Crossing the Threshold By: Dylan And Kaylee

* The threshold is a barrier between the known and the unknown or the old and the new. One of the best examples of a threshold in a movie we’ve all seen is the wall from Kung Fu Panda.

* The guardians protect the world making sure only true heroes make it all the way through the threshold. * Most guardians are a physical force but don’t always fight you though if you cant get past those guardians you most likely end up dead, but there are good guardians that want you to succeed known as The Herald such as Morpheus from “The Matrix” or some are just a challenge like the wall from “Kung Fu Panda”. Those that are not physical are in most horror movies, they will usually be some creepy sign or man saying “don’t go that way” which the Hero’s never listen to. Every so often the guardian is the hero themselves, such as in “Perks of Being a Wallflower” when Charlie went and talked to Patrick. * The guardians will wait for the “hero” either at the threshold or in an unknown place to keep the people who don’t belong out or to get them in.

* A good example is the Bridge-keeper in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". * Or the three opponents that Wesley (the Man in Black) must overcome to reach Princess Buttercup in the film and book "The Princess Bride" is another good example.

* Finding the threshold of a story is hard but the best way to do it is to not find the threshold but the Guardian, this is easier because they are usually visual or audible. If you find the guardian then all you need to do is find out what they want, need, or keep you from getting and that’s your threshold. Some say there are two thresholds, the first one in the beginning will usually start the excitement but then the second one that is known as “The Way Back”

* The belly of the whale was based off a story in the bible. I believe it was called Jonah and the Whale. * The Belly of the Whale represents a symbolic death for the Hero: the Hero is defeated and killed, his flesh scattered, ready to be reborn and emerge as a new person. * A example of this would be the Max Payne games or movie, Max is just an average guy living his life, then his wife is killed and he swears revenge and starts killing people.

* If someone is afraid of the unknown then they would be scared to cross from a world they know to a world they have never been in and once you go past the threshold then you can not go back, you must follow through till the end. * The reason the some thresholds are hard for the hero is because it’s new, new is bad. Other times it’s not hard for them maybe they’re excited about it, maybe they don’t even know it’s happening, it all depends on the story.

Examples of the Threshold: Fight Club- Porch test The Matrix- Red or Blue pill Orpheus and Eurydice- crossing into the underworld Thor- when he was thrown out of Asgard