The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon – understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero's Journey:
· Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
· Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
· Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
Meeting The Oracle
Once common occurrence (during the stage of the Meeting with the Goddess) is the Meeting with an Oracle. The Oracle is that which instructs the hero of the geography of the World of the Sword and leads him or her to it.
In Star Wars (1977), the Death Star’s computer system tells Luke et al that Leia is on board and about to be terminated.
In The Matrix (1999), a literal Oracle informs Neo that he will have to make a choice: risk his life (or not) in order to save Morpheus.
In Gladiator (2000), Lucilla pushes Maximus to become more powerful than the Emperor; to meet with the Senator and prepare to overthrow Commodus.
In Scarface (1984), Elvira “doesn’t sleep with the help†– pushing Tony Montana to overthrow Frank and become Boss.
In Dances with Wolves (1990), Kicking Bird asks John to stay behind and protect his family. This leads to his winning over Stands with a Fist.
The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at
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