Hero's Journey (Monomyth) : Mapping the Inner Challenge to the Hero's Journey


by Kal Bishop - Date: 2007-02-01 - Word Count: 391 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...

MAPPING THE INNER CHALLENGE TO THE HERO'S JOURNEY AND TRANSFORMATION

In every successful Hollywood story, there are a number of challenges to be resolved. It is not uncommon for the Hero to have at least Four Core Challenges (Inner, Outer, Romantic, Greater Antagonism). For example, in American Beauty (Academy Award Winner Best Film 1999), Lester Burnham's Inner Challenge is to feel good about himself, his Romantic Challenge is Angela, his Outer Challenge is his marriage with Carolyn and the Greater Antagonism is Col. Frank Fitts, US Marine Core.

It is not unusual for the Inner Challenge to be resolved at the stage of the Apotheosis, Atonement (At-One-Ment) and Ultimate Boon.

We have previously described Apotheosis as a number of things, including:

The breaking out of previous restraints and restrictions. In The Godfather (1972), Don Corleone gives his word not to break the peace, but Michael doesn't.

It is also illumination, insight, epiphany. In Al Pacino Scarface (1983), Tony's insight is that the rewards of the path he's chosen are not worth the spiritual price he is paying, expressed with the words (in the restaurant scene): "is this it? Is that what it's all about Manny? Eating, drinking, fucking, sucking," "no free rides in this world kid," "I lost my appetite," "is that what I worked for? With these hands? Is that what I killed for? For this?"

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, the Apotheosis, Atonement and Ultimate Boon are where the Inner Challenge is conquered. It is here that the Hero attains At-One-Ness and gains the capacity that was previously lacking - the capacity that set him (or her) on the Journey and Road to Transformation.


Related Tags: screenplay, heros, journey, monomyth, story, structure, screenwriting, screenwriter, wars, star

Learn more…

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The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://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 http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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