Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the "Hero’s Journey" is a recurring pattern of stages many heroes undergo over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This led to the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth.
| STAGE | SUMMARY |
|---|---|
| Ordinary World | Jason journeys to Iolkos. He loses a sandal when helping an old woman cross the river. |
| Call to Adventure | Because of an oracle's prophesy to beware a stranger with one sandal, Pelias sends Jason on a perilous quest to fetch the Golden Fleece from Colchis, at the edge of the world. |
| Refusal | The journey would be long and arduous. Luckily, Jason was supported by the gods. He had the Argo built, which included a prophetic timber from Zeus' sacred tree. |
| Mentor / Helper | In addition to Athena and Hera, Jason is supported by Chiron before his journey, and accompanied by many famous heroes during his quest, including Hercules and the Boread twins, Calais and Zetes. |
| Crossing the Threshold | The Argo sets sail for Colchis. |
| Test / Allies / Enemies | The Argo makes several stops, during which Hercules stays behind to find the missing Hylas. On one stop, the Boreads drive off the harpies that are plaguing the blind seer Phineus. Phineus helps the Argonauts make it past the deadly clashing rocks. |
| Approach | The Argo arrives in Colchis and Jason must perform great tasks in order to win the Golden Fleece. At the prodding of Athena and Hera, Aphrodite sends Eros to shoot Medea. She falls in love with Jason. |
| Ordeal | Medea provides Jason with the means to yoke the bulls and the secret to fighting the dragon tooth warriors. She also gives him a way to get the guardian serpent of the tree to fall asleep. |
| Reward | Jason claims the Golden Fleece! He also claims Medea as his bride. |
| Road Back | Aietes, angry that he lost both the Golden Fleece and his daughter, chased after them. To avoid pursuit, Medea chops her brother into pieces and drops them into the sea. Aietes stops the chase to gather his son's remains. Zeus sends storms to blow them off course. |
| Atonement | The Argo travels far, including being carried through the desert! The Argo itself suggests they travel to seek purification from Circe. Once there, Circe cleanses them of the murder of Medea's brother. The Argo is able to return safely to Iolkos. |
| Return | Through the wiles of Medea, Pelias is killed by his own daughters. Jason and Medea leave to start their life in Corinth. |
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Student Instructions
Use the story of Jason and the Argonauts and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey.