The document describes Joseph Campbell's model of the hero's journey, which outlines 12 stages that heroes typically follow in myths and stories. These include leaving their ordinary world, receiving a call to adventure, facing tests and enemies, undergoing an ordeal, and returning home with experience or knowledge gained. It then maps characters from The Lord of the Rings novel by J.R.R. Tolkien onto Campbell's 12 stages and how their journeys follow or subvert the typical hero's journey archetypes.

1. T H E H E R O ’ S J O U R N E Y
The 12 Heroic Archetypes as described in
Hero of a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

3. THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

4. THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

5. 1.
Ordinary
World
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

6. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

7. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

8. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

9. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

10. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

11. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
7.
Approach to the
inmost Cave
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

12. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
7.
Approach to the
inmost Cave
8.
Supreme Ordeal
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

13. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
7.
Approach to the
inmost Cave
8.
Supreme Ordeal
9.
Reward of
‘Seizing the Sword’
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

14. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
7.
Approach to the
inmost Cave
8.
Supreme Ordeal
9.
Reward of
‘Seizing the Sword’
10.
The Road
Back
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

15. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
7.
Approach to the
inmost Cave
8.
Supreme Ordeal
9.
Reward of
‘Seizing the Sword’
10.
The Road
Back
11.
Return with
the Elixir
THE 12 STAGES OF THE HERO’S JOURNEY

16. 1.
Ordinary
World
2.
Call to
Adventure
3.
Refusal of
the Call
4.
Meeting with
the Mentor
5.
Crossing the First
Threshold
6. Tests, Allies & Enemies
12.
Resurrection
7.
Approach to the
inmost Cave
8.
Supreme Ordeal
9.
Reward of
‘Seizing the Sword’
10.
The Road
Back
11.
Return with
the Elixir

17. T H E A N T I H E R O ’ S J O U R N E Y
Mapping the 12 Heroic Archetypes
Against the Tolkien's Antiheros in Lord of the Rings

21. T H E A N T I H E R O ’ S J O U R N E Y
L O R D O F T H E R I N G S
Comparison to the 12 Archetypes

22. T H E A N T I H E R O ’ S
J O U R N E Y
L O R D O F T H E R I N G S
Comparison to the 12 Archetypes

23. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
Lord of the Rings

24. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
Lord of the Rings

25. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
Lord of the Rings

26. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
Lord of the Rings

27. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
Lord of the Rings

28. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
6. TESTS, ALLLIES & ENEMIES
There are many including the. Spider Shelob
Lord of the Rings

29. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
6. TESTS, ALLLIES & ENEMIES
There are many including the. Spider Shelob
7. APPROACH TO INMOST CAVE
Gollum guides Frodo and Sam to
the Secret Cave via the secret path
Lord of the Rings

30. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
6. TESTS, ALLLIES & ENEMIES
There are many including the. Spider Shelob
7. APPROACH TO INMOST CAVE
Gollum guides Frodo and Sam to
the Secret Cave via the secret path
8. SUPREME ORDEAL
Dead Marshes and
Gollum are the Great
Ordeal crossed in the
approach to Mordor
Lord of the Rings

31. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
6. TESTS, ALLLIES & ENEMIES
There are many including the. Spider Shelob
7. APPROACH TO INMOST CAVE
Gollum guides Frodo and Sam to
the Secret Cave via the secret path
8. SUPREME ORDEAL
Dead Marshes and
Gollum are the Great
Ordeal crossed in the
approach to Mordor
9. REWARD
Frodo’s ‘reward’ is
to see the ring
consumed in Fires
of Mordor
Lord of the Rings

32. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
6. TESTS, ALLLIES & ENEMIES
There are many including the. Spider Shelob
7. APPROACH TO INMOST CAVE
Gollum guides Frodo and Sam to
the Secret Cave via the secret path
8. SUPREME ORDEAL
Dead Marshes and
Gollum are the Great
Ordeal crossed in the
approach to Mordor
9. REWARD
Frodo’s ‘reward’ is
to see the ring
consumed in Fires
of Mordor
10. THE ROAD BACK:
Frodo and Sam fly on
Gandalf’s eagles
Lord of the Rings

33. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
6. TESTS, ALLLIES & ENEMIES
There are many including the. Spider Shelob
7. APPROACH TO INMOST CAVE
Gollum guides Frodo and Sam to
the Secret Cave via the secret path
8. SUPREME ORDEAL
Dead Marshes and
Gollum are the Great
Ordeal crossed in the
approach to Mordor
9. REWARD
Frodo’s ‘reward’ is
to see the ring
consumed in Fires
of Mordor
10. THE ROAD BACK:
Frodo and Sam fly on
Gandalf’s eagles
11. RETURN WITH ELIXIR
Frodo bears the Anti Elixir: A
Ringwraith’s mortal wound
Lord of the Rings

34. 1. ORDINARY WORLD
Frodo Baggins and Samwise
Gamgee : Ordinary Village in
the Shire
2. CALL TO ADVENTURE
Gandalf calls Bilbo to
the adventure to return
the Ring
3. REFUSE THE CALL
Bilbo refused the call
but Frodo accepts
the call after he
encounters Sauron’s
Ringwraiths
4. MENTOR
The entire Fellowship of
the Ring are Mentors
5. CROSSING THE FIRST THRESHOLD
The Shire’s cornfield
6. TESTS, ALLLIES & ENEMIES
There are many including the. Spider Shelob
12. RESSURECTION
Aragorn ascends to the throne; and the
Fellowship are raised to knights of the realm
7. APPROACH TO INMOST CAVE
Gollum guides Frodo and Sam to
the Secret Cave via the secret path
8. SUPREME ORDEAL
Dead Marshes and
Gollum are the Great
Ordeal crossed in the
approach to Mordor
9. REWARD
Frodo’s ‘reward’ is
to see the ring
consumed in Fires
of Mordor
10. THE ROAD BACK:
Frodo and Sam fly on
Gandalf’s eagles
11. RETURN WITH ELIXIR
Frodo bears the Anti Elixir: A
Ringwraith’s mortal wound

35. T H E H E R O ’ S J O U R N E Y
ARAGORN
Aragorn II of Allasar
SAM
Samwise Gamgee
BOROMIR
Warrior of Gondor
PIPPIN
Peregrin Took
MERRY
Meriadoc Brandybuck
GIMLI
Son of Gloin
LEGOLAS
Elf of Gondolin
FRODO
Baggins
GANDALF the Grey
(Later the White)

36. John D. Hipsley
Sunnyvale, CA
January 24, 2014