The Hero’s Journey: FILM ARC CHART
THIS IS FOR LUKE-- please treat Episodes 4-6 as one continual story.
I can’t stress this
enough: your charts should be full of
specific and relevant evidence. An
unexplained list or a vague statement is
not acceptable. Demonstrate a clear
understanding of how Campbell’s ideology is reflected in the film text. Use examples!!!
Please cut and paste this into a Google doc and share me
in.
The Departure
Call to
Adventure: How does the
character receive the call to adventure?
Refusal of the Call:
Does the character accept the call immediately? What
are the hero’s circumstances?
Answering the Call: What
motivates the character to accept the call?
Supernatural
Aid: who or what helps the hero on his
journey? Why?
Guide/Mentor: Is
there a specific character that helps the hero understand the life
situation or provides the hero with special training? What training do they provide?
Talisman: Is there a
particular item that has special significance to the hero? Explain the significance.
Companions: Who is
with the hero on his journey? How do these companions help the hero face the
challenges?
Crossing the
Threshold: At what point in the story does the hero leave the familiar world and
move into a new, unfamiliar circumstance?
Threshold Guardians:
Are there characters that try to prevent the hero from crossing over into the
unfamiliar territory or circumstance?
Initiation
Road of Trials: What
specific challenges does the hero face (these are all the MAJOR PLOT
POINTS)? How does the hero face them
(How does his character change as a result of these plot points?)
Brother Battle: Does
the hero battle physically or mentally with someone who is a relative or
close friend? What is the outcome of
this battle?
Meeting with the
Goddess: Does the hero meet with a character with special beauty and power?
Abduction: Is
the character kidnapped, or is someone close to the hero kidnapped?
Night or Sea
Journey: Where do the hero’s travels take him (a flow chart of places)?
Dragon Battle: Does
the hero battle some kind of monster? Does the hero have to face some inner
demon?
Ritual Death or
Dismemberment: Is the hero injured and thought to be dead? Does the hero
mistakenly believe someone close to him is dead? Does the hero suffer an injury
in which he loses a limb or use of some other body part?
Sacred Marriage:
Does the hero have a special emotional
bond (it could literally be a marriage) with another character?
Atonement (“at one
with”) with or Recognition by the Father: Is the hero reunited with his father in some way?
Entering the Belly
of the Whale: Is there some point in the story where the hero must face
his deepest fear or the darkest evil in the story?
Apotheosis
(Deification): Is there a point in the story where the hero is held up
as an ideal or where the hero is
worshipped as a god?
Ultimate Boon /
Magic Elixir: Does the hero find some special solution to the problem he
is attempting to resolve? This might be a magic potion or a key to something.
The
Return
Refusal of the
Return: Does the hero initially refuse to return to the homeland or the
place that he began the journey?
Magic Flight /
Pursuit: Is there some point (generally toward the end) where the hero
is being chased or is otherwise trying to escape something?
Rescue from Without:
Is there some point in the story when all seems hopeless, when it looks
like the hero is going to die—then suddenly he is rescued unexpectedly?
Master of Two
Worlds: Does it appear that the hero has conquered life in both the
familiar and unfamiliar worlds?
Freedom to Live:
Since the hero typically begins the journey to resolve a problem, does it
appear the problem is at last resolved so that all can live freely?
