FORWARD
The 188 stage 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 188 STAGE HERO’S JOURNEY involves a number of major phases, including:
a) The arrival from Another World into an Ordinary World.
b) The Ordinary Self, that has come about as a result of being in the Ordinary World.
c) The encouragement from the Ordinary World into a New World.
d) The gradual dissolution of the Old Self.
e) The becoming of the New Self.
f) The thrusting away from the New Self and New World.
g) The confrontation with challenges.
h) The mastering of the Old and New Worlds and Selves.
more…
(simply go to heros-journey.info/ heros-journey.info/ for full details)
ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:
PERIOD OF DISSONANCE
One often missed aspect of the Hero’s Journey is the Period of Dissonance. Often Shape Shifters hesitate to make a final decision.
In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Moss is caught between loyalty to Clyde and his father. Similarly, Blanche is conflicted about giving away Moss′ surname.
In Gladiator (2000), the soldiers watch the battle between Commodus and Maximus and are torn between loyalty to the Emperor and fairness.
In Star Wars (1977), Han decides that engaging with the Death Star is suicidal, until he relents in the last minute.
Learn more…
WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at monomyth.info/ monomyth.info/
188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from story-structure.org/ story-structure.org/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.
**********************************
Kal Bishop, MBA