Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Transcendental Powers Remain Behind


by Kal Bishop - Date: 2006-12-28 - Word Count: 250 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...

TRANSCENDENTAL POWERS REMAIN BEHIND

One often forgotten but very critical stage of the Hero's Journey / Transformation is the loss of Transendental Powers previous to the Final Conflict. The Hero has up until now been aided by Mentors (Supernatural Aids) and Magical Gifts, which must disappear. It is up to the Hero to tackle the Final Antagonism alone - which in no small measure is psychological.

In The Godfather (1972), Michael is aided by his father - who dies before the end of the movie. It is very common for the Mentor to be indisposed past a certain point.

In the Bond Franchise, Q's weapons have all but been used by the time Bond comes to tackle the villain.

In Silence of the Lambs (1991), Clarice is on her own once Lecter escapes.


Related Tags: monomyth, story, screenwriting, heros journey

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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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