The document outlines Joseph Campbell's model of the hero's journey, which consists of 12 stages. It provides examples from The Lord of the Rings trilogy to illustrate how the protagonist Frodo's journey aligns with Campbell's model. The stages include an ordinary world, a call to adventure, refusal/acceptance of the call, meeting a mentor, crossing a threshold, tests and allies/enemies, an innermost cave, a supreme ordeal, a reward, the road back, resurrection, and returning with an elixir. The document also includes diagrams comparing Campbell's model to Frodo's specific journey in the trilogy.

1. The Dramatic Arc
John D. Hipsley
California, USA
January 21, 2014

2. The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell

3. The Hero’s Journey: Simplified from Joseph Campbell’s “Hero with 1,000 Faces”
1.
ORDINARY WORLD
12.
RESURRECTION
11.
RETURN WITH THE
ELIXIR
2.
CALL TO
ADVENTURE
10.
THE ROAD BACK:
3.
REFUSAL OF
THE CALL
9.
REWARD (SEIZING
THE SWORD)
4.
MEETING WITH
THE MENTOR
5.
CROSSING THE
FIRST THRESHOLD
8.
SUPREME ORDEAL
7.
APPROACH TO
THE INMOST CAVE
6.
TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES

4. The Hero’s Journey: With Correspondences to the Lord of the Rings
1.
ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo, his best friend (Sam)
and his two cousins (Merry
and Pippin) live merrily small
village of Shire.
12.
RESSURECTION:
Several weeks after returning to consciousness Frodo
awakens in time to witness Aragon’s marriage to his
longtime love Arwen and Aragon’s ascent to the
throne. Simultaneously all the members of the Fellowship
(with exception of Gandalf ) are knighted by Aragon,.
2.
CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf urges Frodo to set out a
quest to destroy the ring.
10.
THE ROAD BACK:
Frodo falls unconscious from exhaustion and
inflicted sword wound. Sam and Frodo are
rescued by Gandalf and his eagles.
3.
REFUSAL OF THE CALL
Frodo is initially reluctant to leave his
comfortable life in Shire, but when he is
almost killed by the Ringwraiths (Sauron’s
minions) he realizes his life will always be
at risk as long as the ring exists.
9.
REWARD (SEIZING THE SWORD)
Frodo destroys the ring in Mount Doom
while the Fellowship and its’ allies
overcome the forces of Sauron.
4.
MEETING WITH THE MENTOR
Frodo meets the Fellowship, a group of trusted
allies of Gandalf that have pledged to help
Frodo in his quest to destroy the ring. The
Fellowship consists of Frodo’s hobbit
companions, Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli the
Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, and the man Boromir.
5.
CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
Frodo begins his quest with the aid of
the Fellowship on his long journey to
the volcano Mount Doom, the only
place where this ring can be destroyed.
11.
RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR
Frodo returns to Shire enervated by the
Friendship of the Fellowship of the
Ring. (Eventually Frodo journeys to the
Undying Lands to live peacefully for the
rest of eternity).
8.
SUPREME ORDEAL
Frodo must achieve his goal of reaching Mount
Doom to destroy the ring The cumulative
strategy of the Fellowship and its’ allies must
defeat the forces of Sauron.
6.
TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES
Frodo encounters many obstacles, allies, and enemies
along the way. He journeys over the mountain pass,
barely escapes the wrath of Balrog, he becomes allies
with the elves, he is almost captured by the forces of
Saruman, he is attacked by Gollum, and he is nearly
eaten by a carnivorous Spider (Shelob).
7.
APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE
Frodo departs from the Fellowship alone with Sam
to continue his long journey to the fires of Mount
Doom. The Fellowship cannot continue with Frodo,
because they must help defeat the forces of Sauron
that are growing more powerful with each passing
day. Frodo and Sam use Gollum as a guide to travel
the secret back paths to reach the entrance of
Mount Doom.

5. Paraphrase of Joseph Campbell
A Thousand Faces,
1,001 Faces, (Frodo)

6. Paraphrase of Joseph Campbell
A Thousand Faces,
1,001 Faces, (Frodo)
1,002 Faces (Sam)

7. Lesson Learned from the Journey