Thursday, April 10 Archetype Quiz The Hero’s Journey Notes

The Hero’s Journey “The adventure of the hero is the adventure of being alive.” ~Joseph Campbell

Typical Plot Line/Story Arc

Story Arc: Setting Rising Action Climax Falling action Resolution/ Denoument

The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey:

12 Steps of Hero’s Journey: Hero’s Ordinary World Special World of the Journey Back to the Ordinary World

12 Steps of Hero’s Journey: Hero’s Ordinary World Special World of the Journey Back to the Ordinary World

1. Ordinary World Ordinary World Special World

1) The Ordinary World Shows the regular world, hero’s normal environment. The hero has a limited awareness of the problem.

EX: Amir and Hassan fly kites every winter, play games, and read stories. Hassan always stands up and protects Amir.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure Ordinary World Special World

2) The Call to Adventure Hero is presented with a challenge or adventure (usually by a herald) Establishes stakes of the game and hero’s goal (win treasure, lover, revenge, right a wrong, change a life, confront challenge) The hero has an increased awareness of need for change.

EX: Hassan is attacked and raped by Assef and thugs.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call Ordinary World Special World

3) The Refusal of the Call Hero is not fully committed, thinks of turning back. Fear. Some further influence causes hero to cross the threshold and overcome fear.

EX: Amir can’t stand up to Assef and feels guilty for what happened to Hassan. Because of his guilt, he frames Hassan which causes Ali and Hassan to leave.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor Ordinary World Special World

4) Meeting with the Mentor Hero meets Mentor. Mentor trains hero to face unknown (gives advice, sometimes magical weapons) The hero overcomes his/her fear *This step can happen at any time before the hero enters the special world—may not be in order.

EX: Baba, Rahim Khan, and Hassan

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold Ordinary World Special World

5) Into the Special World (Crossing the 1st Threshold ) Hero finally commits to adventure, and he/she enters the Special World of the story. Story really gets rolling. Turning point between Ordinary and Special World

EX: Afghanistan becomes too dangerous and Amir and Baba are smuggled out of the country and start a new life in America.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies Ordinary World Special World

6) Tests, Allies, and Enemies The hero may encounter several Threshold Guardians The hero makes friends and enemies The hero experiments and learns the rules of the Special World.

EX: Amir and Baba must adapt to life in America. Amir works to become a writer. Meets Soraya and her family. Baba gets sick w/ cancer and dies. Amir and Soraya get married and try to have children but can’t. Amir spends this time of his life writing about Afghanistan and overcoming his past.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies 7. Approach Ordinary World Special World

7) Approaching the Inmost Cave Most dangerous place. Sometimes actually underground, but sometimes a metaphorical “cave” Where object of quest is hidden Sometimes the headquarters of the villain. The hero needs to prepare for major change.

EX: Rahim Khan calls Amir when he is ill and asks him to come to Pakistan. Amir hears about Hassan’s story and must find Sohrab. He must summon up courage to do this himself and is tempted to turn back.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies 7. Approach 8. Ordeal, Death & Rebirth Ordinary World Special World

8) The Supreme Ordeal Fortune of hero hits rock bottom. Direct confrontation with Shadow (villain, hero’s greatest fear, or both) Audience wonders if hero will live or die.

EX: Amir finds Sohrab being held by Assef. He must fight Assef as payment for taking Sohrab and is nearly beaten to death. Sohrab shoots Assef’s eye out and they make an escape.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies 7. Approach 8. Ordeal, Death & Rebirth 9. Reward, Seizing the Sword Ordinary World Special World

9) Seizing the Sword (the Reward) Hero defeats Shadow, celebration! (usually love scene or comedy here) Hero takes possession of treasure. Could be weapon, elixir, knowledge, love, object. Hero may settle a conflict with another and accepts the consequences of his/her new life.

EX: Though he is beaten up, Amir feels relief from his emotional burden. Sohrab is free again.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies 7. Approach 8. Ordeal, Death & Rebirth 9. Reward, Seizing the Sword 10. The Road Back Ordinary World Special World

10) The Road Back Hero is not out of the woods. Has to deal with consequences of confronting Shadow. Sometimes dark forces chase hero here. He/She needs to rededicate themselves and may face new challenges. Decision that special world must be left.

