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Last updated on Aug 10, 2023

The Hero's Journey: 12 Steps to a Classic Story Structure

The Hero's Journey is a timeless story structure which follows a protagonist on an unforeseen quest, where they face challenges, gain insights, and return home transformed. From Theseus and the Minotaur to The Lion King , so many narratives follow this pattern that it’s become ingrained into our cultural DNA. 

In this post, we'll show you how to make this classic plot structure work for you — and if you’re pressed for time, download our cheat sheet below for everything you need to know.

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Hero's Journey Template

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What is the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero's Journey, also known as the monomyth, is a story structure where a hero goes on a quest or adventure to achieve a goal, and has to overcome obstacles and fears, before ultimately returning home transformed.

This narrative arc has been present in various forms across cultures for centuries, if not longer, but gained popularity through Joseph Campbell's mythology book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces . While Campbell identified 17 story beats in his monomyth definition, this post will concentrate on a 12-step framework popularized in 2007 by screenwriter Christopher Vogler in his book The Writer’s Journey .

The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey

The Hero's Journey is a model for both plot points and character development : as the Hero traverses the world, they'll undergo inner and outer transformation at each stage of the journey. The 12 steps of the hero's journey are: 

• The Ordinary World. We meet our hero.
• Call to Adventure. Will they meet the challenge?
• Refusal of the Call. They resist the adventure.
• Meeting the Mentor. A teacher arrives.
• Crossing the First Threshold. The hero leaves their comfort zone.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Making friends and facing roadblocks.
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. Getting closer to our goal.
• Ordeal. The hero’s biggest test yet!
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Light at the end of the tunnel
• The Road Back. We aren’t safe yet.
• Resurrection. The final hurdle is reached.
• Return with the Elixir. The hero heads home, triumphant.

Believe it or not, this story structure also applies across mediums and genres (and also works when your protagonist is an anti-hero! ). Let's dive into it.

1. Ordinary World

In which we meet our Hero.

The journey has yet to start. Before our Hero discovers a strange new world, we must first understand the status quo: their ordinary, mundane reality.

It’s up to this opening leg to set the stage, introducing the Hero to readers. Importantly, it lets readers identify with the Hero as a “normal” person in a “normal” setting, before the journey begins.

2. Call to Adventure

In which an adventure starts.

The call to adventure is all about booting the Hero out of their comfort zone. In this stage, they are generally confronted with a problem or challenge they can't ignore. This catalyst can take many forms, as Campbell points out in Hero with a Thousand Faces . The Hero can, for instance:

• Decide to go forth of their own volition;
• Theseus upon arriving in Athens.
• Be sent abroad by a benign or malignant agent;
• Odysseus setting off on his ship in The Odyssey .
• Stumble upon the adventure as a result of a mere blunder;
• Dorothy when she’s swept up in a tornado in The Wizard of Oz .
• Be casually strolling when some passing phenomenon catches the wandering eye and lures one away from the frequented paths of man.
• Elliot in E.T. upon discovering a lost alien in the tool shed.

The stakes of the adventure and the Hero's goals become clear. The only question: will he rise to the challenge?

3. Refusal of the Call

In which the Hero digs in their feet.

Great, so the Hero’s received their summons. Now they’re all set to be whisked off to defeat evil, right?

Not so fast. The Hero might first refuse the call to action. It’s risky and there are perils — like spiders, trolls, or perhaps a creepy uncle waiting back at Pride Rock . It’s enough to give anyone pause.

In Star Wars , for instance, Luke Skywalker initially refuses to join Obi-Wan on his mission to rescue the princess. It’s only when he discovers that his aunt and uncle have been killed by stormtroopers that he changes his mind.

4. Meeting the Mentor

In which the Hero acquires a personal trainer.

The Hero's decided to go on the adventure — but they’re not ready to spread their wings yet. They're much too inexperienced at this point and we don't want them to do a fabulous belly-flop off the cliff.

Enter the mentor: someone who helps the Hero, so that they don't make a total fool of themselves (or get themselves killed). The mentor provides practical training, profound wisdom, a kick up the posterior, or something abstract like grit and self-confidence.

Wise old wizards seem to like being mentors. But mentors take many forms, from witches to hermits and suburban karate instructors. They might literally give weapons to prepare for the trials ahead, like Q in the James Bond series. Or perhaps the mentor is an object, such as a map. In all cases, they prepare the Hero for the next step.

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5. Crossing the First Threshold

In which the Hero enters the other world in earnest.

Now the Hero is ready — and committed — to the journey. This marks the end of the Departure stage and is when the adventure really kicks into the next gear. As Vogler writes: “This is the moment that the balloon goes up, the ship sails, the romance begins, the wagon gets rolling.”

From this point on, there’s no turning back.

Like our Hero, you should think of this stage as a checkpoint for your story. Pause and re-assess your bearings before you continue into unfamiliar territory. Have you:

• Launched the central conflict? If not, here’s a post on types of conflict to help you out.
• Established the theme of your book? If not, check out this post that’s all about creating theme and motifs .
• Made headway into your character development? If not, this character profile template may be useful:

Reedsy’s Character Profile Template

A story is only as strong as its characters. Fill this out to develop yours.

6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

In which the Hero faces new challenges and gets a squad.

When we step into the Special World, we notice a definite shift. The Hero might be discombobulated by this unfamiliar reality and its new rules. This is generally one of the longest stages in the story , as our protagonist gets to grips with this new world.

This makes a prime hunting ground for the series of tests to pass! Luckily, there are many ways for the Hero to get into trouble:

• In Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , Spencer, Bethany, “Fridge,” and Martha get off to a bad start when they bump into a herd of bloodthirsty hippos.
• In his first few months at Hogwarts, Harry Potter manages to fight a troll, almost fall from a broomstick and die, and get horribly lost in the Forbidden Forest.
• Marlin and Dory encounter three “reformed” sharks, get shocked by jellyfish, and are swallowed by a blue whale en route to finding Nemo.

This stage often expands the cast of characters. Once the protagonist is in the Special World, he will meet allies and enemies — or foes that turn out to be friends and vice versa. He will learn a new set of rules from them. Saloons and seedy bars are popular places for these transactions, as Vogler points out (so long as the Hero survives them).

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave

In which the Hero gets closer to his goal.

This isn’t a physical cave. Instead, the “inmost cave” refers to the most dangerous spot in the other realm — whether that’s the villain’s chambers, the lair of the fearsome dragon, or the Death Star. Almost always, it is where the ultimate goal of the quest is located.

Note that the protagonist hasn’t entered the Inmost Cave just yet. This stage is all about the approach to it. It covers all the prep work that's needed in order to defeat the villain.

In which the Hero faces his biggest test of all thus far.

Of all the tests the Hero has faced, none have made them hit rock bottom — until now. Vogler describes this phase as a “black moment.” Campbell refers to it as the “belly of the whale.” Both indicate some grim news for the Hero.

The protagonist must now confront their greatest fear. If they survive it, they will emerge transformed. This is a critical moment in the story, as Vogler explains that it will “inform every decision that the Hero makes from this point forward.”

The Ordeal is sometimes not the climax of the story. There’s more to come. But you can think of it as the main event of the second act — the one in which the Hero actually earns the title of “Hero.”

9. Reward (Seizing the Sword)

In which the Hero sees light at the end of the tunnel.

Our Hero’s been through a lot. However, the fruits of their labor are now at hand — if they can just reach out and grab them! The “reward” is the object or knowledge the Hero has fought throughout the entire journey to hold.

Once the protagonist has it in their possession, it generally has greater ramifications for the story. Vogler offers a few examples of it in action:

• Luke rescues Princess Leia and captures the plans of the Death Star — keys to defeating Darth Vader.
• Dorothy escapes from the Wicked Witch’s castle with the broomstick and the ruby slippers — keys to getting back home.

10. The Road Back

In which the light at the end of the tunnel might be a little further than the Hero thought.

The story's not over just yet, as this phase marks the beginning of Act Three. Now that he's seized the reward, the Hero tries to return to the Ordinary World, but more dangers (inconveniently) arise on the road back from the Inmost Cave.

More precisely, the Hero must deal with the consequences and aftermath of the previous act: the dragon, enraged by the Hero who’s just stolen a treasure from under his nose, starts the hunt. Or perhaps the opposing army gathers to pursue the Hero across a crowded battlefield. All further obstacles for the Hero, who must face them down before they can return home.

11. Resurrection

In which the last test is met.

Here is the true climax of the story. Everything that happened prior to this stage culminates in a crowning test for the Hero, as the Dark Side gets one last chance to triumph over the Hero.

Vogler refers to this as a “final exam” for the Hero — they must be “tested once more to see if they have really learned the lessons of the Ordeal.” It’s in this Final Battle that the protagonist goes through one more “resurrection.” As a result, this is where you’ll get most of your miraculous near-death escapes, à la James Bond's dashing deliverances. If the Hero survives, they can start looking forward to a sweet ending.

12. Return with the Elixir

In which our Hero has a triumphant homecoming.

Finally, the Hero gets to return home. However, they go back a different person than when they started out: they’ve grown and matured as a result of the journey they’ve taken.

But we’ve got to see them bring home the bacon, right? That’s why the protagonist must return with the “Elixir,” or the prize won during the journey, whether that’s an object or knowledge and insight gained.

Of course, it’s possible for a story to end on an Elixir-less note — but then the Hero would be doomed to repeat the entire adventure.

Examples of The Hero’s Journey in Action

To better understand this story template beyond the typical sword-and-sorcery genre, let's analyze three examples, from both screenplay and literature, and examine how they implement each of the twelve steps. 

The 1976 film Rocky is acclaimed as one of the most iconic sports films because of Stallone’s performance and the heroic journey his character embarks on.

• Ordinary World. Rocky Balboa is a mediocre boxer and loan collector — just doing his best to live day-to-day in a poor part of Philadelphia.
• Call to Adventure. Heavyweight champ Apollo Creed decides to make a big fight interesting by giving a no-name loser a chance to challenge him. That loser: Rocky Balboa.
• Refusal of the Call. Rocky says, “Thanks, but no thanks,” given that he has no trainer and is incredibly out of shape.
• Meeting the Mentor. In steps former boxer Mickey “Mighty Mick” Goldmill, who sees potential in Rocky and starts training him physically and mentally for the fight.
• Crossing the First Threshold. Rocky crosses the threshold of no return when he accepts the fight on live TV, and 一 in parallel 一 when he crosses the threshold into his love interest Adrian’s house and asks her out on a date.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Rocky continues to try and win Adrian over and maintains a dubious friendship with her brother, Paulie, who provides him with raw meat to train with.
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. The Inmost Cave in Rocky is Rocky’s own mind. He fears that he’ll never amount to anything — something that he reveals when he butts heads with his trainer, Mickey, in his apartment.
• Ordeal. The start of the training montage marks the beginning of Rocky’s Ordeal. He pushes through it until he glimpses hope ahead while running up the museum steps.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Rocky's reward is the restoration of his self-belief, as he recognizes he can try to “go the distance” with Apollo Creed and prove he's more than "just another bum from the neighborhood."
• The Road Back. On New Year's Day, the fight takes place. Rocky capitalizes on Creed's overconfidence to start strong, yet Apollo makes a comeback, resulting in a balanced match.
• Resurrection. The fight inflicts multiple injuries and pushes both men to the brink of exhaustion, with Rocky being knocked down numerous times. But he consistently rises to his feet, enduring through 15 grueling rounds.
• Return with the Elixir. Rocky loses the fight — but it doesn’t matter. He’s won back his confidence and he’s got Adrian, who tells him that she loves him.

Moving outside of the ring, let’s see how this story structure holds on a completely different planet and with a character in complete isolation. 

The Martian 

In Andy Weir’s self-published bestseller (better known for its big screen adaptation) we follow astronaut Mark Watney as he endures the challenges of surviving on Mars and working out a way to get back home.

• The Ordinary World. Botanist Mark and other astronauts are on a mission on Mars to study the planet and gather samples. They live harmoniously in a structure known as "the Hab.”
• Call to Adventure. The mission is scrapped due to a violent dust storm. As they rush to launch, Mark is flung out of sight and the team believes him to be dead. He is, however, very much alive — stranded on Mars with no way of communicating with anyone back home.
• Refusal of the Call. With limited supplies and grim odds of survival, Mark concludes that he will likely perish on the desolate planet.
• Meeting the Mentor. Thanks to his resourcefulness and scientific knowledge he starts to figure out how to survive until the next Mars mission arrives.
• Crossing the First Threshold. Mark crosses the mental threshold of even trying to survive 一 he successfully creates a greenhouse to cultivate a potato crop, creating a food supply that will last long enough.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Loneliness and other difficulties test his spirit, pushing him to establish contact with Earth and the people at NASA, who devise a plan to help.  
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. Mark faces starvation once again after an explosion destroys his potato crop.
• Ordeal. A NASA rocket destined to deliver supplies to Mark disintegrates after liftoff and all hope seems lost.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Mark’s efforts to survive are rewarded with a new possibility to leave the planet. His team 一 now aware that he’s alive 一 defies orders from NASA and heads back to Mars to rescue their comrade.
• The Road Back. Executing the new plan is immensely difficult 一 Mark has to travel far to locate the spaceship for his escape, and almost dies along the way.
• Resurrection. Mark is unable to get close enough to his teammates' ship but finds a way to propel himself in empty space towards them, and gets aboard safely.
• Return with the Elixir. Now a survival instructor for aspiring astronauts, Mark teaches students that space is indifferent and that survival hinges on solving one problem after another, as well as the importance of other people’s help.

Coming back to Earth, let’s now examine a heroine’s journey through the wilderness of the Pacific Crest Trail and her… humanity. 

The memoir Wild narrates the three-month-long hiking adventure of Cheryl Strayed across the Pacific coast, as she grapples with her turbulent past and rediscovers her inner strength.

• The Ordinary World. Cheryl shares her strong bond with her mother who was her strength during a tough childhood with an abusive father.
• Call to Adventure. As her mother succumbs to lung cancer, Cheryl faces the heart-wrenching reality to confront life's challenges on her own.
• Refusal of the Call. Cheryl spirals down into a destructive path of substance abuse and infidelity, which leads to hit rock bottom with a divorce and unwanted pregnancy. 
• Meeting the Mentor. Her best friend Lisa supports her during her darkest time. One day she notices the Pacific Trail guidebook, which gives her hope to find her way back to her inner strength.
• Crossing the First Threshold. She quits her job, sells her belongings, and visits her mother’s grave before traveling to Mojave, where the trek begins.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Cheryl is tested by her heavy bag, blisters, rattlesnakes, and exhaustion, but many strangers help her along the trail with a warm meal or hiking tips. 
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. As Cheryl goes through particularly tough and snowy parts of the trail her emotional baggage starts to catch up with her.  
• Ordeal. She inadvertently drops one of her shoes off a cliff, and the incident unearths the helplessness she's been evading since her mother's passing.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Cheryl soldiers on, trekking an impressive 50 miles in duct-taped sandals before finally securing a new pair of shoes. This small victory amplifies her self-confidence.
• The Road Back. On the last stretch, she battles thirst, sketchy hunters, and a storm, but more importantly, she revisits her most poignant and painful memories.
• Resurrection. Cheryl forgives herself for damaging her marriage and her sense of worth, owning up to her mistakes. A pivotal moment happens at Crater Lake, where she lets go of her frustration at her mother for passing away.
• Return with the Elixir. Cheryl reaches the Bridge of the Gods and completes the trail. She has found her inner strength and determination for life's next steps.

There are countless other stories that could align with this template, but it's not always the perfect fit. So, let's look into when authors should consider it or not.

When should writers use The Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey is just one way to outline a novel and dissect a plot. For more longstanding theories on the topic, you can go this way to read about the ever-popular Three-Act Structure or here to discover Dan Harmon's Story Circle and three more prevalent structures .

So when is it best to use the Hero’s Journey? There are a couple of circumstances which might make this a good choice.

When you need more specific story guidance than simple structures can offer

Simply put, the Hero’s Journey structure is far more detailed and closely defined than other story structure theories. If you want a fairly specific framework for your work than a thee-act structure, the Hero’s Journey can be a great place to start.

Of course, rules are made to be broken . There’s plenty of room to play within the confines of the Hero’s Journey, despite it appearing fairly prescriptive at first glance. Do you want to experiment with an abbreviated “Resurrection” stage, as J.K. Rowling did in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? Are you more interested in exploring the journey of an anti-hero? It’s all possible.

Once you understand the basics of this universal story structure, you can use and bend it in ways that disrupt reader expectations.

Need more help developing your book? Try this template on for size:

Get our Book Development Template

Use this template to go from a vague idea to a solid plan for a first draft.

When your focus is on a single protagonist

No matter how sprawling or epic the world you’re writing is, if your story is, at its core, focused on a single character’s journey, then this is a good story structure for you. It’s kind of in the name! If you’re dealing with an entire ensemble, the Hero’s Journey may not give you the scope to explore all of your characters’ plots and subplot — a broader three-act structure may give you more freedom to weave a greater number story threads. ​​

Which story structure is right for you?

Take this quiz and we'll match your story to a structure in minutes!

Whether you're a reader or writer, we hope our guide has helped you understand this universal story arc. Want to know more about story structure? We explain 6 more in our guide — read on!

6 responses

PJ Reece says:

25/07/2018 – 19:41

Nice vid, good intro to story structure. Typically, though, the 'hero's journey' misses the all-important point of the Act II crisis. There, where the hero faces his/her/its existential crisis, they must DIE. The old character is largely destroyed -- which is the absolute pre-condition to 'waking up' to what must be done. It's not more clever thinking; it's not thinking at all. Its SEEING. So many writing texts miss this point. It's tantamount to a religions experience, and nobody grows up without it. STORY STRUCTURE TO DIE FOR examines this dramatic necessity.

↪️ C.T. Cheek replied:

13/11/2019 – 21:01

Okay, but wouldn't the Act II crisis find itself in the Ordeal? The Hero is tested and arguably looses his/her/its past-self for the new one. Typically, the Hero is not fully "reborn" until the Resurrection, in which they defeat the hypothetical dragon and overcome the conflict of the story. It's kind of this process of rebirth beginning in the earlier sections of the Hero's Journey and ending in the Resurrection and affirmed in the Return with the Elixir.

Lexi Mize says:

25/07/2018 – 22:33

Great article. Odd how one can take nearly every story and somewhat plug it into such a pattern.

Bailey Koch says:

11/06/2019 – 02:16

This was totally lit fam!!!!

↪️ Bailey Koch replied:

11/09/2019 – 03:46

where is my dad?

Frank says:

12/04/2020 – 12:40

Great article, thanks! :) But Vogler didn't expand Campbell's theory. Campbell had seventeen stages, not twelve.

Comments are currently closed.

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The hero's journey: a story structure as old as time, the hero's journey offers a powerful framework for creating quest-based stories emphasizing self-transformation..

Table of Contents

Holding out for a hero to take your story to the next level? 

The Hero’s Journey might be just what you’ve been looking for. Created by Joseph Campbell, this narrative framework packs mythic storytelling into a series of steps across three acts, each representing a crucial phase in a character's transformative journey.

Challenge . Growth . Triumph .

Whether you're penning a novel, screenplay, or video game, The Hero’s Journey is a tried-and-tested blueprint for crafting epic stories that transcend time and culture. Let’s explore the steps together and kickstart your next masterpiece.

What is the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey is a famous template for storytelling, mapping a hero's adventurous quest through trials and tribulations to ultimate transformation. 

What are the Origins of the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey was invented by Campbell in his seminal 1949 work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces , where he introduces the concept of the "monomyth."

A comparative mythologist by trade, Campbell studied myths from cultures around the world and identified a common pattern in their narratives. He proposed that all mythic narratives are variations of a single, universal story, structured around a hero's adventure, trials, and eventual triumph.

His work unveiled the archetypal hero’s path as a mirror to humanity’s commonly shared experiences and aspirations. It was subsequently named one of the All-Time 100 Nonfiction Books by TIME in 2011.

How are the Hero’s and Heroine’s Journeys Different? 

While both the Hero's and Heroine's Journeys share the theme of transformation, they diverge in their focus and execution.

The Hero’s Journey, as outlined by Campbell, emphasizes external challenges and a quest for physical or metaphorical treasures. In contrast, Murdock's Heroine’s Journey, explores internal landscapes, focusing on personal reconciliation, emotional growth, and the path to self-actualization.

In short, heroes seek to conquer the world, while heroines seek to transform their own lives; but…

Twelve Steps of the Hero’s Journey

So influential was Campbell’s monomyth theory that it's been used as the basis for some of the largest franchises of our generation: The Lord of the Rings , Harry Potter ...and George Lucas even cited it as a direct influence on Star Wars .

There are, in fact, several variations of the Hero's Journey, which we discuss further below. But for this breakdown, we'll use the twelve-step version outlined by Christopher Vogler in his book, The Writer's Journey (seemingly now out of print, unfortunately).

You probably already know the above stories pretty well so we’ll unpack the twelve steps of the Hero's Journey using Ben Gates’ journey in National Treasure as a case study—because what is more heroic than saving the Declaration of Independence from a bunch of goons?

Ye be warned: Spoilers ahead!

Act One: Departure

Step 1. the ordinary world.

The journey begins with the status quo—business as usual. We meet the hero and are introduced to the Known World they live in. In other words, this is your exposition, the starting stuff that establishes the story to come.

National Treasure begins in media res (preceded only by a short prologue), where we are given key information that introduces us to Ben Gates' world, who he is (a historian from a notorious family), what he does (treasure hunts), and why he's doing it (restoring his family's name).

With the help of his main ally, Riley, and a crew of other treasure hunters backed by a wealthy patron, he finds an 18th-century American ship in the Canadian Arctic, the Charlotte . Here, they find a ship-shaped pipe that presents a new riddle and later doubles as a key—for now, it's just another clue in the search for the lost treasure of the Templars, one that leads them to the Declaration of Independence.

Step 2. The Call to Adventure

The inciting incident takes place and the hero is called to act upon it. While they're still firmly in the Known World, the story kicks off and leaves the hero feeling out of balance. In other words, they are placed at a crossroads.

Ian (the wealthy patron of the Charlotte operation) steals the pipe from Ben and Riley and leaves them stranded. This is a key moment: Ian becomes the villain, Ben has now sufficiently lost his funding for this expedition, and if he decides to pursue the chase, he'll be up against extreme odds.

Step 3. Refusal of the Call

The hero hesitates and instead refuses their call to action. Following the call would mean making a conscious decision to break away from the status quo. Ahead lies danger, risk, and the unknown; but here and now, the hero is still in the safety and comfort of what they know.

Ben debates continuing the hunt for the Templar treasure. Before taking any action, he decides to try and warn the authorities: the FBI, Homeland Security, and the staff of the National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence is housed and monitored. Nobody will listen to him, and his family's notoriety doesn't help matters.

Step 4. Meeting the Mentor

The protagonist receives knowledge or motivation from a powerful or influential figure. This is a tactical move on the hero's part—remember that it was only the previous step in which they debated whether or not to jump headfirst into the unknown. By Meeting the Mentor, they can gain new information or insight, and better equip themselves for the journey they might to embark on.

Abigail, an archivist at the National Archives, brushes Ben and Riley off as being crazy, but Ben uses the interaction to his advantage in other ways—to seek out information about how the Declaration of Independence is stored and cared for, as well as what (and more importantly, who) else he might be up against in his own attempt to steal it.

In a key scene, we see him contemplate the entire operation while standing over the glass-encased Declaration of Independence. Finally, he firmly decides to pursue the treasure and stop Ian, uttering the famous line, "I'm gonna steal the Declaration of Independence."

Act Two: Initiation

Step 5. crossing the threshold.

The hero leaves the Known World to face the Unknown World. They are fully committed to the journey, with no way to turn back now. There may be a confrontation of some sort, and the stakes will be raised.

Ben and Riley infiltrate the National Archives during a gala and successfully steal the Declaration of Independence. But wait—it's not so easy. While stealing the Declaration of Independence, Abigail suspects something is up and Ben faces off against Ian.

Then, when trying to escape the building, Ben exits through the gift shop, where an attendant spots the document peeking out of his jacket. He is forced to pay for it, feigning that it's a replica—and because he doesn't have enough cash, he has to use his credit card, so there goes keeping his identity anonymous.

The game is afoot.

Step 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

The hero explores the Unknown World. Now that they have firmly crossed the threshold from the Known World, the hero will face new challenges and possibly meet new enemies. They'll have to call upon their allies, new and old, in order to keep moving forward.

Abigail reluctantly joins the team under the agreement that she'll help handle the Declaration of Independence, given her background in document archiving and restoration. Ben and co. seek the aid of Ben's father, Patrick Gates, whom Ben has a strained relationship with thanks to years of failed treasure hunting that has created a rift between grandfather, father, and son. Finally, they travel around Philadelphia deciphering clues while avoiding both Ian and the FBI.

Step 7. Approach the Innermost Cave

The hero nears the goal of their quest, the reason they crossed the threshold in the first place. Here, they could be making plans, having new revelations, or gaining new skills. To put it in other familiar terms, this step would mark the moment just before the story's climax.

Ben uncovers a pivotal clue—or rather, he finds an essential item—a pair of bifocals with interchangeable lenses made by Benjamin Franklin. It is revealed that by switching through the various lenses, different messages will be revealed on the back of the Declaration of Independence. He's forced to split from Abigail and Riley, but Ben has never been closer to the treasure.

Step 8. The Ordeal

The hero faces a dire situation that changes how they view the world. All threads of the story come together at this pinnacle, the central crisis from which the hero will emerge unscathed or otherwise. The stakes will be at their absolute highest here.

Vogler details that in this stage, the hero will experience a "death," though it need not be literal. In your story, this could signify the end of something and the beginning of another, which could itself be figurative or literal. For example, a certain relationship could come to an end, or it could mean someone "stuck in their ways" opens up to a new perspective.

In National Treasure , The FBI captures Ben and Ian makes off with the Declaration of Independence—all hope feels lost. To add to it, Ian reveals that he's kidnapped Ben's father and threatens to take further action if Ben doesn't help solve the final clues and lead Ian to the treasure.

Ben escapes the FBI with Ian's help, reunites with Abigail and Riley, and leads everyone to an underground structure built below Trinity Church in New York City. Here, they manage to split from Ian once more, sending him on a goose chase to Boston with a false clue, and proceed further into the underground structure.

Though they haven't found the treasure just yet, being this far into the hunt proves to Ben's father, Patrick, that it's real enough. The two men share an emotional moment that validates what their family has been trying to do for generations.

Step 9. Reward

This is it, the moment the hero has been waiting for. They've survived "death," weathered the crisis of The Ordeal, and earned the Reward for which they went on this journey.

Now, free of Ian's clutches and with some light clue-solving, Ben, Abigail, Riley, and Patrick keep progressing through the underground structure and eventually find the Templar's treasure—it's real and more massive than they could have imagined. Everyone revels in their discovery while simultaneously looking for a way back out.

Act Three: Return

Step 10. the road back.

It's time for the journey to head towards its conclusion. The hero begins their return to the Known World and may face unexpected challenges. Whatever happens, the "why" remains paramount here (i.e. why the hero ultimately chose to embark on their journey).

This step marks a final turning point where they'll have to take action or make a decision to keep moving forward and be "reborn" back into the Known World.

Act Three of National Treasure is admittedly quite short. After finding the treasure, Ben and co. emerge from underground to face the FBI once more. Not much of a road to travel back here so much as a tunnel to scale in a crypt.

Step 11. Resurrection

The hero faces their ultimate challenge and emerges victorious, but forever changed. This step often requires a sacrifice of some sort, and having stepped into the role of The Hero™, they must answer to this.

Ben is given an ultimatum— somebody has to go to jail (on account of the whole stealing-the-Declaration-of-Independence thing). But, Ben also found a treasure worth millions of dollars and that has great value to several nations around the world, so that counts for something.

Ultimately, Ben sells Ian out, makes a deal to exonerate his friends and family, and willingly hands the treasure over to the authorities. Remember: he wanted to find the treasure, but his "why" was to restore the Gates family name, so he won regardless.

Step 12. Return With the Elixir

Finally, the hero returns home as a new version of themself, the elixir is shared amongst the people, and the journey is completed full circle.

The elixir, like many other elements of the hero's journey, can be literal or figurative. It can be a tangible thing, such as an actual elixir meant for some specific purpose, or it could be represented by an abstract concept such as hope, wisdom, or love.

Vogler notes that if the Hero's Journey results in a tragedy, the elixir can instead have an effect external to the story—meaning that it could be something meant to affect the audience and/or increase their awareness of the world.

In the final scene of National Treasure , we see Ben and Abigail walking the grounds of a massive estate. Riley pulls up in a fancy sports car and comments on how they could have gotten more money. They all chat about attending a museum exhibit in Cairo (Egypt).

In one scene, we're given a lot of closure: Ben and co. received a hefty payout for finding the treasure, Ben and Abigail are a couple now, and the treasure was rightfully spread to those it benefitted most—in this case, countries who were able to reunite with significant pieces of their history. Everyone's happy, none of them went to jail despite the serious crimes committed, and they're all a whole lot wealthier. Oh, Hollywood.

Variations of the Hero's Journey

Plot structure is important, but you don't need to follow it exactly; and, in fact, your story probably won't. Your version of the Hero's Journey might require more or fewer steps, or you might simply go off the beaten path for a few steps—and that's okay!

What follows are three additional versions of the Hero's Journey, which you may be more familiar with than Vogler's version presented above.

Dan Harmon's Story Circle (or, The Eight-Step Hero's Journey)

Screenwriter Dan Harmon has riffed on the Hero's Journey by creating a more compact version, the Story Circle —and it works especially well for shorter-format stories such as television episodes, which happens to be what Harmon writes.

The Story Circle comprises eight simple steps with a heavy emphasis on the hero's character arc:

• The hero is in a zone of comfort...
• But they want something.
• They enter an unfamiliar situation...
• And adapt to it by facing trials.
• They get what they want...
• But they pay a heavy price for it.
• They return to their familiar situation...
• Having changed.

