Monomyth

A cyclical journey or quest taken by a hero.

“The Hero’s Journey”

Monomyth - one story - is the formal name for “The Hero’s Journey”. The monomyth is defined as a cyclical journey or quest taken by a hero. The word cyclical is a derivitive of the word “cycle”. A cycle is a circular pattern that usually repeats. The steps in a cycle are set - there is a pattern a cycle follows.The word “quest” alludes to a challenging journey full of tasks that, hopefully, result in accomplishments. So, the hero’s journey, or the monomyth, is a journey that a hero takes that has a set pattern, repeats itself, and is full of challenges and hopefully accomplishment.

Joseph Campbell”[A] hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” ~The Hero with a Thousand Faces

The theory of the hero’s journey was introduced by American author Joseph Campbell. Campbell wrote The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In it, he basically says that all hero stories seem to follow a similar pattern of events and characters. The thing that separates one hero story from another is the setting; but generally, the plot remains pretty much the same.

Campbell’s original monomyth is comprised of 17 steps spread through three stages. We are going to combine some steps and will only see 10 steps in the three stages.

The Ordinary World

The hero’s “normal”Where they will leave to begin their journey and where they will return to

in the end

The hero’s journey begins in the “Ordinary World”.

Stage One : Departure

The callThe refusal

Crossing the threshold

The hero’s journey takes place in stages - three stages to be exact. In stage one, the to-be-hero receives a call to adventure, refuses the call, and eventually decides to go on the journey

The Call to Adventure

The hero’s life is going to change

The hero meets mentor

the hero is first given notice that their life is going to change. Sometimes the decision to make a change comes from within the hero themselves (as is the case with Rapunzel). Sometimes the hero is forced into the change - the call comes from without (think of Katniss in The Hunger Games.) Either way, it is this call to adventure that begins the hero on their journey. During this time, the hero also will usually meet a valuable mentor who will help them on their journey. This mentor could be man, woman, beast, nature, object (like a book) ANYTHING - it could even turn out to be an enemy. But this mentor is part of the reason why the hero is able to accept the call to adventure. (Who was Rapunzel’s mentor? Flynn - he agreed to help her leave. Paschal - he encouraged her to go)

The Refusal of the CallThe hero is

apprehensive to go

May stem from a sense of duty, moral

conflict, fear, insecurity

The mentor offers guidance

The hero often refuses to accept the call to adventure. Even if it was their idea, the hero may rethink the decision to accept the call. They may try to SUBVERT the call to adventure by hiding, or lying, or flat out refusing to comply. The refusal to the call may stem from a sense of duty or morality, an obligation, a fear, or an insecurity. It is during this time that the mentor may have to step in to reaffirm the hero’s responsibility or desire to accept the call the adventure.

Crossing the First Threshold

The hero accepts the call and is on their way

leaves the ordinary world

this is the point of no return. Even though the hero may still have some apprehension and be unsure, at this point the journey MUST happen. The hero leaves the ordinary world and enters into the extraordinary.

Stage Two: Initiation

The Road of TrialsAtonement and Apotheosis

The Ultimate Boon

In stage two the hero, now well on their way, faces many trials, but along the way experiences a true love (friendship) with a mentor that will help guide them through their journey (they will also meet other allies and adversaries who will mark their experience). The hero will eventually face whatever it is that holds the ultimate power in their life, move to a place of higher learning or understanding, and eventually accomplish their task.

The Road of Trials

The hero faces tests, meets allies, confronts enemies, and learns the rules of their new

world

The hero faces tests, trials, challenges, to prove that they are learning how to survive and exist in their new world. The hero will begin to figure out who is in which camp - who is an ally and who is an enemy.

Atonement & Apotheosis Near the middle of the

story

Hero confronts death, danger, greatest fear

New understanding of the changes taking

place

the hero must confront whatever holds the ultimate power in his life. the hero must be ready and willing to “die” (literally or figuratively) to transform themselves completely. the hero develops a new understanding of the new world.

The Ultimate Boon

Takes possession of the treasure won

May be celebration AND danger

achievement of the goal of the quest. During this time the hero celebrates their victory. But unbeknownst to them, there is also danger close by. It may seem the journey is over, but it is actually only about ¾ of the way through.

Stage Three: Return

Refusal to ReturnThe Magic Flight

Rescue from WithoutThe Resurrection

In the final stage, the hero is faced with returning to their normal world - or “new” normal world. There is initially a refusal to return, followed by one last heroic opportunity and a rescue that ultimately allows our hero to be the master of their new self and their old self, thus giving them the freedom to live their lives.

Refusal to Return

The hero is conflicted about returning to the

“ordinary” world

new place seems safer, more comfortable

when the goal has been accomplished, the hero may initially refuse to return or be conflicted about returning to the “ordinary”. they may see the new place as safer or more pleasurable.

The Magic FlightRecommit to completing

the cycle

They must face one more challenge

Apply their newfound wisdom to overcome the

challenge

After deciding to finish the journey, the hero experiences one last heroic experience (adventure) - usually marked by danger - before they return to what will be their “new and improved” normal life. (It’s like a final test to see if they really are resilient to the trials of the world - have they really learned, changed, evolved)

Rescue from WithoutDuring the magic flight,

the mentor may help the hero (deeds or words) complete the final trial

The hero “dies” to their old self

the magic flight is followed by a rescue from a powerful guide or mentor (either in deeds or words). this helps the hero realize that is it time to return and share their gift with others.

The ResurrectionThe hero crosses the threshold back to the

ordinary

Returns with the “elixir”

The hero is changed

becomes the master of both worlds - their new world and their old - by overcomhero ing the trials of their olthe d existence and finding their place in their new existence. this spirit of “living in the moment” allows them freedom to not worry about the future, nor to regret the past.