Hero's Journey (Monomyth), Story Structure, Sreenwriting: MAPPING THE INNER CHALLENGE TO THE HERO'S JOURNEY AND TRANSFORMATION

In every successful Hollywood story, there are a number of challenges to be resolved. It is not uncommon for the Hero to have at least Four Core Challenges (Inner, Outer, Romantic, Greater Antagonism). For example, in American Beauty (Academy Award Winner Best Film 1999), Lester Burnham's Inner Challenge is to feel good about himself, his Romantic Challenge is Angela, his Outer Challenge is his marriage with Carolyn and the Greater Antagonism is Col. Frank Fitts, US Marine Core.

It is not unusual for the Inner Challenge to be resolved at the stage of the Apotheosis, Atonement (At-One-Ment) and Ultimate Boon.

We have previously described Apotheosis as a number of things, including:

The breaking out of previous restraints and restrictions. In The Godfather (1972), Don Corleone gives his word not to break the peace, but Michael doesn't.

It is also illumination, insight, epiphany. In Al Pacino Scarface (1983), Tony's insight is that the rewards of the path he's chosen are not worth the spiritual price he is paying, expressed with the words (in the restaurant scene): "is this it? Is that what it's all about Manny? Eating, drinking, fucking, sucking," "no free rides in this world kid," "I lost my appetite," "is that what I worked for? With these hands? Is that what I killed for? For this?"

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, the Apotheosis, Atonement and Ultimate Boon are where the Inner Challenge is conquered. It is here that the Hero attains At-One-Ness and gains the capacity that was previously lacking - the capacity that set him (or her) on the Journey and Road to Transformation.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: Every Hero goes on a Journey

A story IS transformation. That involves moving from one psychological state to another. Sometimes this psychological transformation does not involve a physical movement from one place to another but most often - and ALL THE TIME in successful Hollywood stories - the Hero embarks on a physical journey that stimulates the psychological transformation.

By pulling the Hero through a physical experience, you are stimulating a psychological transformation. In the beginning the Hero will be dressed one way, after being pushed through some stages of the journey, the psychological change will reflect in clothing, behaviour, attitudes and beliefs."

a) In The Last King of Scotland (2006), Nicholas travels from Scotland to Uganda.

b) In Gladiator (2000), Maximus travels from Germany to Rome.

c) In An Officer and a Gentleman (1983), Zach travels from his Ordinary World to the New World of the Navy.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: Transformation is the most useful tool for writing successful screenplays

Transformation is one of the most underrated aspects of screenwriting and storytelling.

Most writers do not realise that a story IS transformation - the hero moves from an Ordinary Self to a New Self, from an Ordinary World to a New World - it is the journey that gives the hero the capacity that he previously lacked to conquer antagonisms.

The Transformation Process involves pushing the hero on a journey and incrementally transforming him or her.

a) In The Last King of Scotland (2006), Nicholas travels from Scotland to Uganda and in Idi Amin's company, he loses his Old Self and becomes a New Self (that he doesn't like very much).

b) In Gladiator (2000), Maximus transforms from a man of the army to a gladiator.

c) In An Officer and a Gentleman (1983), Zach moves from being nobody to an officer.

The Transformation Process involves many stages inlcuding, for example, incrementally losing part of the Old Self and gaining elements of the New Self.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: The underrated use of symbolism in the most successful screenplays

The use of symbolism is one of the most underrated aspects of screenwriting and storytelling.

Take the use of water - it symbolises baptism, the washing away of the old self and the birth of a new self.

Or consider the use of thunder and lightning - it is common during the stage of the Rebirth through Death for rain, thunder and lightning to mark this very dark stage of the most successful stories.

a) In The Last King of Scotland (2006), black crows symbolise the moment Nicholas discovers the truth about Idi Amin.

b) In Miami Vice (2005), Tubbs has a shower before both heroes enter the First Threshold.

c) In An Officer and a Gentleman (1983), Zach washes his face before he is about to tell his father that he will join the navy.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: Rebellion

One often missed element of the Complete 188+ stage Hero's Journey Plot is the stage of the REBELLION.

Once the Hero has received the Call to Adventure and following the Refusals and Interdictions, the Hero is stalled and undergoes frustration during his (or her) Period of Desolation.

Two alternatives push the Hero past his (or her) Period of Desolation.

a) The Trivial Task. We are familiar with this from our fairtytales: "go fetch a pale of water," "go to market and get a fair price for these pigs," "take this cake to Grandma..."

b) Rebellion. The Hero rebells against his (or her) interdictors and pushes past them, pushing himself along the path of the Journey and the Transformation. For example, in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), although his father forbids it, Zach walks out of the door and into the Navy.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: The structural order of the Magical Gift

In story and screenwriting, structure is everything. You have to push the Hero through a Transformation in a particular order; dramatic structure requires that you build and release catharses in a particular manner.

The order of the Magical Gifts received by the Hero from the Supernatural Aid and when they are used follows a distinct structure. Remember, this does not apply to only fantasy type stores as implied by the terminology "Supernatural Aid" etc - even in the most gritty, real-life down to earth stories the Hero recieves guidance and gifts from a Mentor figure.

