THE HERO’S JOURNEYTHE HERO’S JOURNEY

1.1. Heroes are introduced in the Heroes are introduced in the ORDINARY WORLDORDINARY WORLD, where, where

2.2. they receive the they receive the CALL TO CALL TO ADVENTURE.ADVENTURE.

3.3. They are They are RELUCTANTRELUCTANT at first or at first or REFUSE THE CALLREFUSE THE CALL, but, but

4.4. are encouraged by a are encouraged by a MENTORMENTOR to to

5.5. CROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLDCROSS THE FIRST THRESHOLD and enter the Special World, whereand enter the Special World, where

6.6. they encounter they encounter TESTS, ALLIES, TESTS, ALLIES, AND ENEMIESAND ENEMIES..

7.7. They They APPROACH THE INMOST APPROACH THE INMOST CAVECAVE, crossing a second threshold, crossing a second threshold

8.8. where they endure the where they endure the ORDEALORDEAL..

9.9. They take possession of their They take possession of their REWARD REWARD and and

10.10. are pursued on are pursued on THE ROAD BACKTHE ROAD BACK to the Ordinary World.to the Ordinary World.

12.12. They cross the third threshold, They cross the third threshold, experience a experience a RESURRECTIONRESURRECTION and are and are TRANSFORMEDTRANSFORMED by by the experience.the experience.

13.13. They They RETURN WITH THE RETURN WITH THE ELIXIRELIXIR, a boon or treasure to , a boon or treasure to benefit the Ordinary World.benefit the Ordinary World.

The Ordinary WorldThe Ordinary World

Most stories take the hero out of the Most stories take the hero out of the ordinary, mundane world and into a ordinary, mundane world and into a Special World, new and alien. This is Special World, new and alien. This is the familiar “fish out of water” idea the familiar “fish out of water” idea which has spawned countless films which has spawned countless films and TV shows.and TV shows.

Fish out of WaterFish out of Water

If you’re going to show a fish out of his If you’re going to show a fish out of his customary element, you first have to customary element, you first have to show him in that ORDINARY WORLD show him in that ORDINARY WORLD to create a vivid contrast with the to create a vivid contrast with the strange new world he is about to strange new world he is about to enter.enter.

The Call to AdventureThe Call to Adventure

The hero is presented with a problem, The hero is presented with a problem, challenge, or adventure to challenge, or adventure to undertake. Once presented with a undertake. Once presented with a CALL TO ADVENTURECALL TO ADVENTURE, she can no , she can no longer remain indefinitely in the longer remain indefinitely in the comfort of the Ordinary World.comfort of the Ordinary World.

Perhaps the land Perhaps the land is dying, as in is dying, as in the King Arthur the King Arthur stories of the stories of the search for the search for the Grail, the only Grail, the only treasure that treasure that can heal the can heal the wounded land.wounded land.

Detective StoriesDetective StoriesIn many detective In many detective

stories the Call to stories the Call to Adventure is the Adventure is the private eye being private eye being asked to take on a asked to take on a new case and sold a new case and sold a crime which has crime which has upset the order of upset the order of things. A good things. A good detective should detective should right wrongs as well right wrongs as well as solve crimes.as solve crimes.

RevengeRevengeIn revenge plots, the Call In revenge plots, the Call

to Adventure is often a to Adventure is often a wrong which must be wrong which must be set right, an offense set right, an offense against the nature order against the nature order of things. In of things. In The Count The Count of Monte Cristoof Monte Cristo, , Edmond Dantes is Edmond Dantes is unjustly imprisoned and unjustly imprisoned and is driven to escape by is driven to escape by his desire for revenge.his desire for revenge.

The plot of The plot of Beverly Hills Beverly Hills CopCop is set in is set in motion by the motion by the murder of the murder of the hero’s best hero’s best friend.friend.

In romantic comedies, the In romantic comedies, the Call to Call to AdventureAdventure might be the first might be the first encounter with the special but encounter with the special but annoying someone the hero or annoying someone the hero or heroine will be pursuing and sparring heroine will be pursuing and sparring with.with.

The The Call to AdventureCall to Adventure establishes establishes the stakes of the game, and makes the stakes of the game, and makes clear the hero’s goal: to win the clear the hero’s goal: to win the treasure or the lover, to get revenge treasure or the lover, to get revenge or right a wrong, to achieve a dream, or right a wrong, to achieve a dream, confront a challenge, or change a confront a challenge, or change a life.life.

