Journey of a Hero – Twelve Steps:
In a nutshell, here is a myth, epic, or legend:
1. Heroes are introduced tin the Ordinary World, where…
2. they receive the Call to Adventure.
3. They are Reluctant at first, or Refuse the Call, but…
4. are encouraged by a Mentor to…
5. Cross the first Threshold and enter the Special World, where…
6. they encounter Tests, Allies, and Enemies.
7. They Approach the Inmost Cave, crossing a second threshold…
8. where they endure the Supreme Ordeal.
9. They take possession of their Reward and…
10. are pursued on The Road Back to the Ordinary World.
11. They cross the third threshold, experience a Resurrection, and are transformed by the experience.
12. They Return With the Elixir, a boon or treasure to benefit the Ordinary World.
Journey of the Hero – Archetypes
*psychological function, **dramatic function
1. The Hero – derived from Greek word meaning “to protect and serve”
- willing to sacrifice needs for others
- main character, *flaws and inner doubts, search for wholeness
- **gives reader someone to identify with
2. The Mentor – derived from epic “The Odyssey”
-* teacher, usually positive force, helps train hero
-** represents goodliness inside of us (Obi Wan Kenobi)
3. The Threshold Guardian – Creates obstacles on road to adventure
-* represents ordinary obstacles we all face (blocks the way,
the door)
-** testing of the hero – (solve a puzzle, pass a test)
4. The Shape-Shifter – most difficult to identify because of its nature, which is to change; Is he/she/it friend or foe? may mislead – two faced kind of energy
-* allows us to see things as ever changing and mysterious
-**brings doubt and suspense to story
5. The Shadow – dark side of human nature, villain
-* people, forces (physical and or psychological) that threaten to
destroy us
-**to challenge hero and give her a worthy opponent
6. The Herald – a new force- beginning of play, brings challenge to hero
-* announces the need for change
-** provides motivation, gets story rolling
7. The Trickster – embodies idea of mischief, characters who are clowns or comical sidekicks (Wil Smith in “Men in Black)
-* cut big egos down to size, bring heroes down to earth, bring
egos down to earth, help us realize we’re human
-** comic relief – to much unrelieved tension is exhausting