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:
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) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.
ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:
(simply go to heros-journey.info/ heros-journey.info/ for full details)
*****Demonstrating the Changing*****
As the Hero evolves, both in the First Threshold and the Road of Trials, the Changing is demonstrated. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), the sheepherder asks, “…I thought you didn’t need soup….”
*****Anti-Hero*****
There are various types of Hero: a) the good, willing Hero (Star Wars, 1977), b) the good, unwilling Hero (Shawshank Redemption, 1994), c) the Anti-Hero (Raging Bull, 1980; Goodfellas, 1990; Scarface, 1983) etc. Nevertheless, their stories all mirror the Hero’s Journey template. The difference between hero, anti-hero and other variations simply lies in situation, motivation and result (Hero’s evolve, Ant-Hero’s regress). The different hero-types are simply alternate archetypes.
*****No Going Back*****
There are at least two stages of No Going Back. The first is entry into the First Threshold. In The Matrix (1999), Neo is given the choice between the red and blue pills. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Joan crosses a bridge which falls away when Jack crosses, the vine falls away. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), No Going Back is expressed by the killing of the guard as he jumps the car. They′re wanted for murder now.
*****Antiheroes in the Final Conflict - Devolution*****
Heroes evolve and Antiheroes devolve. During the Final Conflict, devolution is expressed in a number of ways. For example, In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), the papers say that Clyde left his brother. This is not how he wants to be remembered.
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.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
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.