original hero's journey

The Art of Narrative

Learn to write.

A Complete Guide to The Hero’s Journey (or The Monomyth)

Learn how to use the 12 steps of the Hero’s Journey to structure plot, develop characters, and write riveting stories that will keep readers engaged!

Before I start this post I would like to acknowledged the tragedy that occurred in my country this past month. George Floyd, an innocent man, was murdered by a police officer while three other officers witnessed that murder and remained silent.

To remain silent, in the face of injustice, violen ce, and murder is to be complicit . I acknowledge that as a white man I have benefited from a centuries old system of privilege and abuse against black people, women, American Indians, immigrants, and many, many more.

This systemic abuse is what lead to the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Treyvon Martin, Philando Castile, Freddie Gray, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice and many more. Too many.

Whether I like it or not I’ve been complicit in this injustice. We can’t afford to be silent anymore. If you’re disturbed by the violence we’ve wit nessed over, and over again please vote this November, hold your local governments accountable, peacefully protest, and listen. Hopefully, together we can bring positive change. And, together, we can heal .

In this post, we’ll go over the stages of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth. We’ll talk about how to use it to structure your story. You’ll also find some guided questions for each section of the Hero’s Journey. These questions are designed to help guide your thinking during the writing process. Finally, we’ll go through an example of the Hero’s Journey from 1997’s Men In Black.  

Down at the bottom, we’ll go over reasons you shouldn’t rely on the Monomyth. And we’ll talk about a few alternatives for you to consider if the Hero’s Journey isn’t right for your story.  

But, before we do all that let’s answer the obvious question- 

What is the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey was first described by Joseph Campbell. Campbell was an American professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College. He wrote about the Hero’s Journey in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces . More than a guide, this book was a study on the fundamental structure of myths throughout history. 

Through his study, Campbell identified seventeen stages that make up what he called the Monomyth or Hero’s Journey. We’ll go over these stages in the next section. Here’s how Campbell describes the Monomyth in his book:

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” 

Something important to note is that the Monomyth was not conceived as a tool for writers to develop a plot. Rather, Campbell identified it as a narrative pattern that was common in mythology. 

George Lucas used Campbell’s Monomyth to structure his original Star Wars film. Thanks to Star Wars ’ success, filmmakers have adopted the Hero’s Journey as a common plot structure in movies. 

We see it in films like The Matrix , Spider-man , The Lion King , and many more. But, keep in mind, this is not the only way to structure a story. We’ll talk about some alternatives at the end of this post. 

With that out of the way, let’s go over the twelve stages of the Hero’s Journey, or Monomyth. We’ll use the original Men In Black film as an example (because why not?). And, we’ll look at some questions to help guide your thinking, as a writer, at each stage. 

Quick note – The original Hero’s Journey is seventeen stages. But, Christopher Vogler, an executive working for Disney, condensed Campbell’s work. Vogler’s version has twelve stages, and it’s the version we’re talking about today. Vogler wrote a guide to use the Monomyth and I’ll link to it at the bottom.)

The 12 Stages of The Hero’s Journey 

The ordinary world .

This is where the hero’s story begins. We meet our hero in a down-to-earth, or humble setting. We establish the hero as an ordinary citizen in this world, not necessarily “special” in any way. 

Think exposition . 

We get to know our hero at this stage of the story. We learn about the hero’s life, struggles, inner or outer demons. This an opportunity for readers to identify with the hero. A good idea since the story will be told from the hero’s perspective. 

Read more about perspective and POV here.

In Men In Black, we meet our hero, James, who will become Agent J, chasing someone down the streets of a large city. The story reveals some important details through the action of the plo t. Let’s go over these details and how they’re shown through action. 

Agent J’s job: He’s a cop. We know this because he’s chasing a criminal. He waves a badge and yells, “NYPD! Stop!” 

The setting: The line “NYPD!” tells us that J is a New York City cop. The chase sequence also culminates on the roof of the Guggenheim Museum. Another clue to the setting. 

J’s Personality: J is a dedicated cop. We know this because of his relentless pursuit of the suspect he’s chasing. J is also brave. He jumps off a bridge onto a moving bus. He also chases a man after witnessing him climb vertically, several stories, up a wall. This is an inhuman feat that would have most people noping out of there. J continues his pursuit, though. 

Guided Questions

• What is your story’s ordinary world setting? 
• How is this ordinary world different from the special world that your hero will enter later in the story? 
• What action in this story will reveal the setting? 
• Describe your hero and their personality. 
• What action in the story will reveal details about your hero? 

The Call of Adventure

The Call of Adventure is an event in the story that forces the hero to take action. The hero will move out of their comfort zone, aka the ordinary world. Does this sound familiar? It should, because, in practice, The Call of Adventure is an Inciting Event. 

Read more about Inciting Events here. 

The Call of Adventure can take many forms. It can mean a literal call like one character asking another to go with them on a journey or to help solve a problem. It can also be an event in the story that forces the character to act. 

The Call of Adventure can include things like the arrival of a new character, a violent act of nature, or a traumatizing event. The Call can also be a series of events like what we see in our example from Men In Black.  

The first Call of Adventure comes from the alien that Agent J chases to the roof of the Guggenheim. Before leaping from the roof, the alien says to J, “Your world’s going to end.” This pique’s the hero’s interest and hints at future conflict. 

The second Call of Adventure comes after Agent K shows up to question J about the alien. K wipes J’s memory after the interaction, but he gives J a card with an address and a time. At this point, J has no idea what’s happened. All he knows is that K has asked him to show up at a specific place the next morning. 

The final and most important Call comes after K has revealed the truth to J while the two sit on a park bench together. Agent K tells J that aliens exist. K reveals that there is a secret organization that controls alien activity on Earth. And the Call- Agent K wants J to come to work for this organization.  

• What event (or events) happen to incite your character to act? 
• How are these events disruptive to your character’s life? 
• What aspects of your story’s special world will be revealed and how? (think action) 
• What other characters will you introduce as part of this special world? 

Refusal of the Call

This is an important stage in the Monomyth. It communicates with the audience the risks that come with Call to Adventure. Every Hero’s Journey should include risks to the main characters and a conflict. This is the stage where your hero contemplates those risks.  They will be tempted to remain in the safety of the ordinary world. 

In Men in Black, the Refusal of the Call is subtle. It consists of a single scene. Agent K offers J membership to the Men In Black. With that comes a life of secret knowledge and adventure. But, J will sever all ties to his former life. No one anywhere will ever know that J existed. Agent K tells J that he has until sunrise to make his decision.

J does not immediately say, “I’m in,” or “When’s our first mission.” Instead, he sits on the park bench all night contemplating his decision. In this scene, the audience understands that this is not an easy choice for him. Again, this is an excellent use of action to demonstrate a plot point. 

It’s also important to note that J only asks K one question before he makes his decision, “is it worth it?” K responds that it is, but only, “if you’re strong enough.” This line of dialogue becomes one of two dramatic questions in the movie. Is J strong enough to be a man in black? 

• What will your character have to sacrifice to answer the call of adventure? 
• What fears does your character have about leaving the ordinary world? 
• What risks or dangers await them in the special world? 

Meeting the Mentor 

At this point in the story, the hero is seeking wisdom after initially refusing the call of adventure. The mentor fulfills this need for your hero. 

The mentor is usually a character who has been to the special world and knows how to navigate it. Mentor’s provides your hero with tools and resources to aid them in their journey. It’s important to note that the mentor doesn’t always have to be a character. The mentor could be a guide, map, or sacred texts. 

If you’ve seen Men In Black then you can guess who acts as J’s mentor. Agent K, who recruited J, steps into the mentor role once J accepts the call to adventure. 

Agent K gives J a tour of the MIB headquarters. He introduces him to key characters and explains to him how the special world of the MIB works. Agent K also gives J his signature weapon, the Noisy Cricket. 

• Who is your hero’s mentor? 
• How will your character find and encounter with their mentor? 
• What tools and resources will your mentor provide? 
• Why/how does your mentor know the special world? 

Crossing the Threshold 

This is the point where your hero finally crosses over from the ordinary world into the special one. At this point, there is no turning back for your hero. 

Your hero may not cross into the special world on their own. Or, they may need a dramatic event that forces them to act.

At this point, you’ll want to establish the dramatic question of your story. This is the question will your reader wants to answer by the end of your story. A dramatic question is what will keep your audience reading. 

Once J decides to commit to the MIB Agent K starts the process of deleting J’s identity. The filmmakers do a great job communicating the drastic nature of J’s decision. This is done through, again, action and an effective voice-over. J’s social security number is deleted, and his fingerprints are burned off. He dons a nondescript black suit, sunglasses, and a sick-ass Hamilton watch . 

This scene is immediately followed by a threatening message sent by aliens called the Arquillians. They tell the MIB they will destroy the Earth unless J and K can deliver a galaxy. The only problem is no one knows what the galaxy is. So, we get our story question. Can J and K find and deliver the MacGuffin before the Earth is destroyed? 

Read more about MacGuffins here.

• What event will push your hero into the special world? 
• Once they enter the special world, what keeps them from turning back?
• What is the dramatic question you will introduce?
• How will your hero’s life change once they’ve entered the special world?

Tests, Allies, Enemies

This is stage is exactly what it sounds like. Once they’ve entered the special world, your hero will be tested. They will learn the rules of this new world. Your hero’s mentor may have to further teach your hero. 

The hero will also begin collecting allies. Characters whose goals align with those of your hero’s. People who will help your hero achieve their goal. These characters may even join your hero on their quest. 

And this is also the point where your hero’s enemy will reveal themselves. Now, you’ve may have hinted at, or even introduced the villain in the earlier stages. But, this is where the audience discovers how much of a threat this villain is to your hero. 

Read more about creating villains here. 

J and K arrive at the city morgue to investigate the body of a slain member of Arquillian royalty. While there, J encounters the villain of the film. He is lured into a standoff with Edgar. Edgar isn’t Edgar. He’s a 10 foot tall, alien cockroach wearing an “Edgar suit.” 

J doesn’t know that yet, though. 

Edgar has also taken a hostage. He threatens the life of Dr. Laurel Weaver who has discovered the truth about aliens living on Earth. Dr. Weaver becomes an ally of J’s as he continues his search for the Arquillian’s galaxy. 

J is faced with a new test as well. Just before he dies, the Arquillian alien tells J that the galaxy is on Orion’s Belt. J must discover the meaning behind this cryptic message if he hopes to save Earth. 

• Who is the villain of your story, and what is their goal?
• Who are your hero’s allies?
• How will your hero meet them? And, How do everyone’s goals align? 
• How will your hero be tested? Through battle? A puzzle? An emotional trauma? 

Approach to the Inmost Cave

The inmost cave is the path towards the central conflict of your story. In this section, your hero is preparing for battle. They may be regrouping with allies, going over important information, or taking a needed rest. This is also a part of the story where you may want to inject some humor. 

The approach is also a moment for your audience to regroup. This is an important aspect of pacing. A fast-paced story can be very exciting for the audience, but at some point, the writer needs to tap the breaks. 

This approach section gives your audience time to process the plot and consider the stakes of your conflict. This is also a good time to introduce a ticking clock, and it’s perfect for character development. 

In Men, In Black the Approach the Inmost Cave involves an interview with a character called Frank the Pug. Frank is a Pug breed of dog. He’s an alien in disguise. 

Frank knows important details about the conflict between the Arquillians and Edgar. This is one of the funnier scenes in an overall funny film. 

Read more about alliteration here… jk. 

Frank also gives J a vital clue to determine the location of the Arquillian’s galaxy. They also discover that the galaxy is an energy source and not an actual galaxy. 

Finally, we have the arrival of the Arquillian battleship come to destroy Earth. They give the MIB a warning. If the galaxy is not returned in one hour the will fire on the planet. So, we have a literal ticking clock. 

• Where and how will your hero slow down and regroup? 
• What information or resources will they need to go into the final battle? 
• How can you introduce some humor or character development into this section? 
• What kind of “ticking clock” will you introduce to increase the stakes of your final act? 

The Ordeal 

The Ordeal is about one thing, and that’s death. Your hero must go through a life-altering challenge. This will be a conflict where the hero faces their greatest fears. 

