Background:

Christopher Vogler is a Hollywood development executive as well as a screenwriter, author and educator. He is best known for his work in Disney as well as being responsible for highlighting the Hero’s journey in his 7 page memo called “A Practical Guide to The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The Hero’s Journey describes the typical adventure of a Hero in fiction. The journey as a whole has 12 stages that details the Hero’s development as a character throughout the narrative. 

The Stages: 

1. The Ordinary World – This is when the hero is introduced sympathetically so the audience can relate to them. There is usually something causing the hero stress. 
2. The Call to Adventure – Something shakes up the hero’s life and their life begins to change from that point onwards. 
3. Refusal of the Call – The hero briefly turns away the adventure, either because they are afraid of what lies ahead or because of their duties in their own life. 
4. Meeting with the Mentor – The hero meets someone who will guide them on their adventure. Alternatively, the hero can find courage within themselves. 
5. Crossing the Threshold – This is when the hero fully commits to leaving their old life behind and starting their adventure. 
6. Tests, Allies and Enemies – The hero is tested and seeks out allies during the adventure.
7. Approach – The hero and their allies prepare for the major challenge during the narrative. 
8. The Ordeal – At this point in the story, the hero suffers an ordeal that consists of either facing their greatest fear or losing a loved one or a part of themselves. The hero’s life is forever changed from this point onwards. 
9. The Reward – The hero takes possession of the ‘treasure’ won by facing their ordeal. There is still a risk of losing the treasure again, however. 
10. The Road Back – At this point, the adventure is nearly over and the hero is driven to complete it. There is often a chase sequence that signals the urgency of the situation. 
11. The Resurrection – Usually the climax of the adventure. The hero is tested once more and this is followed by another moment of death and rebirth that will once again alter the hero’s personality and life from this point onwards. 
12. The hero returns to either their home or a new home after the journey, permanently transformed by the events that transpired. 

There are also many archetypes that are present throughout the journey. These are basically characters that represent a specific role throughout the narrative. 

The Archetypes:

• Heroes – Main characters in stories, often the characters that the narrative is focused around. 
• Shadows – Villains of the story. Could be actual physical antagonists or could just be an internal struggle within the hero. 
• Mentors – The hero’s guide.
• Herald – The one who brings the call to adventure to the hero, could often be the mentor or an event that transpires.
• Threshold Guardians – Characters, events or internal struggles that stop the hero from crossing the threshold. 
• Shapeshifters – Essentially refers to how the audience’s perception of a character can change as they develop throughout the narrative. 
• Tricksters – Mischief makers, could even be the hero’s mischievous subconscious that forces them to change. 
• Allies – Characters who help the hero throughout the adventure. Some may cause the hero to change or some may even change with the hero.