hero's journey quizlet

• Personal Development

The Hero's Journey, According to Joseph Campbell

The hero’s journey

The hero’s journey is a structure noted for its flexibility, as it’s capable of mutating without sacrificing its magic. The different phases attempt to explain the circular story in which a protagonist begins a journey that will change their life , facing different difficulties to achieve a goal and be able to return home.

The hero’s journey’s circularity mimics the world’s traditional compass : Life and death, order and chaos, consciousness and unconsciousness . The protagonist goes through several phases that take the action to the end, completing what’s called the hero’s journey arc: Their evolution.

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” -Joseph Campbell-

The 17 phases of the One Myth structure

Campbell describes seventeen stages or steps along this journey, although very few myths fulfill all seventeen. Some add many of the stages and others only some. The seventeen stages can be organized in different ways.

To understand their development, they’re usually divided into three sections: Departure (sometimes called “separation”), initiation, and return .

The output deals with the adventure of the hero before fulfilling the mission. In this section, the following aspects are highlighted:

• The Ordinary World and the Call to Adventure:  Amidst a context of normality, something happens that functions as a call to action.
• Refusal to the Call:  Obligations, insecurity, weakness, and fear influence the hero to reject the call and prefer to remain as they are. But finally, by force, they must embark on the adventure.
• Supernatural Aid:  The guide or instructor appears who will introduce the hero to this new world. They often prepare the hero for what’s to come and offer them tools and amulets of protection. In this way, the protagonist is prepared to cross the border from the ordinary world to the extraordinary world.
• The Crossing of the First Threshold:  The hero enters the field of adventure, venturing into unknown and dangerous terrain where no rules or limitations are known. They have crossed the door. The hero is now ready to take action and truly begin their quest, be it physical, spiritual, or emotional.
• In the Belly of the Whale: This represents the hero’s final separation from the known self and world. By participating in this stage, they’re willing to undergo a metamorphosis.

The initiation deals with the hero’s various adventures along the way:

• The Road of Trials: This stage involves various tasks that are seemingly impossible, which the hero must overcome. They make mistakes and discover their weaknesses, strengths, and talents through them.
• The Meeting with the Goddess: The hero discovers how boundless and powerful love and unconditional surrender are. True love personified.
• Woman as the Temptress: Many activities, pleasures, and rewards tempt the hero to give up.
• Atonement with the Father/Abyss: The hero confronts whoever it is who holds the ultimate power in their life and is initiated.
• The Apotheosis:  The ultimate metamorphosis or transformation elevates the hero to a higher plane.
• The Ultimate Boon: This symbolizes the achievement of the mission, the climax. All the previous steps served to prepare the hero for this moment in which he achieves that precious transcendental objective. This is the climax of the hero’s story where everything they love is put on the line.

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.

FREE RESOURCE

Hero's Journey Template

Plot your character's journey with our step-by-step template.

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.

GET ACCOUNTABILITY

Meet writing coaches on Reedsy

Industry insiders can help you hone your craft, finish your draft, and get published.

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.

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Bring your stories to life

Our free writing app lets you set writing goals and track your progress, so you can finally write that book!

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

• Green Spaces in Urban Places
• To Give is To Grow: Community Gardens Fight Food Insecurity
• Are Words The New Weapon To Fight For Social Justice?
• Europe has Changed: How I turned my Upset about Russia Invading Ukraine into Action
• Dangerous Realities of Medical Misogyny
• Student Success: Spotlight on ADHD

Love Letter to Uncertainty: A Photo Essay

Walter’s story: leaving nazi germany, joseph campbell & the hero’s journey, in 1949, scholar  joseph campbell published his 1st book, the hero with a thousand faces. in this book, campbell introduced us to his theory that myths from around the globe share a fundamental structure, the monomyth ..

C ampbell formulated this theory over 5 years, spending 9 hours a day reading mythology from around the world. The Monomyth structure is divided into 3 events with additional stages in between. The stories of Osiris, Prometheus, Buddha, Moses, Jesus, and many other tales from history use this structure. It has inspired many artists and storytellers, such as, Jim Morrison of The Doors, Bob Dylan, creator of Star Wars George Lucas, Bob Weir, and Jerry Garcia of the band, The Grateful Dead. While countless stories follow this Monomyth structure, we will use the original Star Wars Trilogy as an example for exploring this process.

The Seventeen Stages of the Monomyth

The Cycle of Mythology

Stage 1: Separation

I n the first stage of the hero’s journey, we find our protangonist living life in a typically mundane situation. The  Star Wars , Luke Skywalker lives as a talented yet lowly and pretty damn whiny moisture farmer on Tatooine.

