Activity Overview
Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the ”Hero’s Journey” is a recurring pattern of stages many heroes undergo over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This spawned the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. The most basic version has 12 steps, while more detailed versions can have up to 17.
Using the steps of the Hero's Journey, students will illustrate the journey of a Greek hero. The example above uses the story of Perseus, but students can even create Hero's Journey storyboards for Hercules, Theseus, Odysseus, Achilles, Jason, or anyone else.
The Legend of Perseus: An Example of the Monomyth Structure
| Stage | Summary |
|---|---|
| Ordinary world | The story begins on the island of Seriphus, the home of Perseus and his mother, Danae. Polydectes, the king of Seriphus, wishes to marry Danae, and plots to get rid of Perseus, because he may object. |
| Call to Adventure | King Polydectes tricks Perseus into promising to bring back the head of Medusa, one of the dreaded Gorgons. It is an impossible task that will almost certainly get Perseus killed. |
| Refusal | He does not want to leave his mother, but he must keep his promise. |
| Mentor/Helper | Athena and Hermes guide Perseus to the home of the Graeae. The two gods often give him advice along the way. |
| Crossing the Threshold | The pressure of the task forces Perseus to blackmail Graeae into telling him how to find the Hesperides. |
| Test/Allies/Enemies | Perseus' first task is finding The Hesperides. Having done so, they give Perseus a magic bag that can safely carry Medusa's head. Perseus receives several other items from the gods such as Hermes' winged sandals, Hades' helmet of invisibility, and a reflective shield. Athena offers Perseus some knowledge on how to defeat Medusa. Anyone who looks directly at Medusa turns to stone, so Athena tells Perseus to only look at the monster in the reflection of his shield. |
| Approach | When Perseus reaches the Gorgons' lair, he's has reached the point of no return. From here out dangerous and adventure await him. |
| Ordeal | Perseus finds Medusa, and beheads her. Two Gorgons chase him, but Perseus escapes with the help of the helmet of invisibility. |
| Reward | Perseus has Medusa's head. |
| Road back | Perseus flies back home with Medusa's head. (On the way, he rescues a princess from a sea dragon) |
| Atonement | When Perseus arrives home, he confronts King Polydectes, who's been trying to force Danae to marry him. Perseus kills Polydectes, using Medusa's head to turn him into stone. |
| Return | Perseus has saved his mother, and his journey has concluded. He returns the magical items he borrowed, and gives Medusa's head to Athena. All is restored to its rightful state. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Use the story of one of the great ancient heroes and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey. Choose from Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Odysseus, Achilles, Jason, or other approved hero.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Depict and describe how the hero's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey.
- Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.
- Click "Save & Exit" when done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Exemplary 20 Points | Proficient 17 Points | Commendable 13 Points | Try Again 10 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content | | | | |
| Organization | | | | |
| Visual Elements | All pictures demonstrate effort, are attention-grabbing, and clearly communicate visually the corresponding element of the hero's journey. | Many pictures show effort and clearly communicate how an element of the hero's journey is present in the story. | Some pictures appear rushed, or are uninteresting. Connections to elements of the hero's journey are non-obvious, or unclear. | Few pictures appear. The storyboard appears rushed, or unfinished. The connections and elements are very unclear. |
| Conventions | There are only minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage, if any. | There are few errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage. | There are many errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage. | There are abundant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage that detract from the work. |
| Creativity/Effort | This Storyboard could be used as an exemplary model, and is one of the most outstanding projects produced. | Creativity is evident, and the finished product is admirable. | Creativity and effort are lacking. Extra help was needed. | Creativity and effort are lacking. Extra help was needed. |
Activity Overview
Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the ”Hero’s Journey” is a recurring pattern of stages many heroes undergo over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This spawned the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. The most basic version has 12 steps, while more detailed versions can have up to 17.
Using the steps of the Hero's Journey, students will illustrate the journey of a Greek hero. The example above uses the story of Perseus, but students can even create Hero's Journey storyboards for Hercules, Theseus, Odysseus, Achilles, Jason, or anyone else.
