hero's journey novels

31 Best Hero’s Journey Books to Add to Your Reading List

Interested in learning more about the hero’s journey stories? Discover the best hero’s journey books to begin your reading adventure!

Writers and readers love hero’s journey stories . From the origin stories of cultures to the twelfth-century poems that make up The Mabinogion (themselves derived from earlier oral traditions) to today’s blockbuster SF-laden movies, the monomyth is a part of our collective, subconscious experience.

These stories feature certain archetypes and follow a set pattern. The hero sets off on a quest from his/her ordinary world (The Departure), subsequently learns a lesson or obtains new knowledge, and uses this to triumph over something, someone, or a set of circumstances (The Initiation).

The hero then returns to his/her own world, transformed or with the tools needed to enact positive change (The Return). Below, we take a look at the 31 best books to add to your reading list if you’re a fan of the genre. This list pairs nicely with our roundup of movies that follow the hero’s journey .

Here Are The Best Hero’s Journey Books

1. the hobbit by jrr tolkien, 2. the odyssey by homer, 3. harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone by jk rowling, 4. the alchemist by paulo coelho, 5. the inferno by dante alighieri, 6. the goose girl by shannon hale, 7. the wizard of oz by l frank baum, 8. the hunger games by suzanne collins, 9. to kill a mockingbird by harper lee, 10. where the mountain meets the moon by grace lin, 11. don quixote by miguel de cervantes, 12. the 5th wave by rick yancey, 13. beowulf, 14. siddhartha: an indian novel by hermann hesse, 15. a separate reality by carlos castaneda, 16. across the universe by beth revis, 17. american gods by neil gaiman, 18. little briar rose (sleeping beauty) by the brothers grimm, 19. jane eyre by charlotte bronte, 20. the pilgrim’s progress by john bunyan, 21. the hound of the baskervilles by arthur conan doyle, 22. treasure island by robert louis stevenson, 23. argonautica by apollonius, 24. the fault in our stars by john green, 25. holes by louis sachar, 26. interstellar by greg keyes, 27. divergent by veronica roth, 28. the buried giant by kazuo ishiguro, 29. alice in wonderland by lewis carroll, 30. the lion, the witch and the wardrobe by c.s. lewis, 31. fight club by chuck palahniuk.

This classic book by J.R.R. Tolkien has featured regularly on best-seller lists since its first publication in 1937 and is widely cited as one of the twentieth century’s most beloved and influential novels. It’s a classic hero’s journey genre tale, too – featuring an unlikely hero in the form of Bilbo Baggins.

This unassuming hobbit is swept off on an adventure when Gandalf the wizard and a company of dwarves appear on his doorstep. He finds himself part of a mission to reclaim a fabulous horde of treasure from under the very nose of the fearsome dragon Smaug the Magnificent. For more, check out our guide to the best fantasy authors. You can also check out our guide on hero’s journey archetypes .

“This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected.” JRR Tolkien

• Tolkien, J.R.R. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 320 Pages - 08/15/2002 (Publication Date) - Clarion Books (Publisher)

Homer’s story of Odysseus is one of the oldest surviving works of literature that’s still being read by audiences today. This epic story tells the tale of the wandering king, trying to get home to his wife Penelope following the end of the Trojan War . The tale features all the tropes of a hero’s journey story, from its opening.

Odysseus is portrayed in his ordinary life, through to the Crossing the Threshold section, where the Gods become enraged with the hero and his company, summoning a storm to throw their boat off course, to The Return, whereby after completing a final challenge, Odysseus is returned to his royal life with Penelope.

“A man who has been through bitter experiences and traveled far enjoys even his sufferings after a time.” Homer

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JK Rowling’s worldwide best-seller Harry Potter is a prime example of the hero’s journey tale. The book starts with Harry in the ordinary world before moving through all of the typical hero’s journey stages, as detailed by Joseph Campbell in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Harry receives the invitation letter to Hogwarts (The Call to Adventure), struggles to accept this sudden turn of events (Refusal of the Call), and Meets the Mentor – in the first book, this is Hagrid.

The Crossing the Threshold stage is his literal passing through the wall to access Platform 9 3/4 at the station. The Ordeal is represented by the various challenges the young wizard encounters at his new school, culminating in his temporary triumph over Voldemort. At the end of the book, he returns to the world of the muggles for the summer vacation, happy that he’ll be returning to Hogwarts soon (The Return).

“A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under an inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen.” JK Rowling

The hero’s journey takes many different forms: it’s not always about defeating villains or finding lost treasure. The genre can also be powerfully deployed in the service of a spiritual quest tale, as in this novel. While the young protagonist, who is a perfect example of the Innocent/Orphan hero archetype, might start his journey looking for real-world riches, what unfolds is a beautiful story of self-discovery. Ultimately, the book is about the importance of heeding our hearts and the transformative power of dreams.

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” Paulo Coelho

• Note: Item has rough Cut edges(Edges are cut improperly intentionally by the manufacturer)
• A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new Foreword by Paulo Coelho.
• Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery,
• Coelho, Paulo (Author)

The first volume of The Divine Comedy is considered a literary masterpiece, following the hero’s journey on a quest through the various Circles of Hell. After meeting Virgil (the Mentor), our narrator progresses, facing numerous trials and tests, always seeking his beloved Beatrice. Although he sometimes has ‘weapons’ with which to face his adversaries, his most potent weapon is his faith in his journey, which is a blend of both a spiritual and a physical mission.

“Soon you will be where your own eyes will see the source and cause and give you their own answer to the mystery.” Dante Alighieri

• Alighieri, Dante (Author)
• 108 Pages - 05/30/2013 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale has written a book that, although aimed at middle-schoolers, has become much loved by kids and adults alike. Drawing on the tradition of folktales, it’s a heroine’s journey story, recounting the tale of Ani, who’s uncomfortable around people but able to communicate easily with animals. She leaves her world behind. However, when she’s sent away to marry. Despite disaster striking, she finds herself in a job where she can use her unique talents and give voice to her inner self.

If we don’t tell strange stories, when something strange happens we won’t believe it.” Shannon Hale

• Hardcover Book
• Shannon Hale (Author)
• 400 Pages - 04/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Bloomsbury Childrens Books (Publisher)

A key element of the heroine’s journey is, while it maintains recognizable archetype qualities, there is an overcoming or subversion of society’s expectations regarding women. Rather than staying at home in Kanas, Dorothy has the adventure she longs for.

While the hero’s journey stories tend to move from the inner world to the outer (from the darkness to the light), the heroine’s journey is usually the inverse of this, with characters moving from the outer world to a deeper communion with their inner selves and desires.

“The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.’“ L Frank Baum

• Baum, L. Frank (Author)
• 160 Pages - 12/01/2016 (Publication Date) - Sweet Cherry Publishing (Publisher)

Envisioning a dystopian new world in which each District is compelled to send two children between the ages of twelve and sixteen to compete in the annual Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins’ novels are widely cited as examples of the hero’s journey genre. Now a Hollywood blockbuster series of movies, the story demonstrates how the tropes inherent in Homer’s tale of Odysseus, written nearly 3,000 years ago, are still alive and kicking today. For more, check out our guide to the best books for teenagers .

“I’m more than just a piece in their Games.” Suzanne Collins

Set in 1930s Alabama, Atticus Finch is a lawyer attempting to defend and prove the innocence of Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. Atticus’s hero’s journey is largely a psychological one, in which he faces his own innermost beliefs, and is forced to confront morality and prejudice in the south of the US, how this manifests, and its impact on the individual and society – as well as the delivery of justice.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” Harper Lee

Another bestselling novel adored by adults and children alike, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon chronicles Minli’s quest as she journies to find the Old Man on the Moon. Drawing on Chinese folktales, this rich fantasy, accompanied by the author’s beautiful illustrations, follows Minli as she encounters a range of otherworldly characters in her quest to find the answers to some of life’s biggest questions.

“If you make happy those that are near, those that are far will come.” Grace Lin

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• Lin, Grace (Author)

The Spanish masterpiece, first published in 1605, begins in the ordinary world of Alonso Quijano, a middle-aged man who loves nothing more than reading stories about knights and their adventures. Deciding to leave behind his own life to become a knight errant himself, Alonso changes his name to Don Quixote and sets off on a series of heroic deeds – some more successful than others!

“It is by rugged paths like these they go that scale the heights of immortality, unreached by those that falter here below.” Miguel de Cervantes

• Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra (Author)
• English (Subtitle)
• 800 Pages - 09/03/1997 (Publication Date) - Wordsworth Editions Ltd (Publisher)

This Amazon bestseller by Rick Yancey received the Goodreads Choice award. The Fifth Wave focuses on Cassie and Evan, two of the last human survivors on Earth following an alien invasion, dreading the imminent fourth wave. As a hero’s journey tale, Cassie must tackle both a physical, dangerous quest and attempt to understand the truth of the terrifying new world she’s inhabiting.

“Some things you don’t have to promise, you just do.” Rick Yancey

The hero in this Old English epic poem from an unknown author follows precisely the steps outlined by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. From the Call to Adventure and the Refusal of the Call and all the way through to The Return – otherwise known as The Elixir- in which the hero brings something back from his adventure to benefit society. In the case of Beowulf, it’s the insight he has gained, which will keep his people safe going forward, and his blessing of peace,

“In the time I was given I lived in my own land, ruling my people well, never turning to treachery, or swearing to oaths contrary to right.” Beowulf

• Unknown (Author)
• 142 Pages - 11/20/2020 (Publication Date) - East India Publishing Company (Publisher)

A much-loved novel published in 1951 that follows the classic hero’s journey template, Siddhartha concerns the titular character on his quest for self-discovery. Deciding to leave his home in the ancient Nepalese kingdom of Kapilavastu, Siddhartha sets out as a wandering beggar seeking spiritual enlightenment. Through his journeying, the hero learns the importance of loving the world in its entirety and that a single, fixed belief does not constitute truth.

“Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” Hermann Hesse

• Hesse, Hermann (Author)
• 224 Pages - 09/19/2023 (Publication Date) - Wellfleet Press (Publisher)

With its mind-bending perspectives and mythic structure, it’s unclear how much of this book is fictional and how much is based on reality. With its clear mentor character (the Yaqui Indian shaman, Don Juan) and the dangerous journey at its heart that the protagonist is compelled to undertake, it’s a clear example of the hero’s journey story – though possibly one that pushes the boundaries of the genre more than any you’ve come across!

“We are men and our lot in life is to learn and be hurled into inconceivable new worlds.” Carols Castaneda

• Carlos Castaneda (Author)
• 263 Pages - 10/01/1972 (Publication Date) - Pocket Books (Publisher)

Awakening fifty years too soon from cryosleep, Amy finds herself aboard the spaceship Godspeed and in a terrifying situation. Realizing that her awakening didn’t happen by accident (The Call to Action), Amy has to accept the truth that someone else on board wants her dead – and that her parents, still in cryosleep, could be the next victims if she doesn’t figure out what’s going on. But meeting Eldest, the future leader of the ship, changes everything.

“Even when you are silent, even when you block out all noise, your body is still a cacophony of life.” Beth Revis

• Beth Revis (Author)
• 416 Pages - 02/02/2011 (Publication Date) - New York: Razor Bill (Publisher)

Blending fantasy and world mythology (both old and new), this novel widely divides its audience: it falls into the love it or loathe it category. But whatever your views on the plot and the writing, it’s an innovative take on the hero’s journey trope that reimagines the genre. Even its archetype, Shadow, is a vivid and disturbing (yet recognizable) hero figure – although, in typical Neil Gaiman style, the name ‘Shadow’ is also one of the character archetypes set out by Christopher Vogler’s author of the influential book, The Writer’s Journey.

“Even nothing cannot last forever.” Nail Gaiman

Fairy tales are great places to look for the hero’s journey stories being themselves, born from ancient folktales, legends, and myths. There are many versions of this tale, many of which feature very dark and disturbing themes, but the Grimms’ version is relatively tame. While reading, consider the extent to which the story is a hero’s or a heroine’s journey tale – thinking about the journey from outer to inner (and vice versa) and how this relates to the narrative of both the prince and Briar Rose herself.

“The pigeons upon the roof pulled out their heads from under their wings, looked round, and flew into the open country; the flies on the wall crept again; the fire in the kitchen burned up and flickered and cooked the meat; the joint began to turn and fizzle again.” Brothers Grimm

• Brothers Grimm (Author)
• 04/13/2024 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins Publishers (Publisher)

In his writings, the renowned psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung outlined his ideas about archetypes, including archetypal journies, contending that humans’ unconscious minds are remarkably similar. This is why the hero’s journey stories have always permeated literature and art and continue to do so.

At its heart, the journey of Jane Eyre is the same as that taken by Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, despite the time and genre divide between the two. Just as Luke’s quest is about discovering truth and recognizing potential, so Jane’s journey is concerned with growth and independence – and there’s a disturbing truth in the attic to confront along the way, too.

Just as with Skywalker, Jane emerges at the end of the tale as a strong, loyal, passionate character who has faced a devastating reality and emerged from the ordeal with even greater reserves of tenacity than before. For more, check out our guide to the best British authors .

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” Charlotte Bronte

• Bronte, Charlotte (Author)
• 400 Pages - 06/01/2015 (Publication Date) - Digireads.com (Publisher)

A classic hero’s journey tale and the, at times, the most widely read book in the world, second only to The Bible, Bunyan’s book is concerned with the importance of learning and reading and the innate value of community. The hero, Christian, leaves his home and must face a series of trials – key to the genre. However, each tribulation or challenge must be thoroughly understood if a pilgrim is to progress. There’s even a final trial – a test of faith – which Christians must pass to access the Celestial City.

“The road of denial leads to the precipice of destruction.” John Bunyan

• Bunyan, John (Author)
• 400 Pages - 12/18/2003 (Publication Date) - Oxford University Press (Publisher)

The greatest literary detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes, is a hero archetype: The Researcher (the character of Indiana Jones also falls within this hero category). The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the most well-known stories featuring Holmes and his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson. This is a great book for those interested in the hero’s journey genre, as the stages are so clearly delineated, from the Call to Action (Holmes’ enlistment to the case) through to The Return, whereby Watson files the case closed.

“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” Arthur Conan Doyle

• Arthur Conan Doyle (Author)
• 174 Pages - 07/02/2007 (Publication Date) - Penguin Books (Publisher)

In this classic by a 19th century author , we meet Jim going about his daily life in the inn that his family owns. Following the Call to Action, where the boy becomes fascinated with the ‘black spot’ presented to the old captain, Billy Bones, who’s staying at the inn, Jim becomes embroiled in an epic adventure on the high seas in search of buried treasure.

