(IN A ‘NUTSHELL’)
ACT I:
1. SET-UP: Who's the hero? Initial development. Where are we? What's the story about?
THE HERO IS INTRODUCED IN HIS ORDINARY WORLD (before the adventure begins.)
2. POINT OF ATTACK : What's their Problem? The Hero finds or defines The
Problem; this completes the First Act. Introduction to all the major issues and elements of the story. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE ; THE HERO IS RELUCTANT AT
FIRST; THE HERO IS ENCOURAGED BY A WISE OLDER ENTITY (the
MENTOR.)
ACT II:
3. THE INITIAL STRUGGLE : The Hero Begins to deal With His Problem(s). The
Journey/Adventure begins. THE HERO PASSES THE FIRST THRESHOLD . Point of no return.
4. COMPLICATIONS : The Hero Faces His First Real Enemy or Challenge. He wobbles, but comes through. It's "Early Act II Jeopardy," his first real test, and he passes, perhaps barely, perhaps with help. THE HERO ENCOUNTERS TESTS, ENEMIES,
ALLIES.
5. MAJOR CRISIS : The Hero Stumbles. Maybe the Bad Guys win one; the Final
Outcome is in doubt. "Late Act II Jeopardy." A Bigger Enemy, maybe Fate, or his Fatal
Flaw. Big Enough to be really scary. THE HERO ENDURES THE SUPREME
ORDEAL . He struggles, suffers, loses, touches bottom.
ACT III:
6. VALIANT ATTEMPTS : The Hero Proves
Himself Again. "Early Resolution." The Hero fights back, and starts to win again. Some things are resolved (love, family, etc.) Bonds are made or admitted to. THE HERO SEIZES THE
SWORD, THE REWARD ; THE HERO
BEGINS ON THE ROAD BACK , often
CHASED by the Bad Guys.
7. CLIMAX/CONCLUSION/RESOLUTION : Tension, Release, Wisdom. "Late
Resolution." Whatever's gonna work out, works out. And what isn't, doesn't. THE
HERO HAS A MOMENT OF RESURRECTION ; THE HERO RETURNS WITH
THE ELIXIR -the Treasure, the Truth, Whatever. But this story is over and the next one is about to begin.
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 1

1. THE ORDINARY WORLD (THE HERO’S JOURNEY)
Brief Description:
In the first stages of the story line the hero leaves the familiar ordinary world to enter into a new world. (In Star Wars Luke Skywalker is seen on the farm, bored to death, before he starts his adventure).
Brief Description:
The call to adventure is the point in a person's life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not. The hero is given a problem or a challenge and once this happens he/she can no longer stay in the ordinary world. (This occurs in
Star Wars with the holographic message from Princess Leia).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

What stage of life is the hero or heroine in? Describe.

What do you see coming next for this person?

What would cause the person to leave this stage, to "leave home"?

What is the person doing when the call comes? Is it an accident, a blunder, something planned, or hoped for? Is it anticipated or dreaded?
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 2

Brief Description:
Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances. At this point the hero becomes afraid and refuses the call. Some other influence is needed for the hero to take up the challenge. (In Star
Wars Luke refuses the challenge and returns to the farm, only to find that his uncle and aunt have been murdered. Thus, he cannot return to the ordinary world).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

Does the hero refuse the call?

If so, what motivates the refusal? Obligation and duty, fear, a sense of inadequacy to take on the quest, a dread or dislike of the task to be taken on?

Is the person ready to leave home, to accept adult status? If not, why
Brief Description:
Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known. Many stories introduce a Merlin like character whose function is to prepare the hero to face the challenge. (The mentor is Obi Wan Kenobi in
Star Wars . He gives Luke his father's special sword and helps the hero realise his hidden powers).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

What special friends or helpers does the hero have?

Does the hero receive some magical help, advice, or talisman from someone wise and benevolent?

Is their someone who helps them prepare to leave on their journey?

Is it a one time assistance,, or will the helper (or helpers) appear throughout the journey?

Is the helper an internal aspect of the hero?
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 3

Brief Description:
This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known. The hero commits to the challenge and this is where the adventure really begins.
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

What world is being left; what world is being entered?

What or who is guarding the threshold?

What obstacles must the hero overcome to truly begin the journey? -limits of home or society, limits of personality, limits of perception, physical limits?

What events cause the person to cross the threshold?

