1. Hero’s Journey

2. The Monomyth:
Joseph Campbell believed that there was only seven plot lines. The primary plot line for most of literature was The Hero’s Journey. And that most of our stories were derived from this template. Let’s watch this:
matthew-winkler#watch

3. The Hero’s Journey
In short, this plot line can be traced through thousands of books. You will trace it through a novel that you will pick out soon.
I am going to use a few different names of the Hero’s Journey than Matthew Winkler does in the video, so let’s get started with notes.
First, let’s choose a character to use as our example through the course of these notes:
Harry Potter
Katniss Everdeen
Frodo or Bilbo Baggins
Rey

4. The Ordinary World
First, we meet our character in her version of an ordinary, mundane world.
Our example:
Harry starts off in London with the Dursleys (the mean family) with no magic in his life.

5. The Call to Adventure
The hero is presented with a problem, challenge, or adventure to undertake which will move her into a Special World, new and alien. The Call to Adventure establishes the stakes of the game, and makes clear the hero's goal: to win the treasure or lover, to get revenge or right a wrong, to achieve a dream, confront a challenge, or change a life
Our Example:
Harry encounters magic and receives his letter from Hogwarts.

6. Refusal of the Call
Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be brief and circumstantial, but it shows that the hero doesn’t believe she is ready yet.
Our example:
Dursleys wont let him see letters.
“I’m just Harry.”

7. Mentor
The function of the Mentor is to prepare the hero to face the unknown. The Mentor may give advice, guidance or magical equipment. However the Mentor can only go so far with the hero. Eventually the hero must face the unknown alone. Sometimes the Mentor is required to give the hero a swift kick in the pants to get the adventure going.
Our Hero:
Hagrid (big sweet dummy) and Dumbledore (dies).
His professors: McGonagall, Lupin, etc.

8. Crossing the First Threshold
This is the point where the hero actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of her Ordinary World and entering into the dangerous Special World.
Our Hero:
Platform 9 ¾
Run at a brick wall to enter the platform to Hogwarts Express.

9. Reward (Seizing the Sword)
Having taken her first steps toward becoming a hero, fate, their mentor, or her own abilities rewards her with some treasure which will help her confront the ultimate evil standing in her way. This can be a literal sword or some knowledge which gives her a special power (or both).
Our Hero:
His wand, tons of money, an owl (Hedwig), friends

10. Tests, Allies, and Enemies
The hero encounters tests or challenges that help her learn, makes allies that will help her accomplish her goal, and meets enemies that will get in her way. All of this is so she can learn the rules of the Special World.
Our Hero:
Enemies:
Draco, Voldemort
Allies:
Hermione, Ron, Hagrid
Tests:
Quidditch, Flying, Classes, Wizards Chess, Fluffy, Troll

11. Approach to the Inmost Cave
This is the point where the hero must make the final separation from who she was in the Ordinary World to what she must become to be the Hero in the Special World. This is often a low point in the Hero’s Journey, and may be one of the first trials she does alone.
Our hero:
Mirror of Erised (loss of family to gain new family)

12. The Supreme Ordeal
This is the critical moment in any story, defeating the Big Bad, saving the love of her life, saving the world. Here, the hero will be on the brink of death, if not actually die.
Our World:
Getting the Philosopher’s Stone: Defeating Voldemort

13. The Road Back
The hero is pursued by vengeful forces she has disturbed by Seizing the Sword or through the Supreme Ordeal. This stage marks a decision to return to an Ordinary World, even if it can’t be the same Ordinary World the hero left.
Our Hero:
Wakes up in hospital
Train ride home

14. Resurrection
The hero must be reborn and/or cleansed in one last Ordeal of death and Resurrection. The hero is transformed by this moment and is able to return to an Ordinary World reborn as a new being, either literally or metaphorically.
Our Hero:
Wakes up in hospital

15. Return with Elixir
The hero returns to the Ordinary World, but she brings back some treasure, secret knowledge, or new status quo that heals the wounded land, making for a better world. It may be a great treasure like the Grail that magically heals the wounded land, or it simply might be knowledge or experience that could be useful; to the community someday.
Our Hero:
Knowledge of Voldemort as threat
Knows his powers, has (some) power over his abusive family

16. Star Wars
George Lucas wrote Star Wars: A New Hope specifically to tell a modern day Hero’s Journey. He even consulted Joseph Campbell throughout the writing and revision process of these movies. Hence, it is an excellent way to go over these 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey.
Your formative assessment is to find the 12 stages within A New Hope
Then YOU will each begin reading a novel based off the Hero’s Journey