Mythic Limericks about Heroes and the Hero’s Quest

I have to give credit to Joseph Campbell for opening my eyes to the polyvalent depths of mythology, religion and fairy tales. His groundbreaking Hero with a Thousand Faces along with the monumental Masks of God tetralogy examine the universal patterns of religious storytelling, revealing timeless insights that go beyond everyday words. Critically, Campbell describes these stories as metaphors that work on psychological levels and across historical and transpersonal boundaries.

The motif of the hero on a quest appears in every time and place in the history of mankind. And according to Campbell’s meticulous scholarship, the hero’s journey follows a fairly strict pattern, including features like the calling, the journey and the difficult return. Each legend will place different emphasis on the different elements of the formula, but the formula is always there.

Beyond these anthropological observations, Campbell goes a step further, scrutinizing the canon of world religion through the lens of Carl Jung. Essentially, this means reading the stories of adventure as allegorical images portraying the interpersonal struggle that every individual goes through, juggling the inner drives and casting out the demons on the way to discovering his/her own genuine identity and life’s purpose. In the course of this adventure, the true self breaks free from the ego, ultimately striking a harmonious balance between the conscious and unconscious desires, thereby capturing the treasure.

The following set of limericks takes a close look at some the challenges faced by the hero, as well as the glory he might achieve when the quest is fulfilled.

     The Hero’s Blessing
     There once was a prince with attachments to matter
     In search of a way to make enemies scatter
               Deep down in the well
               He learned a new spell
     And when he arose all illusions did shatter

     In the Cave 
     There once was a tunnel that led underground
     So I crept underneath without making a sound
               And plunging below
               My conscience let go
     So my Self in the dark dusty depths could be found

     The Hero’s Passage
     An orphan abandoned, alone in a basket
     Later reborn, downstream in a casket
               Drawing strength from the source
               A mysterious force
     It can strengthen you too, if you know how to ask it

     Subaquatic Excursions 
     Take a dip in the unconscious pool
     For a sense of rebirth and renewal
               Go plunge in the deep
               Who knows what you’ll reap
     Most likely a meaningful jewel

     The Prodigal Son 
     From out of the bosom of Fortune’s good graces
     And into the dark and most desolate places
               Where everyman fails
               The hero prevails  
     And rises above every challenge he faces

     Hero’s Return
     There twice was a hero according to Campbell
     To accept his adventure required some gamble
               For the treasure on high 
               He must walk on the sky
     And return with the truth for the world to unscramble

Further Reading

If you liked these limericks about heroes, you’ll be sure to enjoy:

• Limericks about Inner Voices
• Limericks about Greek Gods
• Limericks about Dreams
• 8 Common questions about limericks