Heroes have been written about in all forms, shapes, and sizes, for as long as people have had stories to tell. This semester, we explored classic epics that highlighted the age-old question; what makes a hero? Although these tales that we have studied can be dated back thousands of years, the antidote for what makes a hero has not changed. In fact, the same structure of classic heroes can be found in modern heroes written into our pop-culture today. A man by the name of Joseph Campbell studied these phenomena and documented his findings in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces. In this book he highlights the idea that all heroes are built up of the same basic components. For example, similarities can be found between Odysseus, from The Odyssey by Homer, and J.K. Rolling’s Harry Potter. Not only do these two characters share the same brilliant minds, but they also happen to follow Campbell’s outline of a “Hero’s Journey.” It is easiest to view the hero’s journey as a clock, with each significant point along the way being a different hour. At one o’ clock, we have their initial call to adventure. In The Odyssey, Odysseus, who is being held captive by Calypso, misses his wife and son and wishes to return home to his palace in Ithaca. “So then, royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, man of exploits, still eager to leave at once and hurry back to your own home, your beloved native land? Good luck to you, even so. Farewell! But if you only knew, down deep, what pains are fated to fill your cup before you reach that shore, you’d stay right here, preside in our house with me and be immortal. Much as you long to see your wife, the one you pine for all your days.” (Book 5). His initial challenge is finding a way to not only escape her grasp, but also make it home safely. Next for the hero, they must receive assistance, usually from someone older, wiser, or just generally more powerful. As we realize in Odysseus’ case, this assistance may not even be sought directly by the hero. Unknowing to Odysseus, Zeus forces Calypso to let him go so he can return home to his kingdom that is falling apart. The third step on the list is for our hero to cross the threshold and begin their journey. Odysseus leaves Calypso’s fortress and sets out to return home, getting on a ship he thinks will get him there safely. Little does he know that this will pave his way to the four o’ clock tier, trials. For the hero in question, these trials could be anything from a series of riddles they have solve to a trap they must escape. In The Odyssey, our hero’s trial comes to him in the form of a storm, sent by Poseidon, who is angry with Odysseus for injuring his son in a previous conflict. The storm completely wipes out his ship and leaves him washed up on the coast of Phaiakians. Luckily, Odysseus