12 Steps of the
Hero’s Journey
Story Arc:
Falling
action
Rising
Action
Setting
Climax
Resolution/
Denoument
12 Steps of Hero’s Journey:
12 Steps of Hero’s Journey:
Hero’s Ordinary
World
Special World of
the Journey
Back to the
Ordinary
World
12 Steps of Hero’s Journey:
8
11
6
12
1-5
Hero’s Ordinary
World
Special World of
the Journey
Back to the
Ordinary
World
1) The Ordinary World
Shows the regular world, hero’s normal
environment
 EX: Amir and Hassan fly kites every
winter, play games, and read stories.
Hassan always stands up and protects
Amir.

2) The Call to Adventure

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Hero is presented with a challenge or
adventure (usually by a herald)
Establishes stakes of the game and hero’s
goal (win treasure, lover, revenge, right a
wrong, change a life, confront challenge)
EX: Hassan is attacked and raped by Assef
and thugs.
3) The Refusal of the Call



Hero is not fully committed, thinks of turning
back. Fear.
Some further influence causes hero to cross
the threshold and overcome fear.
EX: Amir can’t stand up to Assef and feels
guilty for what happened to Hassan. Because
of his guilt, he frames Hassan which causes Ali
and Hassan to leave.
4) Meeting with the Mentor
Hero meets Mentor.
 Mentor trains hero to face unknown
(gives advice, sometimes magical
weapons)
 EX: Baba, Rahim Khan, and Hassan.
*This step can happen at any time before
the hero enters the special world—may
not be in order.

5) Into the Special World
(Crossing the 1st Threshold)




Hero finally commits to adventure, enters
Special World of the story.
Story really gets rolling.
Turning point between Ordinary and Special
World
EX: Afghanistan becomes too dangerous and
Amir and Baba are smuggled out of the
country and start a new life in America.
6) Tests, Allies, and Enemies

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
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The hero may encounter several Threshold Guardians
The hero makes friends and enemies
The hero learns the rules of the Special World.
EX: Amir and Baba must adapt to life in America.
Amir works to become a writer. Meets Soraya and her
family. Baba gets sick w/ cancer and dies. Amir and
Soraya get married and try to have children but can’t.
Amir spends this time of his life writing about
Afghanistan and overcoming his past.
7) Approaching the Inmost Cave





Most dangerous place.
Sometimes actually underground, but
sometimes a metaphorical “cave”
Where object of quest is hidden
Sometimes the headquarters of the villain.
EX: Rahim Khan calls Amir when he is ill and
asks him to come to Pakistan. Amir hears
about Hassan’s story and must find Sohrab.
He must summon up courage to do this
himself and is tempted to turn back.
8) The Supreme Ordeal




Fortune of hero hits rock bottom.
Direct confrontation with Shadow (villain,
hero’s greatest fear, or both)
Audience wonders if hero will live or die.
EX: Amir finds Sohrab being held by Assef.
He must fight Assef as payment for taking
Sohrab and is nearly beaten to death. Sohrab
shoots Assef’s eye out and they make an
escape.
9) Seizing the Sword (the Reward)



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Hero defeats Shadow, celebration! (usually
love scene or comedy here)
Hero takes possession of treasure. Could be
weapon, elixir, knowledge, love, object.
Hero may settle a conflict with a parent.
EX: Though he is beaten up, Amir feels relief
from his emotional burden. Sohrab is free
again.
10) The Road Back

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Hero is not out of the woods. Has to deal with
consequences of confronting Shadow.
Sometimes dark forces chase hero here.
Decision that special world must be left.
EX: Upon returning to Pakistan, Amir
discovers that it is nearly impossible to get
Sohrab adopted. Sohrab doesn’t want to go
back to the orphanage and tries to commit
suicide in the bathtub.
11) The Resurrection

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
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2nd life-or-death moment. Shadow gets one last shot
at hero.
Hero is tested to see if he or she really learned the
lessons from the Supreme Ordeal.
Hero is transformed by these life-or-death moments,
will be able to return to ordinary world “reborn” with
new insights.
EX: Though Sohrab is in critical condition, Amir
doesn’t want to fail after getting so far. He prays for
the first time in 15 years. Sohrab recovers, is adopted,
but refuses to talk.
12) Return with the Elixir


Hero returns to ordinary world, bringing back
elixir, treasure, and/or lesson from special
world.
EX: At an Afghan gathering in the park, Amir
flies a kite with Sohrab, and Sohrab makes a
hint of a smile. Amir takes this as a sign that
things will get better after a while. Amir and
Soraya finally find the child they have wanted,
and Amir has found a way to be good again.
Now, you try:
Think of a story you know well.
 Figure out 12 steps of your story.
 Hints:

 Label
Ordinary and Special world. Turning
point between two is Step 5
 Figure out Steps 8 and 11, then fill in 7, 9, and
10.
 Who is the mentor? Hero meets him/her in
Step 4.