Until…

1. Call to Adventure – By some chance the hero will become aware of information or actions that call for them to go on a quest. The lovable and recently acquired droid R2-D2 plays a holographic message of Princess Leia pleading for Luke’s soon to be mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s assistance.

2. Refusal of the Call – Overwhelmed by the information, the hero refuses the call and makes excuses as to why they cannot answer it. Luke refuses Obi-Wan’s request to join him on his mission, stating that he has responsibilities at home.

Luke’s Supernatural Aid is in the form of a Lightsaber and newfound Knowledge of the Force

3. Supernatural Aid – Once a commitment to the quest is made by the hero, they are provided with a special weapon or power that will assist them along the way. Obi-Wan gifts Luke his fathers lightsaber and explains some Force 101.

4. Crossing the Threshold – The moment when the hero actually embarks upon the journey. After Luke discovers that his family has been murdered and that nothing is left for him at home, he decides to join Obi-Wan on the quest to save Princess Leia, cause that sounds way cooler than hanging at the farm where your entire family was just massacred.

5. Belly of the Whale – The final separation between the hero and their home. Luke and Kenobi bail out from Tatooine with their new bros Han Solo and Chewbacca.

Stage 2: Initiation

The Empire Strikes Back is nothing but a road of trials for our hero, Luke.

6. The Road of Trials – A series of usually 3 trials and tests, the hero often fails one or more of these test. In Luke’s journey the destruction of the Death Star is his first test and one that he passes. His second and third tests do not end so well. While training with Yoda on Dagobah, Luke fails in his truly mastering himself and the force. Thirdly, in the duel between himself and his newly revealed father, Darth Vader, he is defeated, injured, and almost killed.

7. The Meeting with the Goddess – Our hero experiences a love that has the power and significance to that of a mother. Luke begins to have strong feelings for Leia, his unbeknownst sister.

8. Woman as Temptress – The temptation to abandon the journey for material or other gain. Luke is close to being seduced to the dark side as the Emperor feeds his rage against his father and especially with the prospect that if he will not turn, perhaps his sister will.

9. Atonement with the Father – In this stage, the hero must confront and be initiated by whoever holds the ultimate power in their life. Luke battles Darth Vader and once again is on the losing side of the fight. Nearing death from the Emperor’s attacks, Luke begs his father to help save him from certain death.

Anakin & Luke Meet for the 1st Time

10. Apotheosis – The spiritual death and rebirth of the hero. Darth Vader hears his son’s cries for help and returns to the light, deciding to destroy the Emperor in a self sacrificial action. By bringing his father back to the light, Luke has finally become a true jedi.

11. The Ultimate Boon – The stage of achievement of the goal. Luke is a jedi, has defeated the Empire, the dark side, saved his father, and all his friends and family are safe.

12. Refusal of the Return – The hero basking in their newly found bliss, may not want to return to their previous life and share this bliss with his fellow man. Luke does the opposite of this, upon his reunification with his friends, he shares with Leia that they are siblings. He then goes on to train her and new jedi in the ways of the force.

Stage 3: Return

13. The Magic Flight – The daring escape made after obtaining the boon. Luke carries his fathers body onto a transport and flees the Death Star before its complete destruction.

The Millennium Falcon in Magical Flight

14. Rescue from Without – When powerful guides or mentors help bring the hero back to normal life. When Anniken, Obi-Wan, and Yoda appear from the ether to acknowledge Luke and his newfound jedi knighthood.

15. Crossing the Return Threshold – Retaining, integrating, and sharing wisdom learned on the quest. Luke shares his knowledge of the force with future jedi.

16. Master of Two Worlds – The hero has achieved a balance between the material and spiritual world. Luke has sorted all of his family issues, become a man and a jedi.

17. Freedom to Live – By becoming a master of the two worlds, the hero is free from regrets of the past and worries of the future, this leaves them to live in the moment. Luke has resolved all the  conflicts in his life, he is free to live at one with the force.

Each of Us are the Heroes in Our own Journey

The Monomyth is a method of story telling that is innate to humans. Cultures from around the world share it’s structure in their stories. Every human, whether they are aware of it or not, is on their own hero’s journey. By studying Joseph Campbell’s work we can better our own understanding of the tests, trials, and progress along our journey.

About Author

Tamlorn chase.

Tamlorn Chase hails from the coastal town of Santa Barbara, where he works as a wilderness guide, wildlife filmmaker, and environmental activist. Protecting the natural world is his profession and passion.

Related Posts

Father figures.

Comments are closed.

Powered by themekiller.com

Passion doesn’t always come easily. Discover your inner drive and find your true purpose in life.

From learning how to be your best self to navigating life’s everyday challenges.

Discover peace within today’s chaos. Take a moment to notice what’s happening now.

Gain inspiration from the lives of celebrities. Explore their stories for motivation and insight into achieving your dreams.