What’s at stake can often be What’s at stake can often be expressed as a question posed by expressed as a question posed by the call: will E.T. get home? Will the call: will E.T. get home? Will Luke rescue Princess Leia? In Luke rescue Princess Leia? In An An Officer and a GentlemanOfficer and a Gentleman, will the , will the hero be driven out of the Navy flight hero be driven out of the Navy flight school by his own selfishness and school by his own selfishness and the needling of a fierce Marine drill the needling of a fierce Marine drill instructor, or will be earn the right instructor, or will be earn the right to be called an officer and a to be called an officer and a gentleman? Boy meets girl, but gentleman? Boy meets girl, but does boy get girl?does boy get girl?

Refusal of the Call Refusal of the Call (The Reluctant Hero)(The Reluctant Hero)

This one is about fear. Often at this This one is about fear. Often at this point the hero balks at the threshold point the hero balks at the threshold of adventure, Refusing the Call or of adventure, Refusing the Call or expressing reluctance. After all, she expressing reluctance. After all, she is facing the greatest of all fears, is facing the greatest of all fears, terror of the unknown. The hero has terror of the unknown. The hero has not yet fully committed to the not yet fully committed to the journey and may still be thinking of journey and may still be thinking of turning back.turning back.

Some other influence—a change in Some other influence—a change in circumstances, a further offense circumstances, a further offense against the natural order of things, or against the natural order of things, or the encouragement of a Mentor—is the encouragement of a Mentor—is required to get her past this turning required to get her past this turning point of fear.point of fear.

In Romantic comedies, the hero may In Romantic comedies, the hero may express reluctance to get involved express reluctance to get involved (maybe because of the pain of a (maybe because of the pain of a previous relationship). previous relationship).

In a detective story, the private eye In a detective story, the private eye may at first turn down the case, only may at first turn down the case, only to take it on later against his/her to take it on later against his/her better judgment.better judgment.

Mentor Mentor (The wise Old Man or Woman)(The wise Old Man or Woman)

By this time many stories will have By this time many stories will have introduced a Merlin-like character introduced a Merlin-like character who is the hero’s Mentor. The who is the hero’s Mentor. The relationship between hero and relationship between hero and Mentor is one of the most common Mentor is one of the most common themes. It stands for the bond themes. It stands for the bond between parent and child, teacher between parent and child, teacher and student, doctor and patient, God and student, doctor and patient, God and man.and man.

The function of The function of MentorsMentors is to is to prepare the hero to face the prepare the hero to face the unknown. They may give advice, unknown. They may give advice, guidance or magical equipment. guidance or magical equipment.

The Mentor can only go so far with The Mentor can only go so far with the hero. Eventually the hero must the hero. Eventually the hero must face the unknown alone.face the unknown alone.

The Special WorldThe Special World

Now the hero finally commits to the Now the hero finally commits to the adventure and fully enters the adventure and fully enters the Special World. Special World.

He agrees to face the consequences He agrees to face the consequences of dealing with the problem or of dealing with the problem or challenge posed in the Call to challenge posed in the Call to Adventure.Adventure.

This is the moment when Dorothy sets This is the moment when Dorothy sets out on the Yellow Brick Road. The out on the Yellow Brick Road. The hero of hero of Beverly Hills CopBeverly Hills Cop, Axel Foley, , Axel Foley, decides to defy his boss’s order, decides to defy his boss’s order, leaving his Ordinary World of the leaving his Ordinary World of the Detroit streets to investigate his Detroit streets to investigate his friend’s murder in the Special World friend’s murder in the Special World of Beverly Hills.of Beverly Hills.

Tests, Allies and EnemiesTests, Allies and Enemies

Once across the First Threshold, the Once across the First Threshold, the hero naturally encounters new hero naturally encounters new challenges and challenges and Tests, makes Allies Tests, makes Allies and Enemiesand Enemies, and begins to learn , and begins to learn the rules of the Special World.the rules of the Special World.

Approach to the Inmost Approach to the Inmost CaveCave

The hero comes at last to the edge of The hero comes at last to the edge of a dangerous place, sometimes deep a dangerous place, sometimes deep underground, where the object of the underground, where the object of the quest is hidden. quest is hidden.

Often it’s the headquarters of the Often it’s the headquarters of the hero’s greatest enemy, the most hero’s greatest enemy, the most dangerous spot in the Special World, dangerous spot in the Special World, the Inmost Cave.the Inmost Cave.

When the hero enters that fearful When the hero enters that fearful place he will cross the second major place he will cross the second major threshold. threshold.

