2007 writing textbook by Christopher Vogler
The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers is a popular writing textbook by writer Christopher Vogler, focusing on the theory that most stories can be boiled down to a series of narrative structures and character archetypes, described through mythological allegory.[1]
The book was very well received upon its release, and is often featured in recommended reading lists for student screenwriters.[2][3][4]
History
The book stems from a seven-page studio memo, "A Practical Guide to The Hero with a Thousand Faces".[5]
An earlier edition, The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Storytellers and Screenwriters, was published in 1992. Vogler revised the book for the second release in 1998 and changed the title to The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. The third edition, published in 2007, included a new introduction, new artwork, and analysis of recent, popular motion pictures. In July 2020, the 25th Anniversary Edition was published, which includes new sections and topics.[6]
Summary of content
The archetypes
The first part of the book describes eight major character archetypes in detail.[7] Those are:
- Hero: someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs on behalf of others
- Mentor: all the characters who teach and protect heroes and give them gifts
- Threshold Guardian: a menacing face to the hero, but if understood, they can be overcome
- Herald: a force that brings a new challenge to the hero
- Shapeshifter: characters who change constantly from the hero's point of view
- Shadow: character who represents the energy of the dark side
- Ally: someone who travels with the hero through the journey, serving variety of functions
- Trickster: embodies the energies of mischief and desire for change
Stages of the Journey
The second part describes the twelve stages of the Hero's Journey.[7] The stages are:
- The Ordinary World: the hero is seen in their everyday life
- The Call to Adventure: the initiating incident of the story
- Refusal of the Call: the hero experiences some hesitation to answer the call
- Meeting with the Mentor: the hero gains the supplies, knowledge, and confidence needed to commence the adventure
- Crossing the First Threshold: the hero commits wholeheartedly to the adventure
- Tests, Allies, and Enemies: the hero explores the special world, faces trial, and makes friends and enemies
- Approach to the Innermost Cave: the hero nears the center of the story and the special world
- The Ordeal: the hero faces the greatest challenge yet and experiences death and rebirth
- Reward: the hero experiences the consequences of surviving death
- The Road Back: the hero returns to the ordinary world or continues to an ultimate destination
- The Resurrection: the hero experiences a final moment of death and rebirth so they are pure when they reenter the ordinary world
- Return with the Elixir: the hero returns with something to improve the ordinary world
See also
References
External links
