Perseus

ORDINARY WORLD The story begins on the island of Seriphus, the home of Perseus and his mother, Danae. Polydectes, the king of Seriphus, wishes to marry Danae, and plots to get rid of Perseus because he may object.

CALL TO ADVENTURE King Polydectes tricks Perseus into promising to bring back the head of Medusa, one of the dreaded Gorgons. It is an impossible task that will almost certainly get Perseus killed.

REFUSAL Perseus does not want to leave his mother, but he must keep his word.

MENTOR / HELPER Athena and Hermes guide Perseus to the home of the Graeae. The two gods often give him advice along the way.

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD The pressure of the task forces Perseus to blackmail the Graeae into telling him how to find the Hesperides.

TESTS/ALLIES/ENEMIES The path to defeating the Gorgons...

APPROACH When Perseus reaches the Gorgons' lair, he has reached the point of no return. From here on out. danger and adventure await him.

ORDEAL Perseus finds Medusa, and beheads her. Two Gorgons chase him, but Perseus escapes with the help of the helmet of invisibility.

REWARD Perseus has Medusa's head.

ROAD BACK Perseus flies back home with Medusa's head. On the way, he rescues a princess, Andromeda, from a sea dragon.

ATONEMENT When Perseus arrives home, he confronts King Polydectes, who's been trying to force Danae to marry him. Perseus kills Polydectes, using Medusa's head to turn him into stone.

RETURN Perseus saves his mother, and his journey is concluded. He returns the magical items he borrowed, and gives Medusa's head to Athena. All is restored to its rightful state.