82 pages • 2 hours read
Joseph CampbellThe Hero with a Thousand Faces
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1949A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, published in 1949, explores the theory of the "monomyth," or the universal narrative structures found in diverse storytelling traditions. The first part examines the hero's journey, detailing stages such as the call to adventure, supernatural aid, thresholds, trials, and the hero's return. The second part investigates commonalities in creation and cosmogonic myths, linking them to human psychology and the cycles of creation and destruction. Campbell intertwines the hero's journey with cosmic themes, discussing various hero archetypes and their ultimate return to oneness with the universe. In the epilogue, he contrasts traditional mythological contexts with the modern need for internal spiritual quests.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces is lauded for its pioneering analysis of the hero's journey, revealing universal patterns in mythology. Its rich insights appeal to scholars and storytellers alike. Critics, however, sometimes find its prose dense and its scope overly ambitious. Despite this, its influence on literature and film remains indisputable.
Who Should Read The Hero with a Thousand Faces ?
A reader fascinated by comparative mythology, archetypes, and storytelling would enjoy The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. This book is ideal for those who appreciate works like The Power of Myth or The Hero’s Journey by Christopher Vogler, connecting shared human experiences across cultures through mythological narratives.