The Hero’s Journey
The Hero's Journey
ARCHTYPE
– DEF. the original pattern or model from which all things
of the same kind are copied or on which they are based;
a model or first form; prototype.
– Examples
▪ a. sea monster
d. epic hero
▪ b. wicked temptress
e. loyal servant
▪ c. buried treasure
f. suitors’ contest
ARCHTYPE HERO EXAMPLE
Motto: Where there's a will, there's a way
Core desire: to prove one's worth through courageous acts
Goal: expert mastery in a way that improves the world
Greatest fear :weakness, vulnerability, being a "chicken“
Strategy: to be as strong and competent as possible
Weakness: arrogance, always needing another battle to fight
Talent: competence and courage
Archetype Hero Example
▪ The Hero is also known as:
▪ Warrior
▪ Soldier
▪ Crusade
▪ Dragon slayer
▪ Rescuer
▪ Winner
▪ Superhero
▪ Team player
The Hero’s Journey
12 Stages
Plot archetype that forms the
building blocks of modern movies,
books, and TV shows
Takes the protagonist from the
mundane “ordinary world” to an
unknown “special world” where
they face challenges and overcome
both external and internal
struggles
Once you realize the cycle, it is
difficult not to identify it in any
movie or book
Stage 1: The Ordinary World
▪ Normal everyday existence.
▪ No conflict.
▪ Life as usual.
▪ Peaceful, calm, quiet, ordered.
▪ If you're going to tell a story about a
fish out of his customary element,
you first have to create a contrast by
showing him in his mundane,
ordinary world.
Stage 2: The Call to Adventure
The initiating incident
of the story
The hero is presented
with a problem,
challenge, or
adventure.
In detective stories,
it's the hero accepting
a new case.
Stage 3:Refusal of the Call
▪ The hero sees the task as
overwhelming and feels inadequate
or unable to fulfill the quest.
▪ Or the hero doesn’t want to
undertake the task or quest.
▪ Or the hero doesn’t believe the
quest is essential.
▪ Or someone refuses the call for
him/her.
▪ Often at this point, the hero balks
at the threshold of adventure. After
all, he or she is facing the greatest
of all fears -- fear of the unknown.
Stage 4: Discovering a Mentor
▪ Mentor = Guide
▪ The hero finds a mentor / “friend”
who will guide, instruct or lead him.
▪ The mentor typically convinces the
hero that the task or mission is
necessary
▪ The hero gains the supplies,
knowledge, and confidence needed
to commence the adventure
▪ The mentor can only go so far with
the hero. Eventually the hero must
face the unknown by himself.
Stage 5:Passing the “Threshold”
▪ The hero leaves his world, his
“home,” behind and embarks
on a journey.
▪ This is the moment at which
the story takes off and the
adventure gets going.
▪ The hero commits
wholeheartedly to the
adventure
▪ Dorothy sets out on the Yellow
Brick Road. The hero is now
committed to his journey...
and there's no turning back.
Stage 6:Finding Allies and Encountering Enemies
▪ The hero explores the
special world, faces trial,
and makes friends and
enemies.
▪ Along the way, the hero
discovers a band of allies
who will help him along his
quest.
▪ The hero also learns who his
enemies are.
▪ The hero needs to pass
certain tests and challenges
that are part of his training.
Stage 7:Approach to the “innermost cave”
▪ The hero must enter a place of darkness.
▪ Literally: a deep cave, underground, a very
dark and scary place.
▪ Figuratively: emotional depression, sadness,
melancholy.
▪ Hero learns something of extreme value
during this stage.
▪ The hero nears the center of the story and the
special world
▪ Sometimes it's the hero entering the
headquarters of his nemesis; and sometimes
it's just the hero going into his or her own
dream world to confront his or hers worst
fears... and overcome them.
Stage 8:The Ordeal
The hero faces the
greatest challenge yet
and experiences “death”
and “rebirth”.
Near the middle of the
story, the hero enters a
central space in the
Special World and
confronts death or faces
his or her greatest
fear. Out of the moment
of death comes a new life.
Stage 9:Reward
▪ Having survived death, beaten the
dragon, slain the Minotaur, the hero
now takes possession of the treasure
he's come seeking.
▪ Sometimes it's a special weapon like a
magic sword, or it may be a token like
the Grail or some elixir which can heal
the wounded land
▪ Sometimes the reward is knowledge
and experience that leads to greater
understanding and a reconciliation
with hostile forces. The hero may
settle a conflict with his father or with
his shadowy nemesis.
Stage 10:The Road Block
▪ The hero returns to the
ordinary world or
continues to an ultimate
destination.
▪ The Hero undergoes his
most challenging test.
▪ Usually face-to-face with
his mortal enemy.
▪ Some of the best chase
scenes come at this point,
as the hero is pursued by
the vengeful forces from
whom he has stolen the
elixir or the treasure.
Stage 11:Resurection
▪ Literal or figurative
▪ The hero dies and is
miraculously brought back
to life.
▪ The hero is thought to be
dead, only to return again,
surprising everyone.
▪ The hero is reborn into a
higher state of being or
consciousness.
▪ The hero experiences a
final moment of death and
rebirth so they are pure
when they reenter the
ordinary world
Stage 12:Return With the Elixir
▪ The hero returns with
something to improve the
ordinary world.
▪ An “elixir” is a potent potion
that restores one to health.
▪ The “elixir” can be peace,
calm, hope, order, a cure, an
actual healing potion, etc…
▪ Sometimes the elixir is
treasure won on the quest, or
love, or just the knowledge
that the special world exists
and can be survived.
▪ Sometimes it's just coming
home with a good story to tell.