Explain The Stages Of A Hero's Journey

The stages of a hero’s journey consist of many different structural elements. They all are stages a hero has to overcome. Some stages might be repeated, avoided, or moved around throughout the story. All the elements are the call to adventure, the ordinary world, refusal to call, meeting the mentor, crossing the threshold, test-allies-enemies, approaching to the inmost cave, the ordeal, reward, the road back, the resurrection, and return with elixir.

“The call to adventure” is when the world has presented a challenge or quest that must be undertaken. It can be sent or delivered in many different ways including a message or an announcement. “The ordinary world” stage is where the hero is introduced before the journey

begins. It allows the readers to relate to the hero and to be able to see the world through his/hers side. The ordinary world is the hero’s home; the “safest” place. It is where the hero is determined to return to. “The Refusal to call” is where the hero is unable to make the decision of taking the call to adventure. It’s normally because of insecurities or fear of what could happen in the unusual world. It is something holding him back from taking the call. The hero can keep on refusing the call many times until he/ she has no choice to accept the call. “Meeting the mentor” is when the hero meets someone who has been there before and has been through that experience themselves. A hero meets a mentor in order to gain confidence, insight, advice, training, or magical gifts. The mentor can also be an inner mentor with the hero themselves. “Crossing the threshold” is the stage where the hero has finally committed to the journey. It shows that the hero is now ready and determined to approach any obstacle thrown his/her way during the adventure. “Test, allies, enemies” takes place when the hero has already crossed the threshold. The hero meets all different kinds of people on his side or not to entertain the audience. He meets people who will be on his side and help him in the adventure or enemies who he/she will have to go against. There will also be tests for the hero to overcome throughout this stage. “Approach the inmost cave” is where the hero is about to approach the most serious part of the journey. Maps may be reviewed or attacks might be planned in this stage. “The ordeal” is where the hero is centered on life-or-death situations. It is indeed the most difficult stage of them all. “The reward” stage when the hero has survived death and has overcome his/hers greatest fears. “The road back” is when the hero has completed his/her journey and is ready to return to their ordinary world. “The resurrection” stage where the hero is “cleansed” before returning to his/her world. It normally happens after the “ordeal” stage. “Return with elixir” is where the final reward is earned in the hero’s journey.