Where ordinary people become extraordinary, inspiring us all to make a difference.

Take a break with the most inspirational movies, TV shows, and books we have come across.

From being a better partner to interacting with a coworker, learn how to deepen your connections.

Take a look at the latest diet and exercise trends coming out. So while you're working hard, you're also working smart.

Sleep may be the most powerful tool in our well-being arsenal. So why is it so difficult?

Challenges can stem from distractions, lack of focus, or unclear goals. These strategies can help overcome daily obstacles.

Unlocking your creativity can help every aspect of your life, from innovation to problem-solving to personal growth.

How do you view wealth? Learn new insights, tools and strategies for a better relationship with your money.

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.

Hot Stories

Husband opens small package from his wife - what’s inside brings him to tears.

man holding a red gift box and a woman watching a man open a gift

This scene looks happy, even festive. The lights are bright, and a little girl's toys are strewn across the floor.

But something's off.

Sitting on the floor beside her is a man looking deadpan at the camera. He looks quizzical, even suspicious at the person behind the camera.

As you'll see, he has good reason to be.

A Bizarre Buildup

The man is holding an object in his hand and barely breaks eye contact with the camera. Drowned out by the music is the faint voice of a woman, her voice barely audible.

He continues to stare back, looking down at the object and then back at the camera.

However, the words appearing across the screen slowly piece this puzzle together. By the time this short video is done, we can hear the voice.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

The man nods slowly, wiping the tears from his eyes and looking down at his hand.

"l'll never trade this moment for anything," reads the text across the screen.

A Soulful Surprise

You see, the man in the video knows that it wasn't too long ago that things weren't so happy. The person he's looking back at -- his wife -- knows this too.

Through the captions across the screen, she shares that their family put off holiday cheer due to ‘some devastating financial news.' They even put candy in stocking stuffers and wrapped items they already owned 'so our 3-year-old wouldn’t question why WE didn’t have any gifts.'

We also find out that a couple of years prior, her husband lost their wedding band and 'he was devastated.' "It was a crappy little fake gold band we got. All the gold had rubbed off and it was silver," she writes, "but he loved it."

You can almost tell that they are both thinking the same as her husband looks down at the object. It's at that moment that his wife shares the motivation behind this magic video.

'Then I saw this ring while getting groceries last night. It’s not frilly. It’s not super expensive. But it is real gold and was the only one left in Ben’s size," writes Ben's wife.

How a Wife Proves That True Love Is Priceless

There's a saying that money is the root of all evil. Whether or not that's true, we know that it has doomed many marriages.

Per Spectrum Family Law, “Arguments about money (are) by far the top predictor of divorce.” It continues to say, "Money was the second most common subject that couples fight about -- after infidelity. Finances can be more damaging to a marriage than arguments about children, sex, the in-laws or anything else."

Words can't express how tragic I find that fact. Call me an idealist, but the notion that money can drive a wedge between two humans who otherwise love and cherish each other is one of the saddest stories ever told.

It's what makes this story so touching to me and over 13 million others.

"Oh my heart. U can actually feel what this means to him just watching this. That's real love. U can see what his wife means to him," writes one.

Another commenter put it perfectly, "As a man, it doesn't matter the cost. HE appreciates the thought. That to him means everything. He appreciates it. No matter what he says.😊"

Among quotes about love , one by Seth Adam Smith reads, "We simply can’t abandon ship every time we encounter a storm. Real love is about weathering the terms of life together."

I'm blessed to have had front-row seats to my parents enduring through the storms of life, together. Just like them, this video shows us that in life, the true beauty of love lies in the struggle.

*Featured image contains photos by SHVETS production

Smart Banker Saves Poor Elderly Woman From Evil Romance Scam by Her ‘Online Boyfriend’

Why setting relationship goals is important - and how to do it, snoop dogg wouldn't choose sides, tupac called him out, the real reason why cameron diaz left hollywood for good, liam neeson left his son after losing wife natasha richardson, how tiffany haddish finally found the love she deserved, lamar odom regrets choosing khloe kardashian over taraji p henson, did all the break ups lead jennifer lopez to her true love, subscribe to our newsletter, the great takedown of nickelodeon’s dan schneider - how even small voices have the power for impact, chris gardner beyond the pursuit of happyness: the work begins, 100 powerful motivational quotes to help you rise above, wim hof: the iceman’s heroic journey to warming the hearts of millions, how jennifer aniston saved reese witherspoon.

Reese Witherspoon, portraying a flawless life alongside actor Ryan Phillippe, concealed a troubling secret for years. However, Jennifer Aniston played a pivotal role in unveiling this hidden truth, shedding light on Witherspoon's undisclosed struggles.