You may have noticed, but there is a sort of rhythm here. The eight steps work well in four pairs, simplifying the core of the Hero's Journey even further:

• The hero is in a zone of comfort, but they want something.
• They enter an unfamiliar situation and have to adapt via new trials.
• They get what they want, but they pay a price for it.
• They return to their zone of comfort, forever changed.

If you're writing shorter fiction, such as a short story or novella, definitely check out the Story Circle. It's the Hero's Journey minus all the extraneous bells & whistles.

Ten-Step Hero's Journey

The ten-step Hero's Journey is similar to the twelve-step version we presented above. It includes most of the same steps except for Refusal of the Call and Meeting the Mentor, arguing that these steps aren't as essential to include; and, it moves Crossing the Threshold to the end of Act One and Reward to the end of Act Two.

• The Ordinary World
• The Call to Adventure
• Crossing the Threshold
• Tests, Allies, Enemies
• Approach the Innermost Cave
• The Road Back
• Resurrection
• Return with Elixir

We've previously written about the ten-step hero's journey in a series of essays separated by act: Act One (with a prologue), Act Two , and Act Three .

Twelve-Step Hero's Journey: Version Two

Again, the second version of the twelve-step hero's journey is very similar to the one above, save for a few changes, including in which story act certain steps appear.

This version skips The Ordinary World exposition and starts right at The Call to Adventure; then, the story ends with two new steps in place of Return With Elixir: The Return and The Freedom to Live.

• The Refusal of the Call
• Meeting the Mentor
• Test, Allies, Enemies
• Approaching the Innermost Cave
• The Resurrection
• The Return*
• The Freedom to Live*

In the final act of this version, there is more of a focus on an internal transformation for the hero. They experience a metamorphosis on their journey back to the Known World, return home changed, and go on to live a new life, uninhibited.

Seventeen-Step Hero's Journey

Finally, the granddaddy of heroic journeys: the seventeen-step Hero's Journey. This version includes a slew of extra steps your hero might face out in the expanse.

• Refusal of the Call
• Supernatural Aid (aka Meeting the Mentor)
• Belly of the Whale*: This added stage marks the hero's immediate descent into danger once they've crossed the threshold.
• Road of Trials (...with Allies, Tests, and Enemies)
• Meeting with the Goddess/God*: In this stage, the hero meets with a new advisor or powerful figure, who equips them with the knowledge or insight needed to keep progressing forward.
• Woman as Temptress (or simply, Temptation)*: Here, the hero is tempted, against their better judgment, to question themselves and their reason for being on the journey. They may feel insecure about something specific or have an exposed weakness that momentarily holds them back.
• Atonement with the Father (or, Catharthis)*: The hero faces their Temptation and moves beyond it, shedding free from all that holds them back.
• Apotheosis (aka The Ordeal)
• The Ultimate Boon (aka the Reward)
• Refusal of the Return*: The hero wonders if they even want to go back to their old life now that they've been forever changed.
• The Magic Flight*: Having decided to return to the Known World, the hero needs to actually find a way back.
• Rescue From Without*: Allies may come to the hero's rescue, helping them escape this bold, new world and return home.
• Crossing of the Return Threshold (aka The Return)
• Master of Two Worlds*: Very closely resembling The Resurrection stage in other variations, this stage signifies that the hero is quite literally a master of two worlds—The Known World and the Unknown World—having conquered each.
• Freedom to Live

Again, we skip the Ordinary World opening here. Additionally, Acts Two and Three look pretty different from what we've seen so far, although, the bones of the Hero's Journey structure remain.

The Eight Hero’s Journey Archetypes

The Hero is, understandably, the cornerstone of the Hero’s Journey, but they’re just one of eight key archetypes that make up this narrative framework.

In The Writer's Journey , Vogler outlined seven of these archetypes, only excluding the Ally, which we've included below. Here’s a breakdown of all eight with examples: 

1. The Hero

As outlined, the Hero is the protagonist who embarks on a transformative quest or journey. The challenges they overcome represent universal human struggles and triumphs. 

Vogler assigned a "primary function" to each archetype—helpful for establishing their role in a story. The Hero's primary function is "to service and sacrifice."

Example: Neo from The Matrix , who evolves from a regular individual into the prophesied savior of humanity.

2. The Mentor

A wise guide offering knowledge, tools, and advice, Mentors help the Hero navigate the journey and discover their potential. Their primary function is "to guide."

Example: Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid imparts not only martial arts skills but invaluable life lessons to Daniel.

3. The Ally

Companions who support the Hero, Allies provide assistance, friendship, and moral support throughout the journey. They may also become a friends-to-lovers romantic partner. 

Not included in Vogler's list is the Ally, though we'd argue they are essential nonetheless. Let's say their primary function is "to aid and support."

Example: Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings , a loyal friend and steadfast supporter of Frodo.

4. The Herald

The Herald acts as a catalyst to initiate the Hero's Journey, often presenting a challenge or calling the hero to adventure. Their primary function is "to warn or challenge."

Example: Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games , whose selection at the Reaping sets Katniss’s journey into motion.

5. The Trickster

A character who brings humor and unpredictability, challenges conventions, and offers alternative perspectives or solutions. Their primary function is "to disrupt."

Example: Loki from Norse mythology exemplifies the trickster, with his cunning and chaotic influence.

6. The Shapeshifter

Ambiguous figures whose allegiance and intentions are uncertain. They may be a friend one moment and a foe the next. Their primary function is "to question and deceive."

Example: Catwoman from the Batman universe often blurs the line between ally and adversary, slinking between both roles with glee.

7. The Guardian

Protectors of important thresholds, Guardians challenge or test the Hero, serving as obstacles to overcome or lessons to be learned. Their primary function is "to test."

Example: The Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail literally bellows “None shall pass!”—a quintessential ( but not very effective ) Guardian.

8. The Shadow

Represents the Hero's inner conflict or an antagonist, often embodying the darker aspects of the hero or their opposition. Their primary function is "to destroy."

Example: Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender; initially an adversary, his journey parallels the Hero’s path of transformation.

While your story does not have to use all of the archetypes, they can help you develop your characters and visualize how they interact with one another—especially the Hero.

For example, take your hero and place them in the center of a blank worksheet, then write down your other major characters in a circle around them and determine who best fits into which archetype. Who challenges your hero? Who tricks them? Who guides them? And so on...

Stories that Use the Hero’s Journey

Not a fan of saving the Declaration of Independence? Check out these alternative examples of the Hero’s Journey to get inspired: 

• Epic of Gilgamesh : An ancient Mesopotamian epic poem thought to be one of the earliest examples of the Hero’s Journey (and one of the oldest recorded stories).
• The Lion King (1994): Simba's exile and return depict a tale of growth, responsibility, and reclaiming his rightful place as king.
• The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo: Santiago's quest for treasure transforms into a journey of self-discovery and personal enlightenment.
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman: A young girl's adventure in a parallel world teaches her about courage, family, and appreciating her own reality.
• Kung Fu Panda (2008): Po's transformation from a clumsy panda to a skilled warrior perfectly exemplifies the Hero's Journey. Skadoosh!

The Hero's Journey is so generalized that it's ubiquitous. You can plop the plot of just about any quest-style narrative into its framework and say that the story follows the Hero's Journey. Try it out for yourself as an exercise in getting familiar with the method.

Will the Hero's Journey Work For You?

As renowned as it is, the Hero's Journey works best for the kinds of tales that inspired it: mythic stories.

Writers of speculative fiction may gravitate towards this method over others, especially those writing epic fantasy and science fiction (big, bold fantasy quests and grand space operas come to mind).

The stories we tell today are vast and varied, and they stretch far beyond the dealings of deities, saving kingdoms, or acquiring some fabled "elixir." While that may have worked for Gilgamesh a few thousand years ago, it's not always representative of our lived experiences here and now.

If you decide to give the Hero's Journey a go, we encourage you to make it your own! The pieces of your plot don't have to neatly fit into the structure, but you can certainly make a strong start on mapping out your story.

Hero's Journey Campfire Template

The Timeline Module in Campfire offers a versatile canvas to plot out each basic component of your story while featuring nested "notebooks."

Simply double-click on each event card in your timeline to open up a canvas specific to that card. This allows you to look at your plot at the highest level, while also adding as much detail for each plot element as needed!

If you're just hearing about Campfire for the first time, it's free to sign up—forever! Let's plot the most epic of hero's journeys 👇

Lessons From the Hero’s Journey

The Hero's Journey offers a powerful framework for creating stories centered around growth, adventure, and transformation.

If you want to develop compelling characters, spin out engaging plots, and write books that express themes of valor and courage, consider The Hero’s Journey your blueprint. So stop holding out for a hero, and start writing!

Does your story mirror the Hero's Journey? Let us know in the comments below.

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Hero's Journey: A Guide to Becoming The Hero Of Your Story

What will your story be.

Be the hero of your story . It’s common advice from motivational speakers and life coaches, a call to arms to take centre stage and tackle life’s challenges head-on, to emerge victorious in the face of adversity, to transform through hardship. 

As humans, hardwired to view the world and share experiences through the medium of stories, myths often act as powerful motivators of change. From ancient cave paintings to the Star Wars and its Death Star to Harry Potter and his battle against evil, the hero’s journey structure is a familiar one. It’s also one you need to know if you want to know how to write a book , but I digress. 

This article will outline the stages, and psychological meaning, of the 12 steps of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey. So, are you ready to become the hero of your story? Then let the adventure begin...

Who is Joseph Campbell? 

Joseph Campbell was an American professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College, and an expert of mythology that once spent five years in a rented shack, buried in books for nine hours each day. His greatest contribution is the hero’s journey, outlined in his book The Hero with A Thousand Faces . Campbell was able to synthesise huge volumes of heroic stories, distilling a common structure amongst them.

Near the end of his life, Campbell was interviewed by Bill Moyers in a documentary series exploring his work, The Power of Myth .

Throughout their discussion, Campbell highlighted the importance of myth not just in stories, but in our lives, as symbols to inspire us to flourish and grow to our full potential.

How is the hero’s journey connected to self development?

You might be wondering what storytelling has to do with self-development. Before we dive into the hero’s journey (whether that is a male or a female hero’s journey), context will be useful. Joseph Cambell was heavily inspired by the work of Carl Jung, the groundbreaking psychologist who throughout his life worked on theories such as the shadow, collective unconscious, archetypes, and synchronicity.

Jung’s greatest insight was that the unconscious is a vast, vibrant landscape, yet out sight from the ordinary conscious experience. Jung didn’t only theorize about the unconscious; he provided a huge body of work explaining the language of the unconscious, and the way in which it communicates with the conscious mind.

The nature of the unconscious

Due to its vast nature, the unconscious doesn’t operate like the conscious mind, which is based in language, logic, and rationality. The unconscious instead operates in the imaginal realm — using symbols and meaning that take time to be deciphered and understood consciously. Such symbols surface in dreams, visualizations, daydreams, or fantasies.

For Jung, the creative process is one in which contents of the unconscious mind are brought to light. Enter storytelling and character development — a process of myth-making that somehow captures the truth of deep psychological processes. 

Campbell saw the power of myth in igniting the unconscious will to grow and live a meaningful life. With that in mind, his structure offers a tool of transformation and a way to inspire the unconscious to work towards your own hero’s journey.

The 12 steps of the hero’s journey

The hero’s journey ends where it begins, back at the beginning after a quest of epic proportions. The 12 steps are separated into three acts: 

• departure (1-5)
• initiation (5-10)
• return (10-1)

The hero journeys through the 12 steps in a clockwise fashion. As Campbell explains:

“The usual hero adventure begins with someone from whom something has been taken, or who feels there is something lacking in the normal experience available or permitted to the members of society. The person then takes off on a series of adventures beyond the ordinary, either to recover what has been lost or to discover some life-giving elixir. It’s usually a cycle, a coming and a returning.”

Let’s take a closer look at each of the steps below. Plus, under each is a psychological symbol that describes how the hero’s journey unfolds, and how when the hero ventures forth, he undergoes an inner process of awakening and transformation.

1. The ordinary world

The calm before the storm. The hero is living a standard, mundane life, going about their business unaware of the impending call to adventure. At this point, the hero is portrayed as very, very human. There could be glimpses of their potential, but these circumstances restrict the hero from fulfilling them. Although well within the hero’s comfort zone, at this stage, it’s clear something significant is lacking from their life.

Psychological symbol

This is represented as a stage of ignorance, pre-awakening. Living life by the status quo, on other people’s terms, or simply without questioning if this is what you want. At this point life is lived, but not deeply satisfying.

2. Call to adventure

Next is a disruption, a significant event that threatens the ways things were. This is a challenge that the hero knows deep down will lead to transformation and change, and that the days of normality, “the way things are,” are numbered. The hero confronts the question of being asked to step into their deeper potential, to awaken the power within, and to enter a new, special world.

Many of us embark on inner-journeys following hardship in life — the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, physical or mental illness. This stage occurs when it becomes apparent that, to move through suffering, one has to look within, to adventure into the soul.

3. Refusal of the call

No compelling story would be complete without friction. The hero often resists this call to adventure, as fear and self-doubt surface at full force, and the purpose of this new life direction is questioned. Can the reluctant hero journey forth? Do they have the courage?

The only way to grow and live a deeply fulfilling life is to face the discomfort of suffering. Campbell himself once said: “ The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek .” At this stage, fears, and anxieties about delving deep into the psyche arise. The temptation is to remain blissfully ignorant, to avoid discomfort, and to stay in your familiar world.

4. Meeting a mentor

As the hero faces a crisis of confidence, a wise mentor figure appears.

This character offers inspiration, guidance, or understanding that encourages the hero to have the self-belief to start this new adventure. In many stories, a mentor is someone else who has embarked on the hero’s journey, or someone who attempted, and failed. This person reflects the importance of this mission, reminding the hero their calling far exceeds their fear.

When the journey of exploration has to begin, people or situations enter your life at just the right time, guiding you in the right direction. This could be a close friend, a peer, a professional, such as a coach or therapist, or even a fictional character in a film or book. In most cases, these are chance encounters that contain a sense of knowing before the hero leaves on his or her adventure.

5. Crossing the threshold

This is a pivotal moment in the hero’s journey, as the initiation begins. This occurs when the hero fully commits to their quest, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. This is the point of no return, where the reluctant hero embarks on their adventure, and has accepted that the way things were must change. The hero enters a new zone, one in which the call to adventure must be accepted. The hero’s resolve is hardened, and they understand they have a responsibility to confront what is ahead of them.

Whatever your life was before the call to action, this is a crossroads which is accepted, knowing your life may never be the same. This is a point of empowerment, where you realize that journeying within will lead you to greater self-understanding, even if those insights will dramatically change your life direction. 

6. Test, allies, enemies

Now the hero has ventured outside of their comfort zone, the true test begins. This is a stage of acclimatizing to unknown lands. Unknown forces work against them, as they form bonds with allies who join them along the way, or face formidable enemies or encounters that have to be conquered. Throughout this testing time, the hero will be shaped and molded through adversity, finding deeper meaning in their life and mission.

Once the journey of self-discovery is underway, the initial burst of inspiration might be tested by the difficulty of the task. You might meet people who are able to offer advice or guide you, or those who reflect areas of yourself you have to work on. 

Often, these are inner experiences, in the forms of memories, emotions, or outward tests, such as difficult circumstances that challenge your resolve and commitment to your new life direction.

7. Approach to the inmost cave

Having already crossed the threshold into the unknown and the uncertain, having faced obstacles and enemies, and having begun to utilize their qualities along the way, the next stage is another threshold. 

This is the beating heart of the hero’s challenge, where again self-doubt and fear can arise, as another threshold has to be crossed. This is often a period of respite, giving the hero time to pause and reflect. Will the hero make the leap?

The hero’s journey has ups and downs. There may be quick wins in the beginning — your new life direction may go well, or inner-work may lead you to a new place of calm or confidence. But then, out of nowhere, comes an even bigger challenge, surfacing as a question mark to the person you’ve become. Life often has a way of presenting the right challenges at the right time…

This is the life-or-death moment. This can be a meeting with an ultimate enemy or facing the hero’s deepest fear. There is an awareness that if the hero fails, their new world, or their life, could be destroyed. 

Everything the hero has fought for up to this point, all the lessons learned along the journey, all the hidden potentials actualized, will have to be utilized to survive this supreme ordeal, for the hero to be victorious. Either way, the hero will undergo a form of death, and leave the ordeal forever changed.

There are inner challenges that have to be confronted on the journey of self-discovery. This might be in the form of trauma that has to be confronted and healed, people with whom you have to have difficult conversations, or fears you have to face, actions that in the past you never thought you’d be capable of. But, with the skills you’ve learned along the way, this time you’ll be ready. But it won’t be easy.

9. Reward (seizing the sword)

Through great adversity comes triumph. Having confronted their greatest fear, and survived annihilation, the hero learns a valuable lesson, and is now fully transformed and reborn — with a prize as a reward. 

This object is often symbolized as a treasure, a token, secret knowledge, or reconciliation, such as the return of an old friend or lover. This prize can assist in the return to the ordinary world — but there are still a few steps to come.

When confronting deep inner fears or challenges, you are rewarded with deep insights or breakthroughs. That might be in the form of achieving a significant goal or inwardly having a sense of peace or reconciliation with your past, or moments that have previously felt unresolved. As a spiritual process, this may also be the realization that behind suffering and pain lies freedom or inner peace.

10. The road back

Having traveled into distant, foreign lands and slain the dragon, now it’s time for the hero to make their return journey. This stage mirrors the original call to adventure and represents another threshold. 

The hero may be understanding their new responsibility and the consequences of their actions, and require a catalyst to make the journey back to the ordinary world with their prize.

The hard work has been done, the ultimate fear confronted, new knowledge found. Now, what’s the next step? For many, the initial stages of growth come with a period of renunciation or are symbolized by an outward journey away from home, or away from familiarity. 

Then comes the stage of returning to familiarity, or the things left behind — be it family, friends, locations, or even behaviors that were once loved and sacrificed during the journey.

11. Resurrection

When it appears the hero is out of the woods, there comes a final confrontation — an encounter with death itself. Transformed inwardly and with a personal victory complete, the hero faces a battle that transcends their individual quest, with its consequences far-reaching, for entire communities or even humanity itself. 

This purification solidifies the hero’s rebirth, as their new identity fully emerges just in time to return to the ordinary world.

In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization is secondary to self-transcendence. In other words, once inner battles have been faced, and the alchemy of psychological transformation is underway, the next stage is to apply the newfound insights and knowledge to a bigger cause — supporting others, or standing up a mission that will benefit the wider world.

12. Return with the elixir

Following the final battle, the hero finally returns home. By now, personal transformation is complete, they’re returning home a different person. Having faced indescribable hardship, the hero returns with added wisdom and maturity. The elixir is the treasure they’ve returned with, ready to share with the ordinary world. This could be a sense of hope, freedom, or even a new perspective to assist those originally left behind.

The hero has a new level of self-awareness, seeing the ordinary world through fresh eyes. They’ve left internal conflict behind. There’s an understanding that things will never be the same, but that the hero’s journey was part of their destiny. 

Then comes the ultimate prize: a final reconciliation, acceptance from the community, celebration, redemption. Whatever the prize, there are three elements: change , success , and proof of the journey .

Following a transformative psychic process, there’s an understanding of what is within your control. The “ordinary world” may have many elements that remain the same, but this is accompanied by a realization that when you change, so does your reality. Previously modes of thinking may be replaced, as bridges are built with your past, giving opportunity for a renewed approach to life.

What can we learn from the hero's journey?

At the time of writing this article, I’m in the UK visiting my family for the first time in 18 months. As I walked down paths I’d walked throughout my childhood, I was struck by how much I’ve changed over the years. A passage from T.S Eliot’s poem Little Gidding came to mind:

“We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring. Will be to arrive where we started. And know the place for the first time.”

I reflected on the notion of coming full circle — to begin a journey, outwardly or inwardly, before finding yourself back at the beginning, transformed. In spiritual traditions, the circle is a powerful symbol of timelessness, death and rebirth, totality, and wholeness. Aptly, the 12 steps of the hero’s journey are depicted as a circle. It’s not a coincidence.

What can we learn from the hero’s journey? In a way, it is similar to the writer’s journey. Above all else, it’s a reminder that we each within us have a purpose, a quest and a mission in this life that can and will invoke our truest potential. The path isn’t easy — there are many, many challenges along the way. But at the right time, people and situations will come to our aid.

If you’re able to confront the mission head-on and take bold steps along the way — just like all the heroes of fiction before you, from Shakespeare’s characters to Luke Skywalker and Rey from the universe brought to us by George Lucas —  then you will be transformed, and then you can return to where you started, reborn, ready to share your gifts and your lessons with the world.

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• Story Writing Guides

12 Hero’s Journey Stages Explained (+ Free Templates)

From zero to hero, the hero’s journey is a popular character development arc used in many stories. In today’s post, we will explain the 12 hero’s journey stages, along with the simple example of Cinderella.

The Hero’s Journey was originally formulated by American writer Joseph Campbell to describe the typical character arc of many classic stories, particularly in the context of mythology and folklore. The original hero’s journey contained 17 steps. Although the hero’s journey has been adapted since then for use in modern fiction, the concept is not limited to literature. It can be applied to any story, video game, film or even music that features an archetypal hero who undergoes a transformation. Common examples of the hero’s journey in popular works include Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

• What is the hero's journey?

Stage 1: The Ordinary World

Stage 2: call of adventure, stage 3: refusal of the call, stage 4: meeting the mentor, stage 5: crossing the threshold, stage 6: tests, allies, enemies, stage 7: the approach, stage 8: the ordeal, stage 9: reward, stage 10: the road back, stage 11: resurrection, stage 12: return with the elixir, cinderella example, campbell’s 17-step journey, leeming’s 8-step journey, cousineau’s 8-step journey.

• Free Hero's Journey Templates

What is the hero’s journey?

The hero’s journey, also known as the monomyth, is a character arc used in many stories. The idea behind it is that heroes undergo a journey that leads them to find their true selves. This is often represented in a series of stages. There are typically 12 stages to the hero’s journey. Each stage represents a change in the hero’s mindset or attitude, which is triggered by an external or internal event. These events cause the hero to overcome a challenge, reach a threshold, and then return to a normal life.

The hero’s journey is a powerful tool for understanding your characters. It can help you decide who they are, what they want, where they came from, and how they will change over time. It can be used to

• Understand the challenges your characters will face
• Understand how your characters react to those challenges
• Help develop your characters’ traits and relationships

In this post, we will explain each stage of the hero’s journey, using the example of Cinderella.

You might also be interested in our post on the story mountain or this guide on how to outline a book .

12 Hero’s Journey Stages

The archetypal hero’s journey contains 12 stages and was created by Christopher Vogler. These steps take your main character through an epic struggle that leads to their ultimate triumph or demise. While these steps may seem formulaic at first glance, they actually form a very flexible structure. The hero’s journey is about transformation, not perfection.

Your hero starts out in the ordinary world. He or she is just like every other person in their environment, doing things that are normal for them and experiencing the same struggles and challenges as everyone else. In the ordinary world, the hero feels stuck and confused, so he or she goes on a quest to find a way out of this predicament.

Example: Cinderella’s father passes away and she is now stuck doing chores and taking abuse from her stepsisters and stepmother.

The hero gets his or her first taste of adventure when the call comes. This could be in the form of an encounter with a stranger or someone they know who encourages them to take a leap of faith. This encounter is typically an accident, a series of coincidences that put the hero in the right place at the right time.

Example: An invite arrives inviting the family to a royal ball where the Prince will choose a wife.

Some people will refuse to leave their safe surroundings and live by their own rules. The hero has to overcome the negative influences in order to hear the call again. They also have to deal with any personal doubts that arise from thinking too much about the potential dangers involved in the quest. It is common for the hero to deny their own abilities in this stage and to lack confidence in themselves.

Example: Cinderella accepts the call by making her own dress for the ball. However, her stepmother refuses the call for her by not letting her go to the ball. And her step-sisters ruin her dress, so she can not go.

After hearing the call, the hero begins a relationship with a mentor who helps them learn about themselves and the world. In some cases, the mentor may be someone the hero already knows. The mentor is usually someone who is well-versed in the knowledge that the hero needs to acquire, but who does not judge the hero for their lack of experience.

Example: Cinderella meets her fairy godmother who equips her with everything she needs for the ball, including a dress and a carriage.

The hero leaves their old life behind and enters the unfamiliar new world. The crossing of the threshold symbolises leaving their old self behind and becoming a new person. Sometimes this can include learning a new skill or changing their physical appearance. It can also include a time of wandering, which is an essential part of the hero’s journey.

Example: Cinderella hops into the carriage and heads off to the ball. She has transformed from a servant into an elegant young lady. 

As the hero goes on this journey, they will meet both allies (people who help the hero) and enemies (people who try to stop the hero). There will also be tests, where the hero is tempted to quit, turn back, or become discouraged. The hero must be persistent and resilient to overcome challenges.

Example: At the ball, Cinderella meets the prince, and even see’s her stepmother and stepsister. She dances with Prince all night long making her step-sisters extremely jealous.

The hero now reaches the destination of their journey, in some cases, this is a literal location, such as a cave or castle. It could also be metaphorical, such as the hero having an internal conflict or having to make a difficult decision. In either case, the hero has to confront their deepest fears in this stage with bravery. In some ways, this stage can mark the end of the hero’s journey because the hero must now face their darkest fears and bring them under control. If they do not do this, the hero could be defeated in the final battle and will fail the story.

Example: Cinderella is having a great time at the ball and nearly forgets about the midnight rule. As she runs away in a hurry, her glass slipper falls off outside the palace.

The hero has made it to the final challenge of their journey and now must face all odds and defeat their greatest adversary. Consider this the climax of the story. This could be in the form of a physical battle, a moral dilemma or even an emotional challenge. The hero will look to their allies or mentor for further support and guidance in this ordeal. Whatever happens in this stage could change the rest of the story, either for good or bad. 

Example: Prince Charming looks all over the kingdom for the mysterious girl he met at the ball. He finally visits Cinderella’s house and tries the slippers on the step-sisters. The prince is about to leave and then he sees Cinderella in the corner cleaning.

When the hero has defeated the most powerful and dangerous of adversaries, they will receive their reward. This reward could be an object, a new relationship or even a new piece of knowledge. The reward, which typically comes as a result of the hero’s perseverance and hard work, signifies the end of their journey. Given that the hero has accomplished their goal and served their purpose, it is a time of great success and accomplishment.

Example: The prince tries the glass slipper on Cinderella. The glass slipper fits Cinderella perfectly, and they fall in love.

The journey is now complete, and the hero is now heading back home. As the hero considers their journey and reflects on the lessons they learned along the way, the road back is sometimes marked by a sense of nostalgia or even regret. As they must find their way back to the normal world and reintegrate into their former life, the hero may encounter additional difficulties or tests along the way. It is common for the hero to run into previous adversaries or challenges they believed they had overcome.

Example: Cinderella and Prince Charming head back to the Prince’s castle to get married.

The hero has one final battle to face. At this stage, the hero might have to fight to the death against a much more powerful foe. The hero might even be confronted with their own mortality or their greatest fear. This is usually when the hero’s true personality emerges. This stage is normally symbolised by the hero rising from the dark place and fighting back. This dark place could again be a physical location, such as the underground or a dark cave. It might even be a dark, mental state, such as depression. As the hero rises again, they might change physically or even experience an emotional transformation. 

Example: Cinderella is reborn as a princess. She once again feels the love and happiness that she felt when she was a little girl living with her father.

At the end of the story, the hero returns to the ordinary world and shares the knowledge gained in their journey with their fellow man. This can be done by imparting some form of wisdom, an object of great value or by bringing about a social revolution. In all cases, the hero returns changed and often wiser.

Example: Cinderella and Prince Charming live happily ever after. She uses her new role to punish her stepmother and stepsisters and to revitalise the kingdom.

We have used the example of Cinderella in Vogler’s hero’s journey model below:

Below we have briefly explained the other variations of the hero’s journey arc.

The very first hero’s journey arc was created by Joseph Campbell in 1949. It contained the following 17 steps:

• The Call to Adventure: The hero receives a call or a reason to go on a journey.
• Refusal of the Call: The hero does not accept the quest. They worry about their own abilities or fear the journey itself.
• Supernatural Aid: Someone (the mentor) comes to help the hero and they have supernatural powers, which are usually magical.
• The Crossing of the First Threshold: A symbolic boundary is crossed by the hero, often after a test. 
• Belly of the Whale: The point where the hero has the most difficulty making it through.
• The Road of Trials: In this step, the hero will be tempted and tested by the outside world, with a number of negative experiences.
• The Meeting with the Goddess: The hero meets someone who can give them the knowledge, power or even items for the journey ahead.
• Woman as the Temptress: The hero is tempted to go back home or return to their old ways.
• Atonement with the Father: The hero has to make amends for any wrongdoings they may have done in the past. They need to confront whatever holds them back.
• Apotheosis: The hero gains some powerful knowledge or grows to a higher level. 
• The Ultimate Boon: The ultimate boon is the reward for completing all the trials of the quest. The hero achieves their ultimate goal and feels powerful.
• Refusal of the Return: After collecting their reward, the hero refuses to return to normal life. They want to continue living like gods. 
• The Magic Flight: The hero escapes with the reward in hand.
• Rescue from Without: The hero has been hurt and needs help from their allies or guides.
• The Crossing of the Return Threshold: The hero must come back and learn to integrate with the ordinary world once again.
• Master of the Two Worlds: The hero shares their wisdom or gifts with the ordinary world. Learning to live in both worlds.
• Freedom to Live: The hero accepts the new version of themselves and lives happily without fear.

