1. The Hero’s Journey

2. The Background
In 1988, Christopher Vogler, (Hollywood film producer and writer), created a 7-page company memo, A Practical Guide to The Hero With a Thousand Faces
Vogler's memo was later developed into the late 1990s book, The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers.
This story structure, which describes the journey of a true mythical hero, is evident in a vast number of successful stories.

3. The Journey
A mythical hero’s journey can be divided into three separate sections:
Act I: Departure / Separation
Act II: Descent, Initiation, Recompense
Act III: The Return
Each of these acts have scenes associated with them, like any good story or movie.

4. ACT I DEPARTURE / SEPARATION
Scene 1: Ordinary World
Scene 2. Call to Adventure
Scene 3. Meeting with the Mentor
Scene 4. Crossing First Threshold

5. ACT II DESCENT, INITIATION, RECOMPENSE
Scene 1. Tests, Allies & Enemies
Scene 2. Approach to Inmost Cave
Scene 3. The Ordeal
Scene 4. Reward (Seizing the Sword)

6. ACT III THE RETURN
Scene 1. Road Back
Scene 2. Return with Elixir

7. Putting It Into Practice
Let’s see how this applies to a famous story that most people know: Star Wars.

8. ACT I - DEPARTURE / SEPARATION
Scene 1: Ordinary World – Luke Skywalker lives on Tatooine. His life is dull and pedantic. He desperately wants to leave.
Scene 2. Call to Adventure – A chance find of a video recording by Princess Leia sends Luke on a search for Ben Kenobi.
Scene 3. Meeting with the Mentor – Ben saves Luke from Tuskin Raiders and learns of the recording. He enlists Luke in the quest.
Scene 4. Crossing First Threshold – The heroes travel to the cantina where Luke faces his first test of violence.

9. ACT II - DESCENT, INITIATION, RECOMPENSE
Scene 1. Tests, Allies & Enemies – Luke and Ben team up with Han Solo and Chewbacca and leave the planet.
Scene 2. Approach to Inmost Cave – The band is captured by the Empire but later escape to join up with the Rebel Alliance.
Scene 3. The Ordeal – The rebels attack the Death Star.
Scene 4. Reward (Seizing the Sword) – The Death Star is destroyed as the Rebels escape with just a few ships left.

10. ACT III - THE RETURN
Scene 1. Road Back – The heroes return to the Alliance, but Artoo is badly hurt. C3PO offers his parts as replacement.
Scene 2. Return with Elixir – Artoo and C3PO are restored; Luke and Han are rewarded with medals of valor from the Alliance.

11. Some Examples Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Odysseus
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
Thomas Edison
Kevin Flynn (Tron)
Joe Clark (Lean on Me)
Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings)
Bill and Ted (Bogus Journey)
Kal-El (Superman)
Presidential Candidates and the USA
YOU! (your on a journey right now!)