Haris Sighatullah FQ

1210732011
 Reasons

 The novel itself is a significant children’s literature,
 The novel brings classic topic in children’s literature:
heroism topic,
 The novel brings different point of view and
different image about Viking.
 Identification & Scope

Cressida Cowell brings interesting heroism issues in the
novel How to Train Your Dragon (2010). The issues including the
process from zero to hero, the uniqueness of the hero, and the role
of supporting characters surrounding the hero. The writer sees that
these issues can be discussed under mythological approach.

Scope:
1. Hiccup’s journey in the first novel of How to Train Your
Dragon series
2. Hiccup’s uniqueness on the way he did heroic actions.
3. The role of the characters that involve in Hiccup’s journey
intensely.
 Previous Studies

 Emily Midkiff’s article on Fafnir – Nordic Journal of Science
Fiction and Fantasy Research with the title “Dragons are
Tricksy: The Uncanny Dragons of Children’s Literature”
(2014),
 Rider’s published novel review article in The Guardian
Weekly on December 2013,
 A.O.Scott’s published movie review article in New York Times
on March 2010,
 Researches under the same topic:
-Ryka Hayyu with the novel entitled Oliver Twist (Charles Dickens)
-Titin Isri Yanni with the novels entitled The Lord of the Rings
trilogy (J.R.R Tolkien)
-Adelina Putri with the novel entitled Percy Jackson & the
Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan).
 Theories

 Monomyth Cycle (Joseph Campbell). Campbell argued that there are
three main stages that always be passed by a hero in order to complete
a single quest, the stages are Departure, Initiation, Return.
 Types of Hero (Joseph Campbell). In the Chapter III of the book,
Campbell said that there are 5 types of hero: Hero as a Warrior, Hero
as a Lover, Hero as an Emperor and as Tyrant, Hero as World
Redeemer, and Hero as a Saint.
 Heroism Common Archetypes (Christopher Vogler). Vogler argued
that there are some archetype masks that commonly appear as minor
characters in a myth (Vogler 26). Those archetypes are Mentor,
Threshold Guardians, Herald, Shapeshifter, Shadow, Ally, and
Trickster.
 Findings
1.

Hiccup’s heroic journey follows Joseph Campbell
Monomyth cycle with some diminution of stages.
 
2. Hiccup is a unique dragon whisperer, not a dragon
slayer.
• Hiccup defeated dragon by the help of dragons
• Hiccup defeated dragon using tricks instead of
using deadly weapon

3. Hiccup was helped by 7 characters who are reflected

7 archetypes.
Table of supporting characters’ role

Archetypes Characters

Mentor Gobber the Belch

Threshold Guardians The Angry Dragons

Herald Old Wrinkly

Shapeshifter Toothless

Shadow The Green Death

Ally Thuggory the Meathead

Trickster Fishlegs
 Conclusion

From the analysis, it can be concluded that
Hiccup is a hero who has passed 10 stages in the
process of being a hero. He is also a unique warrior
who defeated dragons by utilizing his tricky mind
instead of deadly weapons. The writer also concluded
that there are 7 characters who are projected 7
archetypes who have their own role to support
Hiccup’s heroic journey.