So the Hero disobeys the warning, of course, and pays a price for it.
Examples:
Star Wars: Ben warns Luke against returning to the farm: “No! Wait Luke! It’s too dangerous!” Luke ignores him and runs away. He risks getting killed by the Empire.
The Matrix: Morpheus warns Neo that the Agents are at his office in order to take him into custody. Morpheus tries to guide Neo to escape by taking a scaffold to the roof. Neo doesn’t follow the instructions and he gets arrested.
Harry Potter: Dumbledore warns the students: The third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. There is precisely where Harry, Ron, and Hermione end up going.
Sideways: Miles tells Jack not to open the 1992 Byron. Jack does it anyway. “For Christ’s Sake, Jack! You just wasted like half of it!”
Dodgeball: Jason insists on going beyond his limits on the pull-down machine. “All that weight is dangerous,” Peter warns. But it’s too late: The kid is entangled with steel cables.
Related:
016 – The Mentor’s Knowledge
059 – Pushing Event
Something shocking happens. The only option is to go forward.
Description:
The problem has reached the Hero; it has affected (or destroyed) life as the Hero knows it, and there is no safe place left to retreat.
Examples:
Star Wars: The farm is destroyed; Luke’s uncle and aunt have been murdered. Luke would have been killed, too, had he been there. He is sad, angry, and appalled.
The Matrix: Neo is detained and interrogated by the Agents, who freak him out by literally sealing his mouth. He wakes up in his bed, not knowing what is real anymore.
Harry Potter: Hagrid tells Harry that his parents were killed by Voldemort.
Sideways: Jack tells Miles that his ex-wife, Victoria, got re-married.
Dodgeball: The Pushing Event takes a painful shape: Actual wrenches thrown at you. Start moving or suffer.
Bonus Examples:
Armageddon: Small meteorites damage several cities. The Big One is coming.
World War Z: A zombie outbreak starts.
Independence Day (1996): Immense flying saucers have stationed directly above the main cities of the world.
Related:
029 – The Inciting Event
060 – No Appeal Possible
There is no one to go crying for help to.
Description:
Authorities are either unavailable or impotent. Uncle died; dad left for work; the king is under a spell; the President has been kidnapped; the Emperor has lost his mind, etc.
If the crisis can be averted by issuing an executive order, then why write a novel about it, right?
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke has nobody. He cannot stay on the farm, because the stormtroopers can return any time.
The Matrix: Neo has no one. And the authorities are after him.
Harry Potter: Harry is alone in the world because the Dursleys are not his family, really.
Sideways: Miles lives alone, divorced with no children.
Dodgeball: Peter lives alone, and the gym is everything he has left—not that he cares much, though.
Related:
116 – The Mentor Is Gone
061 – First Epiphany
Revelation: The Hero is part of the problem.
Description:
The First Epiphany happens when the Hero realizes that this is personal. The Hero is both a victim and a solution for the problem posed by the dark side.
After acquiring this knowledge, or after the terrible Pushing Event (stage 059), the Hero cannot keep refusing the Call.
Note that this stage and the next one (062 - Answer to the Call) mark the ending of Act 1.
Examples:
Star Wars: For all Luke knows, the Empire killed his father, and now they’ve also killed the rest of his family. How more personal can it get?
The Matrix: Neo finally accepts that he was a prisoner in the Matrix, and that a war against the Machines is going on.
Harry Potter: Harry learns that he is the only person who ever survived an attack by Voldemort. He starts realizing the connection between him and the Dark Lord.
Sideways: The news about his ex-wife’s new marriage throws Miles into a mild panic attack. He runs down a hill, into some vineyards, and drinks a full bottle of wine. Jack contains him.
Dodgeball: It has been personal from the beginning: The gym is their home.
Related:
119 – Second Epiphany
062 – Answer to the Call
The Hero finally accepts the challenge.
Description:
The Answer has to be explicit: The Hero either says the words (“I’ll do it”) or takes an action that denotes acceptance of the challenge.
The next sentence you write after this scene will be already in Act 2. Consider emphasizing that fact by ending a chapter here.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke tells Obi-Wan, “I want to come with you to Alderaan.”
The Matrix: Neo swallows the red pill.
Harry Potter: Harry goes with Hagrid. He never looks back.
Sideways: Before they go into the restaurant, Jack tells Miles not to go to the dark side (in those very words). Miles reluctantly agrees. In the movie script he takes a pill, too—an anxiolytic.
Dodgeball: Peter admits to the guys that he accepted Patches as coach. Oh, my.
Related:
052 – Call to Adventure
063 – The Hero is Welcome
The Hero arrives at the Adventure World.
Description:
Just as Jesus was hailed by the Three Kings, the Hero is greeted as he steps into a new world, too. The party doing the welcome is small: The Hero is just coming out of anonymity.
This is usually the first time we get to see the character that later on will be revealed as the Traitor.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke and Obi-Wan enter the Cantina. They are welcome; the droids aren’t. A spy observes their movements.
The Matrix: Neo is introduced and welcome by the crew, including Cypher.
Harry Potter: Harry is greeted at the Leaky Cauldron by the patrons, including Quirrell.
