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 share 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.
Don Quixote is an unlikely epic hero. Cervantes is very clever in using many of the elements of epic storytelling, but with a main character who is not heroic. Despite being delusional and generally incapable, Don Quixote’s journey does seem to escalate and follow predominant traits of Campbell's Heroic Journey.
A fun assignment for students is to ask them to depict which steps of the heroic journey match up with Cervantes' tale. Below is a completed example using six elements of the heroic journey. Remember to allow for interpretation when students are completing their own, as examples may vary in the number of steps included.
| Stage | Summary |
|---|---|
| Ordinary world | The story begins when the reader is introduced to Alonso Quijano, a middle aged man who enjoys reading books about knights and their deeds. |
| Call to Adventure | After becoming so engrossed in these fantasies he changes his name to Don Quixote and decides to become a heroic knight-errant. With his nearly decrepit horse, Rocnante, and his ancient armor, he sets out in the name of his fair lady, Dulcinea; a peasant woman he’s never met. |
| Mentor/Helper | After an unsuccessful first quest, he recruits, Sancho Panza, his faithful sidekick and squire! |
| Crossing the Threshold | On his quest, Quixote attacks a windmill with a lance, thinking it’s a giant, his own delusions and his belief that he cannot return home until he’s done his knightly deeds emphasize this metaphoric threshold. The point of no return might have actually come when he came to believe that he was a true knight. |
| Test/Allies/Enemies | A majority of Don Quixote’s tale deals with the other characters he meets along the way. Notable adventures include the funeral of the lovestruck student, the galley slaves, the unifying of two bereaved couples, and Don Quixote dream that he is battling a giant. |
| Return | In the end, friends of Don Quixote’s come to bring Quixote and Sancho home. They inevitably have to drag him, with which Quixote complies only by believing his is under enchantment. |
(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 Don Quixote and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey.
Design a hands-on assignment where students illustrate each stage of Don Quixote’s Hero’s Journey using drawings, storyboards, or digital slides. Creative visuals help students internalize narrative structure and make abstract concepts accessible.
Direct students to clearly mark each part of the Hero’s Journey on their storyboard, such as ‘Call to Adventure’ or ‘Test/Allies/Enemies’. This promotes comprehension and precise use of literary vocabulary.
Ask students to include short quotes or details from Don Quixote in each section, and let them briefly explain their choices. This builds critical thinking and text analysis skills.
Organize a gallery walk or digital showcase for students to view and discuss each other's storyboards. Peer feedback enhances learning and inspires new approaches.
Share a simple rubric outlining expectations for accuracy, creativity, and explanation. Transparent criteria help students focus and succeed.
The Hero's Journey in Don Quixote refers to the stages Don Quixote experiences that mirror Joseph Campbell's monomyth structure, such as the call to adventure, mentor/helper, crossing the threshold, challenges, and return. While Don Quixote is an unconventional hero, his story parallels many classic hero journey steps.
Don Quixote fits several stages of the Hero's Journey, including starting in the ordinary world, receiving his call to adventure, gaining a helper (Sancho Panza), crossing the threshold into fantasy, facing trials, and eventually returning home. His journey is both a parody and a reflection of the heroic cycle.
Examples of tests in Don Quixote's journey include attacking windmills, freeing galley slaves, and helping bereaved couples. His main ally is Sancho Panza, his loyal squire, who supports and grounds him throughout his adventures.
Don Quixote is considered an unlikely hero because he is delusional, physically weak, and fails in many of his quests. However, his determination, imagination, and pursuit of noble ideals make him a memorable and complex protagonist who subverts traditional hero tropes.
Students can map Don Quixote's story to the Hero's Journey by identifying key events that align with each stage—such as his ordinary world, call to adventure, crossing the threshold, tests, allies, and return. Allow for interpretation, as not every step will match perfectly, and encourage creative analysis.