Archetypes On The Hero's Journey

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With Every Difference There is an Underlying Similarity Madison Tierney Ms.Szusko ENG3U1 April 29th, 2011 The hero’s journey has consistent situational archetypes that are comparable among many different literary works as well as motion pictures. These archetypes within the hero’s journey are evidently displayed in literary compositions such as William Shakespeare’s’, The Merchant of Venice. Also comparably seen in Andrei Konchalovsky’s The Odyssey. To begin, the hero must make certain associations between the outside world and fictional experiences. Secondly, the hero archetype must face some form of obstacles in order for these situational archetypes to prove present in theme. The hero must descend into some place of trial to faces these obstacles. The hero will drastically change internally because of this trial. Lastly, the hero’s journey must include a theme of love, in order for the battle between the two forces occur; good vs. evil to result in mankind to showing eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil because of love, despite the struggles. Combined, there is not one specific characteristic, theme or archetype that specifically defines the hero and their journey. Together combined the similarities and differences are what make up the journey to become a whole. However, what is consistent is the writer always effectively develops a persistent theme of good overcoming evil within the hero’s journey in order to incite a profound response in the reader to believe the same theme can occur in reality. Recognizing archetypal patterns in literature brings patterns we all unconsciously respond to in similar ways, but to a conscious level. In order for the reader to feel relatable to both the literature piece evident, as well as the motion pictures in comparison, the writer must allow the hero’s journey to make certain

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