The Hero’s Journey- Crossing the Threshold

Intellectual Credit Joseph Campbell

Last time in our discussion of the Hero’s Journey we looked at The Helper.

Today we will examine the danger of Crossing the Threshold.

The Threshold

Credit: 20th Century Fox

The point of no return.

Once this line is crossed the hero has only two options: Succeed or Die. The danger gets exponentially higher making option two seem more likely and option one less attainable. But make no mistake, there is a clear distinction now for the hero. His/Her eyes have finally opened, and he/she is not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

A good example of this is seen in The Matrix.

Credit: Vintage Roadshow Pictures

Neo gets unceremoniuosly pulled from his day job into a trail of mystery leading him to his infamous meeting with Morpheus. Here, he is offered a choice: red or blue. Blue lets him go back to his boring office job (World of Commn Day) while red leads to truth and the “real world”. (or is it just real world?)

Obviously, we know what he chooses. (Or do we? Seriously, it can get too confusing if you really think about it.)

Anyway, the point is that he made the choice and, therefore, Crossed the Threshold.

Now, don’t expect the hero to leave this world easily. Standing between the threshold and the hero most often is a Threshold Guardian.

The Threshold Guardian

This character’s job is simple- keep the hero from crossing the threshold by killing him/her. And usually, this villain is an expendable, one-time use bad guy.

For example, look no further than Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

As Percy tries to make it to Camp Half-Blood, he is pursued by a Minotaur who wants nothing more than to kill him.

He is forced to battle his way past this mythological creature before he can gain entrance into his world of adventure. Lucky for him, and us, he wins. Otherwise there would be no story.

And once this line has been crossed we celebrate our hero for the accomplishment, but fear for the worst as we know that the danger only grows from here.

We will discuss that growing danger next time when we study The Road of Trials!

Until then,
Peace and Long Reads

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The Hero’s Journey- The Helper

Intellectual Credit Joseph Campbell

Last time in our discussion of the Hero’s Journey we looked at The Refusal of The Call.

Today, we will unravel the necessity or or lack thereof of The Helper.

The Helper

In this deadly and unknown world of adventure fraught with hazards at every turn, the hero will unwittingly need assistance to finish the task.  His life hanging in the balance, this help will come in 4 different archetypes some of which can be played by the same character.

The Ally

The Ally comes along the journey with the hero in one of two ways.

First, you have:

The “Already a Hero” Ally

Credit: moviestore.nl

This is the character with the expertise, experience, and exponential reserve to see the hero to the end. He has walked in the hero’s shoes therefore giving him/her the best perspective on what the hero is dealing with. An example of this archetype might be Strider from Lord of the Rings. (I know you might argue that since he is really Aragorn he fits in the lower category, but just remember that these are fluid archetypes. Characters can slip in and out depending on the story. But just for the sake of argument, this is the Aragorn from Fellowship whom we called Strider when we first met him.)

Or you might have:

The “Becoming a Hero” Ally

Credit: councilofelrond.com

Here, the ally is on the journey for the same reasons as the hero. Both are searching for their confirmation in the hero realm. This ally might have special abilities that separate him/her from the hero, and he/she might be on his/her own hero’s journey. But it is the lack of experience that defines this archetype. There are a million to choose from, but keeping with the Lord of the Rings theme, any one of the three hobbits accompanying Frodo would fit this description.

Moving on to the second archetype.

The Sidekick

In this case, the helper is either one of two extremes. He/she is either essential or just filler.

Case in point, take Robin.

Credit: batfriend.com

At times Robin is the most ridiculous, annoying, in-the-way-hero helper… ever! I look at him and want to slap the lame out of him. It’s as if DC Comics thought Batman needed someone to stand next to to make him look cooler.

(As if that were possible.)

But then came George Clooney’s nipple suit, and suddenly the boy wonder was not only much tougher, he seemed necessary. (He still looked stupid, but at least he saved Batman’s life on occasion.)

(What were they thinking?)

Archetype number 3.

