188 Stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) Hero’s Journey – The Dark Lord

The Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188 stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE HERO’S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more…

*****Hero’s Journey: The Dark Lord*****

A dark lord’s lieutenant pursues the detective hero. The hero easily escapes him, again demonstrating his superiority. In The Maltese Falcon (1939), Sam quickly evades the boy.

*****Rebellion*****

It not uncommon for the Hero to embark on the Journey or Trivial Task through a minor act of rebellion. The Hero takes the initiative. In The Incredibles (2004), Mr Incredible rebels and deceives his wife. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Zach rebels against his father.

*****Afterlife Act*****

Sequences include:

The Hero rules on his throne (Conan the Barbarian).

He bears children, most often including a male heir.

He mentors the next generation.

After a while, he is ousted by a Demon King or commits a critical error.

He is exiled to a far off land.

He disappears or dies a mysterious death. In Out of Africa (1985), no one knows exactly how Denys died.

*****Doves and Hawks*****

These are two archetypes that are for the Hero embarking on the Journey (Hawks) or against it (Doves). Both debate the pros and cons of the journey. In Alien (1979), Lambert does not want to go but Kane is keen.

Dark Side. The danger of following the Call is that it could lead to the dark side. Doves often are against the Journey, not because of any selfishness, but because of the very real threat involved. In Raging Bull (1980), the local Mafia want Jake La Motta to take a dive. He resists this call as it will surely lead to the dark side.

*****Celebrating the Physical Crossing*****

A celebration marks the Crossing into the World of the Transformation. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie isn’t worried that they’ve shot someone, she’s happy about it [in the cinema].

*****New World of Trials and Transformations*****

Just like any New DOmain (most often described as a New World), the World of the Trials and Transformations has never been experienced before. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie, Clyde, Buck and Blanche all go into the house.

*****Loop*****

The Loop closes the story by linking the first and last sequences. Methods include:

Return to the Ordinary World. In Lord of the Rings, Frodo, Sam et al return to the Shire.

Journey to the New Life in a New World. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Zach and Paula go to wherever he is assigned.

Symbolic link: In Drugstore Cowboy (1989), the loop is symbolic, with a return to Bob’s hospital bed. In War of the Worlds (2005), images of bacteria and the smallness of Earth within the Universe make up the symbolic linkages.

*****Disgust*****

It is not unusual for the Hero to be nervous, disgusted or have some strong emotion on departure from the Belly of the Whale and into the Road of Trials.

In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis throws up.

*****Transformation*****

The Hero’s Journey (also known as the Monomyth) should really be called the Hero’s Transformation. A story IS Transformation.

Every Hero goes on a Physical Journey, the purpose of which is to stimulate a Psychological Transformation. It is the undergoing of the Journey that gives the Hero the capacity to conquer those challenges that were previously unconquerable.

In the beginning of the Journey the Hero is an Ordinary Self and at the end of it a New Self. The New Self is demonstrated by a change in attitudes, norms, values, behaviour and clothing. In the beginning the Hero is dressed in one way and at the end another.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at clickok.co.uk/ clickok.co.uk/

The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at managing-creativity.com/ managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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