THE HERO'S JOURNEY.

29.07.19
CONNECTION

The hero's journey is a story structure of a hero.

Ordinary World:

This makes the hero as a human, just like everyone else. It makes it easier for us to identify him. It's his everyday life where we learn about the hero, his capability, his true nature, and his perspective of life. This is where the heroes journey starts or it's where the hero exists before his present starts, unexpected adventures to come.  

Call to Adventure:

This is when the hero accepts a call to action and that's when the hero's adventure starts, for example, direct danger to his life or safety, his family or to the peace of the community in which he lives in. It may not be as dramatic as a gunshot, but just a simple phone call or conversation, and however it reveals itself, It basically disturbs the comfort of the Heros Ordinary World and perform a challenge or quest that must be undertaken by the Hero.

Refusal of the call:

Even though the hero may seem to accept the challenge or the quest that has been given to him, at this time he might have fears that need to be overcome. The Hero could be having second thoughts or he might have personal doubts if he can do the challenge or not. If this happens the Hero will have to refuse the call as a result that he may suffer somehow. The things or the problem that he might face might be too much to handle and the comfort of home will be far more attractive than the threatening road ahead.

Assistance:

At this urgent moment where the Hero really need guidance, he meets a mentor who gives him everything that he needs for his journey. He could be given an object of importance, despite the difficulty and the problems he will face, wise advice, practical training, or self-confidence. Whatever the mentor gives the Hero with it serves to resolve his doubts and his fears and give him the strength and courage to begin his quest.

Departure:

The hero is now ready to act upon his call to adventure and truly begins his quest, whether it's physical, spiritual, or emotional. The Hero may go willingly or he may be pushed, but either way, the Hero will finally cross the beginning between the world that he is familiar with and with the world that he is not familiar with. This might mean leaving home for the first time in his life or just doing something that he has always been scared to do but he just didn't have the courage to do so. However, the beginning presents itself as an action that represents the Hero's commitment to his journey.

Trials:

Now the Hero is finally out of his comfort zone the is now confronted by more difficult series challenges that will test him in a variety of ways. The difficulty is thrown into his path; whether that's physical complications or people bent on frustrating his progress during his journey. To reach his ultimate goals he must overcome each challenge that has been presented to his during his journey.

Approach:

The deep caves may represent many things in the Hero's story such as actual location in which lies a terrible danger or an inner struggle that up to now the Hero has not has to face. As the Hero approaches the cave, the Hero must make final preparations before taking that final jump into the great unknown.

As the Hero enters the deepest cave the hero may once again face some of the doubts and the fear that he has faced upon his call to adventure. This might mean that he may need time to reflect upon his journey and the terrifying road ahead in order to find the courage to continue his journey. This helps the audience understand the consequences of the difficulty that awaits the Hero and increase the pressure in anticipation of his ultimate test.

Crisis/Ordeal:

The ordeal may be a dangerous physical test or it could be an inner crisis that the Hero might face in order to survive or for the world in which the Hero's lives continue to exist. This means that he might face he greatest fear or most deadly enemy, the Hero must draw upon all of his skills and his experience that he has gathered upon the path to the deepest cave in order to overcome his most difficult challenge.

Only through some form of ''death'' can the Hero be reborn, experiencing descriptive reappearance that somehow gives him greater power or insight necessary in order to fulfill his destiny or to reach the end of his journey. This is the high point of the Hero's story and where everything he holds is put in the line. if he fails to do this, he will either die or he life would never be the same again.

Treasure:

After the Hero defeats the enemy, surviving death and finally overcoming his greatest personal challenge, which is his fear. The Hero is basically changed in a new form, appearing from a battle as a stronger person and often with a prize. 

The reward or the prize may come in different forms: an object of great importance or power, secret knowledge or insight, or even settlement with loved ones or family. Whatever the treasure, which may help him return to the Ordinary World, the Hero must put he's celebration aside and prepare himself for the last leg of his journey. 

Result:

This is the stage where the Hero's journey shows a reverse respond of The Call of Adventure in which the Hero has to cross the beginning. Now he must return home with his reward but his expectation of danger is replaced with that expression of approval and maybe justification, forgiveness or even proof.

But the Hero's journey is not over yet and he may still need one last push back into the Ordinary World. The moment before the Hero finally commits to the last stage of his journey or maybe a moment where he must choose between his personal life and that of a higher cause.

Return:

This the final stage of the Hero's journey in which he returns home to the Ordinary World as a changed man. He will be grown into a person, learned new things, face much terrible danger and even death but now he's looking forward to the start of a new life. His return may bring hope to those that were left behind at home, a direct solution to fix their problems or maybe a new aspect for everyone to consider.

The final reward that he obtains may be accurate or metaphoric. It could be a cause for celebration, self-realization or an end to strife, but whatever it is it represents three things: change, success, and proof of his journey. The return home also signals the need for resolution for the story's other key players. The Hero's doubters will be banished, his enemies will be punished and his allies will be rewarded. Conclusively the Hero will return to where he started but things will clearly never be the same again as his life has changed throughout his journey.

http://www.movieoutline.com/articles/the-hero-journey-mythic-structure-of-joseph-campbell-monomyth.html

Ordinary World:

We can use the Hunger Games as an example of the Hero's journey. Katniss is living in District 12. Her ‘Ordinary World’ is the daily grind of survival. She provides for her family - hunting, gathering, trading, looking after Prim.

Call to Adventure:

 Every year two people from each district are picked to compete in the Hunger Game. On the reaping day, Katniss sister's name gets picked to participate in the 74th annual Hunger Games and Katniss volunteers to go instead of her sister. This is were Katniss and Peter start her adventure.

Assistance:

 Now that Katniss volunteers to join the Hunger Game together with her partner, Peter, they have now come to meet their assistance/mentor which is Haymitch. He was preparing Katniss and Peter for the game, giving them advice and most important details which they will need while competing in the game. Whatever Haymitch gives Katniss and Peter will give them both the courage to begin their adventure.

Trials

 Now Katniss and Peter are ready to compete in the game they both say goodbye to their mentor and they are now in the zone where they now have the choice to choose the path they want to take throughout the competition. They are now in the zone where it's just the two of them making decisions without their mentors telling them what to do. Katniss and Peter have now out of their comfort zone and they are now facing all the difficulty and the challenges in the game. This means that Katniss and Peter might be stressing out and frustrating during the game. Katniss and Peter must overcome all the challenges in the games in order to reach their ultimate goals. 

Approach:

While Katniss and Peter are in the game zone this is where the actual location where the danger lies and all the difficulty that's thrown at them, which is for Katniss and Peter had to face together. As Katniss and Peter enter the danger zone they had to face some of the doubts and fear they had face upon their call to adventure.