A book by
Joseph Campbell that proposes that most mythical heros are all examples of a hero
archetype. It proposes that heroic myths are instances of the
monomyth. The story goes somthing like this:
- Separation: The hero goes off somewhere. This can be voluntary, or involuntary.
- Transformation: The hero is in some way changed, internally or externally.
- Return: The hero returns to his society, changed.
Classic examples include
Orpheus,
Star Wars and
Ulysses.
Many cultures base
initiation ceremonies on the monomyth.