“We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.” Robert Louis Stevenson

• Robert Louis Stevenson (author) (Author)
• 336 Pages - 09/14/2018 (Publication Date) - Wordsworth Editions Ltd (Publisher)

Testament to the power of myth is the enduring popularity of this story, which recounts the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts as they quest for the golden fleece. The epic, written – incredibly – in the third century BC, remains so widely read that there are not only multiple versions available on amazon, but you can listen to it as an audiobook, too! It features all the archetypal stages of the genre, including the Refusal of the Call, whereby Jason initially urges the heroes to elect another leader for the voyage. Once chosen, though, Heracles insists that Jason can take up the mantle, confident he can lead the band to victory.

“But friendly Juno shrouds/Her favorite heroes in a veil of clouds.” Apollonius

• Rhodius, Apollonius (Author)
• 129 Pages - 11/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

A bestseller that was also received extremely well by critics, this novel is a hero’s journey tale with a difference. Hazel, our protagonist, is sixteen years old and suffering from thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. Her parents insist she attends a support group (Crossing the Threshold) where she meets Augustus Walters, a seventeen-year-old osteosarcoma survivor. It’s now a Hollywood blockbuster movie that captures Amy’s journey into love.

“My name is Hazel. Augustus Waters was the great star-crossed love of my life.” John Green

When fourteen-year-old Stanley is wrongly convicted of stealing, he’s sent to a correctional camp where the inmates are forced by the warden to dig holes, seemingly at random. The story is comprised of three individual but interconnected tales. It makes for a fascinating take on the hero’s journey genre, the pattern of which can be seen both in the three stand-alone stories and in the overarching triptych.

“You’re responsible for yourself. You messed up your life, and it’s up to you to fix it.” Louis Sachar

• Sachar, Louis (Author)
• 240 Pages - 04/13/2024 (Publication Date) - Bloomsbury (Publisher)

This novelization of the Hollywood movie is an exciting account of a team of interstellar explorers sent through a newly-discovered wormhole – and what the ramifications of this mean for humanity. Despite being written thousands of years after Argonautica, the story shares a remarkably similar bone structure, as our hero literally navigates new worlds in a quest to return with the solution that will save the human race from extinction.

“We’ve always defined ourself by our ability to overcome the impossible.” Jonathan Nolan

• Keyes, Greg (Author)
• 288 Pages - 11/11/2014 (Publication Date) - Titan Books (Publisher)

Divergent by Veronica Roth offers a dystopian version of a future in which society is divided into five factions, each representing a certain virtue. Beatrice has been assigned the Abnegation faction but feels a Call to Action: in her heart, she knows she belongs to Dauntless. While set in a distant future, the tale follows the traditional archetypal hero’s journey; after the Call, Beatrice (now Tris) must resist several temptations, cross a threshold, and must survive a final ordeal to emerge at the novel’s finale, transformed and triumphant.

“I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. I am Divergent.” Veronica Roth

Beautiful and strange, this novel uses the mythic structure as both framework and plot. We follow a couple across a mystical, fiction, post-Arthurian landscape that is as shrouded in mist as their fast-disappearing memories. Both are convinced that they once had a son and so set out on a quest to find him. The author wrote the book as a meditation on collective memory, making it both an example and an interrogation of the hero’s journey tale.

“I’m wondering if without our memories, there’s nothing for it but for our love to fade and die.” Kazuo Ishiguro

• Ishiguro, Kazuo (Author)
• 384 Pages - 01/28/2016 (Publication Date) - Faber & Faber (Publisher)

Literally Crossing the Threshold via a fall down a rabbit hole, Alice arrives in Wonderland, where nothing is as it seems, and both adventure and danger lurk around every corner. But is the Caterpillar, The White Rabbit, or The Mad Hatter the Mentor? Just as with everything else in the story, it’s a riddle. But what’s for sure is that the story follows the classic monomyth template as set out by Joseph Campbell.

“‘I could tell you my adventures – beginning from this morning,’ said Alice a little timidly: ‘but it’s no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.’” Lewis Carroll

• Carroll, Lewis (Author)
• 101 Pages - 05/06/2021 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)

In some hero’s journey books, the stages are subtle – you can find them, but you may need to look closely. As in Alice in Wonderland, the phases are made obvious in this novel: the kids literally step over the threshold of the magical wardrobe and into the enchanted world of Narnia. The Refusal of the Call comes when the children initially turn back, fearful of their ability to navigate their way home. They return and take on the challenges set for them by one of literature’s ultimate Mentor figures, Aslan.

“All shall be done, but it may be harder than you think.” C.S. Lewis

• C.S. Lewis (Author)
• 171 Pages - 01/01/2009 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins Children's Books (Publisher)

Just because the hero’s journey genre is as old as time doesn’t mean it’s not subject to continual innovation – as in this novel, where the hero’s Mentor and biggest challenge to overcome is…literally himself. Fight Club is a cult phenomenon that’s made the leap to mainstream hit, helped along by the success of the great screenwriting featured in the Hollywood movie version of the book. Visionary, satirical, and a personal enlightenment journey like no other, Fight Club gleefully reimagines the hero’s journey genre to spectacular effect.

“If I could wake up in a different place, at a different time, could I wake up as a different person?” Chuck Palahniuk

• Palahniuk, Chuck (Author)
• 208 Pages - 10/02/1997 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher)

Melanie Smith is a freelance content and creative writer from Gloucestershire, UK, where she lives with her daughter, long-suffering partner, and cat, The Magical Mr. Bobo. Her blog posts and articles feature regularly in magazines and websites around the world.

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• Sep 7, 2018

The Hero's Journey: 12 of the Best Books about Quests

Updated: Sep 26, 2018

The quest narrative is one of the oldest and more enduring types of stories. It has played a prominent role in folklore and myth around the world and continues to appear in fiction and film. Closely tied to the monomyth of the Hero’s Journey, the quest narrative is centred on a character who must set out on a journey in order to achieve a goal. This journey usually takes the character and the readers through exotic or fantastical landscapes, as well as through a series of obstacles and perils. The object of the quest typically centres on the search for a person, place, or thing, as seen in the stories of The Wizard of Oz , the hunt for El Dorado, and the quest for the Holy Grail, respectively. The desire, or wish to return home after the object is found also plays a prominent role in many quest narratives.

Quests have appeared in literature throughout the ages, usually in the most popular genre of that era. They came to prominence in the chivalric romances of the Middle Ages, and the figure of the knight-errant has remained closely tied to the conception of quests ever since. This is particularly notable in the adventure fiction of the 19th century, which saw not only a resurgence of quest stories, but also of novels set in the medieval era, such as Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe . This medievalist approach has continued into modern fantasy literature where the quest continues to play a prominent role in some of the most popular books of today. Here we have listed some of the great examples of quests in literature across the ages.

The Odyssey by Homer

Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey are among some of the oldest

surviving examples of Western literature. While the story of the Odyssey happens chronologically directly after the events in the Iliad, in that it charts the journey home of a group of soldiers involved in the Trojan War, the two poems have a very different tone and style. Where the Iliad is tragic, the Odyssey has much more of an adventurous feel. The Odyssey’s quest is unusual in that it is centred on the ‘returning home’ aspect rather than the going out. Within this overarching quest however is a series of smaller quests and adventures that take Odysseus and his comrades into the lairs of cyclops, through the waters of sirens and into the underworld. An enduring classic for a reason, it’s hard not to get swept up in the trials and exploits of Odysseus and his comrades in their quest to return home.

Le Morte Darthur by Thomas Malory

While The Odyssey remains one of the most iconic quests in the literary canon, as already noted the conception of quests is often much more associated with medieval courtly romances. Of these, the Arthurian legends are perhaps the most enduring. Completed in 1470, Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur is considered the definitive English account of King Arthur’s life, from his ascent to the throne and his founding of the Knights of the Round Table, to the fall of the golden age of chivalry culminating in his death. Although not the only quest described, the greatest part of the text is given to the individual efforts of the various knights to find the Holy Grail. In this Le Morte d'Arthur is perhaps the quintessential quest story.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Where Le Morte d’Arthur takes a serious look at the expectations of heroism and the need for true chivalry, another medieval Arthurian story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight takes an altogether more light-hearted approach. It is an outlandish and playful tale and the quest in this case is an unusual one, as it is a journey towards death. Set on New Year’s day, an unexpected guest, in the form of the Green Knight, appears at the Camelot festivities. He

challenges any of the knights to strike him with their axe, on the condition that he may return the blow in exactly one year. Sir Gawain agrees, striking the green knight on the neck, but the beheaded knight simply picks up his own head and walks away. Gawain must then set out to find the castle of the Green Knight and receive his agreed blow. The story which was recorded in the 14th century, here receives a modernized rendering by J.R.R. Tolkien, who will be

returned to later in this list for his own quest stories. This edition also contains another medieval quest story, Sir Orfeo , in which a knight must enter the fairy world in order to retrieve his stolen wife, making this particular edition an excellent place to explore medieval quests.

The White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In moving on to the adventure fiction of the 19th century, we find ourselves right back in the medieval world, with Arthur Conan Doyle’s knightly historical tale The White Company . While Doyle is most famous for creating the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, he himself found much greater pride in his carefully researched and lovingly crafted historical fiction adventures. Set during the Hundred Years War, The White Company follows two young men, Allenye and John Hordle, who both leave their lives in the abbey for very different reasons, but find themselves united in joining the mercenary regiment known as The White Company . They set out for France on a quest to fight for England, a journey which takes them through many perils and adventures. The length of this novel, in comparison to the serialised Holmes stories, gives Doyle space to demonstrate his truly masterful talent. He balances a romantic and rose tinted perspective of the medieval era while carrying the wealth of carefully researched knowledge and detail.

The Man who would be King by Rudyard Kipling

Kipling is iconic for his evocative stories set in the Indian subcontinent. His writing, blending exoticism with verisimilitude, captures the reader’s imagination almost instantly, making it perfect for adventure. In this novella, Kipling describes the exploits of two men, Dravot and Carnehan, who make the audacious claim that: “India isn’t big enough for such as us.” They embark on a quest to set themselves up as kings in Karifistan. While they find initial success, their quest ultimately ends in disaster. Kipling’s work is often critiqued now for it’s positive views on colonialism, however The Man Who Would Be King also serves as a reproach to self-interested rulers and the dangers of implanting yourself as the leader of a culture you don’t understand. It’s an atmospheric and unsettling story of the dark side of a quest.

A Modern Telemachus by Charlotte M. Yonge

The writings of Charlotte M. Yonge are sadly forgotten by most modern readers, but she was widely read and well-respected during her life in the nineteenth century. Her admirers included many famous literary figures including George Eliot and Lewis Carroll. She was prolific in her work, producing over 50 novels in a range of genres and settings. Her novel The Lances of Lynwood may be the most obvious recommendation for this list, however we feel we

can move away from courtly romance for a moment and instead embrace the perils of the high seas in A Modern Telemachus . When the Countess of Bourke set out to sail from France to Spain in order to see her husband, her ship is attacked by pirates and wrecked on the coast of North Africa. A young man on board, Arthur Hope Maxwell, rescues the Countess’ young son Ulysse but both are swept further down the coast by the current. The two then set out on a quest to rescue the survivors of the shipwreck, who they learn have been captured by natives. Yonge’s gripping details of the conflicts and dangers make this a bombastic and entertaining tale of adventure and heroics.

In Search of the Castaways by Jules Verne

Verne’s writing is almost synonymous with adventure fiction. While we could talk about some of his more famous titles, In Search of the Castaways is a regrettably overlooked story that encompasses some of the best elements of quests and adventure fiction. After finding a letter in a bottle, retrieved from a shark’s stomach, the story’s protagonist, Lord Glenarvan, goes on a quest across three continents in order to find the shipwrecked author of the letter, Captain Grant. The only clue is Grant’s last known latitude, and so Glenarvan and his companions set out to circumnavigate the world along the 37th parallel south. Verne lets loose on all the expected adventure fare, his characters experience piracy, cannibals, and earthquakes. Parts of the story are certainly of its time, but then so is that spirit of adventure.

Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien

So far, our suggestions have stayed within the classic expectations of quests, but there have been plenty of stories that play with the expectations. Turning to a more modern example, O’Brien’s Going After Cacciato is a quixotic quest that blends hallucination and reality. In the middle of the Vietnam War, Cacciato announces to his squad that he plans to walk from Vietnam to Paris. When he subsequently goes missing. his squad must then set off on their own quest to find and capture Cacciato for deserting. Drawing on his own experiences as a soldier in Vietnam, O’Brien draws the reader into the world with great immediacy, managing to balance the graphic realities of his characters, with the fantasy world the characters slip into in order to deal with their surroundings.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Going After Cacciato shows the way in which quests can figure in contemporary literature, but for the most part, modern fiction has seen the quest move into genres such as fantasy. Perhaps most famous for this is Tolkien. He created his fantasy world with the hope of crafting a truly English mythology. This means that his fiction features many of the elements we have already seen in the classical and medieval stories, including that of the quest. Some people may consider Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy as his ultimate quest narrative, however it is his first novel The Hobbit that actually ties closest to the genre, with its light-hearted tone and Romantic setting. The Hobbit takes the protagonist Bilbo Baggins through the landscapes of Middle-Earth in order to help his friends reclaim their dwarven kingdom. There are many perils but the story stays jovial and adventurous.

Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures by Walter Moers

Walter Moers is famed for his exuberant and hare-brained fantasy stories, filled with eccentric creatures and bizarre landscapes. While most of his novels involve long and meandering journeys of some kind, Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures best fits the characteristics of questing literature. The eponymous Rumo is a Wolperting, a canine creature with small horns, famed for their intelligence and strength, and the first half of the book follows Rumo as he discovers a town of fellow Wolpertingers, trains to become a warrior and falls in love. The second half of the book however, sees all of Rumo’s companions disappear into the Netherworld. Rumo sets out on a quest to traverse the Netherworld in order to rescue his friends from the despotic underworld king, Gornab the Ninety-Ninth. There are a host of joyously outlandish characters to be met along the way, from Dandelion, the sentient sword, to General Tick-Tock, the mechanical and maniacal commander of Netherworld’s forces.