Heroes often pause at the gate to Heroes often pause at the gate to prepare, plan, and outwit the villain’s prepare, plan, and outwit the villain’s guards. This is the phase of guards. This is the phase of Approach.Approach.

Inmost CaveInmost Cave

In mythology the Inmost Cave may In mythology the Inmost Cave may represent the land of the dead.represent the land of the dead.

The hero may have to descend into The hero may have to descend into hell to rescue a loved one (Orpheus), hell to rescue a loved one (Orpheus), into a cave to fight a dragon and win into a cave to fight a dragon and win a treasure (Sigurd in Norse myth), or a treasure (Sigurd in Norse myth), or into a labyrinth to confront a monster into a labyrinth to confront a monster (Theseus and the Minotaur).(Theseus and the Minotaur).

In modern In modern mythology of Star mythology of Star Wars the Approach Wars the Approach to the Inmost Cave to the Inmost Cave is Luke Skywalker is Luke Skywalker and company being and company being sucked into the sucked into the Death Star where Death Star where they will face Darth they will face Darth Vader and rescue Vader and rescue Princess Leia.Princess Leia.

The title of The title of Indiana Jones Indiana Jones and the and the Temple of Temple of DoomDoom reveals reveals the Inmost Cave the Inmost Cave of that film.of that film.

Approach covers all the preparations Approach covers all the preparations for entering the Inmost Cave and for entering the Inmost Cave and confronting death or supreme confronting death or supreme danger.danger.

The OrdealThe Ordeal

Here the fortunes of the hero hit bottom Here the fortunes of the hero hit bottom in a direct confrontation with his greatest in a direct confrontation with his greatest fear.fear.

He faces the possibility of death and is He faces the possibility of death and is brought to the brink in a battle with a brought to the brink in a battle with a hostile force.hostile force.

The ordeal is a “black moment” for the The ordeal is a “black moment” for the audience, as we are held in suspense and audience, as we are held in suspense and tension not knowing if he will live or die.tension not knowing if he will live or die.

In In Star WarsStar Wars it’s the it’s the harrowing moment harrowing moment in the bowels of the in the bowels of the Death Star giant Death Star giant trashmashertrashmasher

In In E.T.,E.T., the lovable the lovable alien appears to die alien appears to die on the operating on the operating table.table.

In the In the Wizard of OzWizard of Oz Dorothy and her Dorothy and her friends are trapped by the Wicked friends are trapped by the Wicked WitchWitch

In In Beverly Hills CopBeverly Hills Cop Axel Foley is in Axel Foley is in the clutches of the villain’s men with a the clutches of the villain’s men with a gun to his head.gun to his head.

In In An Officer and a GentlemanAn Officer and a Gentleman, Zack , Zack Mayo endures the all out drive of the Mayo endures the all out drive of the drill instructor to torment and humiliate drill instructor to torment and humiliate him into quitting the program.him into quitting the program.

In romantic comedies In romantic comedies the death faced by the the death faced by the hero may simply be hero may simply be the temporary death the temporary death of the relationship, as of the relationship, as in the second in the second movement of the old movement of the old standard plot, “Boy standard plot, “Boy meets girl, boy loses meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl.” girl, boy gets girl.” The hero’s chances of The hero’s chances of connecting with the connecting with the object of affection look object of affection look their bleakest.their bleakest.

This is a critical moment in any story, an This is a critical moment in any story, an Ordeal in which the hero must die or Ordeal in which the hero must die or appear to die so that she can be born appear to die so that she can be born again.again.

It’s a major source of the magic of the It’s a major source of the magic of the heroic journey.heroic journey.

The experiences of the preceding stages The experiences of the preceding stages have led us, the audience to identify with have led us, the audience to identify with the hero and her fate.the hero and her fate.

What happens to the hero happens to us.What happens to the hero happens to us. We are encouraged to experience the We are encouraged to experience the

brink-of-death moment.brink-of-death moment.

Reward (Seizing the Sword)Reward (Seizing the Sword)

Having survived death, beaten the Having survived death, beaten the dragon, or slain the Minotaur, hero and dragon, or slain the Minotaur, hero and audience have cause to celebrate. The audience have cause to celebrate. The hero now takes possession of the hero now takes possession of the treasure she has come seeking, her treasure she has come seeking, her Reward. It might be a special weapon Reward. It might be a special weapon like a magic sword, or a token like the like a magic sword, or a token like the Grail or some elixir which can heal the Grail or some elixir which can heal the wounded land.wounded land.

