Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hero's Journey

Activity Overview

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a perfect way for students to examine the common template for adventure stories known as a ”Hero’s Journey”. This 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 led to the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth.

Students can create a storyboard that highlights the three main features of a hero's journey: the ordinary world, crossing the threshold and atonement. Teachers can extend this activity to have students create a storyboard that includes all twelve stages if desired! Teachers can add as many templates to an assignment as they wish to differentiate and provide students' choices.

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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Use the story of The Epic of Gilgamesh and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey.

Click “Start Assignment”.
Create a storyboard about The Epic of Gilgamesh that highlights the three main features of a hero's journey: the ordinary world, crossing the threshold and atonement.
Include descriptions and appropriate illustrations for each element of the hero's journey.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-10

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: The Hero's Journey

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/W/9-10/2] Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content
[ELA-Literacy/W/9-10/6] Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically
[ELA-Literacy/W/9-10/7] Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation

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Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

Heroic Journey Rubric

	Exemplary 20 Points	Proficient 17 Points	Commendable 13 Points	Try Again 10 Points
Content	Stages and steps of the hero's journey are exemplary and applied to the hero clearly, precisely, and correctly. Knowledge and examples of the archetypal hero are evident. Abundant examples are used to support claims.	Most stages and steps of the hero's journey are accurately applied to the hero. Strong knowledge of the archetypal hero is apparent, and some traits, but not all, are applied. Many examples are used to support claims.	Some stages and steps of the hero's journey are accurately applied to their hero. Some knowledge of the archetypal hero is evident and has been applied, but is not sufficient. Some examples are used to support claims.	Stages and steps of the hero's journey are inaccurately applied to their hero, or not enough stages are incorporated. A little knowledge of the archetypal hero is evident. Few to no examples are used to support claims.
Organization	Stages and steps of the hero's journey are in a logical order Elements are clearly labeled Images are used and convey the idea perfectly	Many stages and steps of the hero's journey are in proper order. Most picture panels are accurately labeled. Some images may not be clear or complete representations	Some stages or steps of the hero's journey are out of order. Many panels have NOT been labeled with the appropriate element of the journey. Images are missing, unclear, or require explanation.	Many stages and steps of the hero's journey are confused or completely out of order. Storyboard pictures have not been labeled with the elements of the journey. Few images are used, or storyboard is disorganized.
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.