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The Hero's Journey
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The Hero's Journey template is just one of many templates included with the MyNovel
novel writing software. New novelists can use these templates to get started with
their novel. Regular writers can use the templates as prescriptively as they like
- using them as a starting point disregarding or re-ordering parts of them and so
on.
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In MyNovel it is also possible to create your own templates. For instance if you
are member of a writers circle or an educational establishment you can write a template
and provide it to your fellow writers / students. Thus MyNovel can be used in the
classroom, as a teaching tool.
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The Hero's Journey template is the basis for almost every book we read and almost
every film we watch. As the formula for a successful story, it originated in Ancient
Times, but it still pervades modern literature. The Hero's Journey is, in fact,
the story of our own lives - our passage from innocence, through the trials of life,
hence through personal transformation, to adulthood and beyond. It is the hero on
the way to slay Medusa or to retrieve the Golden Fleece. It is the structure of
every story from 'The Lord of The Rings' to 'The Matrix' to 'The Lion King!'
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Principal Characters
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Character: The hero
Role: Hero
Description:
The hero is major character for the story. The story may be character-driven in
that the events surrounding the main character are personal ones - the 'heroic'
battle may be a personal one. Alternatively the story may be plot-driven in that
actual, physical events take place. In plot-driven stories, the places that the
main character visits are as important if not more so than the main character.
Character: The enemy
Role: Antagonist
Description:
The main antagonist / enemy. In plot-driven stories it is usually some kind of villain.
In a character-driven story it may be a character for the 'hero' to overcome; or
even an issue. It is conceivable that, for instance, when the 'hero' is trying to
overcome a personal problem that the 'antagonist' is the problem itself, rather
than a person. E.g. the enemy might actually be 'gambling' or 'alcohol'.
Character: The guardian
Role: Helper
Description:
The hero's guardian is there to give advice and perhaps even physical assistance
to the hero as and when necessary. As the story progresses this character often
fades into the background.
Character: The minion(s)
Role: Antagonist Helper
Description:
The enemy's minion - or minions. Characters that assist the main enemy in some way.
This is the character that will engage the 'hero' in minor challenges, softening
the 'hero' up before the main antagonist almost destroys the hero.
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Principal Events
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Event: The call
Description:
This is where the 'hero' is seperated from his or her ordinary life. This separation
may be due to an outside influence - for instance he or she may be witness to something;
or it may be due to inner circumstances - for instance an inner unhappiness that
has built up over time.
Before this stage
The 'hero' is engaged in his or her normal life, doing the things that he or she
ordinarily does, interacting with the people that he or she ordinarily does.
The impetus
The hero becomes aware of something that will make them reflect on their ordinary
life. Something may be taken away from him or her - for instance a family member
through death; or innocence; or honour. Or the hero may get a gradual awareness
of social barriers. Or the hero may become aware of something lacking in his or
her life. Or may have gained an awareness that his or her life is constricting in
some way.
The outcome
The hero may immediately feel the call to change his or her situation. Or the hero
may be unwilling and require further impetus from other characters around them.
Either way, the hero becomes aware that the life they know is to change, perhaps
due to his or her own actions, or because his or her personal situation has changed.
Event: The threshold
Description:
Once 'called', the hero now decides to cross the threshold of adventure. He or she
may cross it alone, or he or she may take guardians or helpers along with him or
her. Often those the hero interacts with will try to stop the hero from crossing
the threshold to adventure; sometimes they may assist. Occassionally guardians or
helpers will follow at a distance, in the background, rather than directly side-by-side
with the hero.
Before this stage
The hero has had the 'call'. They now decide, or are induced, to embark on the journey.
The impetus
The hero may decide instantaneously to go; or, particularly if they are undecided,
they may vacillate between going and not going. They may be blocked by those around
them. They may be supported.
The outcome
The hero decides to 'go'. Of course the 'going' may not be a physical journey, it
may merely be a decision to change his or her situation. They may be accompanied.
They may not. Or they may be accompanied in the background.
Event: The challenges / minor trials
Description:
The Hero begins the journey. He or she is no longer in familiar territory. Of course
it can be 'emotional territory' or a real territory - perhaps a landscape that the
Hero has never seen before. Now the minor challenges begin - for instance the challenges
of differentiating between those that have come along 'to help' from enemies. Also
the Hero is often tried by minor enemies - for example the minions of some grander
enemy.
