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May 14
Star Wars creator George Lucas was born in 1944.
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| Grades | 7 – 12 |
| Calendar Activity Type | Historical Figure & Event |
As he was writing the script for the original Star Wars films in the 1970s, George Lucas spent a great deal of time reading and interviewing mythologist Joseph Campbell, whose ideas included a concept called "The Hero's Journey," the archetypal hero story that is found in cultures around the world. Lucas based much of his plot for the films on the stages of this journey, which, along with a relentlessly successful advertising campaign, might help explain the films' amazing popularity.
Use The Hero's Journey Interactive tool to describe how Luke Skywalker meets each stage of the journey:
- Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Mentor Figure(s)/Supernatural Aid
- First Threshold
- Belly of the Whale
- Road of Trials
- Meeting with the Goddess/Temptress
- Atonement/Death of Mentor
- Apotheosis/Underworld
- Ultimate Boon
- Rescue from Without
- Crossing Back/Return
Then, brainstorm other works that use the formula, such as The Lord of the Rings.
- Star Wars: The Magic of Myth
This National Air and Space Museum exhibit highlights elements of myth and the Hero's Journey in the Star Wars films. Also included are image galleries and audio clips.
- Joseph Campbell, Star Wars, and the Hero's Journey
This post connects Star Wars and Campbell's Hero's Journey. References to the original films are included.
- Star Wars Books
This page provides resources related to the series of books based on the Star Wars films.
- Hero's Journey
Students can use this online tool to learn about the elements of the hero's journey, analyze a text that follows the hero's journey pattern, or start creating a hero story of their own.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Looking for the Byronic Hero Using Twilight's Edward Cullen
Using the character of Edward Cullen from the Twilight series, this lesson introduces the Byronic hero and asks students to compare the Byronic hero to the traditional hero and villain.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Preparing for the Journey: An Introduction to the Hero Myth
Students read a variety of picture books that contain elements of the hero's journey and use an online interactive tool to analyze the stories.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
So What Do You Think? Writing a Review
Writing a review of an author's work challenges students to develop their critical thinking skills. It provides an opportunity for students to speak their minds—and to enjoy being heard.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Writing a Movie: Summarizing and Rereading a Film Script
Lights! Camera! Action! In this lesson, students view a scene with no dialogue from E.T., write a script for that scene, and perform a dramatic reading while the scene plays.
