One of the best is 'The Lord of the Rings'. Frodo Baggins, an ordinary hobbit, is thrust into an epic quest to destroy the One Ring. He faces numerous challenges, from the evil Ringwraiths to the treacherous journey through Mordor. Another great one is 'Star Wars'. Luke Skywalker starts as a simple farm boy on a desert planet and evolves into a Jedi Knight, battling the evil Empire. 'Harry Potter' also fits. Harry, an orphan, discovers he's a wizard and has to fight against the dark wizard Voldemort, going through years of growth and challenges at Hogwarts.
One characteristic is a clear protagonist. For example, in 'The Ugly Duckling', the ugly duckling is the hero we follow. Another is the presence of challenges. Just like in 'Pinocchio' where he has to deal with his nose growing and various temptations. Also, transformation is key. The hero usually changes in some way. In 'Beauty and the Beast', the beast transforms into a prince, and Beauty also grows in her understanding.
In 'The Lord of the Rings', the main character on the hero's journey is Frodo Baggins. He is joined by Samwise Gamgee, who is his loyal friend and companion throughout the journey. In 'Harry Potter', of course, it's Harry Potter himself, along with his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They all play important roles in his fight against Voldemort.
Another key element is the transformation of the hero. By the end of the hero's journey short story, the hero is usually changed in some fundamental way. They may have gained new wisdom, courage or a different perspective on life. This transformation is what gives the story its depth and meaning, as it shows the growth and development of the main character.
The story of Percy Jackson is also about a young hero. He is a demigod, half human and half Greek god. Percy has to go on quests to save the world from various mythological threats, learning about his powers and his place in the world along the way.
One great hero's journey short story is 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. The hare is initially overconfident. The tortoise, the hero in a way, slowly but surely makes its way. It's a story about perseverance. Another is 'The Little Red Hen'. The hen does all the work while others refuse to help. In the end, she reaps the benefits alone. It shows self - reliance.
Not always. The hero's journey is often about an individual's self - discovery. Some origin stories are more about collective efforts or natural phenomena. For instance, the origin of a natural wonder may not involve a hero's journey in the traditional sense. However, if we consider nature as the hero in some ecological origin stories, then it could apply.
It's hard to say exactly who the hero in the very first hero's journey story was as hero's journey stories date back to ancient times and different cultures have their own early examples. However, Gilgamesh from 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' is often considered one of the earliest heroes in this type of story. He was a king who had to face many challenges on his journey to find immortality.