1. The Hero’s Journey – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
By Andrew Lockard

2. Departure (Separation)

3. The Ordinary World
This is the hero’s home environment where his friends and family are located. The story starts here so that the separation becomes apparent.
Frodo lives in the isolated Hobbit community known as the Shire with his Uncle, Bilbo.

4. Call to Adventure
There is an awakening of the “self to an unknown, unexpected world. The hero becomes aware of a new, unusual, exciting, forbidden, and/or foreign world. The hero outgrows his old world. The old concepts, ideals, and emotional patterns no longer fit; the time for passing the threshold is at hand. Sometimes, chance reveals an unexpected world; therefore the hero is forced to leave.
Bilbo disappears from his party and leaves for Rivendell, leaving behind his magic ring. Gandalf gives the ring to Frodo and leaves to research the ring and promises to return. Once Gandalf realizes the power of the ring, he entrusts Frodo to bring it to the Council of Elrond.

5. Refusal of the Call
Often the hero feels that he/she has it “too good” and refuses to give up all that they currently have. The hero doesn’t understand that the refusal of the call means a refusal to move on in life. The hero views his present system of ideals, virtues, goals, and advantages as fixed and secure, or the hero is waiting for the perfect call. Often times the refusal will be encourage by another character.
Frodo tries to give the ring to Gandalf to keep it.

6. Supernatural Aid
This can come in the form of a protective figure, usually an elder. It provides the hero with something which will help the hero move forward in his adventure. Supernatural figures represent a benign, protector power of destiny. It represents the forces of the unconscious at the hero’s side.
Gandalf gives Frodo the Ring of Power, but warns him never to use it.
Sam overhears the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo and Gandalf enlists him to help Frodo on his adventure.

7. Crossing the Threshold
The hero ventures into an unknown world which breaks tradition, and the hero meets some dangerous presence. The hero encounters a “threshold guardian” at the entrance of the zone of magnified power. This guardian stands in the way of the hero moving on to the next area. Beyond the entrance to this zone is darkness, the unknown, and danger.
Frodo and his party encounter a Ring Wraith on the road. They escape him by jumping onto a raft to cross a river.

8. In the Belly of the Whale
Once the hero has crossed the threshold, his old world is destroyed. He moves into a world of darkness and will not come out until he is ready to return. The hero goes inward in order to be “reborn.”
Aragorn leads the Hobbits “into the wild.” Frodo is stabbed by a Ring Wraith’s poisonous sword and becomes deathly ill.

9. Initiation

10. The Road of Trials
The hero experiences miraculous tests or ordeals on the road of trials. There are usually several incidents that affect the hero at this point. The hero will appear weak and vulnerable, but he will also begin to show growth. The hero finds parts of himself he was unaware of and assimilates his unexpected self.
Frodo and his party must outrun the Ring Wraiths to Rivendell and seek treatment for Frodo’s wounds.

11. The Meeting with the Goddess
The hero meets a “goddess” that shows him what perfection is truly like. The hero witnesses all that can be accomplished often times, his mission becomes much clearer. The goddess encourages the hero to continue.
Arwen, a woman elf, rides ahead with Frodo to get him across the river and into the Elvish land, where he will be protected.
Frodo later encounters Galadriel, an Elven Queen, who also possesses a ring of power. She urges him to continue on and gives him gifts.

12. The Woman as the Temptress
The hero meets a presence that attempts to destroy the hero’s mission. Often the temptress is sent by the evil forces working against the hero in order to try to stop the hero.
The Ring Wraiths tempt Frodo to give in and surrender the Ring to Sauron.

13. Atonement with the Father
Father symbolizes judgment; the hero overcomes fear, judgment, and mental blocks that may have been holding him back. This stage shows growth and the ability to take on adult responsibilities.
Frodo reunites with Bilbo; he later accepts his uncles gifts and realizes that he now carries the burden his father once did.

14. Apotheosis
The hero is in a divine, god-like state (ecstasy). The hero goes beyond the last terrors of ignorance. The hero recognizes the “big picture” (spiritual understanding can be known). The hero finally understands why he has been on his journey. The journey is not over, but the hero understands what it takes to return. The hero becomes free from all fear, beyond the reach of change.
Frodo is selected to carry the Ring to the fires of Mount Doom and destroy it permanently; the Fellowship of the Ring is created.

15. The Ultimate Boon The hero receives the prize that he has been after.
Frodo keeps the Ring and the powers and burdens it brings with it.

16. Return

17. Refusal of the Return
The hero should bring their wisdom back to their kingdom of humanity. The hero often wishes to remain in isolation with his boon.
Frodo is tempted to cast the burden onto another and return to the Shire to live in peace. He instead accepts his fate and continues his adventure.

18. Magic in Flight (the Chase)
The hero has his reward, now he must return to safety. There may be forces still working against him. A “chase” ensures. The hero usually appears as a changed person by this time. Their final chase is characterized by the hero’s confidence and bravery.
Frodo and the Fellowship must escape from the goblins and orcs in Moria and outrun the Balrog.

19. Rescue from Without
The world may have to come to retrieve the hero. Attaining the boon has drained the hero and he needs assistance in returning.
Frodo had to be rescued by Aragorn from the collapsing stairwell.

20. Crossing the Return Threshold
There is a difficulty in the hero’s return; the world has changed and so has the hero. The hero may not be accepted back to his old world. He may feel awkward upon his immediate return. The returning hero must survive the impact of the world; he may not be able to verbalize the wisdom he has gained through his journey. The hero conquers the difficulty in returning, showing that he is able to adapt.
Frodo has trouble learning to continue his journey without his friend Gandalf. He continues on with his journey despite trying to deal with the death of his long time friend.

21. Master of Two Worlds
Hero has attained wisdom in both the spiritual and material world. The hero gives up completely all attachment to his personal limitations, hopes, and fears. The hero no longer tries to live, but willingly relaxes to whatever may come to pass in him.
Frodo accepts Gandalf’s death as one of the sacrifices he must make in order for his quest to succeed.

22. Freedom to Live
The hero reconciles the fact that every creature lives on the death of another. The hero understands that it was only through the “death” of his former self that the new life was able to surface. The hero learns never to be afraid of the next moment, he has learned “to be.”
Frodo accepts that his friends may sometimes have to die for the greater good, and that he too is sacrificing himself for the burdens he bears.