Today, I want to introduce you to my absolute favorite plot outline. It’s my favorite 1.) because this outline tends to be the basis for epic fantasies, which I love, and 2.) because, contradictory to reason number one (contradiction being my signature style of doing things), I also love that it can actually be used quite fluidly between other genres as well.
The Hero’s Journey was conceptualized by author Joseph Campbell in his 1949 book, The Hero with A Thousand Faces, in which his in-depth analyses of world myths and various anthropological studies exposed a repeated foundational pattern to human storytelling. This pattern consists of a number of steps that, through the years, have been broken down, “bulleted,” and sometimes sorted into over-arching categories. But many modern critics and storytelling enthusiasts seem to agree that the Hero’s Journey covers—more or less—twelve steps that move the hero in a complete circle… Yet another reason it’s my favorite. (I like circles, go figure.)
Step One: The Ordinary World
Our story begins with our hero in their ordinary world, dealing with what is also known as “The Status Quo.” Everything, as far as our character knows, is just as it should be—or, at least, is just as it’s always going to be no matter what they do or how much they complain about it. This is where the main character is introduced to the audience by showing them going about their day-to-day life.
(As my main example, I will use what is perhaps the greatest, and yet, somehow, the simplest, story in modern recorded history that follows the course of the Hero’s Journey: The Hobbit.)
Bilbo Baggins is living in the Shire, eating his six meals a day and smoking his Southern Star tobacco, with not a care as to what is happening in the outside world.
Step Two: The Call to Adventure
Something comes along and interrupts the status quo. Our main character’s world is turned upside-down due to some new knowledge, a tragic event, the discovery of a hidden doorway to a magical world, etc. During this phase of the overall journey the hero is, for whatever reason the storyteller can conjure up, thrown out of their comfort zone.
A wizard and a bunch of dwarves show up at Bilbo’s house for tea; they need a burglar to help steal back a hoard of treasure from under the nose of a greedy dragon. For some reason, Bilbo may be just the right fellow for the job.
Step Three: The Refusal of the Call
This step is one I personally feel could just be a bullet-point under “The Call to Adventure,” but while many stories that fall under the Hero’s Journey tend to have one implemented right after the other, there are some stories that succeed in drawing out the refusal (think Simba spending his entire childhood with Timone and Pumbaa to avoid going back to Pride Rock).
In other words, ignore everything I just wrote.
Initially, our hero balks at the idea of setting off on an adventure. This could be due to any number of reasons: they have too many responsibilities at home, they have someone they need to take care of, they don’t like giant spiders, etc. But, inevitably, the Call to Adventure comes rearing its ugly head again, once more pushing the hero into the unknown. Most often, this is usually because they no longer have a choice. (Think of what happened to poor Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.)
Are you crazy? Stealing a hoard of treasure right from under the nose of a greedy dragon? “May never return???” No, thank you!
— Bilbo
Step Four: The Mentor
Thankfully, someone with a little more experience under their belt steps up to help guide the hero on their journey. This role can be filled by pretty much any character—or even just a very helpful object the hero can add to their list of assets—as long as it results in the main character being given some kind of leverage to help aid them with the coming dangers.
Gandalf the Grey. Need I say more?
Step Five: Crossing the Threshold
This is when the adventure comes in full force. This is usually the first time our hero is put to the test, and the first time it really hits them that the journey is not going to be an easy one. It also usually ends up as their first failure.
Bilbo and crew almost get their dumb selves eaten by trolls; they are, of course, saved by the Mentor.
Step Six: Tests, Allies, Enemies
It’s in the title. Our hero faces tests, meets and makes allies, and enemies as well. This is most likely the longest step in the Hero’s Journey, because it encompasses much of the main bulk of the adventure. And each trial our hero lives to tell about sets internal (and sometimes even external, because scars are always cool) changes in motion: they no longer see the world as they once did. They have seen things, done things, and learned things they never would have back in their humdrum life.
