Year 7 · English · Myths and legends · Lesson 2

The hero's journey

The hero's journey (Joseph Campbell): ordinary world, call to adventure, mentor, threshold, tests, ordeal, reward and return, applied to the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.

16-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

Describe the stages of the hero's journey
Apply it to a myth
Explain how the hero changes
Plan a hero's journey story

The method

Ordinary world.
Call + mentor.
Ordeal.
Return changed.

Key words: hero's journey, Campbell, mentor, call to adventure, ordeal, Theseus, Minotaur.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

What is the hero's journey?

Step 1: Pattern

Answer: a common pattern in hero stories

Question 2

Who described the hero's journey?

Step 1: Joseph...

Answer: Joseph Campbell

Question 3

What is the ordinary world?

Step 1: Start

Answer: the hero's normal life before the adventure