Copyright © 2024 Goalcast

Get stories worth sharing delivered to your inbox

Monomyth: Hero's Journey Project

Monomyth: the hero's journey.

Joseph Campbell's Monomyth, developed in  Hero With A Thousand Faces,  describes the common heroic narrative in which a heroic protagonist sets out, has transformative adventures, and returns home. It is a useful formula for comparing literary traditions across time and culture.

First, explore the stages of the Hero'r Journey. Then, use the resources provided to explore and compare three different works through the lens of the Monomyth: Mali's  Sunjata , South Asia's  Ramayana , and Japan's  Yamato .

Stages of the Hero's Journey

Fabulous circumstances surrounding conception, birth, and childhood establish the hero's pedigree, and often constitute their own monomyth cycle.

Call to Adventure

The hero is called to adventure by some external event or messenger. The Hero may accept the call willingly or reluctantly.

Helpers/Amulet

During the early stages of the journey, the hero will often receive aid from a protective figure. This supernatural helper can take a wide variety of forms, such as a wizard, and old man, a dwarf, a crone, or a fairy godmother. The helper commonly gives the hero a protective amulet or weapon for the journey.

Crossing the Threshold

Upon reaching the threshold of adventure, the hero must undergo some sort of ordeal in order to pass from the everyday world into the world of adventure. This trial may be as painless as entering a dark cave or as violent as being swallowed up by a whale. The important feature is the contrast between the familiar world of light and the dark, unknown world of adventure.

The hero travels through the dream-like world of adventure where he must undergo a series of tests. These trials are often violent encounters with monsters, sorcerers, warriors, or forces of nature. Each successful test further proves the hero's ability and advances the journey toward its climax.

The hero is often accompanied on the journey by a helper who assists in the series of tests and generally serves as a loyal companion. Alternately, the hero may encounter a supernatural helper in the world of adventure who fulfills this function.

Climax/The Final Battle

This is the critical moment in the hero's journey in which there is often a final battle with a monster, wizard, or warrior which facilitates the particular resolution of the adventure.

After accomplishing the mission, the hero must return to the threshold of adventure and prepare for a return to the everyday world. If the hero has angered the opposing forces by stealing the elixir or killing a powerful monster, the return may take the form of a hasty flight. If the hero has been given the elixir freely, the flight may be a benign stage of the journey.

The hero again crosses the threshold of adventure and returns to the everyday world of daylight. The return usually takes the form of an awakening, rebirth, resurrection, or a simple emergence from a cave or forest. Sometimes the hero is pulled out of the adventure world by a force from the daylight world.

The object, knowledge, or blessing that the hero acquired during the adventure is now put to use in the everyday world. Often it has a restorative or healing function, but it also serves to define the hero's role in the society.

The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.

The Hero's Journey in Three Traditions

The monomyth in film, star wars and the hero's journey.

The original Star Wars films provide one means of introducing students to this analytical technique. Though current students may have little familiarity with the original trilogy, the 2015  Star Wars: The Force Awakens  invited new viewers to learn about the characters and storyline of the films from the 70s and 80s.  This site , which was a collaboration between NASA and Lucas, breaks down the original three films according to Campbell's Hero's Journey. Don't worry - if Star Wars is not a good option for your students, a quick search will turn up analysis  dozens  of modern and classic tales broken out into the stages of the Hero's Journey.

Also, for those who are interested, Kurt Vonnegut provided this witty alternative to the Monomyth.

Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories

Hero's journey contributors.

Between 1998 and 2000, ORIAS held a series of teacher institutes at UC Berkeley on the theme of teaching pre-modern history through literature. Using a comparative model based on Joseph Campbell's monomyth (Hero With A Thousand Faces, 1949), middle school teachers, university scholars and performers explored ways to bring pre-modern history to life through the introduction of national heroic traditions. The process generated rigorous content to help teachers integrate challenging literature and critical thinking skills into their courses. Most important though, the stories, with their diverse cultural roots, were exciting and fun to read and teach. The Hero's Journey Project was born out of the enthusiasm and partnerships developed during this series of meetings.

The primary Hero's Journey Internet Project team members were:

ORIAS staff:

• Michele Delattre, Program Coordinator ( [email protected] )
• Erik Sahlin, Technology Coordinator and graduate student in history at U. C. Berkeley
• Stephania Burke, a graduate student in East Asian Languages at U. C. Berkeley during this project.
• Edan Dekel, a graduate student in Classics at U. C. Berkeley and ORIAS lecturer during this project. 
• Robert Goldman, Professor of South and Southeast Asian Studies, U. C. Berkeley
• Ousmane Macalou, Lecturer in Department of Special Languages, Stanford University
• Nick Bartel, Horace Mann Middle School, San Francisco
• Sheryl Corke, Corte Madera Middle School, Portola Valley
• Donna Kasprowicz, Corte Madera Middle School, Portola Valley
• Dede Tisone-Bartels, co-director of the Bay Area California Arts Project (BayCAP)
• Brigid Corboy, Corte Madera Middle School, Portola Valley

