Heros Journey There and Back Again
The Hero'southward Journey - Mythic Construction of Joseph Campbell'south Monomyth
By Dan Bronzite
To Structure Or Not To Structure? That Is The Question...
Every story has a beginning, a middle and an stop. In the showtime you setup your hero (or heroine) and his story, then you throw something at him that is a great source of conflict and takes him into a whole heap of trouble. Later facing many foes and overcoming various obstacles the hero saves the 24-hour interval and wins the girl.
If merely writing a moving-picture show was that like shooting fish in a barrel...
The thing is, in that location are many forms of structure and some writers subscribe to 1 formula, while others subscribe to some other. Some endeavor not to subscribe to any and meet the whole idea of construction as "evil", feeling that a story should evolve organically without rules circumscribed ideas or obstructing the creative flow.
In the end, a story should dictate the kind of structure it follows or whether information technology shouldn't follow a structure at all. There'southward no indicate trying to write a comedy and forcing the structure of a thriller upon it - it won't work. Well, theoretically it won't but I'm sure someone will discover a way! Let your characters define the story and your story define your structure and and then use a formula if necessary to tighten your script. The trick is to initially allow the ideas flow without paying too much attention to construction and then in your second pass begin to focus your story and separate the wheat from the chaff.
The 12 Stages of The Hero's Journeying
A popular form of structure derived from Joseph Campbell's Monomyth from his book The Hero With A Thousand Faces and adapted by Christopher Vogler is the Twelve Stage Hero's Journey. This is essentially a more than detailed Character Arc for your story'south hero which is overlayed onto the more traditional three-act structure that many successful Hollywood movies such equally Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz when analyzed appear to follow.
1. Ordinary Earth
This is where the Hero's exists earlier his nowadays story begins, oblivious of the adventures to come. Information technology'due south his safe identify. His everyday life where we acquire crucial details about our Hero, his true nature, capabilities and outlook on life. This anchors the Hero as a human being, only similar you lot and me, and makes it easier for the states to identify with him and hence afterward, empathize with his plight.
2. Call To Adventure
The Hero's run a risk begins when he receives a phone call to action, such as a direct threat to his safety, his family, his way of life or to the peace of the community in which he lives. Information technology may non be as dramatic every bit a gunshot, but simply a telephone call or conversation but whatever the call is, and however it manifests itself, it ultimately disrupts the comfort of the Hero's Ordinary World and presents a challenge or quest that must exist undertaken.
3. Refusal Of The Telephone call
Although the Hero may be eager to accept the quest, at this stage he volition have fears that demand overcoming. 2d thoughts or even deep personal doubts as to whether or not he is upwards to the challenge. When this happens, the Hero will turn down the call and equally a result may endure somehow. The problem he faces may seem to much to handle and the comfort of home far more attractive than the perilous route alee. This would besides exist our own response and once again helps united states bond further with the reluctant Hero.
4. Meeting The Mentor
At this crucial turning point where the Hero badly needs guidance he meets a mentor figure who gives him something he needs. He could be given an object of groovy importance, insight into the dilemma he faces, wise communication, applied grooming or even self-confidence. Whatsoever the mentor provides the Hero with it serves to dispel his doubts and fears and give him the force and courage to begin his quest.
5. Crossing The Threshold
The Hero is now gear up to act upon his call to adventure and truly begin his quest, whether it be physical, spiritual or emotional. He may go willingly or he may be pushed, but either way he finally crosses the threshold between the globe he is familiar with and that which he is non. Information technology may be leaving home for the starting time fourth dimension in his life or but doing something he has always been scared to do. Yet the threshold presents itself, this action signifies the Hero's commitment to his journey an any it may have in store for him.
6. Tests, Allies, Enemies
At present finally out of his comfort zone the Hero is confronted with an ever more than difficult series of challenges that test him in a diversity of ways. Obstacles are thrown across his path; whether they exist physical hurdles or people aptitude on thwarting his progress, the Hero must overcome each challenge he is presented with on the journey towards his ultimate goal.
The Hero needs to find out who can be trusted and who tin't. He may earn allies and meet enemies who will, each in their own manner, help prepare him for the greater ordeals however to come. This is the phase where his skills and/or powers are tested and every obstacle that he faces helps usa gain a deeper insight into his grapheme and ultimately identify with him even more.
