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Explore the three acts of the hero's journey: Departure/Separation, Descent/Initiation/Recompense, and The Return. Learn how this structure applies to famous stories like Star Wars and real-life examples. Discover the hero within you!
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The Background • In 1988, Christopher Vogler, (Hollywood film producer and writer), created a 7-page company memo, A Practical Guide to The Hero With a Thousand Faces • Vogler's memo was later developed into the late 1990s book, The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers. • This story structure, which describes the journey of a true mythical hero, is evident in a vast number of successful stories.
The Journey • A mythical hero’s journey can be divided into three separate sections: • Act I: Departure / Separation • Act II: Descent, Initiation, Recompense • Act III: The Return • Each of these acts have scenes associated with them, like any good story or movie.
ACT IDEPARTURE / SEPARATION • Scene 1: Ordinary World • Scene 2. Call to Adventure • Scene 3. Meeting with the Mentor • Scene 4. Crossing First Threshold
ACT IIDESCENT, INITIATION, RECOMPENSE • Scene 1. Tests, Allies & Enemies • Scene 2. Approach to Inmost Cave • Scene 3. The Ordeal • Scene 4. Reward (Seizing the Sword)
ACT IIITHE RETURN • Scene 1. Road Back • Scene 2. Return with Elixir
Putting It Into Practice • Let’s see how this applies to a famous story that most people know: Star Wars.
ACT I - DEPARTURE / SEPARATION • Scene 1: Ordinary World – Luke Skywalker lives on Tatooine. His life is dull and pedantic. He desperately wants to leave. • Scene 2. Call to Adventure – A chance find of a video recording by Princess Leia sends Luke on a search for Ben Kenobi. • Scene 3. Meeting with the Mentor – Ben saves Luke from Tuskin Raiders and learns of the recording. He enlists Luke in the quest. • Scene 4. Crossing First Threshold – The heroes travel to the cantina where Luke faces his first test of violence.
ACT II - DESCENT, INITIATION, RECOMPENSE • Scene 1. Tests, Allies & Enemies – Luke and Ben team up with Han Solo and Chewbacca and leave the planet. • Scene 2. Approach to Inmost Cave – The band is captured by the Empire but later escape to join up with the Rebel Alliance. • Scene 3. The Ordeal – The rebels attack the Death Star. • Scene 4. Reward (Seizing the Sword) – The Death Star is destroyed as the Rebels escape with just a few ships left.
ACT III - THE RETURN • Scene 1. Road Back – The heroes return to the Alliance, but Artoo is badly hurt. C3PO offers his parts as replacement. • Scene 2. Return with Elixir – Artoo and C3PO are restored; Luke and Han are rewarded with medals of valor from the Alliance.
Some Examples • Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Odysseus • Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) • Thomas Edison • Kevin Flynn (Tron) • Joe Clark (Lean on Me) • Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings) • Bill and Ted (Bogus Journey) • Kal-El (Superman) • Presidential Candidates and the USA • YOU! (your on a journey right now!)