The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey describes a universal pattern of transformation: an individual leaves the familiar, faces uncertainty and challenge, undergoes a decisive trial, and returns changed. This narrative structure—often called the monomyth—appears across cultures, time periods, and storytelling forms. In this course, we examine the 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey through guided discussion and analysis of influential films such as Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and The Matrix, alongside acclaimed television series including Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and The Handmaid's Tale (viewed independently). Exploring themes of change, resilience, purpose, and transformation, this course goes beyond storytelling technique and invites you to reflect on your own experiences through the lens of the Hero’s Journey. Whether you’re interested in writing, personal growth, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of the stories that shape our lives, this course offers both practical tools and meaningful insight that define the human experience.