The12-StepsoftheHero’sJourneybasedonJosephCampbell’sHerowithaThousandFaces

12-Steps WizardofOz LordoftheRings

1. TheOrdinaryWorldTheordinaryworldisthehero’shomebase(setting)andthecharacter’sbackground.

DorothylivesinKansas,aboringworldinwhichpeoplearoundherdon’tunderstandher.

FrodolivesinasmallvillageofShire,isolatedfromtheoutsideworld

2. TheCalltoAdventureTheherolearnswhathe/shehastodo.Thereisacleargoalforthehero.

MissGulchthreatenstohaveTotokilled;Totoescapesandrunsbackhome.Dorothyneedstoleavetoprotecthim.

GandalfthewizardarrivesandurgesFrodotosetouttodestroythering.

3. RefusaloftheCallTheherohasnotyetfullycommittedtothejourney.Theheromaybereluctanttogoorexpressareasonthathe/sherefusestogo.

Dorothydoesnotrunawayfromhome;instead,shereturnshome(abandoningthefirstjourney)whenshehearsAuntieEmisverysick.

FrododoesnotwanttoleavethecomfortsoftheShireinitially.

4. MeetingwiththeMentorAnewcharacterisintroducedtohelptheherofacethejourneyoftheunknownworld.

Glinda,theGoodWitchoftheNorth,explainstheworldofOztoDorothy,givingheradviceandmagicshoes.

GandalfintroducesFrodototheFellowship,agroupoftrustedallies,whosetoffwithhim.

5. CrossingtheFirstThreshold(UnknownWorld)Theherofinallycommitstothejourneyandtakesthefirststepstowardtheworldoftheunknown.

DororthybeginsherjourneytoOzontheyellowbrickroad.

FrodobeginshisjourneytoMt.DoomwiththeFellowship

6. Tests,Allies,andEnemiesTheheromeetsvariouscharactersandhasdifferentexperiencesonhis/herjourney,whichhelptheherolearntherulesoftheUnknownWorld.

Allies:GlindatheGoodWitch,TinMan,Scarecrow,CowardlyLionEnemies:WickedWitchoftheWest

Allies:Gandalf,SamwiseGamgee,TheFellowship,ElvesEnemies:Balrog,Saruman,Gollum

7. ApproachtotheInmostCaveTheherocomestotheedgeofadangerousplacewherethegoalofthequestisnear,butnotyetwithinreach.

Dorothyentersthehauntedforestandencounter’stheflyingmonkeys.

FrodoandSamseparatefromtheFellowshipandcontinueontheirowntoMountDoom.

8. SupremeOrdealTheheroisfacedwiththedirectconfrontationofhis/hergreatestfear;thisisthefinalforcetoface,whichmayleadtothehero’sdeath.

DorothydefeatstheWickedWitchoftheWest.

FrodothrowstheringintothemoltenlavaofMountDoom.

9. RewardTheherocelebratesthefactthathe/shehassurviveddeathandtakespossessionofwhathe/shewasseeking(treasure,knowledge,experience,destructionofevil).

Dorothyliterallyreceivesthewitch’sbroomstick,whichsymbolizeshervictoryoverevil

FrodohasdestroyedtheringandhaswonvictoryoverevilforcesofSauron.

10. TheRoadBackTheherodealswithconsequencesofconfrontingtheissuesrelatedtotheSupremeOrdeal.

Eachmemberoftheteamgetswhathe/shewanted(home,courage,heart,brain).

FrodoandSamarerescuedbyGandalfandhiseagles;theyreturntotheShire.

11. ThresholdCrossing(Resurrection/Rebirth)Theheromayhavebeenonthebrinkofdeath,butnowreturnstoordinarylife,“reborn”withnewinsightsandoutlookonlife

DorothyreturnstoKansaswiththehelpofGlindatheGoodWitch.

Frodoawakensweeksafterhisexhaustingordeal;heislivingagainintheShire,buthasnewworldexperiences.

12. ReturnwithElixir(FreedomtoLive)Theelixirmaybetreasure,love,freedom,wisdom,orknowledgethattheunknownworldexistsandcanbesurvived.IfthereisnoelixirbroughtbacktotheOrdinaryWorldfromtheInmostCave,theheroisdoomedtorepeattheadventures.

DorothyhasanewappreciationforherlifeinKansasandofherlovedones.

Frodo,unlikeotherhobbits,hasanewunderstandingoftheoutsideworld.