The Mentor

This archetype is similar to the “Already a Hero” Ally except for one small difference. The Mentor will be an experienced member of the journey who has “been there before” much like the similar Ally. This archetype might even pass on knowledge like the Ally. But the distinction between Ally and Mentor occurs when the Mentor steps out of the way to allow the hero the grow up and become the hero. Without this subtle action, the hero would never rise to the occasion. He/she would rely on the Mentor instead of solving his/her own problems.

A great example of this is Qui-Gon Ginn.

(Yoda doesn’t go on the journey with Luke.)

(The caption is for those purists out there. I know what you are thinking.)

Just think about the end of A Phantom Menace.

Last archetype.

The Supernatural Aid

This is the helper who uses, you guessed it, supernatural forces i.e. magic to accomplish the end goal. It’s really just as simple as that. The Supernatural Aid uses magic. A good example would be Merlin. (Gandalf is just too easy.)

(No, that’s not Agent Smith. Yes, it is the dude from Jurassic Park.)

And there you have it. Remember, some characters may play one or more archetypal roles. For instance, Gandalf would be considered, a Mentor, and a Supernatural Aid. Aragorn could, at times, be considered an Ally, a Mentor, and a Supernatural Aid. (If you count him being the only person able to get the army of the dead to fight in the war.)

Next time, we will discuss The Threshold of Adventure and what happens when it is crossed.

Until then,
Peace and Long Reads

The Hero’s Journey- The Refusal of the Call

Intellectual Credit Joseph Campbell

Last time in our discussion of the Hero’s Journey we looked at The Call to Adventure.

Today we will venture into the excitement of The Refusal of the Call.

The Refusal

Credit: zealoflife.blogspot.om

Once our intrepid hero has been called out of his/her World of Common Day, there is sometimes, and I emphasize sometimes, a moment or period of time where said hero does not want to go for a couple of reasons.

Hero is Unsure

Credit: LucasArts

This reason is pretty self explanatory, but basically the hero is being tied down and is worried about his/her responsibilities or is just plain scared.

We see this again with Luke. Though he had an inward call, when the moment came for him to jump on a starship and head off into adventure, he tells Obi-Wan that he can’t because of his responsibilities.

Helper is Unsure

Credit: Lucas Arts

In this case, the hero is all rearing to go, but his helper, more on this later, is holding him back for the same reasons as above. Once the helper, either lets go of his/her fear or his/her responsibilities are removed, then the adventure can begin.

For an example, think of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Ark. Indiana is primed and ready to stop the Nazis and find the Ark first, but he needs the help of an old lover named Marion. When he meets up with her, she is unwilling to go because of her responsibilities in her bar. But when the Nazis burn it down, all bets are off and Marion is finally ready to embark on the adventure.

Sometimes

And sometimes, the refusal doesn’t exist at all. Sometimes, the hero goes about his/her adventure without barrier, border, or barricade and plunges head first into the foray. Sometimes.

Next time I will go into more detail about the 4 types of helpers you will encounter on a hero’s journey.

Until then,
Peace and Long Reads

The Hero’s Journey- The Call to Adventure

Intellectual Credit Joseph Campbell

Last time in our discussion of the Hero’s Journey we looked at The World of Common Day.

Today we will venture into the excitement of The Call to Adventure.

The Call to Adventure

Credit: cutcaster.com

In this progression of the ordinary Joe Shmoe becoming a hero, we see that there is a moment when the safety net of The World of Common Day will be taken away, and the hero is compelled to make a choice to leave. This can occur in two possible scenarios.

Scenario One: The Inward Call

Credit: LucasArts

In this scenario, the hero has a strong desire to see “what’s out there”. There is often a pining for stories of other heroes and adventures and expressions of boredom with his/her common day. Sometimes the hero’s desires may be squelched, but eventually those roadblocks are taken away and he/she is free to pursue the adventure. An example for this can be found once again in the iconic Star Wars.

