Hey, it's Erin.
We continued learning about the heroic archetype today. We started out by finishing the journey. The journey or quest is filled with dangers, loneliness, and temptation, because the journey is meant to represent life. The hero is in an alien country, because the journey leads them far from home (taking away their feelings of comfort), so they have to face new situations. The responsibility for the quest is on one person - the hero - who is constantly tempted to abandon their quest.
The hero is usually accompanied by companions, who are meant to support the hero and reduce their loneliness. However, sometimes they have the opposite effect and make the hero more lonely. The key point is that all of the hero's companions will fall away before the final battle, which is more of an internal battle.
There are also guides to help the hero. A guide is revealed after the hero in some way reveals themselves. The guide is a revered but unlikely person. Help or advice from the guide will be offered ambiguously and not all of the dangers will be spelled out - otherwise the hero and their companions wouldn't need to use their own common sense. Also, the guide usually has some connection to the opposite side that they are unwilling to reveal. The guide always possesses great power, but never enough to defeat the evil because then the hero wouldn't be needed. Finally, guides usually were heroes in the past.
During the final conflict there is a "descent into darkness." It can be literal, figurative, or both, but that moment plays on the fears of the hero. The descent is the hero's lowest moment, and they are always alone. Once the hero achieves victory, they return to the light. Before the descent into darkness, the hero receives a physical wound; however, it's usually not important to them at that point. In the end, it is not a contest of strength (because of the hero's injury). The hero might even die achieving their goal. There is a difference in the hero after the descent: new maturity and wisdom. They can't make their companions understand their new knowledge. The original goal of the hero is only a symbol. Also, good never really defeats evil; evil defeats itself.
Finally, the hero brings their knowledge back to their community and tries to teach them. If the hero dies, then the companions bring the knowledge back with them.
3 comments:
Hey guys! one last thing, I didn't really get a chance to see if anyone had actually read the Good Earth...but! at the end, the main character is dying and hence PASSES ON his knowledge to his sons. Or at least he tries to. He spent his entire life learning how valuable and good the earth is. He built his life upon the Earth and he learned that it is the only thing that remains after everything else leaves. Sadly, the two sons are foolish and laugh behind their father's back at his wise advice. and it just reminded me of Mr. Laz teaching us that you can't give someone else "wisdom" because to be truly wise, we have to undergo the experience for ourselves. I think this is a big problem today as we become de-sensitized to tragedies. We hear about so many on the news but we rarely actually undergo them.
I am definitely going to continue applying these archtypes on pretty much every book and movie. At the beginning of every movie I see I am always predicting the end. I don't really feel that it ruins them at all. I think it will be really interesting to apply this lesson and like mr. laz said, will allow me to understand the story better.
Hey, it's Erin.
Just wondering... can a story be missing certain elements and still be a heroic archetype? Is there anything that is absolutely necessary (well, besides the hero or the journey)?
ahh That was Cristy (the first comment)year is over and i'm still doing that! srry
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