English 1B
Seminar 7

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and the Hero Cycle.

Directions: Read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and, using the principles of Mythological Criticism write a brief (1-2 paragraph) in response to the following questions. Include at least one quote.

• How does the story of Harry fit with the Hero Cycle? Take us through the steps and demonstrate how Harry's story can be superimposed on the template identified by Joseph Campbell.
• How does Rowling modernize her hero? Given what we know about the popularity of Harry Potter, what do you think children are learning about how to be a hero in the 21st century?