Week 4 Syllabus: September 9
JOSEPH CAMPBELL’S MONOMYTH was first presented in his book The Hero with 1,000 Faces. He describes many of the common features of myths from around the world, building on his work with Carl Jung (who developed the idea of archetypes) and Jung’s teacher, Sigmund Freud (the father of modern psychology, who developed the idea of the id, ego, and superego). Campbell’s monomyth—also known as the hero’s journey—is grounded by the idea that all stories worth telling have some common patterns. He describes a hero undergoing departure—leaving the known world, initiation—transformational challenges and changes, and return—re-entering the known world with the prize won during the journey. We will learn the basics of the hero journey this week.
MONDAY, September 9
Lecture on Campbell’s theory. We will review an outline created by Christopher Volger in his book The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers.
We will review several clips that illustrate the concept of departure (the call to adventure, and crossing the threshold), and one clip that illustrates death and rebirth.
Ending class by reviewing the homework….
HW: Transfer your notes on the Campbell-Moyers interview into top-half of the 11”x17” note sheet provided in class. Do NOT do the bottom half—we will do that together, in class.
WEDNESDAY, September 11
Safety day. I will review what we do (and where we go) in the even of environmental, building, or human emergencies.
Star reading assessment: https://global-zone50.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/737639
Once done, review these examples of hero journey illustrations. You will create a version of these for Haroun’s hero journey,
HW: Students will create their own visual illustration of Haroun’s hero journey, based on Volger’s outline of the monomyth. Finish your illustration of Haroun’s hero journey. Use words. Use visuals. Make it your own interpretation of his journey! Due Thursday in class, on paper.
THURSDAY, September 12
We will write an in-class analysis of Haroun’s hero journey—specifically his departure and crossing the threshold—before we move into our first short story.
STAR reading assessment.
Reading and annotating “The Machine Stops,” a dystopian sci-fi store from the early 20th century.
Finish reading part two of the story, annotating while you read for the stages of the hero journey.