The protagonist’s world before the story proper begins. The hero is shown against a background of home environment, family background, and personal history. This anchors the protagonist as a sympathetic person. Some kind of divide or schism in their life is pulling them in different directions and causing stress.
2. Call To Adventure
The protagonist's adventure begins when they receive the call to action. This may present itself as a direct threat to personal safety, family life, way of life or to the wellbeing of the community. It may not be as dramatic as a gunshot, but could be as simply as a phone call, a conversation, Etc. The call, however it manifests itself, disrupts the protagonist's World and presents a challenge …show more content…
Approach To The Inmost Cave
The inmost cave can represent various things in the protagonist's story; actual location of terrible danger or inner conflict which the protagonist has not faced up to as of yet. Preparations are made in advance of taking the frightening leap into the as yet unknown. At this threshold the protagonist may face again the doubts/fears that first appeared at the call to adventure. Time to reflect on the treacherous road ahead may be needed. This brief respite helps the audience to understand the significance of the coming ordeal.
8. Ordeal
At this midpoint of the story, the protagonist enters a central area in the New and Special World and confronts either death or their biggest fear. From this moment of near death comes new life.
The Huge Ordeal may be a treacherous physical task or a deep inner crisis that the protagonist must face in order to survive or for the protagonist old world to continue to exist. The protagonist must use all of the skills and experiences gathered on the journey. This is the climax of the protagonist's story where all that is held dear is put to the test.
9. Reward (Seizing The Sword)
After defeating the foe, surviving death and overcoming fierce challenges, the protagonist is transformed, emerging from battle stronger and sometimes with a …show more content…
This battle represents a thing far greater than the Hero's own survival. Its outcome has far-reaching consequences to his home World and the lives of all those he left behind. Purified by sacrifice, this is yet another meeting with death and rebirth, but this time on a higher and more profound level.
If the protagonist fails, loved ones will suffer. This places a huge weight of responsibility on the protagonist’s shoulders. The audience is gripped as they too feel invested in the conflict and share the story’s hopes and fears. Ultimately the protagonist will succeed, destroy all enemies and emerge cleansed and reborn.
12. Return With The Elixir
The final part of the journey. The protagonist returns home to the Ordinary World a changed person; transformed by the adventure and dangers and obstacles faced down.
The final reward obtained may be either literal or metaphoric. It may be a cause for celebration, self-realization or an end to war, but whatever it is it represents three things: change, triumph and vindication of the journey. The return too signals a need to resolve the stories of the other key players. The protagonist's doubters will be ostracized, enemies crushed and allies rewarded.
The Heroine's Journey (text from the work of Maureen