The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt

Tonke Dragt is recognised as one of The Netherland’s greatest children’s authors. Her most famous work The Letter for the King , set in an enchanted version of the Middle Ages, is one of those classic children’s stories that are eminently readable for adults. The story opens with 16-year-old Tiuri sitting vigil the night before he becomes a knight when he hears a desperate knock on the chapel door. He is forbidden to answer it but he feels compelled to help. On the other side of the door Tiuri finds an old man with an urgent letter that must reach King Unauwen. Tiuri finds himself drawn into a secret mission, where he must abandon his dreams of becoming a knight, travel across the dangerous lands and keep both the letter and his identity hidden. Pursued by vengeful knights and overcoming daunting trials Tiuri’s quest is a delightful modern fairy tale.

Momo by Michael Ende

Michael Ende is perhaps most famous for The Neverending Story , but before writing that series he wrote the also excellent and sadly neglected Momo . Ende’s main character Momo is an orphan who lives in the ruins of an amphitheatre where many people come to see her for her incredible power of listening. One day sinister men in grey arrive and persuade the city’s inhabitants to part with their time, only Momo is able to resist. With the help of the administrator of Time, Master Hora, and his strangely gifted tortoise, Cassiopeia, Momo sets off on a quest to restore time to her community. She must travel into the underground lair of the grey men to find and retrieve their hoards of stolen time. It’s an enchanting and intricate story that plays with the role that time plays in society.

As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, stories about quests appear the world over, in a variety of different forms and contexts. This list is but a brief introduction to some great examples of questing narratives. If there are any other examples you feel are sorely missing, please feel free to mention them in the comments below. As any hero will tell you, there’s always more to explore.

This article was originally written for Bookwitty.com and published on April 6th, 2017.

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Last updated on Aug 10, 2023

The Hero's Journey: 12 Steps to a Classic Story Structure

The Hero's Journey is a timeless story structure which follows a protagonist on an unforeseen quest, where they face challenges, gain insights, and return home transformed. From Theseus and the Minotaur to The Lion King , so many narratives follow this pattern that it’s become ingrained into our cultural DNA. 

In this post, we'll show you how to make this classic plot structure work for you — and if you’re pressed for time, download our cheat sheet below for everything you need to know.

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What is the Hero’s Journey?

The Hero's Journey, also known as the monomyth, is a story structure where a hero goes on a quest or adventure to achieve a goal, and has to overcome obstacles and fears, before ultimately returning home transformed.

This narrative arc has been present in various forms across cultures for centuries, if not longer, but gained popularity through Joseph Campbell's mythology book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces . While Campbell identified 17 story beats in his monomyth definition, this post will concentrate on a 12-step framework popularized in 2007 by screenwriter Christopher Vogler in his book The Writer’s Journey .

The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey

The Hero's Journey is a model for both plot points and character development : as the Hero traverses the world, they'll undergo inner and outer transformation at each stage of the journey. The 12 steps of the hero's journey are: 

• The Ordinary World. We meet our hero.
• Call to Adventure. Will they meet the challenge?
• Refusal of the Call. They resist the adventure.
• Meeting the Mentor. A teacher arrives.
• Crossing the First Threshold. The hero leaves their comfort zone.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Making friends and facing roadblocks.
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. Getting closer to our goal.
• Ordeal. The hero’s biggest test yet!
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Light at the end of the tunnel
• The Road Back. We aren’t safe yet.
• Resurrection. The final hurdle is reached.
• Return with the Elixir. The hero heads home, triumphant.

Believe it or not, this story structure also applies across mediums and genres (and also works when your protagonist is an anti-hero! ). Let's dive into it.

1. Ordinary World

In which we meet our Hero.

The journey has yet to start. Before our Hero discovers a strange new world, we must first understand the status quo: their ordinary, mundane reality.

It’s up to this opening leg to set the stage, introducing the Hero to readers. Importantly, it lets readers identify with the Hero as a “normal” person in a “normal” setting, before the journey begins.

2. Call to Adventure

In which an adventure starts.

The call to adventure is all about booting the Hero out of their comfort zone. In this stage, they are generally confronted with a problem or challenge they can't ignore. This catalyst can take many forms, as Campbell points out in Hero with a Thousand Faces . The Hero can, for instance:

• Decide to go forth of their own volition;
• Theseus upon arriving in Athens.
• Be sent abroad by a benign or malignant agent;
• Odysseus setting off on his ship in The Odyssey .
• Stumble upon the adventure as a result of a mere blunder;
• Dorothy when she’s swept up in a tornado in The Wizard of Oz .
• Be casually strolling when some passing phenomenon catches the wandering eye and lures one away from the frequented paths of man.
• Elliot in E.T. upon discovering a lost alien in the tool shed.

The stakes of the adventure and the Hero's goals become clear. The only question: will he rise to the challenge?

3. Refusal of the Call

In which the Hero digs in their feet.

Great, so the Hero’s received their summons. Now they’re all set to be whisked off to defeat evil, right?

Not so fast. The Hero might first refuse the call to action. It’s risky and there are perils — like spiders, trolls, or perhaps a creepy uncle waiting back at Pride Rock . It’s enough to give anyone pause.

In Star Wars , for instance, Luke Skywalker initially refuses to join Obi-Wan on his mission to rescue the princess. It’s only when he discovers that his aunt and uncle have been killed by stormtroopers that he changes his mind.

4. Meeting the Mentor

In which the Hero acquires a personal trainer.

The Hero's decided to go on the adventure — but they’re not ready to spread their wings yet. They're much too inexperienced at this point and we don't want them to do a fabulous belly-flop off the cliff.

Enter the mentor: someone who helps the Hero, so that they don't make a total fool of themselves (or get themselves killed). The mentor provides practical training, profound wisdom, a kick up the posterior, or something abstract like grit and self-confidence.

Wise old wizards seem to like being mentors. But mentors take many forms, from witches to hermits and suburban karate instructors. They might literally give weapons to prepare for the trials ahead, like Q in the James Bond series. Or perhaps the mentor is an object, such as a map. In all cases, they prepare the Hero for the next step.

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5. Crossing the First Threshold

In which the Hero enters the other world in earnest.

Now the Hero is ready — and committed — to the journey. This marks the end of the Departure stage and is when the adventure really kicks into the next gear. As Vogler writes: “This is the moment that the balloon goes up, the ship sails, the romance begins, the wagon gets rolling.”

From this point on, there’s no turning back.

Like our Hero, you should think of this stage as a checkpoint for your story. Pause and re-assess your bearings before you continue into unfamiliar territory. Have you:

• Launched the central conflict? If not, here’s a post on types of conflict to help you out.
• Established the theme of your book? If not, check out this post that’s all about creating theme and motifs .
• Made headway into your character development? If not, this character profile template may be useful:

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A story is only as strong as its characters. Fill this out to develop yours.

6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

In which the Hero faces new challenges and gets a squad.

When we step into the Special World, we notice a definite shift. The Hero might be discombobulated by this unfamiliar reality and its new rules. This is generally one of the longest stages in the story , as our protagonist gets to grips with this new world.

This makes a prime hunting ground for the series of tests to pass! Luckily, there are many ways for the Hero to get into trouble:

• In Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , Spencer, Bethany, “Fridge,” and Martha get off to a bad start when they bump into a herd of bloodthirsty hippos.
• In his first few months at Hogwarts, Harry Potter manages to fight a troll, almost fall from a broomstick and die, and get horribly lost in the Forbidden Forest.
• Marlin and Dory encounter three “reformed” sharks, get shocked by jellyfish, and are swallowed by a blue whale en route to finding Nemo.

This stage often expands the cast of characters. Once the protagonist is in the Special World, he will meet allies and enemies — or foes that turn out to be friends and vice versa. He will learn a new set of rules from them. Saloons and seedy bars are popular places for these transactions, as Vogler points out (so long as the Hero survives them).

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave

In which the Hero gets closer to his goal.

This isn’t a physical cave. Instead, the “inmost cave” refers to the most dangerous spot in the other realm — whether that’s the villain’s chambers, the lair of the fearsome dragon, or the Death Star. Almost always, it is where the ultimate goal of the quest is located.

Note that the protagonist hasn’t entered the Inmost Cave just yet. This stage is all about the approach to it. It covers all the prep work that's needed in order to defeat the villain.

In which the Hero faces his biggest test of all thus far.

Of all the tests the Hero has faced, none have made them hit rock bottom — until now. Vogler describes this phase as a “black moment.” Campbell refers to it as the “belly of the whale.” Both indicate some grim news for the Hero.

The protagonist must now confront their greatest fear. If they survive it, they will emerge transformed. This is a critical moment in the story, as Vogler explains that it will “inform every decision that the Hero makes from this point forward.”

The Ordeal is sometimes not the climax of the story. There’s more to come. But you can think of it as the main event of the second act — the one in which the Hero actually earns the title of “Hero.”

9. Reward (Seizing the Sword)

In which the Hero sees light at the end of the tunnel.

Our Hero’s been through a lot. However, the fruits of their labor are now at hand — if they can just reach out and grab them! The “reward” is the object or knowledge the Hero has fought throughout the entire journey to hold.

Once the protagonist has it in their possession, it generally has greater ramifications for the story. Vogler offers a few examples of it in action:

• Luke rescues Princess Leia and captures the plans of the Death Star — keys to defeating Darth Vader.
• Dorothy escapes from the Wicked Witch’s castle with the broomstick and the ruby slippers — keys to getting back home.

10. The Road Back

In which the light at the end of the tunnel might be a little further than the Hero thought.

The story's not over just yet, as this phase marks the beginning of Act Three. Now that he's seized the reward, the Hero tries to return to the Ordinary World, but more dangers (inconveniently) arise on the road back from the Inmost Cave.

More precisely, the Hero must deal with the consequences and aftermath of the previous act: the dragon, enraged by the Hero who’s just stolen a treasure from under his nose, starts the hunt. Or perhaps the opposing army gathers to pursue the Hero across a crowded battlefield. All further obstacles for the Hero, who must face them down before they can return home.

11. Resurrection

In which the last test is met.

Here is the true climax of the story. Everything that happened prior to this stage culminates in a crowning test for the Hero, as the Dark Side gets one last chance to triumph over the Hero.

Vogler refers to this as a “final exam” for the Hero — they must be “tested once more to see if they have really learned the lessons of the Ordeal.” It’s in this Final Battle that the protagonist goes through one more “resurrection.” As a result, this is where you’ll get most of your miraculous near-death escapes, à la James Bond's dashing deliverances. If the Hero survives, they can start looking forward to a sweet ending.

12. Return with the Elixir

In which our Hero has a triumphant homecoming.

Finally, the Hero gets to return home. However, they go back a different person than when they started out: they’ve grown and matured as a result of the journey they’ve taken.

But we’ve got to see them bring home the bacon, right? That’s why the protagonist must return with the “Elixir,” or the prize won during the journey, whether that’s an object or knowledge and insight gained.

Of course, it’s possible for a story to end on an Elixir-less note — but then the Hero would be doomed to repeat the entire adventure.

Examples of The Hero’s Journey in Action

To better understand this story template beyond the typical sword-and-sorcery genre, let's analyze three examples, from both screenplay and literature, and examine how they implement each of the twelve steps. 

The 1976 film Rocky is acclaimed as one of the most iconic sports films because of Stallone’s performance and the heroic journey his character embarks on.

• Ordinary World. Rocky Balboa is a mediocre boxer and loan collector — just doing his best to live day-to-day in a poor part of Philadelphia.
• Call to Adventure. Heavyweight champ Apollo Creed decides to make a big fight interesting by giving a no-name loser a chance to challenge him. That loser: Rocky Balboa.
• Refusal of the Call. Rocky says, “Thanks, but no thanks,” given that he has no trainer and is incredibly out of shape.
• Meeting the Mentor. In steps former boxer Mickey “Mighty Mick” Goldmill, who sees potential in Rocky and starts training him physically and mentally for the fight.
• Crossing the First Threshold. Rocky crosses the threshold of no return when he accepts the fight on live TV, and 一 in parallel 一 when he crosses the threshold into his love interest Adrian’s house and asks her out on a date.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Rocky continues to try and win Adrian over and maintains a dubious friendship with her brother, Paulie, who provides him with raw meat to train with.
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. The Inmost Cave in Rocky is Rocky’s own mind. He fears that he’ll never amount to anything — something that he reveals when he butts heads with his trainer, Mickey, in his apartment.
• Ordeal. The start of the training montage marks the beginning of Rocky’s Ordeal. He pushes through it until he glimpses hope ahead while running up the museum steps.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Rocky's reward is the restoration of his self-belief, as he recognizes he can try to “go the distance” with Apollo Creed and prove he's more than "just another bum from the neighborhood."
• The Road Back. On New Year's Day, the fight takes place. Rocky capitalizes on Creed's overconfidence to start strong, yet Apollo makes a comeback, resulting in a balanced match.
• Resurrection. The fight inflicts multiple injuries and pushes both men to the brink of exhaustion, with Rocky being knocked down numerous times. But he consistently rises to his feet, enduring through 15 grueling rounds.
• Return with the Elixir. Rocky loses the fight — but it doesn’t matter. He’s won back his confidence and he’s got Adrian, who tells him that she loves him.

Moving outside of the ring, let’s see how this story structure holds on a completely different planet and with a character in complete isolation. 

The Martian 

In Andy Weir’s self-published bestseller (better known for its big screen adaptation) we follow astronaut Mark Watney as he endures the challenges of surviving on Mars and working out a way to get back home.

• The Ordinary World. Botanist Mark and other astronauts are on a mission on Mars to study the planet and gather samples. They live harmoniously in a structure known as "the Hab.”
• Call to Adventure. The mission is scrapped due to a violent dust storm. As they rush to launch, Mark is flung out of sight and the team believes him to be dead. He is, however, very much alive — stranded on Mars with no way of communicating with anyone back home.
• Refusal of the Call. With limited supplies and grim odds of survival, Mark concludes that he will likely perish on the desolate planet.
• Meeting the Mentor. Thanks to his resourcefulness and scientific knowledge he starts to figure out how to survive until the next Mars mission arrives.
• Crossing the First Threshold. Mark crosses the mental threshold of even trying to survive 一 he successfully creates a greenhouse to cultivate a potato crop, creating a food supply that will last long enough.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Loneliness and other difficulties test his spirit, pushing him to establish contact with Earth and the people at NASA, who devise a plan to help.  
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. Mark faces starvation once again after an explosion destroys his potato crop.
• Ordeal. A NASA rocket destined to deliver supplies to Mark disintegrates after liftoff and all hope seems lost.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Mark’s efforts to survive are rewarded with a new possibility to leave the planet. His team 一 now aware that he’s alive 一 defies orders from NASA and heads back to Mars to rescue their comrade.
• The Road Back. Executing the new plan is immensely difficult 一 Mark has to travel far to locate the spaceship for his escape, and almost dies along the way.
• Resurrection. Mark is unable to get close enough to his teammates' ship but finds a way to propel himself in empty space towards them, and gets aboard safely.
• Return with the Elixir. Now a survival instructor for aspiring astronauts, Mark teaches students that space is indifferent and that survival hinges on solving one problem after another, as well as the importance of other people’s help.