EX: Upon returning to Pakistan, Amir discovers that it is nearly impossible to get Sohrab adopted. Sohrab doesn’t want to go back to the orphanage and tries to commit suicide in the bathtub.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies 7. Approach 8. Ordeal, Death & Rebirth 9. Reward, Seizing the Sword 10. The Road Back 11. Resurrection Ordinary World Special World

11) The Resurrection 2nd life-or-death moment. Shadow gets one last shot at hero. Hero is tested to see if he or she really learned the lessons from the Supreme Ordeal. Hero is transformed by these life-or-death moments, will be able to return to ordinary world “reborn” with new insights.

EX: Though Sohrab is in critical condition, Amir doesn’t want to fail after getting so far. He prays for the first time in 15 years. Sohrab recovers, is adopted, but refuses to talk.

1. Ordinary World 2. Call to Adventure 3. Refusal of the Call 4. Meeting the Mentor 5. Crossing the Threshold 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies 7. Approach 8. Ordeal, Death & Rebirth 9. Reward, Seizing the Sword 10. The Road Back 11. Resurrection 12. Return with Elixir Ordinary World Special World

12) Return with the Elixir Hero returns to ordinary world, bringing back elixir, treasure, and/or lesson from special world; he/she has mastered all.

EX: At an Afghan gathering in the park, Amir flies a kite with Sohrab, and Sohrab makes a hint of a smile. Amir takes this as a sign that things will get better after a while. Amir and Soraya finally find the child they have wanted, and Amir has found a way to be good again

WARNING: Sometimes the steps (especially in stories with multiple plot lines) get blurred together. Additionally, some steps may be repeated.

Home Alone 1) Ordinary World: 8 year old Kevin lives in Illinois w/ well-to-do parents. He’s the youngest, spoiled, and clueless about everything. He says he doesn’t like his family. 2) Call to Adventure: A storm knocks out the power causing family to rush to make their plane to France. Kevin is accidentally left home alone. He is forced to take care of himself (cooking, cleaning, laundry) 3) Refusal of the Call: At first, he doesn’t believe what’s happened. He refused to go into the basement (fearing the furnace) to do laundry, and messes up the house. 4) Meeting the Mentor: Meets the neighbor, nicknamed Old Man Marley. 5) Crossing the Threshold: Eventually Kevin begins to wash the dirty dishes, clean up the house and cook meals for himself. When he orders pizza, he uses the movie Angels with Dirty Faces to scare away the delivery guy.

6) Tests, Allies, & Enemies: Kevin refuses to answer the door when the police come to check on him; he’s too scared to come out from under his parents’ bed. He accidentally shoplifts a toothbrush at the store. He survives almost getting hit by Harry and Marv in their van. He goes to the store to pick up a few groceries and dismisses each question the check out girl throws at him. He conquers his fear of the furnace so he can do some laundry. He conquers his fear of the movie Angels with Dirty Faces and uses it to scare away the pizza delivery guy and the “Wet Bandits” Creates a fake party at his house Realizes he misses his family 7) The Inmost Cave: Kevin overhears Harry and Marv planning to break into his house that night. His strategies have worked so far, but he needs a new plan to defend his home.

8) The Supreme Ordeal: Harry and Marv break into Kevin’s house at 9 PM on Christmas Eve. Kevin has prepared for this and puts his plan into action. Chaos ensues! 9) The Reward: Kevin beats Harry and Marv. Kevin has also managed to call the police, so they are on their way. 10) The Road Back: Kevin escapes his house and goes over to his neighbors’ house. 11) Resurrection: Harry and Marv beat Kevin over to the neighbors’ house and they are waiting for him when he comes up the basement stairs. Kevin’s friend Old Man Marley comes to Kevin’s rescue. 12) Elixir: Kevin returns home, cleans the mess (so no one ever knows what all happened), feels safe, sets out cookies for Santa and waits anxiously for his family. When they return, Kevin even has groceries in the house.