David Adams Leeming later adapted the hero’s journey based on his research of legendary heroes found in mythology. He noted the following steps as a pattern that all heroes in stories follow:

• Miraculous conception and birth: This is the first trauma that the hero has to deal with. The Hero is often an orphan or abandoned child and therefore faces many hardships early on in life. 
• Initiation of the hero-child: The child faces their first major challenge. At this point, the challenge is normally won with assistance from someone else.
• Withdrawal from family or community: The hero runs away and is tempted by negative forces.
• Trial and quest: A quest finds the hero giving them an opportunity to prove themselves.
• Death: The hero fails and is left near death or actually does die.
• Descent into the underworld: The hero rises again from death or their near-death experience.
• Resurrection and rebirth: The hero learns from the errors of their way and is reborn into a better, wiser being.
• Ascension, apotheosis, and atonement: The hero gains some powerful knowledge or grows to a higher level (sometimes a god-like level). 

In 1990, Phil Cousineau further adapted the hero’s journey by simplifying the steps from Campbell’s model and rearranging them slightly to suit his own findings of heroes in literature. Again Cousineau’s hero’s journey included 8 steps:

• The call to adventure: The hero must have a reason to go on an adventure.
• The road of trials: The hero undergoes a number of tests that help them to transform.
• The vision quest: Through the quest, the hero learns the errors of their ways and has a realisation of something.
• The meeting with the goddess: To help the hero someone helps them by giving them some knowledge, power or even items for the journey ahead.
• The boon: This is the reward for completing the journey.
• The magic flight: The hero must escape, as the reward is attached to something terrible.
• The return threshold: The hero must learn to live back in the ordinary world.
• The master of two worlds: The hero shares their knowledge with the ordinary world and learns to live in both worlds.

As you can see, every version of the hero’s journey is about the main character showing great levels of transformation. Their journey may start and end at the same location, but they have personally evolved as a character in your story. Once a weakling, they now possess the knowledge and skill set to protect their world if needed.

Free Hero’s Journey Templates

Use the free Hero’s journey templates below to practice the skills you learned in this guide! You can either draw or write notes in each of the scene boxes. Once the template is complete, you will have a better idea of how your main character or the hero of your story develops over time:

The storyboard template below is a great way to develop your main character and organise your story:

Did you find this guide on the hero’s journey stages useful? Let us know in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Hero's Journey 101: How to Use the Hero's Journey to Plot Your Story

Dan Schriever

How many times have you heard this story? A protagonist is suddenly whisked away from their ordinary life and embarks on a grand adventure. Along the way they make new friends, confront perils, and face tests of character. In the end, evil is defeated, and the hero returns home a changed person.

That’s the Hero’s Journey in a nutshell. It probably sounds very familiar—and rightly so: the Hero’s Journey aspires to be the universal story, or monomyth, a narrative pattern deeply ingrained in literature and culture. Whether in books, movies, television, or folklore, chances are you’ve encountered many examples of the Hero’s Journey in the wild.

In this post, we’ll walk through the elements of the Hero’s Journey step by step. We’ll also study an archetypal example from the movie The Matrix (1999). Once you have mastered the beats of this narrative template, you’ll be ready to put your very own spin on it.

Sound good? Then let’s cross the threshold and let the journey begin.

What Is the Hero’s Journey?

The 12 stages of the hero’s journey, writing your own hero’s journey.

The Hero’s Journey is a common story structure for modeling both plot points and character development. A protagonist embarks on an adventure into the unknown. They learn lessons, overcome adversity, defeat evil, and return home transformed.

Joseph Campbell , a scholar of literature, popularized the monomyth in his influential work The Hero With a Thousand Faces (1949). Looking for common patterns in mythological narratives, Campbell described a character arc with 17 total stages, overlaid on a more traditional three-act structure. Not all need be present in every myth or in the same order.

The three stages, or acts, of Campbell’s Hero’s Journey are as follows:

1. Departure. The hero leaves the ordinary world behind.

2. Initiation. The hero ventures into the unknown ("the Special World") and overcomes various obstacles and challenges.

3. Return. The hero returns in triumph to the familiar world.

Hollywood has embraced Campbell’s structure, most famously in George Lucas’s Star Wars movies. There are countless examples in books, music, and video games, from fantasy epics and Disney films to sports movies.

In The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (1992), screenwriter Christopher Vogler adapted Campbell’s three phases into the "12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey." This is the version we’ll analyze in the next section.

For writers, the purpose of the Hero’s Journey is to act as a template and guide. It’s not a rigid formula that your plot must follow beat by beat. Indeed, there are good reasons to deviate—not least of which is that this structure has become so ubiquitous.

Still, it’s helpful to master the rules before deciding when and how to break them. The 12 steps of the Hero's Journey are as follows :

• The Ordinary World
• The Call of Adventure
• Refusal of the Call
• Meeting the Mentor
• Crossing the First Threshold
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies
• Approach to the Inmost Cave
• Reward (Seizing the Sword)
• The Road Back
• Resurrection
• Return with the Elixir

Let’s take a look at each stage in more detail. To show you how the Hero’s Journey works in practice, we’ll also consider an example from the movie The Matrix (1999). After all, what blog has not been improved by a little Keanu Reeves?

#1: The Ordinary World

This is where we meet our hero, although the journey has not yet begun: first, we need to establish the status quo by showing the hero living their ordinary, mundane life.

It’s important to lay the groundwork in this opening stage, before the journey begins. It lets readers identify with the hero as just a regular person, “normal” like the rest of us. Yes, there may be a big problem somewhere out there, but the hero at this stage has very limited awareness of it.

The Ordinary World in The Matrix :

We are introduced to Thomas A. Anderson, aka Neo, programmer by day, hacker by night. While Neo runs a side operation selling illicit software, Thomas Anderson lives the most mundane life imaginable: he works at his cubicle, pays his taxes, and helps the landlady carry out her garbage.

#2: The Call to Adventure

The journey proper begins with a call to adventure—something that disrupts the hero’s ordinary life and confronts them with a problem or challenge they can’t ignore. This can take many different forms.

While readers may already understand the stakes, the hero is realizing them for the first time. They must make a choice: will they shrink from the call, or rise to the challenge?

The Call to Adventure in The Matrix :

A mysterious message arrives in Neo’s computer, warning him that things are not as they seem. He is urged to “follow the white rabbit.” At a nightclub, he meets Trinity, who tells him to seek Morpheus.

#3: Refusal of the Call

Oops! The hero chooses option A and attempts to refuse the call to adventure. This could be for any number of reasons: fear, disbelief, a sense of inadequacy, or plain unwillingness to make the sacrifices that are required.

A little reluctance here is understandable. If you were asked to trade the comforts of home for a life-and-death journey fraught with peril, wouldn’t you give pause?

Refusal of the Call in The Matrix :

Agents arrive at Neo’s office to arrest him. Morpheus urges Neo to escape by climbing out a skyscraper window. “I can’t do this… This is crazy!” Neo protests as he backs off the ledge.

#4: Meeting the Mentor

Okay, so the hero got cold feet. Nothing a little pep talk can’t fix! The mentor figure appears at this point to give the hero some much needed counsel, coaching, and perhaps a kick out the door.

After all, the hero is very inexperienced at this point. They’re going to need help to avoid disaster or, worse, death. The mentor’s role is to overcome the hero’s reluctance and prepare them for what lies ahead.

Meeting the Mentor in The Matrix :

Neo meets with Morpheus, who reveals a terrifying truth: that the ordinary world as we know it is a computer simulation designed to enslave humanity to machines.

#5: Crossing the First Threshold

At this juncture, the hero is ready to leave their ordinary world for the first time. With the mentor’s help, they are committed to the journey and ready to step across the threshold into the special world . This marks the end of the departure act and the beginning of the adventure in earnest.

This may seem inevitable, but for the hero it represents an important choice. Once the threshold is crossed, there’s no going back. Bilbo Baggins put it nicely: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Crossing the First Threshold in The Matrix :

Neo is offered a stark choice: take the blue pill and return to his ordinary life none the wiser, or take the red pill and “see how deep the rabbit hole goes.” Neo takes the red pill and is extracted from the Matrix, entering the real world .

#6: Tests, Allies, and Enemies

Now we are getting into the meat of the adventure. The hero steps into the special world and must learn the new rules of an unfamiliar setting while navigating trials, tribulations, and tests of will. New characters are often introduced here, and the hero must navigate their relationships with them. Will they be friend, foe, or something in between?

Broadly speaking, this is a time of experimentation and growth. It is also one of the longest stages of the journey, as the hero learns the lay of the land and defines their relationship to other characters.

Wondering how to create captivating characters? Read our guide , which explains how to shape characters that readers will love—or hate.

Tests, Allies, and Enemies in The Matrix :

Neo is introduced to the vagabond crew of the Nebuchadnezzar . Morpheus informs Neo that he is The One , a savior destined to liberate humanity. He learns jiu jitsu and other useful skills.

#7: Approach to the Inmost Cave

Time to get a little metaphorical. The inmost cave isn’t a physical cave, but rather a place of great danger—indeed, the most dangerous place in the special world . It could be a villain’s lair, an impending battle, or even a mental barrier. No spelunking required.

Broadly speaking, the approach is marked by a setback in the quest. It becomes a lesson in persistence, where the hero must reckon with failure, change their mindset, or try new ideas.

Note that the hero hasn’t entered the cave just yet. This stage is about the approach itself, which the hero must navigate to get closer to their ultimate goal. The stakes are rising, and failure is no longer an option.

Approach to the Inmost Cave in The Matrix :

Neo pays a visit to The Oracle. She challenges Neo to “know thyself”—does he believe, deep down, that he is The One ? Or does he fear that he is “just another guy”? She warns him that the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

#8: The Ordeal

The ordeal marks the hero’s greatest test thus far. This is a dark time for them: indeed, Campbell refers to it as the “belly of the whale.” The hero experiences a major hurdle or obstacle, which causes them to hit rock bottom.

This is a pivotal moment in the story, the main event of the second act. It is time for the hero to come face to face with their greatest fear. It will take all their skills to survive this life-or-death crisis. Should they succeed, they will emerge from the ordeal transformed.

Keep in mind: the story isn’t over yet! Rather, the ordeal is the moment when the protagonist overcomes their weaknesses and truly steps into the title of hero .

The Ordeal in The Matrix :

When Cipher betrays the crew to the agents, Morpheus sacrifices himself to protect Neo. In turn, Neo makes his own choice: to risk his life in a daring rescue attempt.

#9: Reward (Seizing the Sword)

The ordeal was a major level-up moment for the hero. Now that it's been overcome, the hero can reap the reward of success. This reward could be an object, a skill, or knowledge—whatever it is that the hero has been struggling toward. At last, the sword is within their grasp.

From this moment on, the hero is a changed person. They are now equipped for the final conflict, even if they don’t fully realize it yet.

Reward (Seizing the Sword) in The Matrix :

Neo’s reward is helpfully narrated by Morpheus during the rescue effort: “He is beginning to believe.” Neo has gained confidence that he can fight the machines, and he won’t back down from his destiny.

#10: The Road Back

We’re now at the beginning of act three, the return . With the reward in hand, it’s time to exit the inmost cave and head home. But the story isn’t over yet.

In this stage, the hero reckons with the consequences of act two. The ordeal was a success, but things have changed now. Perhaps the dragon, robbed of his treasure, sets off for revenge. Perhaps there are more enemies to fight. Whatever the obstacle, the hero must face them before their journey is complete.

The Road Back in The Matrix :

The rescue of Morpheus has enraged Agent Smith, who intercepts Neo before he can return to the Nebuchadnezzar . The two foes battle in a subway station, where Neo’s skills are pushed to their limit.

#11: Resurrection

Now comes the true climax of the story. This is the hero’s final test, when everything is at stake: the battle for the soul of Gotham, the final chance for evil to triumph. The hero is also at the peak of their powers. A happy ending is within sight, should they succeed.

Vogler calls the resurrection stage the hero’s “final exam.” They must draw on everything they have learned and prove again that they have really internalized the lessons of the ordeal . Near-death escapes are not uncommon here, or even literal deaths and resurrections.

Resurrection in The Matrix :

Despite fighting valiantly, Neo is defeated by Agent Smith and killed. But with Trinity’s help, he is resurrected, activating his full powers as The One . Isn’t it wonderful how literal The Matrix can be?

#12: Return with the Elixir

Hooray! Evil has been defeated and the hero is transformed. It’s time for the protagonist to return home in triumph, and share their hard-won prize with the ordinary world . This prize is the elixir —the object, skill, or insight that was the hero’s true reward for their journey and transformation.

Return with the Elixir in The Matrix :

Neo has defeated the agents and embraced his destiny. He returns to the simulated world of the Matrix, this time armed with god-like powers and a resolve to open humanity’s eyes to the truth.

If you’re writing your own adventure, you may be wondering: should I follow the Hero’s Journey structure?

The good news is, it’s totally up to you. Joseph Campbell conceived of the monomyth as a way to understand universal story structure, but there are many ways to outline a novel. Feel free to play around within its confines, adapt it across different media, and disrupt reader expectations. It’s like Morpheus says: “Some of these rules can be bent. Others can be broken.”

Think of the Hero’s Journey as a tool. If you’re not sure where your story should go next, it can help to refer back to the basics. From there, you’re free to choose your own adventure.

Are you prepared to write your novel? Download this free book now:

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Hero’s Journey: A Guide to the Ultimate Storytelling Framework

Every captivating story, from ancient myths to modern blockbusters, shares a common narrative structure that resonates with audiences across generations and cultures. This powerful storytelling framework is known as the hero’s journey, a concept rooted in the groundbreaking work of renowned mythologist and author, Joseph Campbell. In this blog post, we’ll delve deep into the fascinating world of the hero’s journey, exploring its key components, providing examples from iconic literature, and sharing insights on how you can harness this timeless narrative structure to elevate your own writing. So, buckle up and join us on this epic adventure as we unravel the secrets of the hero’s journey and uncover the universal threads that bind us all together through the power of storytelling.

What is the Hero’s Journey?

At its core, the hero’s journey is a narrative framework that outlines the transformative arc of a protagonist as they embark on an adventure, face and overcome challenges, and ultimately return home, forever changed by their experiences. The concept was popularized by Joseph Campbell in his seminal work, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” where he identified a common pattern in the myths and stories from different cultures and historical periods. Campbell believed that the hero’s journey resonated deeply with readers and audiences because it mirrored universal psychological and spiritual experiences, making it a powerful tool for creating engaging and meaningful stories.

The hero’s journey serves as both a structural blueprint and a symbolic template for stories, enabling writers to craft compelling narratives that reflect the trials, triumphs, and transformations we all encounter in our own lives. By understanding and incorporating the elements of the hero’s journey into your writing, you can create stories that not only entertain but also inspire and enlighten, transcending the boundaries of time and culture to connect with the very essence of human experience.

The Three Acts of a Hero’s Journey

Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey can be broken down into three distinct acts, each comprising a series of stages that capture the essential elements of the protagonist’s transformative arc. These three acts provide a roadmap for writers, helping them navigate the complex landscape of their stories and ensuring that their heroes undergo meaningful and memorable journeys.

• Departure (The Call to Adventure)
• Initiation (Trials and Transformation)
• Return (Master of Two Worlds)

As we explore each act in greater detail, you’ll begin to recognize the familiar narrative beats that have captivated audiences for centuries, and discover how you can use these archetypal elements to bring your own stories to life.

It’s important to note that while the hero’s journey offers a structured framework for storytelling, it is by no means a rigid formula. Writers should feel free to adapt, modify, and expand upon the hero’s journey to suit the unique needs of their stories and characters, always bearing in mind that the ultimate goal is to create engaging, emotionally resonant narratives that connect with readers on a deeper level.

Act 1 – Departure

The first act of the hero’s journey, Departure, sets the stage for the protagonist’s transformative adventure. It introduces the hero in their familiar, ordinary world and presents them with a call to action that will propel them into the unknown. Here are the key stages of the Departure act:

• The Ordinary World: This stage establishes the hero’s everyday life, providing a relatable starting point for the reader. It highlights the hero’s wants, needs, and any underlying issues that will be addressed throughout the story.
• Call to Adventure: The hero is presented with a challenge, quest, or opportunity that disrupts their ordinary world and demands a response. This call to action sets the story in motion and paves the way for the protagonist’s transformative journey.
• Refusal of the Call: Often, the hero initially resists or doubts the call to adventure, revealing their fears and insecurities. This refusal adds tension and deepens the character’s complexity, making their eventual acceptance of the call more satisfying and impactful.
• Meeting the Mentor: The hero encounters a guide, teacher, or wise figure who provides advice, support, and sometimes magical aid. This mentor figure helps prepare the hero for the trials they will face, and often plays a crucial role in the protagonist’s development.
• Crossing the Threshold: The hero finally commits to the adventure, leaving their ordinary world behind and stepping into the unknown. This stage marks the point of no return, as the hero embarks on a journey that will forever change them.

The Departure act sets the foundation for the hero’s journey, establishing the protagonist’s relatable struggles and desires while setting them on a path toward growth and transformation. As a writer, it’s essential to carefully craft this act to create a compelling and believable starting point for your hero’s adventure.

Famous Example: The Departure of Harry Potter

To help illustrate the Departure act in action, let’s examine the early stages of the beloved hero’s journey in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.”

• The Ordinary World: Harry Potter’s life is far from ideal. He lives with his cruel and uncaring aunt, uncle, and cousin, the Dursleys, in the small, ordinary town of Little Whinging. Despite his miserable circumstances, Harry longs for a sense of belonging and yearns to learn more about his deceased parents.
• Call to Adventure: Harry receives a mysterious letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, inviting him to attend the prestigious institution. This invitation promises to pull him out of his mundane life and into a world of magic, wonder, and hidden potential.
• Refusal of the Call: Initially, the Dursleys do everything in their power to prevent Harry from attending Hogwarts, hiding the letters and even fleeing to a remote island. Harry’s desire to learn about his parents and his true heritage is challenged by the Dursleys’ determination to keep him from discovering the truth.
• Meeting the Mentor: Harry meets Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant groundskeeper of Hogwarts, who not only delivers Harry’s acceptance letter but also serves as his guide and protector in the magical world. Hagrid reveals the truth about Harry’s parents, his connection to the wizarding world, and the significance of the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
• Crossing the Threshold: Harry leaves his life with the Dursleys behind and steps into the magical realm by traveling through the hidden platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station. As he boards the Hogwarts Express, he embarks on an adventure that will transform him from a downtrodden orphan into a powerful and celebrated wizard.

By skillfully weaving together the stages of the Departure act, J.K. Rowling creates an unforgettable introduction to Harry Potter’s hero’s journey, setting the stage for a thrilling and transformative adventure that has captivated readers for generations.

Act 2 – Initiation

As the hero steps into the unknown, the second act, Initiation, unfolds. This act is where the hero’s character and resolve are tested through a series of trials and tribulations. Through these challenges, the protagonist forms new relationships, acquires new skills, and grows as an individual. Here are the key stages of the Initiation act:

• Trials, Allies, and Enemies: The hero encounters a series of tests and obstacles that push them to their limits. They forge new alliances and face adversaries, which help them gain the skills and knowledge needed to confront their ultimate challenge. This stage is crucial for character development, as the protagonist’s reactions and choices reveal their true nature.
• Approach to the Innermost Cave: As the hero nears the climax of their journey, they must confront their deepest fears and darkest shadows. The “Innermost Cave” can be a physical location or a metaphorical space, representing the hero’s confrontation with their greatest personal or external challenge.
• The Ordeal: The protagonist faces their most significant trial, a life-or-death struggle that tests their strength, courage, and resourcefulness. This ordeal often leads to a symbolic or literal death and rebirth, signifying a profound transformation in the hero’s character or perception of themselves.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword): After overcoming the ordeal, the hero is granted a reward, which may take the form of a physical object, a new ability, or a revelation. This reward symbolizes the hero’s growth and newfound mastery, equipping them to face the final challenges of their journey.

The Initiation act is a crucible for the hero, as they confront adversity and evolve in response to the challenges they face. As a writer, it’s essential to craft compelling trials and conflicts that not only entertain but also illuminate the protagonist’s inner journey, revealing their strengths, weaknesses, and capacity for growth.

Famous Example: The Initiation of Luke Skywalker

To better understand the Initiation act, let’s delve into the captivating trials and tribulations of Luke Skywalker from George Lucas’s “ Star Wars : Episode IV – A New Hope.”

• Trials, Allies, and Enemies: Luke encounters numerous challenges on his journey, from evading Imperial forces to navigating the treacherous Death Star. Along the way, he forms alliances with characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, each of whom plays a vital role in his development. He also confronts adversaries like Darth Vader and the ruthless Galactic Empire, which test his courage and convictions.
• Approach to the Innermost Cave: As the Rebel Alliance prepares for their daring assault on the Death Star, Luke faces his greatest fear: the possibility of failure and the loss of his newfound friends. This moment of self-doubt forces Luke to confront his insecurities and embrace the lessons he has learned from his mentor, Obi-Wan.
• The Ordeal: Luke’s ordeal comes during the climactic Battle of Yavin, where he pilots his X-wing fighter in a desperate attempt to destroy the Death Star before it can annihilate the Rebel base. As he faces seemingly insurmountable odds, Luke is guided by the spirit of Obi-Wan, who encourages him to trust in the Force.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword): After successfully destroying the Death Star, Luke is celebrated as a hero and awarded a medal by Princess Leia. More importantly, he gains newfound confidence in his abilities and his connection to the Force, setting the stage for his continued growth and transformation throughout the remainder of the saga.

By incorporating the stages of the Initiation act, George Lucas masterfully charts Luke Skywalker’s transformative journey from a naïve farm boy to a resourceful and courageous hero. This compelling narrative arc not only entertains but also reflects timeless themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the power of friendship, making “Star Wars” an enduring classic that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Act 3 – Return

The final act of the hero’s journey, Return, brings the protagonist’s transformative arc to a satisfying conclusion. Having overcome their trials and emerged victorious, the hero must now return to their ordinary world, where they will apply their newfound wisdom, skills, or power for the benefit of others. Here are the key stages of the Return act:

• The Road Back: The hero begins their journey back to the ordinary world, often facing challenges or temptations that test their resolve and commitment to their newfound purpose. This stage serves as an opportunity for the hero to demonstrate their growth and mastery, as they confront familiar obstacles with renewed strength and insight.
• Resurrection: The hero faces a final, climactic ordeal that represents their ultimate test of character, courage, and transformation. Often mirroring the earlier ordeal in the Initiation act, this confrontation requires the hero to draw upon all the lessons and experiences they have gained on their journey, leading to a powerful moment of catharsis and renewal.
• Return with the Elixir: Having triumphed over their final challenge, the hero returns to their ordinary world, bearing a tangible or intangible “elixir” that represents their transformation and the wisdom they have acquired. This elixir often serves as a solution to a problem or conflict within their community, fulfilling the hero’s ultimate purpose and bringing their journey full circle.

The Return act is a crucial component of the hero’s journey, as it not only completes the protagonist’s transformation but also reinforces the universal themes of growth, self-discovery, and the power of individual agency. As a writer, it’s essential to craft a compelling and emotionally resonant conclusion that both celebrates the hero’s achievements and emphasizes the lasting impact of their journey.

Famous Example: The Return of Frodo Baggins

To illustrate the power of the Return act, let’s explore the culmination of Frodo Baggins’s epic journey in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”

• The Road Back: After the destruction of the One Ring and the defeat of Sauron, Frodo and his companions begin their journey back to the Shire, their home in the ordinary world. Despite their hard-won victory, the hobbits are not immune to the lingering effects of their experiences, as they continue to grapple with the emotional and physical scars of their adventure.
• Resurrection: Upon their return to the Shire, Frodo and his friends discover that their home has been ravaged by the villainous Saruman and his henchmen. This final confrontation serves as a test of the hobbits’ newfound strength and resourcefulness, as they apply the skills and lessons they have gained on their journey to rally their community and reclaim their homeland.
• Return with the Elixir: With the Shire restored and Saruman defeated, Frodo and his companions are hailed as heroes, and their once-ordinary lives are forever transformed by their extraordinary journey. Frodo, in particular, bears the intangible elixir of wisdom and courage, which he shares through his writing and storytelling, ensuring that the legacy of their adventure endures for future generations.

Through the stages of the Return act, J.R.R. Tolkien skillfully brings Frodo Baggins’s transformative journey to a close, emphasizing the lasting impact of his experiences and the power of individual agency in shaping not only his own destiny but the fate of his entire world. This emotionally resonant and satisfying conclusion is a testament to the enduring power of the hero’s journey as a framework for creating timeless and universally resonant narratives.

How to Use the Hero’s Journey in Your Writing

Now that we’ve delved into the three acts of the hero’s journey and explored some famous examples, you may be wondering how you can apply this timeless narrative structure to your own writing. While the hero’s journey offers a valuable framework for crafting compelling stories, it’s essential to approach it as a flexible blueprint rather than a rigid formula. Here are some tips for incorporating the hero’s journey into your writing:

Identify your hero’s core desires and fears

Understanding your protagonist’s motivations and inner struggles is crucial for crafting a meaningful and emotionally resonant hero’s journey. Consider what drives your hero, what they hope to achieve, and what obstacles they must overcome to realize their goals.

Adapt the structure to your unique story

While the hero’s journey is a proven narrative structure, not every stage will be relevant or necessary for your specific story. Don’t be afraid to modify, expand, or omit certain elements to suit the needs of your characters and plot. The key is to maintain a clear sense of the protagonist’s transformative arc and ensure that their journey remains engaging and emotionally satisfying.

Create compelling challenges and conflicts

The trials and ordeals your hero faces should not only test their physical and mental abilities but also push them to confront their deepest fears and insecurities. Design conflicts that force your protagonist to grow, change, and ultimately emerge as a stronger, more capable individual.

Balance the familiar with the unexpected

While the hero’s journey is based on universal archetypes and narrative beats, it’s crucial to infuse your story with originality and surprise. Experiment with unconventional approaches to the hero’s journey, such as subverting expectations, exploring unconventional hero archetypes, or employing an unconventional narrative structure.

Emphasize your hero’s transformation

The heart of the hero’s journey lies in the protagonist’s personal growth and transformation. Ensure that your hero’s arc is clear, believable, and emotionally resonant by highlighting the lessons they learn, the relationships they form, and the inner obstacles they overcome on their journey.

By integrating the hero’s journey into your writing and adapting it to suit your unique story, you can create compelling, emotionally resonant narratives that resonate with readers and stand the test of time. In essence, you become a better writer .

The Hero’s Journey Across Cultures and Time

The hero’s journey is not only a powerful narrative framework, but it also holds immense cultural and historical significance. Present in countless myths, legends, and stories from around the world, the hero’s journey transcends time and geography, offering a universal blueprint for storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences.

Mythology and folklore

The hero’s journey can be traced back to the earliest myths and legends, from the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh to the Greek hero’s journey of Odysseus in Homer’s “The Odyssey.” These ancient narratives reflect the hero’s journey’s timeless appeal and the universal themes of transformation, self-discovery, and redemption.

Religious narratives

The hero’s journey is also deeply ingrained in religious texts and stories, such as the journeys of Moses in the Hebrew Bible or the life of the Buddha in Buddhist traditions. These narratives not only convey spiritual and moral lessons but also embody the transformative power of the hero’s journey, emphasizing the potential for personal growth and enlightenment.

Literature and popular culture

From classic novels like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain to modern film franchises like “The Matrix” and “ The Hunger Games ,” the hero’s journey continues to captivate and inspire storytellers and audiences alike. Its enduring appeal is a testament to its ability to tap into universal human experiences and desires, transcending the boundaries of culture, language, and time.

Cross-cultural connections

The hero’s journey reveals a fascinating tapestry of interconnected narratives and themes, which can foster a greater appreciation and understanding of the diverse cultural traditions and perspectives that have shaped human history. By exploring the hero’s journey in various contexts, we can deepen our empathy and broaden our worldview, recognizing the shared human experiences that unite us all.

The hero’s journey’s remarkable longevity and cross-cultural resonance underscore its profound significance as a tool for storytelling and resource for writers . By embracing and celebrating the hero’s journey in its many forms, we can not only create compelling stories but also foster a deeper sense of connection and empathy with others, transcending the barriers of time and culture.

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A Practical Guide to Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey

OVERVIEW: What are the hero’s journey steps? That is, what’s the psychological process we go through that can lead to inner transformation? This guide answers these questions.

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Treasure, love, reward, approval, honor, status, freedom, and survival … these are some of the many things associated with the hero’s journey.

However, we don’t find the meaning of the hero’s journey in slaying the dragon or saving the princess.

These are but colorful metaphors and symbols for a more significant purpose.

Battling inner and outer demons, confronting bullies, and courting your ideal mate symbolize a passage through the often treacherous path of self-discovery toward adulthood.

If you complete one of these “adventures,” you’re different. Sometimes visually, but always internally.

Here, we’ll explore the meaning of the hero’s journey steps and see how it applies to psychological development and our ability to actualize our potential.

Let’s dive in …

What is the Hero’s Journey?

The hero’s journey refers to a common motif, or set of patterns, found in many ancient mythologies around the world.

The hero’s journey steps are said to be universal and found throughout recorded history.

The popularization of the hero’s journey is attributed to the late mythologist Joseph Campbell.

These stages lead an individual (the would-be hero) through a challenging process of change that often includes great hardships.

This well-known story structure is used in many modern films and storytelling. However, the true meaning of the hero’s journey motif is psychological in origin.

What is the Monomyth?

Joseph Campbell was a curious mythologist. In the field of comparative mythology, most scholars examine how one culture’s myths are different than another.

Instead of focusing on the many differences between cultural myths and religious stories, however, Campbell did the opposite: He looked for the similarities.

His studies resulted in what’s called the monomyth . The monomyth is a universal story structure.

Essentially, it’s a story template that takes a character through a sequence of stages. Campbell began identifying the patterns of this monomyth (the hero’s journey steps).