It’s essential that your audience feels as if the hero is really in danger. Make the audience question whether the hero will make it out alive. But, your story’s stakes may not be life or death, such as in a comedy or romance. 

In that case the death your character experiences will be symbolic. And, your audience will believe that there’s a chance the hero won’t achieve their goal. 

Through the ordeal, your hero will experience death whether that be real or symbolic. With this death, the hero will be reborn with greater powers or insight. Overall, the ordeal should be the point in which your character hits rock bottom. 

The Ordeal in Men In Black comes the moment when J and K confront Edgar at the site of the World’s Fair. In the confrontation with Edgar, K is eaten alive by Edgar. At this moment J is left alone to confront death. The audience is left to wonder if J can defeat Edgar on his own. 

Guided Questions 

• What death will your hero confront? 
• What does “rock bottom” mean for your character? 
• How will your hero be changed on the other side of this death event? 

Reward or Seizing the Sword

At this point in the story, your hero will earn some tangible treasure for all their trouble. This can be a physical treasure. In the context of the monomyth, this is often referred to as the elixir or sword. 

However, the reward can be inwardly focused. Your hero might discover hidden knowledge or insight that helps them vanquish their foe. Or, your hero can find their confidence or some self-actualization. This reward, whatever it is, is the thing that they will take with them. It is what they earn from all their hard-fought struggles. 

Once K is eaten J seems to be on his own with a massive alien cockroach. This is a pretty bad spot for the rookie agent. What’s worse is the Arquillian clock is still ticking. Edgar, the cockroach, is about to escape Earth, with the galaxy, sealing the planet’s fate. 

All seems lost until J claims his reward. In this case, that reward comes in the form of an insight J has about Edgar. Being a giant cockroach, J realizes that Edgar may have a weakness for his Earth-bound counterparts. So, J kicks out a dumpster and starts to smash all the scurrying bugs under his foot. 

J guesses correctly, and Edgar is momentarily distracted by J’s actions. Edgar climbs down from his ship to confront J. Agent K, who is still alive in Edgar’s stomach, can activate a gun, and blow Edgar in two.  J’s reward is the knowledge that he is no longer a rookie, and he is strong enough for this job. J also captures a physical treasure. After Edgar has exploded, J finds the galaxy which Edgar had swallowed earlier in the film. In this scene, both dramatic questions are answered. The MIB can save the world. And, J is strong enough for the MIB.  

• What reward will your hero win?
• A physical treasure, hidden knowledge, inner wisdom, or all of the above? 

The Road Back 

At this point, your hero has had some success in their quest and is close to returning to the ordinary world. Your hero has experienced a change from their time in the special world. This change might make your hero’s return difficult. Similar to when your hero crossed the threshold, your hero may need an event that forces them to return. 

The road back must be a dramatic turning point that heightens stakes and changes the direction of your story. This event will also re-establish the dramatic question of your story. This act may present a final challenge for your hero before they can return home. 

In Men In Black, the road backstage gets a little tricky. The film establishes that when J crosses the threshold he is not able to go back to the ordinary world. His entire identity is erased. Having J go back to his life as a detective would also undo his character growth and leave the audience feeling cheated. Luckily, the filmmakers work around this by having K return to the ordinary world rather than J. 

After Edgar is defeated, K tells J that he is retiring from the MIB and that J will step in as K’s replacement. The movie establishes early that agents can retire, but only after having their memory wiped. So, K asks J to wipe his memory so that he can return to a normal life. Once again, J has to grapple with the question of whether he is strong enough for this job. Can he bring himself to wipe K’s memory and lose his mentor forever? Can he fill K’s shoes as an MIB agent? 

• How will your hero have to recommit to their journey? 
• What event will push your hero through their final test? 
• What final test will your hero face before they return to the ordinary world? 

Resurrection 

This is the final act of your story. The hero will have one last glorious encounter with the forces that are set against them. This is the culminating event for your hero. Everything that has happened to your hero has prepared them for this moment. 

This can also be thought of as a rebirth for your hero. A moment when they shed all the things that have held them back throughout the story. The resurrection is when your hero applies all the things they’ve learned through their journey. 

The final moment can be a physical battle, or again, it can be metaphorical. This is also a moment when allies return to lend a last-minute hand. But, as with any ending of a story, you need to make sure your hero is the one who saves the day. 

So, here’s where things start to get a little clumsy. There are a couple of moments that could be a resurrection for our hero J. It could be the moment he faces off with Edgar. This is right before Edgar is killed. But, it’s K that pulls the trigger and kills Edgar. Based on our explanation J needs to be the one who saves the day. Maybe by stalling for time J is the one responsible for saving the day? It’s hard to say what the filmmakers’ intention was here. 

The second moment that could represent a resurrection for J might be when he wipes K’s memory. It is the final dramatic hurdle that J faces before he can become a true Man in Black. But, this moment doesn’t resolve the conflict of the film. 

Notice that the Hero’s Journey framework isn’t always followed to the letter by all storytellers. We’ll get back to this point at the end of the article. 

• What final challenge will your hero face? 
• How will your hero use the skills they’ve used to overcome their last challenge?
• How will your hero’s allies help save the day?  

Return with the Elixir

The ending of your story. Your hero returns to the ordinary world, but this time they carry with them the rewards earned during their journey. They may share these rewards with others who inhabit the ordinary world. But most important, is that you show that your hero has changed for the better. 

The elixir represents whatever your hero gained on their journey. Remember, the elixir can be an actual physical reward like a treasure. But, the elixir can also be a metaphorical prize like knowledge or a feeling of fulfillment.  This is a moment where your hero will return some sort of balance to the ordinary world. 

Be sure to show that the journey has had a permanent effect on your hero. 

In the final scene of the movie, we see that J has taken on a mentor role for Dr. Weaver, an MIB recruit now. He has physically changed- his clothes are more representative of his personality. This physical transformation is meant to show that J has fully embraced his new life and journey. No longer a rookie, J has stepped into his mentor, K’s, role. 

• How will you show that your character has changed from their journey? 
• What reward will they bring back to the ordinary world? 
• In what way will they change the ordinary world when they return? 

Should I Use the Hero’s Journey for My Story? 

This is a question you should ask yourself before embarking on your journey. The Monomyth works well as a framework. This is pretty obvious when you realize how many films have used it as a plotting device. 

But there’s a downside to the popularity of the Monomyth. And that’s that audiences are very familiar with the beats of this kind of story. Sure, they may not be able to describe each of the twelve sections in detail. But, audiences know, intuitively, what is going to happen in these stories. At the very least, audiences, or readers, know how these stories are going to end. 

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If your story is exciting, well-paced, and the stakes are high, people aren’t going to mind some predictability. But, if you want to shock your readers- 

(And if you’re interested in how to shock readers with a plot twist, click here. )

this might not be the best story structure. And, despite how popular it is, the hero’s journey ain’t the only game in town when it comes to story structure. And, you can always take artistic liberty with the Hero’s Journey. The fact that audiences are expecting certain beats means you have an opportunity to subvert expectations. 

You can skip parts of the hero’s journey if they don’t fit your plot. With my example, Men In Black it was difficult to fit the story neatly into the hero’s journey framework. This is because aspects of the movie, like the fact that it’s a buddy comedy, don’t always jive with a hero’s journey. Agent K has an important character arch, and so he ends up killing the villain rather than J. But, K’s arch isn’t at all a hero’s journey. 

The point is, don’t feel locked in by any single structure. Allow yourself some freedom to tell your story. If there’s no purpose to a resurrection stage in your story then skip it! No one is going to deduct your points. 

With that said, here are a few resources on the Hero’s Journey, and some alternate plot structures you’ll want to check out! 

This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links

Further Reading on Plot Structure and the Hero’s Journey

If you’d like to learn more about the Hero’s Journey, or Monomyth, why not go straight to the source? The Hero With 1000 Faces is a collection of work written by Joseph Campbell. His version of the hero’s journey has 17 stages. This is less of a writing manual and more of an exploration of the evolution of myth and storytelling through the ages. 

The Seven Basic Plots , by Christopher Booker, is another academic study of storytelling by Christopher Booker. Booker identifies seven basic plots that all stories fit into. They are: 

• Overcoming the Monster
• Rags to Riches
• Voyage and Return

The Snowflake Method is a teaching tool designed by Randy Ingermanson that will take you through a step-by-step process of writing a novel. The Snowflake Method boils down the novel-writing process six-step process. You will start with a single sentence and with each step you build on that sentence until you have a full-fledged novel! If you’re love processes then pick up a copy of this book today.  

In The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, Hollywood consultant, Christopher Vogler teaches writers how to use the Hero’s Journey to write riveting stories.

Resources: 

Wikipedia- Joseph Campbell

Wikipedia- Hero With 1000 Faces

Published by John

View all posts by John

6 comments on “A Complete Guide to The Hero’s Journey (or The Monomyth)”

• Pingback: How to Create Stories with the Three-Act Structure - The Art of Narrative
• Pingback: Kishōtenketsu: Exploring The Four Act Story Structure - The Art of Narrative
• Pingback: A Definitive Guide to the Seven-Point Story Structure - The Art of Narrative
• Pingback: What are Character Archetypes? 25 Character Archetypes Explained - The Art of Narrative
• Pingback: How to use the 27 Chapter Plot Structure - The Art of Narrative

I don’t understand the use of all those pictures/graphics you threw in as I was reading. They were extremely distracting and seriously detracted from whatever message you were trying to convey.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Copy and paste this code to display the image on your site

Discover more from The Art of Narrative

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

• 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

Holiday Savings

cui:common.components.upgradeModal.offerHeader_undefined

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

Table of Contents

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

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

Challenge . Growth . Triumph .

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

What is the Hero’s Journey?

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

What are the Origins of the Hero’s Journey?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twelve Steps of the Hero’s Journey

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

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

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

Ye be warned: Spoilers ahead!

Act One: Departure

Step 1. the ordinary world.

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

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

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

Step 2. The Call to Adventure

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

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

Step 3. Refusal of the Call

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

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

Step 4. Meeting the Mentor

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

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

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

Act Two: Initiation

Step 5. crossing the threshold.

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

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

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

The game is afoot.

Step 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

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

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

Step 7. Approach the Innermost Cave

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

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

Step 8. The Ordeal

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

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

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

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

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

Step 9. Reward

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

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

Act Three: Return

Step 10. the road back.

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

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

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

Step 11. Resurrection

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

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

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

Step 12. Return With the Elixir

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

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

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

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

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

Variations of the Hero's Journey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ten-Step Hero's Journey

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

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

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

Twelve-Step Hero's Journey: Version Two

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

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

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

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

Seventeen-Step Hero's Journey

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

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

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

The Eight Hero’s Journey Archetypes

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

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

1. The Hero

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

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

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

2. The Mentor

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

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

3. The Ally

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

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

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

4. The Herald

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

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

5. The Trickster

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

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

6. The Shapeshifter

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

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

7. The Guardian

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

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

8. The Shadow

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

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

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

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

Stories that Use the Hero’s Journey

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

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

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

Will the Hero's Journey Work For You?

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

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

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

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

Hero's Journey Campfire Template

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

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

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

Lessons From the Hero’s Journey

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

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

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

• 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

Storyteller OS

Superdrive your creativity with some free templates and guides!

The Hero’s Journey

• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 10 August 2023
• Cite this living reference work entry

• James K. Beggan 4  

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

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Beggan, J.K. 2019. On the downside of heroism: Grey zone limitations on the value of social and physical risk heroism. Heroism Science 4 (2).

Google Scholar  

———. 2020. Monomyth or monogamyth? Polyamory’s conceptual challenges to the hero’s journey. Heroism Science 5 (2).

Campbell, J. 1949/2008. The hero with a thousand faces 3 Novato, CA: New World Library.

Franco, Z.E., K. Blau, P.G. Zimbardo, and P. G. 2011. Heroism: A conceptual analysis and differentiation between heroic action and altruism. Review of General Psychology 15 (2): 99–113.

Article   Google Scholar  

Frankel, V.E. 2010. From girl to goddess: The heroine’s journey through myth and legend . Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc.

Heiner, E.K. 2019. Fostering heroism in fourth-and fifth-grade students. Journal of Humanistic Psychology 59 (4): 596–616.

