Shrek Hero Analysis

In the beginning of the course, if a professor was to ask his students the question “what is the hero myth?” If the students never had any prior knowledge to the subject they would begin to answer in return the origins of characters like Thor, or basically their favorite superheroes story line. Some might fit the guideline of what the hero myth is and some will not. However after further investigation the hero myth is defined as an ordinary character that lives a regular life which gets called into action to start an extraordinary adventure. Before the adventure is set to start the hero is introduced within a sympathetic environment, with a problem that is relatable to the audience that helps identify with the character. After the hero’s calling is …show more content…
This is the scene where the hero is introduced in ordinary surroundings, in a mundane world, doing mundane things. At the moment Shrek is living a non-heroic life doing regular chores that identifies with the daily task that the audience goes through. One day Shrek’s swamp is invaded by numerous amounts of fairy tale creatures sent by Lord Farquaaad and all Shrek wants to do is be left alone in his swamp. This is when the something new enters the hero’s life. Shrek wanting to be alone again is the catalyst that sets the story into motion. Shrek’s call to adventure is noticed after he sets out a journey to convince Farquaad to give Shrek his swamp back, but Farquaad who wants to become the King, tells Shrek the only way he would rid his swamp of all the fairy tale creatures is to rescue Princess Fiona, who in a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. At first Shrek is reluctant to go on this task but the personal motivation of getting his swamp back pushes him to accept Farquaaad’s task. This is the new ingredient that pushes the hero into the extraordinary