A Spiritual Quest & Search for Identity
The Hero’s Journey, originally called monomyth, is a story structure where the main character, or the hero, reluctantly goes on an adventure from an “ordinary” or everyday world to a “special” or different world.
“The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us; the uncanny discovery that the seeker is the mystery which the seeker seeks to know. The hero journey is a symbol that binds, in the
original sense of the word, two distant ideas, the spiritual quest of the ancients with the modern search for identity, always the one, shape-shifting yet marvelously constant story that we find.”
― Joseph Campbell, The Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work.
The hero must overcome challenges and if successful, they come home a changed person.
There are typically 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey, but they may vary and differ to some degree. Occasionally they are combined. This manner of storytelling is not just good for plot points in a story but an excellent way to develop characters.
It blows my mind that humans have used the Hero’s Journey to tell stories for thousands of years and humans have done this in every corner of the globe. How did humans who lived thousands of miles from each other and who were separated by oceans come up with the exact blueprint to tell a story? Could it be that humans are hardwired to tell stories? It shows that deep down, we all think and feel in similar ways.
The Hero’s Journey overlaps cultures simple as that.
Some of the earliest recorded myths, legends, and folklore from cultures around the world, date back a few thousand years which suggests that the monomyth has been a part of oral traditions well before Joseph Campbell coined the word in the twentieth century.
In recent times, books that follow this model include The Alchemist, Jane Eyre, The Fault In Our Stars, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hunger Games to mention a very few.
The pattern is not only a format for books, myths, or fables, but the Hero’s Journey is a common model for movies. Star Wars is an example as I understand that Jim Lucas spent time with Joseph Campbell to ensure that the films followed the pattern perfectly. Other movies include the Harry Potter movies (and books) as well as Moana and many animated films such as Lion King. Come to think about it, it is more difficult to find movies that don’t use some version of the Hero’s Journey.
The Hero’s Journey – Here’s a look at how it works:
These are the most commonly used stages or plot points identified by Joseph Campbell of The Hero’s Journey:
Departure
- The Ordinary World
- The Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Meeting the Mentor
Initiation
- Crossing the Threshold
- Tests, Allies, and Enemies
- Approach to the Inmost Cave
- The Ordeal
Return
- The Reward
- The Road Back
- Resurrection
- Return with the Elixir
Here’s my take on each of the stages of the Hero’s Journey:
DEPARTURE
Ordinary World: One way to look at this stage is ordinary people doing ordinary things in an ordinary life. The “hero” really isn’t a hero just yet but then something falls into their lap—that’s coming up soon, but first, we need to get to know our soon-to-be hero. Sometimes we find out that they are a lot like we are and the more we relate, the better.
Call to Adventure: As our character goes about their daily business they receive some sort of message, or they stumble onto something, or they find themselves being called to do something unusual. All of sudden things are getting more exciting as the character struggles to make sense of the change they are experiencing. The reader is being pulled in too.
Refusal of the Call: In my mind, this is more of how the character reacts to being thrust into a new and scary situation. At this point, the character is reluctant to go further. Many times the character makes excuses for why they need to put blinders on and continue to go about their own business. Don’t we do this when confronted with the unexpected?
Meeting the Mentor: Business as usual, however, has gotten very complicated for the hero, so they seek out a wise and experienced person for help. They may be a professor, their grandma, or the low achieving high IQ friend. Whoever it is, the mentor gives our character what they need to respond to the “call” with some confidence. Many times we may hear the mentor simply say something like, “Go for it, what do you have to lose?” I usually need to run things by someone I think is smarter and wiser than me.
INITIATION
Crossing the Threshold: After some preparation, the hero is ready to go and step into a different world. Many times this is an enchanted world, like when Harry Potter and Ron Weasley run their trolleys into the brick pillar to get aboard the train headed for Hogwarts.
The hero doesn’t have to be headed to an enchanted world as it could be any major life change for instance something that prompts them to move from the city to the country, the first day at Boot Camp or being “discovered” by a Hollywood agent—that would be pretty cool. The world they are about to enter is far and away different from what they are used to.
Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The hero finds out pretty quickly who their friends and allies as is the hero is tested along the way. These are not life and death tests, but they can be grueling events giving the hero some pause and regret that they chose to answer the call. Think about the last time you second-guessed a big decision.
Approach to the Inmost Cave: As the hero gets closer to the most dangerous part of the journey, true and loyal friendships are solidified. The hero knows who to trust as they approach the uncertainty of their calling. Many times, however, the hero is on their own but knows their allies have their back. Now that’s a good feeling.
The Ordeal: This is the part of the story that we often think is the climax, but it’s not the “real” climax after all. Our hero has much more to do—and prove later in the story. The hero may confront a life-or-death situation, or they may be facing the greatest fear they had in the ordinary and now it appears in this new or special world. They might come face to face with the hideous power that has stalked them throughout the journey. This “hideous power “can be found in other characters as well. It can be found in situations or events too in both real and symbolic ways.
As the hero goes toe to toe with the villain, they find out that they are not exactly ready to take on this evil force. This challenge is like no other and the hero plummets to their lowest ebb. Their spirit is broken. Don’t worry, it’s not the end—it’s upward and onward and the hero finds a way to mend their broken spirit. By doing so, our hero is reborn, but that’s coming up.
RETURN
The Reward: The hero now finds that missing piece that could have made the difference earlier in the story when they were crushed by their nemesis. How do they find it? The hero is somehow rewarded with information, a special weapon, or something they previously overlooked—this reward or the “missing piece” will propel them to victory.
The reward is not something new to the story, but it has something to do with the story. It could be knowledge, profound insight, a powerful gem, a book, or another object that will be needed as they confront their enemy one more time before heading back to the ordinary world.
With the reward, they are now ready to conquer the dark force that had stripped them of their power during the Ordeal. This is the hero’s rebirth and is key as this transforms the hero into a better version of themselves and ready for anything that comes their way.
The Road Back: The hero must, once more, approach the Inmost Cave—the most dangerous part of the journey—to face the villain. This time, however, our hero has all they need to accomplish the call. The hero defeats their archenemy and holds in their hand the elusive treasure. Again, this can be something physical like the Holy Grail, or it can be the treasure that the hero has internalized—a superpower, or maybe even knowledge that will create world peace.
Resurrection: When the hero is victorious they are symbolically reborn and at that moment the hero emerges transformed. At this point, the hero journeys home to their ordinary world with their treasure. The Resurrection represents the ultimate transformation of the hero both physically and spiritually.
Return with the Elixir: Joseph Campbell termed the treasure as the “elixir” where the hero shares his bounty with his ordinary world. They return home but life is now different—it’s better and the hero has been forever changed.
Here’s a more in-depth look at a story that follows the hero’s journey.
A Spiritual Quest & Search for Identity
Whether fiction imitates life or life imitates fiction, I am convinced that we are all seeking the meaning of our own lives. In the stories that were told thousands of years ago or written yesterday, we are trying to make sense of who we are to our core, where we belong in the world, and if our lives make some kind of difference. The hero’s journey is a spiritual quest and our search for identity.
I love this quote as it sums it up…
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder. Fabulous forces are there encountered, and a decisive victory is won.” Joseph Campbell
If interested, here’s more on Joseph Campbell from Bill Moyer’s perspective.
As you read your next book or watch your next movie, think of this pattern. Not all stories have each plot point outlined above. Some may be combined, but generally, the stories we love, follow this pattern.
About E.G. Kardos
I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write. Here’s more about me and my books.
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