"The Hero's Adventure": A Mid-Term Narrative

In his interview with Bill Moyers on the power of myth in the modern cultural imagination, famed historian Joseph Campbell discusses the hero’s adventure as an archetype for the psychological growth of man into maturity. At the outset of the interview he says that to evolve out of the position of psychological immaturity to “the courage of self-responsibility and assurance requires a death and resurrection.” He adds, “That’s the basic motif of the universal hero’s journey—leaving one condition and finding the source of life to bring you forth into a richer or more mature condition.” This of course involves the conscious decision to move forward.

That said, I would like you to choose one of the following two options for your mid-term challenge:

1. Craft an autobiographical narrative in which you discuss a significant “coming of age” experience related to at least three key insights Campbell makes regarding the hero’s journey. Typically, a “coming of age” experience involves some sort of conflict or problem that is resolved by a decision which the subject makes. Feel free to drop any references to characters, conflicts, or events in the texts we’ve read thus far. As you write, keep in mind the following question: What changes—psychologically, spiritually, or physically—occur in the subject that reflect the “stages” of the hero journey on the literal and/or figurative level: a going and returning; a death and resurrection; a departure, fulfillment, and return? (for formatting guidelines see pp. 214-17)

2. Craft a literary review in which you synthesize at least three major works we’ve read, analyzing each in its relationship to three key aspects of the hero’s journey according to Campbell. You must be sure to cite specific references from the text of each work while incorporating important quotes into your review from Moyer’s interview with Campbell. Keep in mind the following question: What changes—psychologically, spiritually, or physically—occur in the subject that reflect the “stages” of the hero journey on a literal and/or figurative level: a going and returning; a death and resurrection; a departure, fulfillment, and return?


Major Works Read

Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Seafarer (16)
The Wanderer (21)
The Wife’s Lament (25)

Beowulf (38)

Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales
The Prologue (94)
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale (119)
The Pardoner’s Tale (141)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (162)

Malory’s Morte d’Arthur (176)

Spenser’s Sonnet 1, 35, 75 (236-38)

Sydney’s Sonnet 31, 39 (239-40)

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29, 106, 116, 130 (253-56)

Donne’s Holy Sonnets (see handout)

Herbert’s metaphysical verse from The Temple poems (see handout)