A Hero Is...

A Fresh look at The Hero’s Journey

This quote is all fine and good, but what does it actually mean? And how can we craft this into our characters in our stories?

I have some great ideas for you!

The three masters of story telling, I think, are: Joseph Cambell, Christopher Vogler and Robert McKee. These respected authors master the art of story telling to reflect the humanity in being human.

In other words, they’re very, very good. And the each wrote really thick books. Lots of them. (I have linked them for you at the end of this post).

This post will focus on Joseph Campbell’s vision of the hero journey.

These authors have a significant “cyber-presence” and oodles of information, interviews, summaries, workshops, webinars, so on and so forth. I suggested googling each one and doing some intel before purchasing a book–see if the topics and ideas are a good fit for you.

With that said, below is a fairly comprehensive review of the hero’s journey via video, charts, outlines and examples.

If you’re crafting a story from the classic framework of a Hero’s Journey, you want to become extremely familiar with Joseph Campbell’s A Hero’s Journey and Hero of a Thousand Faces.

He wrote lots of books ~

Joseph Campbell Books

Books are linked at the bottom of this post

But, I have to be honest with you, the you tube clip below is a very well done school project combining clips from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter to illustrate the steps in a hero’s journey.

If your character is embarking on a hero’s journey Joseph Campbell style, this graphic below is your road map:

Let me break it down for you:

The Hero’s Journey Outline

The outline describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of the group, tribe, or civilization.

Stages Explained

1. THE ORDINARY WORLD. The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress.

2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change.

3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL. The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead.

4. MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.

Master Yoda and Luke

5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values.

6. TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES. The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World.

7. APPROACH. The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world.

Harry Potter Characters

8. THE ORDEAL. Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life.

9. TreasureTHE REWARD. The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death. There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again.

10. THE ROAD BACK. About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission.

11. THE RESURRECTION. At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved.

Resurrection

12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR. The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed.

Ready for more movie examples to help pull this together? Enjoy this excellent 7 minute video followed by 4 minutes of wisdom from Joseph Campbell himself.

Harry Potter–Star Wars and the Wizard of Oz!

Finally, in Joseph Campbell’s own words
in this 4 minute clip.

I hope that this post has both empowered and inspired you! This world sure needs more heroes!

Put your own spin on it and go where your hero’s heart takes you!

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