7. Approach To The Inmost Cave
The inmost cave may represent many things in the Hero'due south story such equally an actual location in which lies a terrible danger or an inner conflict which upward until now the Hero has not had to face. As the Hero approaches the cave he must brand last preparations earlier taking that final leap into the great unknown.
At the threshold to the inmost cave the Hero may once again confront some of the doubts and fears that first surfaced upon his call to chance. He may need some time to reflect upon his journeying and the treacherous route ahead in lodge to find the courage to continue. This cursory respite helps the audience understand the magnitude of the ordeal that awaits the Hero and escalates the tension in anticipation of his ultimate test.
8. Ordeal
The Supreme Ordeal may be a unsafe physical test or a deep inner crisis that the Hero must face in order to survive or for the earth in which the Hero lives to keep to exist. Whether it be facing his greatest fear or almost mortiferous foe, the Hero must depict upon all of his skills and his experiences gathered upon the path to the inmost cavern in order to overcome his almost difficulty challenge.
Just through some grade of "death" tin can the Hero be reborn, experiencing a metaphorical resurrection that somehow grants him greater power or insight necessary in gild to fulfill his destiny or attain his journeying's end. This is the high-bespeak of the Hero's story and where everything he holds dear is put on the line. If he fails, he will either die or life every bit he knows it will never be the same again.
ix. Reward (Seizing The Sword)
Afterwards defeating the enemy, surviving death and finally overcoming his greatest personal challenge, the Hero is ultimately transformed into a new state, emerging from battle every bit a stronger person and often with a prize.
The Reward may come in many forms: an object of nifty importance or power, a cloak-and-dagger, greater knowledge or insight, or even reconciliation with a loved i or marry. Whatsoever the treasure, which may well facilitate his return to the Ordinary Globe, the Hero must quickly put celebrations aside and prepare for the last leg of his journeying.
10. The Road Back
This phase in the Hero'south journeying represents a opposite echo of the Call to Adventure in which the Hero had to cross the first threshold. At present he must return abode with his reward but this fourth dimension the anticipation of danger is replaced with that of acclaim and perhaps vindication, absolution or fifty-fifty exoneration.
Just the Hero'southward journey is not yet over and he may still demand one last push back into the Ordinary World. The moment earlier the Hero finally commits to the final stage of his journey may be a moment in which he must choose between his own personal objective and that of a Higher Cause.
11. Resurrection
This is the climax in which the Hero must have his final and virtually unsafe see with expiry. The final battle also represents something far greater than the Hero's own beingness with its outcome having far-reaching consequences to his Ordinary World and the lives of those he left backside.
If he fails, others volition suffer and this not merely places more than weight upon his shoulders but in a movie, grips the audition so that they too experience part of the conflict and share the Hero's hopes, fears and trepidation. Ultimately the Hero volition succeed, destroy his enemy and emerge from battle cleansed and reborn.
12. Return With The Elixir
This is the final stage of the Hero'southward journey in which he returns home to his Ordinary Earth a changed man. He will accept grown as a person, learned many things, faced many terrible dangers and fifty-fifty death merely now looks forward to the first of a new life. His return may bring fresh hope to those he left behind, a direct solution to their problems or perhaps a new perspective for everyone to consider.
The last reward that he obtains may be literal or metaphoric. It could be a cause for commemoration, self-realization or an end to strife, but any information technology is it represents three things: change, success and proof of his journey. The render dwelling also signals the need for resolution for the story's other central players. The Hero'south doubters will be ostracized, his enemies punished and his allies rewarded. Ultimately the Hero will render to where he started but things will clearly never be the aforementioned again.
Structuring With Color Using Script Studio's PowerView
Script Studio includes five default customizable templates:
- Hero'south Journey
- 3 Act Screenplay
- 5 Deed Stage Play
- One Hour TV Drama
- Half-60 minutes TV Sitcom
Each sample template is designed to help you construction your story and they include comprehensive information nigh each department, helping y'all understand how a particular type of story narrative works. They are, still, merely a guide and should not be rigidly adhered to. Creativity is far more than important than sticking to a "formula" but they can help you pace your story and troubleshoot rewrites.
The default templates can be modified to accommodate your project'south needs and you tin can even create your own templates from scratch or save templates from one project for use in another.
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Source: https://www.movieoutline.com/articles/the-hero-journey-mythic-structure-of-joseph-campbell-monomyth.html
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