The Hero's Journey

The hero makes allies and maybe even a sidekick, encounters enemies, and faces obstacles in the Special World.

• Tests, Allies, and Enemies

• The Road Back

• The Ordeal

The hero faces their biggest fear and the most supreme danger that exists in the Special World.

• Reward, Seizing the Sword

• The Innermost Cave

• The Return

The hero engages in the central life-or-death crisis and finds themselves on the brink of failure.

• Meeting the Mentor

• Crossing the Threshold

• The Ordeal

The greatest life-or-death trial that the hero faces which ultimately determines whether the hero has learned the important lessons on their journey and pushes the hero back to the Ordinary World.

• Reward, Seizing the Sword

• Return with Elixier

• Resurrection

The hero must decide whether to complete the journey by returning to their Ordinary World. This is often a difficult decision. (The road is not safe and enemies are still searching for the hero.

• Resurrection

• The Road Back

• The Ordeal

The hero has survived death and overcome their greatest fear.

• Reward, Seizing the Sword

• The Ordinary World

• Resurrection

The final reward earned on the hero's journey that they share with the Ordinary World.

• Return with Elixir

• Resurrection

• Crossing the Threshold

A pattern of narrative that describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of the group, tribe, or civilization.

• The Journey

• The Path

• The Hero's Story

• The Hero's Journey

The hero is reluctant or frightened to accept the call and begin the journey. The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead.

• Refusal of the Call

• The Road Back

• The Ordinary World

• Crossing the Threshold

The hero is shown in the world as it exists, considered by those in it to be ordinary and uneventful.

• Refusal of the Call

• The Resurrection

• The Ordinary World

• Meeting with the Mentor