ACTIVATOR: BRAINSTORM

CAROUSELINSTRUCTIONS: There will be four paper plates circulating throughout the classroom with the word “hero” written in their centers. When a paper plate comes to you, you should add a definition, quality, characteristic, etc. of a “hero” to the plate, but be sure to do so quickly. When the timer stops, the four people holding the plates will be those you share with the class the ideas everyone has written down.

RULES:

1. You cannot write an idea down more than once.

2. You cannot repeat another person’s idea on the same plate.

3. You must write down an idea when the plate comes to you.

4. You may only write one idea at a time.

THE HEROIC CYCLEDevelopment of Joseph Campbell

THE JOURNEY OF THE HERO

• In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell outlines how numerous myths and stories from around the world follow a certain pattern. • Campbell breaks this pattern down into different stages that most heroic quests go through. • In addition, Campbell notes the archetypes often found in heroic cycles.

THE FIRST STAGE1. CALL TO ADVENTURE: The hero is given an important message that he has a special calling and a destiny to fulfill. The hero may refuse the call, but he will go on it anyway.

EXAMPLE: Harry Potter is called upon to defeat Lord Voldemort.

BEGINNING THE QUEST

2. MEETING THE MENTOR: The mentor provides the hero with confidence, insight, advice, training, or magical gifts to overcome his fears and cross the threshold to adventure. The mentor is not a sidekick or an ally.EXAMPLE: Yoda is Luke Skywalker’s mentor in Star Wars, training him in the force.

ON THE JOURNEY

3. OBSTACLES: The hero goes through a set of obstacles or tests (physical, mental, or spiritual) that make him stronger and prepared for the final showdown. EXAMPLE: Simba must overcome his fears

about being king before he can defeat his uncle, Scar.

THE FINAL SHOWDOWN

4. FULFILLING THE QUEST: The hero reaches the climax, the ultimate payoff. It could be discovering treasure, rescuing a princess, or defeating the enemy.

EXAMPLE: Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

THE END OF THE CYCLE

5. RETURN OF THE HERO: The hero has achieved his goal, so he returns to the ordinary world.

6. TRANSFORMATION: As a result of his quest, the hero changes somehow. He may become a better leader, gain wisdom, etc.

EXAMPLE: Frodo Baggins returns to the Shire after his quest in The Lord of the Rings, but he has been forever changed by his journey.

“THESEUS”

• Pages 29-32

• Theseus is a well-known hero from Greek mythology.

• As we read, note how well this myth fits the hero’s journey situational archetype.

• However, also note how this character’s transformation isn’t exactly a positive one.

CHART TALKINSTRUCTIONS: Follow the steps below in order to complete the Chart Talk activity on the “Theseus” myth.

1. Working in a group of 4 or 5, take five minutes to fill in the provided graphic organizer depicting Theseus’s heroic journey.

2. When instructed to do so, each group will travel to one of the pieces of c

3. hart paper posted around the room.

4. Each group will have one minute to write down events from the “Theseus” myth that coincide with the stage of the heroic cycle listed on the chart paper.

5. After the first minute passes, groups will travel clockwise to add on to or subtract from the next piece of chart paper. We will continue like this until each group returns to where they began.

6. Then, each group will have 30 seconds at each of the pieces of chart paper to complete any last minute corrections.

“THE WHITE SNAKE”

• Pages 47-51

• “The White Snake” is a fairy tale by the Grimm brothers. Therefore, you will notice how the hero of this story vastly differs from a myth’s hero, like Theseus.

• However, you should also take note of how the hero’s journey situational archetype remains intact despite the shift in genre.

SUMMARIZER: GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

INSTRUCTIONS: In order to summarize your learning for the lesson, you will fill in the provided snake so that you may visually depict how the plot of “The White Snake” represents the heroic cycle archetype. Follow the specific directions on the worksheet.