Performers:

• Yacine Kouyate, jali (oral historian), Mali and Berkeley, CA ( [email protected] ) Yacine can also be contacted for classroom performances.
• Jyoti Rout, Odissi dancer, Fremont, CA http://www.jyotikalamandir.org )
• Donna Kasprowicz's 6th grade class at Corte Madera Middle School, Portola Valley, 2000

Funding and assistance for the History Through Literature Internet Project was provided by Interactive University at U. C. Berkeley, Oakland Unified School District, U. C. Berkeley Multimedia Research Project and ORIAS. 

• Teaching materials topic page

The Hero's Journey: Crossing the Threshold

Moviepix / Getty Images

• Tips For Adult Students
• Getting Your Ged

• B.A., English, St. Olaf College

The hero , armed with the mentor’s gifts , agrees to face the journey. This is the turning point between Act One and Act Two, the crossing from the ordinary world into the special world. The hero is wholeheartedly committed and there is no turning back.

According to Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure , crossing the first threshold is often the result of some external force that changes the course or intensity of the story: someone is kidnapped or murdered, a storm hits, the hero is out of options or pushed over the brink.

Internal events might also signal the crossing of a threshold: the hero’s very soul is at stake and he makes a decision to risk everything to change his life, Vogler writes.

The Threshold

Heroes are likely to encounter threshold guardians at this point. The hero’s task is to figure out some way around these guardians. Some guardians are illusions and the energy of others must be incorporated by the hero, who realizes that the obstacle actually contains the means of climbing over the threshold. Some guardians simply need to be acknowledged, according to Vogler.

Many writers illustrate this crossing with physical elements such as doors, gates, bridges, canyons, oceans, or rivers. You may notice a clear shift in energy at this point.

A tornado sends Dorothy to the special world. Glinda, a mentor, begins teaching Dorothy the rules of this new place, gives her the magical ruby slippers, and a quest, sending her over a threshold where she will make friends, confront enemies, and be tested.

Tests, Allies, Enemies

The two worlds have a different feel, a different rhythm, different priorities and values, different rules. The most important function of this stage in the story is the testing of the hero to prepare her for the ordeals that lie ahead, according to Vogler.

One test is how quickly she adjusts to the new rules.

The special world is usually dominated by a villain or shadow who has set traps for intruders. The hero forms a team or a relationship with a sidekick. She also discovers enemies and rivals.

This is a "getting to know you" phase. The reader learns about the characters involved, the hero accumulates power, learns the ropes, and prepares for the next phase.

• The Role of Archetypes in Literature
• The Ordinary World in the Hero's Journey
• The Reward and the Road Back
• The Approach to the Inmost Cave in the Hero's Journey
• The Resurrection and Return With the Elixir
• An Introduction to The Hero's Journey
• The Hero's Journey: Meeting with the Mentor
• The Hero's Journey: Refusing The Call to Adventure
• The Ordeal in the Hero's Journey
• Russian Folklore: Baba Yaga as a Symbol of Mother Nature
• "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" Study Guide
• The Heroes of Ancient Greece and Rome
• Ulysses (Odysseus)
• The Argonauts
• How Did the Greek Hero Hercules Die?
• Meaning Behind the Phrase to Cross the Rubicon

• My Storyboards

Odysseus Hero's Journey in Homer's Odyssey

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities, this activity is part of many teacher guides.

Related to both plot diagram and types of literary conflict, the "Hero’s Journey" is a recurring pattern of stages that the hero encounters over the course of their stories. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, articulated this cycle after researching and reviewing numerous myths and stories from a variety of time periods and regions of the world. He found that they all share fundamental principles. This spawned the Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. The most fundamental version has 12 steps that the hero faces, while more detailed versions can have up to 17.

Teachers may wish for students to collaborate on this activity which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature. This can help cut down on the time it takes to complete the entire storyboard while also helping students to develop communication, self-management and leadership skills. Teachers can enable collaboration for the assignment and students can either choose their partner(s) or have one chosen for them. It is suggested that since the Hero's Journey storyboard is 12 cells, it is best if completed by students in groups of 2, 3 or 4.

Odysseus Hero's Journey Example

Hero’s journey project examples and more ideas for the odyssey.

