2.6 Archetypal Plots - Campbell's Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell)

The 7 Basic Plots theorized by Booker do have their critics, however it does a decent job of giving a beginning writer a starting point for their own story. One other important theory of plot to know about is Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey, which he discussed in his book The Hero With A Thousand Faces published in 1949. Campbell's Hero's Journey overlaps with a few of the above plots, namely Rebirth, The Quest, and Voyage and Return (though one can find the others in there as well!). Below is a video that nicely summarizes the Hero's Journey. Watch this, then consider the films you have watched and stories you have read - do you recognize this plot in any of them?

Some famous examples of the Hero's Journey can be found in Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Homer's The Odyssey, however elements of this can be found it almost any story! 

Below is a handy chart to help you understand the stages of the Hero's Journey.

  

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Stages of the Hero's Journey

1. Ordinary World - The story begins with an introduction to the world as it is, this is where we are introduced to the protagonist. Here we get to know who they are, and build a connection that makes us care about them.  

2. Call to Adventure - Our hero discovers a threat to his/her safety, or the safety of his or her world. The comfort of the world they know is no longer assured, and they are called to begin their journey.

3. Refusal of the Call - At first, our hero does not want to go, they struggle with their own self doubt of fear of the road ahead. This reaction is a very human one, one which the audience can likely relate to, creating a further bond with the protagonist.

4. Meeting the Mentor - The hero cannot move forward, they are afraid and lost as to what they can do. At this crucial moment they meet their mentor - someone older and wiser than them, someone who can guide them along their path and give them the necessary tools and/or knowledge they need to complete their quest. The mentor gives our hero the confidence they need to embark upon their quest.

5. Crossing the Threshold - Our hero is now ready to begin their quest. They step out of their front door, leaving the comfort and safety of what they know behind and entering a new, and more dangerous world. This step signifies our hero's commitment to the quest, and the realization to both the hero and the audience that there is no turning back.

6. Tests, Allies and Enemies  - As our hero journeys through this new and unknown world, thy are faced with a variety of obstacles and challenges which they must overcome. Their strength, commitment and "goodness" are tested, and along the way they will gain new strengths and knowledge.  Here, the hero also gains new allies, friends to help them on their journey and give them the tools and help they require to complete it successfully.  They will also meet new enemies as well, both from their own sense of self doubt, and external forces trying to stop them.

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave - Our hero has faced a number of challenges, but here they stand on the precipice of their biggest challenge yet.  They must face their biggest fear, and walk (psychologically or physically) into the place that scares them the most. This is the calm before the storm, the moment our hero decides if they are up to the challenge or not. The hero may take a pause here, to reflect on their journey so far, and to bather the strength they need to go on. 

8. Ordeal - This is it, the moment our hero has been working towards (and the audience has been nervously anticipating!). The hero must draw upon all of the skills and knowledge they have gained thus far and face their biggest foe. This moment, sometimes literally, acts as a "death" of our hero - something within the hero must die for them to come through reborn, a new and improved version of our hero. Once the ordeal has been overcome, our hero will have gained new skills, insights or tools which they could not possibly have gained without going through it. Life as the hero knew it will never be the same. This is the moment our Hero becomes a Hero (think of this as the training montage moment!)

9. Reward - The monster slain, our hero emerges a new, stronger and more capable person - a capital H Hero.  They have gone through a process of rebirth, and faced their own biggest challenge.  The reward for this transformation may come as an object, a piece of knowledge, being reunited with a loved one, or anything that the hero most desires.  The hero has a brief moment to celebrate their victory, but must quickly return to the road to journey back home.

10. The Road Back - This is the reverse of the Call to Adventure and Crossing the Threshold. Our hero is now returning home, a changed person with the thing that was required to save the day. But before the hero can return, they must come to term with their new self, and perhaps even wrestle with the idea of giving up the reward. This is a moment of great self reflection, a decision on who our hero truly is now that he has come through the Ordeal.

11. Resurrection - Here, the hero realizes that the journey back may not be so easy. They have not faced the true villain, and must deal with the consequences of the Ordeal. The dragon has now realized our hero has stolen their greatest treasure, and wants it back! Here, the hero is tested to see if they truly learned their lesson from the Ordeal, if they have what it takes to return home with the prize they won. They will likely face (and perhaps even experience) death, and if they survive - their reward is a safe return home.

12. Return with the Elixir - Our hero returns home, a changed person with a treasure/secret/knowledge that will bring great fortune or peace to the Ordinary World. The return of the hero brings hope or peace to the world he returns to. In this stage, all loose ends are tied up - those who doubted our hero either repent, or are outed and sent away, friends will be rewarded and enemies punished. Our hero returns home ready to settle back into a peaceful world, though they and the audience know that nothing will ever truly be the same again.

ePortfolio Submission

Save your answer to the below prompt in your ePortfolio in the section for Module 1 Responses.

1. We have looked at the main elements in plot, as well as the major literary elements in a story. Now we have looked at some different types of archetypal plots. Take this same story from the past two entries, and reflect on which plot best describes your favourite book/movie etc. Reflect on both Campbell's Hero's Journey and Booker's 7 Basic Plots - do you agree with their theories, or do you have your own theory?