Bilbo and crew meet the elves, Beorn, and the Eagles; they get chased by goblins and Wargs. Bilbo finds himself alone in goblin territory and exchanging riddles in the dark with a strange, hungry, wretched creature. Oh, and then they get trapped by a bunch of giant spiders and taken prisoner.
Step Seven: The Approach to the Inmost Cave
The long-awaited goal is in sight, but still not quite within our hero’s grasp. This is the moment the tension builds for both our characters and our audience. We know what lies ahead, but we also know that anything can still happen to our hero and their companions…especially since the biggest danger is yet to come. This is usually meant to be seen as a metaphorical cave, but can sometimes be…you know, an actual cave.
The Lonely Mountain looms overhead. Oh, by the way, we still need to get inside. And find the treasure-room. And confront a dragon. And get the treasure past the dragon. And not die in the process.
— Bilbo again
Step Eight: The Ordeal
Everything our hero has been through over the course of their journey has led to this moment. They may have a few new tricks up their sleeves or special weapons in their arsenal now, but this is still the hardest test they have yet to face—and they most likely have to face it on their own.
Bilbo challenges the dragon Smaug to a battle of wits.
Step Nine: The Reward
It seems the journey is nearing its end, or so our hero believes. What they have spent much of the story seeking is now in their hands, be that knowledge, an artifact or weapon of value, a rescued princess, or even just the promise of the journey being over. But new complications, like rows of dominos, are being set up for our hero, and what turns out to actually be the hardest part of their journey is only just about to begin.
The dragon, apparently, does have a weakness. Now that Smaug is dead, both the treasure hoard and the mountain once more belong to the dwarves. But many others have laid claim to that vast amount of riches, and they are slowly drawing in from all sides. Plus, Thorin’s just being a big jerk.
Step Ten: The Road Back
The previous acts, apparently, had consequences that further prevent the hero from reaching their journey’s end. Not only do they have to face yet another, unexpected test of brawn and brains, but this is usually the moment our character also faces a test of the heart. With everything suddenly crashing down on them, what are they going to do?
With Thorin succumbing to madness, and the five armies marching on the mountain, Bilbo decides to take matters into his own hands by handing over the Arkenstone in an effort for peace. He then, in spite of what might happen to him if Thorin finds out about the stone, returns to his friends in a show of loyalty for all they’ve been through together.
Step Eleven: The Resurrection
This is the final, true test of our hero’s strengths, and it is typically the climax of the story. While The Ordeal is the moment their journey has led up to, The Resurrection is the ripple effect of that journey—or, how the character or characters have affected the world at large. This is also a good moment for the overarching theme to make its final appearance. At this point, our hero has grown and changed so much since the beginning of their story that they, in fact, could almost be an entirely different person.
Allies team up against enemies in one last battle, during which the hobbit who once fretted about not having his handkerchief takes up sword and chainmail and stands with Gandalf and the Elvenking. At the end of it all, dear friends are mourned, and in the aftermath of all the death and destruction and greed, our characters take a moment to reflect on how a world filled with more people like hobbits would be a better world.
Step Twelve: The Return
Finally, our hero is able to return home, taking with them all the knowledge / artifacts / friends / new skills, etc. they picked up along the way. We end our story at the beginning, back in the humdrum world of our hero’s origins. However, they are not, and never will be, the same person who left it.
Bilbo returns to the Shire, but he is a changed hobbit. Not only is he exceedingly wealthy due to his share of the gold, but he also has a new thirst for adventure that certainly wasn’t present when he first refused the call.
The Hero’s Journey is a story format to be admired, not just for its nice, neat circle, but also for the emphasis it puts on the main character or characters. This journey is not just about getting from Point A to Point B, but rather it’s about the metamorphosis of one seemingly insignificant person as they go through a series of trials and errors. There is just as much room for internal conflict as external, and their return home at the end only helps emphasize how much they have changed, even as the world they left behind stays more or less the same.
Night Owls, what’s your favorite story outline? Why do you like to use it?
