Mythologists study mythology by contrasting them by methods, looking at older ones. Joseph Campbell was a mythologist who did the opposite, by comparing how they were alike instead of contrasting differences. Through this he developed the concept of the heros journey. Authors use it to develop plot, and individuals use it to change their lives.
Though this system is a story structure, and a plotting element, it is much more than that. It is a great writing tool, but it is also used as a road map for a self-development journey. Though this is realized in the psychological field as a means of self-development, it is also a great way to use the same development principles to portray a protagonist to help them become real to the reader.
Departure is one of the steps of this journey. The character or person has to depart to the unknown, leaving the safety of the familiar and venture out to adventures, whether it be a character in a story or a person on a personal journey that must leave the familiar into a future they do not know about.
Once the hero has departed to the unknown, he faces all the trials and catastrophes facing him, such as monsters and other dangers. His skill and ability to deal with conflict is tested. Though he may not always triumph over it all, and really will not, he will persevere in spite of whatever he faces.
During the stage named return, the hero must return home, no longer the same person. The trials he has withstood have matured him. He has a goal to achieve, and is now a mature person. This stage involves growth of the character as he matures. This is the ultimate goal of a story character, this change.
This journey can be related to the drama of a story. The departure stage is the same as the thesis. This is the world as it currently is for the protagonist. The antithesis is when the character faces opposing forces, and the antagonist. The synthesis stage is when the hero has accomplished, or not, all he sets out to do, and goes home to try and combine the old world and the new one.
There are ten steps that are included in the three stages. These are the original world, the adventure, hitting the apparent point of no return when a major challenge is met, trials and dangers, a magical mentor with supernatural assistance, being in the dragon's lair, the moment of despair, and the ultimate challenge. At the conclusion of that, there is the homeward trip, then the rebirth of the character and his triumphant return.
The steps all fit into the three stages. These can both be seen in a person's personal development strategies, too. Characters can get stuck in a particular step, not maturing but becoming static. This often happens with characters that remain the same in a series, such as a TV series. A person's personal development can also become static, with no maturity happening. Several books by various authors have addressed these issues, but the brief outline here guiding the writing of plot can show the whole process briefly.
Though this system is a story structure, and a plotting element, it is much more than that. It is a great writing tool, but it is also used as a road map for a self-development journey. Though this is realized in the psychological field as a means of self-development, it is also a great way to use the same development principles to portray a protagonist to help them become real to the reader.
Departure is one of the steps of this journey. The character or person has to depart to the unknown, leaving the safety of the familiar and venture out to adventures, whether it be a character in a story or a person on a personal journey that must leave the familiar into a future they do not know about.
Once the hero has departed to the unknown, he faces all the trials and catastrophes facing him, such as monsters and other dangers. His skill and ability to deal with conflict is tested. Though he may not always triumph over it all, and really will not, he will persevere in spite of whatever he faces.
During the stage named return, the hero must return home, no longer the same person. The trials he has withstood have matured him. He has a goal to achieve, and is now a mature person. This stage involves growth of the character as he matures. This is the ultimate goal of a story character, this change.
This journey can be related to the drama of a story. The departure stage is the same as the thesis. This is the world as it currently is for the protagonist. The antithesis is when the character faces opposing forces, and the antagonist. The synthesis stage is when the hero has accomplished, or not, all he sets out to do, and goes home to try and combine the old world and the new one.
There are ten steps that are included in the three stages. These are the original world, the adventure, hitting the apparent point of no return when a major challenge is met, trials and dangers, a magical mentor with supernatural assistance, being in the dragon's lair, the moment of despair, and the ultimate challenge. At the conclusion of that, there is the homeward trip, then the rebirth of the character and his triumphant return.
The steps all fit into the three stages. These can both be seen in a person's personal development strategies, too. Characters can get stuck in a particular step, not maturing but becoming static. This often happens with characters that remain the same in a series, such as a TV series. A person's personal development can also become static, with no maturity happening. Several books by various authors have addressed these issues, but the brief outline here guiding the writing of plot can show the whole process briefly.
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