Joseph Campbell is a mythologist who studied mythologies in a different method than did others. Instead of studying by contrasting how they were different, he compared how they were the same. This led to the development of the heros journey. It is used both by authors to direct their plots, and by individuals to direct their lives.
This idea is not just about story structure. It is about much more than that. Though it is a valuable tool in plotting, it is also identified as a road map to self-improvement. Though it is recognized by psychologists, it is more identified as a writing tool for planning a story's plot. The same principles used for self-improvement are used to make a character come to life for a reader.
Departure is one of the steps of this journey. The character or person has to depart to the unknown, leaving the safety of the familiar and venture out to adventures, whether it be a character in a story or a person on a personal journey that must leave the familiar into a future they do not know about.
Once the hero has departed to the unknown, he faces all the trials and catastrophes facing him, such as monsters and other dangers. His skill and ability to deal with conflict is tested. Though he may not always triumph over it all, and really will not, he will persevere in spite of whatever he faces.
During the stage named return, the hero must return home, no longer the same person. The trials he has withstood have matured him. He has a goal to achieve, and is now a mature person. This stage involves growth of the character as he matures. This is the ultimate goal of a story character, this change.
This journey can be related to the drama of a story. The departure stage is the same as the thesis. This is the world as it currently is for the protagonist. The antithesis is when the character faces opposing forces, and the antagonist. The synthesis stage is when the hero has accomplished, or not, all he sets out to do, and goes home to try and combine the old world and the new one.
There are ten steps that are included in the three stages. These are the original world, the adventure, hitting the apparent point of no return when a major challenge is met, trials and dangers, a magical mentor with supernatural assistance, being in the dragon's lair, the moment of despair, and the ultimate challenge. At the conclusion of that, there is the homeward trip, then the rebirth of the character and his triumphant return.
Each of the steps fit into the three stages. These same stages and steps can be seen in a person's personal development as well. Sometimes a character that is part of a series remains static, not maturing. Just as a character can be "stuck" in one or more steps, not showing maturity but remaining static, so too can a person's personal development get stuck. The whole process has been detailed in depth in several book length works, but the process can be seen in outline form to guide a writer's plot.
This idea is not just about story structure. It is about much more than that. Though it is a valuable tool in plotting, it is also identified as a road map to self-improvement. Though it is recognized by psychologists, it is more identified as a writing tool for planning a story's plot. The same principles used for self-improvement are used to make a character come to life for a reader.
Departure is one of the steps of this journey. The character or person has to depart to the unknown, leaving the safety of the familiar and venture out to adventures, whether it be a character in a story or a person on a personal journey that must leave the familiar into a future they do not know about.
Once the hero has departed to the unknown, he faces all the trials and catastrophes facing him, such as monsters and other dangers. His skill and ability to deal with conflict is tested. Though he may not always triumph over it all, and really will not, he will persevere in spite of whatever he faces.
During the stage named return, the hero must return home, no longer the same person. The trials he has withstood have matured him. He has a goal to achieve, and is now a mature person. This stage involves growth of the character as he matures. This is the ultimate goal of a story character, this change.
This journey can be related to the drama of a story. The departure stage is the same as the thesis. This is the world as it currently is for the protagonist. The antithesis is when the character faces opposing forces, and the antagonist. The synthesis stage is when the hero has accomplished, or not, all he sets out to do, and goes home to try and combine the old world and the new one.
There are ten steps that are included in the three stages. These are the original world, the adventure, hitting the apparent point of no return when a major challenge is met, trials and dangers, a magical mentor with supernatural assistance, being in the dragon's lair, the moment of despair, and the ultimate challenge. At the conclusion of that, there is the homeward trip, then the rebirth of the character and his triumphant return.
Each of the steps fit into the three stages. These same stages and steps can be seen in a person's personal development as well. Sometimes a character that is part of a series remains static, not maturing. Just as a character can be "stuck" in one or more steps, not showing maturity but remaining static, so too can a person's personal development get stuck. The whole process has been detailed in depth in several book length works, but the process can be seen in outline form to guide a writer's plot.
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