Over and over again, he was amazed to find this structure in the cultures he studied. He also observed the same sequence in many religions including the stories of Gautama Buddha, Moses, and Jesus Christ.

Campbell outlined the stages of the monomyth in his classic book  The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949).

What is the Hero?

The main character in the monomyth is the hero .

The hero isn’t a person, but an archetype —a set of universal images combined with specific patterns of behavior.

Think of a protagonist from your favorite film. He or she represents the hero.

The storyline of the film enacts the hero’s journey.

The Hero archetype resides in the psyche of every individual, which is one of the primary reasons we love hearing and watching stories.

What is a Myth?

We might ask, why explore the hero’s journey steps?

Sure, Hollywood uses it as their dominant story structure for its films (more on that later). But what relevance does it have for us as individuals?

Today, when we speak of “myth,” we refer to something that’s commonly believed, but untrue.

Myth, for minds like Campbell and Carl Jung however, had a much deeper meaning. Myths, for them, represent dreams of the collective psyche .

That is, in understanding the symbolic meaning of a myth, you come to know the psychological undercurrent—including hidden motivations , tensions, and desires—of the people and culture.

What is the Power of Myth?

Campbell explains to Bill Moyer in The Power of Myth : 1 Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth , 1991, 193.

Mythology is not a lie, mythology is poetry, it is metaphorical. It has been well said that mythology is the penultimate truth–penultimate because the ultimate cannot be put into words. It is beyond words. Beyond images, beyond that bounding rim of the Buddhist Wheel of Becoming. Mythology pitches the mind beyond that rim, to what can be known but not told.

As Campbell eloquently puts it in The Hero with a Thousand Faces ,

Mythology is psychology misread as biography, history, and cosmology.

Because the hero’s journey steps represent a monomyth that we can observe in most, if not all, cultures, it represents a process that is relevant to the entire human family .

What is this Process Within the Hero’s Journey?

It’s the process of personal transformation from an innocent child into a mature adult.

The child is born into a set of rules and beliefs of a group of people.

Through the child’s heroic efforts, he must break free from these conventions (transcend them) to discover himself.

In the process, the individual returns to his soul.

If we think of the hero’s journey as a roadmap for self-development, it can hold a lot of value for us.

A Quick Note About Gender: Masculine vs Feminine

This psychological decoding is based on a “Jungian” understanding of the psyche.

The hero is ultimately a masculine archetype. The female counterpart would be the heroine. While the hero and the heroine certainly share many attributes, they are not the same.

Similarly, the hero’s journey is predominantly a process of development for the masculine psyche. The hero archetype is associated with autonomy, building structure, and learning about limitations, which are qualities associated with masculine energy.

However, note that “masculine” and “feminine” are not the same as “man” and “woman.” The psyche of a man has a feminine counterpart—what Jung called the anima . The psyche of a woman has a masculine archetype called the animus . For this reason, the hero’s journey does have universal relevance.

While Western culture seems riddled with gender confusion, there are distinct differences between the masculine and the feminine psyche.

Okay, now back to our story …

The 3 Main Stages of the Hero’s Journey

Okay, so now let’s begin to break down the structure and sequence of the hero’s journey.

As Campbell explains:

The usual hero adventure begins with someone from whom something has been taken, or who feels there is something lacking in the normal experience available or permitted to the members of society. The person then takes off on a series of adventures beyond the ordinary, either to recover what has been lost or to discover some life-giving elixir. It’s usually a cycle, a coming and a returning.

This cycle of coming and returning has 3 clear stages:

Stage 1: Departure

Campbell called the initial stage departure or the call to adventure . The hero departs from the world he knows.

Luke Skywalker leaves his home planet to join Obi-Wan to save the princess. Neo gets unplugged from The Matrix with the help of Morpheus and his crew.

In the Departure stage, you leave the safety of the world you know and enter the unknown.

Campbell writes of this stage in The Hero with a Thousand Faces :

This first step of the mythological journey—which we have designated the “call to adventure”—signifies that destiny has summoned the hero and transferred his spiritual center of gravity from within the pale of his society to a zone unknown.

That is, the hero must leave the known “conventional world” and enter a “special world” that is foreign.

Stage 2: Initiation

Now the hero must face a series of trials and tribulations. The hero’s journey isn’t safe.

The hero is tested in battle, skill, and conflict. He may not succeed in each action but must press on.

The protagonist will meet allies, enemies, and mentors with supernatural aid throughout the initiation stage.

Stage 3: Return

Having endured the trials and hardships of the adventure, the hero returns home.

But the hero is no longer the same. An internal transformation has taken place through the maturation process of the experience.

Luke is now a Jedi and has come to peace with his past. Neo embraces his destiny and liberates himself from the conventions of The Matrix.

The Hero’s Journey in Drama

In Three Uses of a Knife , famed playwright David Mamet suggests a similar three-act structure for plays and dramas: 2 David Mamet, Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama , 2000.

Act 1: Thesis . The drama presents life as it is for the protagonist. The ordinary world.

Act 2: Antithesis . The protagonist faces opposing forces that send him into an upheaval (disharmony).

Act 3: Synthesis . The protagonist attempts to integrate the old life with the new one.

We note that problems, challenges, and upheavals are the defining characteristic of this journey.

Without problems, the path toward growth is usually left behind. (More on this topic below.)

Assessing Your Place in the Hero’s Journey

Before we explore the stages of the monomyth more closely, let’s look at what these three phases reveal about self-mastery and psychological development.

Stage 1 represents our comfort zone. We feel safe here because it is known to us.

Stages 2 and 3, however, represent the unknown . Embracing the unknown means letting go of safety.

Abraham Maslow points out that we are confronted with an ongoing series of choices throughout life between safety and growth, dependence and independence, regression and progression, immaturity and maturity.

Maslow writes in Toward a Psychology of Being : 3 Abraham Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being , 2014.

We grow forward when the delights of growth and anxieties of safety are greater than the anxieties of growth and the delights of safety.

Is it now clear why so many of us refuse the call to adventure?

We cling to the safety of the known instead of embracing the “delight of growth” that only comes from the unknown.

Campbell’s 17 Stages of the Hero’s Journey

Joseph Campbell didn’t just outline three stages of the monomyth. In The Hero with a Thousand Faces , he deconstructs every step along the journey.

The stages of the hero’s journey are the common sequence of events that occurred in the monomyth motif.

Technically speaking, Campbell outlined 17 stages in his The Hero with a Thousand Faces:

• 1: The Call to Adventure
• 2: Refusal of the Call
• 3: Supernatural Aid
• 4: The Crossing of the First Threshold
• 5: Belly of the Whale
• 6: The Road of Trials
• 7: The Meeting with the Goddess
• 8: Woman as the Temptress
• 9: Atonement with the Father
• 10: Apotheosis
• 11: The Ultimate Boon
• 12: Refusal of the Return
• 13: The Magic Flight
• 14: Rescue from Without
• 15: The Crossing of the Return Threshold
• 16: Master of the Two Worlds
• 17: Freedom to Live

These 17 stages or hero’s journey steps can be found globally in the myths and legends throughout recorded history.

The Modified 12 Hero’s Journey Steps

Now, let’s review these stages of the hero’s journey in more detail.

I’m going to outline these steps below using a slightly simplified version from Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers .

Vogler’s model, which is used throughout Hollywood, only has 12 steps (compared to 17), and I think it does a solid job of keeping the essence of Campbell’s monomyth structure intact.

As you read these hero’s journey steps, see if you can determine how they apply to your development.

Step 1: The Ordinary World

Before a would-be hero can enter the special world, he must first live in the ordinary world.

The ordinary world is different for each of us—it represents our norms, customs, conditioned beliefs, and behaviors. The ordinary world is sometimes referred to as the “conventional world.”

In The Hobbit , the ordinary world is the Shire where Bilbo Baggins lives with all the other Hobbits—gardening, eating and celebrating—living a simple life.

Novelist J.R.R. Tolkien contrasts this life in the Shire with the special world of wizards, warriors, men, elves, dwarfs, and evil forces on the brink of world war.

Step 2: The Call to Adventure

The first hero’s journey step is the call to adventure.

The call to adventure marks a transition from the ordinary world to the special world. The hero is introduced to his quest of great consequence.

Obi-Wan said to Luke, “You must come with me to Alderaan.” That is, Luke is invited to leave the ordinary world of his aunt and uncle’s farm life and go on an adventure with a Jedi knight.

Joseph Campbell explains: 4 Joseph Campbell, The Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell On His Life And Work , 1990.

The call to adventure signifies that destiny has summoned the hero and transferred his spiritual center of gravity from within the pale of this society to a zone unknown.

Step 3: Refusal of the Call

Fear of change as well as death, however, often leads the hero to refuse the call to adventure .

The ordinary world represents our comfort zone; the special world signifies the unknown.

Luke Skywalker immediately responds to Obi-Wan, “I can’t go with you,” citing his chores and responsibilities at home.

Step 4: Meeting the Mentor

Campbell called this archetype the “mentor with supernatural aid.”

Generally, at an early stage of the adventure, the hero is graced by the presence of a wise sage . Personified in stories as a magical counselor , a reclusive hermit, or a wise leader, the mentor’s role is to help guide the hero.

Think Obi-Wan, Yoda, Gandalf, Morpheus, or Dumbledore. Sometimes cloaked in mystery and secret language, a mentor manifests when the hero is ready.

Sadly, our modern world is depleted of wise elders or shamans who can effectively bless the younger generation. (A topic for a different day.) For most of us, it is best to seek wise counsel from your inner guide , the Self within.

Step 5: Cross the First Threshold

The hero resists change initially but is ultimately forced to make a critical decision: embark on the adventure or forever remain in the ordinary world with its illusion of security.

Although Luke refuses the call to adventure initially, when he returns home to see his aunt and uncle dead, he immediately agrees to go with Obi-Wan. He crossed the first threshold.

In one sense, the first threshold is the point of no return. Once the hero shoots across the unstable suspension bridge, it bursts into flames.

There’s no turning back, at least, not how he came.

The first threshold can mark a major decision in our personal lives:

• “I’m going to travel around the globe.”
• “I’m going to transform my physical health.”
• “I am going to write a book.”
• “I’m going to master the flute.”
• “I’m going to realize my true nature.”

This first breakthrough is a feat within itself; however, it is only the first of many turning points.

Step 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies

Along the hero’s journey, the main character encounters many obstacles and allies.

Luke meets Obiwan (mentor), Han Solo, Princess Leia, and the rebel alliance while fighting many foes. Neo meets Morpheus (mentor), Trinity, and the rest of the Nebuchadnezzar crew while having to fight Agents in a strange world.

Some people may try to stop you along your quest—possibly saying you’re unreasonable or unrealistic. These “dream-stoppers” are often cleverly masked as friends and family who appear to have positive intentions but hinder your development nonetheless.

Your ability to identify obstructions on your path and align with support along your adventure is critical to your adventure.

Unfortunately, because few complete their hero’s journey to mature adulthood, most people will unconsciously attempt to sabotage yours.

Step 7: Approach to the Inmost Cave

The next significant threshold is often more treacherous than the first.

Entering the villain’s castle or the evil billionaire’s mansion, this second major decision usually puts the hero at significant physical and psychological risks.

Neo decides to go save Morpheus who’s being held in a building filled with Agents.

Within the walls of the innermost cave lies the cornerstone of the special world where the hero closes in on his objective.

For a man, the innermost cave represents the Mother Complex, a regressive part of him that seeks to return to the safety of the mother. 5 Robert Johnson, He: Understanding Masculine Psychology, 1989.  When a man seeks safety and comfort—when he demands pampering—it means he’s engulfed within the innermost cave.

For a woman, the innermost cave often represents learning how to surrender to the healing power of nurturance—to heal the handless maiden. 6 Robert Johnson, The Fisher King and the Handless Maiden: Understanding the Wounded Feeling Function in Masculine and Feminine Psychology , 1995.

Step 8: Ordeal

No worthwhile adventure is easy. There are many perils on the path to growth, self-discovery , and self-realization.

A major obstacle confronts the hero, and the future begins to look dim: a trap, a mental imprisonment, or imminent defeat on the battlefield.

It seems like the adventure will come to a sad conclusion, as all hope appears lost. But hope remains and it is in these moments of despair when the hero must access a hidden part of himself—one more micron of energy, strength, faith, or creativity to find his way out of the belly of the beast.

Neo confronts Agent Smith in the subway station—something that was never done before. The hero must call on an inner power he doesn’t know he possesses.

Step 9: Reward

Having defeated the enemy and slain the dragon, the hero receives the prize. Pulling the metaphorical sword from the stone, the hero achieves the objective he set out to complete.

Whether the reward is monetary, physical, romantic, or spiritual, the hero transforms. Usually, the initial prize sought by the hero is physical—the sword in the stone or a physical treasure of some kind.

Step 10: The Road Back

Alas, the adventure isn’t over yet. There usually needs to be one last push to return home. Now the hero must return to the world from which he came with the sacred elixir.

Challenges still lie ahead in the form of villains, roadblocks, and inner demons. The hero must deal with whatever issues were left unresolved at this stage of the journey.

Taking moral inventory, examining the Shadow , and performing constant self-inquiry help the hero identify weaknesses and blindspots that will later play against him.

Step 11:  Resurrection

Before returning home—before the adventure is over—there’s often one more unsuspected, unforeseen ordeal.

This final threshold, which may be more difficult than the prior moment of despair, provides one last test to solidify the growth of the hero. This threshold represents the final climax.

Neo is shot and killed by Agent Smith. And, he literally resurrects to confront the enemy one last time following his transformation.

The uncertain Luke Skywalker takes that “one in a million” shot from his X-Wing to destroy the Death Star.

Step 12: Return with the Elixir

Often, the prize the hero initially sought (in Step 9) becomes secondary as a result of the personal transformation he undergoes.

Perhaps the original quest was financially driven , but now the hero takes greater satisfaction in serving others in need. The real change is always internal .

In this final stage, the hero can become the master of both worlds , with the freedom to live and grow, impacting all of humanity.

Returning with the prize, the hero’s experience of reality is different. The person is no longer an innocent child or adolescent seeking excitement or adventure.

Comfortable in his own skin, he has evolved and is now capable of handling the demands and challenges of everyday life.

The Hero’s Journey in Films

Are you now more aware of how these hero’s journey steps play out in popular films and television series?

George Lucas was friends with Joseph Campbell. Lucas used these hero’s journey steps from Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces to produce the original Star Wars film. 7 https://billmoyers.com/content/mythology-of-star-wars-george-lucas/

It’s difficult to appreciate the impact Star Wars still has on American culture and around the world. It’s even more difficult to articulate how much of that impact is attributed to Campbell’s insights.

However, one challenge our culture faces is that many popular film franchises produce movies that, most often, never complete the hero’s journey.

Many popular characters in action films like Marvel and DC Comics superheroes, James Bond, Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible), Indiana Jones, etc. never actually transform.

These characters stay in the adolescent stage of development (and we tend to celebrate that reality).

These heroes don’t evolve into the warm, vulnerable, generative adults who no longer seek adventure and excitement.

That said, since I originally published this guide in early 2018, this has begun to change.

For example, in the final Bond film, No Time to Die (2021), James Bond did demonstrate some generative growth.

The same goes for Tony Stark’s character (Ironman) in Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Where Are You On Your Hero’s Journey?

More importantly, do you see how these hero’s journey steps are unfolding in your life?

Although each of our stories is unique, they have common threads—elements of this universal structure we all share.

Returning from the moment of despair—from inside the dragon’s lair—without the reward (or lesson), you are presented with a similar adventure repeated ad infinitum —until you either learn the lesson or give up.

In the beginning, the hero’s journey is about achievement.

Whether you’re trying to build a successful business, raise a family, write a screenplay, travel to a distant land, or become a skilled artist, these all represent external achievements that often launch us into our hero’s journey.

But through this external quest—if we become more conscious—the journey transitions to an emphasis on internal growth that leads to transformation.

The Hero isn’t an expression of mature adulthood. This archetype is a by-product of adolescence. The archetypes of adulthood are different, but to access them, we must complete the hero’s journey first .

The Primary Ingredient in Every Hero’s Journey

Compelling stories and real life comes down to one thing: problems .

The protagonist faces a problem and tries to overcome it. Problems represent the essence of drama and the key to good storytelling.  Without problems, there’s no story. Problems engage us, tantalizing the human mind.

The hero must face his problems, surmount his fears, resolve his tensions, or fail.

The same is true for our development: without problems and tensions, there can be no growth.

Psychological development is the process of overcoming setbacks, limitations, and conditioned behavior to reach maturity.

Refusing the Call to Adventure

Few people ever fully embrace the Hero’s Journey, a psychological odyssey that leads the individual to wholeness .

Because of our fear of the unknown, many refuse the call to adventure. We delay our journey in many ways:

• Put important things aside.
• Procrastinate.
• Distract ourselves with TV, social media, and other people’s lives.
• Make excuses.
• Stay stuck in the lazy part .
• Focus on competing with others.

But something brews inside of us. An internal tension builds. The tension may be small at first, but it grows stronger in the darkness. Tensions are those opposing forces at play within us. This internal conflict creates disharmony.

Humans don’t like disharmony when it bubbles into consciousness, and so these internal tensions can catapult us out of the familiar. The feeling of discord can lead to action and ultimately, some resolution.

Maybe you’re currently embracing your hero’s journey. Or perhaps you’ve been refusing the call. It matters not. What matters is what you do today— right now .

How to Embrace Your Hero’s Journey, Step by Step

The main thing you need to do to embrace your hero’s journey is stay present.

Remember, as Campbell explained, “You are the hero of your own story.”

Psychological development is supposed to be a natural process. But we aren’t currently in a world that supports healthy development.

As such, it’s vital to listen within .

Here are a few guides that may serve you:

• Access Your Inner Guide
• How to Ground Yourself
• How to Stay in Your Center
• How to Overcome Internal Resistance

Ultimately, be mindful of your fears and aspirations.

Left unchecked, your fears can subconsciously lead you to endlessly refuse the call to adventure.

In contrast, your aspirations can help you embrace your adventure.

As Joseph Campbell often said,

Follow your bliss!

Videos Related to the Hero’s Journey Steps

Book related to the hero’s journey steps.

The hero’s journey steps are outlined in the books referenced throughout this guide:

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell’s Mythos Lecture Series (DVD)

The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler

How to Be an Adult by David Richo

What Do You Think?

Are you going through the hero’s journey steps?

About the Author

Scott Jeffrey is the founder of CEOsage, a self-leadership resource publishing in-depth guides read by millions of self-actualizing individuals. He writes about self-development, practical psychology, Eastern philosophy, and integrated practices. For 25 years, Scott was a business coach to high-performing entrepreneurs, CEOs, and best-selling authors. He's the author of four books including Creativity Revealed .

Learn more >

I would like to understand the Hero’s journey. Joseph Campbell describes it as something that has been taken/lost or life giving. How do I know if my hero’s journey has been done?

If you’re examining the hero’s journey from the perspective of individuation — that is, the journey to mature adulthood — it takes many years to come to wholeness within oneself.

Psychologically speaking, the hero’s journey is inward. The characters you meet (like the Mentor) are within yourself. So it involves active imagination in bringing the archetype into some form of harmony within yourself.

You have mentioned a choice to stay in the comfort of safety or the unknow for growth. I am wondering if this is done in a Psychological manner where your life’s circumstances stay as they are or you physically live in a different environment, leaving your surroundings, people and material responsibilities etc.. Hope you can answer this for me.

If you’re a young adult, there’s often an external aspect to the hero’s journey — for example, leaving home and separating from one’s parents. But what Campbell was highlighting with the monomyth is ultimately a psychological process akin to Jungian individuation: https://scottjeffrey.com/individuation-process/

I want to share my thoughts on the heroes journey. After reading the twelve steps, and what you said- I quote “Step 12: Return with the Elixir Often, the prize the hero initially sought (in Step 9) becomes secondary as a result of the personal transformation he undergoes.

Perhaps the original quest was financially driven, but now the hero takes greater satisfaction in serving others in need.

The real change is always internal.

In this final stage, the hero can become the master of both worlds, with the freedom to live and grow, impacting all of humanity.”

My favorite movie for a while now has been The Peaceful Warrior, I have just watched Coach Carter. They seem to tell the same story and I think the story of The Heroes Journey. You have mentioned Star Wars, James Bond and the Matrix.

In the movies The Peaceful Warrior, and Coach Carter, the achievement earned is an inward spiritualism that is, I quote” impacting all of humanity.” Thank-you.

If The Peaceful Warrior is your favorite movie, read Dan Millman’s “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior” — the book the film is based on. Much deeper insights. It’s a magical book — especially when you’re just setting out on your self-discovery journey.

I have read about 25% so far, I am not a good reader. I give myself three pages each day, yet often I’m reading more. It is as if the movie is replaying and I’m able to go with it, imaging the main characters. There is more information from reading than watching the movie, though I am thinking there is a lot of fiction, as it has been described on the net. Though I just need to adhere to the believable parts. I don’t know if it is possible to remember the day’s events that happened during college. For example, what people said, what they were doing throughout the day. My college day’s I can only remember situations that happened all dispersed from one another, with only a few minutes recalled. Does someone like yourself able to recall conversations and put them as dialogs for a book? Or is it a writer’s privilege to invent these for the book?

“The Peaceful Warrior” is a work of fiction. The genre is technically called “visionary fiction.”

There is a passage in the book where Socrates say’s “Mind is an illusory reflection of cerebral fidgeting. It comprises all the random uncontrolled thoughts that bubble into awareness from the subconscious. Consciousness is not the mind; awareness is not mind; attention is not mind. Mind is an obstruction, an aggravation, a primal weakness in the human experiment. It is a kind of evolutionary mistake in the human being. I have no use for the mind.” I don’t think think this way because what we have as humans is natural and so it has a purpose. I am interested if you would give an opinion on this statement Socrates said.

For the most part, I agree with Millman’s statements. They are also consistent with much of the Eastern traditions. An essential aspect of the meditative traditions is to “pacify the mind”. They sometimes even use stronger longer of “killing the mind.” But at other times, they make the distinction between the “aware mind” versus the “monkey mind” or the “shining mind” versus the “stirring mind.” But in terms of the untrained mind (which is the mind of over 99% of people), I agree with Millman. I just wouldn’t call it “evolutionary.”

Millman would have already made ethical judgment towards any begger, so, he should not have thought twice about ignoring him. But because his story, is going through a transformation, he had these menacing mind talks. Do you think if you were in the same situation as him, would you give the begger money or use your self-consciousness to clear negative mind noise? I am wondering if a second time in the same situation would make one change their reaction…

This is quoted from the book; “A scrawny young teenager came up to me. “Spare some change, can’t you?” “No, sorry,” I said, not feeling sorry at all. As I walked away I thought, “Get a job.” Then vague guilts came into my mind; I’d said no to a penniless beggar. Angry thoughts arose. “He shouldn’t walk up to people like that!” I was halfway down the block before I realized all the mental noise i had tuned in to, and the tension it was causing – just because some guy had asked me for money and I’d said no. In that instant I let it go.”

I finished the peaceful warrior and found it enjoyable. The preview of Dan’s second book (Sacred Journey of the peaceful warrior) sums up what he was expressing through his life.

There was one part I have heard before where the dialog between Dan and Soc was flat, with no meaning. Thank-you.

I would like to balance the four functions Jung describes (thinking, feeling, sensation and intuition) in your Individuation Process page. How do I know when feeling and sensation are active in everyday events? Could you give me an example? Thank-you.

Brett, please use the related guide page to address your questions.

The Individuation process page has not got a comments section.

I was walking in the bush on a moonlit windy night. The moving branches displayed a moving shadow, I was startled at first thought someone was behind me. Then I put the moonlight and the moving branches together and summed up what had happened without turning around. Was my thinking a Feeling, thinking, intuition or sensation? Thank-you.

I didn’t realize the comment sections weren’t open on that other guide. The psychological types represent our dominant orientations for processing information. When you were startled, was your attention on your body or the fear itself? Was your mind focused on “what could that be”? No need to answer here.

But the main thing about psychological types, from a Jungian perspective, is to understand what your dominant and inferior types are so you can develop your weakest side. Taking an Enneagram assessment test can help you determine your dominant type. In that system, it’s either thinking, feeling, or sensing.

Thank-you for your reply. You gave me an example of what I believe would be my dominant (being the first impression of the event) type. The second instance you described, is that too my dominant type? I do already know what it was that brings me fear. Can you follow up with this scenario? I have done enneagram questions before, and I am hopeless in giving a true response as all multiple question apply to equally.

“I have done enneagram questions before, and I am hopeless in giving a true response as all multiple question apply to equally.”

In my experience, when people say things like this, it’s often because they are “out of center” and analyzing things in their heads. If, for example, you read detailed descriptions of each Type, there’s no way you’re going to relate equally to all of them. Only one (sometimes a few) will strike a deep cord within you. It may leave you feeling “raw” and exposed.

Using the example you provided isn’t really going to help in this context. Do you mostly live in your head (mind/thoughts/analysis), your body (gut/sensations/sensory perception), or feelings? We all use all of them, but one tends to be more dominant than the others.

Thank-you. I agree with you Quote “If, for example, you read detailed descriptions of each Type, there’s no way you’re going to relate equally to all of them”. You might think I’m procrastinating as I want to work this out. Quote” Superior Function versus Inferior Function We like to do things we’re good at and avoid doing things in which we feel inadequate. Thus, we develop specific skills while undeveloped capacities remain in the unconscious. Jung grouped these four functions into pairs: thinking and feeling, sensing and intuiting”. Follow me for a sec, I have determined my superior function is Thinking, that would leave my inferior function to feeling. I assume sensing and intuition would be in the middle. I’m going to give the answer that you will give to my question, how do I bring the four functions to the middle? Answer ; center yourself. Do you agree or tell me what I should be doing?

Brett, I can’t really speak to what you should be doing. From a Jungian perspective (as well as transpersonal psychology), you would develop your inferior function and grow in that line of intelligence. I borrow the concept of the Center from the Taoist tradition. Western psychology mainly seeks to build a healthy ego while Eastern traditions mainly focus on transcending the ego.

Is the answer to “center yourself”? Sure. But most likely you’ll only be able to do this temporarily (representing a “state” of consciousness), while if you develop via various practices, you establish different structural changes that become more stable.

How to Center Yourself.

I like this article and want to learn more. I’m sending you my questions in this article as there isn’t a comments section.

I have so many questions, do I really need these answered to be comfortable with learning? Or should I take a calming with acceptance approach, that will eventually find the answers I seek? Should I go ahead and ask… ok I will ask. In the four centers, take in information via the physical center, interpret experience via the emotional center, evaluate the world via the mental center. Could all be take in information? Thank-you.

Brett, I just opened the comment section on that centering guide. Please post your question there and then I’ll reply.

Is it always a Heroes journey to take on what seems an insurmountable task? I see this at the beginning of inspirational films. Thank-you.

Always be careful with the term “always.”

Remember that what Campbell was ultimately highlighting with his monomyth structure was a psychological process of development. So it’s best to keep that in context.

Insurmountable tasks can sometimes be a catalyst for one’s journey, but this is not always the case.

In films and storytelling, you need major a problem for the hero/protagonist to face. Otherwise, there’s no story.

With what you said in keeping the psychological process in context. I was thinking of the film where a football coach leaves a successful career in the city, to coach no-hoper orphans in the country. My first impression was that the coach is on a hero’s journey with much to lose but great inward comfort to gain. Now I think it is the orphan footballers who are on a hero’s journey, (by leading as an example of being an orphan and becoming successful to inspire them to do the same) to stand up with confidence to be equal to the rest of the world. The movie is twelve mighty orphans. Is this reasonable thinking and do you see different interpretation? Thank-you

I can’t really comment as I haven’t seen the film. In any decent film, multiple characters have “arcs.” In many cases, the coach in sports films plays the mentor/sage role but then has his own transformation as well. This is the case with Gandalf the Gray who has to “die” and be resurrected, transforming into Gandalf the White.

Merry Christmas Scott digital guide. Type to you soon:)

Does the hero’s journey have the same thoughts and feelings for a woman as a man?

From a Jungian perspective, the process would be different.

As Jungian Robert A. Johnson highlights in many of his books, the myths related to the feminine psyche are different than the myths related to the masculine. As such, they follow a different structure and aim.

That said, because there’s an anima in each male psyche and an animus in each female psyche, a part of us can relate to the hero’s journey in its totality. Hence, a heroine can go on a similar hero’s journey as a man.

What an excellent and thorough treatment. Thanks for these invaluable insights for my writing class.

Thank you for the feedback, Craig!

I love this observation about modern cinematic heroes: “Many popular characters in action films like Marvel and DC Comics superheroes, James Bond, Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible), Indiana Jones, etc. never actually transform.”

Have you written elsewhere at greater length on this topic? I thought I read an article on this topic a few years back but don’t remember where! Certainly the weightiness of the observation was such a lightbulb moment.

Thanks and kind regards M.

You can find a more detailed archetypal decoding of the hero here:

https://scottjeffrey.com/hero-archetype/

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The Hero's Journey: Stages, Steps, and Examples

Remember when you were younger, probably around middle school age, and your teacher introduced the Greek mythology lesson? It was such an exciting time of reading books like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief . Maybe you fell in love with Percy, a lovable and relatable young boy struggling with his identity. Or maybe you were a part of the dystopian crave and fell in love with Katniss Everdeen from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games . Either way, this may have been your first introduction to the hero's journey (we're sure you've seen the templates). After all, the hero's journey is all around us!

If you fell in love with reading a hero's journey archetype and want to try to create your own modern hero, then you've come to the perfect place. We're going to explore the crucial steps of a hero's journey and what they entail, so you can have a template through which to write your own story. Your questions act as our call to action (you'll understand what we mean by that shortly). But first, let's define a hero's journey. After all, how can we possibly evaluate the steps of a hero's journey if we don't even have a solid definition?

