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-   -   Going Trope-ical n.1: The Hero's Journey (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=382970)

Ice November 11th, 2016 11:13 AM

Going Trope-ical n.1: The Hero's Journey
 

So, as a way to spark up some conversation again here, I thought it would be fun to discuss some tropes on a regular basis. You could describe them as the building blocks of writing, and the main reason creativity is dead. Every trope has been used, but what makes them fun is to twist, pull and bop them. Building the avengers tower on the cover of your lego set is fun, but it might be even more fun to build a castle with the blocks you have. So, to start off something I hope to do, here's: The Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey is a plot archetype; a boiled down version of many stories detailing the bigger plot points. Some very famous examples of the trope are Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Eragon, or even Pokémon. The plot is based explained in three basic steps:
1. Leave your familiar hometown/hobbit hole/ moisture farm
2. Learn to deal with the unfamiliar world that unveiled itself
3. Return to the familiar world, wiser and stronger.

Do you ever build upon the hero's journey, and use to develop a story? Are there any stories that use it that you love? Maybe your favorite stories consist of other plot archetypes? Any remarks are welcome!


icomeanon6 November 11th, 2016 9:03 PM

As someone who loves The Lord of the Rings and classic Star Wars as much as I do, you think I'd be all about The Hero's Journey in my own writing, but to be honest I've never used it much. The closest I've gotten to it was more like an unintentional subversion of it. Don't open the spoiler here if you ever plan on reading Digimon fanfic:
Spoiler:
In my fic Digimon Campaign the main character is called to adventure from his old world by the bad guy, and his friends are called separately but simultaneously to stop him. When he "answers the call" it may appear that he's starting a Hero's Journey, but it's actually a Villain's Journey if that's a thing. He isn't emotionally balanced in a way that's conducive to being a just, virtuous warrior. The last act of the story involves his moral redemption, but the role he takes in the final showdown is that of non-combative support for the actual Heroes, and it is they who are rewarded with the "boons"/"elixir" as they are often called rather than the main character.
Spoiler:
(Also, he never goes home.)

The thing about The Hero's Journey is that because it's so integral to the backbone of so many myths and stories across cultures I'm not sure I'd even call it a "trope." It's more like a general type of story. Using the Hero's Journey effectively is no different than using the basic framework for a romantic comedy or a mystery effectively. The important thing is to not treat the genre like a checklist and call it a day, rather to make changes and additions to the framework as necessary to support what you're ultimately trying to say. A great example of this is The Lord of the Rings of all things, specifically the original novel.

(Spoilers for Lord of the Rings, lol. By the way, if you haven't watched/read LotR but really want to and don't want to be spoiled, get on it already.)
Spoiler:
In the book, the "familiar world" the hero(es) return to is ruined beyond recognition on account of all the good guys being away for so long. They salvage much of it, but even then Frodo is already injured beyond the healing available in Middle Earth, and he leaves forever to the undying home of the Elves. Part of the larger story of LotR (way less emphasized in the movies) is that the end of Elves and Hobbits in Middle Earth is a given: either Sauron subjugates and enslaves the world, or the destruction of the Ring will ultimately result in the diminishing of all things Elven. If there's a moral to this sad state of affairs, I think it's that after such an all-encompassing war it is impossible to save your home as it was; the war is a choice between the undesirable and the intolerable. So the heroes return with greater power and wisdom, but their happiness is limited by the scars of the war. LotR doesn't actually have a fairy-tale ending like we tend to expect from The Hero's Journey. And this is why Peter Jackson was SO WRONG to exclude the ruining of the Shire from his movie trilogy.

Vragon December 12th, 2016 1:50 PM

Quote:

Original creator Ice
1. Leave your familiar hometown/hobbit hole/ moisture farm
2. Learn to deal with the unfamiliar world that unveiled itself
3. Return to the familiar world, wiser and stronger
Sorry, still trying to get better with the quoting system.

My answers below:

Spoiler:
Though I have yet to finish a full story, I do believe some of my works are similar to that. But one in particular follows a parallel pattern that in a different way. In other words "Perpendicular".

1) Find self in strange world knows, somewhat, who he is and in a way likes this world.
2) Goes to his original world and deals with issues there with a friend from the strange world.
3) forced to choose between his real home and both worlds free from his family (actual blood relatives)
4) Leaves the original world in the peoples hands to go back to the other one with his friend.

So mine is a bit of opposite nature, with a similar focus. Going somewhere to stop something and returning. PLOT TWIST!

Sonata December 25th, 2016 3:04 AM

Most of my favorite fantasy stories follow that archetype I suppose, and most people that write do end up going along with it it seems since it is the most common and easiest to use. Though there's only 3 steps listed, any number of conflict and any amount of years can take place throughout those 3 steps. A hero's journey might take place over a few weeks, months or even dozens of years.

EmeraldSky December 27th, 2016 1:08 PM

Would it be safe to argue The Legend of Zelda follows the Hero's Journey too? Think about it (using Ocarina of Time as my example):

The Call to Adventure--The Deku Tree summoning Link

2. Refusal of the Call--I could argue that Mido refusing Link access to the Deku Tree is an example of this because Mido never accepts Link as a true Kokiri

3. Supernatural Aid--Zelda has this in spades, but the most literal interpretation is Navi, for better or worse

4. Crossing the First Threshold--Stepping into Hyrule Field for the first time

5. Belly of the Whale--While Link literally does this by going through Jabu-Jabu's Belly, the best example I remember is when Link pulls the Master Sword

6. The Road of Trials--Awakening the six Sages

7. The Meeting with the Goddess--This happens twice--Link and Zelda meet as kids, and the more literal encounter as adults

8. Woman as Temptress--The whole bit with Ruto would probably count as this

9. Atonement with the Father--Meeting the Deku Sprout after clearing the Forest Temple

10. Apotheosis--resting and running around doing sidequests?

11. The Ultimate Boon--The Master Sword

12. Refusal of the Return--This one's hard--Link looking for Navi (or what we assume is Navi) during the beginning of Majora's Mask

13. The Magic Flight--Fleeing Ganon's Castle

14. Rescue From Without--Hm...not sure if Zelda has any moment that would fit this

15. Crossing the Return Threshold--Returning the Master Sword and sealing the Door of Time at the end of the game.

16. Master of Two Worlds--Traveling in time between a child and an adult

17. Freedom to Live--Link is forever known as the Hero of Time.

As you can see, Zelda follows the hero's journey very closely (some steps are out of order, and there are some iffy places).


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