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 shared 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.
After introducing students to the Hero's Journey, they'll be able to spot how Beowulf fits this structure. Students can choose to identify each step as they read, or wait until they've finished the story to apply the monomyth structure to the story. Using a storyboard, they can easily depict the structure, complete with examples!
The template and activity can be scaffolded or tailored based on your student's needs. The template provided has each cell labeled with the name of the step, but you can choose to add additional information, like a list of scenes, a completed cell, or specific examples.
(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 Beowulf and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey.
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Exemplary 20 Points | Proficient 17 Points | Commendable 13 Points | Try Again 10 Points | |
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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. |