To Kill a Mockingbird and the Hero's Journey

Activity Overview

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.

As students read To Kill a Mockingbird, they'll be able to see each step in the Monomyth unfold for certain characters, like Atticus or Scout. It can be helpful to introduce students to the steps prior to reading so they can log them as they make their way through the story. When students have finished, they can complete a storyboard detailing the Hero's Journey of a selected character.

Example: My Interpretation of the Finches' Heroic Journey

STAGE	SUMMARY
Ordinary World	Sleepy Maycomb Alabama, 1930s
Call to Adventure	Atticus is asked to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of rape.
Refusal	He realizes the attention that this case will bring, and that it will expose his family to the cruelty of society. The psychological journey of Atticus and his family begins as they battle morals vs. prejudice in the South.
Mentor / Helper	Calpurnia is often Atticus’ helper. She is his black cook and disciplinarian for the children. She acts as the passage for the Finches into the black community. The Mentor of the novel is Miss Maudie, who, like Atticus, believes in Justice and becomes friends with the children.
Crossing the Threshold	As the trial begins, hostility towards the Finches grows. Although Atticus knows what the verdict will be, he promises to do everything he can for Tom.
Test / Allies / Enemies	Many of the townspeople become enemies during the trial. They allow their racism to cloud their judgment and morality: Bob Ewell Walter Cunningham Sr. Walter Cunningham Jr. The white community
Approach	The trial ends with a guilty verdict, but Scout's journey has not ended. She still faces hardships brought on by her father’s involvement in the trial.
Ordeal	Sometime after the trial, Scout and Jem are walking home. Bob Ewell attacks them. Boo Radley, who is agoraphobic, leaves his home to save the children and kills Ewell in a fight.
Reward	Scout and Jem’s lives are spared.
Road Back	Scout gains a moral education, their lives are saved, and her faith in the goodness of humanity is somewhat restored by Boo, who risked his life for them.
Atonement	The Sheriff rules Ewell’s death accidental, saying that he fell on his own knife. “Let the dead bury the dead.”
Return	The Sheriff’s decision not to convict Boo restores Scout and Jem’s faith in justice and humanity. While Atticus does not think this is right at first, Scout explains to him that sending Boo to jail would be like killing a mockingbird. These words prove Scout has learned a valuable lesson, and has come full circle in her journey.

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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Use the story of To Kill a Mockingbird and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey.

Click "Start Assignment".
Depict and describe how the chosen character's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey.
Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 5 (Advanced / Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: The Hero's Journey

Common Core Standards

[ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/2] Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
[ELA-Literacy/W/9-10/4] Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
[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

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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.