The Legend of Perseus: An Example of the Monomyth Structure
| Stage | Summary |
|---|---|
| Ordinary world | The story begins on the island of Seriphus, the home of Perseus and his mother, Danae. Polydectes, the king of Seriphus, wishes to marry Danae, and plots to get rid of Perseus, because he may object. |
| Call to Adventure | King Polydectes tricks Perseus into promising to bring back the head of Medusa, one of the dreaded Gorgons. It is an impossible task that will almost certainly get Perseus killed. |
| Refusal | He does not want to leave his mother, but he must keep his promise. |
| Mentor/Helper | Athena and Hermes guide Perseus to the home of the Graeae. The two gods often give him advice along the way. |
| Crossing the Threshold | The pressure of the task forces Perseus to blackmail Graeae into telling him how to find the Hesperides. |
| Test/Allies/Enemies | Perseus' first task is finding The Hesperides. Having done so, they give Perseus a magic bag that can safely carry Medusa's head. Perseus receives several other items from the gods such as Hermes' winged sandals, Hades' helmet of invisibility, and a reflective shield. Athena offers Perseus some knowledge on how to defeat Medusa. Anyone who looks directly at Medusa turns to stone, so Athena tells Perseus to only look at the monster in the reflection of his shield. |
| Approach | When Perseus reaches the Gorgons' lair, he's has reached the point of no return. From here out dangerous and adventure await him. |
| Ordeal | Perseus finds Medusa, and beheads her. Two Gorgons chase him, but Perseus escapes with the help of the helmet of invisibility. |
| Reward | Perseus has Medusa's head. |
| Road back | Perseus flies back home with Medusa's head. (On the way, he rescues a princess from a sea dragon) |
| Atonement | When Perseus arrives home, he confronts King Polydectes, who's been trying to force Danae to marry him. Perseus kills Polydectes, using Medusa's head to turn him into stone. |
| Return | Perseus has saved his mother, and his journey has concluded. He returns the magical items he borrowed, and gives Medusa's head to Athena. All is restored to its rightful state. |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Use the story of one of the great ancient heroes and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey. Choose from Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Odysseus, Achilles, Jason, or other approved hero.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Depict and describe how the hero's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey.
- Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.
- Click "Save & Exit" when done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Exemplary 20 Points | Proficient 17 Points | Commendable 13 Points | Try Again 10 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content | | | | |
| Organization | | | | |
| Visual Elements | All pictures demonstrate effort, are attention-grabbing, and clearly communicate visually the corresponding element of the hero's journey. | Many pictures show effort and clearly communicate how an element of the hero's journey is present in the story. | Some pictures appear rushed, or are uninteresting. Connections to elements of the hero's journey are non-obvious, or unclear. | Few pictures appear. The storyboard appears rushed, or unfinished. The connections and elements are very unclear. |
| Conventions | There are only minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage, if any. | There are few errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage. | There are many errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage. | There are abundant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or usage that detract from the work. |
| Creativity/Effort | This Storyboard could be used as an exemplary model, and is one of the most outstanding projects produced. | Creativity is evident, and the finished product is admirable. | Creativity and effort are lacking. Extra help was needed. | Creativity and effort are lacking. Extra help was needed. |
How Tos about Hero’s Journey of Perseus
How to Facilitate a Classroom Discussion on the Hero’s Journey
Encourage active participation by asking students open-ended questions about each stage of the Hero’s Journey, relating them to familiar stories or movies. Guide students to connect personal experiences to the “call to adventure” or “ordeal” stages, fostering deeper understanding and engagement.
Prepare thoughtful discussion questions
List engaging questions for each stage, such as “What motivates the hero to accept the call?” or “How does the mentor help the hero succeed?” This promotes critical thinking and helps students make connections between different parts of the story.
Use visual aids and storyboards
Display storyboards or diagrams of the Hero’s Journey on the board. Invite students to point out where characters are in the journey or add their own examples, making abstract stages more concrete and memorable.
Assign collaborative group roles
Divide students into small groups and give each group a stage of the Hero’s Journey to discuss. Assign roles like “note-taker,” “presenter,” and “question-asker” to ensure everyone participates and contributes to the discussion.
Connect the Hero’s Journey to students’ lives
Ask students to share moments when they faced challenges or took on new adventures. Relating the journey to real life helps students see its relevance and builds classroom community.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hero’s Journey of Perseus
What is the Hero's Journey in Greek mythology?
The Hero's Journey is a narrative structure outlining the common stages that many heroes, like Perseus, undergo in myths. It includes steps such as the call to adventure, facing challenges, receiving help from mentors, and returning home transformed.
How can I teach the Hero’s Journey using the story of Perseus?
To teach the Hero’s Journey with Perseus, have students map each stage—like call to adventure, ordeal, and return—to events in his myth. Students can create storyboards or diagrams to visually connect each step to Perseus’s actions.
What are the 12 steps of the Hero’s Journey with examples from Perseus?
The 12 steps include the Ordinary World (Perseus on Seriphus), Call to Adventure (task to get Medusa’s head), Refusal, Mentor/Helper, Crossing the Threshold, Tests/Allies/Enemies, Approach, Ordeal (beheading Medusa), Reward, Road Back, Atonement, and Return. Each step is illustrated by a key moment in Perseus’s story.
Why is mapping a Greek hero's story to the Hero's Journey helpful for students?
Mapping a Greek hero’s story to the Hero’s Journey helps students recognize recurring literary patterns, deepen comprehension, and enhance critical thinking by connecting familiar myths to universal narrative structures.
What are some tips for creating a Hero's Journey storyboard in class?
Start by choosing a hero and identifying key story moments for each stage of the Hero’s Journey. Use visuals and short descriptions for each step, encourage creativity, and have students proofread before sharing or submitting their storyboards.
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