Kinsella, E.L., S. Hughes, S. Lemon, N. Stonebridge, and R.C. Sumner. 2022. We shouldn’t waste a good crisis: The lived experience of working on the frontline through the first surge (and beyond) of COVID-19 in the UK and Ireland. Psychology & Health 37 (2): 151–177.

Lawson, G. 2005. The hero's journey as a developmental metaphor in counseling. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development 44 (2): 134–144.

Pearson, C., and K. Pope. 1981. The female hero in American and British literature . New York, NY: R. R. Bowker Company.

Richardson, B.K., and J. McGlynn. 2021. Constructing the heroic whistleblower: A social scientific approach. Heroism Science 6 (2).

Rodriguez-Morales, L. 2019. A hero’s journey: becoming and transcendence in addiction recovery. Journal of Psychological Therapies 4 (2): 155–166.

Zimbardo, P. G., Z. Franco, and S. T. Allison. 2017. A conference on the educational transformation of today’s emerging adults into tomorrow’s extraordinary heroes.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Sociology, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA

James K. Beggan

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James K. Beggan .

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.

Beggan, J.K. (2023). The Hero’s Journey. In: Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_504-1

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17125-3_504-1

Received : 02 July 2023

Accepted : 03 July 2023

Published : 10 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

The Twelve Labors of Hercules: A Hero's Journey

Ever wondered about the ins and outs of Hercules' epic journey? Well, let's chat about it. We're going to break down his legendary Twelve Labors and see how they match up with the famous hero's journey concept – you know, the one outlined by scholar Joseph Campbell.

We're talking about the daring start, the tough challenges, and finally, the victorious return. We'll see how our hero Hercules, a real old-school hero, handles his unique transformation journey. And believe me, it's not a walk in the park – we're talking about battling monsters, dealing with tricks, and yes, even some meddling from the gods.

As we dig into this side-by-side analysis, you'll start to see the timeless wisdom tucked away in these old Greek myths. And who knows? You might even find yourself more intrigued by Hercules' extraordinary story.

Understanding Hercules' Ordinary World

Let's dive in and better understand Hercules' everyday life. You see, Hercules was highly respected in his hometown of Thebes. He led a privileged life, widely admired by all. Yet, his life wasn't all sunshine and roses, as he faced the immense challenge of confronting King Erginus, the Minyans' ruler. Here, Hercules' bravery truly shines as he steps up against the tyrant king, earning the Thebans' love even more.

Let's not forget, Hercules was married to Megara, Erginus' daughter, which only increased his standing in society. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing. His life was filled with turmoil, largely thanks to Hera's constant interference. Hercules, despite his heroic image, had his fair share of trials and tribulations. It goes to show, even heroes aren't exempt from life's struggles.

In his search for peace, Hercules turns to the Oracle of Delphi, leading him down a path of redemption. This point is a game-changer, signaling the start of his transformative journey. When we look at Hercules' everyday world, we see a mix of privilege and hardship. It's an enlightening lesson for us, as Hercules' Heroes, showing us that our struggles are part and parcel of our journeys, much like they were for Hercules.

The Call and Refusal: Hercules' Inner Battle

Imagine Hercules, our legendary hero, trying to navigate his regular, chaotic day-to-day life, when suddenly he's faced with a tough decision. He's tasked with completing the twelve labors – a monumental challenge that scares him to his core. This stage of his journey, known as 'The Call and Refusal', really shows us his human side, showcasing his fears and vulnerabilities.

Think about it like this – Hercules' internal struggle is something every hero goes through. The adventure calling out to them is daunting enough, but it's saying "no" that really puts their courage to the test. As for Hercules, the twelve labors are more than just tasks, they symbolize a chance to transcend his normal life. He's scared, so his first reaction is to deny the call. But in a weird twist, it's this rejection that nudges him to take that first step.

Hercules' Allies, Enemies, and Tests

Hercules, the famed hero of ancient lore, sets out on an extraordinary adventure filled with allies and foes, each providing unique challenges that shape him into the hero he is destined to be. His friends, including divine entities like Athena and ordinary humans like Iolaus, offer him priceless advice, aid, and moral encouragement. They embody the positive traits of Hercules' persona: his bravery, determination, and ability to form lasting friendships.

On the other hand, Hercules also has to confront formidable foes, such as the spiteful Hera and the terrifying Nemean lion. These foes symbolize the darker sides of his personality, like his unmanageable anger and impulsive behavior. They act as trials forcing Hercules to confront and conquer his inner weaknesses.

The trials Hercules goes through are more than just physical confrontations. They're also mental and moral dilemmas. He must tackle tasks that require more than just raw power. They demand wisdom, resilience, and a rock-solid moral compass. These trials serve to shape him into a more well-rounded individual, propelling him along his heroic journey. Through Hercules' friends, foes, and trials, we see his transition from a volatile hero into a paragon of power and virtue.

The Ordeal and Reward: Hercules' Transformation

Let's dive deep into the life-changing journey of Hercules, where he faced ordeals that pushed him to his limits and rewards that reshaped his entire existence. The hero's journey is often a rollercoaster ride, and Hercules' was no exception. His mission? To make up for his past by completing twelve challenging tasks.

• He had to get his hands on the golden apples of the Hesperides. This wasn't a simple task – it demanded both physical strength and sharp wit.
• Capturing Cerberus from Hades was also on his list, which meant a risky trip into the underworld itself.
• These trials were part of Hercules' attempt to make amends for the devastating mistake of killing his own children.
• His transformation and rebirth into an immortal symbolize a deep, spiritual healing.
• At last, Hercules ascended to Mount Olympus, marking his growth into a true hero and gaining spiritual liberation.

These tasks are a testament to Hercules' transformation. He evolved from a tormented soul, burdened by his past, to a heroic figure akin to a god, emphasizing the transformative power of such a journey. His tale teaches us a valuable lesson – it's not just the destination that matters, but the journey and the change that comes with it.

Hercules' Resurrection and Return

So, let's talk about the last chapter in Hercules' incredible tale. What we observe here is Hercules' transformation from mortal to divine, a powerful symbol of his heroic journey's completion and the ultimate proof of his redemption and rebirth. After finishing his twelve labors, Hercules makes amends for his past mistakes and gains the ability to live forever, essentially getting a second chance at life as an eternal hero.

This rebirth and return are meaningful in so many ways. They mark his spiritual liberation, his healing, and the wrap-up of his heroic journey. This journey changes him in many ways, not just physically but also spiritually. When Zeus gives him the gift of immortality, it's like a fresh start and a massive change in his journey.

Now, here's a cool twist in the story when we look at the Disney version versus the original Greek mythology . In Disney's take, Hercules decides to go back to his normal, mortal life with Megara. But in the original Greek story, instead of settling down, he chooses to keep wandering the Earth like a hero, which presents an interesting contradiction. He's a hero, but he's also forever tied to his human origins. This conflict reminds us of how complex the hero's journey can be, full of challenges, victories, and ultimately, a rise to a higher level.

Frequently Asked Questions How Is Hercules a Hero's Journey?

So, you're curious about Hercules and his legendary journey? It's a fascinating story that truly embodies the essence of a hero's quest. Here's the scoop: Hercules begins his tale as a well-regarded citizen of Thebes. But then, he's faced with a series of daunting challenges, the most memorable of which are his notorious twelve labors. After overcoming these hardships, his story reaches an inspiring conclusion – Hercules attains not just salvation, but also ascends to a divine stature. It's a quintessential tale of a rise from humble beginnings to the heights of Olympus.

What Are the 12 Steps in a Hero's Journey?

Let's chat about the 12 steps that typically define a hero's journey. It all starts in an ordinary world, where our hero lives a normal life. Suddenly, an adventure beckons, but initially, the hero is hesitant to accept the challenge. That's when a mentor steps in, offering guidance and support. With newfound courage, the hero crosses the threshold into a world of trials and challenges.

These tests prepare the hero for the impending ordeal, a major conflict that pushes them to their limits. After overcoming this difficult situation, the hero receives a reward. However, they must then embark on the road back home, often facing additional trials.

In a moment of resurrection, the hero experiences a significant transformation, leading to the final step – returning home, but now with a newfound wisdom or power, often symbolized by an elixir. This narrative arc is prevalent in many of the stories we love and relate to. It's a timeless formula that continues to resonate with audiences across the globe.

What Is the Point of the 12 Labors of Hercules?

You know, when I think about Hercules and his famous 12 labors, it strikes me as a classic story of bouncing back and personal development. It's like a journey, right? Each task he tackles is a hurdle he has to overcome, showing his inner strength and grit. And in the end, it's all about the victory of goodness over the wrong. Pretty cool, huh?

What Are the 12 Steps to Being a Hero?

From my perspective, if you want to step into the shoes of a hero, there's a 12-step process you need to go through. Start by setting out on an exhilarating journey. You're bound to come across obstacles along the way. Tackle them head-on, learn from them, and use that knowledge to your advantage. The aim is to come back from your expedition a stronger person. It's all about embracing change and growing as an individual.

• Story Writing Guides

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

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

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

• What is the hero's journey?

Stage 1: The Ordinary World

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

• Free Hero's Journey Templates

What is the hero’s journey?

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

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

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

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

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

12 Hero’s Journey Stages

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free Hero’s Journey Templates

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

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

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

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

Related Posts

Comments loading...

The Hero’s Journey (Explained in 4 Minutes)

What is the hero’s journey? How does this universal story template apply to your life? And how can you use it to tell great stories, be it as a creative or at the dinner table?

Hi! My name is Nik . I’m a self-taught writer from Germany with nine years of experience. I’ve used the hero’s journey and various other storytelling frameworks in many of my essays. Today, I’ll teach you everything you need to know about this concept that’s both important for creativity and useful in life — and I’ll try to do it in just about 4 minutes!

Table of Contents

What Is “The Hero’s Journey?”

Who came up with this idea, what does the hero’s journey look like in practice, how can the hero’s journey help me be the hero of my own life, where can you learn more about the hero’s journey.

The hero’s journey is a circular sequence of events underlying almost any story or adventure. It describes the path a protagonist must take after they set out to accomplish some goal.

The original term for the hero’s journey was “the monomyth.” Could a singular (mono) explanation lie behind any story (myth), from Christianity to Buddhism to the Gilgamesh epic to Harry Potter ? The man behind the idea, Joseph Campbell, thought so. He broke that explanation down into 3 acts and 17 steps . In his own words:

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

The 3 acts are:

• Departure : The hero lives in the status quo of her ordinary world. She receives a call to adventure but hesitates to accept it.
• Initiation : With some help, the hero finally crosses into the special world, where trials compound into a big crisis. The hero must grow as a human being to survive the ordeal and gain a reward.
• Return : With ease or with difficulty, the hero returns to her ordinary world, forever changed. A new status quo arrives, and the hero shares her reward, be it knowledge or treasure, with others.

The 17 stages are:

• The Call to Adventure
• Refusal of the Call
• Supernatural Aid
• The Crossing of the First Threshold
• Belly of the Whale
• The Road of Trials
• The Meeting with the Goddess
• Woman as the Temptress
• Atonement with the Father
• The Ultimate Boon
• Refusal of the Return
• The Magic Flight
• Rescue from Without
• The Crossing of the Return Threshold
• Master of the Two Worlds
• Freedom to Live

Here’s a graphic from the excellent documentary Finding Joe that shows most of the original stages:

The earliest academic studies of heroes and myths go back to the late 19th century, but the man who really put this idea on the map was Joseph Campbell . Campbell was a writer and professor, and he compared myths across many different cultures, often in the context of religion.

In 1949, Campbell published his findings, including his original 3-act, 17-part structure in a book called The Hero With a Thousand Faces . I don’t know how popular the book was upon release, but after George Lucas admitted to being inspired by Campbell’s work when making Star Wars (1977), it took off. It has now sold well over a million copies.

Campbell taught literature at the Sarah Lawrence College in New York for 38 years. He also published several other books about the monomyth and spread his ideas through interviews, documentaries, and other media. He died in 1987 at 83 years old, but with the hero’s journey, he left a profound legacy.

