A Hero’s JourneyFlexible framework of a heroic tale

The Ordinary World

“Fish Out of Water” idea: take the hero out of the ordinary world and into a Special World, new and unfamiliar

Story will show Ordinary World first to contrast with the strange new world hero is about to enter

Call to Adventure Hero is presented with a

problem, challenge, or adventure to undertake

Now, the hero can no longer remain in the comfort of the Ordinary World

Call to Adventure establishes the hero’s goal, such as: Win treasure Win lover Get revenge Right a wrong Achieve a dream Confront a challenge Change a life

Refusal of the Call Hero fears the adventure

and has not fully committed to the journey

May be thinking of turning back—expressing reluctance

Some other influence is required to get hero past this turning point of fear Change in

circumstances Further offences against

natural order Encouragement of a

Mentor

Meeting the Mentor Story will introduce a

Mentor Function of the Mentor is

to prepare the hero to face the unknown

May give advice, guidance, or magical equipment

However, Mentor can only go so far with the hero

Sometimes has to nudge the hero to get the adventure going

Crossing the Threshold

Hero finally commits to the adventure and enters the Special World by crossing the first threshold

Agrees to face consequences of dealing with the problem or challenge posed in the Call to Adventure

Moment when the story takes off

Tests, Allies, and Enemies

Encounters Tests and makes Allies and Enemies along the road of adventure

Begins to learn the rules of the Special World

Character develops – watch the hero and his companions react under stress of the adventure

Approach Hero comes to the edge of

a dangerous place or “Inmost Cave” Often where the object of

the quest is hidden Headquarters of the

hero’s greatest enemy The most dangerous spot

in the Special World Pause to prepare a plan for

entering the Dangerous Place Prepares to confront death

or supreme danger

Ordeal, Death, & Rebirth Hero hits bottom in direct

confrontation with his greatest fear Faces possibility of death and

comes close in a battle with a hostile force

Audience held in suspense, not knowing if he will live or die

Critical moment: hero must die or appear to die so that he/she can be born again

Major source of the magic of the heroic myth

Every story needs a life-or-death moment in which the hero or his goals are in moral jeopardy

Reward “Seizing the Sword”

Hero has survived the danger

Hero takes possession of Reward Special weapon or token A knowledge and experience

that leads to greater understanding and resolution with hostile forces

The Road Back Hero is not out of the woods yet! Hero begins to deal with the

consequences of confronting the dangers of the Supreme Ordeal

The Hostile Force (parent, god, enemy, etc.) may come raging after the hero Chase scene!

Marks the decision to return to the Ordinary World

Hero realizes Special World must be left behind and there are still dangers, temptations, and tests ahead

Resurrection Hero must be reborn and

cleansed in one last Ordeal of death and Resurrection before returning to Ordinary World

Often a second life-and-death moment

“Final exam” for the hero Tested one more time to see

if he/she has really learned the lessons of the Supreme Ordeal

Reborn as a new being and is able to return to the ordinary life

Return with Elixir

Returns to the Ordinary World

Brings back some Elixir – Treasure or lesson from the Special World Useful knowledge or

experience Treasure won on the quest Love, freedom, or wisdom Knowledge that the Special

World exists