What is the threshold and how does the person cross it?
Brief Description:
The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes. The hero then has to learn the rules of this new world. While being tested he/she also makes new friends and enemies. A bar or sea port scene is often used to illustrate this. (Such was the case in
Star Wars , in the cantina, with Luke meeting up with ally Hans Solo and making enemies with various aliens and indirectly, with Jabba the Hutt).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

Given this person's background and experience, what kinds of trials or ordeals make sense for him or her? What would be truly challenging for this person?

What does the person fear and how will this fear be represented to him or her?

What does the person consider to be obstacles to progress or growth?

Does the person have some personality or character traits that will be mirrored back to him or her in a challenging way?

What strategies, skills, insights, known or unknown strengths or talents, etc, does the person
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 4

use or develop to survive or resolve these trials?

What assistance, seen or unseen does the person have or receive to deal with these trials?
Brief Description:
The hero now approaches a fearful place which is often underground and representative of a cave. Here is the second threshold. It often occurs in the enemy's territory, and there is great danger. (This happens in Star Wars when Luke and his friends are "sucked into the Death Star")
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

Does the hero prepare him/herself in any way before or during this stage. What is he/she preparing for?

Does the hero enter the inmost cave willingly, or is s/he thrust or captured in that place?

Is anyone or anything protecting the inmost cave? How does the hero deal with these guardians?

What is the hero leaving behind before entering this dark and dangerous place? Is it some part of him/herself? The self of childhood? Of incomplete or unfulfilled adulthood? Fears, attachments, prejudices, pride etc.?
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 5

Brief Description:
The hero has to face the greatest challenge and confrontation. She/he is brought to the brink of death in a battle with malevolent forces. The supreme ordeal is sometimes described as the hero’s lowest point. (In
Star
Wars , this occurs when Luke, Leia and friends are trapped in the trashmasher).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

Is the person ready to face the supreme ordeal?

What must the hero become in order to face the supreme ordeal? What must he or she change into?

What is the goal, ideal or reward that the person moving toward?
Brief Description:
Having survived the challenge, the hero now receives what has been sought, or the reward. It could be a special sword, elixir that can heal the land or greater knowledge and understanding.
Whatever its form, the hero’s ultimate reward is the achievement of the goal of the quest. All the previous stages have served to prepare the hero for this stage (In many myths the reward is something transcendent like the elixir of life itself, or a plant that supplies immortality, or the holy grail). (In Star Wars , Luke rescues the Princess and gets the plans to Death Star which is crucial in defeating Darth Vader).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:
 Given the hero’s background and experience, what would be the goal of his or her quest?
What is the ultimate reward for this person ?

Was there a stated goal of the quest? If so has it changed? Has the person learned more or less than he or she expected?

What are the rewards of this person's journey ?

What relationship does this person now have to his or her own life, companions, enemies, guardians etc.?
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 6

Brief Description:
Sometimes the hero must escape with the reward, particularly if it is something that the shadow was guarding jealously. S/he must to try and get back home. However, hostile forces will often pursue him/her (Some of the best chase scenes take place here). The hero may find that it can be just as adventurous and dangerous returning from the journey as it was to go on it. (Thus, in Star
Wars , Darth Vader pursues Luke and Leia as they escape from the Death Star).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

Are there obstacles to the hero's returning to normal life/the ordinary world?

What kind of obstacle would make sense or be especially difficult or suiting to his or her situation?

Does the hero need rescuing from his/her journey?

Can their original guides, mentors and assistants still help them?

Do these obstacles help us discover more about the character of the hero, their quest, or their reward?
Brief Description:
The hero now has to be reborn before he/she can return to the ordinary world. This occurs in a second life and death situation where the hero almost dies again. (In Star Wars there is a final battle scene where Luke is almost killed. This last ordeal transforms the hero into a new person).
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

How does this life and death experience effect the hero?

What kind of physical, mental or spiritual transformation does the hero experience? If the transformation is spiritual or mental, which part of the hero’s character is dying and which part is born or reborn?

What is the lesson that the hero has learned from this experience? What does this person now know or experience that is beyond good and evil, life and death?
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 7

Brief Description:
Unless something is brought back the hero has to repeat the challenge. The elixir may be a magic potion that can heal, it could be treasure to be used by the community or it could be love, freedom or new knowledge. Sometimes it's just having a "good story to tell" . The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to use that wisdom in one’s own life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world.
Questions to help you analyse this stage:

What marks the person's return to the ordinary world?

Can/does the person share his or her experiences and the wisdom gained from them with others?

How do others receive the person upon the return?

here do you think the hero will go from here? Can life ever be the same again?
Bingo...you see, Lao, with a but of persuasion, even you can be an honest fellow 8