K-W-L Model discussion: 7 characters in Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey

Class will discuss the K& W of the K-W-L Model at the beginning of the lesson: What do you KNOW and what do you WANT TO KNOW about Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey? At the end of the lesson, they will close with the Ldiscussion: What have you LEARNED about those concepts?

Teaching Posters for Classroom Use: K-W-L Model

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Step 1: Part 1 of the

Introductory Discussion on Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey

A. Ask the “K” question of the K-W-L MODEL.

Teacher Says or Asks: In 1949, a famous mythologist by the name of Joseph Campbell wrote a book called The Hero With A Thousand Faces. He introduced us to the idea that every story, many dreams, and multiple events in our lives are based around a hero’s journey.

Joseph Campbell, combined with other authors who have interpreted his works, designated that there are twelve steps contained in the journey taken by a mythological hero and seven main character types.

* * * Note to Teacher: Display Hero’s Journey poster * * *

Poster link: Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey: 12 steps and 7 characters

Teacher Says or Asks: I need a volunteer to read the two posters that describe these 12 steps and 7 character types.

Students Respond: (Choose eager volunteer to read poster.)

The Hero’s Journey

1: Ordinary World

2: Call to Adventure

3: Refusal of the Call

4: Meeting Mentor

5: Cross 1st Threshold

6: Tests, Allies, Enemies

7: Approach to Inmost Cave

8: Supreme Ordeal

9: Reward

10: The Road Back

11: Resurrection

12: Return with the Elixir

Characters of Journey

1: Hero

2: Mentor (Wise Old Man or Woman)

3: Threshold Guardian

4: Herald

5: Shapeshifter

6: Shadow

7: Trickster

1. Teacher Says or Asks: This lesson is on learning about Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. We will first learn all about the seven characters that are involved in this hero’s journey.

For theK of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about what the term “Hero’s Journey” means?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the journey the main character of a story takes that is probably filled with challenges, obstacles, self-growth, and great learning.

2. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about what is a HERO?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the hero is the main character who will grow the most or learn the most or change the most during the course of the story. That is how Joseph Campbell defines a hero.

3. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about who you would identify as the HERO of the following stories? Determine whether the character you mentioned grew the most during the course of the story, learned the most during the course of the story, changed the most in the course of the story, or a combination of two or three of these components.

A. Jack and the Beanstalk

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Jack as he was able to conquer a giant and bring riches to his mother. He grew a lot, learned a lot, and changed a lot during the course of the story.

B. Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Goldilocks as she learned a major lesson during the course of the story.

C. Little Red Riding Hood

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Little Red Riding Hood as she learned a lot during the course of the story.

D. Three Little Pigs

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the third little pig who built the brick house as he grew and learned a lot during the course of the story.

E. Beauty and the Beast

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Beauty and the Beast as both characters learned a lot, grew a lot, and changed a lot during the course of the story.

4. Teacher Says or Asks: Each of you is the Hero of your own life. For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about what makes you a HERO? In other words, … .

A. In what way have you either grown a lot, learned a lot, or changed a lot during this school year so far?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers

B. In what way have you either grown a lot, learned a lot, or changed a lot during the time you were in elementary school?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers

C. In what way have you either grown a lot, learned a lot, or changed a lot during the time period between your birth and entering elementary school?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers

5. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about what is a MENTOR?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Joseph Campbell often describes this character as the Wise Old Man or the Wise Old Woman. The Mentor is the character who teaches or trains the Hero. The Mentor also may offer advice or give a gift that can help the Hero survive and thrive on his or her journey.

6. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about which people in real life often serve as a Mentor to you or to people you know?

Students Respond: Teachers, Parents, Coaches, Preachers or church officials, a Boss on a job, a Drill Sergeant in the Armed Forces, an older sibling or relative, etc.

7. Teacher Says or Asks: Think about stories you have read such as the ones listed below. For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about which type of people have served as a MENTOR to the Hero of the story? In other words, which character in the story either acted as a trainer, teacher, gift-giver, advice-giver, or assisted the Hero in some other way to help him or her survive his or her Hero’s Journey?

