Mythic Odyssey: The 12-part Layout of Legends' Design
The Hero's Journey, a storytelling framework made famous by mythologist Joseph Campbell in "The Hero With a Thousand Faces", is a timeless structure that can be found in various forms of narrative, from mythology to modern blockbuster films and bestselling novels. This article will delve into the three main stages of the Hero's Journey: Departure, Initiation, and Return.
The journey begins with the Departure stage, which typically unfolds around the 30% mark of the story. The protagonist, often an ordinary individual, receives a call to adventure, which they may initially refuse. After meeting their mentor and crossing the threshold, they embark on a transformative quest.
The Initiation stage, starting around the 40% mark, marks the beginning of the second act. This section is a long one, taking nearly a fifth of the story. It is dramatic, compelling, and speaks directly to the heart of both the external and internal conflicts of the story. The hero faces trials, makes allies, and encounters enemies. The "Test, Allies, and Enemies" section, occurring around the 30% mark, signifies the beginning of this stage. While the allies may want the same thing as the hero, they may have conflicting views on how to get it.
The Ordeal, the biggest test yet and a transformative event that affects how the hero goes forward on their journey, takes place from around the 50% mark of the story. The hero is broken down and comes out the other side stronger than before. Enemies can also transform into allies in this section. The consequences of the hero's actions start to catch up, as obstacles reappear and the final confrontation begins to take shape.
The hero uses all they have learned up to this point to push through the ordeal. The tone can shift here, even briefly, allowing the characters (and readers) to breathe before the next wave of tension builds. This stage also gives the reader a moment to pause. Some stories use this moment for reflection, while others mark it with celebration.
The "Road Back" begins with the hero trying to return from the special world with the reward in hand. This section usually unfolds around the 75% mark of the story. The connection between the hero's return and the resolution of the story should be clear. The hero's abilities should be in doubt in this section, both by the hero and the reader.
The Return stage includes the Resurrection, where the hero has their ultimate showdown with the antagonist, and the Return With the Elixir, detailing the hero's return from the special world to the ordinary world. The tension and stakes are higher than they've been throughout the story. If the hero fails, the world as they know it will be forever changed for the worst. This section happens around the 95% mark of the story and finishes out the story.
Classic and modern narratives such as The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings are well-known examples of the Hero’s Journey archetype applied in storytelling. In The Matrix, Neo starts as an ordinary computer programmer, receives a call to adventure, initially refuses it, meets his mentor Morpheus, crosses the threshold by taking the red pill, undergoes trials, achieves a victory over Agent Smith, and returns transformed. Similarly, in The Lord of the Rings, Frodo begins in the peaceful Shire, receives the call to keep the Ring safe, and embarks on a transformative quest following the Hero's Journey pattern.
In sum, the Hero’s Journey is a powerful storytelling tool that can be found in various forms of narrative across genres and formats. It provides a structure for characters to grow, face challenges, and ultimately transform into heroes.
- To complement their transformative journey, some individuals seek a lifestyle change, focusing on fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, or home-and-garden makeovers.
- In the midst of their quest, heroes often forge relationships that deepen during the Initiation stage, forming bonds that might stretch beyond the journey, similar to the connection between friends formed during travel excursions or shopping sprees.
- As the hero's abilities are tested during the Ordeal, the challenges they face may remind pet owners of their own trials in raising and caring for their loved ones, demonstrating perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.
- As the Return stage nears, the hero's accomplishments might inspire sports enthusiasts to undertake their own journey of personal growth and transformation, striving to embody the heroic qualities they admire.
