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@article{190819,
        author = {Swarnika Narang and Prof. Dr. Anil Adgale},
        title = {The Hero Within: Tracing Joseph Campbell's Monomyth In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {4547-4553},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190819},
        abstract = {The monomyth, referred to as the “hero's journey,” created a paradigm that is used to identify the common characteristics of stories told in all cultures throughout history. In his seminal work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell presented the idea that all myths and heroic stories share a base structure, regardless of culture, that includes a separation from the ordinary world; a series of transformative trials taken on behalf of others; and, ultimately, a return to the ordinary world, with the hero bearing some form of knowledge, insight or wisdom, that is beneficial to those who reside in the ordinary world. The following research will illustrate how the monomyth concept and the elements of the heroic journey presented in Campbell's research can be applied and reinterpreted to the first five books in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. This will not look at the Harry Potter Series as a whole, but will look at how the early part of Harry's journey forms a continual mythic cycle that is based on psychological maturation, ethical decision making and group effort.
The paper provides an analysis through careful textual examination of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in relation to Joseph Campbell's stages, which include departure, initiation, and return. The author argues that a number of similarities can be found between the two works, as Rowling was aware of the similarities. However, Rowling's development of these ideas has been substantially altered from the traditional mythology to better reflect the social/emotional issues facing modern readers. Harry Potter is an example of how a character's journey can be influenced not just by external factors, but also by emotions such as guilt, fear, and confusion, which create an expectation that the character will succeed at everything he or she undertakes.
The paper also points out that in Tolkien's work, as well as in Rowling's writings, Levine has made clear the idea that people are able to have choices and will be responsible for making those choices, and that working together is necessary in order to achieve goals. For instance, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Lionel Barrymore offers some inspiring messages through his actions and words. However, the traditional view of the hero as an individual male can be challenged by showing equal respect for women and providing them with opportunities for heroic action.
Ultimately, this paper concludes that through examining both Rowling's use of Campbell's monomyth and her creation of a new myth, readers today can continue to enjoy written stories that use these structures. The author believes that the ethical implications of Campbell's monomyth serve as a continuing source of inspiration for readers.},
        keywords = {Joseph Campbell, Monomyth, Hero’s Journey, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Mythic Structure, Ethical Choice, Modern Literature},
        month = {January},
        }