The hero crosses from the Ordinary World to the Special World and fully commits to the journey knowing there is no turning back.

 This is the hero’s everyday life prior to their journey. This is where we get to know the character of the hero in their regular life.

This is the hero’s first look at the Special World. The hero faces tests, encounters allies, confronts enemies, and learns the rules of the Special World. The hero finds out who can be trusted and prepares to face the greater obstacles.

The hero meets a mentor and gains confidence, insight, advice, training, or magical gifts to help them overcome the initial fears of the journey.

A person, object, or event sets the adventure rolling. This throws the ordinary world off-balance and threatens to worsen if the adventure is rejected.

The central crisis where the hero faces or confronts the most difficult challenge. The hero comes close to failure and death, while the success of the whole journey remains in question.

 The hero succeeds in the ordeal and often leaves with a reward of some sort – an item, a person, or knowledge. The hero has earned the right to celebrate a victory – temporarily.

The hero must continue on their journey and return back to the Ordinary World, but their successes in the Special World make it difficult to return. The hero may need an event to push them back over the threshold into the Ordinary World.

The hero plans to face the greatest danger in the Special World. The hero may take a moment here to relax and reflect on challenges overcome so far in the journey.

The hero succeeds in the ordeal and often leaves with a reward of some sort – an item, a person, or knowledge. The hero has earned the right to celebrate a victory – temporarily.

This is the final reward of the hero’s journey. The hero has earned the right to be accepted back into the Ordinary World and share their knowledge from the Special World.

Changes the course of the story by starting the hero on their journey - can be a person, object, or event.

An “average joe” at the beginning; someone who the audience can relate to. Often starts small with problems to overcome and through their journey, they gain the power and knowledge to overcome their obstacles.

A wise presence that guides a hero. Teaches, trains, motivates and provides the hero with gifts (weapons, knowledge, life-saving devices).

Opponents or obstacles that stop the hero from progressing on their journey. Often these characters guard the entrances between “worlds”. The hero can overcome these opponents, sometimes making them allies to accompany the hero on the rest of their journey.

Creates mischief and comic relief from the suspense of the journey. Is sometimes an ally of the hero.

The villain of the hero’s journey. Everything the hero trains for and overcomes is to lead to and defeat this character.

An archetype that changes from one type to another. They may mislead the hero or they may change sides to support the hero.

Travels with the hero on their journey. Often serves as a companion or friend to the hero who fights by their side, advises them, warns them, and sometimes challenges them.