The Monomyth or, The Hero's Journey

A narrative pattern identified by a scholar called Joseph Campbell.

After studying myth, drama, storytelling, religious ritual, and

even modern psychology, Campbell was able to identify the pattern.

7. The Hero APPROACHES THE INMOST CAVE. Is this an actual cave? Not necessarily. It's the most dangerous place for the Hero, the place where the object he/she seeks is hidden. It could just be "the cave" of the Hero's own mind. It could be inside the Death Star. It could be Beowulf's cave with the Dragon. It could be the Hunger Games arena.

6. The Hero encounters

TESTS, ALLIES,

AND ENEMIES

in the special world.

8. The Hero endures the

supreme ORDEAL. This is

the moment where the Hero

faces death. The Hero appears

to die and be born again.

This moment is especially

emotional for the audience,

who emotionally identifies

with the Hero.

Examples?

5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. The Hero enters the Special World for the first time.

Who does Harry meet

during his first trip on the

Hogwarts Express? Who does

he meet the second he

arrives at the school?

4. The MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. There has to be some wise old man/woman figure to help, right? (Hello Obi Wan, Gandalf, Dumbledore ...)

What happens when Dorothy

enters Oz? How do you know

it's special and

different than

plain, old Kansas?

9. The Hero SEIZES THE SWORD / REWARD. Again, is it always an actual sword? NO! It could be an object, but it could also just be defeating the Hero's shadowy enemy and/or father figure. The Hero may also be reconciled with a love interest here. Hmmm ... what happens when Simba finally defeats Scar?

3. The REFUSAL OF

THE CALL. The Hero

first balks at the

threshold of adventure.

Facing your ultimate

fears is difficult, people!

10. THE ROAD BACK.

The Hero is not safe just yet.

Many times there is a chase

scene here. The "Shadow's" defeat

does not mean that his/her

minions/henchmen

are not still around.

Example: After he gets

the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones

still has to get out of

the collapsing cave

full of Nazis!

11. RESURRECTION. The Hero returns from the Special World, transformed by the experience. The Hero may again face death and be reborn here.

2. The CALL TO ADVENTURE: The Hero is presented with some problem, challenge, or adventure.

Change is coming!

12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR.

The Journey is over, but it would be worthless if the Hero did not bring back some treasure, elixir, or lesson from the Special World. There must be some boon, some meaning to the journey. It could be treasure, it could be love, it could be self-knowledge and confidence ...

Example: Harry has to get

the Philosopher's Stone, which makes ... an ELIXIR!

1. The Hero is introduced in his or her ORDINARY WORLD

Simple, right? Campbell found that most great stories follow this pattern in some incarnation. BUT the Hero's Journey is really just a formula, a skeleton. To be truly great, a story must use the formula in new, original ways. Authors/filmmakers must flesh out the skeleton and make it their own.

Of course,

in any good pattern,

there must be steps ...

But wait--there's more.

There are some other character archetypes you will meet along the way ...

So? What is this "pattern"?

The Monomyth describes the adventures of The Hero archetype--the person who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of the group, tribe, or civilization.

Did you get all that?

Look at your next page ...

The Monomyth /

Hero's Journey is ...

Homework: Read "A Practical Guide to Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Christopher Vogler and BLOG. If I were you, I would read very carefully ... WINK, WINK, NUDGE, NUDGE ...

What is an "Archetype"?

A Guide to Understanding

The Monomyth or, The Hero's Journey