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Lecturer(s)
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Solomon Kristýna, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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All materials will be available in moodle. The journey is one of the most enduring and powerful archetypes in myth and literature. It often symbolizes transformation, self-discovery, and the pursuit of meaning. In mythological criticism, the journey motif is understood as a metaphor for the human experienceprogressing from innocence to experience, ignorance to knowledge, or chaos to order. The journey archetype continues to offer a rich framework for exploring the complexities of human existence across literary traditions. One of the most famous examples of modern "road literature" is Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, a text that blends mystical symbolism with a universal quest for purpose. We begin our exploration with The Alchemist from a narratological perspective to identify the core features of the journey myth. We will then trace its historical roots, linking it to medieval literature focused on quests, such as Parzival. A key focus of the seminar will be comparing how medieval romances frame the journey as a path of moral and spiritual growth (e.g., chivalric codes, divine purpose) with Coelho's modern spiritual allegory. This seminar blends academic rigor with personal reflection, positioning literature as both a cultural artefact and a tool for self-understanding. No. Topic 1 The Journey Archetype in Myth and Literature: Basic Concepts and Functions 2 Mythological Literary Criticism and the Hero's Journey 3 The Narratology of the Journey: Space, Time, Movement and Narrative Perspective 4 Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist: Origins, Context and Narrative Structure 5 Santiago's Journey: The Call, Departure, Trials, Guides and Return 6 Symbols, Omens and Allegory in The Alchemist 7 The Journey as a Process of Self-Discovery, Transformation and the Search for Meaning 8 Historical Roots of the Journey Archetype: Myth, Pilgrimage and Initiation Narratives 9 The Medieval Quest: Chivalric Adventure, Moral Trial and Divine Mission 10 Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival: A Journey from Ignorance to Knowledge 11 The Alchemist and Parzival: Medieval and Modern Concepts of the Spiritual Journey 12 Literature as a Cultural Artefact and a Tool for Self-Reflection: Final Discussion
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Activating (Simulations, Games, Dramatization)
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Learning outcomes
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To introduce students to the theory of the mythological approach, focusing particularly on the motif of the "journey," and to demonstrate how this perspective may be applied in the analysis of selected literary works.
Suitable for students who are open to experimental approaches to working with literature and who enjoy reading and reflecting on what they have read.
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Prerequisites
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The seminar is intended for all students of the Palacký University. B2 knowledge of English and German.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Student performance, Analysis of Creative works (Music, Pictorial,Literary)
Active participation in class, a maximum of 2 absences, and reading of assigned texts.
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Recommended literature
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Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. 2008.
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Classen Albrecht. German Medieval Romance. Cambridge. 2023.
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Coelho. The Alchemist. .
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