Today, more than 70 years after its first appearance, the hero’s journey comes in countless variations and interpretations. When modern creatives rely on the concept to write books and make movies, they most commonly use a condensed 12-step version. Christopher Vogler, a Hollywood screenwriter working at Disney, first shared it in a company memo in 1985 . Here it is:

• The Ordinary World
• Meeting with the Mentor
• Crossing the First Threshold
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies
• Approach to the Innermost Cave
• The Road Back
• The Resurrection
• Return with the Elixir

Here’s a picture from a TED-Ed video with another, slightly different but similar 12-step version:

To illustrate that the template applies to almost any story, people most commonly use movies, since they come with visuals. However, it holds true for books, poems, music videos, and talks as well — at least the good ones. Here’s a breakdown for the first Iron Man movie :

• The Ordinary World: Tony Stark sells weapons to whoever will pay him the most.
• The Call to Adventure: Tony is hurt and kidnapped by terrorists using his weapons.
• Refusal of the Call: Tony feels paralyzed and is about to just give up and die.
• Meeting with the Mentor: Yinsen, a fellow captive, helps him get his drive back. 
• Crossing the First Threshold: Instead of the missile the terrorists asked for, Tony builds the first version of his Iron Man suit and uses it to escape.
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies: After his initial success, Tony keeps refining the suit and using it for good. His business partner, however, wants to commercialize and sell it.
• Approach to the Innermost Cave: When Tony finds out the partner was behind his kidnapping and built a suit of his own, he confronts him.
• The Ordeal: The two of them fight, and Tony barely wins.
• Reward: Stark’s tech, life, and CEO post are saved.
• The Road Back: Tony must decide on a new path for himself and his company. Will he go back to making weapons or keep working on and moonlighting as Iron Man?
• The Resurrection: Tony says “I am Iron Man” at a press conference, reaffirming his new identity.
• Return with the Elixir: Iron Man is now an official superhero, ready to protect others at any time.

Here are some more hero’s journey analyses of popular stories:

• Harry Potter
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Hunger Games
• A supercut showing the hero’s journey in dozens of movies

If you’re a writer, filmmaker, or creative of any kind, the relevance of the hero’s journey is obvious. If you want to tell compelling stories that move people, you should know this structure. Even if you intend to deviate from it, it’s a useful outline to come back to.

But what if you’re not trying to write the next Harry Potter ? Does the hero’s journey have any value in our everyday lives? It absolutely does, if you ask me.

When you consider your life as a story that follows the hero’s journey, you can make sense of and persevere in any situation, no matter how challenging. You are the hero, and time and again, you pass through the monomyth cycle, fighting metaphorical dragons (a horrible boss, perhaps?), learning from mentors (your grandpa’s fishing lessons, maybe?), and sharing your gains with friends and family (like treating your loved ones to a vacation after a big promotion).

Changing jobs is a hero’s journey. Building a company is a hero’s journey. So are finding love, getting married, and having children. Shipping a project on a deadline is a hero’s journey, and so is hunting the perfect steak at the grocery store.

As humans, we go on adventures large and small on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Remembering the hero’s journey will give you an instruction manual you can turn to whenever you feel stuck. “Am I refusing the call? Scared to enter the cave? Do I need an ally?”

When you’re on the hero’s journey, you’re never truly alone — and that makes it one of the most valuable concepts I know.

The single-best way to dive deeper into the hero’s journey is to read The Hero With a Thousand Faces .* Here’s a quick overview of the book and some other resources. You can read our free summary or buy a copy with our affiliate link. That way, we’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Favorite Quote

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

The Book in One Sentence

The Hero With a Thousand Faces * analyzes humankind from a mythological and symbolistic point of view to prove that all humans have similar core concepts written in them, such as the monomyth, which is a way of narrating stories that people from all over the world use to connect with one another.

Key Takeaways

• The hero’s journey consists of 3 essential steps.
• To start your journey, you must pass a threshold.
• Becoming a hero is not the result of talent but of hard work.

If you want to learn more, you can read our free, four-minute summary or get a copy for yourself:

That’s it! I hope you’ll find this concept useful, and if you have any questions, just tweet @fourminutebooks! Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you around! 👋🏻

PS : Here are some other great resources to learn more about the hero’s journey:

• Finding Joe (documentary)
• The Writer’s Journey * (book)
• Masterclass (writing classes)
• Tomas Pueyo (free article series on “Story Rings”)

PPS : For the video version of our summary of The Hero With a Thousand Faces , see below.

Last Updated on June 15, 2023

*Four Minute Books participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising commissions by linking to Amazon. We also participate in other affiliate programs, such as Blinkist, MindValley, Audible, Audiobooks, Reading.FM, and others. Our referral links allow us to earn commissions (at no extra cost to you) and keep the site running. Thank you for your support.

Need some inspiration? 👀 Here are... The 365 Most Famous Quotes of All Time »

Share on mastodon.

Star Wars: Hero’s Journey Example and Case Study

by David Safford | 0 comments

Free Book Planning Course!  Sign up for our 3-part book planning course and make your book writing easy . It expires soon, though, so don’t wait.  Sign up here before the deadline!

Have you ever tried to apply The Hero's Journey to your book? It can feel overwhelming at times, but following a great example can help. As you sit down over the holidays to watch movies with your family and friends, enjoy the show, but also consider how the writers and directors make decisions to bring your favorite stories to life. Star Wars  works as a perfect study of how the hero's journey works and will help you structure a timeless story.

Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey is easily the most-used and most-loved storytelling structure in human history. It resonates with readers in ways that are as old as human D.N.A. itself. And George Lucas kept this in mind when writing and producing Star Wars.

This is also why there is no clearer use of the Hero's Journey than George Lucas's space opera, Star Wars .

Whether or not you particularly enjoy Star Wars (especially in light of the recent Disney sequels) or have even seen the original trilogy, you've surely heard enough about Star Wars to recognize its primary characters, symbols, and storytelling beats.

You can see my complete guide to the hero's journey here . Now, let's dive into the story of a boy on a desert planet who goes on to become a hero!

A Quick Summary of the Star Wars Hero's Journey

For the uninitiated, or those who haven't seen it in years, Star Wars: A New Hope is the story of Luke Skywalker, the nephew of a moisture farmer who longs to travel the stars and fight against the mighty Evil Empire. When he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, an aged Jedi Knight, he begins his adventure alongside smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2.

The antagonists of Star Wars are two of the leaders of the Empire, Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin. They command the Death Star, a new, moon-sized station station capable of destroying entire planets.

In their hunt for the elusive Rebel Alliance, Vader captures Princess Leia, a young representative who is secretly a Rebel agent. To deduce the location of the Rebels' secret base, Vader and Tarkin use the Death Star to destroy Leia's home planet of Alderaan.

Aboard the Millenium Falcon, Luke Skywalker and his companions enter the Death Star and successfully free Princess Leia and escape, but not before Obi-Wan is killed in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader. They fly back to the Rebel Base, only to realize that the Empire has been tracking them, and now the Death Star is bearing down on their secret headquarters.

A grand space battle ensues, Luke piloting a X-Wing fighter craft. In the nick of time, Luke uses the Force to fire torpedoes into the Death Star's main exhaust port, blowing up the entire space station. Vader escapes in his fighter craft, but Tarkin is killed.

The heroes return to a grand welcome and hope is restored to the galaxy!

Of course there are more Star Wars films, and this analysis will allude to several of them. However, the majority of our exploration of the Star Wars Hero's Journey will stay with the 1977 original film, as George Lucas was careful to craft a story that was heavily based on ancient archetypes that have worked for millennia.

The Characters of Star Wars

George Lucas began planning his space opera by sketching out the characters . He knew, like Campbell knew, that great stories are built on the foundation of great characters.

First, we have the Hero in Luke Skywalker. What makes him the Hero? Mainly, these three factors:

• His goal is empathetic.
• His pursuit of that goal drives the narrative.
• He grows and changes while pursuing the goal.

On that journey, Luke comes into conflict with the story's Shadow , Darth Vader. Unlike Luke, Vader's goal (to smash the Rebellion against the Empire) is not empathetic. Vader's attempts to find the Death Star plans and destroy the Rebels obstruct Luke's goal throughout the story.

Luke also makes a pair of friends, or Loyal Retainers , in Han Solo and Chewbacca the Wookie.

Their loyalty is tested, however, when the Rebels choose to attack the Death Star. And while Han abandons Luke during the Approach step of the Hero's Journey, he returns during the Resurrection , providing a cathartic climax that sees evil destroyed and good triumph on multiple levels.

Luke isn't with a Mentor , either. Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi arrives to provide both the story's Call to Adventure , or Inciting Incident, and then guide Luke on the path to the way of the Jedi and the Force. As can be expected in a Hero's Journey, the Mentor is killed (or is he?) along the way, leaving Luke to face the Shadow on his own.

Finally, Luke encounters a number of Threshold Guardians who attempt to destroy him and his fellow rebel forces. Jawas, Sand People (or Tuskan Raiders, for the nerds who are carefully judging this analysis), Stormtroopers, the Trash Compactor Monster, the Death Star cannons, the TIE fighters, and Vader himself all put themselves between Luke and his goal along the way.

The Structure of Star Wars

These characters archetypes , and more, fill a story that is designed to follow all twelve steps of the Hero's Journey, often reusing or overlapping steps for maximum effect. Here's how Star Wars: A New Hope uses all twelve steps as checkpoints that move its story forward with incredible storytelling power.

Step 1: The Ordinary World

Ordinary World : Luke lives in Tatooine but doesn't like it. Like all Heroes, his eyes are drawn to the horizon where he longs to achieve heroic deeds in the rebellion against the Empire.

Step 2: The Call to Adventure

Call to Adventure : After buying a pair of seemingly inconsequential robots, Luke discovers that his R2 droid contains the Death Star plans and could help the Rebels destroy this planet-killing weapon. Obi-Wan Kenobi then calls Luke to action, saying, “You must learn the ways of the Force if you're to come with me to Alderaan.”

Step 3: The Refusal of the Call

Refusal of the Call : Luke balks at this invitation, overwhelmed at the sudden change sweeping his life. “I can't get involved! I've got work to do! It's not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there's nothing I can do about it right now. It's such a long way from here.”

Step 4: Meeting the Mentor

Meeting the Mentor : Technically, Luke has already met his mentor. But the active mentoring begins when Luke hurries home, only to find the compound burning and his aunt and uncle murdered by stormtroopers of the Empire.

Luke stands before Obi-Wan, heartbroken. “There's nothing you could have done, Luke, had you been there,” Obi-Wan says. “You'd have been killed, too, and the droids would be in the hands of the Empire.” Then Luke commits to joining the old Jedi and venturing into the unknown toward Alderaan.

Step 5: Crossing the Threshold

Crossing the Threshold : The story then pauses to show how consequential this choice is, showing Luke, Obi-Wan, and the droids standing atop a massive cliff. They look down into the valley below. Then Obi-Wan utters, “Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.”

It is at this point that our Hero, Luke, crosses from the safe and familiar to the unfamiliar.

Step 6: Trials, Allies, and Enemies

Trials, Allies, and Enemies : Luke begins the middle of the story by acquiring a pair of allies, or Loyal Retainers: Han Solo and Chewbacca. However, he also encounters an enemy when a disfigured man accosts him at the bar.

The conflict escalates as Luke and his companions escape from Tatooine, infiltrate the Death Star, rescue Princess Leia (who seems to play the archetypal role of the Damsel in Distress, but with no distress whatsoever), survive the trash compactor, disable the tractor beam, and escape the Death Star thanks to Obi-Wan's sacrifice.

If it seems like this summary has hit the fast-forward button, it does for a reason. Step #6 is the longest step in any heroic journey, but often contains scenes that shrink down the entire structure into a chapter or two.

In the case of Star Wars, one can see numerous calls to adventure, refusals, threshold crossings, the gaining of an ally or knowledge of an enemy, approaching an ordeal, the ordeal itself (often with a self-contained resurrection), and then a reward. This is Story Structure 101: Any Hero's Journey will contain smaller, miniature heroic journeys sharing the same archetypal D.N.A.

