Annotated Contents

Introduction: The Hero’s Journey in Five Days: Provides an overview of the five-day unit, briefly explains the psychological model of the Hero’s Journey, and offers suggestions for presenting the unit. It also covers the materials you will need (all but the film are in the guide), key concepts, objectives and suggestions for assessment. Also included is a guide to help you plan the unit to fit your unique needs and schedule.

Day One: Activate the Narrative Schema: Day one introduces the brain’s narrative schema and its relationship to the journey pattern. Then it presents the first day’s lesson plan, with objectives, materials, preparation and suggested approach. It focuses on the three stages of transformation that are the foundation of the Hero’s Journey. Student activities include reading and discussing “The Hero’s Journey: Life’s Great Adventure” and “What Makes a Hero?”

Day Two: “Gawain and the Green Knight”: Day two deepens students’ understanding of the Hero’s Journey with the legend of “Gawain and the Green Knight.” Activities include reading and discussing the legend (can be done in one class period), review and writing questions, and a chart illustrating Gawain’s journey.

Days Three through Five: Star Wars IV: Days three through five are devoted to the Hero’s Journey in the classic film Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Included in this project are goals and objectives, materials, preparation, suggested approach and tools for assessment. With the exception of the film, everything you need is the guide. Discussion and writing questions encourage metacognitive thought and help students connect the Hero’s Journey and the film to their own lives. For teacher background, this project also includes an eight-page analysis of the film, “The Path of the Jedi: An Analysis of Luke’s Hero’s Journey.”

Appendix 1: Student Materials and Graphic Aids: Appendix 1 contains all of the student materials you will need to teach this unit: “The Hero’s Journey: Life’s Great Adventure,” “What Makes a Hero,” “Gawain and the Green Knight” with review questions, a glossary of Hero’s Journey related terms, quizzes for all three projects and charts to supplement your teaching.

Appendix Two: Teacher Resource—The Path of Transformation: The Hero’s Journey in Five Days uses our life-oriented model of the Hero’s Journey, the “Path of Transformation.” Appendix Two includes an introduction to this model as narrative, a three-page table detailing the stages in the Path, and a brief explanation of “The Call Refused.

Appendix Three: Teacher Resource—Campbell’s Monomyth: For teachers who prefer to use Joseph Campbell’s mythological-based monomyth rather than our Path of Transformation, Appendix Three introduces Campbell and some of the challenges you may encounter in teaching the monomyth. We also include a three-page table detailing all of the stages in the monomyth, with descriptions and quotes from Campbell, along with three charts illustrating the monomyth (suitable for the classroom).

What Teachers are Saying

 Very comprehensive for five days. I have been able to adapt to my students quite well. You certainly know your stuff! ~ Shannon S., teacher ~

This is a fantastic resource! Not only am I using the entire unit in my Fiction and Film class (high school), but Mr. Harris was kind enough to respond to my email questions promptly. He even sent me additional resources at no cost. This is an amazing seller to work with! ~ Ms. S., teacher ~

I love, love, love this resource. I teach the Hero's Journey to my AP and Eng 101 students. This helps me organize my unit along with Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth. ~ Denise L., teacher ~

I liked that there were a variety of options. Everything was well set up and easy to follow. ~ Holli B., teacher ~

This resource made teaching the Hero’s Journey so easy and engaging. ~ Bonnie M, teacher ~   Loved Using this resource in my class. ~ Katie C., teacher ~

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GUARANTEE: If within 30 days of downloading, you decide that you are unhappy with your purchase, contact me and I will issue an immediate refund. I ask only that you tell me what the problem is so that I can correct it for the future.

About the Author

Reg Harris has 33 years of experience teaching at every level from middle school to college post-graduate programs. He began using the Hero's Journey in the classroom in 1975, and he has been researching and writing about the Hero's Journey since 1986. He has an MA in psychology, with a focus on the transformative processes driving the journey experience.

His original teaching guide, The Hero's Journey: A Guide to Literature and Life, won the 2002 National Youth Storytelling "Teaching and Coaching" Pegasus Award. That guide and its revisions are currently being used by schools in 42 states and 17 countries.

He has presented dozens of workshops, including at state conferences in Oregon and California, and, in 2007, he was a featured speaker at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the original Star Wars.

For the story of his exploration of the Hero's Journey, see "My 40-Year Journey into the Hero's Journey".