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

Advertisements

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.

Finally!

The day you have been waiting for has arrived!

Your anticipation has been filled to the brim.

That pounding in your chest can finally subside.

Now available in paperback and kindle on Amazon.

Buy it here

It’s coming closer!!!

It’s only 1 week away now!!!

May 1st.

It’ll be here before you know it.

Get excited!

(Wait, you probably already are…)

Stay excited! Excite someone else!!!

Preston’s Song

No, the book isn’t available yet.

12 days!!

But I do have a little treat to tide you over.

Here is a little poem from the book called Preston’s Song:

She walks in beauty like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her features and her eyes.

---

Fair her silk wraps about the day

Like pearls of sapphire on display

On bands of golden ringlets spray

Grace and elegance on display

---

What love she has within her heart

None yet has forced her to impart

So who knows where a man should start

From his mind she can ne’er depart

---

The least he should be brave and bold

Pursue her as a tall stronghold

Where his labors can all behold

And win her heart a thousandfold

It’s Coming…

Finally, after five torturous years of longing and waiting and hoping and praying and crying (okay, I got a little carried away with the hyperbole there), drumroll please:

Book 2 of The Stones of Revenge is coming.

That’s right, you asked for it, you begged for it, you lost sleep waiting for news about it, you might have even lost your appetite you were so anxious. (And boy would you be skinny now. I mean, five years, geez!)

Anyway, May 1st.

Yep, that’s the date. Just a few more days away.

13 to be exact.

In honor of Preston’s birthday, you can continue the story!

But not today. May 1st.

Did I mention that? I thought I did.

Okay great, on May 1st, the saga continues…