Coming back to Earth, let’s now examine a heroine’s journey through the wilderness of the Pacific Crest Trail and her… humanity. 

The memoir Wild narrates the three-month-long hiking adventure of Cheryl Strayed across the Pacific coast, as she grapples with her turbulent past and rediscovers her inner strength.

• The Ordinary World. Cheryl shares her strong bond with her mother who was her strength during a tough childhood with an abusive father.
• Call to Adventure. As her mother succumbs to lung cancer, Cheryl faces the heart-wrenching reality to confront life's challenges on her own.
• Refusal of the Call. Cheryl spirals down into a destructive path of substance abuse and infidelity, which leads to hit rock bottom with a divorce and unwanted pregnancy. 
• Meeting the Mentor. Her best friend Lisa supports her during her darkest time. One day she notices the Pacific Trail guidebook, which gives her hope to find her way back to her inner strength.
• Crossing the First Threshold. She quits her job, sells her belongings, and visits her mother’s grave before traveling to Mojave, where the trek begins.
• Tests, Allies, Enemies. Cheryl is tested by her heavy bag, blisters, rattlesnakes, and exhaustion, but many strangers help her along the trail with a warm meal or hiking tips. 
• Approach to the Inmost Cave. As Cheryl goes through particularly tough and snowy parts of the trail her emotional baggage starts to catch up with her.  
• Ordeal. She inadvertently drops one of her shoes off a cliff, and the incident unearths the helplessness she's been evading since her mother's passing.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword). Cheryl soldiers on, trekking an impressive 50 miles in duct-taped sandals before finally securing a new pair of shoes. This small victory amplifies her self-confidence.
• The Road Back. On the last stretch, she battles thirst, sketchy hunters, and a storm, but more importantly, she revisits her most poignant and painful memories.
• Resurrection. Cheryl forgives herself for damaging her marriage and her sense of worth, owning up to her mistakes. A pivotal moment happens at Crater Lake, where she lets go of her frustration at her mother for passing away.
• Return with the Elixir. Cheryl reaches the Bridge of the Gods and completes the trail. She has found her inner strength and determination for life's next steps.

There are countless other stories that could align with this template, but it's not always the perfect fit. So, let's look into when authors should consider it or not.

When should writers use The Hero’s Journey?

The Hero’s Journey is just one way to outline a novel and dissect a plot. For more longstanding theories on the topic, you can go this way to read about the ever-popular Three-Act Structure or here to discover Dan Harmon's Story Circle and three more prevalent structures .

So when is it best to use the Hero’s Journey? There are a couple of circumstances which might make this a good choice.

When you need more specific story guidance than simple structures can offer

Simply put, the Hero’s Journey structure is far more detailed and closely defined than other story structure theories. If you want a fairly specific framework for your work than a thee-act structure, the Hero’s Journey can be a great place to start.

Of course, rules are made to be broken . There’s plenty of room to play within the confines of the Hero’s Journey, despite it appearing fairly prescriptive at first glance. Do you want to experiment with an abbreviated “Resurrection” stage, as J.K. Rowling did in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? Are you more interested in exploring the journey of an anti-hero? It’s all possible.

Once you understand the basics of this universal story structure, you can use and bend it in ways that disrupt reader expectations.

Need more help developing your book? Try this template on for size:

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When your focus is on a single protagonist

No matter how sprawling or epic the world you’re writing is, if your story is, at its core, focused on a single character’s journey, then this is a good story structure for you. It’s kind of in the name! If you’re dealing with an entire ensemble, the Hero’s Journey may not give you the scope to explore all of your characters’ plots and subplot — a broader three-act structure may give you more freedom to weave a greater number story threads. ​​

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Whether you're a reader or writer, we hope our guide has helped you understand this universal story arc. Want to know more about story structure? We explain 6 more in our guide — read on!

6 responses

PJ Reece says:

25/07/2018 – 19:41

Nice vid, good intro to story structure. Typically, though, the 'hero's journey' misses the all-important point of the Act II crisis. There, where the hero faces his/her/its existential crisis, they must DIE. The old character is largely destroyed -- which is the absolute pre-condition to 'waking up' to what must be done. It's not more clever thinking; it's not thinking at all. Its SEEING. So many writing texts miss this point. It's tantamount to a religions experience, and nobody grows up without it. STORY STRUCTURE TO DIE FOR examines this dramatic necessity.

↪️ C.T. Cheek replied:

13/11/2019 – 21:01

Okay, but wouldn't the Act II crisis find itself in the Ordeal? The Hero is tested and arguably looses his/her/its past-self for the new one. Typically, the Hero is not fully "reborn" until the Resurrection, in which they defeat the hypothetical dragon and overcome the conflict of the story. It's kind of this process of rebirth beginning in the earlier sections of the Hero's Journey and ending in the Resurrection and affirmed in the Return with the Elixir.

Lexi Mize says:

25/07/2018 – 22:33

Great article. Odd how one can take nearly every story and somewhat plug it into such a pattern.

Bailey Koch says:

11/06/2019 – 02:16

This was totally lit fam!!!!

↪️ Bailey Koch replied:

11/09/2019 – 03:46

where is my dad?

Frank says:

12/04/2020 – 12:40

Great article, thanks! :) But Vogler didn't expand Campbell's theory. Campbell had seventeen stages, not twelve.

Comments are currently closed.

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Hero’s Journey: A Guide to the Ultimate Storytelling Framework

Every captivating story, from ancient myths to modern blockbusters, shares a common narrative structure that resonates with audiences across generations and cultures. This powerful storytelling framework is known as the hero’s journey, a concept rooted in the groundbreaking work of renowned mythologist and author, Joseph Campbell. In this blog post, we’ll delve deep into the fascinating world of the hero’s journey, exploring its key components, providing examples from iconic literature, and sharing insights on how you can harness this timeless narrative structure to elevate your own writing. So, buckle up and join us on this epic adventure as we unravel the secrets of the hero’s journey and uncover the universal threads that bind us all together through the power of storytelling.

What is the Hero’s Journey?

At its core, the hero’s journey is a narrative framework that outlines the transformative arc of a protagonist as they embark on an adventure, face and overcome challenges, and ultimately return home, forever changed by their experiences. The concept was popularized by Joseph Campbell in his seminal work, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” where he identified a common pattern in the myths and stories from different cultures and historical periods. Campbell believed that the hero’s journey resonated deeply with readers and audiences because it mirrored universal psychological and spiritual experiences, making it a powerful tool for creating engaging and meaningful stories.

The hero’s journey serves as both a structural blueprint and a symbolic template for stories, enabling writers to craft compelling narratives that reflect the trials, triumphs, and transformations we all encounter in our own lives. By understanding and incorporating the elements of the hero’s journey into your writing, you can create stories that not only entertain but also inspire and enlighten, transcending the boundaries of time and culture to connect with the very essence of human experience.

The Three Acts of a Hero’s Journey

Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey can be broken down into three distinct acts, each comprising a series of stages that capture the essential elements of the protagonist’s transformative arc. These three acts provide a roadmap for writers, helping them navigate the complex landscape of their stories and ensuring that their heroes undergo meaningful and memorable journeys.

• Departure (The Call to Adventure)
• Initiation (Trials and Transformation)
• Return (Master of Two Worlds)

As we explore each act in greater detail, you’ll begin to recognize the familiar narrative beats that have captivated audiences for centuries, and discover how you can use these archetypal elements to bring your own stories to life.

It’s important to note that while the hero’s journey offers a structured framework for storytelling, it is by no means a rigid formula. Writers should feel free to adapt, modify, and expand upon the hero’s journey to suit the unique needs of their stories and characters, always bearing in mind that the ultimate goal is to create engaging, emotionally resonant narratives that connect with readers on a deeper level.

Act 1 – Departure

The first act of the hero’s journey, Departure, sets the stage for the protagonist’s transformative adventure. It introduces the hero in their familiar, ordinary world and presents them with a call to action that will propel them into the unknown. Here are the key stages of the Departure act:

• The Ordinary World: This stage establishes the hero’s everyday life, providing a relatable starting point for the reader. It highlights the hero’s wants, needs, and any underlying issues that will be addressed throughout the story.
• Call to Adventure: The hero is presented with a challenge, quest, or opportunity that disrupts their ordinary world and demands a response. This call to action sets the story in motion and paves the way for the protagonist’s transformative journey.
• Refusal of the Call: Often, the hero initially resists or doubts the call to adventure, revealing their fears and insecurities. This refusal adds tension and deepens the character’s complexity, making their eventual acceptance of the call more satisfying and impactful.
• Meeting the Mentor: The hero encounters a guide, teacher, or wise figure who provides advice, support, and sometimes magical aid. This mentor figure helps prepare the hero for the trials they will face, and often plays a crucial role in the protagonist’s development.
• Crossing the Threshold: The hero finally commits to the adventure, leaving their ordinary world behind and stepping into the unknown. This stage marks the point of no return, as the hero embarks on a journey that will forever change them.

The Departure act sets the foundation for the hero’s journey, establishing the protagonist’s relatable struggles and desires while setting them on a path toward growth and transformation. As a writer, it’s essential to carefully craft this act to create a compelling and believable starting point for your hero’s adventure.

Famous Example: The Departure of Harry Potter

To help illustrate the Departure act in action, let’s examine the early stages of the beloved hero’s journey in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.”

• The Ordinary World: Harry Potter’s life is far from ideal. He lives with his cruel and uncaring aunt, uncle, and cousin, the Dursleys, in the small, ordinary town of Little Whinging. Despite his miserable circumstances, Harry longs for a sense of belonging and yearns to learn more about his deceased parents.
• Call to Adventure: Harry receives a mysterious letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, inviting him to attend the prestigious institution. This invitation promises to pull him out of his mundane life and into a world of magic, wonder, and hidden potential.
• Refusal of the Call: Initially, the Dursleys do everything in their power to prevent Harry from attending Hogwarts, hiding the letters and even fleeing to a remote island. Harry’s desire to learn about his parents and his true heritage is challenged by the Dursleys’ determination to keep him from discovering the truth.
• Meeting the Mentor: Harry meets Rubeus Hagrid, the half-giant groundskeeper of Hogwarts, who not only delivers Harry’s acceptance letter but also serves as his guide and protector in the magical world. Hagrid reveals the truth about Harry’s parents, his connection to the wizarding world, and the significance of the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
• Crossing the Threshold: Harry leaves his life with the Dursleys behind and steps into the magical realm by traveling through the hidden platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station. As he boards the Hogwarts Express, he embarks on an adventure that will transform him from a downtrodden orphan into a powerful and celebrated wizard.

By skillfully weaving together the stages of the Departure act, J.K. Rowling creates an unforgettable introduction to Harry Potter’s hero’s journey, setting the stage for a thrilling and transformative adventure that has captivated readers for generations.

Act 2 – Initiation

As the hero steps into the unknown, the second act, Initiation, unfolds. This act is where the hero’s character and resolve are tested through a series of trials and tribulations. Through these challenges, the protagonist forms new relationships, acquires new skills, and grows as an individual. Here are the key stages of the Initiation act:

• Trials, Allies, and Enemies: The hero encounters a series of tests and obstacles that push them to their limits. They forge new alliances and face adversaries, which help them gain the skills and knowledge needed to confront their ultimate challenge. This stage is crucial for character development, as the protagonist’s reactions and choices reveal their true nature.
• Approach to the Innermost Cave: As the hero nears the climax of their journey, they must confront their deepest fears and darkest shadows. The “Innermost Cave” can be a physical location or a metaphorical space, representing the hero’s confrontation with their greatest personal or external challenge.
• The Ordeal: The protagonist faces their most significant trial, a life-or-death struggle that tests their strength, courage, and resourcefulness. This ordeal often leads to a symbolic or literal death and rebirth, signifying a profound transformation in the hero’s character or perception of themselves.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword): After overcoming the ordeal, the hero is granted a reward, which may take the form of a physical object, a new ability, or a revelation. This reward symbolizes the hero’s growth and newfound mastery, equipping them to face the final challenges of their journey.

The Initiation act is a crucible for the hero, as they confront adversity and evolve in response to the challenges they face. As a writer, it’s essential to craft compelling trials and conflicts that not only entertain but also illuminate the protagonist’s inner journey, revealing their strengths, weaknesses, and capacity for growth.

Famous Example: The Initiation of Luke Skywalker

To better understand the Initiation act, let’s delve into the captivating trials and tribulations of Luke Skywalker from George Lucas’s “ Star Wars : Episode IV – A New Hope.”

• Trials, Allies, and Enemies: Luke encounters numerous challenges on his journey, from evading Imperial forces to navigating the treacherous Death Star. Along the way, he forms alliances with characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, each of whom plays a vital role in his development. He also confronts adversaries like Darth Vader and the ruthless Galactic Empire, which test his courage and convictions.
• Approach to the Innermost Cave: As the Rebel Alliance prepares for their daring assault on the Death Star, Luke faces his greatest fear: the possibility of failure and the loss of his newfound friends. This moment of self-doubt forces Luke to confront his insecurities and embrace the lessons he has learned from his mentor, Obi-Wan.
• The Ordeal: Luke’s ordeal comes during the climactic Battle of Yavin, where he pilots his X-wing fighter in a desperate attempt to destroy the Death Star before it can annihilate the Rebel base. As he faces seemingly insurmountable odds, Luke is guided by the spirit of Obi-Wan, who encourages him to trust in the Force.
• Reward (Seizing the Sword): After successfully destroying the Death Star, Luke is celebrated as a hero and awarded a medal by Princess Leia. More importantly, he gains newfound confidence in his abilities and his connection to the Force, setting the stage for his continued growth and transformation throughout the remainder of the saga.

