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17
Steps
of
the
Hero’s
Journey
Here
are
all
17
steps
of
the
hero’s
journey,
as
outlined
by
Campbell:
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DEPARTURE
1.
The
call
to
adventure:
Something,
or
someone,
interrupts
the
hero’s
familiar
life
to
present
a
problem,
threat,
or
opportunity.
2.
Refusal
of
the
call:
Unwilling
to
step
out
of
their
comfort
zone
or
face
their
fear,
the
hero
initially
hesitates
to
embark
on
this
journey.
3.
Supernatural
aid:
A
mentor
figure
gives
the
hero
the
tools
and
inspiration
they
need
to
accept
the
call
to
adventure.
4.
Crossing
the
threshold:
The
hero
embarks
on
their
quest.
5.
Belly
of
the
whale:
The
hero
crosses
the
point
of
no
return,
and
encounters
their
first
major
obstacle.
INITIATION
6.
The
road
of
trials:
The
hero
must
go
through
a
series
of
tests
or
ordeals
to
begin
his
transformation.
Often,
the
hero
fails
at
least
one
of
these
tests.
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7.
The
meeting
with
the
goddess:
The
hero
meets
one
or
more
allies,
who
pick
him
up
and
help
him
continue
his
journey.
8.
Woman
as
temptress:
The
hero
is
tempted
to
abandon
or
stray
from
his
quest.
Traditionally,
this
temptation
is
a
love
interest,
but
it
can
manifest
itself
in
other
forms
as
well,
including
fame
or
wealth.
9.
Atonement
with
the
father:
The
hero
confronts
the
reason
for
his
journey,
facing
his
doubts
and
fears
and
the
powers
that
rule
his
life.
This
is
a
major
turning
point
in
the
story:
every
prior
step
has
brought
the
hero
here,
and
every
step
forward
stems
from
this
moment.
10.
Apotheosis:
As
a
result
of
this
confrontation,
the
hero
gains
a
profound
understanding
of
their
purpose
or
skill.
Armed
with
this
new
ability,
the
hero
prepares
for
the
most
difficult
part
of
the
adventure.
11.
The
ultimate
boon:
The
hero
achieves
the
goal
he
set
out
to
accomplish,
fulfilling
the
call
that
inspired
his
journey
in
the
first
place.
RETURN
12.
Refusal
of
the
return:
If
the
hero’s
journey
has
been
victorious,
he
may
be
reluctant
to
return
to
the
ordinary
world
of
his
prior
life.
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13.
The
magic
flight:
The
hero
must
escape
with
the
object
of
his
quest,
evading
those
who
would
reclaim
it.
14.
Rescue
from
without:
Mirroring
the
meeting
with
the
goddess,
the
hero
receives
help
from
a
guide
or
rescuer
in
order
to
make
it
home.
15.
The
crossing
of
the
return
threshold:
The
hero
makes
a
successful
return
to
the
ordinary
world.
16.
Master
of
two
worlds:
We
see
the
hero
achieve
a
balance
between
who
he
was
before
his
journey
and
who
he
is
now.
Often,
this
means
balancing
the
material
world
with
the
spiritual
enlightenment
he’s
gained.
17.
Freedom
to
live:
We
leave
the
hero
at
peace
with
his
life.
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Examples
of
the
Hero’s
Journey
In
Film:
Two
Case
Studies
Hollywood
has
embraced
the
monomyth
in
many
different
ways.
These
are
two
of
the
most
popular
films
that
explore
the
hero’s
journey,
broken
down
into
the
main
stages
of
the
monomyth.
Star
Wars
(1977)
1.
The
ordinary
world.
Luke
lives
with
his
aunt
and
uncle
on
a
farm
on
Tatooine.
He
likes
to
stare
at
the
sunset
and
dream
of
“teleporting
off
this
rock”.
2.
The
call
to
adventure.
R2-D2
plays
Luke
a
message
of
distress
from
Princess
Leia,
who
needs
someone
to
transport
the
droid
to
Alderaan.
3.
Refusal
of
the
call.
Luke
isn’t
thrilled
about
leaving
his
home
planet
and
getting
in
trouble
from
his
uncle
to
go
on
a
wild
goose
chase.
4.
The
mentor.
Obi-Wan
Kenobi
convinces
Luke
to
follow
his
heart
by
showing
him
his
father’s
lightsaber.
5.
Crossing
the
threshold.
Luke
and
Obi-Wan
leave
Mos
Eisley
for
Alderaan.
6.
The
ordeal.
