Hero's Journey and Archetypes

The Hero's Journey and Pop Quiz!

Objective: Show your current understanding of the Hero's Journey stages/steps.

Also called the Hero's Cycle, it is a series of stages. It presents the Monomyth, which is a pattern of stories and myths first identified by Joseph Campbell.

The Hero's Journey

The hero's journey is represented in different ways, with different categories and even different names.

Multiple Representations​

Call to Adventure

The hero may hesitate, reluctant to leave the comfort, or they may be afraid of the task they would need to complete.

Refusal of the Call

Some help is given to the hero that will hopefully make their journey easier (or possible). It may be a weapon or armor, map, information, or even advice.

Supernatural Aid

The hero finally reaches a single point where they are no longer in the Ordinary World, but now in the unknown. This is the point of no return.

Crossing the Threshold

The hero starts off in a mundane situation, then some information is received that tells the hero to set off on a journey.

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“This is the hero’s normal world, where life is as usual. Problems/conflicts do not trouble the hero, and he/she lives among normal people."

• Refusal of the call

• The Call to Adventure

• The Ordinary World

• The Ultimate Boon

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The hero is hesitant to embark on the journey.”

• Magic Flight

• Road of Trials

• Refusal of the Return

• Refusal of the Call

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“This is the point where the hero leaves on their journey, leaving behind their normal life and seeing the new world for the first time”

• Crossing the Threshold

• Meeting with the Goddess

• Crossing the Return Threshold

• The Call to Adventure

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The hero crosses back into their mundane world”

• Belly of the Whale

• Call to Adventure

• Magic Flight

• Crossing the Return Threshold

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“In this stage, the hero encounters their first obstacle after leaving on the journey. It usually involves the hero being trapped in some way.”

• Road of Trials

• Belly of the Whale

• Apotheosis

• Crossing the Return threshold

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“A problem or threat interrupts the hero’s normal life.”

• Refusal of the Call

• The Call to Adventure

• Crossing the Threshold

• Apotheosis

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The final step of the initiation stage. This step is where the hero fulfills the reason for their journey.”

• Rescue from Without

• The Ordinary World

• The Ultimate Boon

• Magic Flight

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The largest portion of the initiation stage. Sometimes it is the first step. The hero undergoes a series of challenges that will usually change the hero. They will make mistakes and learn from them during this stage”

• Belly of the Whale

• The Road of Trials

• The Ultimate Boon

• Temptation or Woman as Temptress

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“Someone they look up to helps them find the inspiration to join/begin the journey”

• Atonement with the Father

• Supernatural Aid

• Crossing the Return Threshold

• Freedom to Live

The hero enters the zone of danger, such as a dragon's lair, the lion's den, or an island of monsters... They may be trapped there for some time.

Belly of the Whale​

The trials along the way are used both to steadily build interest and tension in the story, but also the character of the hero.

The Road of Trials

The hero meets someone or something, not always a goddess, that confirms the purpose of the hero's journey. The hero may even join forces with friends and allies that accompany them.

Meeting with the Goddess

Something makes the hero question if they should continue. Perhaps the villain offers their every desire, or gold beyond imagination. Some myths even present a princess or queen to marry and a kingdom to rule instead

Temptation, or a Woman as Temptress

The hero may well come up against a 'father figure' who must be beaten, persuaded or whose approval must be achieved in some way. It could be a god, an evil mastermind, an army, a king, or even something more symbolic, like death. The hero may seek to take the power from this enemy, and in so doing become more powerful.

Atonement with the Father

After all the preceding trials, the hero seems to transcend, or move past their previous life. They may die and be reborn, or simply realize some greater truth. They may awaken a new understanding or ability. Or just finally understand something that was previously unknown.

The hero sometimes becomes closer to godhood.​

Apotheosis

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“Something will happen or someone will try to get the hero to abandon their journey”

• Atonement with the Father

• Refusal of the Call

• Road of Trials

• Temptation or Woman as Temptress

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“Since the hero has been on the journey, they need to learn to balance their normal life and the world they experienced on the journey.”

• Atonement with the Father

• Master of Two Worlds

• The Ordinary World

• Magic Flight

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The hero adapts back into their everyday life and lives peacefully.”

• Supernatural Aid

• The Ultimate Boon

• Freedom to Live

• Apotheosis

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“One of the major turning points of the story where the hero faces the ultimate reason for the journey. This could be a villain or even their own self-doubt.”

• Apotheosis

• Supernatural Aid

• Magic Flight

• Atonement with the Father

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The hero learns from the previous step how they will face the rest of their journey. The hero gain understanding or knowledge that helps them to succeed.” They have renewed strength or are reborn in a way.

• Apotheosis

• Master of Two Worlds

• Freedom to Live

• Atonement with the Father

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The hero has completed the reason for their journey, but they are still chased by others. In this step, the hero is trying to escape or evade those who are chasing them.”

• Magic Flight

• Refusal of the Call

• Supernatural Aid

• Meeting with the Goddess

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The hero meets allies that will help them through their journey." A hero can also come to a greater understanding of the importance of their journey.

• Supernatural Aid

• The Ordinary World

• Meeting with the Goddess

• Belly of the Whale

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“The hero realises that they do not want to or are not quite ready to return to their normal life.”

• Refusal of Return

• Refusal of the Call

• Atonement with the Father

• Master of Two Worlda

Multiple Choice

Which stage does the following best describe?

“Once again, an outside source or mentor works to guide them home and rescue them from those who are chasing them”

• Road of Trials

• Magic Flight

• Temptation or Woman as Temptress

• Rescue from Without