The hero's journey

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 this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man. The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

The hero's journey is the story of a hero who leaves the ordinary world to go on an adventure full of peril. On it, the hero will gain both adversaries and allies, and will face a great evil. The hero will also face his shadow self, which is perhaps the most frightening antagonist of all.

Campbell references 17 total steps in the hero's journey. Wait a minute, 17 steps? That seems like a lot. Don't worry! Depending on who you ask, the number of steps and what those steps look like will differ, though they all follow a similar template. The hero's journey is commonly accepted to have 12 main steps. To make it even simpler on you, these steps can actually be broken down into three stages: the departure, the initiation, and the return.

Stage 1: the departure

The departure is just as you might expect. This is the stage where the protagonist is introduced, typically in a modern, realistic setting, and we are introduced to some struggles the protagonist may be experiencing or questions they may have about their own identity. This stage can be broken into our first four steps.

• The ordinary world : As we said, we are first introduced to our protagonist and soon-to-be hero in the reality we know. It is just as the first step is listed: the ordinary world. There is no magic, mayhem, or supernatural creatures evident in this ordinary world. It is the world the protagonist has known all their life.
• Call to adventure : This is one of the steps you may be most familiar with, as it's one of the most commonly known phrases in literature. Regardless of what genre you are writing, your hero has a call to action. After all, there must be a reason why the protagonist leaves the mundane, comfortable lifestyle they've lived up until now. This is the moment where the journey or quest is initiated: a problem, challenge, or quest is presented to the protagonist, and they must decide to leave behind their ordinary lives to face new challenges. Whether the protagonist is immediately threatened, a family member is threatened, or they see something they shouldn't have, it is up to the protagonist to respond to the call.
• Refusal of the call : Wow, isn't it so cool that the hero was discovered by some other world (or they discovered it!) and now they get to embark on this awesome journey? Yes, well, sometimes. Despite how amazing it may seem to be called to accept a quest (hence the reason why this archetype is so popular in literature), the protagonist may not be feeling that excitement. In fact, it's likely that the protagonist is feeling nervous, anxious, scared, hesitant, and thus, resistant to the call at first (don't worry, they'll give in eventually).
• Meeting the mentor/supernatural aid : Okay, so the protagonist is done refusing the call. Maybe they've gotten over their fears, or maybe something happened that makes it impossible for them to continue to deny their inevitable quest. Yay! Now it's time for our protagonist to meet their mentor. The mentor can be supernatural or not, but they act as a teacher, trainer, and instructor for the protagonist. After all, the protagonist is going to need some serious guidance once they've been booted out of their ordinary world. This step involves a lot of trust, though, as the protagonist may barely know their mentor. This step also involves the passing on of certain tools and equipment the protagonist may need to succeed on their journey. These can be special powers or physical instruments.

Stage 2: the initiation

Now that you've spent a decent chunk of time introducing your protagonist (and hero!) and their conflict, it's time to head into the second stage of the hero's journey: the initiation. Before you do this, though, ensure you've checked off the first four items on the previous list. It is crucial that you meet these criteria for a successful hero's journey. After all, the hero can't be truly initiated into their new world if you have not established their old world, their main conflict, and the introduction of their next steps.

This next stage will take up the largest portion of your story. You should fill it with lots of new characters, settings, and trials and tests for your protagonist to endure. This is also a stage where you should focus a lot on character development for your protagonist. No person is going to go through a massive journey and end up the same person they once were when everything is said and done. Take this time to think about how you want your protagonist to change and what it's going to take to accomplish that change.

• Crossing the first threshold : This is the point at which the hero decides to embark on the adventure and cross over into the unknown, leaving his or her ordinary world behind. This is called the threshold because there is something or someone acting as a literal barrier between the protagonist's ordinary world and their new world. Beyond the threshold lies trials and tribulations and potential risks and dangers. Once the protagonist takes that first step beyond this threshold, there is no returning to the life they once knew. This is where the hero's actual journey truly begins.
• Introduction to tests, friends, and foe : This is the step of the story where the cast of characters expands and a new setting, the new world, is introduced. The protagonist may be lost in their new world, so they must evaluate the new people around them to identify potential allies, enemies, or morally ambiguous characters. Trust is established or denied. Just like anyone would struggle with encountering anew environment, the protagonist will endure some struggles of their own, but this is how they'll determine who is friend and who is foe, establishing other character roles in the process. The rules of the ordinary world do not apply to this new world, so hopefully the protagonist meets some good people who will teach him the new ways of life.
• Approaching the innermost cave : At this point on the hero's journey, they have left all semblance of the ordinary world behind. This step marks the preparation for the main event of the journey. The protagonist may gather materials and even other characters, if they're trustworthy enough, to take on the rest of the steps of the quest with them. The cave acts as a metaphor for what the protagonist is about to endure: risk, danger, darkness, and even potential loss. This step also includes some of the tests leading up to the large test yet, which happens to be the next step in the hero's journey.
• The ordeal : Buckle up, this is about to be a wild ride! That's right, your hero has finally made it to one of the biggest challenges of all. The protagonist is no longer approaching the innermost cave. Rather, the protagonist is now fully in the belly of the beast, and what a beast it is! The ordeal is usually not the climax of the story, but this is the moment where the protagonist truly transforms from an ordinary character into a true hero. It may involve their greatest fear or a physically or mentally demanding task.
• The reward : If your protagonist, now hero, succeeds in their greatest challenge, then they will be given a reward that makes the journey worth so much time, effort, and challenge. If they can succeed, then there is hope for them, that bright light that shines through the top of a dark cave and promises fulfillment and a future. This is what the hero has been fighting for this whole time. As for the reward itself, you should make sure it makes sense in the context of your story. It can be an object, a piece of knowledge, or even something entirely different, so long as its value matches the degree of the journey.

Stage 3: the return

Wahoo, your hero has endured so much and has finally gotten their reward! It's over, right? They can return to their ordinary life and reap the benefits of all their hard work? Wrong! Things are never as easy as they seem, especially in a hero's journey, so why would the road back to the ordinary world be any different for your hero?

• On the road again : This is the turning point, literally. The hero turns back around, hoping to return to their normal life after receiving their reward. But thing's are never that simple, so be sure to make sure that road is blocked. Traffic cones, stoplights, maybe a supernatural villain or catastrophic natural disaster! That should do the trick. If the road back home was easy, we'd be bored, so maintain the stakes with challenges for the hero to face as they make their way back home.
• The resurrection : Congratulations, you've finally reached the climax of your story. Remember how we said the ordeal was the moment where your protagonist transformed from an ordinary character into an actual hero, this is the moment where they can prove to us that they deserve the hero title, after all. The stakes become extremely high, as the hero does not want to fail after having endured so much already. This is the final test for the hero and the final opportunity for the villain or opposing forces to defeat the hero. If the hero comes out on top, then they will finally be able to reach that light at the end of the tunnel.
• Return with the elixir : The hero has finally completed all their challenges and is able to return home with their reward. Their transformation is complete, and they've most likely become a better person because of the journey. Or, if you want to add a twist to this step, you can always have the hero fail to return without they set out to receive, but you better be prepared to write a sequel and a whole other journey!

Following the template

Since we mentioned The Hunger Games at the very beginning, let's use Katniss Everdeen and her hero's journey as a model for this template.

• The ordinary world : Katniss Everdeen is introduced as a citizen on District 12, a poor mining district. She spends her days hunting in the woods to provide food for her family.
• The call to action : Every year, a reaping takes place where a male and female tribute from each district is randomly chosen to take place in the Hunger Games, a fight to the death. During the reaping, Katniss' sister Primrose is selected, so Katniss volunteers to take her place as the female tribute from District 12.
• Refusal of the call : As we mentioned, you may not include all 12 steps of the hero's journey in your own story. Katniss does not actually refuse the call, as she volunteered herself to save her sister. A refusal of the call is slightly seen in Peeta, Katniss' fellow tribute, as he is visibly nervous and shaken up. The nature of this story makes it so that a refusal is impossible.
• Meeting the mentor : Katniss meets Haymitch Abernathy, a previous Hunger Games victor from her District. He is her literal mentor and is meant to teach her how to make allies, get sponsors, and survive in the arena. She also finds a mentor in Cinna, the person in charge of her appearance for promotions.
• Crossing the threshold : Katniss is whisked out of District 12 and on the train to the gaudy, wealthy Capitol.
• Introduction to tests, friends, and foe : Katniss must attempt to learn who to trust while also earning sponsors and impressing the Game Makers. Katniss makes a reluctant alliance with Peeta and admires Rue from District 11. During training, it is evident that the Careers (tributes from the wealthier districts) are enemies.
• Approaching the innermost cave : Katniss enters the physical arena.
• The ordeal : The arena is full of challenges: tracker jackers, mutant wolves, poisonous berries, and other tributes trying to survive. The games themselves are the whole ordeal.
• The reward : Katniss and Peeta are the last tributes standing.
• On the road again : Although Katniss and Peeta have survived, there can only be one winner, and the Capitol wants to force them to select who lives and who dies.
• The resurrection : Katniss' bold attempt at a mutual suicide leads to both of them being allowed to live as victors, lest they become martyrs in front of the whole country.
• Return with the elixir : Katniss and Peeta return to District 12 as victors, allowing them to live lives of wealth and luxury. If you've read the books, you'll know this is nowhere near the end of Katniss' journey.

Reaping the rewards

If you've managed to check off all 12 steps on our hero's journey checklist, then you've got yourself an awesome hero's journey. If you're just starting out on your own journey of writing for a hero, then be sure to follow this template for maximum results. Be the hero in your own journey and remember to never give up as you face those roadblocks and challenges while buckling down and writing a story of your own!

Header photo by Zoltan Tasi .

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The Hero's Journey

This is a grouped series of achievements that should take any character from level 1 to level 85, providing up to date rewards (much of it in the form of gear) along the way. This is intended to solve the problem of choice, as in the question “what do we do next?”. You aren’t forced to follow this progression in any way, but if you ever come to a loose end, just look at the Hero’s Journey and there will be one, clear, “best” option for your character and level to follow, in the form of a specific set of zones and a small cluster of quests.

You can consult the Hero’s Journey in game, in several ways. The first is just by using the Achievements windows; one of the several sets is the Hero’s Journey, which you can open up and inspect down to the level of quest titles. If you want to find out what you have missed in the past, this is probably the best way.

The second is by using the Tome of the Hero’s Journey; click it, and a window will open showing the zones and quests for your level that you haven’t yet completed, including either or both of the Serpent Seeker’s Charm of Lore and the Wanderlust Guild Loadstone quests, and various other long quest series.

Crescent Reach

See the Crescent Reach guide for full details.

• Welcome to Crescent Reach (Emissary Tinnvin)
• Getting to Know You: The Council’s Aid (Innkeeper Falthus)
• Getting to Know You: The City Charter (Council Aide Mystrana)
• Getting to Know You: For Those Gone Before (Council Aide Mystrana)
• Ways of Combat (Champion Utenka)
• Ways of Nature (Initiate Dakkan)
• Snake Sacs (Initiate Dakkan)
• Diseased Spiders (Initiate Dakkan)
• The Council of Six (1+)
• Love in the Air (1+)

Boawb’s Jealousy (1+)

Graduate of Crescent Reach (1-20)

• Serpent Seeker’s Charm of Lore (1+)

Blightfire Moors

See the Blightfire Moors for full details.

• The Golden Pick (Ordunn the Miner)
• The Darkwater Pools (Ozzana the Trapper)
• The Slashclaw Cliffs (Ozzana the Trapper)
• The Ghostpack Fens (Ozzana the Trapper)
• The Ticking Crocodile (Hammerstock)
• Witchlamps (Alchemist Ella)
• Champion of the Moors (31-35) -
• Lost Memento (Moors Sign Post)
• Experienced Hunters Needed (Moors Sign Post)
• Wanted, Intrepid Explorer (Moors Sign Post)
• Wanted, Supply Runner (Moors Sign Post)
• Ore for Smelting (Smithy Bronson)
• Gnollish Tools (Smithy Bronson)
• The Mucktail Quarry (Scout Zerak)
• The Mucktail Mines (Scout Zerak)
• Rotwood, the Infected Treants (Roanoak)
• Rotwood, The Spore Farms (Roanoak)
• Hardy Seeds (Farmer D’Resh)
• Kindling for the Fires (Smithy Bronson)
• Green Ooze Buds (Fletcher Orshawn)
• Dead Wood, the Shambling Mounds (Akins)
• Dead Wood, Treants (Akins)
• Spooky! (Akins)
• The Everburning (Akins)
• Summon the Spirits (Gubjak the Lost)
• Lay Them to Rest (Gubjak the Lost)
• The Fallen Dragon (Outpost Guard Gorath)
• Pieces of the Past (Historian Pewdri)
• Historian Pewdri’s Task (Historian Pewdri)
• Feather for your Cap (Tailor Ulen)
• The Dark Tower, Flickering Torches (Shaytherrin the Exorcist)
• The Dark Tower, Fallen Guard (Shaytherrin the Exorcist)
• The Dark Tower, Lord of the Tower (Shaytherrin the Exorcist)
• The Blightfire Witches (Zan the Witch Hunter)
• Return of the Moorwalkers (Arch Druid Springthorn)
• Bixie Menace, Drone Hatchery (Scout Bowen)
• Bixie Menace, Jum Jum Fields (Scout Bowen)
• Bixie Menace, The Silo (Scout Bowen)
• The Bixie Threat? (Scout Ethaniel)
• Bixie Jumjum (Scout Ethaniel)
• Bixie Plans (Scout Ethaniel)
• Bixie Thralls (Scout Ethaniel)
• Stonehive Venom Stingers (Flethcer Orshawn)
• Buzzazar (Fletcher Orshawn)
• A Widow’s Last Memory (Merchant Makesn)
• A Taste for Honey (Merchant Makesn)
• She Haunts My Dreams (Merchant Makesn)

Conqueror of Blightfire (21-35)

• Wayfarers Brotherhood Adventurer’s Stone (Various 20+)
• Sticky Situation (Scout Vreshnar)
• The Saving Salve (Scout Vreshnar)
• Plans or No Plans (Scout Vreshnar)
• Bee Prepared for War (Scout Vreshnar)
• The Golden One (Scout Vreshnar)
• Buzz on the Bixies (Assistant Avellone)
• The Festering Combs (Assistant Avellone)
• Jokes on You (Assistant Avellone)
• A’Mazin’ Plants (Botanist Brezuu)
• Curious Seeds (Botanist Brezuu)
• Sappy Request (Botanist Brezuu)
• Nothing to Stew About (Cook Idriak)
• Touchy Feely Flan (Cook Idriak)
• Heads Above the Rest (Cook Idriak)
• Jumjum Research (Cook Idriak)
• Who’s Who? (Warwing Wendlez)
• Infiltrate the Hive (Warwing Wendlez)
• Honey, I’m Home! (Warwing Wendlez)
• The Queen Bixie (Warwing Wendlez)
• Slayer of Stone Hive (36-45)

Goru’kar Mesa

• Wolf Skins for Madu (Scout Madu)
• Bear Pelts for Madu (Scout Madu)
• Snake Skins for Madu (Scout Madu)
• Spider Silk for Madu (Scout Madu)
• Madu Needs More Supplies (Scout Madu)
• Kill Fantoma (Scout Madu)
• Kill Ursalua (Scout Madu)
• Minohten Mushrooms (Costica)
• No Place Like Home (Costica)
• Reduce the Scouts (Costica)
• Tuffein Mushrooms (Sorin)
• To Dull the Edge (Sorin)
• These Biscuits are Awfully Hard (Sorin)
• We Need Supplies (Devan)
• Protect the Tuffein (Devan)
• More Supplies for Devan (Devan)
• Nymphs Are a Menace! (Devan)
• Minohten Are a Menace! (Devan)
• Dorina’s Love (Dorina)
• Dorina’s Love Letter (Dorina)
• Dorina’s Gift (Dorina)
• Dorina’s Personalized Gift (Dorina)
• Dorina’s Potion (Dorina)
• Dorina’s Lament (Dorina)
• Smoke Them Out (Iulia)
• Pluck Their Wings (Iulia)
• Make Gravel (Nedelcu)
• Pull Their Hair (Nedelcu)
• Research the Dromrek (Scout Madu)
• Parlay with the Dromrek (Scout Madu)
• Soothe the Savage Beast? (Scout Madu)
• Parlay with the Dromrek, Again (Scout Madu)
• Reduce the Dromrek Threat (Scout Madu)
• A Bad Dream (Hanook)
• Oh No! (Hanook)
• Stand With Us (Hanook)
• They Are Coming (Peretaenu)
• Ciodaru’s Love (Ciodaru)
• Ciodaru’s First Gift (Ciodaru)
• Ciodaru’s Second Gift (Ciodaru)
• Protect Kathryn (Ciodaru)
• Ciodaru’s Third Gift (Ciodaru)
• Ciodaru’s Fourth Gift (Ciodaru)
• Protect Kathryn Again (Ciodaru)
• Ciodaru’s Fifth Gift (Ciodaru)
• Ciodaru’s Sixth Gift (Ciodaru)
• Protect Kathryn Some More (Ciodaru)
• Who Wants to Kill Kathryn? (Ciodaru)
• Ciodaru’s Gift Box (Ciodaru)
• Pluck It! (Marilena)
• Harpy Horrors (Marilena)
• Tudor’s Beer (Tudor) - FedEx
• Tudor’s Ale (Tudor) - dryads
• Tudor’s Wine (Tudor) - giants, griffins
• Tudor’s Spirits (Tudor)
• Vermin Elimination (Laurentiu)
• Birds of a Feather (Laurentiu)
• Harping on Harpies (Laurentiu)
• Dromrek Must Die (Laurentiu)
• Cleanse Serpent’s Falls (Laurentiu)
• Ekaterina’s Lament (Ekaterina)
• It Can’t Be the Queen (Ekaterina)
• Find the Cure (Ekaterina)
• Parts for a Cure (Ekaterina)
• Tunare Save the Queen (Ekaterina)
• Prove Yourself (Scout Madu)
• Reduce the Thug Menace (Klassr)
• Research the Centaur Malady (Klassr)
• Cure the Malady (Klassr)
• Magnate of the Mesa (41-55)

Blackfeather Roost

• Reach the Royal Throne
• Kill the Queen of the Harpies!
• Kill Harpies and Griffons! (Details?)
• Knock the Nests Down!
• Kill Gayatri!
• Explore the Roost!
• Harass the Harpies!
• Griffon Feathers
• Help Poor Fenith!
• A Small Wager
• Raider of the Roost (56-60)

The Steppes

• Conquering the Steppes (61-70)
• Journeyman to the Steppes (61-70)

Sunderock Springs

• Crusader of Scale (65-75)
• Emissary of Sunderock (65-75)

Vergalid Mines

• Disrupting the Mines (70-75)
• Exploring Vergalid (70-75)
• Spelunker of Vergalid Mines (70-75)

The Buried Sea

• Monkey Island (70-80)
• Redfeather Isle (70-80)
• Maiden’s Grave (70-80)
• Jardel’s Hook (70-80)
• Deadbone Reef (70-80)
• Suncrest Ridge (70-80)

Blacksail Folly (70-80)

Jonas Dagmire’s Skeletal Hand (70+)

• Captain o’er the Buried Sea (70-80)

Secrets of Faydwer

• Assisting the Ak’Anon Strike Force V (70-80)
• Assistant to the Fangbreakers (76-83)
• Assistant Fangbreaker (76-83)

Agent of Ak’Anon Strike Force V (80-85)

• Explorer of Dragonscale Hills (70-80)
• Champion of the Loping Plains (76-83)
• Strikeforce Insurgent in Mechanotus (80-85)

Seeds of Destruction

• Herald of Oceangreen Hills (75-80)
• Herald of Oceangreen Village (75-80)
• Champion of Blackburrow (76-85)
• The Army of Light (80-85)
• The Army of Obliteration (80-85)
• From the Fields to Kaesora (80-85)

Storming Kaesora and Kurns (80-85)

• Herald of Old Antonica (75-85)
• Tactician of Bloody Kithicor (80-85)
• Hero of the Field of Scale (80-85)

• Productivity
• Progression

The Hero’s Quest: Understanding the 12 Stages of Adventure for Self Development

Let’s talk about the most important person in the world.

It’s not someone on the TV screen, it’s not someone on the Internet. It’s not a politician, it’s not an athlete.

It’s… you . You are the most important person in the world from your point of view.

You are the catalyst and originator for any major change in your life.

Because of that, it’s very important that you get familiar with a quest (that you most likely are already on).

That quest is “the monomyth” or “The hero’s journey”. It’s a quest that will help sharpen the sword of your life and allow you to face any obstacle you encounter head on.

In this article you’re going to learn:

• What exactly is the hero’s journey
• The different stages of the journey
• Being the archetypal hero in your life
• Things to be aware of in the journey
• How to integrate this philosophy into your own life

Answering the Call: What Is the Hero’s Journey?

The hero’s journey is just what it sounds like: a grand undertaking performed by someone of interest (a hero).

It’s a scenario where the main character or protagonist of a story embarks on a quest full of danger and discovery, ultimately emerging as a different person than the one at the start of the journey.

By its nature, the journey involves trials and tribulations that change the very consciousness of the person who undergoes it.

Simply put: the hero’s journey is a necessary journey for all of us to go on regardless of who you are or where you’ve come from .

The Hero Archetype and Jungian Psychology

In the early 1900s, a Swiss psychoanalyst named Carl Gustav Jung or (C.G. Jung for short) developed a system known as analytical psychology.

This branch of psychology is heavily centered around archetypes, which is a universal image or motif embedded in the human psyche.

In other words, think of it as a pre-existing mold that guides actions, behavior, and character traits.

An example would be the character archetype of a “bad boy”. “Bad boys” come in all different flavors and backgrounds, but they still follow the same mold. Same goes with a “nice guy”.

When we talk about the hero’s journey, we are talking about a journey ultimately grounded in an archetypal cornerstone, meaning it has deep roots in human consciousness.

The journey from “zero to hero” or “boy to man” is something that has been repeated endlessly in various different cultures, stories, and movies from time immemorial.

Archetypes are something that goes very deep, but in this context, it is a universal journey that touches the core of the human and masculine soul.

Joseph Campbell and Archetypal Foundations

“The usual hero adventure begins with someone from whom something has been taken, or who feels there is something lacking in the normal experience available or permitted to the members of society. The person then takes off on a series of adventures beyond the ordinary, either to recover what has been lost or to discover some life-giving elixir. It’s usually a cycle, a coming and a returning.” – Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Joseph Campbell is another cultural touchstone who used archetypes to explain the hero’s journey and why it is so quintessential to the human consciousness.

In fact, he can be thought of as the one who pulled the hero’s tale from its murky esoteric surroundings and exposed it to the light of mainstream thought.

His book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces was one of the first books to use the archetypal psychology developed in part by Jung and use it as a roadmap for navigating the mental landscape of modern life.

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The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey: The Hero Cycle Explained

The Hero’s Journey via Rebecca Ray, Storyboard That

The hero’s journey is a circular episodic drama that happens in stages with subtle gradations.

These stages have differing steps, each with definitive landmarks. This cycle is something that is seen in every quest large or small, and every person, old or young. This happens in 12 stages. What are the 12 stages of the hero’s journey?

Well, the 12 stages are as follows:

• The Ordinary World – If ignorance is bliss, the hero is living it in. In this stage, the hero is unaware of the tasks that lie before him and what is required of him to complete them. At this stage, he is clearly mortal with specific character traits that will help or hinder him in his journey.
• Call to Adventure – Like a clarion signal that flashes across the night sky, the hero knows this is the time to pick up his metaphorical sword and shield and thrust out into the world. He must confront a challenge that threatens either him and his way of life or his immediate loved ones. It will push him out of his comfort zone .
• Refusal of the Call – The hero may encounter a blow to his self-confidence and sense of self-worth. He will then doubt himself entirely. He may head home with his tail tucked between his legs, wishing this was all a bad dream.
• Meeting the Mentor – At this stage of the hero’s journey, the hero will encounter someone who can offer guidance and counsel. This may come in the form of a past hero who completed his own hero quest or someone who was near the end of the quest and failed to complete it. This mentorship will dispel his doubts about himself and give him the second wind to continue.
• Crossing the Threshold – For many heroes, this is the point of the true beginning. Often a point of no return, it can symbolize the hero’s willingness and commitment to complete his quest.
• Test, Allies, Enemies – This is the juicy part of the story. At this point, the hero meets his allies and adversaries in the form of intangibles such as shadows from the past or tangibles such as another companion on the journey. Each of these tests and figures will challenge and sculpt the hero in their own way and define his character even further.
• Approach to the Inmost Cave – “Inside the cave you fear to tread lies the treasure you seek”. This stage gives meaning to that statement. This is where the hero will make a leap of faith into the unknown and test himself.
• The Ordeal – This is a dangerous test that must be faced and defeated in order for there to exist a world in which the hero continues to exist. At this point, it will take everything the hero has to emerge victorious.
• Seizing the Sword – The hero is then rewarded a prize for defeating his Ordeal. It may be in the form of great power, secret knowledge, reconciliation with himself or others, or even a fair maiden.
• The Road Back – This is a reverse call out to the beginning of the journey and he will need one final boost to return to his previous world. At this point, he may choose between a personal objective or a higher calling.
• Resurrection – This is a climax where the hero will have his final encounter – death itself. The battle also represents a far reaching consequence concerning his return to the ordinary world. At this point, he will emerge victorious or literally die, but this stage is a transformation.
• Return With the Elixir – At this point, the hero returns home to his ordinary world a changed person. He is not the same and his life afterwards will never the be same. He often gains a large degree of self-acceptance and self-awareness of himself and his world around him.

Masculine Psychology and the Hero Archetype

Deep down every man wants to be an effective force in his life. He wants to have passionate relationships, a life of adventure, and lots of masculine energy.

The hero’s journey is required in some sense for the boy to become a man .

In times past, there were rites of passage for emerging men, usually which followed the hero’s quest more or less. Today, there are no real rites of passage, but that process of becoming a man is still necessary

Many modern men are accepting (even willing) to forgo this journey and watch other people live life.

Because many men have fallen to the ease in modern society, they have the mental and spiritual effectiveness of a boy half their age. They are literally stuck in some sort of “stasis” adolescent period.

So let’s say you are willing to go on this journey. That’s great. But as with any hero’s journey, there are some dangers on the path.

Dangers to the Journey

There are some uniquely modern dangers that threaten even starting the journey. Here’s a few of them:

Downplaying the Importance of the Call to Adventure

We live in the safest society that has ever existed, despite what people say on the news and such.

Our society is the accumulation of the work of millions of people past and present.

Because of this, we feel as if our life should be one of ease. We don’t really need to do hard stuff. We don’t need to go on the hero’s journey. It just isn’t that important – some would say.

If you fall into this trap, you risk the frustration of your innate potential and the chance that you will live a very stagnant life.

Spectatorism

It is better to blend in than to stand out. As a spectator, you can watch other people take the fall and take the blame. You can live a safe, comfortable, and passive existence due to the conveniences of our modern society.

But as just mentioned in the point above, you will most likely live a life of stagnation and lethargy because you aren’t “the man in the arena” who is consistently taking action and moving towards an ideal.

Lack of Crisis

“The drive to relieve discomfort is the root cause of all our behavior, while everything else is a proximate cause.“ – Nir Eyal, Indistractible

Simply put, there is no urgency to do anything in life. Everything is already provided. There is no drama, no climax, no real sense of impending destruction that will arouse his latent capacities.

Even if you aren’t necessarily in a super well-off state, chances are low (especially if you’re reading this) that you’re in a state of scarcity and abject survival. You aren’t hard pressed for day to day necessities, even if money is a little tight. It’s something you can live with.

As Nir Eyal said in his book Indistractable , all behavior is a desire to relieve tension or pain. If there is no pain, if there is no tension, it will be very difficult for you to act much less go on the hero’s journey.

To circumvent all of these, you have to be willing to be the hero in your own movie.

Wrapping Up + Conclusion

If you want to get the max out of your life, you have to be willing to be proactive and pragmatic in your life. Seeing yourself as the center at the massive chain of cause and effect helps you to be less compulsive and more conscious about your actions and effect on other people.

The mindset that every action you take may save the world or damn it depending on what it is will give seemingly minor and innocuous actions heavier weight.

If you feel like the world is waiting with bated breath for you to “do good”, it makes it much easier to “do good” whether that be in the form of volunteerism, making more money, or having productive conversations with other individuals.

If we all brought a quality of responsibility to our lives, it would have a ripple effect that would spread out amongst the world and change it for the better.

This is where the desire to save not only the world but yourself comes into play in the hero’s journey – being an asset to people instead of a liability.

The hero’s journey is ultimately a journey where you think in terms of solutions instead of problems and progression instead of regression.

It’s one where you will ultimately become a different man than the one who started it. IF you decide to take it.

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Mastering The Hero's Journey: A Comprehensive Guide To Storytelling Success

Table of Contents

Origins of the Hero's Journey

The three-act structure, the 12 stages of the hero's journey, key archetypes in the hero's journey, the inner and outer journey, applying the hero's journey to your story, adaptations and variations of the hero's journey, case studies: the hero's journey in popular fiction, common mistakes and how to avoid them, writing tips for crafting a compelling hero's journey, frequently asked questions, further reading.

The concept of the Hero's Journey can be traced back to the work of renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell . In his seminal book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), Campbell examined myths and stories from various cultures around the world and identified a common narrative pattern that he dubbed the "monomyth."

According to Campbell, the monomyth is a universal story template that transcends time, culture, and geography. It consists of a series of stages that a hero must go through in order to fulfill their destiny or complete their quest. Campbell drew inspiration for this concept from the works of prominent scholars such as Carl Jung , whose theories on archetypes and the collective unconscious greatly influenced his thinking.