By incorporating the stages of the Initiation act, George Lucas masterfully charts Luke Skywalker’s transformative journey from a naïve farm boy to a resourceful and courageous hero. This compelling narrative arc not only entertains but also reflects timeless themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the power of friendship, making “Star Wars” an enduring classic that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Act 3 – Return

The final act of the hero’s journey, Return, brings the protagonist’s transformative arc to a satisfying conclusion. Having overcome their trials and emerged victorious, the hero must now return to their ordinary world, where they will apply their newfound wisdom, skills, or power for the benefit of others. Here are the key stages of the Return act:

• The Road Back: The hero begins their journey back to the ordinary world, often facing challenges or temptations that test their resolve and commitment to their newfound purpose. This stage serves as an opportunity for the hero to demonstrate their growth and mastery, as they confront familiar obstacles with renewed strength and insight.
• Resurrection: The hero faces a final, climactic ordeal that represents their ultimate test of character, courage, and transformation. Often mirroring the earlier ordeal in the Initiation act, this confrontation requires the hero to draw upon all the lessons and experiences they have gained on their journey, leading to a powerful moment of catharsis and renewal.
• Return with the Elixir: Having triumphed over their final challenge, the hero returns to their ordinary world, bearing a tangible or intangible “elixir” that represents their transformation and the wisdom they have acquired. This elixir often serves as a solution to a problem or conflict within their community, fulfilling the hero’s ultimate purpose and bringing their journey full circle.

The Return act is a crucial component of the hero’s journey, as it not only completes the protagonist’s transformation but also reinforces the universal themes of growth, self-discovery, and the power of individual agency. As a writer, it’s essential to craft a compelling and emotionally resonant conclusion that both celebrates the hero’s achievements and emphasizes the lasting impact of their journey.

Famous Example: The Return of Frodo Baggins

To illustrate the power of the Return act, let’s explore the culmination of Frodo Baggins’s epic journey in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”

• The Road Back: After the destruction of the One Ring and the defeat of Sauron, Frodo and his companions begin their journey back to the Shire, their home in the ordinary world. Despite their hard-won victory, the hobbits are not immune to the lingering effects of their experiences, as they continue to grapple with the emotional and physical scars of their adventure.
• Resurrection: Upon their return to the Shire, Frodo and his friends discover that their home has been ravaged by the villainous Saruman and his henchmen. This final confrontation serves as a test of the hobbits’ newfound strength and resourcefulness, as they apply the skills and lessons they have gained on their journey to rally their community and reclaim their homeland.
• Return with the Elixir: With the Shire restored and Saruman defeated, Frodo and his companions are hailed as heroes, and their once-ordinary lives are forever transformed by their extraordinary journey. Frodo, in particular, bears the intangible elixir of wisdom and courage, which he shares through his writing and storytelling, ensuring that the legacy of their adventure endures for future generations.

Through the stages of the Return act, J.R.R. Tolkien skillfully brings Frodo Baggins’s transformative journey to a close, emphasizing the lasting impact of his experiences and the power of individual agency in shaping not only his own destiny but the fate of his entire world. This emotionally resonant and satisfying conclusion is a testament to the enduring power of the hero’s journey as a framework for creating timeless and universally resonant narratives.

How to Use the Hero’s Journey in Your Writing

Now that we’ve delved into the three acts of the hero’s journey and explored some famous examples, you may be wondering how you can apply this timeless narrative structure to your own writing. While the hero’s journey offers a valuable framework for crafting compelling stories, it’s essential to approach it as a flexible blueprint rather than a rigid formula. Here are some tips for incorporating the hero’s journey into your writing:

Identify your hero’s core desires and fears

Understanding your protagonist’s motivations and inner struggles is crucial for crafting a meaningful and emotionally resonant hero’s journey. Consider what drives your hero, what they hope to achieve, and what obstacles they must overcome to realize their goals.

Adapt the structure to your unique story

While the hero’s journey is a proven narrative structure, not every stage will be relevant or necessary for your specific story. Don’t be afraid to modify, expand, or omit certain elements to suit the needs of your characters and plot. The key is to maintain a clear sense of the protagonist’s transformative arc and ensure that their journey remains engaging and emotionally satisfying.

Create compelling challenges and conflicts

The trials and ordeals your hero faces should not only test their physical and mental abilities but also push them to confront their deepest fears and insecurities. Design conflicts that force your protagonist to grow, change, and ultimately emerge as a stronger, more capable individual.

Balance the familiar with the unexpected

While the hero’s journey is based on universal archetypes and narrative beats, it’s crucial to infuse your story with originality and surprise. Experiment with unconventional approaches to the hero’s journey, such as subverting expectations, exploring unconventional hero archetypes, or employing an unconventional narrative structure.

Emphasize your hero’s transformation

The heart of the hero’s journey lies in the protagonist’s personal growth and transformation. Ensure that your hero’s arc is clear, believable, and emotionally resonant by highlighting the lessons they learn, the relationships they form, and the inner obstacles they overcome on their journey.

By integrating the hero’s journey into your writing and adapting it to suit your unique story, you can create compelling, emotionally resonant narratives that resonate with readers and stand the test of time. In essence, you become a better writer .

The Hero’s Journey Across Cultures and Time

The hero’s journey is not only a powerful narrative framework, but it also holds immense cultural and historical significance. Present in countless myths, legends, and stories from around the world, the hero’s journey transcends time and geography, offering a universal blueprint for storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences.

Mythology and folklore

The hero’s journey can be traced back to the earliest myths and legends, from the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh to the Greek hero’s journey of Odysseus in Homer’s “The Odyssey.” These ancient narratives reflect the hero’s journey’s timeless appeal and the universal themes of transformation, self-discovery, and redemption.

Religious narratives

The hero’s journey is also deeply ingrained in religious texts and stories, such as the journeys of Moses in the Hebrew Bible or the life of the Buddha in Buddhist traditions. These narratives not only convey spiritual and moral lessons but also embody the transformative power of the hero’s journey, emphasizing the potential for personal growth and enlightenment.

Literature and popular culture

From classic novels like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain to modern film franchises like “The Matrix” and “ The Hunger Games ,” the hero’s journey continues to captivate and inspire storytellers and audiences alike. Its enduring appeal is a testament to its ability to tap into universal human experiences and desires, transcending the boundaries of culture, language, and time.

Cross-cultural connections

The hero’s journey reveals a fascinating tapestry of interconnected narratives and themes, which can foster a greater appreciation and understanding of the diverse cultural traditions and perspectives that have shaped human history. By exploring the hero’s journey in various contexts, we can deepen our empathy and broaden our worldview, recognizing the shared human experiences that unite us all.

The hero’s journey’s remarkable longevity and cross-cultural resonance underscore its profound significance as a tool for storytelling and resource for writers . By embracing and celebrating the hero’s journey in its many forms, we can not only create compelling stories but also foster a deeper sense of connection and empathy with others, transcending the barriers of time and culture.

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Explore 20 Best The Hero’S Journey Books with Our 2024 Update

Are you ready to embark on an epic literary adventure? The hero’s journey is a timeless and captivating narrative structure that has inspired countless stories throughout history. If you’re looking to delve into the realm of heroic tales, look no further than these 20 best books about the hero’s journey. From classic myths to modern novels, these books offer captivating insights into the hero’s journey, making them essential reads for any book enthusiast. Let’s dive into the world of the hero’s journey books and discover the timeless allure of the heroic quest.

• 1 20 Best Books About The Hero’S Journey
• 2 The Alchemist
• 3 The Hero with a Thousand Faces
• 4 The Hobbit
• 5 The Odyssey
• 6 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• 7 The Lord of the Rings
• 8 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
• 9 The Hunger Games
• 10 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
• 12 The Princess Bride
• 13 The Wizard of Oz
• 14 The Giver
• 16 The Lightning Thief
• 17 The Golden Compass
• 18 The Maze Runner
• 19 The Name of the Wind
• 20 American Gods
• 21 The Power of Myth
• 22 Conclusion

20 Best Books About The Hero’S Journey

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The Alchemist

By paulo coelho.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a captivating book on the hero’s journey, following the story of Santiago, a young shepherd who embarks on a quest to find a treasure hidden near the Egyptian pyramids. Along the way, he encounters various obstacles, meets a colorful cast of characters, and learns valuable life lessons. The novel is a timeless tale of self-discovery, personal legend, and the pursuit of one’s dreams. Through Santiago’s journey, readers are inspired to reflect on their own paths and the importance of listening to their hearts. Coelho’s writing is both philosophical and enchanting, making The Alchemist a must-read for anyone seeking adventure, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the hero’s journey.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

By joseph campbell.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell is a seminal book about the hero’s journey. Campbell explores the common themes and patterns found in myths and stories from various cultures, and identifies the ‘monomyth’ or the ‘hero’s journey’ as a universal and timeless narrative structure. He examines the stages of the hero’s journey, from the call to adventure and the crossing of the threshold to the ultimate boon and return. Campbell’s insightful analysis and engaging writing style make this book on the hero’s journey a must-read for anyone interested in storytelling, mythology, or the human experience. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or simply a lover of epic tales, The Hero with a Thousand Faces offers a rich and enlightening exploration of the hero’s journey.

by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit is a classic fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien that takes readers on an unforgettable adventure. The story revolves around Bilbo Baggins, a reluctant hobbit who is swept away from his comfortable life by the wizard Gandalf and a group of dwarves. Together, they embark on a perilous quest to reclaim the dwarves’ stolen treasure from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, Bilbo encounters trolls, goblins, and elves, and ultimately discovers his courage and resourcefulness. This timeless tale is a quintessential ‘book about the hero’s journey’, as Bilbo undergoes a transformative experience, facing his fears and finding his inner strength. With its rich world-building and compelling characters, The Hobbit is a must-read for anyone seeking an epic adventure that embodies the hero’s journey.

The Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer is a classic book about the hero’s journey that follows the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War. Faced with numerous obstacles and challenges, Odysseus must overcome temptations, outsmart monsters, and navigate the wrath of the gods in order to reunite with his beloved wife and son. This epic tale is filled with thrilling battles, captivating mythological creatures, and poignant moments of human struggle and triumph. As one of the foundational texts of Western literature, The Odyssey continues to captivate readers with its timeless themes of perseverance, courage, and the enduring power of the human spirit. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in books on the hero’s journey and the timeless quest for self-discovery and homecoming.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

By c.s. lewis.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is a classic fantasy novel that takes readers on a magical journey through the land of Narnia. Four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, stumble upon the enchanted world of Narnia through a wardrobe, where they discover an epic battle between good and evil. As they embark on a perilous adventure, they encounter talking animals, mythical creatures, and the powerful lion, Aslan. This timeless tale is a quintessential book about the hero’s journey, as the siblings undergo personal growth, face challenges, and ultimately fulfill their destinies as the chosen rulers of Narnia. With its rich symbolism and captivating storytelling, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe continues to enthrall readers of all ages, making it a must-read book on the hero’s journey.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is a classic fantasy novel that follows the epic quest of a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins as he embarks on a perilous journey to destroy a powerful ring. This beloved tale is a quintessential example of the hero’s journey, as Frodo faces countless challenges, battles evil forces, and ultimately discovers his own courage and inner strength. The book is filled with rich world-building, memorable characters, and timeless themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the struggle between good and evil. Readers are transported to the enchanting and dangerous land of Middle-earth, where they join Frodo and his companions on a breathtaking adventure that has captured the hearts of generations. The Lord of the Rings is a must-read for anyone who loves a captivating story about the hero’s journey.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew

The Magician’s Nephew, by C.S. Lewis, is a captivating fantasy novel that takes readers on an enchanting journey through the magical land of Narnia. This book, about the hero’s journey, follows the adventures of two children, Digory and Polly, as they are transported to different worlds by the cunning magician, Uncle Andrew. As they explore the mysterious Wood Between the Worlds, they discover the origin of Narnia and witness the creation of this wondrous realm by the powerful lion, Aslan. Throughout their quest, they encounter mythical creatures, confront evil forces, and ultimately learn valuable lessons about courage, friendship, and the consequences of their actions. The Magician’s Nephew is a spellbinding tale that will captivate readers of all ages with its rich storytelling and timeless themes of the hero’s journey.

The Hunger Games

By suzanne collins.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a thrilling dystopian novel that follows the story of Katniss Everdeen as she navigates the dangerous world of Panem. Set in a future world where the government controls its citizens through a brutal annual event known as the Hunger Games, the book follows Katniss as she volunteers to take her sister’s place in the deadly competition. As she fights for survival, Katniss becomes a symbol of hope and resistance for the oppressed people of Panem. This gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and resilience is a prime example of a ‘book on the hero’s journey’. With its themes of struggle, growth, and self-discovery, The Hunger Games is a captivating read for anyone interested in the hero’s journey or dystopian fiction.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

By j.k. rowling.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, written by J.K. Rowling, is a captivating book about the hero’s journey. It follows the story of a young boy, Harry, who discovers that he is a wizard and is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Throughout the book, Harry learns about his magical abilities, makes lifelong friends, and faces numerous challenges, including the quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone. This book on the hero’s journey takes readers on an enchanting adventure filled with magic, friendship, and the battle between good and evil. With its relatable characters and imaginative world-building, this the hero’s journey book has captured the hearts of readers of all ages and has become a beloved classic in the world of literature.

by Frank Herbert

Dune by Frank Herbert is a classic science fiction novel that takes readers on an epic adventure through a desert world where political intrigue, mystical powers, and ecological concerns collide. The story follows young Paul Atreides as he navigates the treacherous landscape of Arrakis, a planet known for its valuable spice and dangerous sandworms. As Paul learns to harness his latent abilities and embrace his destiny, he becomes embroiled in a complex web of power struggles and ancient prophecies. This book on the hero’s journey delves into themes of leadership, sacrifice, and the transformative nature of adversity. With its rich world-building and engrossing plot, Dune has captivated readers for decades and continues to be a beloved classic in the realm of science fiction.

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The Princess Bride

By william goldman.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a captivating tale of true love, high adventure, and dastardly villains. This classic novel takes readers on a journey through the fantastical kingdom of Florin, where the beautiful Buttercup and her true love, Westley, must overcome incredible odds to be together. Filled with swashbuckling sword fights, cunning pirates, and a giant with a heart of gold, this book on the hero’s journey is a delightful mix of romance, comedy, and action. As the characters navigate through trials and tribulations, readers will be enthralled by the timeless themes of courage, loyalty, and the power of love. With its witty narration and unforgettable characters, The Princess Bride is a must-read for anyone seeking a thrilling adventure and a heartwarming tale of the hero’s journey.

