Thousands, if not millions, of stories deal with the same ideas as the ones expressed in The Giver and “Bonehead.” These recurring themes can make a story seem even more meaningful because it reminds readers of other stories they’ve read. An archetype is another story element that tends to appear again and again―even in stories written hundreds of years apart.
Two of the most common archetypes in literature are the hero and the hero’s journey. In many stories, especially fairy tales and folk tales, the hero’s journey is more like a quest. In modern stories like “Bonehead,” the hero’s journey may not involve going anywhere at all―the journey happens in the hero’s life or even in his or her mind.
Watch this video again to review what happens in a story about a hero’s journey. As you watch, make a mental note of what happens during each stage of the “journey” from an average, ordinary person to somebody special.
Let's Watch
Heroes―you’ve probably met a few, at least in the stories you’ve encountered in books, on stage, or on screen.
Stories that focus on heroes are some of the most popular and meaningful in every culture’s literature. Whether it’s the protagonist in a modern work of fiction or the central figure in a myth passed down through centuries, heroes tend to follow similar paths.
People who study literature have devoted entire careers to exploring and analyzing the archetype of the hero’s journey. In most stories that include this journey, there are three stages: a departure, an initiation or transformation, and a return.
In the first stage of the hero’s journey, the protagonist is just an ordinary person living an ordinary life. (In other words, the hero isn’t a hero yet.)
Then, something happens―a conflict, a crisis, or an urgent call to action―that causes the hero to leave behind the ordinary world and set off on a journey.
In most stories, the hero is reluctant to answer the call to greatness. He may feel that he lacks the knowledge, skills, or experience to do what’s asked of him. Or she may believe that someone else should have been chosen for the job.
Eventually, the hero decides to take on the task that lies before them, and the next stage begins―the initiation, which causes the character’s transformation into a hero.
This stage usually begins with training, and is often conducted by an older, wiser mentor who agrees to help the hero succeed. To gain the knowledge needed to complete the journey, the hero often enters a supernatural realm or gains some kind of special weapon, tool, or skills.
During the initiation stage, the hero is tested in some way. They may face down the story’s villain, survive a brutal ordeal, or discover the solution to a problem.
At the end of the initiation stage, the protagonist has been transformed into a hero. Then the next stage begins―the return. During this stage, the hero returns in triumph and is often welcomed or acknowledged by the community as someone who deserves special status.
During the third stage of their journey, heroes often use their special skills to defend the weak or to lead others in their community. Gone is the ordinary person from the beginning of the story, replaced by someone wiser, stronger, or more confident.
Not all journeys end happily, of course. There are tragic heroes who suffer great losses during their journeys. The reward they receive at the end of a journey may or may not make up for what they’ve lost.
Stories that feature a tragic hero end in a bittersweet way. The impact of these kinds of stories is often quite strong―they leave you with as many questions as answers, and also make you think about the way life happens and why.
The next time you read a story, will you be able to tell if it describes a hero’s journey? See if you can answer these questions about stories like that. Then, compare your answers to the sample answers at the end of the activity.
The first stage of the hero’s journey involves leaving somewhere or someone. What else happens during this stage―besides leaving?
The second stage describes an initiation or transformation. What other character archetype appears in this stage? What is that person’s role in the story?
The third stage of the hero’s journey is called the return. What do heroes often do with their special skills or abilities, after they return to their communities?
Not all heroes’ journeys end well. Sometimes heroes lose so much that their “reward” does not compensate them for their suffering. What did Jonas lose at the end of The Giver? What did he gain?
| Your Responses | Sample Answers |
|---|---|
|
There is a conflict, a crisis, or a call to action. This is what causes the hero to leave the safety of the world that he or she has known. |
|
|
The archetype of the older, wiser mentor may appear in the story during this stage. The role of this character is to help the hero succeed in his or her transformation. |
|
|
They help the weak in their community resist oppression, or overcome some kind of threat. The hero may act as a leader or become a source of knowledge and wisdom. |
|
|
Jonas lost his entire Community and the only world he’d ever known. He also lost the chance to ever see his one true friend (the Giver) again. However, he gained the ability to live a much freer life, perhaps full of love and joy―not just fear and pain. |
|