Step 7: The Approach

Approach : Having escaped the Death Star, the heroes fly to Yavin 4 where the Rebel Base has been hidden. The Death Star plans are extracted from R2 and a weakness is indeed found. The fighter pilots receiving a briefing about this weakness and plan their strategy.

Meanwhile, Han Solo decides not to join the rebels, deeming the attack “my idea of suicide.” He takes his financial reward for rescuing Princess Leia and flees with Chewbacca, leaving Luke alone with a bunch of characters the audience doesn't know.

Step 8: The Ordeal

The Ordeal : Luke and his fellow fighter pilots attack the Death Star, facing skilled enemies in TIE fighters and Darth Vader himself in his own special ship. One of Luke's childhood friends is killed in the assault (Biggs).

Step 9: The Reward

The Reward (occurs twice in this story): Star Wars contains two Reward steps; one is the “false” reward, while the second is the “true” reward. First, the heroes are rewarded with safety and freedom after escaping the Death Star, and the story pauses to enjoy this moment of low tension.

However, the tension ratchets up again when Han Solo makes it clear that he only cares about his financial reward, which is indeed a “false” one, according to the movie's moral theme. The second reward occurs later, in Step #12.

Step 10: The Road Back

The Road Back (occurs twice in this story): The first Road Back is the backdrop for the first Reward, which showcases Han's conflicting loyalties. It is the “fake-out ending” meant to lead the viewer into thinking that the story is resolved because the heroes escaped from the Death Star.

Step 11: Resurrection

Resurrection : Rewinding back to the Ordeal (“Attack on the Death Star”), the scene climaxes as Luke is navigating a narrow trench in his X-Wing fighter toward the target with Darth Vader screaming at his heels. Luke — and the Rebels — are about to be destroyed by Vader and the Death Star, as the planned attack is not going as hoped.

Then a voice calls out to Luke: “Use the Force, Luke! Let go, Luke!” It's the voice of his disembodied Mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke switches off his targeting computer, closes his eyes, and fires his torpedoes . . . and the Death Star explodes.

This also coincides with a personal and relational resurrection of Han Solo. When he proves his true loyalty and helps Luke outwit Vader and destroy the Death Star, the viewer receives the satisfaction of having seen a man morally “die” only to find “life” again by doing what is morally right.

Step 12: Return with the Elixir

Return with the Elixir : When Luke, Han, and Chewie return, they don't just bring safety and security to the Rebellion. They bring hope, the titular value of the film.

This is also where the second “true” reward comes in. The medals the characters receive may not seem like much, but they symbolize the new identity of the wearers: Heroes. Luke begins as a simple farmboy; now he is a Hero who brings hope to the galaxy.

The Scenes of Star Wars

Within its tightly-designed structure, Star Wars makes sure it forces its Hero to deal with archetypal heroic situations, or scenes.

Here's how the Star Wars Hero's Journey shows these scenes:

The Choice to Go

After suffering the loss of his aunt and uncle, Luke realizes that he must confront the threat of the Empire himself. He declares to Obi-Wan, “I want to come with you to Alderaan. There's nothing here for me now. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father.”

The Initiation

Soon after his Choice to Go, Luke is initiated into the world he has chosen. First, he faces physical threats, like the bullies in the Mos Eisley cantina and the Empire's merciless stormtroopers while escaping on the Millenium Falcon.

But he also faces his first initiation into the way of the Jedi when he uses a lightsaber for the first time. Luke shows growth by doing as Obi-Wan says, “to stretch out with [his] feelings.”

Luke doesn't have much time to train as a Jedi, though, because soon he is pulled into the Death Star with the other heroes. After learning that the princess of Alderaan, Leia Organa, is about to be executed, Luke makes it his mission to rescue her. In a thrilling scene filled with disguises, witty banter, and laser shootouts, Luke successfully rescues Leia from her metallic prison.

All Hope is Lost

This scene occurs just before the Resurrection as Luke speeds down the Death Star trench in his X-Wing fighter. Jumping between scenes in Luke's ship, the Death Star control room, and the rebel base on Yavin 4, two things occur nearly simultaneously.

First, the Death Star pulls within firing range of the rebel base and begins powering up its planet-killing weapon. Second, Darth Vader successful shoots R2-D2 in Luke's ship, causing Luke to cry, “I've lost R2!” And in this moment, it seems like the bad guys are certainly going to win.

The Return with Blessings

But a miracle happens! Han Solo helps knock Vader off of Luke's tail, and Luke hits a bullseye with his torpedoes, exploding the Death Star in a massive blast.

The heroes return to Yavin 4, embrace one another, and celebrate. But then we see a colossal ceremony with hundreds of rebels in uniform. They stand at attention to honor the victorious heroes who are decorated with medals.

And those hundreds of rebels — stand-ins for the audience — applaud as incredible hope floods their spirits.

Learn more: Here's how to write and innovate these timeless Hero's Journey scenes!

The Themes of Star Wars

George Lucas was a fan of mythology, including East Asian religions that focus on the balance of different forces. As he layered his story with these themes, Lucas created a rich tapestry for future stories and storytellers, which is why Star Wars is a beloved franchise still today.

Here's how Star Wars imbues its story with deeply powerful themes.

1. Good vs. Evil

Perhaps the clearest and most obvious thematic relationship in Star Wars is the one that makes it most enduring: the struggle between the forces of Good and those of Evil.

Representing Good are the white-and-beige clad “good guys” Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. They seek selfless, positive virtues, like freedom, peace, and hope.

Bad is embodied by the black-armored Darth Vader, as well as the darkly-uniformed Grand Moff Tarkin. They command a massive machine of death, control, and fear, wishing to pull all planets and systems under the thumb of the Empire. Their selfish cruelty is confirmed when they destroy Alderaan (and its millions of inhabitants) for no good reason other than to torture Princess Leia.

Note: Although this isn't the main story arc in the film, it is a major internal arc that exemplifies the dominant story value moving the plot, which is Life vs. Death.

You might enjoying learning more about story arcs and story values with these two important posts on The Write Practice.

• Story Values

2. Haven vs. Wilderness

Star Wars is a place with several Havens that stand opposite its Wildernesses. Remember that Lucas based Star Wars on the Western genre, with its wide, endless vistas and renegade, rough-and-tumble characters.

Here are several diametrically opposed set locations in the story:

• The sand sea of Tatooine is a Wilderness , but Luke's homestead and Obi-Wan's house are Havens .
• The Mos Eisley cantina is a social Wilderness where Luke is confused and alone, but the Millenium Falcon is a Haven where he learns about the Force and the war against the Empire.
• The Death Star is a Metallic Wilderness of inorganic violence and unfeeling cruelty, but the Rebel Base is a Lush, Forested Haven where Luke is reunited with an old friend and fits easily into his new, heroic role.

It's notable that the film really only contains these major set pieces, with the exception of the film's prologue aboard Princess Leia's ship. Each location contains an opposite, so the story seems to swing, like a pendulum, back-and-forth between safety and danger, between Haven and Wilderness.

3. Nature vs. Machine

The opposing power of Nature and Machine is evident throughout Star Wars. As just mentioned, the Empire's base, the Death Star, is a cold, lifeless killing machine. However, the Rebel Base is set amid a lush green rainforest. Contrasts like this provide a simple form of establishing this theme.

But Star Wars digs deeper than this by using its mythology of the Force to layer the theme deeply into the narrative. And its primary narrative device is the Lightsaber .

Heralded by Obi-Wan as “an elegant weapon,” the Lightsaber is the tool of the nearly-extinct Jedi. It is “not as clumsy or random as a blaster,” Obi-Wan describes.

Yet Han Solo, a self-reliant rule-breaker, dismisses the Jedi way as “a lot of simple tricks and nonsense.” He affirms his self-reliant beliefs when he claims, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.”

Clearly the more mystical, “natural” weapon is less desirable than the machine, the blaster.

Yet the Lightsaber is the weapon Luke trains with and comes to embrace as a part of the Jedi way. He also embraces the Jedi way when he obeys the disembodied voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Death Star attack.

“Use the Force, Luke!” Obi-Wan urges. Luke obeys by taking a specific action: turning off his computer, a machine. Clearly the mindset of Luke's world is to trust in machines; the way of the Jedi is to trust in the Force.

It makes sense now that the Empire would put all of its hope in a giant machine, the Death Star. It is also led by a man who is “more machine now than man,” Darth Vader.

4. Father vs. Son

To be fair, this theme would not come home to roost for Star Wars until its sequel, The Empire Strikes Back , was released three years later in 1980. However, George Lucas has consistently claimed that he planned for Vader to be Luke's father all along. With that in mind, Star Wars has been the paragon of this theme in popular culture, at least since Shakespeare and the Greek tragedians.

And where Star Wars successfully makes great use of this theme is by invoking the idea of Destiny . In other words, if my father is a murderous, man-machine monster, will I be too?

This conflict is apparent in the cave scene on Dagobah, where Luke confronts the darkness within. He battles a phantom vision of Darth Vader and successfully decapitates it. But when the head rolls to a stop, Luke sees his own face within Vader's helmet. Clearly the son is terrified of committing the sins of the father.

5. Sibling vs. Sibling

The original Star Wars trilogy didn't concern itself with sibling rivalry, instead using another “they're related” type twist in the third installment, Return of the Jedi.

But the prequel trilogy, written and directed by Lucas several years later, used it to great effect by casting Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker as brothers. No, they aren't biological brothers, but this view is supported by Obi-Wan's pained cry, “You were my brother, Anakin!” after defeating him in combat in Revenge of the Sith.

During Anakin's training and the horrors of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin fought side-by-side and struggled with the befuddling decisions of the Jedi Council. They grew to trust and even love each other; but Anakin's need for power and validation drew him away from his Jedi “brother” and toward a more sinister Sith “father,” Senator (and later Emperor) Palpatine.

This is why the final battle of Revenge of the Sith, despite some of its silly choreography, is painfully emotional. There was so much potential for these two men to do great things together! But their relationship has been broken by mistrust, fear, and horrible crimes, and it can only end violently.

Learn more: Here's how to establish these classic Hero's Journey themes!

The Symbols of Star Wars

To wrap up our analysis of Star Wars and the Hero's Journey, let's briefly look at how the filmmakers fill the story with powerful symbols, connecting the physical world of the story with the nonphysical feelings audiences have about the world.

1. Light vs. Darkness

This thematic relationship is apparent in two respects. One, of course, is physical: the “good guys” vs. the “bad guys.” And while the stormtroopers wear stark, white, skeletal armor, the darkness of the Empire is embodied by the black-armored Darth Vader.

Standing opposite this darkness is Luke Skywalker, a lightly-clad and optimistic youth who learns about the “light side” of the Force from his beige-cloaked mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

It's noteable that some characters are more morally ambiguous, sporting clothing of mixed color. Han Solo wears an off-white shirt covered by a black vest. Is he ultimately drawn to the selfless, others-serving light? Or the nefarious, selfish dark? Only the story can tell!

2. The Magic Weapon

Even though it doesn't play a role in the climax of this film, the Lightsaber is one of the most universally-recognized pieces of fictional lore ever created. There's a reason people will pay $199 to make one at Disneyland, even though it isn't “real.”

The Lightsaber is, indeed, magical. We can't create anything like it with the technology we currently possess. The Lightsaber also jives with the morality of the Jedi: light and defense.

So while Luke doesn't wield it during the Death Star attack, he does employ its virtues by turning off the computer (blaster) and trusting in that which powers the saber (the Light).

3. The Underworld

The world of Star Wars is filled with numerous “underworld” locations where our heroes face numerous dangers. Here are the ones found in A New Hope :

• The Jawas' Sandcrawler: C-3PO and R2-D2 are trapped in the “belly of the beast,” an allusion to Jonah and the Whale.
• The Mos Eisley cantina: A bar crawling with thugs and criminals where Luke almost loses his head in a scuffle.
• The trash compactor: Beneath the detention block, the heroes are nearly drowned by a monster and crushed by the contracting walls.
• The Death Star trench: In order to defeat this monstrous machine, the heroes must navigate its lowest points, nearly colliding with the surface. It is also here where Luke and the Rebels come closest to certain death.

4. The Castle

What better “castle” for a science-fantasy story than a massive space station?

Of the many memorable lines from the film, who can forget Obi-Wan muttering, “That's no moon . . . it's a space station.”

