what is the monomyth?

what is the monomyth?

The heroic monomyth (also known as the Hero's Journey) describes the common stages of a hero's journey found in many stories.



Stage 1: Departure


Call to Adventure:

The hero's journey begins when the hero becomes aware of the world outside his home or town where he/she has lived for his entire life. His journey is usually given to him by a herald who helps the hero by acting as a guide.

Refusal of the Call:

The hero may actually refuse the initial call to adventure, usually from their fear of change. The hero will eventually go on his journey, either from "encouragement" by a supernatural force or by an event that almost forces the hero to move beyond his home.

Supernatural Aid:

As the hero travels on his journey, he may meet with an old man, a god/goddess or a messenger who gives the hero a weapon or some magical powers.

Crossing the First Threshold:

This "threshold" the hero must cross is what separates the hero from the comforts of his home to the adventurous new world filled with mystery and danger. Sometimes the threshold is guarded by a gatekeeper whom the hero must defeat.

Belly of the Whale:

As the hero crosses the threshold, he finds himself alone in the darkness of new world. In the darkness, the hero may find his purpose to go on the journey and can emerge from the "belly of the whale" as a new person.




Stage 2 : Initiation




The Road of Trials:

The road is a series of tests,and tasks that hero must undergo to begin the transformation.The hero often fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in three.


The Meeting With the Goddess:
This is when the hero experience a love that have power,all encompassing, unconditional love.It is a very important step in the process and is often represented by the hero finding the other person that hero loves most completely.


Woman as Temptress:
For this step, hero faces temptations, a physical or pleasurable nature, that may lead to abandon from hero quest,which not necessarily have to be a woman. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from spiritual journey.


Atonement with the Father:
This step hero have to be confront by whatever holds the ultimate power in hero life. In myths, the father or a father figure who has life and death power. This is already the center point of the journey.Which all the previous steps been moved in this place,and all that follow will moved out from it.




Apotheosis:
When someone dies a physical death, or dies to the self to live in spirit, hero moves to a state of divine knowledge, love, compassion and bliss. This step is a period of rest, peace and fulfillment before the hero begins the return.


The Ultimate Boon:
Ultimate boon is an achievement goal of the quest. It is what the hero went into the journey to get.