As we last left Luke, he was drowning his sorrows in his blue milk wanting to join the Rebels in their fight against the Empire. His uncle played the killjoy and refused to let him leave, promising just “one more season”. But as Luke runs into a stubborn little astrodroid named R2D2 with a penchant for running away, he is forced into abandoning his homestead just as Imperial troops arrive to destroy it and his family. (This is the roadblock being removed.) As sad, and slightly horrifying, as this moment is, Luke is now free to follow his longing to leave and join Obi-Wan and the Rebels and begin his journey.

Scenario Two: The Outward Call

Credit: New Line Cinema

In this scenario, there is some force compelling the hero to take action and leave behind his/her boring life. Most often, the hero is not looking for adventure and is as peachy as can be in his/her comfort zone.

But along will come some person or item that will warn of danger. And in some cases, the hero simply gets kidnapped and forced on to the journey. Usually there will be a constant pining for home or at the very least a desire to know how everyone at home is coping.

The best example for this (though since this story was published many have copied it) is The Lord of the Rings.

I’ll wager to guess you were even already thinking about it.

Little old Frodo, comfy and cozy, living with his uncle in a beautiful shire has no thought of the outside world. Though he knows of his uncle Bilbo’s adventures, he spends his days having fun with his pals. Then along comes news of Bilbo’s ring and the danger with it, and Frodo is all of a sudden forced out of his home and onto the road of sure death. Goodbye safety net, hello adventure.

The next stage in our journey will find both Luke and Frodo unsure of what to do. More on this next time.

Until then,
Peace and Long Reads

The Hero’s Journey- World of Common Day

Intellectual Credit Joseph Campbell

So, this post basically has to start with an apology for my absence. It has been a little more of a hectic month than I thought it would be with the newborn, finishing the school year, and starting summer school.

But now I am starting a class teaching 6th and 7th graders about reading and using Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey as the class theme.

The basic premise is to read one fantasy novel and follow the hero through the nine stages of his journey.

And since I am a soon to be a self-published author in the fantasy genre, I felt that the lessons would be very a pro pos.

The World of Common Day

Credit NBC- Jim and Pam at work.

The Hero’s journey is a simple one and can be found in just about any story. These types of stories are most common in fantasy where a simple person goes off on some quest to become a hero.

But no matter how the story pans out or evolves, every Hero’s journey takes root in what is known as The World of Common Day

This world is, simply put, the protagonist’s every day life. (Think Hobbits in The Shire or the Pevensies in our world, England) It is the comfort zone. It is the bubble that cannot be shattered. (But, of course, will be shattered.) It is the ultimate boring life that nags at all heroes and makes them urge, nay desire, nay yearn for Excitement and Adventure! (Though many, I’m sure, would claim they do not want adventure. Common Hobbits fit this description.)

But do not let this stage fool you, oh no! It is the mother of all stages. It is the first stage. It is what allows all readers to get their feet wet. It is the stepping off point for all other steps the hero will take in the journey. Though sometimes lacking in drama, tension, or suspense, this first stage in the Hero’s Journey is essential in order for the reader to have a baseline for the transformation that is to take place.

And for those aspiring writers out there who envision taking the plunge into their own writing journey, I urge you, do not shrug this stage off! It can be the most beneficial to you!

How?

For a deeper understanding of this first step into the Hero’s Journey, let us take a look at an example from the iconic Star Wars. (And, yes, I do mean A New Hope.)

Mr. Skywalker in all his awesomeness

Luke Skywalker, the protagonist, lives with his aunt and uncle on a moisture farm in the middle of a desert planet called Tatooine. Though he does not live the perfect Leave it to Beaver life, his life is pretty comfy, complete with protocol droids, igloo-like stone houses, and blue milk.

And as we find out in the infamous and aforementioned blue milk scene, Luke has a distaste for the governing empire and wants to leave this World of Common Day to join the rebels in their fight.

Now, if this was the entire story setting, we would have all bled from our eye sockets due to boredom because the common day is just that, common. There may be some minor conflict, but all in all nothing happens here.

Lucky for us, Luke does not stay in The World of Common Day for very long. His journey through the stages takes a wild turn when he meets an unexpected stranger and progresses into the Call to Adventure. More on this stage of The Hero’s Journey next time.

Until then, Peace and Long Reads.

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