Twelve Stages of the Hero’s Journey
“The Hero Quest”
Stage 1: Status Quo (Life in the ordinary world)
• Normal everyday existence.• No conflict.• Life as usual.• Peaceful, calm, quiet, ordered.
Stage 2: A “call” to adventure
• A serious situation emerges that threatens life in the ordinary world.
• The hero is “summoned” or “called upon” to undertake a very important task or mission.
Stage 3: Assistance and Refusal of the call
• The hero sees the task as overwhelming and feels inadequate or unable to fulfill the quest.
• Or the hero doesn’t want to undertake the task or quest.
• Or the hero doesn’t believe the quest is essential.
• Or someone refuses the call for him/her.• The Herald / Mentor encourages, compels, or forces them to
continue.
Stage 4: Departure / Discovering a Mentor
• The hero leaves their old life and meets a mentor = Guide
• The hero finds a mentor / “friend” who will guide, instruct, or lead them.
• The mentor typically convinces the hero that the task or mission is necessary.
Stage 5: Trials / Passing the “threshold”
• The hero leaves their world, their “home,” behind and embarks on a journey.
• This marks the beginning of the quest.• Small challenges and trials are met.
Stage 6: Approach / Finding Allies and encountering enemies
• Along the way, the hero discovers a band of allies who will help them along their quest.
• The hero also learns who there enemies are.
• The hero approaches the challenging place with their allies.
Stage 7: Crisis / Tests and challenges
• The hero, alone or with allies, faces small challenges in the form of henchmen / threshold guardians
• Hero undergoes many tests and challenges.• Each challenge brings them closer to their
goal• Each challenge makes them stronger,
bolder, wiser, etc…
Stage 8: Enters the innermost cave and collects / learns “the treasure”.• The hero must enter a place of darkness.• Literally: a deep cave, underground, a very
dark and scary place.• Figuratively: emotional depression,
sadness, melancholy.• Hero learns something of extreme value
during this stage, claims the “treasure” (which will be key in the final battle).
Stage 9: Showdown / Result
• The Hero undergoes the most challenging test.
• Usually face-to-face with their mortal enemy.
• The fight / battle is resolved.
Stage 10: Return / Resurrection
• Literal or figurative• The hero dies and is miraculously brought
back to life. • The hero is thought to be dead, only to
return again, surprising everyone.• The hero is reborn into a higher state of
being or consciousness.
Stage 11: New Life / Returning with the elixir
• An “elixir” is a potent potion that restores one to health.
• The hero brings back an “elixir” that restores their ordinary world.
• The “elixir” can be peace, calm, hope, order, a cure, an actual healing potion, etc…
• The hero has gained or learnt or fought for some new part of themselves.
Stage 12: Resolution
•The hero/es have improved / changed, now they receive their reward, or claim their new place in the world. Awards or fame or riches or importance are earnt.