An Example of Monomyth

Jesus as Monomyth The author of this report has been asked to identify a figure in history of mythology that meets at least eight of the eleven conditions of what is known as the monomyth hero. For the purposes of this essay, the author of this report has chosen Jesus. The author is not choosing Jesus as a means to proselytize or anything like that. Even so, the story of Jesus quite easily and completely meets the conditions and aspects of the monomyth format.

Indeed, this has persisted through history for quite some time, not unlike many other religious stories and literary fables. While not everyone holds Christianity and Jesus in a positive light, the story and history of Jesus easily matches the monomyth format. Analysis Obviously, Jesus meets the conditions of the monomyth when it comes to his birth. Indeed, his birth (the first aspect of the monomyth) has been the focus of many depictions and stories.

The Christian Bible has many facets to the story including the visiting of the three wise men, the star that shown down on the event, the fact that he was of virgin birth and so forth (Bible Gateway, 2015). When it comes to call to adventure (the second aspect of the monomyth), that was clearly present as well as Jesus was ordained to be the primary man that spread the message of God and the Gospel at the time.

He absolutely had helpers (the third aspect of the monomyth) as he had the twelve disciples and many other followers that either helped him consistently or here and there. Other prominent helpers would be prophets before him like Isaiah and people that lived around the time (or just after) Jesus did such as Paul, John the Baptist and others (True Gospel, 2015). He certainly went through tests (the fifth aspect of the monomyth).

Just one example was his tempting by the devil when he had to go out alone for forty days and forty nights (Bible Hub, 2015). To be sure, there was also a "climax" (the seventh aspect of the monomyth) for Jesus in the form of the crucifixion and his purported resurrection after he died. The return of Jesus with his resurrection was clearly also the "flight" and "return" (the eighth and ninth part of the monomyth, respectively).

Indeed, that is the point after accomplishing the "mission" (dying for the sins of others) and a return to the everyday world. He did not stay long after that but the story is that he did indeed return after his death on the cross. The supposed elixir (the tenth part of the monomyth) with the story of Jesus is that he died for the sins of others and this would help save the souls of those that would die after him.

Rather than be damned to Hell, the people that believe in him would instead go to Heaven and join him and his father (God) for eternity. There is also mention of "home" (the eleventh part of the monomyth), which is what heaven and eternal life references. The life on earth is seen as a temporary stay by Christians, as was to have been said by Jesus and ultimately from God himself (Cru, 2015).

Conclusion As noted before, the author of this report is just using Jesus as an example of a monomyth and is not trying to make a.