

What do your findings mean for the historical validity of Campbell’s theory?

Research.  Your essay must make use of at least three peer-reviewed scholarly sources.  These sources can address a number of different questions, including:

What exactly is Campbell’s theory of the monomyth?

What kinds of criticisms have been leveled against Campbell’s theory?

Has Campbell’s theory already been applied to one or more of our hero stories? Do you think their treatment is accurate?

• Issues. There are any number of themes that you might select, including (but not limited to) the following:
• Do some of our stories fit Campbell’s pattern better than others? What does this mean for the applicability of these myths to modern audiences?
• The basic principle of the “hero’s journey” is that, in the end, we can learn something about our own lives from the adventures of these heroes. What are the principle lessons you see conveyed by our hero stories, and to what extent are they dependent on Campbell’s pattern?

Many of you argued that Ovid is more engaging and entertaining that Aristotle. How is the entertainment value of hero stories related to their ability to move us?

In your research, you may find strong criticisms and affirmations of Campbell’s theory. Do you think these are warranted by your reading of the texts?