audience

in The

the Call

A REFUSAL be

to The

Hot),

den

a

lenge

throws Ordinary The

THE

Special

and

contrast upon

Ordinary

ic World.

Every Journey. he

may

tics

identify

Hero

eyes, Journey

the

multitude The

THE

choose

met,

MYTH

Ordinary

question,

Refusal

to

enters

Hero

storm

Call inhabitants,

an

Journey

and

is

Ordinary

Adventure.

be

which

Refuses

we

or

story

CALL

the

rejected.

The World.

abduction

will

AND

ORDINARY

may

between

established, with

may

flaws to

that Dr.

begins.

World,

must

(Home

and his

of

Ordinary

of

Hero

Adventure and

World.

not involves

the THE Richard

that the

include OF

Special

his

forms,

the need

the

Special

World

that

be

TO

Often

be

return

Special

Alone),

as

Call

MOVIES

Since

only

The presenting

must

lies

two

Hero’s

Journey

THE (Star

able

compelled

well

a make

World

ADVENTURE including:

a

World

the

Kimble’s

becomes

Succession

ahead.

although

Hero

allows

means

delivered

Conflicting

worlds.

problem balance.

enter the

to

Wars),

sets

the

World

as

Special

/

drives,

CALL

WORLD

him

relate

Vovtilla

because

audience

is the

off arrival

as

the

the

us

Without

a

of

not

to a

three-dimensional.

an

The a

problems

balance, challenge

Hero’s and

escape

The

these

a to or

man’s

by

to

Special urges,

story

World’s

fugitive

be

of

willing

message

essential

Calls.

get

Central

him.

of

of

the

Ordinary

a Calls

Ordinary the

usually

part

fears

the

can

risks

to

rolling

dying

is Herald

actions

and

Journey’s

The

and

World

know the

of physical

in

to

8

villain

before

or

change

of

Dramatic

or

Stage

and and

justice. problems,

his

make

Ordinary

Special experiences establishes

quest

the

words

announcement

World

World

by

archetype,

and

the

to

Ordinary

insecurities

danger

(High

finally

Hero’s

that

solve

disrupting

changes,

and

outcome

The

depending

Hero

growth

that

World.

(Citizen

Question

is allows

communicates

while

emotional

World

Noon),

Hero’s

the

the

or

realizing

Journey.

must

the and

World the

the

the

Hero’s

problem, preferring

while that

must

Many

the

stakes

showing Kane).

identify

Journey

Call (The

the

gives a

upon

Inner

that

likelihood be

storyteller death

have

change characteristics,

be comfort

that to

undertaken. African traveling

times

home,

disrupts

involved

us

Adventure

and

the

compared.

the answer

with

surfaced

unique

through

(Jaws,

the

a

the

drastically

challenge

the

demands

risks

Outer

of

Queen),

the

safe

opportunity

of

to

him

the

through

failure,

Hero

Some

contrast

the

if

the

characteris

safe

involved

haven

from

the

The

the

before

Ordinary

can

Problems

Areas

its

dramat

Hero’s

a

needs

Like

haven must

Hero’s

of

chal

sud

when

rules

take the

Call

the

this

of

the

the

the

It

of to THE STAGEs OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

Although an eager or Willing Hero may skip the Refusal Stage, the Hero’s Allies or Threshold Guardians may still express the fears and risks involved (Dances With Wolves).

In Horror and Thriller, the frightening and forbidding nature of the Special World can lead the Hero to be repeatedly “called” to the Adventure that he continues to refuse. Each Call and Refusal must escalate the stakes, until the Hero has no choice but to accept the Call. MEETING THE MENTOR

The Hero Meets a Mentor to gain confidence, insight, advice, training., or magical gifts to overcome the initial fears and face the Threshold of the adventure.

A Hero may not wish to rush into a Special World blindly and, therefore, seeks the expe rience and wisdom of someone who has been there before. This Mentor has survived to provide the essential lessons and training needed to better face the Journey’s Tests and Ordeals. The Mentor may be a physical person, or an object such as a map, a logbook, or hieroglyphics. In Westerns and Detective stories, the Hero may hold an Inner Mentor, a strong code of honor or justice that guides him through the Journey. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD Crossing the Threshold signifies that the Hero has finally committed to the Journey. He is prepared to cross the gateway that separates the Ordinary World from the Special World. The Crossing may require more than accepting one’s fears, a map, or a swift kick in the rear from a Mentor. The Hero must confront an event that forces him to commit to entering the Special World, from which there is no turning back. The Event will re-establish the Central Dramatic Question that propels the story forward. The Event will directly affect the Hero, raising the stakes and forcing some action. Outside forces may push the Hero ahead, such as an abduction of someone close to the Hero (The Searchers).A Chase may push the Hero to the brink, presenting no choice but to commit (SomeLikeIt Hot), The Hero’s place in his Ordinary World may be usurped by a penguin (The Wrong Trousers), or the Hero may cross the Threshold with guns blazing and whip cracking (Raiders of the Lost Ark). Internal forces may also push the Hero to accept his Special World. Conrad finally decides to see a therapist (Ordinary People). Belle sacrifices herself in exchange for her father’s freedom (Beauty and the Beast).Alvy and Annie agree to go out on their first date (Annie Hall).

