1.  The Hero’s Journey Notes Tuesday, 18 September 2012

2. Heroes and their Story  Heroes  Main character  Undergo Change  Learn a lesson  Story  Characters possess qualities that are a part of every human being  Journey is both physical and spiritual

3. The Hero’s Journey  There are 12 stages to the journey  Stages can be skipped, repeated or changed  Not just a physical journey but also a psychological and/or emotional journey  Shows the phases of growth the hero undergoes

4. Notes Tuesday, 18 September 2012 The Stages of the Hero’s Journey

5. 1. The Ordinary World  We get to know the hero in his/her home BEFORE the journey begins  We learn the hero’s drives, urges and problems

6. 2. Call to Adventure  The hero’s ordinary world is disrupted with a challenge or quest  The hero begins his journey

7. 3. Refusal of the Call  The hero has doubts about the call to adventure  Fears  Insecurities  Understands the risk of the Call and the likelihood of failure

8. 4. Meeting with the Mentor  The hero meets with his/her mentor to gain:  Insight/Advice  Knowledge  Training  Magical Gifts

10. 5. Crossing the Threshold  This is the stage which separates the ordinary world from the special world  The hero may have to accept his fears, a map, or a swift kick in the rear from a Mentor  No turning back

11. 6. Test, Allies and Enemies  The hero is tested, meets allies and confronts enemies  Here, he/she learns the rules of the Special World  Who can be trusted and who is a rival

12. 7. Approach to the Inmost Cave  Preparations made for the Ordeal  Plan attacks, review a map  If the hero is confident then he/she may spend this time doing other things such as taking a break for a cigarette, making a joke and finding romance

13. 8. The Ordeal  The Central life or death crisis  Faces his greatest fear, confronts this most difficult challenge, and experiences “death”  The Hero may directly taste death, or witness the death of an Ally or Mentor or, even worse, directly cause that death.

14. 9. Reward  The hero has survived the Ordeal, survived death  He overcame his greatest fear, slain the dragon, or weathered the Crisis of the Heart, and now earns the Reward that he sought.  The Hero may have earned the Reward outright, or the Hero may have seen no option but to steal it.

15. 10. The Road Back  The hero must return to the Ordinary World  Sometimes the hero doesn’t want to  Sometimes there’s a time limit to get home

16. 11. Resurrection  Life and death crisis that occurs in the Ordinary World  The hero will apply what he/she has learned in the Special World  Physical ordeal or final showdown  Allies may come to help

17. 12. The Return with the Elixir  The Hero has been resurrected, purified and has earned the right to be accepted back into the Ordinary World and share the Elixir of the Journey.  It could be love, wisdom, or simply the experience of surviving the Special World.