The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, : 12 Stages Of A Hero's Journey

Watching a film, one can easily recognize plot, theme, characterization, etc., but not many realize what basic principle lies behind nearly every story conceived: the hero’s journey. This concept allows for a comprehensive, logical flow throughout a movie. Once the hero’s journey is thoroughly understood, anyone can pick out the elements in nearly every piece. The hero’s journey follows a simple outline. First the hero in question must have a disadvantaged childhood. Next the hero will find a mentor who wisely lays out his/her prophecy. Third the hero will go on a journey, either literal or figurative, to find him/herself. On this journey the hero will be discouraged and nearly quit his/her quest. Finally, the

The archetype of the Hero’s Journey holds a prevalent pattern in the works of “Initiation” by Sylvia Plath, “A & P” by John Updike, and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. These works all follow the 17 stages of Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth which are separated in three stages; separation, initiation, and return. The main characters have different characterizations; however, they all follow the basic structure of the Hero’s journey archetype. There are many similarities and differences between the stages that are shown through many context clues and literary devices in each work. The Hero’s Journey archetype expressed in these literary works follow a similar and direct narrative pattern.

During the course of this World Literature class, several stories have been covered that accurately describe Joseph Campbell's mono-myth, or basic pattern found in narratives from every corner of the world. The Hero's Journey in it's entirety has seventeen stages or steps, but if boiled down can be described in three; the departure, the initiation, and the return (Monomyth Cycle). Each stage has several steps, but the cycle describes the hero starting in his initial state, encountering something to change him, and this his return as a changed person. To further explain this concept, there are a few stories covered in this class that can be used.

In the late 1940’s a man named Joseph Campbell shared his Mythic principal with the world. He explains that there is a three-stage formula that he calls a Hero Journey which is the structure of every story. Though most stories are completely different on the outside, the stories are almost structured around these three stages. Stage 1 is the hero leaves the everyday world and enters another world. While Stage 2 the hero is challenged by opposing forces and must pass a series a test throughout the movie. That will then determine who will be victorious, either the hero or the opposing forces. Stage 3 is tied into Stage 2 because if the hero is victorious, they will return to the ordinary world with a gift for the world.

Two books can seem completely different from each other when judged by characteristics such as genre, plot, and theme. However, if people were to look at the books together and as a whole, they might notice one striking similarity between the two. That striking similarity is known as the hero’s journey. First observed and documented by Joseph Campbell, the hero’s journey is a concept in which heroes, or people who commit actions for the greater good, follow a three-step cycle known as departure, fulfillment, and return. At the first stage of the hero’s journey, the hero receives a call to an adventure that takes him from the comforts of his home. Next, at the most important stage of the hero’s journey, the hero begins to experience life

The classic tale of the hero's journey can be recognized in almost every situation. It is not only apparent through daily life and historical events, but in this circumstance, a fictional novel, as well. As an epic voyage, it can be recognized in the vast majority of books throughout the course of history. One specific example where it is carefully and intricately exhibited is in Sue Monk Kidd's novel, The Secret Life of Bees, in which a young woman's search for acceptance and the truth becomes a heart-warming chronicle. Through the obstacles and people she meets, Lily is able to experience the trials and self-fulfilling incidents that are required in the hero's journey she partakes in.

The hero’s journey model, (also known as the monomyth), is a pattern of events and characters that appears in most movies, books, tv shows, etc. In this pattern, the hero leaves her/his mundane world, plunges into the unknown, undergoes test and trials, and returns with new knowledge and power. In the movie Citizen Kane, a rich man and a reporter covering the story after his death learns the power and problems with money and greediness. The movie starts with him being given away from his mother, the only truly happy place he would know. A very rich banker “adopts” him, as he has stakes in a mine that was thought to be worthless but turned out to be priceless. His threshold guardians are his conscience, and make him want to return to the

