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

You& #39;ve definitely heard of "The Hero& #39;s Journey", the narrative structure found in countless stories dating back to Homer& #39;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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧵" title="Thread" aria-label="Emoji: Thread">

0/ The "Hero& #39;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& #39;s normal life before the adventure begins:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke Skywalker lives on a farm in Tatooine

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo is a corporate slave in the real world

1/ Ordinary world The hero& #39;s normal life before the adventure begins:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke Skywalker lives on a farm in Tatooinehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo is a corporate slave in the real world" title="1/ Ordinary world The hero& #39;s normal life before the adventure begins:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke Skywalker lives on a farm in Tatooinehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> R2D2 flashes a hologram of Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for help

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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: https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

R2D2 flashes a hologram of Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for helphttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo is sent a message to "follow the white rabbit"" title="2/ Call to adventure The hero is faced with an event, conflict, problem, or challenge that starts the adventure: https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> R2D2 flashes a hologram of Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for helphttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke tells Obi-Wan he has to stay on Tatooine farm to help his aunt and uncle

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> When agents come to his office, Neo won& #39;t escape by stepping outside the window

3/ Refusal of the call The hero refuses the adventure because of hesitation, fears, insecurity or other:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke tells Obi-Wan he has to stay on Tatooine farm to help his aunt and uncle https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> When agents come to his office, Neo won& #39;t escape by stepping outside the window" title="3/ Refusal of the call The hero refuses the adventure because of hesitation, fears, insecurity or other:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke tells Obi-Wan he has to stay on Tatooine farm to help his aunt and uncle https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> When agents come to his office, Neo won& #39;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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke& #39;s aunt and uncle murdered by stormtroopers, he agrees for Obi-Wan to train him

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke& #39;s aunt and uncle murdered by stormtroopers, he agrees for Obi-Wan to train himhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo meets Morpheus, who soon trains him" title="4/ Meeting the mentorThe hero encounters a mentor that can give them advice, wisdom, information, or items that preps them for journey:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke& #39;s aunt and uncle murdered by stormtroopers, he agrees for Obi-Wan to train himhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke follows Obi-wan to the Mos Eisley spaceport (a "wretched hive of scum and villainy", Luke no longer safe)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke follows Obi-wan to the Mos Eisley spaceport (a "wretched hive of scum and villainy", Luke no longer safe)https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo takes the red pill, leaves Matrix" title="5/ Crossing the threshold The hero leaves the ordinary world for the first time and crosses the threshold into adventure:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke follows Obi-wan to the Mos Eisley spaceport (a "wretched hive of scum and villainy", Luke no longer safe)https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke meets Han Solo / Chewy, starts journey

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke meets Han Solo / Chewy, starts journeyhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo meets the team on the Nebuchadnezzar Ship, learns about the "real world"" title="6/ Test, Allies, Enemies The hero learns the rules of the new world and endures tests, meets friends, and confronts enemies:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke meets Han Solo / Chewy, starts journeyhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke to meet Rebels on Alderaan, but the planet is destroyed

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo meets The Oracle, who says he& #39;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:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke to meet Rebels on Alderaan, but the planet is destroyed https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo meets The Oracle, who says he& #39;s *not* The One" title="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:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke to meet Rebels on Alderaan, but the planet is destroyed https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo meets The Oracle, who says he& #39;s *not* The One">

8/ The Ordeal

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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke and Co. save Leia but Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to Vader

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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: https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke and Co. save Leia but Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to Vaderhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Morpheus abducted during ambush, Neo and Trinity return to save him" title="8/ The OrdealThings go wrong and a new conflict is introduced, incl. a potential life or death situation: https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke and Co. save Leia but Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to Vaderhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke saves Princess Leia and has Death Star plans

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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: https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke saves Princess Leia and has Death Star planshttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo saves Morpheus and has confidence he is The One after fighting Agent Smith" title="9/ Seizing the Sword After surviving The Ordeal, hero gains a reward (knowledge, physical item) to take on the biggest conflict: https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke saves Princess Leia and has Death Star planshttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke and Co. bring Death Star plans to rebel base and are chased by Empire

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke and Co. bring Death Star plans to rebel base and are chased by Empirehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Cypher betrays team and Neo is unable to exit The Matrix" title="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:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke and Co. bring Death Star plans to rebel base and are chased by Empirehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke, Co. and rebels take on the Death Star (Luke uses the force to aim the kill shot)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo is killed by agents, resurrected by Trinity..he& #39;s The One and stops bullets

11/ Resurrection The climax. The hero faces a final test, using everything they have learned to prevail:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke, Co. and rebels take on the Death Star (Luke uses the force to aim the kill shot) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo is killed by agents, resurrected by Trinity..he& #39;s The One and stops bullets" title="11/ Resurrection The climax. The hero faces a final test, using everything they have learned to prevail:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke, Co. and rebels take on the Death Star (Luke uses the force to aim the kill shot) https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo is killed by agents, resurrected by Trinity..he& #39;s The One and stops bullets">

12/ Return With Elixir

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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke is a f*cking Jedi and gets a fat medal for it

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> 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.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Luke is a f*cking Jedi and gets a fat medal for ithttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo can f*cking fly, is The One and is gonna cause some havoc in The Matrix" title="12/ Return With Elixir The hero brings their knowledge or the “elixir” back to the ordinary world.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Luke is a f*cking Jedi and gets a fat medal for ithttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◻️" title="Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes durchschnittliches Quadrat"> Neo can f*cking fly, is The One and is gonna cause some havoc in The Matrix">

13/ Star Wars& #39; creator George Lucas credits "The Hero& #39;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& #39;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& #39;s Journey (like for MJ and Lebron

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">).

Sheet link here and def SMASH that follow: @TrungTPhan

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link Symbol"> https://bit.ly/2QoTh7c ">https://bit.ly/2QoTh7c&q...

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& #39;s Journey (like for MJ and Lebron https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

).Sheet link here and def SMASH that follow: @TrungTPhan https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link Symbol"> https://bit.ly/2QoTh7c&q..." title="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& #39;s Journey (like for MJ and Lebron https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">).Sheet link here and def SMASH that follow: @TrungTPhan https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔗" title="Link Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Link Symbol"> https://bit.ly/2QoTh7c&q..." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

15/ Sources

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

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

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

How">https://www.starwars.com/news/myth... The Matrix updated Hero& #39;s Journey for 1990s: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/the-matrix-heros-journey-star-wars-1990s/">https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/the-ma...

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