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 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) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.
and more...
[simply go to http://www.screenplay-structure.com/ or http://www.story-structure.org/ or http://www.heros-journey.info/ or http://www.monomyth.info/ for full details]
*****Guardians of the Hero*****
The Hero is often surrounded by various archetypes, who may consciously or unconsciously block the Heralds. The Guardian is commonly, but not necessarily, a Shape Shifter or Interdictor. In Star Wars (1977), uncle Owen is the first to meet the 'droids. And he doesn't want them. In The King of Comedy (1983), Jerry's car is blocked by the mob.
The Hero does not recognise the Heralds or their impending message. In The King of Comedy (1983), Jerry does not know who Pupkin is.
A delay often frustrates the Heralds meeting with the Hero. In The King of Comedy (1983), the mob delay Pupkin reaching Jerry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html for more info on the 188+ stage Hero's Journey....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------