Leia’s
rescue
from
the
Death
Star,
and
later,
Luke
using
the
Force
to
destroy
the
Death
Star.
7.
The
return.
Luke
joins
the
rebels
and
decides
to
become
a
Jedi.
The
Matrix
(1999)
1.
The
ordinary
world.
Thomas
Anderson
is
a
bored
computer
programmer
by
day
and
the
hacker
“Neo”
by
night.
2.
The
call
to
adventure.
Neo
receives
a
message
promising
him
that
everything
is
not
as
it
seems.
He
is
told
to
“follow
the
white
rabbit”.
3.
Refusal
of
the
call.
Neo
isn’t
sure
if
Trinity
is
telling
him
the
truth.
He
allows
himself
to
be
captured.
4.
Mentor.
Morpheus
gives
Neo
a
choice:
the
blue
pill
if
he
wants
to
return
to
his
old
life,
or
the
red
pill,
if
he
wants
to
know
the
truth.
5.
Crossing
the
threshold.
Neo
chooses
the
red
pill
and
is
shown
what
the
Matrix
is.
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6.
The
ordeal.
Neo
struggles
to
accept
his
new
role
but
ultimately
learns
to
become
who
he
was
meant
to
be,
defeating
Agent
Smith
inside
the
Matrix
and
saving
Morpheus.
7.
The
return.
Neo
tells
the
machines
he
will
defeat
them
and
save
humanity.
The
Hero’s
Journey
In
Literature:
Two
Case
Studies
Many
authors
have
used
the
monomyth
in
literature
and
popular
fiction.
Let’s
explore
the
hero’s
journey
in
Harry
Potter
and
Lord
of
the
Rings
,
two
famous
epics:
J.R.R.
Tolkien,
The
Lord
of
the
Rings:
The
Fellowship
of
the
Ring
(1954)
1.
The
ordinary
world.
Frodo
lives
in
the
Shire,
enjoying
a
nice,
peaceful
life
with
his
friends.
2.
The
call
to
adventure.
Following
Gandalf’s
discovery
of
the
ring
of
power,
he
asks
Frodo
to
undertake
a
journey
and
keep
the
ring
with
him.
3.
Refusal
of
the
call.
Frodo
is
unsure
of
leaving
the
Shire,
as
he
has
no
experience
with
the
world
outside.
4.
The
mentor.
Gandalf
convinces
Frodo
that
he
has
a
pure
heart
and
he
is
the
one
who
must
“bear
this
burden”.
5.
Crossing
the
threshold.
Frodo
and
Sam
leave
the
Shire
behind,
a
moment
that
Frodo
has
mixed
feelings
about.
6.
The
ordeal.
Characterized
by
the
many
challenges
Frodo
faces
along
the
way
with
the
Fellowship,
including
the
fight
with
the
Balrog.
7.
The
return.
Frodo
realizes
that
he
can
no
longer
be
part
of
the
Fellowship
and
must
continue
on
the
journey
alone.
He
sets
out
for
Mount
Doom.
J.K.
Rowling,
Harry
Potter
and
the
Sorcerer’s
Stone
(1997)
1.
The
ordinary
world.
Harry
lives
with
his
aunt
and
uncle,
who
make
him
sleep
in
the
cupboard
under
the
stairs.
2.
The
call
to
adventure.
Harry
receives
a
letter
from
Hogwarts,
asking
him
to
attend.
3.
Refusal
of
the
call.
Harry
is
unsure
of
what
is
real
and
what
isn’t
and
has
trouble
accepting
he
is
a
real
wizard.
As
far
as
he
knows,
his
parents
were
killed
in
a
car
crash—and
not
by
an
evil
wizard.
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4.
The
mentor.
In
the
first
book,
Hagrid
serves
as
Harry’s
mentor,
but
later
in
the
series,
it’s
Albus
Dumbledore
who
guides
and
advises
Harry.
Hagrid
convinces
Harry
he
is
a
wizard
and
takes
him
to
Hogwarts.
5.
Crossing
the
threshold.
Harry
crosses
a
literal
barrier—platform
9
¾
at
Kings
Cross
station,
leaving
the
normal
world
behind
and
crossing
into
the
magical
one.
6.
The
ordeal.
Harry’s
many
trials
and
tribulations
during
his
first
year
at
Hogwarts,
culminating
in
his
first
meeting
with—and
the
temporary
defeat
of—Voldemort
at
the
end
of
the
first
book.
7.
The
return.
Harry
returns
to
his
aunt
and
uncle’s
house
for
the
summer,
happy
and
safe
in
the
knowledge
that
he
has
a
new
home
at
Hogwarts.