As outlined by Joseph Campbell

“ A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from the mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

- Joseph Campbell,

“The Hero with a Thousand Faces”

*They may not always be in order*

Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Supernatural Aide/Mentor Crossing of the First Threshold Rebirth (Belly of the Whale)

The Call to AdventureThe adventure begins with the hero

receiving a call to action, such as a threat to the peace of the community, or the hero simply falls into or blunders into it.

Refusal of the CallIn some stories, the hero initially refuses

the call to adventure. When this happens, the hero may suffer somehow, and may eventually choose to answer, or may continue to decline the call.

Supernatural Aid/MentorAfter the hero has accepted the call, he

encounters a protective figure (often elderly) who provides special tools and advice for the adventure ahead, such as an amulet or a weapon

The Crossing of the First ThresholdThe hero must cross the threshold

between the world he is familiar with and that which he is not.

RebirthThe hero, rather than passing a

threshold, passes into the new zone by means of rebirth, and becomes ready for the adventure ahead.

The Road of Trials Meeting with the Goddess Temptation from True Path Atonement with the Father Apotheosis The Ultimate Boon

The Road of TrialsOnce past the threshold, the hero

encounters a dream landscape of ambiguous and fluid forms. The hero is challenged to survive a succession of obstacles.

Meeting with the GoddessThe ultimate trial is often represented as

a marriage between the hero and a queenlike, or mother-like figure. When the hero is female, this becomes a male figure.

Temptation from True PathHis awareness expanded, the hero may

fixate on the disunity between truth and his subjective outlook, inherently tainted by the flesh.

Atonement with the FatherThe hero reconciles the tyrant and

merciful aspects of the father-like authority figure to understand himself as well as this figure.

ApotheosisThe hero's ego is disintegrated in a

breakthrough expansion of consciousness. Quite frequently the hero's idea of reality is changed (see a larger point of view).

The Ultimate BoonThe hero is now ready to obtain that

which he has set out, an item or new awareness that, once he returns, will benefit the society that he has left.

Refusal of the Return The Magic Flight Rescue from Without The Crossing of the Return

Threshold Master of Two Worlds Freedom to Live

Refusal of the ReturnHaving found a better world with better

advantages, the hero might refuse to return and give back to his world.

The Magic FlightWhen the hero acquires the wealth he

searched for, he is sometimes chased by those who want to prevent the wealth from being distributed.

Rescue from WithoutThe hero may need rescuing from the

ordinary world – either from refusing or being blocked to return. The hero is humbled that he can not do it alone.

The Crossing of the Return ThresholdThe hero returns to the world of common

day and must accept it as real.

Master of Two WorldsBecause of the wealth they achieve or

due to his experience, the hero may now perceive both the divine and human worlds.

Freedom to LiveThe hero bestows the boon to his fellow

man.

Activity

Create a chart on a piece of paper like the one to the right.

In each box, place the time when each criteria occurs in the film, and also describe how it occurs (a couple do not apply).

Submit after film.

Ordinary World  Road of Trials  Refusal of Return 

 Call to AdventureMeeting With the Goddess  Magic Flight 

Refusal of Call Temptation from Path 

Rescue From Without 

Supernatural Aid Atonement with Father 

Crossing of Return Threshhold 

Crossing the First Threshhold  Apotheosis 

Master of Two Worlds 

Rebirth  Ultimate Boon  Freedom to Live