The Hero’s Journey

Stage 1 The Ordinary World The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress. The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress.

Stage 2 Call to Adventure This is the first stage of the journey. The hero leaves to go on his adventure.

Stage 3 Refusal of Call Stage 3 Refusal of Call The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead.

Stage 4 Meeting of the Mentor The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.

Stage 5 Threshold The hero leaves the known and enters the unknown. He also begins to change. Sometimes the change is good and sometimes the change is bad. The hero leaves the known and enters the unknown. He also begins to change. Sometimes the change is good and sometimes the change is bad.

Stage 6 Test, Allies, Enemies Arriving in the special world, the hero encounters a succession of challenges and characters [some who help (allies), some who hinder (trickster/temptress), some who may do both (shape shifter)]. Although the hero will make mistakes, he/she will learn from those mistakes and better harness his/her special powers.

Stage 7 THE APPROACH The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world.

Stage 8 Ordeal, Death, & Rebirth Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life.

Stage 9 Reward, Seizing the Sword Using skills gleaned from the adventure, the hero succeeds in obtaining the elixir. With the elixir, the hero can now resolve the problem that drove him/her from the ordinary world.

Stage 10 The Road Back Hero must return to the ordinary world with the elixir; however, the enemy may be in hot pursuit. At this point, the hero often undergoes some death experience [literally dies or can be the death of beliefs, wishes, dreams, or hopes]

Stage 11 Resurrection The worthy hero is reborn [either physically or spiritually]. The process of rebirth is a culmination of the hero’s transformation. He/she has leaned from the challenges and is now a better, stronger person. The hero makes it back alive to the ordinary world.

Stage 12 Return The hero returns. If not, the return is only that the society returns to normal as the hero is dead and cannot physically return. The hero returns. If not, the return is only that the society returns to normal as the hero is dead and cannot physically return.