The Wizard of Oz

By l. frank baum.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is a timeless classic that takes readers on a captivating journey through the magical land of Oz. This beloved tale follows Dorothy, a young girl who finds herself swept away from her Kansas home by a tornado and transported to the wondrous world of Oz. On her quest to find her way back home, she encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, including the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, each seeking something they believe the powerful Wizard can grant them. As they travel the yellow brick road, facing challenges and overcoming obstacles, they discover the true power lies within themselves. This enchanting story is a must-read for anyone seeking adventure, courage, and the triumph of the human spirit—a quintessential book about the hero’s journey.

by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry is a captivating novel that takes readers on a thought-provoking journey. Set in a seemingly perfect society, the book follows the story of Jonas, a young boy who is chosen to be the Receiver of Memories, a role that exposes him to the truth about his world. As Jonas uncovers the dark secrets hidden beneath the facade of his society, he embarks on a quest for truth and freedom, challenging the status quo and ultimately becoming the hero of his own story. This book about the hero’s journey explores themes of individuality, the pursuit of knowledge, and the sacrifices required to create a better world. With its powerful narrative and evocative storytelling, The Giver is a must-read for anyone seeking a thought-provoking and impactful literary experience.

by Christopher Paolini

Eragon by Christopher Paolini is an epic fantasy novel that follows the classic structure of a book on the hero’s journey. The story revolves around a young farm boy, Eragon, who discovers a mysterious blue stone that turns out to be a dragon egg. As the dragon hatches, Eragon becomes embroiled in a dangerous adventure that leads him to uncover his destiny as a Dragon Rider. As he learns to harness his newfound powers and navigate the world of Alagaësia, Eragon encounters allies and adversaries, propelling him along a path of growth, courage, and self-discovery. Paolini’s rich world-building and vivid characters make this book about the hero’s journey a captivating and immersive read for fantasy enthusiasts of all ages.

The Lightning Thief

By rick riordan.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a captivating book on the hero’s journey, following the adventures of Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old boy who discovers he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon. As Percy navigates the challenges of being a half-blood at Camp Half-Blood, he embarks on a quest to prevent a war among the gods. Along the way, he encounters mythical creatures, battles with gods, and learns about his own strength and destiny. The book is filled with action, humor, and relatable characters, making it a thrilling read for both young adult and adult readers. Riordan’s modern twist on ancient mythology and the classic hero’s journey makes The Lightning Thief a must-read for anyone who enjoys a book about the hero’s journey.

The Golden Compass

By philip pullman.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is a captivating fantasy novel that follows the adventurous journey of a young girl named Lyra Belacqua. Set in a parallel universe, the story revolves around Lyra’s quest to rescue her kidnapped friend and discover the truth about a mysterious particle known as Dust. As she travels through strange and dangerous lands, Lyra encounters magical creatures, deceitful adults, and uncovers shocking secrets about her own identity. This captivating tale is not just a fantasy adventure, but also a thought-provoking book about the hero’s journey, as Lyra’s quest forces her to confront her fears, develop her strengths, and ultimately grow into a courageous and resilient young woman. The Golden Compass is a must-read for fans of epic quests and compelling coming-of-age stories.

The Maze Runner

By james dashner.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a thrilling dystopian novel that follows the journey of a group of young boys who are trapped in a mysterious maze. The protagonist, Thomas, finds himself in the Glade with no memory of his past, and soon realizes that the only way to escape is by solving the deadly maze. As the boys band together to navigate the treacherous labyrinth, they encounter terrifying creatures and uncover dark secrets about their predicament. The novel is a gripping story about the hero’s journey, as Thomas and his friends must overcome numerous challenges, confront their fears, and ultimately fight for their survival. With its fast-paced plot, intense action, and unexpected twists, The Maze Runner is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and books about the hero’s journey.

The Name of the Wind

By patrick rothfuss.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is a captivating fantasy novel that follows the classic structure of the hero’s journey. The story revolves around Kvothe, a gifted young man with a thirst for knowledge and a mysterious past. Through his trials and tribulations, Kvothe embarks on a journey of self-discovery, facing formidable foes and uncovering his latent powers along the way. The novel is a spellbinding tale of adventure, magic, and destiny, as Kvothe navigates the challenges of his world while unraveling the enigma of his own existence. With its richly detailed world-building and compelling characters, The Name of the Wind is a must-read for fans of the hero’s journey, offering a fresh and enthralling take on the timeless theme of personal growth and transformation.

American Gods

By neil gaiman.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman is a captivating novel that delves into the world of mythology and modern-day America. The story follows ex-convict Shadow Moon as he navigates a world where ancient gods and mythological beings exist alongside modern technology. As Shadow embarks on a cross-country journey, he becomes entangled in a conflict between the old gods, brought to America by immigrants, and the new gods of media, technology, and celebrity.

This book on the hero’s journey takes readers on a mesmerizing adventure filled with mystery, magic, and larger-than-life characters. Gaiman seamlessly weaves together elements of fantasy, folklore, and Americana to create a thought-provoking narrative that explores the nature of belief, identity, and the power of storytelling. American Gods is a must-read for fans of mythology, urban fantasy, and anyone seeking a fresh take on the classic ‘hero’s journey’.

The Power of Myth

By joseph campbell and bill moyers.

The Power of Myth is a captivating exploration of the universal theme of the hero’s journey, as discussed by renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers. This thought-provoking book delves into the rich tapestry of myths and legends from various cultures, revealing the underlying similarities and timeless wisdom they impart. Campbell’s profound insights into the hero’s journey, or the monomyth, shed light on the human experience and our quest for meaning and fulfillment. Through engaging conversations with Moyers, Campbell’s teachings come to life, offering readers a deeper understanding of the hero’s journey and its relevance to our lives. The Power of Myth is a must-read for anyone seeking to unravel the mysteries of human existence and discover the profound truths embedded in ancient stories.

Exploring The Hero’S Journey through literature is an enriching and captivating experience. The 20 best books about the hero’s journey provide insightful narratives that delve into the depths of the human spirit and the transformative power of facing adversity. Whether you’re a fan of fantasy, mythology, or modern fiction, these books offer a diverse range of perspectives on the hero’s journey that will leave you feeling inspired and enlightened.

Which The Hero'S Journey book is best?

The best book on The Hero’S Journey can vary with personal preference, but three widely recommended titles are:

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho ,
• The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell ,
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien .

Each offers valuable insights and could be a great starting point.

What are the best books to learn about The Hero'S Journey?

For those looking to learn about The Hero’S Journey, there is a wealth of literature that can provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Some of the most highly recommended books include:

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien ,
• The Odyssey by Homer ,
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis ,
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien ,
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis ,
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ,
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling ,
• Dune by Frank Herbert

These books offer a range of perspectives on The Hero’S Journey, covering various aspects and approaches to the subject.

What are the best books on The Hero'S Journey?

The best books on The Hero’S Journey include:

• The Princess Bride by William Goldman ,
• The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum ,
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien .

Each offers unique insights into the subject. While these books on the topic of The Hero’S Journey are highly regarded, it’s important to note that any list of ‘best’ books is subjective and reflects a range of opinions.

What are the best The Hero'S Journey books of all time?

Choosing the best The Hero’S Journey books of all time can vary depending on who you ask, but seven titles that are often celebrated include

• Dune by Frank Herbert ,
• and The Princess Bride by William Goldman .

Each of these books has made a significant impact in the field of The Hero’S Journey and continues to be influential today.

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20 best books on the hero’s journey – 2023 reading list & recommendations

If you’re a fan of adventure, self-discovery, and epic tales, then you’re in for a treat. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 20 best books about the hero’s journey that are sure to captivate and inspire you. From ancient myths to modern classics, these books delve into the timeless theme of the hero’s journey, taking readers on a transformative quest filled with trials, triumphs, and profound insights. So, whether you’re an aspiring writer or simply a lover of great storytelling, dive into these remarkable books on the hero’s journey and prepare to embark on a thrilling adventure.

• 1 The Alchemist
• 2 The Hero with a Thousand Faces
• 3 The Power of Myth
• 4 The Hobbit
• 5 The Odyssey
• 6 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• 7 The Lord of the Rings
• 8 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
• 9 The Hunger Games
• 10 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
• 12 The Princess Bride
• 13 The Wizard of Oz
• 14 The Giver
• 16 The Lightning Thief
• 17 The Golden Compass
• 18 The Maze Runner
• 19 The Name of the Wind
• 20 American Gods
• 21 Conclusion

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The Alchemist

By paulo coelho.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a mesmerizing book that takes you on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and personal transformation. This enchanting tale is a modern-day fable, a book about the hero’s odyssey, and a captivating exploration of the human spirit.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

By joseph campbell.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell is an extraordinary book on the hero’s journey that takes readers on a profound exploration of myths and the universal pattern that lies beneath them. Campbell’s work delves into the human experience, uncovering the hidden threads that connect cultures and civilizations throughout history.

In this book about the hero’s journey, Campbell introduces the concept of the Monomyth, which refers to the fundamental structure found in countless myths and legends from around the world. He argues that all hero stories follow a similar pattern, regardless of their cultural origins.

Campbell’s captivating writing style draws readers into a world of adventure and self-discovery. He analyzes various mythical tales, from ancient Greek mythology to Native American folklore, and reveals how they all share common themes and stages of the hero’s journey.

The author’s extensive knowledge of comparative mythology and religion allows him to present a comprehensive analysis of the hero’s journey, exploring its psychological, spiritual, and philosophical implications. Through his insightful interpretations, Campbell shows how the hero’s journey serves as a mirror for our own lives, guiding us through the challenges and transformations that we encounter on our personal quests.

Whether you are a fan of mythology, a writer seeking inspiration, or simply someone interested in understanding the human experience, The Hero with a Thousand Faces is a must-read. Campbell’s masterpiece will forever change the way you view stories and the profound impact they have on our lives.

The Power of Myth

By joseph campbell and bill moyers.

The Power of Myth is an extraordinary book on the hero’s journey, written by the renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell and journalist Bill Moyers. This captivating work delves into the depths of human existence, exploring the universal themes and archetypes that have shaped our stories and cultures throughout history.

by J.R.R. Tolkien

Embark on an extraordinary adventure through the pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s timeless masterpiece, The Hobbit. This captivating tale follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, a reluctant and unassuming hobbit, as he sets out on a perilous quest that will test his courage, resilience, and ultimately, his destiny.

In this mesmerizing book about the hero’s journey, Bilbo finds himself swept away from his comfortable life in the Shire, joining a group of dwarves led by the legendary Thorin Oakenshield. Together, they venture into the treacherous lands of Middle-earth, braving menacing creatures, dark forests, and the powerful dragon Smaug.

As Bilbo encounters challenges and unforeseen dangers, he undergoes a transformative journey of self-discovery. With each step, he unravels the depths of his own courage and resourcefulness, proving that even the most unlikely of heroes can rise to the occasion.

Throughout the hero’s journey book, Bilbo encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, including the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, the cunning Gollum, and the majestic elves of Rivendell. Alongside these allies, he learns the true meaning of loyalty, friendship, and sacrifice.

Tolkien’s rich and vivid storytelling transports readers into a world brimming with magic, wonder, and mythical creatures. From the lush landscapes of the Shire to the treacherous Misty Mountains, every step of Bilbo’s adventure is brought to life with breathtaking detail, immersing you in a fantastical realm like no other.

So, if you are ready to embark on a thrilling and enchanting journey, join Bilbo Baggins on his quest in The Hobbit. Discover the power of the hero’s journey as you witness a seemingly ordinary hobbit transform into a legend and find his place in the epic history of Middle-earth.

The Odyssey

The Odyssey: A Book on the Hero’s Journey

Embark on an epic adventure with Homer’s timeless masterpiece, The Odyssey. This legendary tale, often hailed as the ultimate book about the hero’s journey, takes readers on a thrilling odyssey through the vast seas of ancient Greece.

Follow the courageous and cunning hero, Odysseus, as he battles mythical creatures, encounters gods and goddesses, and faces countless obstacles in his quest to return home after the Trojan War. With his loyal crew by his side, Odysseus must navigate treacherous waters, navigate his own flaws, and overcome the temptations that threaten to derail his mission.

Through vivid imagery and poetic storytelling, Homer weaves a captivating narrative that explores the depths of human resilience, the power of determination, and the triumph of the human spirit. As readers delve into this epic poem, they will witness Odysseus’ transformation from a mere mortal into a legendary hero, as he learns valuable lessons about humility, perseverance, and the consequences of hubris.

With its timeless themes and universal appeal, The Odyssey continues to captivate readers of all ages. So dive into this mesmerizing tale that defines the hero’s journey and discover why this epic has stood the test of time. Prepare to be enthralled, inspired, and forever changed by the extraordinary adventures that await you in The Odyssey.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

By c.s. lewis.

Discover a timeless tale of adventure and magic in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This enchanting book takes readers on a captivating journey, immersing them in a world filled with wonder and danger. Set in the mystical land of Narnia, this epic fantasy follows the Pevensie siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy – as they stumble upon a hidden wardrobe that serves as a portal to a parallel universe.

As they step through the wardrobe, the children find themselves in a land trapped in eternal winter by the wicked White Witch. With the help of the majestic lion, Aslan, they embark on a thrilling quest to defeat the Witch and restore peace to Narnia. Along the way, they encounter mythical creatures, face countless challenges, and learn valuable lessons about bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice.

This remarkable tale is not just a story of adventure, but also a profound exploration of the hero’s journey. Through their trials and triumphs, the Pevensie siblings undergo personal growth, discovering their inner strengths and overcoming their deepest fears. Their path mirrors the classic hero’s journey, as they leave their comfort zone, face formidable foes, and ultimately emerge as heroes.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers of all ages. With its richly imagined world, unforgettable characters, and compelling narrative, this book about the hero’s journey is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who dares to step through the wardrobe.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic fantasy adventure that takes readers on a remarkable journey filled with peril, friendship, and the triumph of good over evil. This timeless tale is a book on the hero’s journey, as it follows a group of unlikely heroes who set out to destroy a powerful ring that could bring about the destruction of their world.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is an enchanting book about the hero’s journey written by the brilliant C.S. Lewis. This mesmerizing tale takes readers on a fantastical adventure through time and space, weaving together elements of magic, bravery, and self-discovery.

The story follows two curious and courageous children, Digory and Polly, as they stumble upon a secret passage that leads them to other worlds. Guided by the wise and enigmatic magician, Uncle Andrew, they find themselves transported to the magical land of Narnia, a realm filled with talking animals, mythical creatures, and extraordinary wonders.

As Digory and Polly navigate the mysterious realm of Narnia, they encounter the powerful lion Aslan, who sets them on a mission to retrieve a magical apple from a forbidden garden. This perilous quest not only tests their physical and mental abilities but also challenges their moral compass and inner strength.

