Hero’s JourneyHero’s Journey12 Steps12 Steps

Basic IdeaBasic Idea

The Hero’s Journey is a term coined by famed The Hero’s Journey is a term coined by famed mythology professor Joseph Campbell in his mythology professor Joseph Campbell in his book, “The Man With A Thousand Faces”.book, “The Man With A Thousand Faces”.

The 12 stages of The Hero’s Journey are the The 12 stages of The Hero’s Journey are the stages that nearly every successful mythological stages that nearly every successful mythological figure, best selling book, and best selling movie figure, best selling book, and best selling movie are based on.are based on.

As we go through them, consider characters in As we go through them, consider characters in movies to see if they might be examples.movies to see if they might be examples.

Ordinary World (1) Ordinary World (1)

This is where the audience meets the hero and This is where the audience meets the hero and learns of his/her life, personality and learns of his/her life, personality and surroundings.surroundings.

Luke in Tatooine…

Call to Adventure (2)Call to Adventure (2)

This is where the hero is presented with a This is where the hero is presented with a challenge or opportunity to undertake a quest or challenge or opportunity to undertake a quest or solve a problem. To take up the quest the hero solve a problem. To take up the quest the hero must leave the familiarity of his or her Ordinary must leave the familiarity of his or her Ordinary World.World.

“Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.”

Refusal of the Call (3)Refusal of the Call (3)

This is the typical reaction to want to avoid This is the typical reaction to want to avoid risking the adventure and the changes that will risking the adventure and the changes that will result.result.

It’s the last season before harvest…. You can go to the academy next year…

Meeting with the Mentor (4)Meeting with the Mentor (4)

This usually occurs now in the form of someone This usually occurs now in the form of someone passing on some knowledge to the hero. The passing on some knowledge to the hero. The mentor isn't necessarily a good guy or a bad guy mentor isn't necessarily a good guy or a bad guy but receiving the knowledge is necessary for the but receiving the knowledge is necessary for the hero to take the first step.hero to take the first step.

Ben? Ben Kenobi? Boy am I glad to see you!

Crossing the First Threshold (5)Crossing the First Threshold (5)

This is the first step on the journey.This is the first step on the journey.

Only Imperial Stormtroopers are this precise.

Tests, Allies, Enemies (6)Tests, Allies, Enemies (6)

This is the hero's next step. The hero has entered This is the hero's next step. The hero has entered a new and strange special world. They will a new and strange special world. They will learn, change and be tested.learn, change and be tested.

Approach to the Inmost Cave (7) Approach to the Inmost Cave (7)

The hero must now face the greatest test and The hero must now face the greatest test and must be fully committed to meeting the must be fully committed to meeting the challenge they were given in the Call to challenge they were given in the Call to Adventure.Adventure.

Great kid… don’t get cocky.

Ordeal (8) Ordeal (8)

This is the central crisis of the story in which the This is the central crisis of the story in which the hero faces his/her greatest fear and risks death. hero faces his/her greatest fear and risks death. In a sense the hero is now re-forged in the heat In a sense the hero is now re-forged in the heat of the battle and is forever changed.of the battle and is forever changed.

Nice shot kid! That was one in a million…

Reward (Seizing the Sword!) (9)Reward (Seizing the Sword!) (9)

Consequences of the attempt. This is the Consequences of the attempt. This is the moment of improvement and setback for the moment of improvement and setback for the protagonist, the point at which our hero chooses protagonist, the point at which our hero chooses to make their stand and commit to their needs to make their stand and commit to their needs and wants.and wants.

I’ll never join you!!!

The Road Back (10)The Road Back (10)

This is where the hero uses his/her newfound This is where the hero uses his/her newfound strength and knowledge to complete the strength and knowledge to complete the adventure and begin the return to his/her adventure and begin the return to his/her Ordinary World. There are still challenges ahead Ordinary World. There are still challenges ahead but the hero is now armed and prepared to face but the hero is now armed and prepared to face them.them.

I’m Luke Skywalker. Jedi Knight and a friend of Captain Solo.

Resurrection (11)Resurrection (11)

This is the final proof and accomplishment of This is the final proof and accomplishment of the mission in the Call to Adventure. The hero is the mission in the Call to Adventure. The hero is now master of his/her world.now master of his/her world.

Return with the Elixir (12)Return with the Elixir (12)

the denouement (conclusion) where we learn the denouement (conclusion) where we learn how the hero has returned from the tests of the how the hero has returned from the tests of the journey and how they have been transformed, journey and how they have been transformed, what they have gained and how it will benefit what they have gained and how it will benefit them, their friends, family, community and the them, their friends, family, community and the world.world.

Yub nub