The Hero’s
Journey
English 12
Character’s Developmental Arc
1. Call to adventure
2. Initiation
3. Transformation
4. Return
What is the Character Developmental Arc?
• Call to Adventure
• The hero begins in a situation of “normality,” from
which some information is received that acts as a
prompt (or call) to head off into the unknown
• Initiation
• The hero is initiated into the new world with the help
of a mentor. The hero faces trials and enemies and
gains allies.
What is the Character Developmental Arc?
Transformation
The hero faces ordeals where he overcomes the
main obstacle or enemy and receives a treasure or
reward for his deed.
Return
The hero returns back to the ordinary world,
reflecting on wisdom gained on the quest.
1
Call to Adventure
• The protagonist
• The world they live in
• The inciting incident for the
journey
01 02
The Ordinary The Call to
World Adventure
Call to
Adventure
03
Refusal
The Ordinary World
• The Setting – such as place, time, and other
contextual clues – is introduced.
• The main protagonist is introduced in their normal
life-style – in a fiction novel, typically a hum-drum
type of life.
The Call to Adventure
• The main protagonist, the hero, is given a task or
finds a problem they must solve.
• This task usually invites the hero on a journey away
from their normal way of life.
Refusal of Call
• The hero does not accept the task given to them.
• During this time, the hero often dwells on reasons
they should remain at home and experiences a loss
of confidence.
*** Occasionally, this step is skipped.
2
Initiation
Introduction of:
• A mentor
• The new world
• Several challenges
04 05
Crossing the
Mentor Helper Threshold
Initiation
06
Tests, Allies, and
Enemies
Mentor Helper
• A new or existing character becomes known to the
hero as an expert in which the hero needs help in.
• The hero or mentor convince each other to take up
the task introduced in Part 1: Call to Adventure
Crossing the Threshold
• The hero, mentor, and possibly others cross the line
between their normal realm and the one where their
tasks await.
• This is not always a physical change in settings and
can be presented as a new event occurring that the
hero has never experienced.
Tests, Allies, and Enemies
• The party of characters often encounter challenges,
such as puzzles they must solve, people they must
help, or even some they must fight.
• During this time, the hero becomes stronger and
wiser to their task
3
Transformation
Introduction to:
• The hero’s true task
• A struggle
• Reward
07 08
Ordeal
Approach (Death/Rebirth)
Transformation
09
Treasure
The Approach
• The hero approaches their battle to complete their
task.
• The hero struggles with the enormity of the task.
• The hero and others accompanying them prepare for
the final struggle.
Death/Rebirth
• The final struggle.
• The hero loses something (their life, their weapon,
their mentor, the battle), but returns stronger.
• The hero wins by the skin of their teeth.
The Reward
• The hero receives a precious treasure, such as a
weapon, valuable information, a kiss, or acclaim.
• In some cases, the only reward is that the hero’s task
has been accomplished.
4
Road Block/Hero’s
Return
• Going home
• Understanding
repercussions of the
original task
10 11
Atonement
Road Back (Growth)
Road Back/
Hero’s Return
12
Reward
The Road Back
• A summary of events that happen as the hero and
company return home.
• The hero begins to comprehend what they have truly
accomplished.
• Needs to ensure the normal world is alright.
Atonement
• The hero begins to become accepting of their travels
and growth.
• The hero accepts their new wisdom and strength.
• Others ease them into this process.
The Return
• The hero returns home in their normal, but now
changed world.
• The hero takes the reward back home and finally
accomplishes their task.
• They assume a new role in their normal world.