Creating a storyboard that illustrates each of Odysseus’ hero’s journey steps is engaging and creative. However, there are lots of other ways for students to show what they have learned about Odysseus’ monomyth! Check out some of our ideas below:

• Using the timeline layout, make a timeline of Odysseus’ epic journey. You don’t need to include the 12 stages of the hero’s journey for this activity, but be sure to include events in chronological order.
• Create a the hero’s journey chart for another character in literature that you have read and compare that journey to Odysseus' journey. Use our blank template as the hero’s journey graphic organizer to help you plan.
• Make a map of Odysseus’ journey.
• Using one of Storyboard That’s board game templates , create a game based on Odysseus’ hero’s journey for your classmates to play! Think about the setting of the story and use that as the theme of your game.
• Using one of Storyboard That’s biography poster templates, create a poster about the story’s hero, Odysseus.

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Use the story of The Odyssey and map it to the narrative structure of the Hero's Journey. This can be done in place of The Odyssey plot diagram.

• Depict and describe how the chosen character's story fits (or does not fit ) into each of the stages of the Hero's Journey.
• Finalize images, edit, and proofread your work.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-10

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: The Hero's Journey

• [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/3] Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme
• [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/5] Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise
• [ELA-Literacy/RL/9-10/6] Analyze a particular point of view or cultural experience reflected in a work of literature from outside the United States, drawing on a wide reading of world literature

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

How To Encourage Collaboration in Activities

Establish specific goals and objectives, make diverse teams, organize brainstorming sessions, set roles and responsibilities, offer rewards and incentives, reflect and learn, frequently asked questions about odysseus hero's journey, what is the call to adventure in the odyssey .

In The Odyssey , Odysseus’ call to adventure is that he is called to fight the Trojans by King Menelaus.

How does The Odyssey follow the hero’s journey?

The Odyssey hero’s journey follows the 12 steps perfectly. Odysseus is called to adventure, causing him to leave his hometown, and must conquer many challenges and obstacles during his epic journey. Eventually, he makes his journey home after his supreme ordeal.

What is the hero’s journey in The Odyssey ?

Odysseus’ journey begins when he is called to fight in the Trojan War. He goes through all 12 stages of the hero’s journey during Homer’s incredible tale of adventure.

How does Odysseus escape the cyclops cave?

This was one of the many obstacles that Odysseus’ faced, because the blind Polyphemus felt the backs of all the sheep when they left the cave to make sure the men were not riding on them. To escape and continue his journey back, Odysseus and his men tied themselves underneath the sheep to hide from the cyclops.

Odyssey, The

Try 1 Month For

30 Day Money Back Guarantee New Customers Only Full Price After Introductory Offer

Learn more about our Department, School, and District packages

• Thousands of images
• Custom layouts, scenes, characters
• And so much more!!

Create a Storyboard

• Libraries Home
• Research Guides

Classical Mythology - Greek

• The Hero's Journey
• Reference Resources

Electronic Resources

The monomyth, or Hero’s Journey, was first recognized as a pattern in mythology by Joseph Campbell, who noticed that heroes in mythology typically go through the same 17 stages in their journey toward hero-dom.  

The Hero’s Journey follows a path which is represented by a circle in which the hero travels into the unknown and is faced with many trials only to come full circle, returning to the known world.  The path includes but is not limited to the following segments:

• Call to Adventure
• Supernatural Aid
• Cross the Threshold into the Unknown
• Mentors / Helpers
• Transformation
• Return from the Unknown
• Return to a Normal Life

A popular interpretation of the Hero’s Journey is Luke Skywalker’s journey toward Jedi Knighthood in the original Star Wars films.  George Lucas found tremendous inspiration in the monomyth when creating the original trilogy.  Fans will notice how closely the films mirror the monomyth pattern.  Luke’s call to the rebellion, his aid of the force, the assortment of guides and companions, the many trials he faces along the way, his confrontation with Vader, the temptations of power, the destruction of the Empire, and the freedom of the galaxy from the Emperor’s evil tyranny.  Several documentaries and books have been published on Campbell’s influence on the Star Wars films.

Model of the Monomyth

The Monomyth, or Hero's Journey, is a path commonly represented by a circle.  Along this path the hero encounters numerous stages which he must overcome in order to progress.

Library Print & Media

• The Mythology of Star Wars An interview with George Lucas about the influence of his mentor, Joseph Campbell and his explanation of the Hero’s Journey. Available through Films on Demand.
• Wikipedia - Monomyth
• << Previous: Electronic Resources
• Last Updated: Jan 8, 2024 12:31 PM
• URL: https://guides.stlcc.edu/classical_mythology

Hero’s Journey and Positive Transformation

• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 01 August 2023
• Cite this living reference work entry

• Peter Bray 4  

44 Accesses

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Allison, Scott T., and George R. Goethals. 2017. The Hero’s transformation. In Handbook of heroism and heroic leadership , ed. Scott T. Allison, George R. Goethals, and Roderick M. Kramer, 379–400. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Google Scholar  

———. 2020. The heroic leadership imperative: How leaders inspire and mobilize change . Bingley: Emerald Publishing Ltd.

