Short Answer (10 points each – paragraph or two – length should be half a page to a page)

1. How does the concept of romantic love persist this day in Western culture? Does it persist in
the same manner as the troubadours suggested? Why or why not?

Love still exists in Western Culture as evident by the many marriages that take place each

year in the US, alone. However, the idea of love has changed throughout time, and in Campbell’s

words,

“And [the troubadours] are the first ones in the West who really thought of love the way

we do now – as a person-to-person relationship” (PoM, 232).

Campbell tells us there were three types of love, the Eros, Agape, and Amor.

“Eros is a biological urge… Agape is love thy neighbor as thyself… Amor is something

personal” (232-233).

Campbell says while love has always existed, in the ancient times, love was about Eros, it was

not as personal as Amor, it was the sexual impulse. In the times of Christ, Agape was prevalent,

with Christ being the epitome of Agape as he gave his life for he so loved the world. Now, in our

Western Culture, love seems to be that personal desires, who we are attracted to, and it is not

restricted by our family or ethics.

2. What makes a hero? What kind of deeds must a hero perform? Are heroes only those who
choose to be so? Why or why not? Provide an example of one mythic and one modern hero that
embody these different characteristics.

Campbell explicitly defines what he believes to be a hero in the Power of Myth.

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”

These heroes commit either physical or spiritual deeds. Many people think of the 12 labors of

Hercules when they think of the physical deeds of heroes. These physical labors are essentially

“courageous acts in battle or the saving of lives” (Campbell, 152).

The spiritual deeds are something people tend to relate less to heroes but nonetheless are as

relevant as physical deeds.

“The hero learns to experience the supernormal range of human spiritual life and then

comes back with a message” (152).

Campbell gives Otto Rank’s example of child birth which shows that through the tremendous

transformation everyone is a hero, including the mother. Odysseus, Hercules, The Monkey King,

and King Arthor are few of many mythic heroes. Modern heroes include superheroes, such as

Spider-man, Batman, and Superman. Many young teens also consider video game characters and

movie characters as heroes as they save people or perform spiritual deeds. Some popular

character heroes include Mario, Master Chief, Harry Potter and Darth Vader (in the end).
Long Answer (30 pts – a formal, organized essay – page and a half minimum)
3. How does Hollywood perpetuate myths and legends? Is this necessary? Why or why not?

Myths and legends are constantly perpetuated by Hollywood, and Hollywood constantly

makes myths and legends.

“When a person becomes a model for other people’s lives, he has moved into the sphere

of being mythologized” (Campbell, 20)

Legends are meant to be idolized, and movies by Hollywood are just one of many ways to

idolize them. Already idolized figures like the Green Hornet or Harry Potter, which are both

movies soon to be released, have thousands of fans who would see the movie regardless of how

it was. Hollywood is as a business and the usage of myths and legends are ways to easily do well

in the box office.

Hollywood continues to use and incorporate myths and legends by using the ideals of

heroes, love, and gods. In a way, myths were the modern stories of the ancient society. For

example, the tale of Heracles was to them what Superman is to us. In the not-so-distant future,

our Hollywood movies will become the myths and legends.

“Well, automobiles have gotten into mythology. They have gotten into dreams. And

airplanes are very much in the service of the imagination… Every movie that I have seen

on the airplane as I traveled back and forth between California and Hawaii shows people

with revolvers” (23)

The above passage shows how the inflections in mythology is to the culture.

The practice of using myths and legends is totally and completely unnecessary.

Hollywood itself is a form of entertainment that is a non-essential in the great scheme of life.
However without movies or any forms of entertainment, many people would not have any events

to look for in their futures. Like so, myths and legends while not necessary are still essential to

keep the human element, to keep the culture of any peoples alive. So in a way, these myths and

legends, these “modern mediums for the old universal truths” (Campbell, 22) are completely

necessary.

As noted earlier, even themes of love are myths. As Campbell relentlessly seems to point

out, myths are universalizing and myths are everywhere. I believe we cannot step away from

myths. Myths are newly made and remade. With myths being so widespread, the real question is:

How can Hollywood not make movies perpetuating myths and legends?