Throughout their journey, Digory and Polly face numerous obstacles and temptations, forcing them to confront their deepest fears and make difficult choices. As they navigate treacherous landscapes and encounter fascinating characters, they learn valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

The Magician’s Nephew is a captivating and thought-provoking story that delves into themes of creation, temptation, and the duality of human nature. With its rich world-building and intricate plot, this book on the hero’s journey invites readers of all ages to embark on a thrilling and transformative adventure.

The Hunger Games

By suzanne collins.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a thrilling book about the hero’s journey. Set in a dystopian future, it follows the courageous protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, as she embarks on a perilous adventure that will test her strength, resilience, and determination. In this epic tale of self-discovery and survival, Katniss is forced to participate in a deadly televised event called the Hunger Games, where she must fight for her life against other young tributes from the twelve districts of Panem. With themes of bravery, sacrifice, and the pursuit of justice, The Hunger Games takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, leaving them captivated and eager to join Katniss on her journey of heroism.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

By j.k. rowling.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: A Magical Tale of the Hero’s Journey

Welcome to the enchanting world of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone! This spellbinding novel by J.K. Rowling takes readers on an extraordinary adventure, immersing them in a world of magic, mystery, and the hero’s journey.

From the very first page, we are introduced to Harry Potter, a young boy who discovers that he is no ordinary child. As he embarks on his journey, Harry leaves behind his mundane life and enters the fantastical realm of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Guided by his wise mentor, Professor Dumbledore, Harry discovers that he is destined for greatness and must confront the forces of darkness that threaten the wizarding world. With his loyal friends by his side, including the resourceful Hermione Granger and the fiercely loyal Ron Weasley, Harry faces countless challenges, tests, and even encounters a three-headed dog!

This captivating story not only explores the magical world of witches and wizards, but also delves deep into the hero’s journey. Through Harry’s experiences, we witness his growth, courage, and resilience as he battles evil and discovers his true identity.

With its richly developed characters, engaging plot twists, and a touch of humor, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone captivates readers of all ages. It is a book about the hero’s journey that will leave you spellbound and yearning for more.

So grab your wand, put on your invisibility cloak, and join Harry Potter as he embarks on a truly magical adventure. The hero’s journey awaits!

by Frank Herbert

Dune is an epic saga that takes readers on a mind-bending journey through a spice-infused universe. A sprawling masterpiece by Frank Herbert, this book on the hero’s odyssey transports you to the fascinating world of Arrakis, a desert planet brimming with political intrigue, mystical powers, and perilous adventures.

The Princess Bride

By william goldman.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman is a legendary tale, a captivating book on the hero’s journey that takes readers on a thrilling adventure through the realms of love, bravery, and wit.

The Wizard of Oz

By l. frank baum.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is a captivating book on the hero’s journey that takes readers on a magical adventure. This timeless classic follows the story of Dorothy, a young girl who finds herself in a fantastical land after a tornado sweeps her away from her dull, grayscale Kansas farm.

As Dorothy embarks on her journey through the enchanting Land of Oz, she encounters a diverse cast of characters, each with their own desires and fears. Alongside her newfound companions—the brainless Scarecrow, the heartless Tin Woodman, and the cowardly Lion—Dorothy seeks the help of the all-powerful Wizard of Oz to find her way back home.

Throughout their quest, Dorothy and her friends face numerous challenges and obstacles, each one testing their courage, intelligence, and compassion. As they overcome these trials, they learn valuable lessons about themselves and the power they possess within.

The Wizard of Oz is not just a book about the hero’s journey; it is a tale that resonates with readers of all ages. It explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the importance of believing in oneself. Baum’s vivid storytelling and imaginative world-building create a mesmerizing narrative that continues to captivate and inspire readers, more than a century after its initial publication.

So, whether you’re seeking an adventure-filled fantasy, a heartwarming tale of friendship, or simply a journey of self-discovery, The Wizard of Oz is the hero’s journey book that will transport you to a world of magic, wonder, and endless possibilities.

by Lois Lowry

The Giver, written by Lois Lowry, is an extraordinary tale that takes readers on a captivating journey into a dystopian society. This mesmerizing novel follows the story of Jonas, a young boy who lives in a seemingly perfect community. However, as Jonas embarks on his remarkable adventure, he discovers that this world is far from ideal, and he must confront unimaginable truths.

by Christopher Paolini

Eragon is an epic fantasy novel that embarks on a thrilling adventure, taking readers on a fantastical journey through a world of magic, dragons, and destiny. This mesmerizing tale, penned by Christopher Paolini, unfolds as a remarkable ‘book on the hero’s journey,’ tracing the footsteps of a young farm boy named Eragon.

The Lightning Thief

By rick riordan.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a thrilling adventure that takes readers on an epic quest, following the classic pattern of the hero’s journey. This book delves into the incredible world of Greek mythology, where gods and monsters roam, and a young demigod named Percy Jackson discovers his true identity.

The Golden Compass

By philip pullman.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is an enchanting tale that takes readers on an extraordinary adventure, a captivating journey that explores the concept of destiny, courage, and self-discovery. This mesmerizing novel follows the young and spirited protagonist, Lyra Belacqua, as she embarks on an epic quest, a profound odyssey that mirrors the concept of the hero’s journey.

The Maze Runner

By james dashner.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner is an exhilarating adventure that takes readers on a thrilling quest through a treacherous labyrinth. This captivating novel follows a group of young heroes as they navigate through a mysterious maze, facing danger, betrayal, and unexpected alliances along the way. Dashner’s masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions immerse readers in a world of suspense and intrigue, making The Maze Runner a must-read for anyone seeking an epic tale of courage, resilience, and the journey of the hero.

The Name of the Wind

By patrick rothfuss.

The Name of the Wind is an enthralling tale that takes readers on a captivating journey following the footsteps of a young protagonist named Kvothe. This epic fantasy novel, often hailed as a “book on the hero’s journey,” unravels the extraordinary life of Kvothe, a talented musician, brilliant student, and a notorious magician.

American Gods

By neil gaiman.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman is an extraordinary novel that takes readers on a mesmerizing journey through a world where ancient gods clash with modern deities. This captivating book delves deep into the realm of the hero’s odyssey, following the protagonist, Shadow Moon, as he embarks on a life-altering adventure. Gaiman’s masterful storytelling weaves together mythology, fantasy, and a touch of Americana, creating a unique and thought-provoking narrative. As Shadow discovers the truth about the gods that walk among us, readers are taken on a profound exploration of belief, identity, and the power of myth in our lives. American Gods is a spellbinding tale that will leave you questioning the nature of reality and the role that heroes play in our ever-changing world.

In conclusion, these 20 best books about the hero’s journey offer a captivating exploration into the timeless theme of personal transformation and triumph. From epic tales of mythical heroes to modern-day accounts of ordinary individuals overcoming extraordinary odds, these books inspire and empower readers to embark on their own heroic quests. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, guidance, or simply a thrilling adventure, these books will transport you into the heart of the hero’s journey, reminding you that within every one of us lies the potential for greatness.

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By Gal Beckerman

In Hollywood, not that long ago, it was something of an insider’s tip that to achieve success as a screenwriter, you needed a working knowledge of Joseph Campbell’s “Hero With a Thousand Faces.”

In that 1949 book, Campbell laid out the ideas and symbols that undergird myths all over the world, including the hero’s journey, the basic plot that propels the stories of Jesus, the Buddha, Moses and Odysseus. In the hands of George Lucas, who looked to Campbell as a guide for what made a hero, Luke Skywalker was added to this pantheon.

When it came to women, though, Campbell, who died in 1987 , was a little more limited. There were no adventures or battles or triumphant returns for them. Women’s place in these foundational myths, he once insisted, while writing about muses, was threefold: “one, to give us life; two, to be the one who receives us in death; and three, to inspire our spiritual, poetic realization.”

Campbell’s ideas have rippled out in the culture for decades — especially after a popular series hosted by Bill Moyers in 1988 — but he has long demanded a feminist response. It would be hard to conjure up a more suitable person to provide one than Maria Tatar, the Harvard professor who is one of the world’s leading scholars on folklore.

Her new book, “The Heroine With 1,001 Faces,” out this month from Liveright, is an answer to Campbell, though she is careful not to frame it as an assault. “Even though my title suggests that I’m writing a counternarrative, or maybe an attack on him, I think of it as more of a sequel,” Tatar said in a video interview from her home in Cambridge, Mass.

She is stirring what J.R.R. Tolkien once called the “cauldron of story” in search of the girls and women, some silenced and some forgotten, some from the Iliad and some from Netflix, who live in Campbell’s blind spot. The reader jumps from Arachne’s battle with Athena to the escape of Bluebeard’s trickster wife to Pippi Longstocking and Nancy Drew and even to Carrie Bradshaw typing away on her laptop.

It was a book, Tatar said, that she had been writing all her life, but it took the uniquely isolating first year of Covid-19 to provide the focus to put it all together.

“It was such an adventure for me at a time that was so dark for everybody,” she said. “It was also during the long winter nights at the height of the pandemic. It kept me alive. This is what stories do, after all.”

The first woman at Harvard to rise through the ranks from assistant professor to a full tenured position in 1978, Tatar, trained as a German literature specialist, fell into the study of children’s books and fairy tales almost by accident. As a mother in the 1980s reading these stories to her own children, and discovering their strangeness and violence, she came upon the idea of writing about and eventually teaching them. The first course where she tried it out was a hit, and she had her new specialization. She has since annotated many volumes of folklore, including ones by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.

When the #MeToo movement arrived, it made her look back at all the stories she had been teaching and see, as she hadn’t quite before, the need to elevate women’s voices — to find the heroines. “The silencing part was only half of it, because women did find ways to express themselves,” she said. “You just had to recognize the instruments they used.”

Her Harvard colleague, Henry Louis Gates Jr., who worked with her on the 2017 book, “ The Annotated African American Folktales ,” praised Tatar for “rounding out Campbell on gender” in the same way the cultural critic Albert Murray began to fill in Campbell on race (Murray’s 1973 book, “The Hero and the Blues,” was part of that effort).

“She’s not a demolition expert,” Gates said of Tatar. “It would never occur to her to undertake a revision of Campbell in a hostile way. For her it’s an elaboration. But that elaboration is a major revision of our understanding of the representation of women in mythology and storytelling more broadly.”

Tatar started off by looking at the classic myths at the center of Western civilization. Standing in the background of the hero’s journey were women without much agency, like Penelope waiting for Odysseus. What would it mean to see these stories from their perspectives, as writers like Margaret Atwood in “ The Penelopiad ” are now doing? Suddenly the mortal women who were “seduced” by gods, like Leda or Europa, appear as victims of sexual violence and not women who choose dalliances with swans and bulls.

But Tatar then moved to folk tales, oral traditions firmly in the domain of women, even though they were often recorded for posterity by men. These tales, with their lessons about how to navigate past a menacing wolf or the cruelty of fate, did offer up heroines full of wile and quick thinking. Though they were never given the status of Greek mythology, these stories contained morals aimed at women and girls about how to live.

At the end of this search, Tatar finally landed in modern-day culture, immersing herself — at one point she started quoting Britney Spears to me — and began teasing out the distinct qualities that made for a heroine. She wasn’t interested in committing herself to concrete archetypes or a certain set of numbered stages in a heroine’s journey, like Campbell. But looking at characters like Jo March, Miss Marple and even Lisbeth Salander allowed her to arrive at certain features: curiosity, empathy, a desire for justice or fairness.

Tatar realized she’d been struggling with what it means to be a heroine ever since she was a girl in the Chicago suburbs reading Wonder Woman comics. She was 5 when her family emigrated from Hungary to the United States after World War II, and she felt marked as a “displaced person,” remembering her panic at the thought that she could be deported if she failed to report an address change.

The public library was her refuge, she said, “the one place where you could really just be by yourself and work through some of the discomfort that you had about being in a place where the language didn’t come naturally and the culture was unfamiliar.”

One memory stuck with Tatar from her teenage years. Taking a college-entrance exam in a room with a hundred other students, she was given an hour to write on the question, “What is the hero?” She froze. “I remember so clearly, clutching at that moment, because I, you know, I could rattle off the names Achilles, Hercules and Odysseus,” she said. “But I couldn’t get at what was so heroic about them.”

Beyond that fact that they were “natural born killers,” she said, and that they were striving for immortality, she couldn’t come up with anything to write besides that they were courageous. “I was so embarrassed by this,” she said. “It was a cliché. But I couldn’t figure out what was so exceptional about them, what positive thing they had done.”

In the introduction to her book, Tatar also enacts the kind of speaking out that is the hallmark of the characters she writes about. The story involved her dissertation committee and one professor on it who had almost torpedoed her Ph.D. defense. A year earlier, he tried to corner her in his office (“I can still hear him declaring his passion for red-haired Eastern European women as I grabbed the handle of his office door, relieved to discover it was not locked”). Her adviser defended her, but when he asked afterward if she had any history with the professor, she couldn’t bring herself to say what had happened. “Like many others,” she writes, “I silenced myself.”

Tatar declined to name the professor, in the book and in conversation, but said he was no longer on the faculty. “I cite the experience less to indict than to show how easily derailed women could be back then,” she later added in an email, “as well as to suggest that there must have been plenty of women who were in fact derailed.”

Even if on the surface there is something still and peaceful about her presence, her book and its argument feel fierce. As another of her Harvard colleagues, the literary scholar Elaine Scarry, said, this is a typical juxtaposition with Tatar.

“She’s so calm and wise, almost pearl-like,” Scarry said, “and then she is taking on these stories that have such troubling matters in them. It’s like Vermeer meets Grimm.”

All the pandemic Netflix watching (though she did limit herself to an hour a day) has also made Tatar wonder if the binary she’s developing — a heroine to match the hero — might be a necessary but already outdated exercise in a culture moving quickly, and happily, she thinks, toward the blurring of these distinctions.

“One of the things story tells us is that things keep evolving and changing,” she said, “that the story is dead if you don’t change it, it won’t be relevant, it won’t be compelling, if you don’t keep making something new out of it.”

Gal Beckerman is an editor at the Book Review and the author of “When They Come for Us, We’ll Be Gone: The Epic Struggle to Save Soviet Jewry.” More about Gal Beckerman

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Compelling Hero’s Journey Children’s Books

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What is the hero’s journey? It’s a story about an imperfect hero who goes on an adventure where he or she learns lessons through mistakes and triumphs, wins some sort of victory, and returns home a different person. Joseph Campbell famously wrote more about this concept in his book, The Hero With a Thousand Faces .

