'The Hero With A Thousand Faces' - Joseph Cambell

First published in 1949, Joseph Cambell's 'A Hero With A Thousand Faces' is a non-fiction, seminal work of comparative mythology. In the book, Cambell explores and evaluates the journey or monomyth of the archetypal hero that originates from the world of mythologies:

• 'A Call to Adventure' - At the beginning of the monomyth, the Hero is in his/her ordinary world and time when they receive a call to enter an unusual world of strange powers and events.


• 'A Road of Trails' - If the Hero accepts this call, he/she will then face challenges and tasks that could potentially end with fatalities. They may have to face these trails alone or might have assistance.


• 'The Goal or Boon' - If the Hero survives the challenges, he/she will receive a great gift. This gift often results in the discovery of important self-knowledge.


• 'The Return to the Ordinary World' - The Hero must then decide whether or not to return home with his Boon, but this would mean leaving the unusual world.


• 'The Application of The Boon' - If the Hero returns home successfully, he/she can use the gift or Boon to change their lives for the better and improve the ordinary world.

Most myths contain all of these stages, however, some explore only a few or focus one one alone. These five stages are usually separated into three sections: 'Departure' which involves the Hero's venture into the quest, 'Initiation' deals with the Hero's adventures along the way and 'Return' deals with the Hero's return home with the knowledge and skills he/she had acquired along the way.