The hero's journey is a process or cycle where the hero starts and ends in a place they are familiar with, but the middle of the actual journey it set in an unfamiliar place. The hero's journey was studied and made by Joseph Campbell. He studied myths and published his own book, on the topic of the hero's journey and how other stories follow it, named Hero with a Thousand Faces. Many books are known to follow the hero's journey including Homer's The Odyssey. The Odyssey is a book about a man named Odysseus who is on his way home from the Trojan war when his ship and story takes a different course and he spends the book trying to get home while coming across different creatures/beings that occupy

“He stood triumphant, the head of his enemy dangling in his bloodied hand.” In one line you know what type of story this came from. This is the climactic scene, the hero has defeated the villain. You also have a basic idea of what has happened throughout the story. You know that the hero, who is faultless, has been challenged or threatened by something or somebody that is nothing but evil. The hero has gone through many trials and undergone personal change and reflection, all of which have led to his triumph against his foe. The classic hero’s journey falls under the umbrella of the monomyth, a universal plot line (Duffy). This plot is found in almost all hero’s journey stories and includes the basic beginning, middle, and end plot line that we are

Long ago, author Joseph Campbell created the “monomyth,” which is a universal template for stories that follow the adventures of a hero. This template has been recognized in seemingly unlimited stories, epics/myths, and films. It chronicles the trials and the successes of a hero, and it has been a facet in Stories from the beginning of time. Ancient myths and legends, stretching as far back as Gilgamesh, have conformed to the steps of the “monomyth” in one way or another. Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and the hero’s journey is still as prevalent as ever. In fact, it has pushed the bounds of literature, and is even seen today within stories told through social media. No longer are our heroes restricted to warriors of battle and combat,

A monomyth according to Joseph Campbell (2011) is a story where a “hero ventures from a world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder and comes back from the adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man” (Page 51).When people think of monomyth examples their instinct is to go to classics such as Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings or modern day movies like Hunger Games and Harry Potter. All of these movies follow a specific story telling structure thus classifying them as monomyths. To be classified as a monomyth the plot must be broken down into three phases the departure, initiation, and the return (Stein, 2011, p.52). A monomyth also has common features such as the hero has a remote childhood, there is a call to adventure,

The Hero’s journey, or in its more correct terminology the Monomyth is an object from the area of comparative mythology. Its definition in the most basic of forms, it is a pattern or outline that is used in storytelling, usually the myth. This pattern is found in many famous pieces from all around the world. In the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces from 1949 by author Joseph Campbell, this pattern is described in detail. Campbell describes that numerous myths from different times and areas of the world seem to share an identical structure in their storytelling. He summarized this with a well-known quote found at the intro of his book:

An Abundance of Monotony When people are young, they are told fables that influence their childhoods in many ways. However, as they grow older, they begin to explore literature for themselves. What they don’t notice, on the other hand, are the consistent steps in the protagonist's quest. The Hero’s Journey, also known as the Monomyth, is a theory proposed by Professor Joseph Campbell. He stated that most, if not all, stories conform to the same steps.

Have you ever lost someone in your life and didn’t know how to cope with the pain? In The Perks Of Being a Wallflower written by Stephen Chbosky there are two families that have to cope with the pain of losing a loved one. Charlie’s family has to deal with the loss of Aunt Helen. She died in a car crash while going to get Charlie’s christmas present. The novel takes you through the hardship that Charlie goes through when he’s trying to cope with the pain of losing his Aunt. Then there is Michael’s death that took place when Charlie was in middle school. Michael had committed suicide by shooting himself. He didn’t even leave a not for Charlie as to why he decided to do this. Both Charlie and Michael’s family had to try and cope with this loss.

The monomyth or, Hero’s Journey, is an outline or pattern of events that a hero may follow in a story or movie. This so called pattern takes place in two locations, the ordinary world and the supernatural world. Joseph Campbell was the first person to notice this outline and actually research it. After his passing, Hollywood development executive, Chris Vogler, took the lead and condensed the outline. Osmosis Jones is just one example of a movie which follows the monomyth. This movie also serves as a great lesson of perseverance, because even through the trials and tribulations, Jones never gives up and in the end is rewarded. As Jones goes through the stages of the monomyth, he is considered a hero and obtains perseverance.