And the Death Star has all the trappings of a Castle: guards, defenses, weapons, a dungeon (with a princess locked in it, no less), a king (Tarkin), and a moat (the trench). It is the place where the Shadow resides and possesses the most power; it is also a place where the Hero is relatively powerless and must use his wit and craftiness in order to find success.

This is yet another example of Lucas using age-old archetypes to fill his new, unfamiliar world (the galaxy of Star Wars) with familiar tropes that audiences can instantly recognize and understand.

5. The Unhealable Wound

Another archetype that wouldn't appear until the sequel, the Unhealable Wound makes its appearance when Luke faces Darth Vader in combat at the end of The Empire Strikes Back.

Cornered and overpowered, Luke makes a massive mistake and exposes his right hand, which Vader swiftly cuts away with his own red-hot Lightsaber. Luke clutches the cauterized stump and screams in pain.

That hand is gone.

While Luke is able to acquire a mechanized replacement at the film's end, it will serve as a constant reminder of his failure and the temptation to the Dark Side of the Force, a temptation his mostly-machine father gave into. This Unhealable Wound plays a major role in Luke's character development, even into Disney's “sequel trilogy.”

Learn more: Here's how to utilize deep and meaningful Hero's Journey symbols!

The Power of the Hero's Journey

If you take the time to watch “Behind the Scenes” documentaries about the making of Star Wars , you'll discover that the actors and crew didn't believe in the film while they were making it.

From their point of view, everything was just . . . weird . After all, there was a massive dude in a dog suit, a breathless British bodybuilder in a black suit, malfunctioning props and oddball costumes, and dialogue that made little to no sense.

Some even describe feeling sorry for writer-director George Lucas.

But they didn't recognize the meta-structure behind it all. They didn't share the same mythic vision as their chief storyteller.

George Lucas wasn't telling a story about droids, laser swords, or even an Empire and a Rebellion.

He was telling the timeless story of Good vs. Evil, Nature vs. Machines, and more, using this wildly imaginative science-fantasy backdrop to do it.

Now, to be completely fair, massive credit must be given to film editors Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew. They took Lucas's original, extremely rough and choppy cut of the movie and resurrected the ailing movie.

By shortening shots, cutting more often, and capturing moments of intense energy from the various takes, Hirsch and Chew were able to instill the film with the energy, flow, and mythic quality that Lucas intended.

Lucas has received his fair share of criticism for questionable filmmaking in the years following the original Star Wars trilogy.

However, it was and is his vision for Star Wars that continues to thrill audiences to this day, and his vision was one that utilized the full power of the Dark Side. . . . I mean, the full power of the Hero's Journey!

So as you study Star Wars and other films that use the Hero's Journey to great advantage, consider which of these elements you can use to supercharge your own epic tale to be told.

Your readers will thank you for it!

What's your favorite moment from Star Wars ? Does it connect with any of these Star Wars Hero's Journey elements? Let us know in the comments .

Your writing practice today is Star Wars Hero's Journey-themed, of course. It's your turn to write a Hero's Journey-based science fantasy saga. Or the first scene of one, at least!

Your protagonist is an underdog character on a remote planet. Unbeknownst to this character, they're about to be called to a great adventure among the stars.

Write the opening scene of their story. Who are they? What's their ordinary world like? And what happens to disrupt their regular life and call them to adventure?

Take fifteen minutes to write. When you're done, share your scene in the practice box below, and be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

David Safford

You deserve a great book. That's why David Safford writes adventure stories that you won't be able to put down. Read his latest story at his website. David is a Language Arts teacher, novelist, blogger, hiker, Legend of Zelda fanatic, puzzle-doer, husband, and father of two awesome children.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• Writing Tips: The Perfect Hero’s Journey Example- Star Wars – jcgregsolutions - […] Read more. Click here. […]

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

Join over 450,000 readers who are saying YES to practice. You’ll also get a free copy of our eBook 14 Prompts :

Popular Resources

Book Writing Tips & Guides Creativity & Inspiration Tips Writing Prompts Grammar & Vocab Resources Best Book Writing Software ProWritingAid Review Writing Teacher Resources Publisher Rocket Review Scrivener Review Gifts for Writers

Books By Our Writers

You've got it! Just us where to send your guide.

Enter your email to get our free 10-step guide to becoming a writer.

You've got it! Just us where to send your book.

Enter your first name and email to get our free book, 14 Prompts.

Want to Get Published?

Enter your email to get our free interactive checklist to writing and publishing a book.

• Features for Creative Writers
• Features for Work
• Features for Higher Education
• Features for Teachers
• Features for Non-Native Speakers
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

Deep Dive: Joseph Campbell’s "Hero’s Journey"

Hannah Yang

What do Star Wars , the legend of Prometheus, and the epic tale Beowulf have in common? They all follow the stages of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey.

Whether you’re working on a novel or a short story, you can use the hero’s journey to plot and outline your work. If you’re new to the hero’s journey, start with our guide to using the hero’s journey as the backbone for your story.

The hero’s journey is so commonly used that it’s become an important narrative structure for any writer to understand. However, the idea that the hero’s journey is truly a "monomyth" is actually a myth of its own.

Understanding this narrative structure is important if you want to use it in your stories—but it’s also important if you want to subvert it and create something new.

Read on to see an analysis into how Joseph Campbell came up with the concept of the hero’s journey, as well as the common counterarguments to this well-known literary archetype.

What Is Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey?

How did joseph campbell develop the concept of the hero’s journey, what are the three stages of the hero’s journey, what were the original seventeen steps of the hero’s journey, what are the counterarguments to joseph campbell’s hero’s journey, how can you use the hero’s journey in your writing without making your story feel formulaic.

The hero’s journey is an archetypal narrative structure found in stories from cultures all over the world. Because it’s such a universal narrative structure, the hero’s journey is also known as the "monomyth"—the single great story with many variations.

The term was coined by Joseph Campbell, an American writer and editor who was fascinated by myths from various cultures and literary traditions. He noticed that many heroic stories follow the same narrative stages, no matter which culture or time period they come from.

Since 1949, countless stories have used the hero’s journey archetype, from George Lucas’s Star Wars to Disney’s The Lion King .

Joseph Campbell was born in New York City in 1904. As a child, he took frequent trips to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West exhibition and to the American Museum of Natural History, where he became fascinated by the Native American exhibits.

He began noticing parallels between stories from the Christian Bible and stories from Native American religions, which made him wonder whether other mythologies might also share those commonalities.

As an adult, Campbell studied English literature at Columbia University . He read and analyzed classic religious and mythological texts, such as those of the Buddha, Moses, Mohammed, Jesus, and countless others. Over time, he became convinced that mythologies worldwide have many similarities, and that they shared a universal narrative backbone—a "monomyth."

Besides studying classic stories, Campbell also studied the work of early 20th-century analytical psychologists. In particular, he became fascinated with the work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. This was crucial to the development of the hero’s journey, as the transformative aspect of the structure closely resembles Jung’s theory of death and rebirth.

Campbell first coined the term "hero’s journey" in 1949, in his comparative mythology book The Hero with a Thousand Faces , which was later adapted into the TV show The Power of Myth . In this book, Campbell outlined the hero’s journey in three basic stages and seventeen detailed steps.

He wrote and edited many other texts on comparative mythology and storytelling. Aside from The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), his other major works include Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization (1946), The King and the Corpse (1948), Philosophies of India (1951), The Masks of God (1959–68), and The Power of Myth (1988).

In its simplest form, the hero’s journey can be described in three stages: departure, initiation, and return.

Departure: the hero leaves his home community to go on a quest.

Initiation: the hero faces trials and tribulations until he achieves victory on his quest.

Return: the hero goes home to his community with gifts and boons.

This is how Joseph Campbell summarized the hero’s journey in The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949):

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

Consider Star Wars , one of the most commonly cited examples of the hero’s journey.

In the departure stage, Luke Skywalker leaves his home planet of Tatooine with the goal of helping the rebellion defeat the Galactic Empire.

In the initiation stage, Luke undergoes various trials and tribulations on his heroic journey. He trains with Obi-Wan Kenobi to learn how to use the Force, rescues Princess Leia from the Death Star, and retrieves the Death Star plans and delivers them to the rebellion base. At last, he finally uses the Force to destroy the Death Star, fulfilling the purpose of his quest.

Finally, in the return stage, Luke returns to the rebellion base and wins a medal to commemorate his victory. He has helped his home world defeat the oppressive empire and gets to live as a hero.

In The Hero with a Thousand Faces , Joseph Campbell outlined seventeen detailed steps of the hero’s journey.

These seventeen steps were later simplified to twelve steps by Christopher Vogler, a successful Hollywood consultant, in his book The Writer’s Journey (1992). These twelve steps are more commonly studied by writers today, since they’re easier to learn and remember than Campbell’s seventeen steps.

Here is Campbell’s original hero’s journey structure:

Stage 1: Departure

Call to Adventure: The hero receives an invitation to go on a quest.

Refusal of the Call: At first, the hero hesitates to accept the invitation, either because the journey is too dangerous, or because they have other obligations at home.

Supernatural Aid: Someone the hero looks up to inspires them to accept the call to adventure, or gives them tools that will help them on their quest.

Crossing the Threshold: The hero begins their quest and leaves the ordinary world and their everyday life.

Belly of the Whale: The hero encounters the first real danger in their quest, and wonders whether or not to turn back—but ultimately pushes forward.

Stage 2: Initiation

Road of Trials: The hero undergoes several trials and learns from their mistakes.

Meeting With the Goddess: The hero meets a mentor figure or ally, who offers help or advice.

Woman as Temptress: The hero encounters temptations that threaten to steer them away from their heroic journey, which they must nobly avoid.

Atonement with the Father: The hero undergoes a personal metamorphosis by confronting an aspect of their own character that has been preventing them from achieving success, such as their own fear, greed, or self-doubt.

Apotheosis: The hero transforms into a better person, and goes forward with new insight and clarity on what they must do to win.

Ultimate Boon: The hero achieves victory in their quest.

Stage 3: Return

Refusal of Return: At first, the hero is reluctant to go back to the familiar world after their exciting journey and transformation.

Magic Flight: Even though the hero has achieved victory on their quest, they still face dangers as they try to return home.

Rescue from Without: An outside ally or mentor helps guide the hero safely home.

Crossing the Return Threshold: The hero returns to the familiar world, and tries to adjust to their old life.

Master of Two Worlds: The hero finds a balance between their home life and the person they become on their quest.

Freedom to Live: The hero gets used to their normal life and lives peacefully.

In the past seventy years, many writers and editors have criticized Joseph Campbell’s monomyth. After all, Campbell lived in a society that strongly valued heroic individualism, and his theories were a product of his time. Our society has evolved since 1949, but the hero’s journey archetype has failed to evolve with it. 

One of the most common criticisms of the hero’s journey is that it reduces the world to simple binaries: good and evil, victory and failure. If all stories followed the hero’s journey, writers wouldn’t be able to express a nuanced perspective of the world.

Another criticism is that the hero’s journey favors male protagonists, a tale about a hero leaving home to seek adventure in the outside world. In contrast, stories about women often involve looking inward, instead of looking outward, because of the domestic roles that women have traditionally been expected to fulfill.

The concept of the "heroine’s journey," also known as the female hero’s journey, was developed in 1990 by Maureen Murdock, a psychotherapist and a student of Joseph Campbell, in her book The Heroine’s Journey: Woman’s Quest for Wholeness .

Murdock wrote:

“The feminine journey is about going down deep into soul, healing and reclaiming, while the masculine journey is up and out, to spirit.” 

Similarly, stories about people of color or marginalized groups within our society sometimes follow different story archetypes. Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey focuses on an individual hero, rather than a broader social context.

Stories about marginalized groups might center on communities reacting to oppression and navigating the rules set by the majority, instead of highlighting a single individual who proactively seeks adventure.

There’s nothing wrong with using the hero’s journey in your own work. After all, it’s been spectacularly successful for thousands of years—there’s a timeless appeal to this story of adventure and spiritual transformation.

