Folklore in the Movies: An Analysis of Willow :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Folklore in the Movies An Analysis of willow My research for this report began when I read Joseph Campbells article Departure in which he discusses folklore he outlines the course of action that a hero takes in an adventure. He describes the five steps the hero takes as the call to adventure, the refusal of the adventure, use of superhuman aid, crossing of the first threshold, and the belly of the whale. After reading Campbells criteria of an adventure, I decided to choose a movie and see how it ties into Campbells outline of an adventure. The movie I chose was Willow and in this report I will note how it complies with Campbells outline. Upon finishing Willow I was satisfactory to confirm that it did indeed fall into the five criteria in Campbells article. In Willow Queen Bavmorda seeks control of the world, and she knows that an infant will be born with a mark on its arm and this infant will be able to stop her from gaining power. Therefore, she inspects every child that is born u pon discovering the child with the mark, she will promptly have it killed. One day Willows children Ranon and Mims find a bobble while acting in the river. This child happens to bear the mark for which Queen Bavmorda is searching. The children take the baby to their father. Willow takes the baby to the High Aldwin, and he tells Willow that the safety of the city depends on him and that the baby must be taken across the great river to the Dakini crossroads. This is Willows call to adventure it is a blunder of the merest chance, and Willow is thrust into a affinity with forces that are not rightly understood (Campbell 1). As Campbell expresses in his article and as is apparent in most adventure movies, Willow is not entirely convinced and willing to go on this trip to take the baby back to its homeland. Ranon reminds him of the dangers he may encounter on his way to returning the baby such as fairies, brownies, dragons, and trolls. Willow gets upset at Ranon for mentioning trolls because he knows how much he fears them. Willow is also reluctant to leave his wife and children. Kaiya reminds him that they have neer been apart before, and it is apparent that Willow is experiencing feelings of guilt.