Completely revised and updated (May, 2019), Campbell’s Monomyth: The Quest of the Mythic Hero is a thorough, 64-page examination of Joseph Campbell’s monomyth.
The book is organized in two sections. Section One covers the monomyth itself, beginning the rite of passage, which Campbell called the “nuclear unit” of the monomyth. This is followed by a 22-page exploration of the monomyth, its key elements and stages. Section Two contains supplementary articles on Campbell and the monomyth, including a brief history of research into the hero’s journey pattern, a rationale for the eight-stage model used in the book, and a look at why Campbell’s writings and concepts are sometimes difficult to teach and apply to everyday life.
The book is rich in charts and graphics that illustrate the monomyth and its more complex elements. The analysis focuses on three of Campbell’s key themes: the transformation of consciousness, the polar potentialities in the stages of the journey, and the importance of our attitude in successfully negotiating challenges.