Sideways: Miles is greeted as he arrives at the home of the Erganians (Miles is a self-sabotaging character, so there’s no need for a Traitor here).
Dodgeball: Peter La Fleur is greeted by everyone when he arrives at the Gym. (Peter’s story is one of self-sabotage, too).
Related:
074 – The Traitor
096 – The Hero Is Recognized
064 – Plan A: Let Events Unfold
The only plan is to go forward—for now.
Description:
The mission of the Mentor is to enlist the Hero, put the Hero on the right path, and help for as long as possible.
Tactical decisions are left to the Hero, whose head at this point is still spinning.
A plan will take shape in the Hero’s mind as the story unfolds; right now, the Hero’s actions are reactive, because the Hero doesn’t know what the Villain’s game is.
Examples:
Star Wars: The only plan Obi-Wan has is taking R2D2 to Alderaan so they can extract the plans of the Death Star from his memory.
The Matrix: There is no plan, actually. Morpheus doesn’t seem to be planning ahead. He just trusts the prophecy and wants to prepare Neo for his destiny. “What was said was for you and for you alone,” he says when they leave the Oracle’s apartment.
Harry Potter: There is no explicit plan, yet. Dumbledore just wants to prepare Harry for his destiny. “Let the events unfold,” says Snape.
Sideways: There’s no plan but to have fun. Jack says, “We should both be cutting loose.”
Dodgeball: Peter says, “What do you guys want from me? I don’t have a plan for you.”
Related:
120 –
Plan B: Rescue
143 – Plan C: Infiltrate
065 – New Clothes
The Hero’s external aspect changes as the quest progresses.
Description:
The Hero changes into a uniform, a disguise, or into different clothes. The changes aren’t merely stylistic, of course, but dictated by the circumstances. The external change is a metaphor of inner change.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke leaves his farmer outfit behind. He dresses like a stormtrooper to infiltrate the Death Star, like a pilot for combat, like an elegant citizen in the award ceremony, and like a Jedi.
The Matrix: Neo starts dressed in regular street clothes; then we see him in a suit and tie, naked inside the goo pod, dressed as a crewman, and finally sporting a lot of ultra-cool, Issey Miyaki-style outfits. Dressing well is cheap when the clothes are virtual, isn’t it?
Harry Potter: Harry first changes into his Hogwarts’ robes. Then he dresses like a Quidditch player and like a Gryffindor, with the red-and-yellow scarf. Oh, and he uses an invisibility cloak to infiltrate the library.
Sideways: Miles starts in his underwear, awaken by his landlord. Then he dresses like a regular guy, like a high-school professor in a suit and tie, and like a golfer; he wears a swimsuit, a tuxedo in the wedding, and finally a lively colored shirt as he heads to Maya’s house.
Dodgeball: Peter La Fleur also starts in his underwear. Then we see him in regular clothes, in a sadomasochist outfit, and finally wearing the glorious yellow uniform. The most dramatic change in appearance is that of Steve, though, once he overcomes his psychotic delusion about being a pirate.
Related:
146 – Suit Up
066 – Transitions
Mentor and Hero cross the border into the Adventure World.
Description:
Sometimes the Hero stops at the physical border before taking the first step into the new world, but adapts quickly: The Adventure World is the place where the Hero will shine.
Along the way, the Hero finds new friends, guardians, enemies, and maybe love, too.
Examples:
Star Wars: Ben and Luke travel across space aboard the Millennium Falcon; they make friends with Han and Chewbacca, and they play holographic chess.
The Matrix: Neo travels aboard the Nebuchadnezzar. There he rests, is healed, officially meets the crew, and reencounters Trinity.
Harry Potter:Harry travels aboard the Hogwarts Express, where he meets Ron and Hermione. Also, there are plenty of sweets and magic tricks (“Oculus Reparo!”).
Sideways: Miles and Jack travel aboard an old Saab convertible through Santa Barbara County, tasting great wines and great food. They meet Stephanie and Maya.
Dodgeball: The team leaves for Las Vegas. There, Justin meets Amber, and Owen approaches Fran.
Related:
044 – Transmogrifications
067 – The Team Is Assembled
The good guys are on the road to the adventure.
Description:
We see the good guys team as it is now (except sometimes for the Goddess, who in many stories still has to join the team).
They are on the road to adventure, so usually the team is first assembled on board some vehicle.
Examples:
Star Wars: The team is assembled for the first time on board the Millennium Falcon: Ben, Luke, Han, Chewie, R2D2, C3PO. Leia is not yet in scene.
The Matrix: The team is assembled for the first time on board the Nebuchadnezzar. Trinity is there, but until now she only fulfilled the role of Herald, not yet the role of Goddess. The other Goddess, the Oracle, is not yet in scene.
Harry Potter: The team is assembled for the first time on board the Hogwarts’ Express: Harry, Ron, and Hermione (she’s Ron’s Goddess). Harry’s Goddesses, who are Ginny Weasley and Professor McGonagall, are not yet in scene.
Sideways: The team of two friends is assembled for the first time on board the old Saab. Maya is not yet in scene.
