Part III: Chapters 1-4 Summary and Analysis

Hero myths are an important part of any culture. Stories may differ as to where the hero comes from, but in essence, the hero is the human persona who must leave his ordinary world, enter the world of the supernatural, vanquish his foes, and then return to his world filled with new powers and knowledge which he will share with his people. Leeming refers to the term "monomyth," to describe this pattern, a phrase which was coined by the writer James Joyce.

The monomyth is comprised of several elements which may or may not be acted out completely by each hero. Some heroes will ascend into the netherworld, while others find their foes in other areas. Typically, the hero is conceived in a supernatural way. For example, Jesus and Quetzalcoatl were born of virgins; the...