Sometimes the Sometimes the “sword” is “sword” is knowledge and knowledge and experience that experience that leads to greater leads to greater understanding understanding and a and a reconciliation with reconciliation with hostile forces.hostile forces.

In In Star WarsStar Wars, Luke , Luke rescues Princess Leia rescues Princess Leia and captures the plans and captures the plans of the Death Star, keys of the Death Star, keys to defeating Darth to defeating Darth Vader.Vader.

Dorothy escapes from Dorothy escapes from the wicked Witch’s the wicked Witch’s castle with the Witch’s castle with the Witch’s broomstick and the broomstick and the ruby slippers, keys to ruby slippers, keys to getting back homegetting back home

At this point the At this point the hero may also hero may also settle a conflict settle a conflict with a parent. with a parent.

In In Return of the Return of the JediJedi, Luke is , Luke is reconciled with reconciled with Darth Vader, who Darth Vader, who turns out to be his turns out to be his father and not such father and not such a bad guy after alla bad guy after all

The Road BackThe Road Back

The hero is not out of the woods yet. The hero is not out of the woods yet. The hero begins to deal with the The hero begins to deal with the consequences of confronting the consequences of confronting the dark forces of the ordeal.dark forces of the ordeal.

If she has not yet managed to If she has not yet managed to reconcile with the parent, the gods, reconcile with the parent, the gods, or the hostile forces, they may come or the hostile forces, they may come raging after her.raging after her.

Some of the best chase scenes Some of the best chase scenes spring up at this point, as the hero is spring up at this point, as the hero is pursued on pursued on The Road BackThe Road Back by the by the vengeful forces she has disturbed by vengeful forces she has disturbed by Seizing the sword, the elixir or the Seizing the sword, the elixir or the treasure.treasure.

The Road BackThe Road Back in in E.TE.T is the moonlight is the moonlight bicycle flight of bicycle flight of Elliott and E.T. as Elliott and E.T. as they escape from they escape from “Keys” who “Keys” who represents represents repressive repressive governmental governmental authority.authority.

ResurrectionResurrection

In ancient times, hunters and In ancient times, hunters and warriors had to be purified before warriors had to be purified before they returned to their communities, they returned to their communities, because they had blood on their because they had blood on their hands. hands.

The hero must be reborn and The hero must be reborn and cleansed in one last Ordeal of death cleansed in one last Ordeal of death and and ResurrectionResurrection before returning before returning to the Ordinary World of the living.to the Ordinary World of the living.

This is often a second life-and-death This is often a second life-and-death moment, almost a replay of the moment, almost a replay of the death and rebirth of the Ordeal.death and rebirth of the Ordeal.

Death and darkness get in one last Death and darkness get in one last desperate shot before being finally desperate shot before being finally defeated.defeated.

The hero is transformed by these The hero is transformed by these moments of death-and-rebirth, and is moments of death-and-rebirth, and is able to return to ordinary life reborn able to return to ordinary life reborn as a new being with new insights.as a new being with new insights.

Return with the ElixirReturn with the Elixir

The hero Returns to the Ordinary The hero Returns to the Ordinary World, but the journey is World, but the journey is meaningless unless she brings back meaningless unless she brings back some Elixir, treasure, or lesson from some Elixir, treasure, or lesson from the Special World.the Special World.

The The ElixirElixir is a magic potion with the is a magic potion with the power to heal.power to heal.

The The ElixirElixir is a magic potion with the is a magic potion with the power to heal.power to heal.

It may be a great treasure like the It may be a great treasure like the Grail that magically heals the Grail that magically heals the wounded land, or it simply might be wounded land, or it simply might be knowledge or experience that could knowledge or experience that could be useful to the community be useful to the community someday.someday.

Sometimes the Elixir is treasure won Sometimes the Elixir is treasure won on the quest, but it may be love, on the quest, but it may be love, freedom, wisdom, or the knowledge freedom, wisdom, or the knowledge that the Special World exists and can that the Special World exists and can be survived. be survived.

Sometimes it’s just coming home Sometimes it’s just coming home with a good story to tell.with a good story to tell.

Unless something is brought back from Unless something is brought back from the Ordeal in the Inmost Cave, the the Ordeal in the Inmost Cave, the hero is doomed to repeat the hero is doomed to repeat the adventure. Many comedies use this adventure. Many comedies use this ending, as a foolish character refuses ending, as a foolish character refuses to learn his lesson and embarks on to learn his lesson and embarks on the same folly that got him in trouble the same folly that got him in trouble in the first place.in the first place.