Act I
1.) Ordinary World – Luke Skywalker is a dirt farmer on
the planet Tatooine. He laments his boring life and
wants to join the “academy,” but his Uncle Owen
won’t let him.
2.) Call to Adventure – Luke and his uncle buy androids, one of which is
R2D2. In the process of cleaning R2D2, Luke discovers a message hidden
within the droid. The message contains a plea to an “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Luke is familiar with a “Ben Kenobi,” and seeks him out.
4.) Meeting with the Mentor – Luke searches for “ObiWan” to return the droids. He comes across Ben
Kenobi, who saves him from the Sand People.
3.) Refusal of the Call – Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi offers Luke the
opportunity both to go to Alderaan and to learn about being a
Jedi, like Luke’s father was. Luke is interested, but declines the
opportunity, citing family obligations. Maybe it is just an
excuse because Luke is intimidated by the prospects.
5.) Crossing the First Threshold – Luke returns from his Obi-Wan hunt
to find his family has been slaughtered by the Empire’s storm troopers.
Now, with no family holding him back, Luke agrees to go with Obi-Wan
to Alderaan and to learn about “The Force.”
Act II
6.) Tests, Allies, Enemies – Luke meets Han
Solo and Chewbacca who prove to be allies.
He also has direct contact with the storm
troopers who prove to be his enemies. Luke
is challenged by a man in the Tatooine bar
and is challenged by a number of run-ins
with the storm troopers.
7.) Approach to the Inmost Cave – Luke
approaches the Death Star and attempts to
rescue Princess Leia, the person who sent
the message hidden in R2D2.
8.) Ordeal – Luke endures several ordeals:
finding the princess, escaping from the
trash compactor, and suffering the loss of
his mentor, Obi-Wan (crisis). Luke and
company do escape the Death Star.
9.) Reward ("Seizing the Sword") – Luke
escapes with the princess and enough
knowledge of “The Force” to serve him as
he readies to attack the Death Star with the
Rebel Alliance.
Act III
10.) The Road Back – This may not directly
apply to Star Wars – A New Hope.
11.) Resurrection – Luke has been “reborn” as a necessary
element in the battle of the Rebels against the Empire.
Though limited, his knowledge of “The Force” has him play
a critical role in the battle, and it is the knowledge gained
from Obi-Wan that ultimately wins the day for both Luke
and the Rebels as the Death Star is destroyed (climax).
12.) Return with the Elixir – Returns from
battle the “Hero” whose special skills learned
from his mentor Obi-Wan have won the day.
He is now a new person in many ways, one
who will never go back to being a mere dirt
farmer. The “elixir” here would probably be
the destruction of the Death Star.