monomyth

Monomyth is a term used in comparative mythology and narrative theory to describe a proposed universal pattern underlying many myths and epic journeys in different cultures. The term was popularized by American mythologist Joseph Campbell, who in The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949, revised 1968) argued that myths from disparate civilizations share a single, broad trajectory of a hero's journey.

Campbell characterized the monomyth as tripartite: departure, initiation, and return. Within these broad movements, many writers cite stages such as the call to adventure, crossing the threshold, trials and allies, the crisis or ordeal, the return with a boon, and the transformation of the hero. Campbell originally described 17 stages, though subsequent summaries in popular and academic works vary and some omit stages. The monomyth is often used as a flexible framework rather than a rigid blueprint, applicable to myths, legends, and contemporary narratives.

In practice, the monomyth is employed in literary analysis and screenwriting to identify recurring patterns, archetypes, and turning points. Classical examples cited include Homer’s Odyssey and the Arthurian legends, as well as modern examples such as Star Wars. Critics argue that the monomyth can obscure cultural particularities, promote a eurocentric or essentialist view of storytelling, and overlook stories that do not fit the pattern. Some scholars propose multiple, coexisting narrative structures instead of a single universal monomyth.