Tuesday, December 4, 2012

How does The Odyssey fit Joseph Campbell's 18 steps in The Hero with a Thousand Faces?

Different instructors are going to have different
rationales behind what stages of Campbell's journey must be emphasized.  Some will
collapse different elements of the heroic archetype so that the exact number of 18 steps
might not be fully adhered.  This will be something that you will have to sort out for
yourself.  The basic premises that Campbell argues is that the hero starts in an
"ordinary world," such as post Greek/ Trojan War.  One could argue that the "call to
action" would be Odysseus' journey home.    The numerous challenges that Odysseus must
face on his journey would be representative of the "road of trials" phase of Campbell's
monomyth.  Receiving help from Athena would be the boon to which Odysseus understands
his own sense of intelligence and keen sense of cunning that allows him to escape from
many a situation that would have ensnared him on his journey.  Finally, his "application
of the boon" can be seen as his ability to return home, defeat the suitors who wish to
usurp him and ensure that justice is returned to Ithaca with his rightful place as
leader.

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