The Hero’s JourneyThe Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey The Hero’s Journey ArchetypeArchetype

• An archetype is a character, symbol, story pattern, or other element that is common to human experience across cultures• For example, the innocent, the Mother

Figure, or the Hero

• The archetype of the Hero’s Journey describes a plot pattern that shows the development of a hero

Examples of ArchetypesExamples of Archetypes

In Mythology: •Gods•Explanations for nature

In Literature or Movies: •Star-crossed lovers•Damsel in distress•Heroes vs. Villains•Orphan turned Hero•Hero’s Journey

Stages of the Hero’s Stages of the Hero’s JourneyJourney

Stage 1: DepartureStage 1: DepartureThe journey begins The journey begins

in the ordinary in the ordinary worldworld

Step 1: The Call to Step 1: The Call to AdventureAdventure

The future The future hero is first hero is first given notice given notice that his or her that his or her life is going to life is going to changechange

Step 2: Refusal of the CallStep 2: Refusal of the CallThe future hero The future hero

often refuses to often refuses to accept the Call accept the Call to Adventure. to Adventure. The refusal may The refusal may stem from a stem from a sense of duty, sense of duty, an obligation, a an obligation, a fear, or fear, or insecurityinsecurity

Step 3: The Beginning of the Step 3: The Beginning of the AdventureAdventure

Alice

This is the point This is the point where the hero where the hero actually begins actually begins the adventure, the adventure, leaving the leaving the known limits of known limits of his or her world his or her world and venturing and venturing into an unknown into an unknown and dangerous and dangerous realm where the realm where the rules and limits rules and limits are unknown.are unknown.

Stage 2: InitiationStage 2: Initiation

Step 4: The Road of Step 4: The Road of TrialsTrials

The road of trials is The road of trials is a series of tests, a series of tests, tasks, or tasks, or challenges that the challenges that the hero must undergo hero must undergo as part of the as part of the hero’s hero’s transformation. transformation. The hero usually The hero usually fails one or more of fails one or more of these tests, which these tests, which often occur in often occur in threes.threes.

Step 5: The Experience with Step 5: The Experience with Unconditional LoveUnconditional Love

During the Road of During the Road of Trials, the hero Trials, the hero experiences experiences unconditional love unconditional love and support (physical and support (physical and/or mental) from a and/or mental) from a friend, mentor, or friend, mentor, or family member. This family member. This love often drives the love often drives the hero to continue on hero to continue on the journey, even the journey, even when the hero doubts when the hero doubts him/herself.him/herself.

Step 6: The Ultimate BoonStep 6: The Ultimate Boon

The goal of the quest The goal of the quest is achieved. The boon is achieved. The boon can be a physical can be a physical object or an object or an intangible item such intangible item such as knowledge, as knowledge, courage, or love. The courage, or love. The Road of Trials makes Road of Trials makes the hero strong the hero strong enough to achieve enough to achieve this goal. this goal.

Important to Note:Important to Note:

The Call to Adventure (what the The Call to Adventure (what the hero is asked to do), the Beginning hero is asked to do), the Beginning of the Adventure (what the hero sets of the Adventure (what the hero sets out to do), and the Ultimate Boon out to do), and the Ultimate Boon (what the hero achieves) must all (what the hero achieves) must all connect.connect.

Stage 3: The ReturnStage 3: The Return

Step 7: Refusal of the Step 7: Refusal of the ReturnReturn

When the goal of the When the goal of the adventure is adventure is accomplished, the accomplished, the hero may refuse to hero may refuse to return with the boon return with the boon or gift, either because or gift, either because the hero doubts the the hero doubts the return will bring return will bring change, or because change, or because the hero prefers to the hero prefers to stay in a better place stay in a better place rather than return to rather than return to a normal life of pain a normal life of pain and trouble.and trouble.

Step 8: The Magic FlightStep 8: The Magic Flight

The hero experiences The hero experiences adventure and adventure and perhaps danger as he perhaps danger as he or she returns to life or she returns to life as it was before the as it was before the Call to Adventure. Call to Adventure.

This step is similar to This step is similar to The Road of Trials.The Road of Trials.

Step 9: Rescue from Step 9: Rescue from WithoutWithout

Just as the hero may need Just as the hero may need guides and assistance on guides and assistance on the quest, oftentimes he or the quest, oftentimes he or she must have powerful she must have powerful guides and rescuers to guides and rescuers to bring him or her back to bring him or her back to everyday life, especially if everyday life, especially if the hero has been the hero has been wounded or weakened by wounded or weakened by the experience. the experience.

Sometimes, the hero does Sometimes, the hero does not realize that it is time to not realize that it is time to return, that he or she can return, that he or she can return, or that others are return, or that others are relying on him or her to relying on him or her to return.return.

Step 10: The Crossing or Step 10: The Crossing or Return ThresholdReturn Threshold

At this final point in At this final point in the adventure, the the adventure, the hero must return the hero must return the wisdom gained on the wisdom gained on the quest, integrate that quest, integrate that wisdom into his or wisdom into his or her previous life, and her previous life, and perhaps decide how perhaps decide how to share the wisdom to share the wisdom with the rest of the with the rest of the world.world.

The Elements of Plot The Elements of Plot DevelopmentDevelopment

The Elements of Plot The Elements of Plot DevelopmentDevelopment

• Exposition: Events that set the context for the story: the setting (time and place), characters, and central conflict are introduced

• Rising Action: Events that develop the plot and lead to the climax

• Climax: The main event; the turning point, or highest point of tension in the story

• Falling Action: The events that lead to the resolution

• Resolution: Conflict is completely resolved and the lesson has been learned