Stages 11 & 12 of the Journey

Summary:

The Resurrection –

This stage of the journey is an incredibly important one. It has a moment of death or rebirth, which not only makes the story feel more complete but is also the climax of the story (similar situation to the crisis/Supreme Ordeal, but this situations tests the lessons that the Hero has learned). That death or rebirth inspires the Hero to change, which allows him/her to return to the Ordinary World. Sometimes the climax is not the most dramatic moment in the story (a.k.a quiet climax). Sometimes there is a series of continuous climaxes (a.k.a rolling climaxes). The climax is meant to make the audience have an emotional breakthrough.

Return with the Elixir –

The “elixir” is what the Hero brings back to the Ordinary World; it is an adaptation of the lessons that the Hero has learned. It is during this stage of the journey that the story’s loose ends are tied up. Sometimes, however, the story is left open-ended in order to leave the audience with a sense of ambiguity. Sometimes an epilogue is needed to complete the story. Like the Reward, the Return follows a moment of death and rebirth, and both show the consequences of surviving death. The journey not only causes the Hero to change, but also the Hero’s Ordinary World.

Reaction:

I think this reading was interesting, but kind of boring. I think the most important part of the story is when the Hero shares the elixir, because the only way you can know that you truly understand something is to explain it to others.


Questions:

Is repetition important in creating an appealing story?

Are open-ended stories ever as successful as neatly wrapped up stories?

Can a Hero not learn anything? Can he/she not share his/her knowledge?

What happens if a Hero is too stressed out? Can he/she just give up?