Dodgeball: The team is assembled for the first time at the Gym: Peter, Jason, Gordon, and the others. Kate is there, but she still has to accept to be in the team—i.e., stepping into the role of Goddess.
Related:
076 – First Encounter with the Goddess
068 – Guardians
Each time the Hero wants to cross a border,
a Guardian makes it difficult.
Description:
Guardians make great obstacles and conflict creators, because they are the custodians of valuable things and important places.
Never make it easy for anyone to enter or to leave a new place. Guardians offer the chance for Heros to show their talents, for the allies to show their loyalties, and for the Villains to show their powers.
Examples:
Star Wars: It seems that entering into places in that universe is easy; leaving those places is the problem, as seen in the detention area, the sewer, the Death Star, etc.
The Matrix: This simulated world is full of guardians: Machines, Agents, SWAT teams, policemen, passwords, sentient software, etc.
Harry Potter:In contrast toStar Wars, pretty much all places inHarry Potter are difficult to get into: Diagon Alley, Gringotts Bank, Hogwarts, secret chambers, hidden rooms, and a lot more.
Sideways: Most Guardians here work in the gastronomic industry: Restaurant hostesses, bartenders, servers, wine tasting personnel, etc.
Dodgeball: At Average Joe’s, the guardian is a deranged young man who thinks he is a pirate: He puts a knife on Peter’s throat to ascertain his identity before letting him through.
Related:
044 – Transmogrifications
066 – Transitions
069 – Presentation of the Elixir
The Hero is given a life-saving resource.
Description:
The Elixir is something almost mundane, but miraculous. It is an object that later on (in stage 166) will allow the Hero’s Resurrection.
This scene is short: The Hero receives the thing, puts it in a pocket, and both the Hero and the audience forget about it.
In all James Bond movies, “Q” gives 007 the gizmos he uses in his missions. It used to be a Rolex or an Omega watch equipped with a laser beam, or things like that. But inSkyfall (2012), it’s just a radio locator; a little button that saves James from certain death.
Examples:
Star Wars: This Elixir is rather large: The Millennium Falcon. It is described as a “piece of junk,” but it will blast Vader’s TIE Fighter out of the sky.
The Matrix: This Elixir is, fittingly to the premise of the movie, something immaterial: The prediction the Oracle made to Trinity (about Trinity falling in love with The One).
Harry Potter:InHarry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Harry receives the Golden Snitch (a small, winged Quidditch ball) that Dumbledore left for him. Is this just a memento from the old wizard? Sure. But the Resurrection Stone is hidden inside.
Sideways: Miles’s Elixir is his answering machine. A life-changing message is recorded in there, waiting for Miles to press that button.
Dodgeball: Gordon always takes his copy of the official ADAA Dodgeball Rule Book with him. That little object will save the friends once and again.
Related:
165 – Emergence of the Elixir
070 – Baptism of Water
Water (real or symbolic) washes the past away.
Description:
Unlike the Baptism of Fire (stage093), this baptism is only ritual—not a fight, but a rebirth.
Make it subliminal if you must, but include some water symbolism, if possible in the form of a bath: The Hero is reborn from it.
Examples:
Star Wars: Tatooine is a desert planet—there’s not much water there. But C3PO is submerged in a bath of oil and reemerges as Luke’s inseparable companion.
The Matrix: When Neo is unplugged from the Matrix he emerges from a liquid substance (reminiscent of amniotic liquid), contained in a pod reminiscent of a
uterus. Then he falls in water, sinks, and reemerges from it as a free man in the real world.
Harry Potter: Harry sails from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts; he arrives at the other side of the water as a Hogwarts student.
Sideways: Ships are christened with a bottle of champagne; here Jack opens one to celebrate and spills the liquid all over the car and over themselves.
Dodgeball: The Heroes start the adventure setting up a car wash. They end up soaked and with just one, crazy customer (“That’s it, boy. Get in there nice and deep, like.”). The enterprise fails, but they are a team now.
Related:
093 – Baptism of Fire: Failure
094 – Baptism of Fire: Rescue
071 – Down the Rabbit Hole
Before going up, everything must go down.
Description:
The protagonists either fall into a literal hole (sewers are a recurring motif) or a figurative one (i.e., a situation that sucks). At the very least, the words “hole” or “hell” are used as a metaphor.
Sometimes the Hero falls together with an ally, and some other ally rescues them. However, the Mentor is out of this scene: The Mentor doesn’t fall, nor is the Mentor the one that rescues the Hero.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke and friends escape through a hole and end up falling into a sewer-like garbage compactor with moving walls. They are rescued by C3PO and R2D2.
The Matrix: During the Call to Adventure, Morpheus said, “I imagine that right now you’re feeling a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole.” Later on, Neo falls through an actual hole, through a tube, and into a sewer. He is rescued by Tank and Dozer.
Harry Potter:InThe Chamber of Secrets, Harry, Ron, and Lockhart jump into a hole, down into the castle’s plumbing system. They are rescued by Fawkes, the phoenix. Harry will also fall into Aragog’s cave, through the Devil’s Snare, and a few other holes, yet.
The Ultimate Hero's Journey Page 6