Class Description
Joseph Campbell’s Hero of a Thousand Faces has influenced writers and filmmakers for decades. The book accesses centuries of myth and culture to reveal that all stories follow a similar pattern. By understanding that pattern, the writer can deeply connect with their audience. “The Monomyth” has been used by creators such as George Lucas, J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, and Philip Pullman and has influenced films as diverse as The Matrix and Darren Aranofsky’s Black Swan. By the end of this seminar, writers will have a better understanding of the seventeen stages of the Monomyth and be able to use these archetypical scenes to add power and meaning to their work. We will discuss the various stages of the Monomyth while using examples from novels and films to illustrate each stage. During the question-and-answer segment, students may share their work in order to see how the Monomyth fits their writing. This seminar is perfect for novelists, screenwriters, and short story writers interested in using the power of myth to enhance their writing. This class is a great compliment to Screenwriting I or II and Novel in Progress.
Part of GrubStreet's Genre Essentials Series, dedicated to the exploration of craft elements specific to Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and other Speculative Genres. To explore more classes in this series, click here.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. Please visit the Resources tab to access the video-conference link.
Zoom Participation:
Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!