The Monomyth: Return
The hero again crosses the threshold
of adventure and returns to the everyday world of daylight. The return
usually takes the form of an awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple
emergence from a cave or forest. Sometimes the hero is pulled out of the
adventure world by a force from the daylight world.
In Sunjata:
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Sunjata now meets with his allies at Ka-ba on the Niger where he returns
the individual kingdoms to their rightful rulers with great fanfare. After
days of celebration, Sunjata assembles his own army and crosses the Niger
to enter old Mali. When the whole army has crossed the river, Sunjata orders
great sacrifices in order to thank god for a safe return to Mali. The villages
give Sunjata an unprecedented welcome. Everywhere the army goes, they are
mobbed by the joyous people of Mali. Finally, they arrive at the old capital
of Niani which had been greatly damaged by Sumanguru. Sunjata enters his
native city and begins the process of rebuilding.
In Ramayana:
In Yamato:
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Yamato Takeru's return is seen in the form of a magical resurrection or
rebirth. He is reunited with his family one last time and then rises and
soars into the sky.
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