hero journey
Mythic adventure arc
The hero journey (also hero's journey) is a narrative pattern identified in myths, legends, and stories across cultures.
The hero leaves ordinary life, faces trials in an unfamiliar world, and returns transformed.
The pattern—departure, initiation, return—shapes countless stories from ancient epics to Hollywood blockbusters: Star Wars follows a classic hero journey.
Sometimes called the monomyth.
- questSeeking journey for something
- call to adventureNarrative catalyst for journey
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
- transformationThorough change in form
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
threshold · ordeal · villain · destiny · calling · return · triumph · sacrifice · dragon · treasure · darkness · dark night · rebirth · courage · trials · abyss · chosen · sword
- myth & legendquest, dragon slaying, treasure hunt, epic voyage, magic sword
- mystical questholy grail, magic sword, enchanted forest, dragon slaying, treasure hunt
- uplifting storiessuccess story, comeback story, underdog story, redemption story, survival story
- heroic epicsBeowulf, Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, Gilgamesh
- heroessuperhero, superheroes, Superman, Batman, Spider-Man
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
hero journeyslice of life
Realistic everyday depiction
anti-narrative · vignette · tableau · character sketch · mood piece
hero journeytragedy
Disastrous or sorrowful event
fall from grace · downward spiral · corruption arc · character study · Waiting for Godot
hero, journey, heroes, heroic, heroism, heroically, heroine, heroines, journeys