A familiar middle-grade example of this narrative archetype is the story of Harry Potter. But guess what? Many other books share the hero’s journey structure, too.

There are typically 12 or 17 steps in the hero’s journey, depending on who you read. Campbell said 17. Basically, the steps consist of three main structures: the hero’s departure, an initiation, and the hero’s return.

Within these three general steps are more stages in the journey such as:

an unusual birth or early childhood the call to adventure the refusal of the call a mentor figure who gives aid challenges or trials a special weapon facing doubts, fears, temptations transformation / the fulfillment of the call returning home mastering two worlds

Read more about the Hero’s Journey story on Masterclass.com and Jerry Jenkins’ website .

In this blog post, you’ll find more book examples with a hero’s journey structure, specifically middle-grade fiction for ages 8 – 12. These narrative books can be used to analyze the hero’s journey text structure in elementary classrooms, middle school English classes, and homeschool classes.

I’m including realistic fiction books that might not be typical hero’s journey chapter books but also can also be viewed through the lens of this trope with journeys that might be internal or otherwise.

PRINTABLE LIST

Compelling Hero’s Journey Chapter Books for Ages 8 – 12

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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The Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell) Kindle Edition

Explore the life and work of joseph campbell.

• Part of series The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07K5KBWGZ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joseph Campbell Foundation; 2nd edition (November 14, 2018)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2018
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About the author

Joseph campbell.

Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) was an American author and teacher best known for his work in the field of comparative mythology. He was born in New York City in 1904, and from early childhood he became interested in mythology. He loved to read books about American Indian cultures, and frequently visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he was fascinated by the museum's collection of totem poles. Campbell was educated at Columbia University, where he specialized in medieval literature, and continued his studies at universities in Paris and Munich. While abroad he was influenced by the art of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, the novels of James Joyce and Thomas Mann, and the psychological studies of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. These encounters led to Campbell's theory that all myths and epics are linked in the human psyche, and that they are cultural manifestations of the universal need to explain social, cosmological, and spiritual realities.

After a period in California, where he encountered John Steinbeck and the biologist Ed Ricketts, he taught at the Canterbury School, and then, in 1934, joined the literature department at Sarah Lawrence College, a post he retained for many years. During the 40s and '50s, he helped Swami Nikhilananda to translate the Upanishads and The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. He also edited works by the German scholar Heinrich Zimmer on Indian art, myths, and philosophy. In 1944, with Henry Morton Robinson, Campbell published A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake. His first original work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, came out in 1949 and was immediately well received; in time, it became acclaimed as a classic. In this study of the "myth of the hero," Campbell asserted that there is a single pattern of heroic journey and that all cultures share this essential pattern in their various heroic myths. In his book he also outlined the basic conditions, stages, and results of the archetypal hero's journey.

Throughout his life, he traveled extensively and wrote prolifically, authoring many books, including the four-volume series The Masks of God, Myths to Live By, The Inner Reaches of Outer Space and The Historical Atlas of World Mythology. Joseph Campbell died in 1987. In 1988, a series of television interviews with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, introduced Campbell's views to millions of people.

For more on Joseph Campbell and his work, visit the web site of Joseph Campbell Foundation at JCF.org.

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The Hero’s Journey (for novels)

The Hero’s Journey is a narrative pattern identified by scholar Joseph Campbell that appears in drama, storytelling, myth, and psychological development. It describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of tribe, group or civilization.

Christopher Vogler popularised Campbell’s work when he was working as a story consultant for Walt Disney Pictures. He sent a famous memo explaining how to use the ideas for story structure in films. The memo evolved into the popular ‘Writer’s Journey’ book. Learn more about the Hero’s Journey here .

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18 Heroic Percy Jackson Read Alike Books

I f you like Percy Jackson, you will also like these other read alike middle grade fantasy books that are funny, engaging hero journey adventures.

The Percy Jackson series is hilarious, mythological , magical, relatable, and totally addictive.

So if you’re done reading the series, don’t despair! These are highly recommended similar read-alike books you can read afterward.

If you aren’t done reading the series here are a list of all books in order in the Percy Jackson series:

• The Lightning Thief 
• The Sea of Monsters
• The Titan’s Curse
• The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Last Olympian

ENTIRE BOXED SET HERE

More Fantasy Mythological Adventures by Rick Riordan

What book like Percy Jackson should you read next?

Rick Riordan has MORE mythological books so we’ll start with those first…

The Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero

If you liked the adventure in the Greek myths, you’ll also love the Roman myths with a new hero named Jason — a kid who has no memory. He ends up at Camp Half-Blood but is from the Roman, not Greek, pantheon. You’ll like the familiar characters from the Percy Jackson books along with the new characters and exciting, dangerous adventures.

The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

This book is about Apollo, the god of poetry, among other things who is now a human. He’s arrogant and bewildered– which somehow Riordan makes appealing to readers. As the misadventures ensue, Apollo begins to see himself as less than perfect. In this story, we meet new demigods such as Demeter’s daughter Meg and encounter familiar favorites like Percy Jackson.

The Kane Chronicles: Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Explore Egyptian mythology with siblings who are targets of the god Set and on a dangerous quest to figure out what is really going on. My oldest daughter loved this entire series. I find Egyptian mythology creepy so while I thought the book was well-written and fast-paced, it wasn’t my favorite.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer   by Rick Riordan

Magnus is a smart and snarky kid who is thrust into a crazy situation — the Norse world of which he’s apart since (surprise!) his dad is Frey. When Magnus dies at the beginning of the story, he’s taken to Valhalla, one of the Norse Mythology afterlife locations. Don’t worry–he won’t stay there long. He decides that despite the risks, he must find his dad’s missing sword somewhere in the Nine Worlds.

Percy Jackson Read Alike Books

Moving on from the Rick Riordan books, you’ll want more books with hero’s journeys, mythology, and adventure. See what you think about these books like Percy Jackson with those important elements…

What a fantastic book by the uber-talented Neil Gaiman! A boy named Odd is given the mission is to save Asgard from the invading Frost Giants. Ultimately, it’s a compelling story that will be a fascinating introduction to Norse mythology. This book is a great choice for readers who like the Percy Jackson books.

Baba Yaga’s Assistant   by Marika McCoola, illustrated by Emily Carroll

Courageous and adventurous Masha knows Baba Yaga from her grandmother’s stories. After her grandmother dies, and her father remarries, Masha decides to become Baba Yaga’s assistant. To pass Baba Yaga’s tests, Masha uses her wits and the stories from her grandmother. She thinks she will fail when she rescues three children from Baba Yaga’s cage but she passes. To sum up,  excellent storytelling, Russian mythology, and illustrations will enthrall readers in this not-your-average fairy tale story.

Get to know your Norse mythology in this series. A boy named Karn who is only good at playing a Norse board game and a girl named Thianna who is a half-human, half-giantess unexpectedly partner with each other in order to survive deadly soldiers, undead warriors, trolls, and a dragon. I recommend using the glossary while you read because this is packed with lots of Norse words you might not know.

The Serpent’s Secret:

Kiranmala discovers on her 12th birthday that she’s a princess from another realm and her parents are trapped in a black hole-type place. But there’s a lot more she’ll learn — like who her real parents are (yikes!) and that demons can be your friends. The prince’s demon grandma, Ai-Ma, is my FAVORITE character. She says things like, “ Be good, sweet beetle-dung toadstools. ” But Kiranmala’s adoptive parents are super awesome, too. I think you’ll love every second of this entertaining, Indian mythology adventure.

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

Fairy tales come alive when Alex and Conner (brother and sister) find themselves in the fairy tale book  given to them by their grandmother. Their only way home is to find the ingredients for a Wishing Spell. Finding them will be dangerous, mysterious, and life-changing. Although it’s not mythological, it’s a must-read adventure series of two heroes that will keep readers reading for many months!  BOX SET HERE.

The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice  book 1 by John A. Flanagan

Will is apprenticed to become a Ranger, a job he’s unsure about.  But as he develops a relationship with his master and learns what being a Ranger is all about (spying for the kingdom,) he comes to embrace his new life. But when an old enemy of the kingdom sends out dangerous beasts to attack Will’s master, Will is instrumental in getting help and killing the creatures. Action, fantasy, adventure, friendship, excellent writing — this book has it all! It’s a must-read that will mesmerize your readers, especially boys who love epic fantasy adventures.  BOX SET

The Adventurers Guild  by Zach Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos

Get ready for your new favorite fantasy read alike adventure series. Zed and Brock don’t want to be chosen for the Adventurers Guild. Nobody does.  Unlike the mages or merchants guild, the adventurers must leave the safety of their walled city to fight the monsters who live on the outside.  Unfortunately, Zed and Brock are picked as Adventurers. And before they can finish training, Zed, Brock, and others are sent outside the city on a fact-finding mission that uncovers treachery, fiendish beasts, and Zed’s untapped magic. Imaginative world-building, intriguing plot twists, and complex characters kept me enthralled from page one!

Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows   by Ryan Calejo

Charlie Hernández’s house burns down, his parents go missing, and he is sent to a foster home. But it’s when he grows HORNS, the WINGS, and meets the MYTHS in real life — like calacas, mukis, and El Justo Juez — that he’s really freaked out. Fortunately, a persistent classmate Violet Rey (also his crush) helps Charlie follow the clues to find out what happened to his parents — and what it has to do with La Mano Peluda and the prophesied Morphling who is meant to save the world.  I love that the story is immediately engaging with the perfect balance of action, dialogue, & description interspersed with Spanish words and phrases.

Race to the Sun  by Rebecca Roanhorse (series)

The compelling, well-written story jumps into the action immediately when  Nizhoni, from the Diné (Navajo) people, sees a monster (disguised as a human) at her basketball game.  Making matters worse, it’s her dad’s new boss who kidnaps her dad and wants her little brother, too. She escapes with her brother and best friend to ask the Spider Woman for help, learning that she and her brothers are the descendants of the Hero Twins. Her journey challenges her with heroic trials in order to meet the Sun who will give her weapons to fight the monsters and culminating in a fierce battle between the good guys and the monsters. I LOVED this story — it’s a fast-paced hero’s journey with a rich, diverse Native American mythology, perfect for kids who like Percy Jackson.

The Royal Guide to Monster Slaying  by Kelley Armstrong

Rowan wants to be a Monster Hunter instead of the future queen. When tragedy strikes her brother, she gets her chance to switch roles and become the Royal Monster Slayer with her aunt with her brother as king. Unfortunately, she must face and kill a gryphon soon or her scheming uncle will get the throne instead.  The story is an exciting adventure filled with surprises, mythical creatures, and new friendships . It’s not a cliffhanger but it does leave the door open for another book which is SO GOOD —  The Gryphon’s Lair .

The Iron Trial   (Magisterium) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Even though Callum tries to fail the entrance trials, he is admitted to the school his dad says is evil. But the Magisterium school is not as bad as he expects.  Call learns about his elemental powers, he forges bonds of friendship with his teammates and rescues a wolf puppy who is infused with the evil magic of Chaos.  I couldn’t put this book down — especially after the surprise twist about who Callum really is!!

The Dragon Warrior  by Katie Zhao

Faryn is a likable, orphaned main character who values kindness and family.  After helping defeat a demon in Chinatown she discovers that she’s the prophetic demon-slaying Heaven Breaker and embarks on a quest.  But she’s not alone — she journeys with her resentful, angry brother Alex, her ex-friend Moli, and a cursed boy. Together they’ll fight demons, escape capture, and save imprisoned dragons in order to attend the god’s Lunar New Year’s banquet. But instead of finding her missing father at the banquet, she learns of the gods’ plan to wipe out faithless humans. Faryn refuses to lead their army and is horrified when her brother, eager for vengeance, takes on the power of the Heaven Breaker so he can lead the army of killers. The story ends on a cliffhanger making me eager for the next book in the series.

Podkin One-Ear The Legend Begins  by Kieran Larwood

Well-written and enthralling, you’ll love every moment of this story about a young rabbit who reluctantly grows into his destiny. Alternating between the bard’s present and the story of Podkin, we learn that young Podkin was a lazy, spoiled prince.  When the cruel Gorm, metal dark magic rabbits, arrives at his family’s burrow to kill everyone inside, Podkin escapes with his much braver sister and little brother.  No longer able to be spoiled and lazy, Podkin tries his best to be brave and pull his weight, often failing miserably but occasionally succeeding, too.

Mark of the Thief  by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Set in historical Rome, follow the life of a slave abandoned by his mother and working the mines.  After he accidentally discovers Julius Cesar’s magical amulet and its protector griffin, he’s in constant danger.  It’s an exciting adventure with unexpected revelations that will have you eager for the next book.

The Endling: The Last  by Katherine Applegate

Katherine Applegate creates a brilliant fantasy world that I could not put down!  The conquering human ruler, Murdano, hunts and kills all the large, dog-like Dairne. All except Byx. In hopes to find a safe place and maybe the Dairne’s mythical homeland, Byx sets off on what becomes a dangerous, exciting adventure filled with new friends like Tobble who is a wobbyk, poachers, Murdano’s soldiers, magic, and betrayal. I love this world and loved the entire series so much!

Keeper of the Lost Cities  by Shannon Messenger

To sum up Keepers of the Lost Cities in one word, fantastic! Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. And Sophie has a secret—she’s a Telepath and not human. She must leave the human world for the Elvin world where she’ll face danger from both the human and Elvin worlds. Her only hope is to regain the memories of her past.  BOXED SET .

Willa of the Wood  by Robert Beatty

Set in the time of early American settlers, this is a beautiful story about a night spirit who is still connected to the powerful wood magic of her ancestors.  When Willa accidentally discovers that her clan is keeping human captives and using forbidden technology, her Faeran clan leader decides she should be killed. She flees the woods and observes a human man who she learns to trust. When she realizes that one of his children was one of the human captives, Willa returns to her clan to make things right. The author deftly explores the meaning of family, as well as the themes of prejudice and caring for the natural world. I think you’ll find this a magical story that you won’t want to put down.

The Lost Years: Book 1 (Merlin)  by T.A. Barron

If you love the lore of Merlin and Arthur, you’ll want to read about Merlin’s growing up years. Filled with magic, runes, and dragons, this is a captivating story and one of my favorite fantasy series.

Books for 4th Graders

Books for 5th Graders

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Books for 7th Graders

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The post 18 Heroic Percy Jackson Read Alike Books appeared first on Imagination Soup .