There are commonly five magical gifts (there is always a finite number) and one structural order is as follows:

a) The first magical gift is the direction the Hero must take - where to go.

b) The second magical gift helps the hero pass the Threshold Guardian upon entry into the First Threshold.

c) The third magical gift aids the Hero during his trial in the First Threshold (Outer Cave).

d) The fourth magical gift guides the Hero toward the Oracle.

e) The fifth magical gift helps the Hero overcome the Guardians of the Sword.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: Expansion of Consciousness

The Seizing of the Sword is one of the critical stages of the Hero's Journey. But what is it exactly? Well, it is in the truest sense an Expansion of Consciousness. The Hero et al have no hope of conquering their Antagonisms or the Antagonism until they have Seized the Sword.

In classic structure, the Sword is a tangible object - treasure, fire or a bride - that represents or comes with the knowledge that will vanquish the antagonist.

In New Self structure, it is the New Self itself. The Hero becomes a New Self and suddenly gains a capacity that was previously lacking.

a) In Star Wars (1977), once they rescue Leia, they know what to do with the data in the droids.

b) In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), the Ark is the Sword and responsible for the destruction of Antagonisms in the Final COnflict.

c) In The Wizard of Oz (1939), it is the seizing of the broom that leads to the witches death and gains an audience with the wizard without the previous obstacles.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: A TRIVIAL TASK

One often missed element of many successful stories is the stage of the Trivial Task. Following the debates between Doves and Hawks, the Interdictions and the Refusals, the Hero is immersed in a Period of Desolation, unsure of whether to embark on his or her Journey, Transformation or Quest.

Either the Hero is Pulled out - some emergency pulls the Hero out of his or her Ordinary World and from his or her Ordinary Self (the imminemt death of family - Gladiator, 2000) or a Trivial Task pushes the Hero out of his or her Ordinary World and from his or her Ordinary Self - unconsciously, unwillingly - into the Journey (Luke must rescue the droids - Star Wars, 1977).

We are intimately familair with the Trivial Task from our fairytales:

a) Go up the hill and fetch a pale of water.

b) Go to the market and get a fair penny for these pigs.

c) Go to grandma and give her these cakes I've baked.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: A Series of Caves

The Hero's Journey is all about Transformation and the Transformation process is an extension of Rites of Passage. Rites of Passage initiations often use Cave Process - people are pushed through caves as an Ordinary Self and pushed out as a New Self. Cave Process is an excellent technique of getting a handle on the Hero's Journey:

a) The First Threshold Cave has the Hero journey through the OUter, Middle and Inner Caves.

b) Each trial can be seen as a journey through Inner, Middle and Outer Caves.

c) Seizing the Sword can be viewed as a journey through Inner, Middle and Outer Caves.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: YOUR STEP OUTLINE

Before you plan your step ouline, you need to have a handle on four things:

a) The Hero's Four Core Challenges: Inner, Outer, Romantic, Greater Antagonism.

b) The Transformation that you want to push your Hero and Allies through.

c) The Journey that will push the Hero and Allies through that Transformation.

d) The Four Catharses that will end your story.

Then you need to push the Hero along the path of the Hero's Journey / Transformation in an almost linear way in order to resolve the Four Core Challenges and then bring the story to a close with your Multiple Catharses. This is the tricky bit- for you need to understand each stage of the Hero's Journey / Transformation in order to push your characters through it.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: SEPARATION and CONVERGENCE

Not only do many writers miss out the critical stage of SEPARATION in their stories, but even when they don't, they tend to forget the equally essential stage of CONVERGENCE. These stages are common in the most successful stories and screenplays.

Separation and Convergence are both physical and psychological - a physical separation of people and a psychological separation of attitudes, beliefs and ideals between those peoples.

In The Godfather (1972), Michael says he cannot trust Tom. Later, he confides in him about the assassination.

In Gladiator (2000), Maximus is separated from his forces. But Cicero later returns to tell him that they are ready.

In Silence of the Lambs (1991), Hannibal escapes. But CLarice has further contact with him later.

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: MULTIPLE CHARACTER TRANSFORMATIONS

Often writers concentrate on the Hero's Transformation and forget to manage the Transformation of other critical characters. The most common critical characters and associated transformations include:

The Romantic Challenge: initially the Hero and Romantic Challenge are polarized and incrementally come together until the Union, post the Seizing of the Sword.

The Supernatural Aid: Mentors often have Challenges of their own; just as the Journey provides the Hero with a capacity that was previously lacking, so the same is true for the Supernatural Aid.

The Shape Shifter: motivations and attitudes gradually move the Shape Shifter from one side to the other.

Doves: those against the Journey / Transformation tend to come round (the converse is true for antihero stories).

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Hero's Journey (Monomyth) and Story Structure: THE ULTIMATE BOON - conquest of the INNER CHALLENGE

One critical yet often misunderstood aspect of the Hero's journey is the mapping of the Hero's Challenges onto it - every good and successful story has a Hero with [at least] Four Core Challenges.

One significance of the Ultimate Boon is that it is the Reward associated with the conquest of the Inner Challenge - this Reward is separate and distinct from the earlier and other Rewards that make up the Journey.

The Ultimate Boon is where the Hero et al have overcome their Inner Challenges and are no longer hindered by them - that is why this is a stage where the Hero completes requirements with ease, there is no delay and obstacles are overcome with ease. This is the source of the Hero's confidence from hereon in - s/he has overcome the deeper psychological challenge.

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