1. The 12 Stages of the Hero's Journey
The Heroic Tradition in Narrative Fiction

2. The 12 Stages of the Hero's Journey
Ordinary World: The hero's normal world before the story begins.
Call to Adventure: The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure.
Refusal of the Call: The hero refuses the challenge or journey, usually because he's scared
Meeting with the Mentor: The hero meets a mentor to gain advice or training for the adventure
Crossing the First Threshold: The hero crosses leaves the ordinary world and goes into the special world
Tests, Allies, Enemies: The hero faces tests, meets allies, confronts enemies, and learns the rules of the Special World.
Approach: The hero has hit setbacks during tests & may need to try a new idea.
Ordeal: The biggest life or death crisis.
Reward: The hero has survived death, overcomes his fear and now earns the reward.
The Road Back: The hero must return to the Ordinary World.
Resurrection Hero: Another test where the hero faces death – he has to use everything he's learned.
Return with Elixir: The hero returns from the journey with the “elixir”, and uses it to help everyone in the Ordinary World.
Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting Mentor, First Threshold, Tests/Allies/Enemies, Changing Approach, Ordeal, Reward, Road Back, Resurrection, Return with Elixir

4. Ordinary World The hero's normal world before the story begins.
Gives the hero a context.
The hero is often of humble origins, but can also be noble, or even of noble birth but raised in poverty.
Normal Exposition. Hero’s hopes, dreams, and fears revealed. Parents (or lack thereof). The world can go from nurturing to hostile.

5. Call to Adventure
The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure.
Not to be confused with ordinary hardship or adversity.
Not the same as the hero’s dreams or aspirations.
Can often take the form of a prophecy or bizarre encounter with the supernatural.
Luke’s dilemma (Star Wars: I), Neo’s hacking (Matrix), Duloc refugees (Shrek), Bilbo’s ring (Lord of the Ring)

6. Refusal of the Call
The hero refuses the challenge or journey, often because he's scared.
The hero can also refuse because he believes he is inadequate (poor, ignorant, weak, young).
The hero will sometimes refuse because he believes he has better things to do.
The hero occasionally disbelieves the messenger or the message is intercepted.
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: IV), King Arthur, Neo (Matrix), Harry Potter, Shrek, Pinocchio (“brave, truthful, and unselfish”), “Leave me alone!” (Shrek)

7. Meeting with the Mentor
The hero meets a mentor, a guide or teacher, in order to gain advice or training for the adventure.
Sometimes the mentor is a famous teacher, wizard, or warrior.
Sometimes the mentor is a revelation – not what he appeared to be.
The mentor must often convince the hero that he needs training before he can fulfill his quest.
Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars: IV), Yoda (Star Wars: V), Qui-Gon Jinn (Star Wars: I), Morpheus (Matrix), Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio)

8. Crossing the First Threshold
The hero crosses leaves the ordinary world and goes into the special world.
The hero usually makes this first step into the unknown in the company of the mentor.
Diagon Alley with Hagrid (Harry Potter), Mos Eisley Spaceport (Star Wars: IV), Amidala’s Starship and Coruscant (Star Wars: I), the Red Pill (Matrix), Duloc (Shrek), Frodo makes it to Brill, then to Rivendell (Lord of the Rings)

9. Tests, Allies, Enemies
The hero faces tests, meets allies, confronts enemies, and learns the rules of the Special World.
The mentor, or guides assigned to teach the hero, take on the responsibility of his education and care.
The hero occasionally cannot tell friend from foe.
The hero does not always know when he is being tested.
Harry Potter (Hagrid, McGonagall, Hermione, Ron), King Arthur, Luke Skywalker (Star Wars: IV: C-3P0, R2-D2, Han Solo, Chewbacca), Neo (Matrix: Morpheus, Trinity, Tank), Donkey (Shrek), Going to School: Honest John and Gideon, Stromboli (Pinocchio), The Fellowship is forced into Khazad Dun, or Moria (Lord of the Rings)

10. Change of Approach
The hero has hit setbacks during tests and may need to try a new idea.
The hero may fail or be denied.
An ally may prove traitor.
A conflict with the original mission may arise.
Alderaan “not there” (Star Wars: IV), Refusal by Jedi Council (Star Wars: I), Anikin’s seduction by Darth Sidious/Senator Palpatine, Oracle episode (Matrix), Falling for Fiona (Shrek), Finding Geppetto (Pinocchio), Harry’s Invisibility Cloak (Harry Potter), Frodo and Sam leave the Fellowship for Mordor (Lord of the Rings)

11. Ordeal The biggest life or death crisis.
Can involve several dangerous quests that lead to a final showdown.
Attack on Death Star (Star Wars: IV), Battle vs. Federation at Naboo (Star Wars: I), Finding the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter), Escaping Pleasure Island (Pinocchio), Frodo and Samwise journey to Mordor

12. Reward
The hero has survived death, overcomes his fear and now earns the reward.
The reward is often secondary to the hero’s larger goal.
Sometimes the hero no longer desires the reward originally offered and asks for another.
Luke’s mission to save Vader (Star Wars: VI), Shrek falls in love with Fiona (Shrek)

13. The Road Back The hero must return to the Ordinary World.
The hero is often unrecognizable upon his return.
At other times, the hero is disbelieved upon his return.
Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin return to the Shire (Lord of the Rings), Harry returns to the Dursley’s in Little Whinging at the end of the year (Harry Potter), Neo sends transmission through the Matrix (Matrix)

14. Resurrection Hero
Another test where the hero faces death – he has to use everything he's learned.
There are times when the hero has to descend into the “Underworld” to accomplish his mission.
Sometimes it is an ally that “brings back” the hero.
Rescuing Geppetto from Monstro’s belly (Pinocchio), The Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter), The Trash Compactor (Star Wars: IV), Neo’s confrontation with Mr. Smith (Matrix), Samwise delivers Frodo from Shelob’s lair and the gatehouse of Cirith Ungol (Lord of the Rings)

15. Return with Elixir
The hero returns from the journey with the “elixir” and uses it to help everyone in the Ordinary World.
The “elixir” is not always a literal cure, but a force for positive change in the Ordinary World.