Thread by @TrungTPhan, You've definitely heard of "The Hero's Journey", the narrative structure found in [...]

You've definitely heard of "The Hero's Journey", the narrative structure found in countless stories dating back to Homer's Odyssey in ~7th century BC.

A great way to learn the framework: comparing scene-by-scene images from "The Matrix" and "Star Wars".

Check it out

0/ The "Hero's Journey" was coined by Joseph Campbell, an American literary prof.

He studied ancient myths and found many shared a similar character arc (AKA the "monomyth").

It follows 12 stages, with a hero venturing from an "ordinary world" to a "special world" and back.

1/ Ordinary world

The hero's normal life before the adventure begins:

Luke Skywalker lives on a farm in Tatooine

Neo is a corporate slave in the real world

1/ Ordinary world The hero's normal life before the adventure begins: Luke Skywalker lives on a farm in Tatooine Neo is a corporate slave in the real world

2/ Call to adventure

The hero is faced with an event, conflict, problem, or challenge that starts the adventure:

R2D2 flashes a hologram of Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for help

Neo is sent a message to "follow the white rabbit"

2/ Call to adventure The hero is faced with an event, conflict, problem, or challenge that starts the adventure: R2D2 flashes a hologram of Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for help Neo is sent a message to "follow the white rabbit"

3/ Refusal of the call

The hero refuses the adventure because of hesitation, fears, insecurity or other:

Luke tells Obi-Wan he has to stay on Tatooine farm to help his aunt and uncle

When agents come to his office, Neo won't escape by stepping outside the window

3/ Refusal of the call The hero refuses the adventure because of hesitation, fears, insecurity or other: Luke tells Obi-Wan he has to stay on Tatooine farm to help his aunt and uncle When agents come to his office, Neo won't escape by stepping outside the window

4/ Meeting the mentor

The hero encounters a mentor that can give them advice, wisdom, information, or items that preps them for journey:

Luke's aunt and uncle murdered by stormtroopers, he agrees for Obi-Wan to train him

Neo meets Morpheus, who soon trains him

4/ Meeting the mentorThe hero encounters a mentor that can give them advice, wisdom, information, or items that preps them for journey: Luke's aunt and uncle murdered by stormtroopers, he agrees for Obi-Wan to train him Neo meets Morpheus, who soon trains him

5/ Crossing the threshold

The hero leaves the ordinary world for the first time and crosses the threshold into adventure:

Luke follows Obi-wan to the Mos Eisley spaceport (a "wretched hive of scum and villainy", Luke no longer safe)

Neo takes the red pill, leaves Matrix

5/ Crossing the threshold The hero leaves the ordinary world for the first time and crosses the threshold into adventure: Luke follows Obi-wan to the Mos Eisley spaceport (a "wretched hive of scum and villainy", Luke no longer safe) Neo takes the red pill, leaves Matrix

6/ Test, Allies, Enemies

The hero learns the rules of the new world and endures tests, meets friends, and confronts enemies:

Luke meets Han Solo / Chewy, starts journey

Neo meets the team on the Nebuchadnezzar Ship, learns about the "real world"

6/ Test, Allies, Enemies The hero learns the rules of the new world and endures tests, meets friends, and confronts enemies: Luke meets Han Solo / Chewy, starts journey Neo meets the team on the Nebuchadnezzar Ship, learns about the "real world"

7/ The Approach

The initial plan to take on the central conflict begins, but setbacks occur that cause the hero to try a new approach:

Luke to meet Rebels on Alderaan, but the planet is destroyed

Neo meets The Oracle, who says he's *not* The One

7/ The Approach The initial plan to take on the central conflict begins, but setbacks occur that cause the hero to try a new approach: Luke to meet Rebels on Alderaan, but the planet is destroyed Neo meets The Oracle, who says he's *not* The One

8/ The Ordeal

Things go wrong and a new conflict is introduced, incl. a potential life or death situation:

Luke and Co. save Leia but Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to Vader

Morpheus abducted during ambush, Neo and Trinity return to save him

8/ The OrdealThings go wrong and a new conflict is introduced, incl. a potential life or death situation: Luke and Co. save Leia but Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to Vader Morpheus abducted during ambush, Neo and Trinity return to save him

9/ Seizing the Sword

After surviving The Ordeal, hero gains a reward (knowledge, physical item) to take on the biggest conflict:

Luke saves Princess Leia and has Death Star plans

Neo saves Morpheus and has confidence he is The One after fighting Agent Smith

9/ Seizing the Sword After surviving The Ordeal, hero gains a reward (knowledge, physical item) to take on the biggest conflict: Luke saves Princess Leia and has Death Star plans Neo saves Morpheus and has confidence he is The One after fighting Agent Smith

10/ The Road Back

The hero sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but they are about to face even more tests and challenges:

Luke and Co. bring Death Star plans to rebel base and are chased by Empire

Cypher betrays team and Neo is unable to exit The Matrix

10/ The Road BackThe hero sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but they are about to face even more tests and challenges: Luke and Co. bring Death Star plans to rebel base and are chased by Empire Cypher betrays team and Neo is unable to exit The Matrix

11/ Resurrection

The climax. The hero faces a final test, using everything they have learned to prevail:

Luke, Co. and rebels take on the Death Star (Luke uses the force to aim the kill shot)

Neo is killed by agents, resurrected by Trinity..he's The One and stops bullets

11/ Resurrection The climax. The hero faces a final test, using everything they have learned to prevail: Luke, Co. and rebels take on the Death Star (Luke uses the force to aim the kill shot) Neo is killed by agents, resurrected by Trinity..he's The One and stops bullets

12/ Return With Elixir

The hero brings their knowledge or the “elixir” back to the ordinary world.

Luke is a f*cking Jedi and gets a fat medal for it

Neo can f*cking fly, is The One and is gonna cause some havoc in The Matrix

12/ Return With Elixir The hero brings their knowledge or the “elixir” back to the ordinary world. Luke is a f*cking Jedi and gets a fat medal for it Neo can f*cking fly, is The One and is gonna cause some havoc in The Matrix

13/ Star Wars' creator George Lucas credits "The Hero's Journey" for improving his original script.

Prior to applying the framework, Star Wars -- as composer John Williams explained -- was "a Saturday morning space movie."

Lucas clearly saw his own hero's journey, too ("Luke")

14/ Since Star Wars, countless other films have used the framework (obviously The Matrix); structure varies.

I use a Sheets template to map out other Hero's Journey (like for MJ and Lebron

).

Sheet link here and def SMASH that follow: @TrungTPhan

https://bit.ly/2QoTh7c

14/ Since Star Wars, countless other films have used the framework (obviously The Matrix); structure varies. I use a Sheets template to map out other Hero's Journey (like for MJ and Lebron ).Sheet link here and def SMASH that follow: @TrungTPhan https://bit.ly/2QoTh7c

15/ Sources

Star Wars: https://thescriptlab.com/features/screenwriting-101/12309-the-heros-journey-breakdown-star-wars/

The Matrix: https://thescriptlab.com/features/screenwriting-101/12409-the-heros-journey-breakdown-the-matrix/

George Lucas: https://www.starwars.com/news/mythic-discovery-within-the-inner-reaches-of-outer-space-joseph-campbell-meets-george-lucas-part-i

How The Matrix updated Hero's Journey for 1990s: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/the-matrix-heros-journey-star-wars-1990s/

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