The Hero’s Journey
The Mono-Myth
Text Adapted from Coverage by Chris Vogler

The Mono-Myth
• a community is threatened by evil
• a selfless hero emerges to renounce temptations and carry out the task
• aided by fate and a mentor, his victory restores the community to its paradisiacal condition
– These mythic elements are common to the legends, folklore and fairy tales of all cultures

THE HERO IS INTRODUCED IN HIS ORDINARY WORLD.
• The writer creates a contrast by showing him in his ordinary world first
• Most stories take place in a special world, a world that is new and alien to its hero

THE CALL TO ADVENTURE
• The hero is presented with:
– a problem,
– challenge,
– or an adventure

HERO IS INITIALLY RELUCTANT
• Often at this point, the hero balks at the threshold of adventure.
• After all, he or she is facing the greatest of all fears -- fear of the unknown

THE HERO IS ENCOURAGED BY A MENTOR
• The mentor gives advice and sometimes magical weapons
• The mentor can only go so far with the hero
• Eventually the hero must face the unknown by himself
• Sometimes the mentor has to give the hero a swift kick in the pants to get the adventure going

THE HERO PASSES THE FIRST THRESHOLD
• He fully enters the special world of his story for the first time
• This is the moment at which the adventure gets going
• The hero is now committed to his journey... and there's no turning back

THE HERO IS TESTED AND GETS NEEDED HELP
• The hero makes allies and enemies in the special world
• and faces challenges and tests that are part of his training

THE HERO REACHES THE INNERMOST CAVE
• The hero comes at last to a dangerous place, often deep underground, where the object of his quest is hidden.
• He must confront his or hers worst fears... and overcome them

THE HERO ENDURES THE SUPREME ORDEAL
• He faces the possibility of death. This is a critical moment in any story, an ordeal in which the hero appears to die and is born again.
• We are temporarily depressed, and then we are revived by the hero's resurrection

THE HERO SIEZES THE “SWORD”
• The hero now takes possession of the treasure he's come seeking
– a special weapon
– an elixir which can heal the wounded land
– knowledge and experience that leads to greater understanding and a reconciliation with hostile forces
• The hero may settle a conflict
– with his father
– with nemesis.
– may also be reconciled with a woman. Often she is the treasure he's come to win or rescue, and there is often a love scene or sacred marriage at this point

THE ROAD BACK
• The hero is pursued by the vengeful forces from whom he has stolen the elixir or the treasure
• If the hero has not yet managed to reconcile with his father or the gods etc., they may come raging after him at this point

RESURRECTION
• The hero emerges from the special world, transformed by his experience.
• There is often a replay here of the mock death-and-rebirth as the hero once again faces death and survives
• He is transformed by his experience

RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR
• The hero comes back to his ordinary world, with the elixir, treasure, or some lesson from the special world
• Unless he comes back with the elixir or some boon to mankind, he's doomed to repeat the adventure until he does
• Many comedies use this ending as a foolish character refuses to learn his lesson and embarks on the same folly that got him in trouble in the first place
• The hero earns:
• treasure
• or love
• or knowledge
• or a good story to tell