Hero's Journey (Monomyth): The Underrated Use of Symbolism in the Most Successful Screenplays


by Kal Bishop - Date: 2007-01-27 - Word Count: 262 Share This!

The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188 stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

There is only one story.

The Hero's Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharsis).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story.

and more...

The underrated use of symbolism in the most successful screenplays

The use of symbolism is one of the most underrated aspects of screenwriting and storytelling.

Take the use of water - it symbolises baptism, the washing away of the old self and the birth of a new self.

Or consider the use of thunder and lightning - it is common during the stage of the Rebirth through Death for rain, thunder and lightning to mark this very dark stage of the most successful stories.

a) In The Last King of Scotland (2006), black crows symbolise the moment Nicholas discovers the truth about Idi Amin.

b) In Miami Vice (2005), Tubbs has a shower before both heroes enter the First Threshold.

c) In An Officer and a Gentleman (1983), Zach washes his face before he is about to tell his father that he will join the navy.


Related Tags: screenplay, heros, journey, monomyth, story, structure, screenwriting

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The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and other story structure templates can be found at www.clickok.co.uk

The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at www.managing-creativity.com

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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