Book   Google Scholar  

Allison, Scott T., George R. Goethals, Allyson R. Marrinan, Owen M. Parker, Smaragda P. Spyrou, and Madison Stein. 2019. The metamorphosis of the hero: Principles, processes, and purpose. Frontiers in Psychology 10: 606. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00606 .

Article   PubMed   PubMed Central   Google Scholar  

Booker, Christopher. 2004. The seven basic plots: Why we tell stories . London: Continuum.

Bray, Peter. 2010. A broader framework for exploring the influence of spiritual experience in the wake of stressful life events: Examining connections between posttraumatic growth and psycho-spiritual transformation. Mental Health, Religion and Culture 13: 293–330.

Article   Google Scholar  

———. 2018. The hero-journey, hamlet and positive psychological transformation. Journal of Humanistic Psychology 58: 525–555. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167816689357 .

Bray, Peter, and Peter James. 2019. Reviewing the heroic experience: A humanistic and existential counselling perspective. Heroism Science 4: 1. https://doi.org/10.26736/hs.2019.01.06 .

Calhoun, Lawrence G., and Richard G. Tedeschi, eds. 1998. Posttraumatic growth: Positive changes in the aftermath of crisis . London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Campbell, Joseph. 1949. The hero with a thousand faces . Princeton: Princeton University Press.

———. 1972. Myths to live by . New York: Viking Penguin.

Campbell, Joseph, and Bill Moyes. 1991. The power of myth . New York: Anchor Books. ISBN 0-385-41886-8.

Franco, Zeno E., and Olivia Efthimiou. 2018. Heroism and the human experience: Foreword to the special issue. Journal of Humanistic Psychology 58: 371–381. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167818772201 .

Franco, Zeno E., and Philip G. Zimbardo. 2006. The banality of heroism. Greater Good Magazine Fall/Winter : 30–35. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_banality_of_heroism .

Franco, Zeno E., Scott T. Allison, L. Elaine, Ari Kohen Kinsella, Matt Langdon, and Philip G. Zimbardo. 2018. Heroism research: A review of theories, methods, challenges, and trends. Journal of Humanistic Psychology 58: 382–339. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167816681232 .

Freud, Sigmund. 1905/2020. Three essays on the theory of sexuality (three contributions to the theory of sex) . Kindle Edition.

Goethals, George R., and Scott T. Allison. 2019. The romance of heroism and heroic leadership . Emerald: ISBN: 9781787566552

Goldstein, Kurt. 1939. The organism . New York: American Books.

Grof, Stanislav. 1985. Beyond the brain: Birth, death and transcendence in psychotherapy . New York: SUNY.

Grof, Stanislav, and Christina Grof, eds. 1989. Spiritual emergency: When personal transformation becomes a crisis . New York: G. P. Putnam.

Halstead, Richard W. 2000. From tragedy to triumph: Counselor as companion on the hero’s journey. Counseling and Values 44: 100–106. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-007X.2000.tb00159.x .

Hartley, Janice. 2010. Mapping our madness: The hero’s journey as a therapeutic approach, in psychosis and spirituality: Consolidating the new paradigm, edited by Isabel Clarke, 227–238 . West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470970300.ch18 .

James, William. 1902/2012. The varieties of religious experience . Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-969164-7.

Jung, Carl G. 1958. Psychology and religion: West and east . New York: Pantheon.

Jung, C. G. (1962/3). Erinnerungen, träume, gedanken. (Memories, dreams, reflections), ed. Aniele Jaffe, trans. Clara Winston and Clara Winston . New York: Pantheon

Koltko-Rivera, M. E. (2006). Rediscovering the Later Version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Transcendence and Opportunities for Theory, Research, and Unification . Review of General Psychology, 10(4), 302–317. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.10.4.302

Lawson, Gerard. 2005. The hero’s journey as a developmental metaphor in counselling. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development 44: 134–144. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2164-490X.2005.tb00026.x .

Linley, P. Alex, and Stephen Joseph. 2004. Positive change following trauma and adversity: A review. Journal of Traumatic Stress 17: 11–21.

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Lopez, Shane J., and C.R. Snyder, eds. 2011. The Oxford handbook of positive psychology . New York: Oxford University Press.

Lukoff, David, and Howard C. Everest. 1985. The myths in mental illness. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology 17 (2): 123–153.

Maslow, Abraham H. 1943. A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review 50: 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346 .

———. 1954. Motivation and personality . New York: Harper and Row.

———. 1964. Religions, values, and peak experiences . London: Penguin Books Limited.

Pearson, Carol S. 1989. The hero within: Six archetypes we live by . San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Rogers, Carl R. 1951. Client-centered therapy . London: Constable & Robinson.