9

—

of

tion

ing Journey

Souls;

The

greatest THE

express

Comedy,

The

with

reorganize

A

may

The

Hero

face naissance

the The

APPROACH

questions

to The

Initiation

or

Hero’s

The

its

Audience

tional

Enemies,

Having

TESTS,

MYTH

any

Hero’s

whether

Test

an

conditions

Hero

that

Journey’s

Approach

Hero

Hero

his

Hero

need

Hero

a

may

Annie

Journey.

ORDEAL

Hero’s

entire

realm

the

goal AND

teeters

his

greatest

grants

fear,

the

Team

engages

crossed

must

has

launched,

into

must

and to bypass

needs

whether

the

alike.

need

the

skills

ALLIES,

and

may THE

Approach

take

of

Hero

or heart,

confronts

survived

and

learns

may

depleted

the

Only

greater may

on

Hero

make

romantic

prepare

fear

Mentor’s

Alvy

to

MOVIES

for

Whether

reveal

in

and

a these

TO

the

Special

the

inhabitants

find

he

Team

break

signal

have

or

and

the marriage.

through

will

or

the

the

have

can

powers,

brink

powers

Threshold, central

may

his

preparations

THE

the

out

Ordeal,

ranks,

himself.

ENEMIES

himself

possibly

his

I

love,

rules

preparations

hit

survive.

forged.

for

Voytilla

rally

succeed.

entering

World

a

descent

supreme

broken

who

force

Ticking setbacks

of most

a

“death”

the

Ordeal.

of

or

contrast INMOST

remember

cigarette,

or

cry.

failure,

the

for

can

this

the

insight

Enemies

also

Test

The

the

perhaps

the

difficult

up.

into

central

the

the

be

and

Clock

danger

Special

Enemy’s

during

lovers

Stage can

Ordeal

Tests

needed

Maps

And

trusted.

greater with

imaginary

Hero

Indy

the

to

a

make

10

the

the

joke, life-or-death

and

or

seek

see

Special

the

is

the

challenge,

lurking

may CAVE

to

the

World.

the

and

is

dead

faces

Hero

to

forces our

a

Ordeals

a

the

question

Allies

Villains

the

Hero’s

audience

heightening

or

Hero’s

Approach

Tests,

further

bold

be

Marion

first

world

Journey

a

central,

and

World.

be

This

Tests,

in

whittled reviewed,

romance,

are

Approach

and

look

reborn,

the

commitment

yet

crisis,

Ordinary

and

are

wounded,

training

commitment;

Stage

earned,

of

watches

are

Special

the

He

the

encounters

to

essential,

at

to

encountered.

a

of

experiences

down,

come

the during

sealed

future

the

Approach before

has

Inmost

experiencing

is

attacks

the

to

important

a

Special

from

World.

end.

in

World.

earned

Sidekick

the

and

stakes.

and

before

to

suspense

society

and

in

which

facing

Cave

planned,

one

Inmost

the

Allies,

the

rekindle

the

needs

World

is

magical

A

The

“death”.

his

partner

In

Mentor.

the

Journey,

necessary

for

that Well

may he

Rival

a

the

or

Romantic

place

resurrec

Cave.

confident

this

wonder

Hero

faces

Hero

confronts

the

and

a

Ordeal.

leads

morale

join

of

Stage

recon

to

Stage

may

emo

His

This

and

the

how

his

and

can

and

up,

the

to to Tiis STAGES OF THE HERo’S JOURNEI

[he Hero may directly taste death, or witness the death of an Ally or Mentor or, even orse, directly cause that death. The Ordeal may pit Hero against Shadow or Villain, and the Hero’s failure heightens the stakes and questions the Journey’s success (Die Hard). fhe Hero may have the power to defeat a Villain in the Ordeal, only to have to face greater forces in the Journey’s second half.

In Romantic Comedies, death can mean the break-up of the relationship. In Romance, a Crisis of the Heart can be a love scene—the physical act of love is a type of “death” or surrender The Crisis of the Heart can also be a moment when a Shapeshifting lover sud dtnly reveals a dark side that attempts to destroy the Hero (Casablanca).