Another significant influence on Campbell's work was James Frazer , who studied comparative mythology and religion in his groundbreaking book, The Golden Bough (1890). Frazer's work helped Campbell recognize the similarities between myths from different cultures and formulate the idea of a shared, underlying narrative structure.

In The Hero with a Thousand Faces , Campbell outlined the basic structure of the monomyth, which he divided into three main stages: Departure, Initiation, and Return. These stages encompass various sub-stages that the hero encounters on their journey, creating a blueprint for the Hero's Journey that can be applied to countless stories.

While Campbell's work focused primarily on myths and legends, the Hero's Journey has been widely adopted by writers and filmmakers in crafting their narratives. Some of the most successful books and movies, such as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings , have followed the basic structure of the monomyth, proving the enduring appeal of this timeless narrative framework.

Over the years, the Hero's Journey has been refined and expanded upon by other scholars and writers, most notably Christopher Vogler , who adapted Campbell's ideas for use in modern storytelling in his book The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (1992). Vogler's work has made the Hero's Journey more accessible to contemporary writers, ensuring its continued relevance in the world of storytelling.

The Three-Act Structure is a widely-used storytelling model that divides a narrative into three distinct parts or "acts": Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. This model has its roots in classical drama and has been adapted for use in modern storytelling, particularly in the realms of screenwriting and novel writing. The Three-Act Structure provides a framework for pacing and plot development, helping writers create a well-structured and engaging narrative.

Act One: Setup

The first act of a story serves to introduce the main characters, establish the setting, and provide important background information. During this act, the protagonist is typically confronted with an inciting incident that sets the story in motion and propels them into the main conflict. This act ends with a turning point or "plot point" that pushes the protagonist into the second act.

In the context of the Hero's Journey, Act One corresponds to the Departure stage, which includes elements such as the Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, and the Meeting with the Mentor. These events set the stage for the hero's transformation and the challenges they will face throughout their journey.

Act Two: Confrontation

The second act, often referred to as the "rising action," sees the protagonist facing a series of obstacles and challenges as they pursue their goal. This is the longest part of the story, as it delves into the hero's struggles, their growth, and their relationships with other characters. The second act also features a turning point or "midpoint" that raises the stakes and heightens the tension. This act concludes with another major plot point, often involving a crisis or setback for the protagonist, propelling them into the final act.

In the Hero's Journey, Act Two encompasses the Initiation stage, with events such as the Road of Trials, the Approach to the Inmost Cave, and the Ordeal. These challenges test the hero's mettle, forcing them to confront their fears, learn important lessons, and acquire the skills they need to succeed in their quest.

Act Three: Resolution

The third and final act of a story focuses on the resolution of the conflict and the protagonist's ultimate transformation. The climax of the story typically occurs near the beginning of this act, as the hero faces their final challenge or confrontation with the antagonist. After the climax, the story moves into the "falling action," where loose ends are tied up, and the consequences of the protagonist's actions are revealed. The story concludes with the "denouement," which provides closure and shows how the characters have been affected by the events of the story.

In the context of the Hero's Journey, Act Three corresponds to the Return stage, featuring events such as the Resurrection, the Atonement with the Father, and the Freedom to Live. These elements signify the hero's completion of their quest, their reconciliation with their past, and their newfound ability to live a more fulfilled and authentic life.

By following the Three-Act Structure, writers can effectively pace their stories and ensure that the narrative remains engaging and satisfying for their audience. When combined with the stages and elements of the Hero's Journey, this structure provides a powerful blueprint for crafting compelling and resonant tales.

While the Hero's Journey can be broken down into the Three-Act Structure, it is often further divided into 12 distinct stages that the hero must go through during their quest. These stages, as described by Joseph Campbell and adapted by Christopher Vogler, provide a more detailed roadmap for writers seeking to create a compelling Hero's Journey narrative. The 12 stages are as follows:

• The Ordinary World : This stage establishes the protagonist's normal life before their adventure begins. It provides important context and allows the audience to become familiar with the hero's circumstances, values, and motivations. ( source )
• The Call to Adventure : The hero is confronted with an event or challenge that disrupts their ordinary world and sets the stage for their adventure. This call can take many forms, such as a threat, a discovery, or a personal loss. ( source )
• Refusal of the Call : Initially, the hero may be hesitant or resistant to embark on their journey, often due to fear, doubt, or a sense of obligation to their ordinary world. This stage highlights the hero's internal conflict and the stakes involved in their decision. ( source )
• Meeting the Mentor : The hero encounters a wise figure or guide who provides advice, guidance, or magical assistance to help them on their journey. This mentor figure can take various forms, such as a teacher, a parent, or even a supernatural being. ( source )
• Crossing the Threshold : The hero makes the decision to leave their ordinary world and fully commit to their adventure. This stage signifies the hero's acceptance of the call to adventure and their willingness to face the unknown. ( source )
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies : As the hero embarks on their journey, they encounter a series of obstacles, challenges, and antagonistic forces. They must also forge alliances with other characters who can help them along the way. This stage serves to develop the hero's character, test their resolve, and teach them valuable lessons. ( source )
• Approach to the Inmost Cave : The hero prepares for the central crisis or ordeal of their journey, often involving a confrontation with their greatest fear or the story's main antagonist. This stage often involves a period of introspection and reflection, as the hero gathers their strength and resources for the upcoming challenge. ( source )
• The Ordeal : The hero faces their most difficult challenge, which often involves a life-or-death situation or a confrontation with their greatest fear. This stage serves as the climax of the story and represents the hero's transformation, as they must overcome their inner and outer demons to succeed. ( source )
• Reward (Seizing the Sword) : After overcoming the ordeal, the hero receives a reward, which could be a physical object, a piece of knowledge, or personal growth. This stage signifies the hero's victory and the attainment of their goal. ( source )
• The Road Back : The hero begins their journey back to the ordinary world, often with a renewed sense of purpose and the knowledge or reward they gained during their adventure. This stage can involve additional challenges, as the hero's transformation may be met with resistance from their ordinary world. ( source )
• Resurrection : The hero faces a final test or confrontation that represents the culmination of their character growth and the ultimate resolution of the story's conflict. This stage often involves a symbolic "death" and "rebirth" for the hero, signifying their transformation and newfound wisdom. ( source )
• Return with the Elixir : The hero returns to their ordinary world, having been transformed by their experiences and armed with the knowledge or reward they gained during their journey. This stage signifies the completion of the Hero's Journey and the hero's newfound ability to make a positive impact on their world. ( source )

By incorporating these 12 stages into their narrative, writers can craft a rich and satisfying Hero's Journey that resonates with audiences and follows a time-tested pattern of storytelling.

In addition to the 12 stages, the Hero's Journey also features several key archetypes that frequently appear in these narratives. These archetypes, derived from the work of Carl Jung and popularized by Joseph Campbell, represent universal symbols and character types that resonate with audiences across cultures and time periods. By incorporating these archetypes into their story, writers can create a rich and engaging narrative that taps into the human psyche. Some of the most common archetypes in the Hero's Journey include:

• The Hero : The protagonist of the story, who embarks on a journey to achieve a goal or resolve a conflict. The hero undergoes a transformation, often involving personal growth, self-discovery, and the acquisition of new skills or knowledge. ( source )
• The Mentor : A wise and experienced figure who provides guidance, support, and knowledge to the hero. The mentor often possesses valuable information or abilities that the hero needs to complete their journey. ( source )
• The Threshold Guardian : A character or obstacle that tests the hero's resolve and commitment to their journey. Threshold guardians often appear at the beginning of the adventure, forcing the hero to prove their worth and overcome their initial fears or doubts. ( source )
• The Herald : A character or event that signals the beginning of the hero's journey and delivers the Call to Adventure. The herald may also appear later in the story to announce important events or changes. ( source )
• The Shapeshifter : A character whose allegiance, motives, or appearance are uncertain or subject to change. The shapeshifter often serves to create tension and intrigue within the story, as the hero and the audience are left unsure of their true intentions. ( source )
• The Shadow : The antagonist or opposing force in the story, often representing the hero's greatest fears, flaws, or challenges. The shadow serves as a foil to the hero, highlighting their weaknesses and forcing them to confront their inner demons. ( source )
• The Ally : A character who aids and supports the hero on their journey, often providing companionship, advice, or practical assistance. Allies can take many forms, from loyal friends to unlikely partners, and help the hero overcome the obstacles they face. ( source )
• The Trickster : A character who uses wit, cunning, or humor to challenge the status quo and disrupt the established order. The trickster often serves as comic relief, but can also play a more significant role in the hero's journey by introducing new perspectives or forcing the hero to question their assumptions. ( source )

Understanding these key archetypes can help writers create well-rounded characters and engaging narratives that resonate with their audience. By incorporating these archetypes into their Hero's Journey, writers can tap into universal themes and symbols that have captivated readers and viewers for generations.

The Hero's Journey is not just a physical quest but also a psychological one, often referred to as the Inner and Outer Journey. The Outer Journey represents the hero's external actions and experiences, while the Inner Journey delves into their emotional growth, personal development, and the transformation of their beliefs and values. Understanding these two aspects of the Hero's Journey can help writers create a more nuanced and emotionally resonant narrative. Here is an overview of the Inner and Outer Journey in relation to the Hero's Journey:

The Outer Journey

The Outer Journey focuses on the hero's physical actions, experiences, and obstacles they encounter throughout their adventure. This journey is primarily plot-driven and involves the hero's progression through the various stages of the Hero's Journey, such as the Call to Adventure, the Ordeal, and the Return with the Elixir. The Outer Journey often includes the following elements:

• Action and adventure
• Conflict and resolution
• Settings and world-building
• Interaction with other characters

Writers can use the Outer Journey to create engaging and dynamic narratives that keep the audience invested in the hero's plight and the outcome of their quest. ( source )

The Inner Journey

The Inner Journey delves into the hero's psychological and emotional transformation, which is often closely intertwined with the events of the Outer Journey. This journey is primarily character-driven and explores the hero's internal struggles, personal growth, and the evolution of their beliefs and values. The Inner Journey often includes the following elements:

• Character development and growth
• Emotional arcs and conflicts
• Inner demons and fears
• Moral dilemmas and choices

By incorporating the Inner Journey into their narrative, writers can create complex and relatable characters that resonate with their audience on a deeper, more personal level. ( source )

Both the Inner and Outer Journey are integral components of the Hero's Journey, and a successful narrative will weave these two aspects together to create a compelling and emotionally satisfying story. By understanding the interplay between the hero's external actions and their internal growth, writers can create a more nuanced and engaging Hero's Journey that resonates with their audience.

Now that you have a thorough understanding of the Hero's Journey and its various components, it's time to apply this framework to your own story. By incorporating the 12 stages, key archetypes, and the Inner and Outer Journey into your narrative, you can create a rich and engaging story that resonates with your audience. Here are some practical tips and guidelines for applying the Hero's Journey to your story:

1. Identify your hero

Start by identifying your protagonist or hero, the character who will embark on the journey and undergo a transformation. Consider their background, motivations, and personal flaws, as these elements will shape their journey and influence their character development. ( source )

2. Define the Call to Adventure

Determine the inciting incident or Call to Adventure that will propel your hero into their journey. This event should create a sense of urgency, challenge the hero's status quo, and set the stage for their transformation. ( source )

3. Outline the stages of the journey

Using the 12 stages of the Hero's Journey as a guide, outline the key events and turning points in your story. Consider how each stage contributes to the hero's growth and transformation, and ensure that your narrative follows a logical and satisfying arc. ( source )

4. Develop your archetypes

Introduce the key archetypes that will populate your story, such as the Mentor, the Threshold Guardian, and the Shadow. Consider how each archetype can contribute to the hero's journey and help to shape their character development. ( source )

5. Balance the Inner and Outer Journey

Ensure that your story effectively balances the hero's Inner and Outer Journey, weaving together their emotional growth and external experiences into a cohesive narrative. Consider how the events of the Outer Journey influence the hero's Inner Journey and vice versa, and use this interplay to create a compelling and emotionally resonant story. ( source )

6. Revise and refine your story

Once you have applied the Hero's Journey framework to your story, review and revise your narrative to ensure that it adheres to the principles of the Hero's Journey while remaining true to your unique vision and voice. Consider seeking feedback from others, such as critique partners, beta readers, or professional editors, to help you refine your story and bring it to its full potential. ( source )

By following these guidelines and incorporating the Hero's Journey into your narrative, you can create a rich and engaging story that resonates with your audience and follows a time-tested pattern of storytelling success.

While the Hero's Journey provides a useful framework for storytelling, it's important to recognize that not all stories will follow this structure exactly. Over time, various adaptations and variations of the Hero's Journey have emerged, offering different perspectives and approaches to storytelling. By exploring these adaptations, writers can gain a broader understanding of the narrative possibilities and apply these insights to their own work. Here are some notable adaptations and variations of the Hero's Journey:

1. The Heroine's Journey

The Heroine's Journey, first proposed by Maureen Murdock in her book "The Heroine's Journey: Woman's Quest for Wholeness," offers a gendered perspective on the Hero's Journey, focusing on the unique challenges and experiences faced by female protagonists. The Heroine's Journey emphasizes the importance of relationships, self-discovery, and the integration of masculine and feminine qualities within the individual. ( source )

2. The Writer's Journey

Christopher Vogler's "The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers" adapts the Hero's Journey for screenwriters and novelists, condensing Campbell's 17 stages into a more streamlined 12-stage structure. Vogler's adaptation has been widely embraced by the writing community and is particularly influential in the world of screenwriting. ( source )

3. The Virgin's Promise

Kim Hudson's "The Virgin's Promise" offers an alternative narrative structure that focuses on the protagonist's journey towards self-fulfillment and personal empowerment, rather than a quest to save others or restore balance to the world. The Virgin's Promise is particularly relevant to stories featuring female protagonists and themes of personal growth and transformation. ( source )

4. The Anti-Hero's Journey

The Anti-Hero's Journey explores the narrative arc of protagonists who do not possess traditional heroic qualities, such as moral integrity, courage, or selflessness. The Anti-Hero's Journey may involve a more morally ambiguous or complex character, who may not ultimately achieve redemption or success in the conventional sense.

5. The Collective Journey

The Collective Journey, as proposed by Jeff Gomez, focuses on the interconnected and collaborative nature of modern storytelling, particularly in transmedia narratives and shared storyworlds. In the Collective Journey, the focus shifts from the individual hero to a diverse ensemble of characters, each contributing to the narrative in unique and meaningful ways. ( source )

By exploring these adaptations and variations of the Hero's Journey, writers can gain a broader understanding of the possibilities for storytelling and create narratives that reflect their unique perspective and voice. Remember that the Hero's Journey is not a rigid formula, but rather a flexible framework that can be adapted and modified to suit the needs of your story and your characters.

To further illustrate the power and versatility of the Hero's Journey, let's examine some case studies of popular fiction that employ this narrative structure. By analyzing these examples, you can gain a deeper understanding of how the Hero's Journey can be applied to various genres, mediums, and story types.

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien's epic fantasy trilogy is a prime example of the Hero's Journey, with its protagonist Frodo Baggins embarking on a quest to destroy the One Ring and save Middle-earth. The story follows the classic stages of the Hero's Journey, with Frodo facing numerous trials, allies, and enemies along the way, ultimately transforming from a humble Hobbit into a hero capable of great courage and sacrifice. ( source )

2. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Rowling's beloved fantasy series follows the young wizard Harry Potter as he embarks on a journey to defeat the dark wizard Voldemort. Over the course of the series, Harry undergoes the stages of the Hero's Journey, from the Call to Adventure (receiving his Hogwarts letter) to the Ordeal (battling Voldemort) and the Return with the Elixir (restoring peace to the wizarding world). The series also features a rich cast of archetypal characters, such as the Mentor (Dumbledore), the Shadow (Voldemort), and the Shapeshifter (Snape). ( source )

3. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Collins' dystopian series follows the journey of Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who becomes the symbol of rebellion against a tyrannical government. Katniss' journey reflects the Hero's Journey, as she faces trials in the Hunger Games arena, encounters allies and enemies, and ultimately leads a revolution to overthrow the Capitol. The series also incorporates elements of the Heroine's Journey, exploring themes of personal growth, relationships, and the integration of masculine and feminine qualities. ( source )

4. Star Wars by George Lucas

George Lucas' iconic space opera is heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell's work on the Hero's Journey, with its protagonist Luke Skywalker embarking on a quest to become a Jedi and defeat the evil Empire. The original Star Wars trilogy follows the stages of the Hero's Journey, with Luke undergoing a transformation from a simple farm boy to a powerful Jedi Knight. The series also features a cast of archetypal characters, such as the Mentor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), the Shadow (Darth Vader), and the Trickster (Han Solo). ( source )

These case studies demonstrate the enduring appeal and versatility of the Hero's Journey as a narrative structure. By applying the principles of the Hero's Journey to your own work, you can create compelling stories that resonate with audiences across genres, mediums, and cultures.

While the Hero's Journey can be a powerful tool for storytelling, it's essential to avoid some common mistakes when applying this framework to your work. By recognizing these pitfalls and taking steps to avoid them, you can create a more engaging and original story that stands out in today's competitive market. Here are some common mistakes and tips for avoiding them:

1. Rigid adherence to the Hero's Journey

One of the most common mistakes writers make is treating the Hero's Journey as a rigid formula rather than a flexible framework. It's important to remember that not every story will follow the Hero's Journey exactly, and forcing your narrative to adhere to this structure can result in a predictable and uninspired story. Instead, use the Hero's Journey as a guide and adapt it to suit your unique vision and characters. ( source )

2. Stereotypical characters and archetypes

While the Hero's Journey relies on certain archetypal characters, it's essential to avoid creating one-dimensional, stereotypical characters that lack depth and complexity. Instead, strive to develop nuanced and multifaceted characters that challenge audience expectations and engage their emotions. This will result in a richer and more satisfying story. ( source )

3. Neglecting the Inner Journey

Another common mistake is focusing solely on the external events of the Hero's Journey and neglecting the protagonist's emotional growth and transformation. To create a truly compelling story, it's essential to balance the Inner and Outer Journey, ensuring that your hero's emotional development is intertwined with their external experiences. This will result in a more emotionally resonant and satisfying narrative. ( source )

4. Overemphasis on action and spectacle

While the Hero's Journey often involves high-stakes action and conflict, it's essential not to let these elements overshadow the emotional core of your story. Instead, focus on your characters' relationships, motivations, and personal growth, ensuring that the action and spectacle serve to enhance the emotional stakes and drive the narrative forward. ( source )

5. Ignoring cultural context and diversity

Finally, it's important to recognize that the Hero's Journey is rooted in a specific cultural context and may not apply universally to all stories and cultures. When crafting your narrative, be mindful of cultural diversity and strive to create stories that reflect and celebrate the rich tapestry of human experience. This will result in a more inclusive and engaging story that resonates with a broader audience. ( source )

By avoiding these common mistakes and applying the principles of the Hero's Journey thoughtfully and creatively, you can craft a powerful and engaging story that stands out in today's competitive market and resonates with your audience.

Creating a compelling Hero's Journey requires a thoughtful approach to storytelling, character development, and narrative structure. To help you craft a memorable and engaging story, consider these writing tips:

1. Understand the foundation of the Hero's Journey

Before attempting to write a Hero's Journey, familiarize yourself with the fundamental concepts, stages, and archetypes outlined by Joseph Campbell and other scholars. This will provide a solid foundation for crafting your narrative and help you identify the essential elements of your story. ( source )

2. Develop compelling characters

Creating engaging, multidimensional characters is essential for a successful Hero's Journey. Focus on developing your protagonist, as well as the supporting cast of allies, enemies, and mentors, ensuring that each character is unique, relatable, and serves a purpose within the narrative.

3. Focus on emotional stakes

The emotional stakes of your story are crucial to maintaining reader engagement and investment in the Hero's Journey. Strive to create a narrative with high emotional stakes, where the protagonist's personal growth and relationships are intertwined with their external quest. ( source )

4. Use the Hero's Journey as a guide, not a template

While the Hero's Journey provides a useful framework for crafting your story, avoid treating it as a rigid formula. Instead, use the Hero's Journey as a starting point and adapt it to suit your unique vision, characters, and genre. This will result in a more original and engaging narrative. ( source )

To create a satisfying and well-rounded narrative, it's essential to balance the Inner Journey (the protagonist's emotional growth) with the Outer Journey (their external quest). Ensure that both aspects of the Hero's Journey are interconnected and contribute to the protagonist's overall transformation. ( source )

6. Embrace diversity and cultural context

When crafting your Hero's Journey, be mindful of cultural diversity and consider incorporating elements from various myths, legends, and cultural traditions. This will enrich your narrative and help it resonate with a broader audience. ( source )

7. Revise, revise, revise

Finally, remember that writing a compelling Hero's Journey is an iterative process that requires multiple drafts and revisions. Be prepared to revise your work, seeking feedback from beta readers, editors, and writing groups to refine your narrative and ensure that it effectively communicates your vision. ( source )

By applying these writing tips and maintaining a thoughtful, creative approach to storytelling, you can craft a compelling Hero's Journey that engages your audience and leaves a lasting impact.

Below are some frequently asked questions that will provide you with more information.

How can I adapt the Hero's Journey framework to my unique story?

Adapting the Hero's Journey to your unique story involves understanding its core principles and using them as a guide rather than a rigid template. Be creative and flexible, allowing your story's characters and themes to drive the narrative. Don't be afraid to deviate from the traditional Hero's Journey if it better serves your story's vision and purpose.

What are the key components of a compelling Hero's Journey narrative?

The key components of a compelling Hero's Journey narrative include a well-developed protagonist, a clear and meaningful quest, engaging character archetypes, high emotional stakes, and a balance between the Inner and Outer Journeys. Additionally, focusing on character growth and transformation can create a more emotionally resonant and satisfying story.

How can I avoid common mistakes when writing a Hero's Journey story?

Avoid common mistakes by not treating the Hero's Journey as a rigid formula, developing nuanced characters instead of stereotypes, focusing on emotional stakes, and considering cultural diversity. Also, be mindful of the balance between the Inner and Outer Journeys, ensuring that your protagonist's emotional growth is intertwined with their external quest.

What are some writing tips for crafting a compelling Hero's Journey?

Writing tips for crafting a compelling Hero's Journey include understanding the foundation of the Hero's Journey, developing compelling characters, focusing on emotional stakes, using the Hero's Journey as a guide rather than a template, balancing the Inner and Outer Journeys, embracing diversity and cultural context, and revising your work iteratively.

If you're interested in exploring the Hero's Journey further, here are three non-fiction books that delve into the topic and provide valuable insights:

In conclusion, mastering the Hero's Journey is a crucial skill for any writer seeking to create a compelling and resonant narrative. By understanding the origins of the Hero's Journey and its connections to myth, legend, and the human psyche, you can tap into a powerful framework for storytelling success.

The Hero's Journey provides a structure that can guide your narrative, helping you craft a story that engages readers and speaks to universal themes of personal growth, transformation, and triumph over adversity. By carefully studying the Three-Act Structure , the 12 Stages of the Hero's Journey , and the key archetypes that populate this narrative structure, you'll be better equipped to create a story that resonates with your audience.

Remember that while the Hero's Journey offers a valuable blueprint for storytelling, it's essential to adapt and personalize this framework to suit your unique vision and narrative goals. Be open to deviating from the traditional structure, incorporating diverse cultural elements, and exploring new ways to tell your story.

Finally, embrace the iterative nature of the writing process, seeking feedback from others and revising your work to ensure that your Hero's Journey effectively communicates your intended message and themes. By dedicating time and effort to mastering the Hero's Journey, you'll be well on your way to crafting a captivating and successful story.

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'It is probably one of the best books on writing I've read so far.' Miz Bent

• Sep 7, 2018

The Hero's Journey: 12 of the Best Books about Quests

Updated: Sep 26, 2018

The quest narrative is one of the oldest and more enduring types of stories. It has played a prominent role in folklore and myth around the world and continues to appear in fiction and film. Closely tied to the monomyth of the Hero’s Journey, the quest narrative is centred on a character who must set out on a journey in order to achieve a goal. This journey usually takes the character and the readers through exotic or fantastical landscapes, as well as through a series of obstacles and perils. The object of the quest typically centres on the search for a person, place, or thing, as seen in the stories of The Wizard of Oz , the hunt for El Dorado, and the quest for the Holy Grail, respectively. The desire, or wish to return home after the object is found also plays a prominent role in many quest narratives.

Quests have appeared in literature throughout the ages, usually in the most popular genre of that era. They came to prominence in the chivalric romances of the Middle Ages, and the figure of the knight-errant has remained closely tied to the conception of quests ever since. This is particularly notable in the adventure fiction of the 19th century, which saw not only a resurgence of quest stories, but also of novels set in the medieval era, such as Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe . This medievalist approach has continued into modern fantasy literature where the quest continues to play a prominent role in some of the most popular books of today. Here we have listed some of the great examples of quests in literature across the ages.

The Odyssey by Homer

Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey are among some of the oldest

surviving examples of Western literature. While the story of the Odyssey happens chronologically directly after the events in the Iliad, in that it charts the journey home of a group of soldiers involved in the Trojan War, the two poems have a very different tone and style. Where the Iliad is tragic, the Odyssey has much more of an adventurous feel. The Odyssey’s quest is unusual in that it is centred on the ‘returning home’ aspect rather than the going out. Within this overarching quest however is a series of smaller quests and adventures that take Odysseus and his comrades into the lairs of cyclops, through the waters of sirens and into the underworld. An enduring classic for a reason, it’s hard not to get swept up in the trials and exploits of Odysseus and his comrades in their quest to return home.

Le Morte Darthur by Thomas Malory

While The Odyssey remains one of the most iconic quests in the literary canon, as already noted the conception of quests is often much more associated with medieval courtly romances. Of these, the Arthurian legends are perhaps the most enduring. Completed in 1470, Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur is considered the definitive English account of King Arthur’s life, from his ascent to the throne and his founding of the Knights of the Round Table, to the fall of the golden age of chivalry culminating in his death. Although not the only quest described, the greatest part of the text is given to the individual efforts of the various knights to find the Holy Grail. In this Le Morte d'Arthur is perhaps the quintessential quest story.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Where Le Morte d’Arthur takes a serious look at the expectations of heroism and the need for true chivalry, another medieval Arthurian story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight takes an altogether more light-hearted approach. It is an outlandish and playful tale and the quest in this case is an unusual one, as it is a journey towards death. Set on New Year’s day, an unexpected guest, in the form of the Green Knight, appears at the Camelot festivities. He

challenges any of the knights to strike him with their axe, on the condition that he may return the blow in exactly one year. Sir Gawain agrees, striking the green knight on the neck, but the beheaded knight simply picks up his own head and walks away. Gawain must then set out to find the castle of the Green Knight and receive his agreed blow. The story which was recorded in the 14th century, here receives a modernized rendering by J.R.R. Tolkien, who will be

returned to later in this list for his own quest stories. This edition also contains another medieval quest story, Sir Orfeo , in which a knight must enter the fairy world in order to retrieve his stolen wife, making this particular edition an excellent place to explore medieval quests.

The White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In moving on to the adventure fiction of the 19th century, we find ourselves right back in the medieval world, with Arthur Conan Doyle’s knightly historical tale The White Company . While Doyle is most famous for creating the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, he himself found much greater pride in his carefully researched and lovingly crafted historical fiction adventures. Set during the Hundred Years War, The White Company follows two young men, Allenye and John Hordle, who both leave their lives in the abbey for very different reasons, but find themselves united in joining the mercenary regiment known as The White Company . They set out for France on a quest to fight for England, a journey which takes them through many perils and adventures. The length of this novel, in comparison to the serialised Holmes stories, gives Doyle space to demonstrate his truly masterful talent. He balances a romantic and rose tinted perspective of the medieval era while carrying the wealth of carefully researched knowledge and detail.

The Man who would be King by Rudyard Kipling

Kipling is iconic for his evocative stories set in the Indian subcontinent. His writing, blending exoticism with verisimilitude, captures the reader’s imagination almost instantly, making it perfect for adventure. In this novella, Kipling describes the exploits of two men, Dravot and Carnehan, who make the audacious claim that: “India isn’t big enough for such as us.” They embark on a quest to set themselves up as kings in Karifistan. While they find initial success, their quest ultimately ends in disaster. Kipling’s work is often critiqued now for it’s positive views on colonialism, however The Man Who Would Be King also serves as a reproach to self-interested rulers and the dangers of implanting yourself as the leader of a culture you don’t understand. It’s an atmospheric and unsettling story of the dark side of a quest.

A Modern Telemachus by Charlotte M. Yonge

The writings of Charlotte M. Yonge are sadly forgotten by most modern readers, but she was widely read and well-respected during her life in the nineteenth century. Her admirers included many famous literary figures including George Eliot and Lewis Carroll. She was prolific in her work, producing over 50 novels in a range of genres and settings. Her novel The Lances of Lynwood may be the most obvious recommendation for this list, however we feel we

can move away from courtly romance for a moment and instead embrace the perils of the high seas in A Modern Telemachus . When the Countess of Bourke set out to sail from France to Spain in order to see her husband, her ship is attacked by pirates and wrecked on the coast of North Africa. A young man on board, Arthur Hope Maxwell, rescues the Countess’ young son Ulysse but both are swept further down the coast by the current. The two then set out on a quest to rescue the survivors of the shipwreck, who they learn have been captured by natives. Yonge’s gripping details of the conflicts and dangers make this a bombastic and entertaining tale of adventure and heroics.

In Search of the Castaways by Jules Verne

Verne’s writing is almost synonymous with adventure fiction. While we could talk about some of his more famous titles, In Search of the Castaways is a regrettably overlooked story that encompasses some of the best elements of quests and adventure fiction. After finding a letter in a bottle, retrieved from a shark’s stomach, the story’s protagonist, Lord Glenarvan, goes on a quest across three continents in order to find the shipwrecked author of the letter, Captain Grant. The only clue is Grant’s last known latitude, and so Glenarvan and his companions set out to circumnavigate the world along the 37th parallel south. Verne lets loose on all the expected adventure fare, his characters experience piracy, cannibals, and earthquakes. Parts of the story are certainly of its time, but then so is that spirit of adventure.

Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien

So far, our suggestions have stayed within the classic expectations of quests, but there have been plenty of stories that play with the expectations. Turning to a more modern example, O’Brien’s Going After Cacciato is a quixotic quest that blends hallucination and reality. In the middle of the Vietnam War, Cacciato announces to his squad that he plans to walk from Vietnam to Paris. When he subsequently goes missing. his squad must then set off on their own quest to find and capture Cacciato for deserting. Drawing on his own experiences as a soldier in Vietnam, O’Brien draws the reader into the world with great immediacy, managing to balance the graphic realities of his characters, with the fantasy world the characters slip into in order to deal with their surroundings.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Going After Cacciato shows the way in which quests can figure in contemporary literature, but for the most part, modern fiction has seen the quest move into genres such as fantasy. Perhaps most famous for this is Tolkien. He created his fantasy world with the hope of crafting a truly English mythology. This means that his fiction features many of the elements we have already seen in the classical and medieval stories, including that of the quest. Some people may consider Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy as his ultimate quest narrative, however it is his first novel The Hobbit that actually ties closest to the genre, with its light-hearted tone and Romantic setting. The Hobbit takes the protagonist Bilbo Baggins through the landscapes of Middle-Earth in order to help his friends reclaim their dwarven kingdom. There are many perils but the story stays jovial and adventurous.

Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures by Walter Moers

Walter Moers is famed for his exuberant and hare-brained fantasy stories, filled with eccentric creatures and bizarre landscapes. While most of his novels involve long and meandering journeys of some kind, Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures best fits the characteristics of questing literature. The eponymous Rumo is a Wolperting, a canine creature with small horns, famed for their intelligence and strength, and the first half of the book follows Rumo as he discovers a town of fellow Wolpertingers, trains to become a warrior and falls in love. The second half of the book however, sees all of Rumo’s companions disappear into the Netherworld. Rumo sets out on a quest to traverse the Netherworld in order to rescue his friends from the despotic underworld king, Gornab the Ninety-Ninth. There are a host of joyously outlandish characters to be met along the way, from Dandelion, the sentient sword, to General Tick-Tock, the mechanical and maniacal commander of Netherworld’s forces.

The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt

Tonke Dragt is recognised as one of The Netherland’s greatest children’s authors. Her most famous work The Letter for the King , set in an enchanted version of the Middle Ages, is one of those classic children’s stories that are eminently readable for adults. The story opens with 16-year-old Tiuri sitting vigil the night before he becomes a knight when he hears a desperate knock on the chapel door. He is forbidden to answer it but he feels compelled to help. On the other side of the door Tiuri finds an old man with an urgent letter that must reach King Unauwen. Tiuri finds himself drawn into a secret mission, where he must abandon his dreams of becoming a knight, travel across the dangerous lands and keep both the letter and his identity hidden. Pursued by vengeful knights and overcoming daunting trials Tiuri’s quest is a delightful modern fairy tale.

Momo by Michael Ende

Michael Ende is perhaps most famous for The Neverending Story , but before writing that series he wrote the also excellent and sadly neglected Momo . Ende’s main character Momo is an orphan who lives in the ruins of an amphitheatre where many people come to see her for her incredible power of listening. One day sinister men in grey arrive and persuade the city’s inhabitants to part with their time, only Momo is able to resist. With the help of the administrator of Time, Master Hora, and his strangely gifted tortoise, Cassiopeia, Momo sets off on a quest to restore time to her community. She must travel into the underground lair of the grey men to find and retrieve their hoards of stolen time. It’s an enchanting and intricate story that plays with the role that time plays in society.

As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, stories about quests appear the world over, in a variety of different forms and contexts. This list is but a brief introduction to some great examples of questing narratives. If there are any other examples you feel are sorely missing, please feel free to mention them in the comments below. As any hero will tell you, there’s always more to explore.

This article was originally written for Bookwitty.com and published on April 6th, 2017.

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What is the Hero’s Journey?

• by Andrea Feccomandi
• December 6, 2023

Have you ever been captivated by a story that follows a protagonist on an epic adventure?

From ancient myths to contemporary films, many narratives share a common structure known as the Hero’s Journey . This timeless story template takes us on a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and triumph.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the essence of the Hero’s Journey. We’ll delve into its acts and stages, we’ll see some great examples and some tips to use in our narrative.

HERO’S JOURNEY DEFINITION What is the Hero’s Journey? The Hero’s Journey, also known as the monomyth, is a universal story structure that has been present in various cultures for centuries. It was popularized by Joseph Campbell in his book “ The Hero with a Thousand Faces “. At its core, the Hero’s Journey is a narrative arc where a hero goes on a quest or adventure to achieve a goal, facing challenges, gaining insights, and ultimately returning home transformed.

The Three Acts of the Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey can be divided into three distinct acts: Departure, Initiation, and Return. Each act consists of several stages the Hero must navigate to complete their transformation.

Act 1: Departure

The Departure stage sets the foundation of the Hero’s ordinary world and introduces the call to adventure. Here, the Hero lives a seemingly ordinary life until they receive a call that disrupts their status quo .

Initially, they may hesitate or refuse the call, but with a mentor’s guidance, they decide to embark on their Journey.

Act 2: Initiation

In the Initiation stage, the Hero ventures into the unknown. He crosses the Threshold from their ordinary world to the special world. They face trials, meet allies and enemies, and approach the inmost cave where their ultimate goal awaits.

The Hero undergoes an Ordeal, a significant test that pushes them to their limits and forces them to confront their greatest fears . Through this challenge, they gain valuable insights and seize the Reward.

Act 3: Return

The Return stage marks the Hero’s journey back to their ordinary world, forever changed by their experiences. They encounter further obstacles on the road back but ultimately face their final hurdle, experiencing a resurrection that solidifies their transformation .

Finally, the Hero returns with the Elixir. It’s the wisdom or treasure gained on their quest, ready to share it with their community.

HERO’S JOURNEY STEPS

What are the steps of the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey has 12 steps:

• The Ordinary World
• Call to Adventure
• Refusal of the Call
• Meeting the Mentor
• Crossing the First Threshold
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies
• Approach to the Inmost Cave
• The Road Back
• Resurrection
• Return with the Elixir.

The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey

Within the three acts of the Hero’s Journey, there are 12 key steps that the Hero undergoes. Let’s explore each step in detail and understand how they contribute to the Hero’s transformation.

Step 1: The Ordinary World

The Journey begins in the Hero’s ordinary world, where we are introduced to their daily life, relationships, and challenges.

The Ordinary World is the essential groundwork upon which the Hero’s journey unfolds. During this initial stage, the audience is granted a window into the protagonist’s everyday and routine life before any extraordinary events transpire.

Extraordinary events transpire during this phase. It is fundamental as it offers context, enabling viewers or readers to connect deeply with the Hero’s desires, frustrations, and aspirations within their familiar surroundings. By establishing this baseline, the subsequent journey becomes more impactful. The audience can fully appreciate the transformative nature of the Hero’s experiences as they navigate from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Step 2: Call to Adventure

In this step, the Hero receives, typically from a Herald , a Call to Adventure. The Call operates as a guiding light, shattering the peace of the Hero’s ordinary world and enticing them onto a path of uncertainty.

The Call is also the catalyst that propels the Hero’s journey forward . It’s an invitation to confront challenges, unveil hidden potentials, and ultimately fulfill a destiny that lies in wait.

This moment marks the departure from the familiar , urging the Hero to venture into the unknown and embark on a transformative quest. The Call is not merely a disruption. It’s an opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and the unfolding of the Hero’s true potential.

Step 3: Refusal of the Call

The Hero may refuse the call, hesitant to leave their comfort zone. The Refusal of the Call unveils the Hero’s internal struggles and doubts as they wrestle with the implications of embarking on a Journey that promises the unknown, challenges, and personal growth.

It represents a moment of hesitation. A pause before the Hero must decide whether to accept or reject the destiny that awaits. This phase is crucial in revealing the Hero’s vulnerabilities and human qualities as they confront the daunting prospect of leaving the safety of the ordinary world.

The inner conflict becomes a poignant exploration of the Hero’s fears and reservations. It adds depth to their character and sets the stage for their transformative choices as the Journey unfolds.

Step 4: Meeting the Mentor

The Hero encounters a Mentor , a figure of experience and knowledge who provides guidance, wisdom, and support . The Mentor becomes a beacon for the Hero, offering insights and tools essential for navigating the challenges that lie ahead.

This encounter catalyzes the Hero’s growth, providing valuable lessons and shaping their understanding of the Journey. The Mentor’s guidance prepares the ground for the unfolding adventure. It infuses the Hero with newfound knowledge and skills that will prove indispensable in the face of trials and tribulations.

The Mentor becomes an important ally, steering the Hero toward their destiny and playing a vital role in the unfolding transformative narrative.

Step 5: Crossing the First Threshold

The Hero leaps and crosses the Threshold, protected by a Guardian , into the special world, leaving behind their familiar environment. It is a moment of profound significance as the Hero encounters new realms, faces adversaries, and begins to unravel the mysteries that lie ahead.

This stage serves as a testament to the Hero’s courage and determination to explore uncharted territories, demonstrating their willingness to confront the journey’s challenges.

The crossing represents a point of no return . It propels the Hero into a transformative adventure where they must navigate unfamiliar landscapes and grapple with the unexpected. It is a fundamental step in the Hero’s quest, shaping the narrative and setting the stage for the trials and revelations that await them.

Step 6: Tests, Allies, and Enemies

In the special world, the Hero faces a series of tests, encounters Allies who aid them, and confronts enemies who oppose them.

It is a dynamic phase that enriches the narrative with complexity and depth, showcasing the Hero’s adaptability and resilience in the face of diverse challenges. The tests serve as opportunities for growth and learning, while alliances provide crucial support and camaraderie on the Hero’s journey. Simultaneously, the emergence of enemies introduces tension and conflict, adding intrigue to the adventure.

This stage is essential in shaping the Hero’s character and determining their capacity to overcome obstacles toward their ultimate goal.

Step 7: Approach to the Inmost Cave

The Hero approaches the Inmost Cave, metaphorically representing their ultimate goal or the heart of their Journey. This phase symbolizes the Hero’s descent into the heart of darkness , whether it be a physical location or a symbolic representation of their deepest fears and vulnerabilities.

This stage is laden with tension as the Hero prepares to confront the ultimate challenge , often personified by a formidable adversary or a hidden truth that lies at the core of their quest. The Journey into this inner sanctum represents a crucial moment of self-discovery for the Hero . It’s a time of reckoning as they grapple with the shadows lurking in the background.

It is a profound stage, rife with emotional and psychological intensity. It marks the Hero’s readiness to face the most significant Ordeal that will determine the trajectory of their entire quest.

Step 8: Ordeal

The Ordeal is the zenith of the Hero’s journey. It pushes them to their limits and forces them to confront their deepest fears .

It is a symbolic death and rebirth, a profound test that the Hero must endure to emerge transformed and ready for the final stages of their quest. This stage is charged with emotional intensity, suspense, and the potential for both failure and triumph .

The Ordeal marks a turning point in the narrative, representing the Hero’s resilience and capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. It is a step that propels the story toward its climax , where the Hero will either rise victorious or succumb to the challenges they face.

Step 9: Reward

After overcoming the Ordeal, the Hero seizes the Reward, whether a physical object, knowledge, or a newfound understanding. This Reward represents the Hero’s growth and the transformation they have undergone.

This phase is characterized by a sense of fulfillment and the recognition of the Hero’s prowess. The Feward may take various forms, such as newfound knowledge, a valuable object, or the liberation of a captive. It serves as a testament to the Hero’s journey, highlighting the transformative nature of their experiences.

The Reward is a crucial pause in the narrative. It allows the Hero and the audience to reflect on the challenges overcome and the progress made, motivating them for the final leg of the quest.

Step 10: The Road Back

The Hero begins their journey back to the ordinary world, but the road is not without obstacles. They may face further challenges, tests, or even temptations that test their resolve and commitment to their transformation.

The Road Back marks the Hero’s transition from a period of Reward and preparation, propelling them back into the familiar realms of the known world. At this juncture, the Hero, equipped with newfound wisdom and enhanced abilities , braces for the imminent return.

This stage blends urgency with determination . The Hero navigates the integration of their transformative Journey into the ordinary world, setting the narrative on a course toward its final climax.

Step 11: Resurrection

In this step, the Hero faces their final hurdle, a climactic battle or confrontation representing their ultimate test. It is a moment of profound transformation and revelation , where the Hero emerges stronger, wiser, and forever changed.

The Resurrection is the pinnacle of the Hero’s journey, portraying intense transformation, sacrifice, and rebirth. It involves a final confrontation with a powerful adversary or internal obstacles, representing a symbolic death and subsequent resurrection into a new state of being.

This phase is marked by the Hero’s ultimate test, showcasing their courage and resilience in the face of the highest stakes. The Resurrection serves as the narrative climax , resolving the central conflict and illustrating the Hero’s evolution and triumph.

Step 12: Return with the Elixir

The Hero returns to their ordinary world, armed with the elixir, resurrection treasure they have gained on their journey. They bring back their newfound knowledge, ready to share it with their community and inspire change .

The Return with the Elixir is the culmination of the Hero’s journey. It symbolizes the triumphant return to the ordinary world with a boon, gift, or wisdom that promises positive transformation. This phase encapsulates the Hero’s final contribution to their community , demonstrating the enduring impact of their odyssey.

The Elixir may take various forms. It could be a tangible object, newfound knowledge, or a transformative quality that enriches both the Hero and the world they return to.

Examples of the Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey can be seen in countless stories throughout history and across various mediums. Let’s explore a few well-known examples to see how this narrative structure unfolds.

Harry Potter Series

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series follows the Hero’s Journey with Harry as the protagonist. He begins his journey in the ordinary world of the Dursleys, living an oppressed and ordinary life. When he receives his call to adventure, the letter from Hogwarts, he initially refuses it due to the resistance from his uncle. However, with the help of his Mentor, Hagrid, he crosses the Threshold into the wizarding world.

Throughout the series, Harry faces numerous tests, allies with friends like Ron and Hermione, and encounters enemies like Voldemort. He goes through trials, ordeals, and personal transformations as he approaches the Inmost Cave, leading to his final confrontation with Voldemort in the Resurrection stage. Finally, Harry returns with the Elixir, the knowledge and power to defeat evil. And brings peace to the wizarding world.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, is another prime example of the Hero’s journey. Frodo Baggins, the ring-bearer, begins his journey in the peaceful Shire, his ordinary world. When he receives the call to adventure to destroy the One Ring, he initially refuses it due to the burden and danger it entails. However, with the guidance of his Mentor, Gandalf, he accepts the quest and crosses the Threshold into the dangerous realms of Middle-earth.

Frodo faces tests, allies with the Fellowship of the Ring, and battles enemies like Sauron’s forces throughout his journey. He approaches the inmost cave, Mount Doom, where he must destroy the ring. The Ordeal tests his resilience and willpower, leading to his resurrection and ultimate success in destroying the ring. Frodo returns with the elixir, having saved Middle-earth from the dark forces and bringing peace to the land.

Tips for incorporating the Hero’s Journey into your storytelling

The Hero’s Journey provides a robust framework for crafting compelling and engaging stories. By combining the various stages and archetypes into their narrative, writers can create characters and plots that resonate with readers and viewers on a profound level.

Here are some tips to help you harness the power of this narrative framework:

• Understand the stages and archetypes . Familiarize yourself with the structure of the Hero’s Journey and the various archetypes in this narrative framework. This will provide a solid foundation for crafting your story.
• Adapt the framework to fit your narrative . The Hero’s Journey provides a general structure. So it’s essential to adapt it to suit your specific story and characters. Don’t be afraid to deviate from the traditional path if it serves your narrative better.
• Create multi-dimensional characters . The Hero’s Journey is not just about the Hero. It is also about the supporting characters (mentors, allies, heralds, shapeshifters , shadows, threshold guardians, tricksters ) they encounter along the way. Make sure to develop well-rounded and compelling characters who serve different roles in the Hero’s journey.
• Embrace the transformative power of the journey . The Hero’s Journey is ultimately about personal growth and transformation. Allow your Hero to undergo a profound change throughout their journey, learning valuable lessons and overcoming their inner demons.

The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure. Joseph Campbell

How bibisco can help craft the Hero’s Journey

bibisco novel writer software can help writers to incorporate the Hero’s Journey archetype into their stories. With its features and functionalities , bibisco provides support in various stages of the writing process, helping shape narrative and characters.

Novel structure

bibisco offers a novel structure template that aligns well with the stages of the Hero’s Journey. Writers can organize their chapters following the Hero’s adventure, ensuring a smooth and engaging narrative progression.

Character Development

Through the dedicated character development section, bibisco helps writers thoroughly outline the protagonist and other key characters. bibisco’s tools allow exploration of the protagonist’s growth path, internal and external conflicts, and transformations throughout the story.

Relationship Analysis

bibisco enables writers to analyze relationships between characters, a crucial aspect of the Hero’s Journey. Identifying bonds and dynamics among the protagonist, allies, and antagonists contributes to creating a richer and more engaging plot.

Timeline Management

bibisco’s timeline management function allows writers to plan and organize key events to reflect different stages of the Hero’s adventure. This helps maintain an engaging pace and ensures each phase of the story is adequately developed.

Notes and Ideas

With the ability to annotate ideas and thoughts directly within the application, bibisco helps writers capture and develop inspirations related to the Hero’s Journey as they arise. This feature facilitates the creative process, allowing authors to stay focused on essential plot components.

Conclusion: embracing the Hero’s Journey to captivate your audience

In conclusion, the Hero’s Journey proves to be an unparalleled guide for writers aspiring to create iconic and engaging stories. Exploring the classic stages of this epic adventure not only provides narrative structure but also delves deep into the hearts of characters and their transformations .

Facing the call to adventure , overcoming trials , and returning with the elixir form the foundation of indelible tales. Whether you are a novice writer or a seasoned author, the Hero’s Journey is a steadfast beacon for shaping stories that withstand the test of time and capture the reader’s imagination.

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STAGES AND ARCHETYPES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

Introducing the monomyth.

The Hero’s Journey is a fundamental paradigm of human experience that is frequently the basis for written stories, drama, and film. It was initially described by mythologist Joseph Campbell, who relied in part on the insights of psychologist Carl Jung. The stages and archetypes of the Journey have been developed and applied to film by Christopher Vogler. The writings of these men demonstrate that the Journey is helpful in understanding both fiction and reality.

What follows may be modified and used as a handout or serve as the basis for direct instruction. It is designed to be used with TWM’s Lesson plans on the Hero’s Journey which are listed in the English Language Arts Subject Index .

Most films recommended by TWM for the study of the Journey are not action/adventure movies. This will allow teachers to demonstrate that this structure can be found in any important quest and in all types of stories.

The Hero’s Journey in Life and Art

The human condition requires purposeful effort for any achievement and often for survival. Myths and stories in all cultures contain tales of successful quests through which great achievements have been made. Some are efforts to save an individual or a group; others are missions to protect or transform a community; many are stories of personal growth and development. The protagonists of these successful quests are often called heroes and the tale of their efforts has come to be known as “the Hero’s Journey.” Mythologist Joseph Campbell, who pioneered the study of the Hero’s Journey, referred to it as “the Monomyth” because it appears in all cultures and is basic to what it means to be human.

The origins of the Hero’s Journey/Monomyth are in the earliest beginnings of the human race. Undoubtedly, tales of struggle and triumph were heard around campfires of tribes long forgotten. When starvation had stalked the community, there would be a celebration when hunters returned from the first successful effort after many failures. The hunters would have told the story of the difficulties they had overcome and their eventual triumph. When tribes had been locked in mortal combat and the resolution had been in doubt, the victors would have delighted in recalling the tale of the battle and how they had vanquished the enemy. Those best at telling stories, people who had a way with words or music, would be asked to repeat the tale, again and again, praising those who had saved the community.

When people started to put stories into writing, the first epic poem was The Odyssey, which describes the Hero’s Journey of Odysseus on his quest to return home from the Trojan War. Since that time, stories of the Monomyth have appeared in countless variations, not only in epic poems, but also in novels, comic books, and plays. Movie plots frequently employ versions of the Hero’s Journey.

Joseph Campbell describes the mythical quest in its simplest form:

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

In life and in fiction, certain stages can be identified in most Hero’s Journeys. These include a starting place, an ordinary world that is somehow deficient or inadequate; a call to action; first steps on the journey; meeting with a mentor; the crisis, a reward, and a return with the result or a prize that corrects the deficiency or inadequacy that launched the quest. Each journey has its unique aspects and not all stories of the Monomyth contain all of the stages of the classic Hero’s Journey. In many situations, some of the stages are combined or occur simultaneously. The order of the steps usually follow in a certain sequence, but not always. Different scholars have described the stages in slightly different ways, but in countless myths and stories, the outline of the Hero’s Journey can be clearly seen.

In addition, stories that manifest the Monomyth contain certain types of characters whose functions relate to the hero’s progress on the Journey. These include not only the hero and the mentor, but also the threshold guardian, the shadow, the trickster, and the shapeshifter. In similar fashion to the stages of the Journey, not all of these characters appear in every Hero’s Journey and in some Journeys functions of different character types are combined in one individual. Because these character types have a structural relationship to the Hero’s Journey and they are parts of the human experience that appear in generation after generation and in story after story, they are called the archetypes of the Hero’s Journey.

The Monomyth can appear in many different types of stories. Adventure tales describe the experiences of heroes as they overcome villains who threaten certain individuals or endanger an entire community. In a romance, one of the characters, or the couple acting together, are on a quest to requite their love and live happily ever after. Sports stories involve the effort of one team or one contestant to triumph over all the others. In tales of personal transformation and growth, people examine their own lives, muster the courage to change, and accept the challenges presented on the path to fulfillment. Each of these types of stories often employ the stages of the Hero’s Journey.

One reason that the Monomyth has endured is that it matches the way in which many events actually occur: it illustrates how human beings on an important quest interact with their environment and with other people. Each person will at certain times in life perform different versions of the Hero’s Journey or they will see others do it. Some people will go on a quest to make a difference in society; most people will, at times, serve as the hero for a quest that is important to their family, their school, a friend, or themselves. One example of the Hero’s Journey, which has been undertaken by millions of people will be explored in detail in detail in this essay. It is the journey of an alcoholic or a drug addict who decides to take control of life and stop using drugs.

Stages of the Hero’s Journey

Set out below is a description of the stages of the Hero’s Journey developed for screenwriters by Hollywood story consultant Christopher Vogler in his book, The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition. Vogler’s work is based on the stages of the Monomyth developed by Joseph Campbell.

Note that: Vogler’s formulation of the Hero’s Journey is not the classic mythical journey in which there is repeated divine intervention and a meeting with the goddess. Vogler’s version is updated for modern sensibilities and reflects the contemporary view of life. It has been adopted by TWM because it has direct relevance to the stories told in film and, quite often, to quests undertaken by people living in modern times. Note also that while Vogler’s work has been in movie-making, the insights in his book apply to any work of fiction.

The stages of the Hero’s Journey can be separated into three sections. The first consists of the expository phase of the story. The second unfolds the complications and the crisis which describe the Hero’s struggle and provide the action in the story. The third section concludes the journey with resolution and denouement.

SECTION ONE — Introduction to Setting, Characters, and Conflict

1. The Ordinary World: This is the setting with which the protagonist is familiar, the life experienced before the quest. There will probably be many loved ones and the comfort of familiarity in the Ordinary World. However, in some way it is unstable or dissatisfying for the protagonist of the mission described in the story; either the Ordinary World has changed or the hero-to-be comes to feel the need for change due to some internal conflict or realization. In some tales that express the Monomyth, the Ordinary World has been destroyed or made uninhabitable by an outside force and the protagonist has no choice but to start on the journey to find a new life. In other stories, the Ordinary World still exists and often exerts a strong influence pulling the protagonist back from the challenges of the quest. In the classic Hero’s Journey, a victorious hero returns to the Ordinary World bringing back objects: the hunter brings food and the victor brings the spoils of war. In other Journeys there is no return to the Ordinary World and the successful hero lives in a new world that is better than the old. This also occurs in quests of personal growth in which a character seeks to resolve contradictions in his or her personality or overcome an emotional challenge, such as grief from the loss of a loved one.

The journey of an alcoholic/addict from addiction to sobriety is an example of a Hero’s Journey. Like all examples of the Monomyth, in life or in fiction, it has its unique aspects. For example, the journey of the recovering alcoholic/addict continues through the life of the individual and has no final conclusion. This contrasts sharply with most Hero’s Journeys, such as those of a hunt to bring food back to the starving clan or the tale of an athlete who wins a medal at the Olympics. However, most stages of the Monomyth are clearly evident in an alcoholic/addict’s road to recovery.

The Ordinary World of alcoholics and drug users are the days, months and years before they decide to quit. For an alcoholic/addict the ordinary world is one in which the drug controls most actions. It is a time of lying, cheating and stealing to support the habit. It is a time in which the alcoholic/addict manipulates loved ones to support the habit or avoid the consequences of an intoxicated life. It is a time of failing to meet responsibilities and in a fundamental way, it is a time of being isolated and alone. For many heroes the comfort and familiarity of the Ordinary World calls to them during their journey, and that is certainly true for alcoholics/addicts. Many recovering alcoholics and drug abusers never lose the urge for their intoxicant of choice.

2. The Call to Adventure: The call to adventure can take many forms, but it always pulls the protagonist away from the Ordinary World into a new situation. The Call to Adventure may be something that the hero-to-be voluntarily accepts or it may be an event which compels the journey, leaving the protagonist no choice but to embark on the journey.

For many heroes there is one call to adventure that sets them on the Journey. For alcoholics/addicts, there are usually many calls to change their lifestyle. For those who become the heroes of their own journey to sobriety, there is a Call to Adventure that finally sends them on their journey. Recovering alcoholics/addicts call this “hitting bottom.” That’s the time when the alcoholic/addict realizes that to continue drink alcohol or use drugs is intolerable. Some come to understand that they will actually die unless they stop. Some, who drive drunk, realize that they will probably kill someone else as well. For others, it’s the knowledge that continuing as an alcoholic/addict will destroy their relationship with their children or other people whom they love.

3. Refusing the Call: At one point (or on many occasions) the potential hero feels the pull of the familiar comforts of the Ordinary World and resists going on the adventure. After all, every quest carries with it the risk of failure and some Journeys are downright dangerous.

There are many alcoholics/addicts who relapse and after hitting bottom, start to use alcohol or drugs again. This is the equivalent of Refusing the Call to the adventure of their personal Hero’s Journey to sobriety. Some of them can rebound from this set back and continue on with their quest; others are lost.

4. Meeting with the Mentor: A Mentor is a guide or a teacher who will help the hero-to-be gather the courage, find the right path, or pass the tests required for successful completion of their mission. The meeting with the Mentor can come at any point in the Hero’s Journey.

Mentorship is so important for recovering alcoholics/addicts that everyone who enrolls in Alcoholics Anonymous is assigned a sponsor, a person to whom they can go for support and who will answer questions about the process of recovery. The same is true in many treatment programs for alcohol or drug addiction. The sponsor is the mentor for the recovering alcoholic/addict. Of course, alcoholics/addicts can also find people outside of AA or their treatment program to serve as mentors.

5. Crossing the First Threshold: This is the point at which there is no turning back without an admission that the protagonist is not to be a hero. Crossing the first threshold can be a voluntary, considered action or it can be an external event which launches the protagonist on the quest.

For most alcoholic/addicts, Crossing the First Threshold is entering treatment or attending the first AA meeting and committing themselves to join the program. For the very few people who can rid themselves of addiction without AA or a treatment program, Crossing the First Threshold is the first time they put down a drink or a syringe, the first time they reject a line of cocaine, with a personal commitment to stop using drugs and reform their life. However, alcoholics/addicts can always start their quest again, and in this way, the turning back is not a permanent admission that they will not be a hero. In this way, the journey of an alcoholic/addict to sobriety differs from the classic Hero’s Journey.

SECTION TWO — Action, Climax, Triumph

6. Tests, Allies, and Enemies: In most important quests there will be obstacles to overcome and challenges to meet; on most, there will be allies to assist the protagonist toward the goal. There may also be enemies seeking to obstruct the way. Enemies may also be aspects of nature or a part of the protagonist’s psyche. In both film and literature, these elements of the Journey provide the action, provoke interest, and serve as complications on the path to the goal.

Many alcoholic/addicts never lose the desire for intoxication; every day they must resist the urge to relapse. In AA there is a saying that recovery occurs one day at a time; every day is a test for the heroes of their own journeys to sobriety. There are also special challenges, as when, at a party, someone mistakenly hands a drink with alcohol to the person in recovery. Another test may occur during a time of emotional distress when the desire to escape and numb reality becomes especially strong. There are allies on the road of recovery, such as family and friends who provide support as well as other members of AA. There are also enemies, such as friends who still drink or use drugs and who want to include the recovering alcoholic/addict in their intoxicated experiences.

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave: This is the turning point, the moment in which the protagonist seems to realize completely what must be done and to accept all accompanied risks including the possibility of failure. In some stories, failure means death. The Approach to the Inmost Cave is an essential element in most stories describing a quest. It reveals the fact that the hero-to-be is operating with full awareness of the consequences of failure.

There comes a time when the alcoholic/addict is well launched on sobriety and realizes the extent to which their life has changed and will change forever. This occurs when people in recovery fully accept that they will never again enjoy the intoxication of the drug, something that is desperately desired and physically craved. It comes when they understand that all aspects of the intoxicated life are being left behind. But there are also the benefits of recovery which beckon and the alcoholic/addict must choose. In recovery from alcoholism/addiction, this stage may come after the Ordeal, while in most Hero’s Journeys in which there is a specific challenge that has to be overcome, this stage comes just before the Ordeal. “Hitting bottom” could also be seen as the Approach to the Inmost cave, but this occurs early in the process and is more like the Call to Action.