———. 1967. On becoming a person: A Therapist’s view of psychotherapy . London: Constable.

Seligman, Martin E.P. 2011. Flourish . New York: Atria Books.

Tedeschi, Richard G., and Lawrence G. Calhoun. 1995. Trauma and transformation: Growing in the aftermath of suffering . London: Sage.

———. 2004. Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry 15: 1–18.

Tedeschi, Richard G., Crystal L. Park, and Lawrence G. Calhoun, eds. 2014. Posttraumatic growth: Positive changes in the aftermath of crisis . Routledge. ISBN 9781138002654.

Washburn, Michael. 1995. The ego and the dynamic ground: A transpersonal theory of human development . Rev. ed. Albany: SUNY.

Wilber, Ken. 2000. Integral psychology: Consciousness, Spirit, psychology, therapy . Boston: Shambhala.

Williams, Clive. 2017. The hero’s journey: A mudmap for change. Journal of Humanistic Psychology 59 (4): 522–539. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167817705499 .

Wilson, John P. 2006. Trauma and the epigenesis of identity. In The posttraumatic self: Restoring meaning and wholeness to personality , ed. John P. Wilson, 69–116. New York: Routledge.

Wilson, John P., and Jacob D. Lindy. 2013. Trauma, culture, and metaphor: Pathways of transformation and integration . New York: Routledge.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

School of Social Practice, Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, Bethlehem, New Zealand

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Bray .

Section Editor information

Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA

Scott T. Allison

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Cite this entry.

Bray, P. (2023). Hero’s Journey and Positive Transformation. In: Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_269-1

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_269-1

Received : 30 November 2022

Accepted : 17 June 2023

Published : 01 August 2023

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-031-17125-3

Online ISBN : 978-3-031-17125-3

eBook Packages : Springer Reference Behavioral Science and Psychology Reference Module Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

Have an account?

Hero's Journey: Percy Jackson

13 questions

Introducing new   Paper mode

No student devices needed.   Know more

• 1. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What is the Status Quo of Percy Jackson in the beggining of the story? When he saves his mom. When he gives the lightning bolt back to Zeus . When he is at Yancy and with his friend Grover in New York. When he rides a unicorn.
• 2. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What is the defenition of Call to  Adventure in Percy Jackson in the book Lighting Thief? When the character is getting ready to go to the "Special", world. When the character returns to the "Ordinary", world. When character  goes to Disneyland. When the character goes to the Petting Zoo .
• 3. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt Who was Percy Jackson being assisted by? Chiron, Annebeth, and Grover.  Hades, Medusa, and Mr. D. His mom, Smelly Gabe, and Luke. Seth, Samah, and Miss. Rold.
• 4. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt When in the story, Lighting Thief, does Percy leave for Departure?  After he fights Mrs. Dodds . When he leaves Camp Half-Blood for his quest. When he goers skydiving with Grover. When he finds his mom in the Underworld.
• 5. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt When is an example of trials in Percy Jackson? When he eats lunch at the cafe. When he leaves Camp Half-Blood. When he rides the train.  When he has to outsmart Procrustes in the water-bed store.
• 6. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt When does Percy approach something that is nearing his end? When he at the doors of Hades himself. When he gets to Vagas. Where he beat his mile time of 6:50. When he plays CTF (Capture the Flag).
• 7. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What is an example of a crisis in Lightnimng Thief Thief? When he becomes friends with Grover. When he gets to Camp Half-Blood. Where he alsmost gets killed by Ares. When Annebeth gets friend-zoned by Luke.
• 8. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What is one example of a tresure in Lightning Thief? The Flying Shoes The Poodle The Master Bolt Luke's Ego
• 9. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What is an example of a result in Lightning Thief? When he Halloween party . When the war stops between Zeus and Poseidon. When Jason Bourne enters the book. When Percy is sent to Camp Half-Blood.
• 10. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt Where does Percy return to after his quest. The Underworld. Narnia The Lotus Casino. Camp Half-Blood.
• 11. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt How do you think Percy Jackson handled his "New Life"? Not well. Very, very, very bad. He handled it alright. Who's Percy Jackson?
• 12. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What was the "Resolution" at the end of the book. Percy finds out who his father is and his life turns out for the better. "Smelly Gabe" calls the police, and ercy gets thrown in jail. Percy dies in the Underworld and his friends become very sad. Percy was never a demigod and was eaten by the Minotuar because he couldn't enter the camp.
• 13. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt For the "Status Quo: Upgrade" how do you think the next book will end up. There will not be a next book. Someone will steal the bolt again. Percy will die in the next book. Luke will be the main problem in the next book.

Explore all questions with a free account

Continue with email

Continue with phone