Hero’s Journey

Steps of the Journey Archetypes

Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Archetypes Hero Herald Threshold Guardian Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Journey Marks a transition from childhood to adulthood If Hero is an adult, they overcome a flaw, often one that is psychological

The Hero’s job is to…

RESTORE BALANCE

Three Basic Types of Journeys Quest for the Elixir Slay the Dragon Rescue the Maiden

Quest for Elixir

Slay the Dragon

Theseus

Rescue the Maiden

Hero Archetypes Herald Threshold Guardian Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Early Heroes Beowulf Theseus Hercules

Hero Divine Right of Kings

King Arthur

Hero Protagonist Noble Birth Often has a flaw that will be worked out during story CHARACTER ARC Special Ability from whom something has been taken feels something is lacking from the normal experiences available or permitted to the members of his society

Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

ORDINARY WORLD Hero in mundane surroundings At home At work

Call to Adventure Steps Ordinary World Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Call to Adventure Hero receives a call to adventure Call can be in many forms Odysseus – Calypso tells him he can go JAWS – phone call to Brody Wizard of OZ – Tornado Lion King – Nala tells Simba of pride’s misfortunes

Herald Archetypes Hero Threshold Guardian Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

HERALD Brings the news to the Hero Character Event Object

Refusal of the Call Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Refusal of the Call Hero refuses to go on adventure Internal External

Threshold Guardian Archetypes Hero Herald Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Threshold Guardians Aunt and Uncle in Harry Potter Fear of water in Jaws Uncle in Star Wars Guilt over father’s death – Lion King Distrust of Calypso - Odysseus

Meeting with the Mentor Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Meeting with the Mentor Mentor’s role is to get Hero to accept Call to Adventure Often teaches the Hero how to survive in Magical World Is often an older man or woman and was a Hero in his/her own story Usually dies or leaves so hero can face Shadow alone

Mentor Archetypes Hero Herald Threshold Guardian Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Mentor Mentor – Odysseus - Telemachus Obi Wan Kenobi Rafiki – Lion King Matt Hooper – Jaws Glinda – Wizard of Oz Fairy Godmother – Ashenputtle Cinderella Dumbledore – Harry Potter Morpheus – The Matrix

Special Weapon The Mentor often gives the Hero a special weapon or special knowledge This weapon is often what allows the Hero to complete their quest Perseus – Athena’s Shield and Herme’s Sword

Crossing the First Threshold Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Crossing the First Threshold Hero crosses from Ordinary World into Magical World Often crosses a special portal or boundary Platform 9 ¾ - Harry Potter Mos Eisley – Star Wars Landing in Oz Leaving Ogyia – Odysseus Wardrobe – Chronicles of Narnia

Tests, Allies and Enemies Hero learns about rules in Magical World Hero is REACTIVE Mentor trains Hero Hero is tested Watering Hole – Hero often meets potential allies and henchmen of the Shadow at a bar, restaurant, or similar type scene

Watering Hole Sorting Hat Ceremony – Harry Potter Space Port Bar – Star Wars Many feasts and sacrifices Simba learns to eat bugs A place to meet other archetypes such as Trickster, Shapeshifter, Sidekicks, and Henchmen

Your school’s Watering Hole?

Training

Tests

Trickster Archetypes Hero Herald Threshold Guardian Mentor Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Trickster Provides comic relief Unpredictable Crazy Often gets Hero into trouble May be aligned with Hero, Shadow or Independent

Shapeshifter Archetypes Hero Herald Threshold Guardian Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Shapeshifter Difficult to determine the Shapeshifter’s allegiance Their allegiance often changes or appears to change Adds to dramatic tension Proteus Zeus Femme fatal in love stories

Shadow Archetypes Hero Herald Threshold Guardian Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Shadow Shadow often represents what the Hero fears in him/herself Quality of the Shadow is critical to success of the story Rival in love stories The Shadow character is normally filled with a huge amount of repressed energy and emotion, aspects of the protagonist that have festered from lack of expression.

Sidekicks Archetypes Hero Herald Threshold Guardian Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Sidekicks - Allies Hero’s helpers Trusted servant May have qualities of other Archetypes Trickster Shapeshifter

Henchmen Archetypes Hero Herald Threshold Guardian Mentor Trickster Shapeshifter Shadow Sidekicks Henchmen

Henchmen The Shadow’s helpers May be quite memorable characters

Approach to the Inmost Cave Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approach to the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Approach to the Inmost Cave Hero becomes PROACTIVE Hero gets his comrades together Hero makes plans Crossing of another threshold to go deeper into Magical World

Supreme Ordeal Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Supreme Ordeal Hero appears to die Hero witnesses death – often the Mentor dies here Hero causes death Hero faces Shadow or Shadow’s top Henchmen

Supreme Ordeal Sometimes the Supreme Ordeal is the finale. If so, the rest of the journey is as follows: Reward Return with the elixir

Reward Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Reward Hero gets the Elixir Rescues the maiden One last respite before finale If Hero loses Supreme Ordeal they escape

Road Back Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Road Back Shadow chases Hero to get Elixir back Hero chases Shadow to destroy him/her If Hero loses the Supreme Ordeal, she now rallies the troops and/or prepares to have one last battle with Shadow

Resurrection Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Resurrection Final showdown between Hero and Shadow Hero must face Shadow alone Death and rebirth of Hero – Hero must overcome character flaw in order to defeat the Shadow

Return with the Elixir Steps Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting with the Mentor Crossing the First Threshold Test, Allies, and Enemies Approaching the Inmost Cave Supreme Ordeal Reward Road Back Resurrection Return with the Elixir

Return with the Elixir Hero returns to Ordinary World Rightful King takes place Balance is restored via return of the elixir Monster is slain Princess is returned Hero may be recognized by villagers Boy has become a man Girl has become a woman