However, the hero’s journey can be a useful tool even if you don’t use it the way Joseph Campbell originally intended. Readers who recognize these classic tropes can appreciate an unexpected twist. Innovative literary fiction often plays with traditional narrative structures in new ways.

Many writers have subverted the hero’s journey archetype to better reflect the stories they want to tell. For example, you can follow the hero’s journey throughout the first two stages, then withhold the hero’s victory in the third stage.

For more ideas, check out Steve Seager’s article on how to design a narrative more fitting to our contemporary context.

If it fits the needs of your story, consider changing up the hero’s journey in your own writing. You can build on Joseph Campbell’s time-honored literary tradition while also adding new twists of your own.

Do you want to know how to build a world your readers won’t forget? Download this free book now:

World-Building 101: How to Construct an Unforgettable World for Your Fantasy or Sci-Fi Story!

This guide is for all the writers out there who want to construct an unforgettable world that your readers can’t help but get lost in, learn how to invent species, gods, monsters, and more in our immersive guide..

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

• 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.

Competitions

The hero’s journey breakdown: ‘star wars’.

By Ken Miyamoto · October 11, 2019

How does Star Wars: A New Hope follow Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey breakdown?

Welcome to the inaugural installment of our new series A Hero’s Journey Breakdown where we explore Joseph Campbell’s mythological storytelling structure and how iconic films fit into that mold.

First up is Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope . Let’s break down the plot and structure of George Lucas’ 1977 space-opera, the first in what would become an epic franchise spanning nearly 40 years, and see how it fits within The Hero’s Journey. You can download the script below to follow along.

But before we do that, let’s make sure we have the basics down, including what the Hero’s Journey is, where it originated, and who created it.

The Hero’s Journey 101

The “hero’s journey” is a common narrative archetype that features the different stages of a protagonist’s journey in a story. It has been studied and analyzed by many scholars from a multitude of disciplines, but one interpretation has found its way into the minds of almost every writer studying the craft.

The Monomyth

In 1949, writer and professor of literature Joseph Campbell wrote one of the most influential works in storytelling, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, in which he theorizes that stories often share a basic structure. Dubbed the “monomyth” or “the hero’s adventure,” Campbell lays out 17 stages of this narrative archetype, from  but some have crafted their own interpretations and renditions that the writing community has used as guides in their own work.

Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth

Vogler: The Writer’s Journey

Christopher Vogler’s approach to Campbell’s structure broke the mythical story structure into 12 stages. For this series, we define the stages in simplified interpretations:

• The Ordinary World : We see the hero’s normal life at the start of the story before the adventure begins.
• Call to Adventure : The hero is faced with an event, conflict, problem, or challenge that makes them begin their adventure.
• Refusal of the Call : The hero initially refuses the adventure because of hesitation, fears, insecurity, or any other number of issues.
• Meeting the Mentor : The hero encounters a mentor that can give them advice, wisdom, information, or items that ready them for the journey ahead.
• Crossing the Threshold : The hero leaves their ordinary world for the first time and crosses the threshold into adventure.
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies : The hero learns the rules of the new world and endures tests, meets friends, and comes face-to-face with enemies.
• The Approach : The initial plan to take on the central conflict begins, but setbacks occur that cause the hero to try a new approach or adopt new ideas.
• The Ordeal: Things go wrong and added conflict is introduced. The hero experiences more difficult hurdles and obstacles, some of which may lead to a life crisis.
• The Reward : After surviving The Ordeal, the hero seizes the sword — a reward that they’ve earned that allows them to take on the biggest conflict. It may be a physical item or piece of knowledge or wisdom that will help them persevere.
• The Road Back : The hero sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but they are about to face even more tests and challenges.
• The Resurrection : The climax. The hero faces a final test, using everything they have learned to take on the conflict once and for all.
• The Return : The hero brings their knowledge or the “elixir” back to the ordinary world.

Breaking Down the Journey: A New Hope

Here we turn to George Lucas’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope .

Note: As with any application of story structure or formula, this is just a hindsight interpretation and implementation of The Hero’s Journey to this cinematic tale. There can and will be variances. 

The Ordinary World

Luke Skywalker is living a normal and humble life as a farm boy on his home planet of Tatooine.

Call to Adventure

Luke is called to his adventure by two individuals — R2-D2 and Ben Kenobi. Luke triggers R2-D2’s message from Princess Leia and is intrigued by her and the message.

When R2-D2 escapes to find Ben Kenobi, Luke follows and is later saved by Kenobi, who goes on to tell Luke about his Jedi heritage. Kenobi suggests that he should come with him to Alderaan.

Refusal of the Call

Luke refuses Kenobi, telling him that he can take Kenobi and the droids as far as Mos Eisley Spaceport — but he can’t possibly leave his Aunt and Uncle behind for some space adventure.

Crossing the Threshold

When Luke discovers that the stormtroopers searching for the droids would track them to his farm, he rushes to warn his Aunt and Uncle, only to discover them dead by the hands of the Empire.

When Luke returns to Kenobi, he pledges to go with him to Alderaan and learn the ways of the Force like his father before him.

Tests, Allies, and Enemies

After Luke, Kenobi, and the droids hire Han Solo and Chewbacca to transport them off of Tatooine and onto Alderaan, Kenobi begins Luke’s training in the ways of the Force.

Wielding his father’s lightsaber, Kenobi challenges him to block the shots of a small training remote. At first, he can’t do it. But then Kenobi gives him a helmet to wear that has a blast shield that blocks his view of the remote. Kenobi teaches him to reach out and trust his feelings.

Luke blocks three shots from the remote — blind.

The Approach

The plan to defeat the Galactic Empire is to bring the Death Star plans to Alderaan so that Princess Leia’s father can take them to the Rebellion. However, when they arrive within the system, the planet is destroyed. They come across the Death Star and are pulled in by a tractor beam, now trapped within the metaphorical belly of the beast — The Galactic Empire.

As Kenobi goes off to deactivate the tractor beam so they can escape, Luke, Han, and Chewbacca discover that Princess Leia is being held on the Death Star with them. They rescue her and escape to the Millennium Falcon, hoping that Kenobi has successfully deactivated the tractor beam.

Kenobi later sacrifices himself as Luke watches Darth Vader strike him down. Luke must now avenge his fallen mentor and carry on his teachings.

Luke has saved the princess and retrieved the Death Star plans. They now have the knowledge to destroy the Galactic Empire’s greatest weapon once and for all.

The Road Back

Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, and the droids are headed to the hidden Rebellion base with the Death Star plans. They are suddenly pursued by incoming TIE-Fighters, forcing Han and Luke to take action to defend the ship and escape with their lives — and the plans.

When they are triumphant, they realize that the Galactic Empire must be tracking them. But they have no choice but to race against time to take the plans to the Rebellion and prepare for battle.

The Resurrection

The Rebels — along with Luke as an X-Wing pilot — prepare to take on the Death Star.

The Rebellion and the Galactic Empire wage war in an epic space battle. Luke is the only X-Wing pilot that was able to get within the trenches of the Death Star. But Darth Vader and his wingmen are in hot pursuit. Just as Darth Vader is about to destroy Luke, Han returns and clears the way for Luke.

Luke uses the Force to guide his aiming as he fires upon the sole weak point of the deadly Death Star, destroying it for good.

Luke and Han return to the Rebellion base, triumphant, as they receive medals for the heroic journey. There is peace throughout the galaxy — at least for now.

Hopefully now you have a better idea of what the Hero’s Journey looks like in the wild. Be sure to check out our other Hero’s Journey Breakdowns for more examples from cinema’s greatest films.

Scripts from this Article

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Download free trending scripts.

Breaking Bad

Poor Things

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Stranger Things

Oppenheimer

Next related article.

The Script Lab Podcast: Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi — Writers of LUCY IN THE SKY

Shanee Edwards · October 4, 2019

Recent Articles

A brief history of film noir.

Martin Keady · April 17, 2024

Moving Monologue: The Best Movie Monologues That Leave Audiences Speechless

Ken Miyamoto from ScreenCraft · April 15, 2024

What Is the Wilhelm Scream?

Ken Miyamoto from ScreenCraft · April 10, 2024

Moonshot Pilot Accelerator

Deadline: April 21st, 2024

Deadline: May 20th, 2024

PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Competition

More related articles.

First Ten Pages: Breaking Bad Series Finale – “Felina”

Danielle Karagannis · October 11, 2019

The Script Lab Podcast: Kevin Smith — Writer/Director of JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT

Shanee Edwards · October 11, 2019

The Script Lab Podcast: Robyn Paris — Writer/Director of the Award-winning Web Series THE ROOM ACTORS: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

© 2024 The Script Lab - An Industry Arts Company

Sign up for the TSL Newsletter

and get $50 off Final Draft 12

Stay up to date on the latest scripts & screenwriting articles.

Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey

Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication and the archetypal hero continues to be a key component. Whether…

Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication and the archetypal hero continues to be a key component. Whether it’s books or movies, fiction down the ages is replete with stories that focus on a hero’s journey. It was Joseph John Campbell, an American literature professor, who introduced the stages of a hero in his book, The Hero With A Thousand Faces (1949).

Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey was part of his idea of the monomyth—a common story structure in which a character ventures into the unknown to retrieve something they need. Despite facing conflict and hardships, the hero returns home, triumphant and transformed.

Much like this classic plot structure, businesses value individuals who can rise to the occasion and persevere despite the challenges. The ability to go on an adventure, learn a lesson, be victorious and gain new knowledge are the defining principles of true leadership. Let’s look at the various ways in which Campbell’s hero’s journey makes sense in workplace settings.

The Evolution Of The Hero’s Journey

12 steps in hero’s journey , understanding hero’s journey in the context of women’s leadership, achieve transformative leadership.

While Campbell had originally proposed the hero’s journey structure, Christopher Vogler elaborated on the concept in his book, The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structures For Writers (1992). A Hollywood screenwriter, best known for working with Disney, Vogler expanded on Campbell’s three stages and defined 12 stages of a hero’s journey. Here are Campbell’s (i.e., the original) three stages in hero’s journey:

The Departure:  

The hero leaves the familiar world when they receive a call for an adventure

The Initiation: 

The hero ventures into the unknown i.e., the special world where they overcome a series of hurdles until they reach the journey’s climax—the main obstacle

The Return: 

The hero returns to the familiar world, triumphant; the journey changes the hero as a person.

Vogler suggested a 12-stage hero’s journey that has a more detailed character arc. It goes beyond the three-act structure and highlights the inner and outer transformation of the journey.

12 Steps In Hero’s Journey:

The ordinary world.

The journey is yet to begin. The hero finds themselves in a familiar setting where they lead their everyday life. It gives a glimpse into their character before the journey begins. Hamartia  (a fatal flaw or challenge) is likely to change the way a hero thinks or behaves.

Call To Adventure

This stage sets the story rolling as the hero receives a call to action. Something or someone interrupts the hero’s normal life and presents a threat, problem or opportunity. The hero must take a call whether they want to embark on the adventure and face the consequences.

Refusal Of The Call

The hero feels unprepared, not ready to take on the adventure. Their fears and insecurities surface and they hesitate to step outside their comfort zone. Second thoughts and self-doubt prevent them from embarking on the journey.

Meeting The Mentor

This is the crucial turning point of a hero’s journey as someone else comes along for guidance and support. As the hero is afraid to spread their wings and go out on an adventure, a mentor helps them. They provide the hero with necessary tools and resources; they give advice, motivate them and impart the wisdom that’s likely to change the hero’s mind.

Crossing The Threshold

The hero leaves the familiar world and their normal life behind. They’re finally ready to step out of their comfort zone and respond to the call to adventure. They’re spiritually, physically and emotionally ready to begin their quest. This signifies their commitment to take risks and overcome challenges.

Tests, Allies And Enemies

The hero finally confronts a series of challenges that obstruct their journey or progress. They learn the rules of the new and unfamiliar world. This stage helps them put their knowledge, experiences and skills to use. They gain a deeper insight into their character and identify others who can help them out.

Approach To The Inmost Cave

This is where the hero gets closer to their goal. This stage entails all the preparation that goes into facing the main challenge. However, there may be setbacks that prevent heroes from trying out new ideas or approaches. If they fail, they need to try again—it’s a lesson in persistence.

