Hero's Journey Flashcards

Damsel in Distress

Vulnerable women who must be rescued by the hero. she is often used as a trap to trick the unsuspecting hero.

The Hero/Heroine

Protagonist/central character, who’s primary purpose is to separate from the ordinary world and sacrifice himself for the service of the mission at hand

Threshold Guardian

Protect the special world and its secrets from the hero. Not the story’s antagonist, can be a neutral character or even a potential ally.

Loyal Retainers

Servants who are heroic themselves. Their duty is to protect the hero and reflect the nobility of the hero.

Herald

Issue challenges and announce the coming of significant change. Makes their appearance any time through the journey.

Mentor

Provides motivation, insights, and training to help the hero

shapeshifter

misleads the hero by hiding a character’s intentions and loyalties. CHanges role or personality and is hard to understand. Alliances and loyalty is uncertain and sincerity is questionable

Friendly Beast

Animal/beast-like figure on the side of the hero - whos that nature sides with good

Shadow

represents our darkest desires, our untapped resources, or even rejected qualities. Symbolizes our greatest fears and phobias. Determined to destroy the hero and his cause

Call to Adventure

First stage of the hero’s journey, when density summons the hero and brings him to the unknown worldre

refusal of the call

the future hero resists the call. refusal may stem from duty, fear, insecurity, feelings or inadequacy, or other reasons

Supernatural aid

Once the hero is committed to the quest, a protective figure appears. This guide provides amulets, advice, or powers that will aid the hero

Crossing of the First Threshold

stage where the hero steps into the field of adventure, leaving his known world behind and entering an unknown, dangerous world

Belly of the Whale

Represent’s hero’s final separation from the familiar world and former self. Hero is swallowed in to the unknown, symbolically dying to the old life before transformation can begin

Road of Trials

Series of tests, tasks, or ordeals the hero must face to begin transofmration. Often fails one of more of the trails

Meeting of the Goddess

Hero experiences a love with the power and significance of an unconditional bond. Love or self-unification does not need to be represented by a women, nor does it need to be romantic

Woman as the Temptress

Rpresents the temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray away from the quest. “Temptress” does not mean woman; it’s a metaphor for temptations in life

Atonement with the Father

Hero must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in their life. This is the father or father figure usllay with the power of life and death.A

Apotheosis

To deify; when someones dies a physical death, the hero moves beyond the death into a state of divine knowledge, love, and compassion. Seen as a period of rest, peace, and fulfillment before hte hero begins the return.

The Ultimate Boon

Achievement of the quest’s goal - the thing the hero set out to doRe

Refusal or Return

After gaining the ultimate boon, the hero might resist returning to an ordinary life. The routines of everyday world seem unworth, leaving the hero not wanting to go back toThe

The Magic Flight

Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, especially if it is heavily guarded. The return can be just as dangerous and adventurous as the journey out

Rescue from without

Just as the hero may need guides or helpers to bring the quest, so too may they require powerful allies to being them back. This rescue is often necessary when the hero has been wounded, weakned, or unable to return alone.Cro

Crossing of the Return Threshold

Challenge of the return is to carry the wisdom gained on the quest back into ordinary life. The hero must integrate that wisdom into human experience and share it with the wider worldMa

Master of two worlds

Represented by a transcendental hero like Jesus or Buddha. For a human hero, it signifies achieving balance between the material and the spiritual. The hero is now at ease and competent in both inner and outer worlds.

Freedom to Live

Mastery beings freedom from the fear of death, which becomes freedom to live. At this stage, the hero lives fully in the moment, no longer bound by anxiety about the future or regret over the past.