A. Jack and the Beanstalk

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Jack was sold magic beans from a Mentor. If this had not happened, he never would have been able to kill the giant and get the gold and other treasures for his mother.

B. Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Goldilocks had to be her own mentor. When the bears came home and caught her lying in the Baby Bear’s bed, she had to inform herself to get away as quickly as possible so that she could survive to live another day.

Her mother might have been another mentor for her if she had tried to teach her to not go into other people’s houses without permission. Unfortunately, if she had been taught that fact, she did not observe it.

C. Little Red Riding Hood

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Little Red Riding Hood had to be her own mentor. She had to let her instincts guide her to realize that the character masquerading as her grandmother was indeed the wolf. She had to keep asking questions until she learned the truth.

Her mother might also have acted as a mentor when and if she probably tried to teach her to not talk to strangers. Unfortunately, Little Red did not listen.

D. Three Little Pigs

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the characters who sold or gave straw to the first little pig, sticks to the second little pig, and bricks to the third little pig.

The third little pig, the one who build his house of bricks, also had to act like a mentor for himself so that he could survive successfully against the wolf.

E. Beauty and the Beast

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the talking characters in the story like Lumière who was transformed into a candelabra and Mrs. Potts who was transformed into a coffee pot. These characters offered advice and provided a shoulder to cry on.

F. Name the mentor in some other stories you are familiar with

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers.

8. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about the function of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the character who determines whether the Hero should be allowed to move on to the next step of his or her hero’s journey. It is the character whose function it is to attempt o hold the hero back as a way to test his or her mettle.

9. Here is a great example of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN.

A very famous singer and actress by the name of Barbra Streisand had a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN who tried to hold her back. It is this very person who may be one of the reasons why she actually became famous.

Before Barbra Streisand was famous, her mother told her words to this effect: “Barbra, you should not even bother to try to be either a singer or an actress as you have very little chance of being successful.” Her mother was acting as a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN to her daughter.

Barbra was so determined to prove her mother wrong that she worked extra hard at her career. As a result, she became extremely famous, rich, and well-known as both a singer and an actress.

10. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about some other examples of THRESHOLD GUARDIANS in real life and in stories? Explain your answers for each person or character mentioned.

A. In what ways could a teacher fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the teacher stands in the doorway. He or she checks to see if you have your pencil, your paper, and your textbook before you can enter his or her classroom. The teacher also can determine whether you may remain in the classroom or whether you must leave the classroom to go to the office depending on your behavior.

B. In what ways could a Sphinx fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the Sphinx presents the Hero with a riddle that must be solved in order to continue on his or her Hero’s Journey. The Sphinx did this to Oepipus, a mythical Greek king. The Sphinx asked the following riddle:

"What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?"

If you could answer the riddle correctly, you would survive. If you could not, you would be killed and eaten by the Sphinx.

Oepipus was the first one to be able to correctly answer the riddle. The answer was man. "Man: as an infant, he crawls on all fours; as an adult, he walks on two legs and; in old age, he uses a walking stick"

The Sphinx was so upset that Oepipus was correct that it threw itself into the sea to its death. The people of that region were finally free.

(Source: Oedipus from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

C. In what ways could a bouncer in a bar fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as a bouncer determines whether you are old enough to enter the bar. He or she also determine whether you must exit the bar if your behavior gets too unruly or you are unable to pay your bill.

D. In what ways did the gatekeeper in the Wizard of Oz movie fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the gatekeeper made the determination whether Dorothy and her friends could get inside to see the wizard or whether they were to be refused this request. The gatekeeper was not going to let them enter until Dorothy showed that she was in possession of the ruby slippers given to her by the Good Witch of the North. As a result, the gatekeeper granted them entrance.

E. In what ways could a fellow track runner fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as he or she could be running beside you trying to outrun you. With this challenge issued, you work hard to gain the inner and physical strength to outrun him or her and to win the race.