Supreme Ordeal

It refers to the main obstacle a hero faces in their journey. It may be a dangerous physical test or a deep inner crisis that they must face and overcome. Vogler refers to this stage as the ‘black moment’ as the hero must conquer their biggest fear. This further informs every decision that they make after this point.

After overcoming the biggest hurdle in the journey, a hero transforms into a new state. They emerge stronger and more resilient than ever. This is a moment of great success and the hero earns their reward for their accomplishment. This moment should be celebrated.

The Road Back

The journey isn’t over yet as the hero needs to return to the ordinary world—where they came from. They must commit to completing the journey and travel back. With new learnings and experiences, integrating them into old life in itself is a challenge.

The Resurrection

In this final test, the hero must use and apply everything they’ve learned or gathered over time. It reflects their personal growth and how well they can apply their knowledge to overcome obstacles. Vogler refers to this as the ‘final exam’ and the hero must give their best.

Return With The Elixir

The hero finally returns to the ordinary world i.e., their original setting. They’ve emerged victorious as they patiently addressed and overcame every challenge in their journey. They bring the elixir or the knowledge and that’s the true reward of their journey and transformation.

Although an increasing number of women are pushing their boundaries in leadership positions, the progress towards parity remains slow. The Women in the Workplace report (2020) published by McKinsey & Company suggests that women remain dramatically underrepresented in senior management roles.

Joseph Campbell hero’s journey can be used as a lens to identify the various challenges and opportunities that are instrumental to successful women’s leadership. This process of personal transformation is a roadmap for professional success. Women need appropriate tools and resources that can help them climb the corporate ladder. Organizations need to ensure that there’s sufficient support, guidance and mentorship so that women aren’t afraid to explore new challenges and opportunities. Create an environment where more and more women step outside their comfort zone.

Here are a few simple yet effective tips that’ll help you promote women’s leadership in the workplace. Help them explore their own version of the hero’s journey and enhance leadership qualities .

Address Basic Challenges

One of the biggest roadblocks to promoting women’s leadership is the accessibility of resources. It can include on-the-job training or guidance in general—individuals can sharpen necessary skills, capabilities and perspectives.

The Power Of Choice

Nudge women towards the right direction by helping them make choices and decisions independently. Encourage them to take ownership and provide them opportunities for professional and personal growth. C0-create a leadership development strategy.

Rethink And Challenge Assumptions

To make your work environment truly inclusive and supportive, address unconscious bias. Whether it’s your hiring process, salary increments or promotions, implement checks and balances and promote fair practices. Understand what women expect from their roles.

Create Appropriate Networks

A majority of women struggle to build strong professional networks. It’s crucial because the right relationships can help them access information, gain opportunities for career advancement and earn promotions. Effective leaders rely on good networks to influence and get results.

Invite Anonymous Feedback

Employees may not always be comfortable voicing their thoughts, ideas and opinions. In order to capture what they truly need and expect, ensure frequent and anonymous feedback surveys. Increase the overall comfort and transparency.

It’s an undeniable reality that women leaders face a unique set of obstacles at work. Studies show that women bring to the table better business outcomes, smarter problem-solving abilities and richer collaboration. They can be inspiring role models who lift others as they leap themselves.

Harappa’s Women’s Leadership Program pivots on five crucial outcomes that help learners raise the bar at the workplace. It brings a carefully curated selection of academically robust and application-oriented concepts that’ll help women leaders navigate demanding and challenging mandates. Help them achieve transformative leadership and let these heroes shine in their journeys!

Explore Harappa Diaries to learn more about topics such as  Adult Learning Principles , Must-Have  Skills For Leadership  & The Importance Of  Women’s Leadership  that will help organizations tap into their employee’s potential.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Best Episodes (So Far)

• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End combines fantasy, emotional depth, and charming character moments in an epic adventure series.
• The anime introduces memorable characters like Fern, Stark, and Aura, adding depth to Frieren's journey and emotional arc.
• Episodes highlight Frieren's growth, relationships, and magical battles, making it a standout series for fans of fantasy and SOL genres.

The following contains spoilers for Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End is a new shonen anime series that's ideal for fans of The Lord of the Rings , though it also has plenty to offer for fans of general fantasy and even slice-of-life adventures. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End stars the centuries-old elf wizard Frieren, who has aleady defeated the mighty demon king and is now seeking a new adventure to give her lengthy life some meaning. Her old adventurer party may be gone, but she can always form a new one.

Across 28 episodes, the first season of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End delights anime fans with emotionally resonant, exciting, and thematically deep fantasy adventures with some LotR trappings and D&D references, and ten particular episodes stand out as the anime's best so far. The ten best Frieren episodes feature the most memorable action scenes, the most charming character moments, and some of the most impactful action sequences in the story thus far.

10 Lessons Slice-of-Life Anime Can Learn From Frieren

"the journey's end" concludes one era in frieren's life and begins another.

The very first episode of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End makes it clear that this isn't just a retelling of LotR or a Dungeons & Dragons animation like Vox Machina . Instead, the Frieren anime is all about the heart and the emotional impact of an elf like Frieren outliving everyone. That gives Frieren a substantial emotional arc .

Frieren experienced more than grief when she attendeed Himmel's funeral, though she did miss him dearly. It was a wake-up call for Frieren, encouraging her to value the brief human lives around her and never take them for granted. That inspired Frieren to see short-lived beigns in a whole new light and make her life about them, not herself.

"It Didn't Have to Be Magic..." Gives Frieren Her New Apprentice, Fern

10 frieren characters who left a lasting impression on fans.

Episode 2 of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End delivered some wonderful payoff for Frieren's mission to forge deeper emotional bonds with the people around her. First, Frieren was inspired to cherish the humans around her and not take them for granted, and Episode 2 gave her a chance to put that idea into practice.

Frieren spent time with her old adventurer friend Heiter, who had started training a young purple-haired girl named Fern. By the episode's end, Frieren had accepted Fern as her own disciple, forging an excellent new friendship and master/apprentice dynamic that would become the emotional core of the entire Frieren anime. Frieren would soon make other friends too, but Fern was something special, and it all started in Episode 2.

"Phantoms of the Dead" Introduces Stark, the Redhead Warrior With Hidden Insecurities

Episode 5 introduced the first male member of Frieren's new party and the first non-wizard, a red-headed young man simply named Stark. In Episode 5, Frieren and Fern dealt with a deceptive monster called an Einsam, and then Frieren decideed to slay a dragon and obtain its grimoire. After all, Frieren loves grimoires and spells, even accepting weak spells as payment for a completed mission.

That quest allowed Frieren and Fern to cross paths with Stark, whose introduction was a fine blend of action, comedy, and serious emotional weight. It's both funny and grim that Stark merely faked his victory over the red dragon, winning a staring contest with the creature simply because he was too afraid to move. Once Stark joined Frieren's team, he got himself ready to get stronger and braver to become the warrior everyone thinks he is.

"A Powerful Mage" Shows Frieren Defeating Aura With Her Deceptive Magic Aura

The Frieren anime spent a few episodes introducing a small handful of demons who tried to pass themselves off as diplomats at first. However, not everyone was fooled by Lügner and his allies, no matter their polite behavior and good looks. Demons only used language as a tool to fool humans, and that's why Frieren kept her guard up around them.

By Episode 10, the Frieren heroes were waging war against Lügner's group, with the most memorable battle pitting Frieren herself against a demon lady named Aura the Guillotine. That battle explained that demons only cared about people's magical auras to assess them, unaware that well-trained people like Frieren can use deceptive auras. Thus, Frieren was much stronger than expected, and she dispatched the surprised Aura.

"A Real Hero" Shows Stark Enjoying a Birthday Party

10 anime characters who should join frieren's adventurer party.

Episode 12 began with a short adventure in the Village of the Sword, where Frieren learned that even though Himmel failed to draw a sword from the stone, stories stated that he had succeeded. Fortunately, as Frieren recalled, Himmel didn't feel bad about his failure, and resolved to defeat the demon lord anyway, which he ultimately did.

Later in Episode 12, Stark had hisw 18th birthday, and he stated how his family never celebrated his birthday. So, Fern gave him a gift, and Stark was touched. That was a good example of no matter how much Fern and Stark sometimes annoyed each other, they were also good friends who cared about another. Stark also enjoyed his hamburg dinner, a symbolic dinner for warriors who try their best.

"Privilege of the Young" Involves Stark Getting Fern a Romantic Birthday Gift

Not long after Star's birthday scene, Fern had her own birthday, and she was quite upset when Stark forgot about it and thus didn't give her a gift. To mediate, Sein noted that boys like Stark couldn't always be expected to remember such things, and Fern decided to apologize for reacting so strongly for Stark's forgetfulness. In return, Stark agreed to go shopping with Fern to find a gift so everyone could be happy.

Stark ended up getting Fern a bracelet similar to a ring Frieren had, though the ring was lost in a brief battle. After that, Sein noted that the mirrored lotus, which symbolized eternal love. Amusingly, Stark was a little embarassed at giving Fern such a romantic gift without realizing it, but Fern was content with it. All that made Episode 14 another charming Stark/Fern shipping moment, which is one of the best subplots in the anime.

"Take Care" Has Some Amusing Fern/Stark Banter

Episode 17 didn't do much for the plot, but it did have some charming Fern moments, and that's enough to please many Frieren anime fans. In Episode 17, Fern and Stark butted heads once again, since Stark didn't realize he upset Fern by grabbing her shoulder too roughly. Fortunately, they were able to talk it out while the team was confined in wintery conditions.

Later in that episode, Sein departed, and then Fern fell ill. That gave Frieren a chance to literally feel closer to her new friends and have a touching moment with them. Frieren held Fern's hand to make her feel better while fighting off an illness, something Himmel used to do for her. That was quite charming to see, and by the episode's end, the real story was about to begin, the first-class mage exam , so fans could get excited about that.

"First-Class Mage Exam" Launches the Frieren Anime's Best and Longest Arc

10 best fights in frieren: beyond journeys end.

Episode 18 of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End fully began the mage exam story arc, which allowed the anime to end on a strong note. Episode 18 also helped establish the rarity and power of first-class mages, which helped provide some stakes for the exam and prove why it was worth all the trouble. Episode 18 also introduced many new characters for anime fans to meet.

Fern ended up in a team with the sinister wizard girl Übel, while Frieren was teamed up with Lawine and Kanne, two girls who kept feuding but were also friends deep down. The rest of Episode 18 was devoted to the exam's first phase, where all the entrants had to capture Stilles, ultra-fast birds that were always on alert for danger. Even Frieren struggled at first, but there was still hope.

"The World of Magic" is the Explosive Finale to the Mage Exam's First Phase

In Episode 21, the first phase came to a close as the mages battled the Stilles and one another to claim victory. Overall, Episode 21 is one of the better Frieren episodes because of all the action, and of course, there's the relief that came from the best heroes all passing the test by capturing those birds.

Episode 21 also made Frieren a star by showing her use her magic to destroy the domed barrier over the test area. Sense the proctor was shocked when Frieren shattered that dome to let the rain in, demonstrating how powerful and creative Frieren could be when pushed.

"The Height of Magic" Concludes the Dungeon Boss Battle in Spectacular Fashion

Episode 26 of Frieren concluded the great battle against Frieren's golem replica, which had all of Frieren's own magical power and expertise. Seeing how Frieren is one of the strongest Frieren characters of all, the replica of her was indeed a dire threat that could easily kill almost anyone who opposed it. Still, there was a chance, and Fern was ready to take it.

After a tough fight, in which Fern showed off her own immense arcane power, the test takers destroyed the Spiegel and thus ended the threat of Frieren's replica once and for all. Episode 26 also showed Übel slicing apart Sense's own replica, an amazing feat that required Übel to think about the act of cutting in just the right way.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

An elf and her friends defeat a demon king in a great war. But the war is over, and the elf must search for a new way of life.

Release Date September 29, 2023

Cast Jill Harris, Mallorie Rodak, Kana Ichinose, Atsumi Tanezaki

Main Genre Anime

Genres Drama, Adventure, Anime

Rating TV-14

Creator Tsukasa Abe, Kanehito Yamada

Production Company Aniplex, Dentsu, Madhouse, Shogakukan, TOHO animation, Toho