ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an overarching framework for viewing heroism through time, which incorporates the notion of deviance. It discusses various forms of traditional hero narratives, beginning with the Gilgamesh epic and referring to other narratives in global folkloric and mythic traditions. The book investigates the heroic construction of colonial Western Australian history and its impacts on Indigenous Australians. It also discusses how the hero’s journey could be extended as a framework to the heroic learner’s journey, within the context of a holistic interpretation of the New Zealand Curriculum. The book addresses a vital and under-researched area in relation to heroism—post-traumatic growth. It utilizes an auto-ethnographical approach to critically explore the application of heroic knowledge in order to advance personal wellbeing and see how the hero’s journey can be a useful model for transformation for researchers and educators.
