The hero cycle is not a rubric created for storytellers; it is the primal urge of all people—across ALL cultures—to experience within their own lives the transformation of being a hero. Every ancient culture that has had its history recorded has some epic poem or story to guide its people. The heroic cycle represents the power of hope over despair; it gives us all the chance for redemption—even in the hardest of times. It is a recognition that without agnos (pain) there is no aristos (glory), and, in that sense, it validates even the most common and hard-bitten of lives by making the lives of every man, woman and child that has ever lived uncommon, unique, and worthwhile.
It is not an absurd idea to recognize the greatness and possibilities of our own lives. It is not absurd to think we have an epic tale worth telling, and it is certainly not absurd to examine every experience through a reflective lens and to start to appreciate the implications of transformation which heroic poetry represents. As human beings, we are hard-wired to need this epic poetry. We can’t just read the epic as a story and move on. We have to know the story and build and incorporate the allegory into our own lives; otherwise, we will run from the battles of life; we will avoid the straits of Skylla and the lair of the Cyclops; we will shun the Gods who come disguised to us and coddle the children given to us; we won’t shed tears for common friends, and we will lock out every stranger and blame our mishaps and misdeeds on the gods.
In short, we will not be remembered, and no songs will be sung about us. The saddest part is that you may think this is all exaggeration and hyperbole. But, it is not! Our lives are full of stories that use and embody the heroic cycle. In fact, I have a hard time trying to think of any “great” movie, book, or story that in same way, shape or fashion
Try to come up with a book or movie that you feel is a meaningful and powerful story that follows this heroic cycle. Fill in the blank boxes with a brief description of the scenes that best illustrate the use of the hero cycle in the story.
The assignment will be posted on iTunes U. If you have any problems, you can use this rubric. Open it in Pages.
Download the rubric:
This is an interesting reflection on storytelling through the ages.
Wow this seems like a really fun assignment! I have the perfect book in mind. I have definitely noticed the Heroic Cycle within many books and movies and it was truly helped me get up even hard times.
I can definitely see how all books follow this same pattern, but I veer noticed it. This was very really interesting. I am looking forward to this assingment.
I’ve never really thought about the compulsion to hear stories before. It’s an interesting thought, and upon reflection I realize that I do indeed feel this compulsion to hear heroic stories; they are a sort of “courage fuel,” if you will.
As I think about stories, I relise that almost every story follows this cycle.
Reading this post really made me reflect on what it said, and I realize that almost every story I have read, follows this cycle that you have presented.
I think this is one of the best assignments given yet! It absolutely makes sense. I LOVE epics and now I see why. Can’t wait!
I can know think of many books and stories like this. I am very exited for this assignment. I liked all the vocabulary in the blog post.
This assighnment is fun but it will help me throughout the year. Thanks!
This sounds like it will be a very fun assignment! I can’t wait until we start this! Also, I couldn’t help but notice that you added a few literary terms into this post.
It sounds awesome hope we can do it in class
Wow never thought of it in that way!
This really shows how important it is to tell the stories of your life. It also shows how us as people NEED epic poetry.
This was a good assainment and I am now trying to convince my parents to watch “The Hobbit” with me.
I loved doing this assignment it allowed me to do something I love to talk about, Avatar the Last Airbender