The Heros Journey Archetype The Journey Archetype The

The Hero’s Journey Archetype

The Journey Archetype • The Hero’s Journey is a pattern or model that many common stories follow both in fiction and reality. • There are two journeys that follow this archetype: an outer journey and an inner journey – This means, the quest is both a physical as well as a psychological or emotional experience for the hero.

The Hero • Is Often “unlikely” • At first, the “hero” does not seem special or able to undertake / survive journey

The Archetype

Stage 1: The Ordinary World • Get to know and identify with the Hero’s weaknesses, problems and goals • Identify the problem (outer or inner) which disrupts the Ordinary World • This is the Hero’s home, the safe haven from which he must leave and seek to return to

Stage 2: The Call to Adventure • Disrupts the comfort of the Hero’s Ordinary World • May come in different forms (a message, an action, an arrival, etc. )

Stage 3: Meeting the Mentor • The Mentor provides confidence, insight, advice, training, or magical gifts • The Mentor may not be a person. It could be an object or an inner force such as a code

Stage 4: Crossing the Threshold • Signifies that the Hero has finally committed to the journey • The threshold separates the Ordinary World from the Special World • There is no turning back

Stage 5: Obstacles • During the journey, the hero faces obstacles and challenges that must be overcome for hero to succeed. • Often, these obstacles are physical but they require internal strengths and abilities to fully complete • Therefore, overcoming these obstacles causes the hero to transform

Stage 6: The Transformation • Every adventure has a treasure at the end, which is usually a physical thing that represents something larger (SYMBOL) • Hero takes the treasure home, which leads to the final stage of the quest. • HOWEVER, the hero is not truly considered to be a hero until he/she demonstrates an important change in character as a result of the journey