188+ Stages Of The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) You Need To Know About- Return Threshold

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The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Trial 3 Reward*****

Post Trial 3, the Hero is often given a reward. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack meets and marries Lureen.

****Crossing of the Return Threshold*****

Engagement in the Final Conflict has certain characteristics, including:

Indirect Engagement. The Hero will engage with some alternative to the Antagonism. For example, the Antagonist's Armies. In Star Wars (1977), Luke engages with the Empire's fighter pilots.

Increased Intensity. The battle will be intense with many soldiers on both sides dying.

Seeming Weak. The Antagonism will seem stronger, many of the Hero's minor allies, innocents or similar will perish.

Threat Acknowledged. The Hero's threat will be acknowledged, but it will seem minor.

Antagonist Confident. The intensity of the antagonist's attack and the seeming weakness of the Hero give the Antagonist hope.