F. In what ways could a coach fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as a coach determines whether you can be a member of the team. The coach also determines what position you must play, whether you are allowed to play or sit on the bench, and how long you are able to remain on the court or field or track, etc. He or she bases this decision on your skill level, your attitude, whether you are prompt and dependable, and other factors.

G. In what ways could a ticker-taker fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as a ticket taker, in exchange for money, gives you a ticket that grants you entrance into the theater or function.

H. In what ways could a book publisher fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as a publisher will determine whether or not your book will be published.

I. In what ways does your parent or guardian fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers

J. Describe some other people in your life who have played the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN with you.

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers

K. In what ways could the status of your health fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN in your life?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as if you are sick, you might not be able to attend a party or go to school. If you have a disease or handicap, it could keep you from doing some of the things you like to do.

L.In what ways could an older sibling fit the role of a THRESHOLD GUARDIAN in your life?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as he or she might try to prevent you from joining him or her when he or she goes off with friends or to some special activity as he or she will try to tell you that you are:

* too young or

* too small or

* too short or

* too much of this or not enough of something else.

11. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about what is a Herald?

Students Respond: A Herald is the character who issues the Hero his or her Call to Adventure.

12. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about which character would be the Herald issuing the Hero his or her Call to Adventure in the following stories?

A. Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movie called “A New Hope”

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as a baby, Luke Skywalker, was sent to live with his aunt and uncle on the planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan Kenobi accompanied baby Luke. Luke helped his uncle and aunt maintain the moisture farm. Eventually, “Obi-Wan tells Luke that his father was a Jedi and presents him with his father's lightsaber. He then tells him that his father was murdered by a traitorous Jedi named Darth Vader. Obi-Wan offers to take Luke to Alderaan and train him in the ways of The Force, but Luke rejects his offer. Luke changes his mind when he discovers his aunt and uncle have been killed by Imperial stormtroopers.”

(Source: Luke Skywalker from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Therefore, Obi-Wan was Luke’s herald, issuing him a Call to Adventure. At first, he refused. But when his guardians were killed, he decided to accept his Call to Adventure.

B. You are given your first book when you are five or six.

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the person giving you the book or even the book itself is issuing you to the Call of Adventure of learning to read. The book or the gift-giver is acting as the Herald issuing you this Call to Adventure.

C. A friend double dog dares you

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the friend is being a Herald, issuing you the Call to Adventure to perform some task that he or she designs.

D. The character who urges Dorothy to go see the Wizard of Oz so she can return to Kansas

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the Good Witch of the North was the herald that issued this Call to Adventure that sent Dorothy on her way to see the Wizard of Oz by following the yellow-brick road.

E. A student with homework

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as a teacher acts as a Herald issuing the Call to the Adventure of doing homework.

F. Little Red Riding Hood

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as Little Red’s Mother acted as a Herald issuing her daughter the Call to the Adventure of bringing muffins to her sick Granny who lived in the woods.

G. Who else in your life has acted as a Herald by issuing you to a Call to Adventure? Describe who it was and what happened?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers

13. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about what is a SHAPESHIFTER?

Students Respond: A Shapeshifter is someone or something that changes appearance in the story.

14. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about what are some examples of SHAPESHIFTERS in stories and in real life?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as

* A boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or husband starts out nice and then becomes mean.

* In Snow White, the evil queen pretends to be an old crone as she attempts to kill Snow White with a poison apple.

* In Snow White, the shiny red apple is really poisonous.

* In Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf pretends to be friendly so he can find out where her grandmother lives. Then he dresses up as her grandmother to try to fool Little Red into coming close enough for the wolf to kill and eat her.

* Some bank robbers actually wear masks when they rob a bank so as to hide their identity.

* In Chat Rooms on the internet, sometimes people pretend to be a teenager or kid when they are really an adult. They do this to try to gain the trust of the young person so that he or she can do that young person harm.

* Stranger Danger – Sometimes a person will pretend to have a lost puppy so that they can tempt the child to come close enough that the adult can kidnap the child for ransom or to hurt or kill the child.