Before this stage
The hero has now crossed the threshold, perhaps hesitantly, perhaps with all guns
blazing. For instance some boundary post he or she has never passed before. Or has
taken a decision to beat something that affects his or her personal life.
The impetus
The change is almost always instantaneous. The hero is in the unknown, perhaps alone,
perhaps with helpers.
The outcome
The hero is challenged. Perhaps the hero challenges himself or herself in small
ways. Such tests are not usually life-threatening. Through the minor challenges
that he or she encounters, the hero gradually learns about the new territory or
situation. The hero is very vulnerable and there is some kind of build-up to a singular,
much greater challenge ahead.
Event: The abyss / the major trial
Description:
Having travelled some way into the strange, new territory, the hero now faces his
or her lowest point. He or she is challenged in a very great way, perhaps by the
main 'antagonist' or 'enemy'. Perhaps it is even a situation of life or death. It
is usually a situation for which the hero is totally unprepared, even if they did
not hesitate to go. His or her personal weaknesses are laid bare and the possibility
of failure is very real.
Before this stage
The hero now has some awareness of the new territory. Perhaps they are gaining some
confidence by being able to deal effectively with the trials that they have encountered.
Or perhaps the trials have made the hero aware of their own weaknesses and of his
or her own vulnerability. Often the guardians or others who are taking the journey
along with the hero are those that give the hero strength or insight at this stage.
The impetus
Suddenly the hero is 'knocked-for-six' by something or someone - usually by the
main antagonist of the story. They may have successfully passed every minor trial,
but now defeat seems imminent and crushing. Of course when the journey is not a
physical one but an emotional one, the major set-back may be a going back to old
ways.
The outcome
The event or new situation will make the hero reevaluate whether the journey was
worth undertaking. Sometimes there may be no way back; when there is a way back
the hero will decide not to take it and carry on regardless. While this is the lowest
point of the Hero's Journey, it is also the start of the most positive.
Event: The transformation
Description:
The hero has been through the abyss and has at least in part conquered his or her
fears of the situation. Now comes the transformation! The hero will gain renewed
strength. The hero is invigourated on his or her quest or adventure, intent on doing
battle with who or whatever the 'enemy' is.
Before this stage
All seemed lost and yet the hero has gained, through the ultimate trial (perhaps
even the trial of being close to death), the grit or determination to continue.
There is absolutely no way back now. On on on!
The impetus
The transformation may be gradual. There may be a period of convalescene involved.
Or the transformation may be instantaneous. The transformation may require the assistance
of the hero's guardians or helpers. Or his or her guardians may leave at this stage,
at least temporarily, while the hero continues alone.
The outcome
The hero is transformed. There is absolutely no turning back now. The hero is determined
to achieve his or her goal - to face and defeat the 'enemy' regardless.
Event: The battle / the atonement
Description:
With renewed determination, the hero now seeks the enemy and does battle. This may
be a personal battle - to battle addiction; or it may be an emotional battle - to
battle the person that was once cruel; or even a physical battle - to slay that
dragon!
Before this stage
The hero may or may not be in good shape. Either way they are determined to overcome
the enemy in whatever form it takes.
The impetus
The hero may first need to seek the enemy - to trawl the previously strange landscape
they now know relatively well. The minions of the enemy are usually absent now,
or sidelined. The battle is generally a personal one between the hero and the main
antagonist.
The outcome
The hero does battle with the main antagonist and wins. The hero gains some level
of fulfilment by doing so, but necessarily any feeling of satisfaction.
Event: The return / the frustration
Description:
The battle is over. The enemy is defeated, perhaps for ever perhaps indefinitely
or temporarily. Either way the hero can now return home if he or she wishes. The
hero may want to return home. For instance he or she may have become richer or have
gained new insight or awareness; or they may have changed sufficiently much to no
longer belong where they began. Even if he or she does return, with every positive
intention, they may become frustated by those around them who did not change and
who no longer have the same life experiences.
Before this stage
The hero has done battle and achieved his or her goal. The hero may be elated or
even deflated. Perhaps the goal does not seem worth the difficulty in achieving
it.
The impetus
The hero may wish to return immediately. Or may they hesitate and re-evaluate their
belong in the world. Or they may decide never to return.
The outcome
They return and may fit back in straight away. Or the journey may have changed them
in such a way that they can never return. Or, even if they do return, they will
find frustration because he or she will have changed immeasurably while those that
remained did not change at all.
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