REWARD

The Hero has survived death, overcome his greatest fear,slain the dragon, or weathered LI. Crisis of the Heart, and now earns the Reward that he sought. The Hero’s Reward Lames in many forms: a magical sword, an elixir, greater knowledge or insight, reconcil i-ition with a lover. Whatever the treasure, the Hero has earned the right to celebrate. Celebration not only allows the Hero to replenish his or her energy, but also gives the audience a moment to catch their breath before the Journey resumes to its climax and resolution,

The Hero may have earned the Reward outright, or the Hero may have seen no option but to steal it. The Hero may rationalize this Elixir theft, having paid for it with the Tests mnd Ordeals thus far. But the consequences of the theft must be confronted as the Shadow forces race to reclaim the Elixir that must not see the light of the Ordinary World.

THE ROAD BACK

The Hero must finally recommit to completing the Journey and accept the Road Back to the Ordinary World. A Hero’s success in the Special World may make it difficult to reurrt. Like Crossing the Threshold, The Road Back, needs an event that will push the 1-1ro through the Threshold, back into the Ordinary World. i be Event should re-establish the Central Dramatic Question, pushing the Hero to action ml heightening the stakes. Like any strong turning point, the action initiating the Road Bak could change the direction of the story. The Hero may need a force to Chase her out I the Special World (Thelma and Louise).A Ticking Clock threatening destruction or d ath in the Ordinary World may be set in motion (HomeAlone).The Villain may have ered the Elixir and must be stopped (Raidersof the Lost Ark)

Event may be an internal decision that must be made by the Hero In Comedies, a ro may be trying to juggle contlicting Tourneys, and one must finally be sacrificed S me LikeIt J-Jot’i.In Romance and Action Adventure, the Road Back may be a moment

11

Hero

Story

In

Possibly The

“fade

ishments,

in using

awareness

tragic could

with

World

been

The

RETURN

Star

Hero

Other

fice

Hero

much

Shadow;

The

from

This

formed now brought

and-death The

THE

journey

most

when

the

M7H

Elixir

Return

may

for

(Star

lines

others

out”.

resurrected,

it

Resurrection

end

Hero

Ordinary be

must

Ordeal

that

must

the

and

Allies

more

tales, to

the

the

it

RESURRECTION AND

love,

with

or

now

back Wars),

may

have

of

heal

characters

of

however,

of

poses

the

share

faces

rise

with

or

Hero

benefit

now

celebrate

Ordeal

a

the us than

and

may

the THE

WITH

wisdom,

Hero’s

heal

the

Hero embark

bring

a

to

been

and

World.

to

or

Heart

physical

questions

the

the

prove

must

the

Return

purified

MOVIES

the

Resurrection

the

the

attributes

come

offer

a

of

may

our

shows

has

Elixir

the

Resurrection, resolved,

wounded

that closure

Journey

Elixir

Ordinary

the

Hero’s

sacrifice

the

(Beauhi on

choose

The

or

THE

that

world

his

Ticking

emerged

to

be

with

Journevs

he

or

/

Ordinary

simply

a

and

is

VotiIIa

and

of

hand

that

Return the

new

he

emotional

a the

has

of

to

life.

can

the

balance

between

(Citizen

ELIXIR

physical

the

and

has

at

land.

has

can

World.

last-minute

the

ambiguities

his

final

the

met

Clock

life,

and

hand.

the

yield

Other

Journey.

from

Elixir

earned

his

the

represent

signals achieved

Journey

end

Ordinary

World.

Hero

The

experience

Reward

along

forever

accept

Beast).

most

Kane).

has

wound,

the

of

the

He

the

with

Ordeal,

lives,

completes

Elixir

the

12

the

has

been

best

The

a

must

journey

land

the

rescue

dangerous

and

the

that

time

The

Heroic

a

influenced

revelry

earned

self

right

or

Road

maintained

“cleansing”

can

road.

Elixir

or

true

restored

“magic”

of

of

or

deliver restore

an

continue

Hero

when

in

accomplish

surviving

to

he

the

to

of

entire the

final

Hero

Status

Back

on

addition

or

of

he

lend

a

a

may

dead.

meeting

all, marriage.

cycle

great

the

we

Higher

balance

the

by

accepted

to

Elixir

showdown

returns

has

world

the

or

and

assistance,

granting and

the

show

Hero’s

distribute

the

blow

the

The

treasure

of

purification

tasks

to

been

Journey

of

Ordinary

journey

willingly

Cause

with

can

this

to

Special

the

love may

the

Hero

that

with

back

journey.

the

that

set.

the

apply

particular

lessons

benefit

death.

between

(Sleepless

or

be

rewards

destroys

but

versus

Ordinary

beyond

an into

is

audience

traveled.

had

This

World.

magic

World,

at

accept

reborn

that

Elixir

in

all

The

stake

the

This

of

been

and

the

battle

the

that

must

and

the

in

the

potion.

Ordinary

Journey.

Hero

the

Even

Hero

his

and

to

final

or

World.

end

greater

personal

Seattle).

and

insights

feared

Elixir,

Death

share

he

final

pun

sacri

trans

is

occur

the

has

the

and

the

life-

the

has for It