* Kids dressing up in costumes on Halloween. They do this so they can get candy from neighbors.

* In the Beauty and the Beast movie, the beast is really a spoiled prince. The other characters who live in the castle are actually real people who were transformed into coffee pots and candelabras, clocks, and wardrobes, etc.

* Cinderella – Her Fairy Godmother actually transforms her into a girl who looks like a princess when she is really a servant to her Stepmother and two Stepsisters.

* A moody person – Their mood changes from happy to sad or scared or angry very easily.

* Superman – Clark Kent is really Superman and vice versa.

* Peer Pressure – Sometimes kids will say, “I’ll be your friend if you do this or give me that.” Then, once you have given in, they stop being your friend until the next time.

* Wizard of Oz – Dorothy’s friends disguise themselves as the Witch’s soldiers so that they can try to rescue Dorothy.

* In the fourth Harry Potter book and movie, Professor Moody pretends to be a kindly teacher when he really is an evil assassin.

15. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about the SHADOW character?

Students Respond: The Shadow character is the villain or the ‘bad guy’ of the story. Even the Hero could exhibit Shadow characteristics when he or she does things to self-sabotage.

16. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about some good examples of SHADOW characters in stories and in real life?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as the following:

* The Shadow character in Little Red Riding Hood is the wolf

* The Shadow character in Goldilocks is Goldilocks because she enters the Bear’s house without an invitation. She steals food and breaks furniture. She even sleeps in Little Bear’s bed.

* The Shadow character in Peter Pan is Captain Hook.

* One of the main Shadow characters in the Harry Potter books and movies is Lord Voldemort.

* The Shadow character in Jack and the Beanstalk is the Giant.

* The Shadow characters in real life could be people like a robber, a murderer, a rapist, a gang leader to a rival gang, a bully, a con artist, etc.

* The Shadow character in your life could be a friend or acquaintance who suddenly turns mean.

* The Shadow character in your life could be a bee who suddenly stings you, a dog who suddenly bites you, a mosquito who sucks your blood and makes you itch, poison ivy, getting the flu, etc.

* The Shadow character in a competitive sport might be an opponent who cheats.

17. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about ways that you or somebody you might know or have heard about could demonstrate a SHADOW side?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as

* When someone is sick, he or she might get crabby with somebody.

* When someone becomes overly depressed and becomes self-destructive.

* When someone becomes overly selfish.

* When someone threatens you with bodily harm.

* When someone is determined to think in a negative way like “Oh, I can never be successful.” Therefore, the person does not even try to succeed.

* When someone cheats on a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or a wife.

* When somebody is demonstrating road rage.

* When somebody hurts, kills, vandalizes, robs, rapes, bullies, etc.

18. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about the TRICKSTER character?

Students Respond: This is the character who is clownish or mischievous or a con artist or tries to trick you in some other way.

19. Teacher Says or Asks: For the K of the K-W-L Model, what do you KNOW about some examples of TRICKSTER characters in stories and in real life?

Students Respond: Accept Reasonable Answers such as:

* Class clowns

* Br’er Rabbit would trick Br-er Fox and other animals to escape harm or to get the food he wanted.

* Anansi the Spider would trick the other animals so he could get what he wanted.

* In the Harry Potter series, Fred and George would play tricks on all kinds of people for a laugh and for mischief.

* When a friend pulls a prank on you or you pull a prank on him or her.

* A Magician with his or her bag of tricks

* When a bully secretly puts a sign on his or her victim’s back saying “Kick me” or “Hit me”

* When someone rolls somebody’s yard or soaps their windows or throws eggs at them on Halloween

* When a kid tries to hide his or her peas in the mashed potatoes to keep from being forced to eat them. Or the kid tries to secretly feed the vegetables to the dog or takes a mouthful and then spits it into his or her napkin or visits the bathroom to spit it out there.

* When someone makes a prank phone call

* Cyberbullying counts as being a Trickster activity

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The discussion continues.