8. Ordeal: The climax, or the peak experience in the adventure, appears in virtually all stories. The hero-to-be faces the moment of truth: will he or she prevail in the struggle with the enemy?

For a person entering recovery from alcoholism/addiction, the most intense times often occur early on, when the body’s physical desire for the drug is the most intense. However, given the nature of recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction, the moment of truth can be said to reoccur occasionally throughout the life of an alcoholic/addict, or even every day. As they say, for many alcoholic/addicts it’s one day at a time.

9. Reward: The payoff for the protagonist’s struggle may be as simple as survival or it may involve fantastic riches or symbolic prizes that make the experience worthwhile. The Reward may be personal growth, self-knowledge, or the reconciliation of conflicting parts of the personality.

The payoff for a recovering alcoholic/addict is a life without addiction and all that this means for a better quality existence. For many, it means avoiding death, because the alcoholism/drug addiction would have killed them. Many alcoholics stopped maturing emotionally on the day they started to drink, usually as a teenager. When they had a problem in life, instead of dealing with it and learning what was necessary for growth and development, they just took several drinks or a hit from the drug. Many alcoholics/addicts report that when they went into recovery, they were back at the age when they began their intoxicated lifestyle. Recovery allows them to experience growth to maturity, with all of its challenges and rewards.

SECTION THREE — Resolution and Denouement

10. The Road Back: Returning to the ordinary world can be a difficult journey in itself and may offer additional risks for the adventuring protagonist, who is still not yet a hero. Some will be able to negotiate the Road Back and some will not: the hunter bringing the kill back to the village may be set upon by a pack of wolves who steal the hard won prey. For those protagonists who do not successfully pass this stage, the quest ends in failure; they never become heroes.

The road back for a recovering alcoholic/addict can be seen as the rest of their life. In the alternative, it can be said that this stage is absent in this version of the Hero’s Journey.

11. Resurrection: At this point, the protagonist, now a Hero, becomes transformed by the experience of the quest into a new, or at least a better, person.

An alcoholic/addict committed to recovery is a transformed person.

12. Return with the Elixir: In stories in which the Ordinary World still exists, upon re-entering that world, the Hero shares with those who stayed behind the prize won on the adventure. The Elixir shared can be abstract, such as love, or it can be concrete, such as something the group needs in order to survive or prosper. When the Ordinary World no longer exists or the Hero cannot, for some reason, return to the Ordinary World, the Hero will share the Elixir with those who accompanied him or her on the quest or those who inhabit the new world in which the victorious Hero will live. In journeys of personal growth and development, the Elixir is the new realization that the Hero has about life or about the self. The last two or three stages are often combined, especially in journeys of personal growth and development.

The Elixir for the recovering alcoholic/addict is the understanding that a sober life is better than an intoxicated life.

Archetypes in Life and Art

Certain character types and their structural relationships with others in family and community are parts of the human experience that repeat again and again. The functions of the father, the mother, the child, the hero, the mentor, and the trickster are found in most cultures and are timeless. People can take on different roles multiple times during their lives and they will change roles depending upon the situations in which they find themselves. For example, a person may be on a quest in one aspect of life and therefore take on the function of the hero, while at another time or in a different set of circumstances, the same person may function as a mentor for someone else’s quest. People can take on different roles in different situations and at different times. People are children in relation to their parents and later they are parents to their own children. As parents age, they become more child-like and their children take on the role of parent. People can take on more than one function at the same time. For example, every parent takes on different aspects of the mother (nurturing) and of the father (stern and judging); that is, aspects of both the mother and the father usually exist in varying degrees in any parent; and the relative strength of the different roles changes over time and as the situation changes.

Character types which have persisted over centuries and across cultures are called archetypes. The concept of archetypes is derived from the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung who theorized that people are born with a psychic inheritance, a collective unconscious, which affects all of human experience. Jung believed that this knowledge lies in our unconscious mind and can only be accessed indirectly through dreams, myths, forms of religious belief, and the arts, such as written fiction, movies, visual arts, music, and dance. It may be the Jung was correct or it may be that people learn about archetypes as children because there are certain basic ways in which human beings relate to each other in societies, in families, and in personal relationships. Whatever the source of the knowledge, the concept of archetype helps to organize and clarify human experience. As such, archetypes are an important part of understanding life and telling a story, whether in written form or presented on stage or screen.

Another way to look at archetypes is that they embody energies in the psyche that seek to fulfill a function in life and in story. Thus, one character can provide the energy to nurture, another the impetus to quest, a third the desire to the mentor, while a fourth provides the force of a leader, etc. The mother archetype nurtures, the father archetype judges, and the mentor archetype gives sage advice, etc. A person functions as a hero when engaging in purposeful effort, for example, putting a man on the moon or a journey of personal growth. The effort could be as simple as going on a trip and as mundane as learning to fit in when starting at a new school or asking a girl to go out on a date.

Every school contains character types that have existed for as long as we have had schools and which can be considered archetypes. The bully, the sports jock, the nerd, the class clown, and the teacher’s pet are examples. Centuries ago, the bully pattern of personality would have been evident in the powerful hunter or warrior who used his strength to dominate and hurt others. The characteristics of a bully contrast with those of a true leader, another archetype, who uses intelligence, knowledge, or the power of personality to take care of his people. And although math or science as fields of study are rather new in the long history of mankind, certainly there were members of ancient societies who involved themselves with numbers and were devoted to the accuracy of exchange, the measurement of distances, and even the passage of time. There have always been court jesters and comedians, and, of course, an individual favored by a person with power. Each of these functional types have recognizable expressions in school society.

While each archetype has its own constellation of attributes which most people recognize, everyone who functions as an archetypal character, in life and in story, will also have unique characteristics depending upon their culture, their own personality, and the situation. Dorothy Gale of The Wizard of Oz is a true heroine who defeats formidable adversaries on her journey. However, Dorothy, as required of a female by her culture, her time and her story, is always kind and considerate. While she kills the wicked witches of the East and the West as thoroughly as any action/adventure hero vanquishes a villain, Dorothy always kills by accident and without an intent to harm.

Joseph Campbell, the mythologist, refers to archetypes as elementary ideas and asserts that anthropologists and archeologists can account for the differences in the archetypes in mythologies across the globe as responses to environmental factors. In stories, the use of archetypes builds an empathic reaction as each reader or viewer sees many familiar aspects of characters who take on the archetypal roles. There is universal appeal when protagonists, antagonists, and ancillary characters exhibit aspects of various archetypes.

Archetypes of the Hero’s Journey – Characters of the Monomyth

There are certain archetypes which are often associated with the Hero’s Journey; their functions relate to the conduct of a quest. The following description of the archetypes of the Hero’s Journey are brief summaries derived from Christopher Vogler’s book. Mr. Vogler based his analysis on the ideas of psychologist Carl Jung and mythologist Joseph Campbell. Note that these summaries are an attempt to briefly describe complex personality patterns; they are necessarily incomplete.

1. The Hero is the person who embarks on the quest seeking to correct an imbalance in community, family, or psyche. For journeys of internal growth or reformation, the hero searches for the true self in its wholeness. The Hero can be willing or unwilling and can be acting on a matter which concerns society as a whole, relates to a specific group of people, or is personal to the Hero. The Hero can act alone or as the leader of a group.

2. A Mentor is an important individual, who transmits encouragement, understanding and wisdom to the Hero. The Mentor can simply give helpful advice or the mentor may also intervene and help the Hero surmount the challenges of the particular quest.

3. Threshold Guardians are characters who serve to challenge or obstruct the Hero’s progress from one stage of the Journey to another. They stand at the gateways to new experiences; their role is to keep the unworthy from continuing on the Journey. The Hero must prove his or her worthiness in some way, often by defeating and killing the Threshold Guardian or by passing some test.

4. A Herald issues challenges and announces the coming of significant change. The Herald is the voice demanding change and providing motivation for the protagonist to get on with the journey.

5. Shapeshifters , as seen from the Hero’s point of view, appear to change their form. The change may be in appearance, in mood, or in function with respect to the quest. For example, the Hero may have a romantic interest in a person who is fickle or two-faced. That person is a Shapeshifter.

6. The Shadow is a character who reflects or represents the dark, unexpressed, or rejected aspects of something, often a part of the Hero’s personality. A shadow character has the function of presenting the allure of qualities that a person must renounce and root out in order to successfully complete the quest.

7. The Trickster who sometimes supplies comic relief in a story, is nonetheless important as a catalyst for change and can sometimes be a Hero in his or her own right. Tricksters are also often Shapeshifters.

Some Other Important Literary Archetypes

Some of the archetypes identified by Carl Jung that are frequently found in the literature are summarized below.

1. The Father: Jung saw the authority figure as a powerful, serious-minded father, stern and judging. Usually, a character manifesting this archetype is male, but not always.

2. The mother: The individual who represents nurturing and caregiving is the Mother archetype. Often a character manifesting this archetype is female, but not always. Mentors often nurture and they are often male.

3. The Child: This archetype represents the innocence and potential for growth of children, who, with their honesty, pure-mindedness, and drive for growth and development offer salvation to errant adults. The Child Savior is a subset of this archetype. See TWM’s The Child Savior: An Example of a Literary Archetype.

4. The Maiden: Like the child, the maiden represents innocence and pure intention but has the added element of female sexual possibility and transition to another female archetype such as the Mother.

These archetypes may be found in many stories, including stories of the quest. They differ from the archetypes of the Hero’s Journey only because their function does not necessarily assist in reaching the resolution of a story of purposeful effort.

The Hero’s Journey/Monomyth is basic to the human experience. Jung, Campbell, and Vogler have shown that the stages of the Hero’s Journey correspond to what actually occurs in life. They have demonstrated that archetypes, assembled and reassembled in life and in stories, remain faithful to truths about human existence throughout time. The Hero’s Journey analysis assists in discovering the elemental messages of myth, drama, literature, and film. The Journey assists in understanding inner meaning and clarifying theme. In life, knowledge of the stages and archetypes of the successful quest will help people organize and understand their own experience.

Bibliography

• The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition, by Christopher Vogler;
• The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers;
• The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell; The quotation beginning “The hero ventures forth . . . ” is from page 23;
• The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 1).

This article was written by Mary RedClay and James Frieden for TeachWithMovies.org.

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Hero's Journey Achievements: An Overview  

• /output inventory
• /output spellbook
• /output realestate
• /output guild
• /output guildbank (this only works inside GH or GGH)

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How to Train for the Daily Quest of the Hero Creative

Creatives often depict a hero's journey, but they, too, are on a quest..

Posted April 20, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

• Fictional heroes endure their quest once, while artists and creatives battle daily and with interruptions.
• Developing a ceremony that honors entering the 'special world' of creativity triggers productivity.
• Unlike our fictional heroes, creatives, artists, and makers must balance real life and their art.
• Every artist, creative, and maker benefits from knowing they are a hero to themselves and their audience.

In stories, heroes embark on a quest once in a lifetime.

Artists, creatives, and makers go on a quest every time they create.

The heroes in books and movies—heroes that we love, admire, and want to be—go on quests. As Christopher Vogler writes, they initially resist the quest.

"Put yourself in the hero's shoes, and you can see that it's a difficult passage. [From the ordinary safe world to the special world of the quest.] You're being asked to say yes to a great unknown, to an adventure that will be exciting but also dangerous and even life-threatening…. You stand at a threshold of fear , and an understandable reaction would be to hesitate or even refuse the Call, at least temporarily" (2007).

Heroes in stories often believe that they are not qualified for this challenge. They do not yet possess the skills or weapons to do battle. Sometimes, they don't know the challenge, but they need to move on with their lives and enter the special world where they are tested.

They often meet a mentor who trains the hapless hero, or they realize their own shortcomings, flip the confidence switch, and go on to win.

Artists and writers, those creative people who depict the scenes, need not face any physical danger. Like viewers and readers, we remain protected at our desks, easels, and armchairs. In this position of safety, we can watch movies and TV shows and read stories to develop "an understanding that these literary engagements have the potential to create experiences that participate in the ongoing project of making and using knowledge" (Sumara, 2011). How would we fight the dragon or the intruder? We gather strength without lifting a finger.

Our favorite heroes—like Frodo, Harry Potter, Dorothy, and Rocky—possess certain qualities that make them perfect candidates for the challenge.

They enter the special world, and they train. They dedicate themselves to honing their skills—magic, physical endurance—and they get to live this life until they meet their foe, find the treasure, or learn that they have the quality all along; they just need to value their self-confidence .

But writers, artists, and makers in all genres dip into the special world every time they sit down at their keyboard, lined pad, typewriter, sewing machine, canvas, frying pan, or workbench.

This grounding makes the journey of burgeoning creatives even more challenging because no one has bid us farewell or good luck when we embark on this daily quest to make art.

The creative side hustle entertains our thoughts of taking up the quest and announcing to the world, "I am an artist. I must leave you now as I embark on this quest."

But other commitments usually pull us back into the ordinary world. The day job provides health insurance, paid vacations, and a salary.

Those commitments can be family. Young children cry out when they need our help, a family for whom we cook and clean, and others who rely on us to take them to appointments, watch their games, and be there when they need a shoulder to cry on.

We usually work another job to help pay the bills. Nonetheless, we steal hours and minutes to craft a new plot and develop a new protagonist, sketch out a new landscape, and try a new recipe.

And often—while we're working that job—our minds pull us away to the special world that we are crafting, the world that we're dying to capture on paper or in a document so that one day we can finally scream out to our ordinary worlds, "I write stories. Look what I wrote. I'm a writer."

Sure, our family, our closest friends, and even our coworkers often know of our call to create, but unless they, too, engage in some secret quest to make art, they may discount our efforts as a pastime.

Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with hobbies and pastimes.

But how often do those who create imagine a world where they can devote their full attention to their creations?

For over 20 years, I operated a home decorating workroom, providing interior designers with swags, jabots, pinch-pleated draperies, pillows, Roman shades, and much more. My employees included my husband. People relied on me for their weekly cheques.

But through it all, I held fast to my dream to be a writer. To pen entertaining stories of heroes and their quests.

I wrote novels with characters who faced their demons and challenges, fought their battles, and concluded their tales in victory.

I never considered that I struggled with a similar 'call' to launch on my own quest—to enter the special world of a published author.

When I wrote my dissertation, I discovered that all writers make regular quests. But also, all artists, creatives, and makers enter the extraordinary world of creativity every time they endeavor to create.

• Before you begin a creative session, acknowledge that you are answering the call to make art.
• Elevate this quest to the status it deserves.
• Dress in your hero's uniform. Put on the smock, the apron, and Superman's cape.
• Adopt a ceremony that sets the mood of your endeavor. Light a candle or make a cup of herbal tea.
• Mediate for two minutes, focusing on your upcoming journey into this special world.
• At the end of your session, revel in that time away.
• Take off the uniform and ready your space to prepare for the next quest.

Making art matters.

• We keep our day jobs.
• We take care of our families.
• We struggle.
• We paint and sew and write and bake and weed and sand and saw while doing everything else.
• We have no choice.

Hero creatives go on a quest every time that they create.

We learn to go and come back on this creative quest many, many times, and often multiple times in a day.

Artists, creatives, and makers in all genres toil, task, and battle whenever we can.

Our quest may not matter to any other living soul. But it matters to us.

Sumara, D. (2011) Why Reading Literature in School Still Matters: Imagination, Interpretation, Insight. New York: Routledge.

Vogler, C. (2007), The Writer’s Journey, Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions.

B. Morey Stockwell, Ph.D., has been coaching creatives around the world and is an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell & Fitchburg State University.

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Hero's journey worth.

Discussion in ' The Newbie Zone ' started by RaptorGesus , Feb 25, 2023 .

RaptorGesus Journeyman

As the title asks, is the Hero's Journey worth doing? I was coming back with a basic 3 box to see how far I can get. Is it better to just grind or do the heros journey now?

Knifen Augur

For missing out on expansions and getting to see diff zones you may never do. Yes Was well worth it and get the only clicky Drakkin Illusion item. But if just tryn to grind and lvl prob better ways to go.

CatsPaws No response to your post cause your on ignore

Well, to clarify there is "Hero of the Journey" and the reward for that is Hero's Sigil of the Council Shroud of the Council - this is the drakkin illusion Then there is also "The Hero's Journey" which encompasses all these https://www.paullynch.org/eqguide/guides/heros-journey/ And then there is the small quest "Jokes on You" which will get you one of these Devious Drakkin Disguise Devious Drakkin Potion If you feel the need for the Shroud of the Council then go for it. Personally I did not, but there are a truck load of other excellent rewards scattered throughout The Hero's Journey that are definitely worth doing

Xianzu_Monk_Tunare Augur

If you are starting toons and not in any kind of hurry to get to max level, then definitely do the Hero's Journey as you go. It does an excellent job of pointing you in the direction of content that is appropriate. As you get higher level you will start getting to parts where you will need a group, at that point, you can now choose to go to the older zones and level up in those with the better gear you will have gotten from the Hero's Journey, and then every so often go back and try the step you were stuck on and fight your way up from there, till you hit a barrier again. Though if you use mercs you likely won't hit too many barriers. You can also always ask for others to join you, which can be hit or miss at lower levels without a guild or friends. When you get into your 80s the gear rewarded from the Hero's Journey achievements is very good.

Iven the Lunatic

TSS does keep you busy for many months or even years especially if you want to to solve all zone side quests and unlock everything. Pretty exciting lore there with many secrets like unlockable areas, teleports and unique items. On the other side the expansion is a bit strange and feels like another game. Some zones definetly got influenced by other games. Blightfire Moors = DAOC.

Svann2 The Magnificent

I did it for hero's sigil of the council, but at the end that really wasnt such a big deal. Had fun doing it though.

Joules_Bianchi A certain gnome

Aside from the base Serpent's Spine expansion content, which is fun and quite rich, There are also overarcing rewards of consigned gear and such for completion of blocs of /achievements which spawn in your rewards window. If you've never done it, go for it!

Pelrond Elder

I vote yes. Very entertaining. A few really painful quests like the multi-steps quests in goru kar mesa but overall, well worth it. Finishing LDON was a great feeling.

Tsudy New Member

RaptorGesus said: ↑ “ As the title asks, is the Hero's Journey worth doing? I was coming back with a basic 3 box to see how far I can get. Is it better to just grind or do the heros journey now? ”

I_Love_My_Bandwidth Mercslayer

Sorry to hijack this thread - but is the Breath of the Council debuff still relevant in today's EQ? -100 to all resists sounds fantastic in a raid situation!!!

Skuz I am become Wrath, the Destroyer of Worlds.

I am hoping we get a "Heroes Journey TLP" one day, starts with everything up to TSS unlocked but with a level lock system until Level 75 is unlocked. Every class & every race available on launch day but still with progression roughly in line with a traditional TLP. 1-75 on this TLP would be much different to any prior TLP thanks to the TSS 1-75 content/journey, serial recyclers would be presented with "new content" that some have asked for within that Classic to PoP era of the TLP they play during.

I_Love_My_Bandwidth said: ↑ “ Sorry to hijack this thread - but is the Breath of the Council debuff still relevant in today's EQ? -100 to all resists sounds fantastic in a raid situation!!! ”

Bullshido New Member

Heres my take, I've been working through Heroes Journey recently with a new grp + mercs. theres some gripes I have with this. TLDR: Its good but has some glaring spots of oversight and should really be looked at if its to be treated as an on boarding path for new players. Way better to do this solo and get a high level guy to wipe out the tough parts. Its quite the slog if you do 3 or more characters. ___________________________ the CR and blightfire portions are great, good gear and the quests roll nicely. The downside to any of these quests is if you group with other people they take much longer to complete as nearly every quest is a "solo" task, meaning everyone has to complete it. Kill tasks work great, everyone gets the credit but when you box 2-3 other characters you need to wait for every ground spawn, trigger every event and loot every piece for each character. Population is sparse in these level ranges as well, theres quests in Stone Hive and Blackfeather Roost that are incredibly tough even with a merc. The queens in both zones are definitely tuned for a group. The gear you get is great, you hit every slot and its relevant for the zones you're fighting in. I had a great time doing these quests UNTIL I hit Goru'kar Mesa and Blackfeather. If doing this on multiple characters it is such a trudge and slog to kill wolves/bears/snakes over and over again for what seems like half the NPCs. One NPC in particular has you go out and do a loot mission for each subtype, then follows you completing these missions with doing a last quest that is all of them combined and repeated. This was atrociously boring and I spent 2-3 weeks playing 2-3 nights a week for 2-3 hours just killing the wolves/bears/snakes/spiders to get my drops. My next step on the Dorina quest line required I farm even more materials off these creatures, followed by a 170 trivial combine which EACH CHARACTER needs to have a high enough skill to complete.Its a lot of farming to hit this skill level with one character alone. This quest line is required for the over arching completion of the mesa zone. I honestly skipped it as flawed defiant gear wasn't a great motivation for doing 3 characters tailoring up to 150/170. If this was reduced to be completed in the 75-80 range it wouldn't be so bad. So I carried on to the Roost, the quests were much better in here as you progress decently quick despite some of the drops being a bit rarer (snake fangs for me). Things were moving smoothly until the part where you need a heart from a named harpy on island 4. Each character needs his drop and he he drops one and spawns every 45 mins. So I grinded and killed the area for roughly 2 hours on a mob which really should either have the drop changed to a feather or claw (cause yes he likely will only have one heart) and then drop 3-6 per kill. Now I'm nearly done the roost with 3 level 68 characters who are over leveled for the zones they are in. Now the good parts: The TSS zones have good vendor trash drops, I made enough plat to keep each guy up to date on spells, pay for mercs and buy a few cheap upgrades as I found them in the bazaar. Each zones questline does take you through every part of the zone which is great, get to see everything. The gear you're earning is actually useful for your level (a big problem this game had until LDoN) Looking further up the quest chain the gear you earn at level 80-85 is good enough to get you started into House of Thule which is a very good modern starting point for the game as SoD gear would have a tough time holding up in HoT and Underfoot is pretty tough if you're undergeared. My suggestions is to tune the bosses in these zones to be doable with 2 players of appropriate level with mercs. Increase quest item drop rate or give everyone credit on a drop and turn in as long as they are grouped. Increase the speed in which quest npcs respawn and/or increase the amount of items they drop per kill. This should be a structured training mode to get to lvl 85 which is when the game takes a major turn in how most classes are expected to play. by the end of this you got gear, AAs, an idea of what you're doing (hopefully) and can tackle modern-ish stuff.

Kaelwyse Journeyman

Bloody Kithicor is where a lot of that reaches peak nonsense. Many of the Hero's Journey quests there are long chains that have steps that require a group (if done at an appropriate level), interspersed with steps that require looting or interacting with a ground spawn that only respawns every 5-10 minutes. If you do these in a group, you will spend 30-60 minutes just sitting and waiting for ground spawns. And that isn't just one isolated example, it is multiple quests, and sometimes multiple times within the same quest. In CotF there are ground spawn quests where if you pick up a ground spawn, you share it with your group and everybody gets one on their cursor. Many of the Hero's Journey quests are sorely in need of a mechanism like that.

Annastasya Augur

Bullshido said: ↑ “ Heres my take, I've been working through Heroes Journey recently with a new grp + mercs. theres some gripes I have with this. TLDR: Its good but has some glaring spots of oversight and should really be looked at if its to be treated as an on boarding path for new players. Way better to do this solo and get a high level guy to wipe out the tough parts. Its quite the slog if you do 3 or more characters. ___________________________ the CR and blightfire portions are great, good gear and the quests roll nicely. The downside to any of these quests is if you group with other people they take much longer to complete as nearly every quest is a "solo" task, meaning everyone has to complete it. Kill tasks work great, everyone gets the credit but when you box 2-3 other characters you need to wait for every ground spawn, trigger every event and loot every piece for each character. Population is sparse in these level ranges as well, theres quests in Stone Hive and Blackfeather Roost that are incredibly tough even with a merc. The queens in both zones are definitely tuned for a group. The gear you get is great, you hit every slot and its relevant for the zones you're fighting in. I had a great time doing these quests UNTIL I hit Goru'kar Mesa and Blackfeather. If doing this on multiple characters it is such a trudge and slog to kill wolves/bears/snakes over and over again for what seems like half the NPCs. One NPC in particular has you go out and do a loot mission for each subtype, then follows you completing these missions with doing a last quest that is all of them combined and repeated. This was atrociously boring and I spent 2-3 weeks playing 2-3 nights a week for 2-3 hours just killing the wolves/bears/snakes/spiders to get my drops. My next step on the Dorina quest line required I farm even more materials off these creatures, followed by a 170 trivial combine which EACH CHARACTER needs to have a high enough skill to complete.Its a lot of farming to hit this skill level with one character alone. This quest line is required for the over arching completion of the mesa zone. I honestly skipped it as flawed defiant gear wasn't a great motivation for doing 3 characters tailoring up to 150/170. If this was reduced to be completed in the 75-80 range it wouldn't be so bad. So I carried on to the Roost, the quests were much better in here as you progress decently quick despite some of the drops being a bit rarer (snake fangs for me). Things were moving smoothly until the part where you need a heart from a named harpy on island 4. Each character needs his drop and he he drops one and spawns every 45 mins. So I grinded and killed the area for roughly 2 hours on a mob which really should either have the drop changed to a feather or claw (cause yes he likely will only have one heart) and then drop 3-6 per kill. Now I'm nearly done the roost with 3 level 68 characters who are over leveled for the zones they are in. Now the good parts: The TSS zones have good vendor trash drops, I made enough plat to keep each guy up to date on spells, pay for mercs and buy a few cheap upgrades as I found them in the bazaar. Each zones questline does take you through every part of the zone which is great, get to see everything. The gear you're earning is actually useful for your level (a big problem this game had until LDoN) Looking further up the quest chain the gear you earn at level 80-85 is good enough to get you started into House of Thule which is a very good modern starting point for the game as SoD gear would have a tough time holding up in HoT and Underfoot is pretty tough if you're undergeared. My suggestions is to tune the bosses in these zones to be doable with 2 players of appropriate level with mercs. Increase quest item drop rate or give everyone credit on a drop and turn in as long as they are grouped. Increase the speed in which quest npcs respawn and/or increase the amount of items they drop per kill. This should be a structured training mode to get to lvl 85 which is when the game takes a major turn in how most classes are expected to play. by the end of this you got gear, AAs, an idea of what you're doing (hopefully) and can tackle modern-ish stuff. ”

AFK Journey Inventory Sort (Phillip’s Worries Quest)

Here’s how you can properly sort inventory to solve Phillip’s Worries quest in AFK Journey.

Ever since its release, AFK Journey has been trending worldwide among both hardcore gamers and casuals. Even those PCMasterrace folks who tend to look at anything released anywhere other than PC with skeptic apprehension seem to have found the game pretty enjoyable. And there’s a good reason for it—the game is superb!

In true action RPG fashion, AFK Journey offers a plethora of side quests and activities that you can complete for bonus experience and items. The Phillip’s Worries side quest is one of the shortest side quests in the game, but the solution to this quest can be a bit puzzling.

In this guide, we’ll give you a step-by-step walkthrough on how to Inventory Sort correctly to complete the Phillip’s Worries side-quest in AFK Journey. Let’s hop in.

• 1 How to Unlock Phillip’s Worries Quest in AFK Journey
• 2.1 Step – 1: Finding the Quest 
• 3 Step – 2: Solve Inventory Sort Puzzle 1
• 4 Step – 3: Solve Inventory Sort Puzzle 2

How to Unlock Phillip’s Worries Quest in AFK Journey

There are three prerequisites to unlocking the Phillip’s Worries quest in AFK Journey. Firstly, you need to complete all the stage 4 Town quests in the game. You also need to reach Resonance Level 132. Lastly, you need to have Vaduso Mountain 3 unlocked, as that is where you’ll find the Merchant Phillip to start the quest.

Completing the quest rewards you with 143 Hero Essence, 5 A-Level Soul Stones, and 40k Training Manuals. It’s a pretty nice boost at this stage of the game, so there’s no reason to skip this quest.

Step-by-Step Guide to Solving Phillip’s Worries Quest

Here’s a three-step solution to completing the Phillip’s Worries side quest in AFK Journey for those having trouble with it:

Step – 1: Finding the Quest 

The first step is to find the quest giver, which in this case is Merchant Phillip. If you meet the prerequisites for the quest, head to the Vaduso Mountain 3 and go to the remote part of the forest. The coordinates are 530  and 284. 

You’ll come across Merchant Phillip once you get to the location. Talking to him, you’ll find that someone messed up his inventory when he got lost in the Dark Forest. He will also add some extra bits of backstory, but you’ll find that out when you play the quest yourself.

Basically, you need to solve two short Inventory Puzzles to complete the quest.

Step – 2: Solve Inventory Sort Puzzle 1

Here’s the solution for the puzzle 1 in the side quest:

• Place the Deer on the left.
• Place the Statue at the bottom horizontally.
• Put the Mask on next to the Deer 
• Finally, the stone goes to the last spot.

Step – 3: Solve Inventory Sort Puzzle 2

After solving the first puzzle, Phillip will give you another inventory puzzle to complete. Here’s how to solve it:

• Start with the Statue and put it vertically on the right wall.
• The Yellow Sprig goes to the left side.
• Place the Pink Rose in between the Sprig and Statue at the bottom facing down.
• Place the mask next to the Yellow Sprig
• The long Red Sprig goes to the top right of the mask
• Place the Deer under the Rose, hugging the left side.
• The small Rose and Stone fills up the remaining spots.

Once you solve the two puzzles, Phillip’s Worries side-quest will be completed and you’ll get your rewards. Hopefully, our guide can help solve the puzzle without too much hassle.

For more tips and tricks on AFK Journey, keep your eyes peeled on ESTNN !