Vogler, Christopher. “The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers." Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998 p. 83-105
Summary
Pages 83-105 are about stage one of the Ordinary World. Before a story begins, the writer needs to think of a creative way to attract the leader. It also talks about the title of the story, which is very important. “The metaphoric title and imagery allow many interpretations and help to make the story a coherent design.” (P. 85) The opening image is also important because it can be a “powerful tool to create mood and suggest where the story will go.” (P. 85) The prologue gives the reader a backstory. It is a good idea for the Ordinary World to be very different from the special world so that the reader will experience a dramatic change when the threshold is crossed. When the author introduces the hero, they need to make him/her relatable, and should create an identification between the audience and the hero. (P. 90) Stage two talks more about the Call to Adventure. The Call to Adventure gets the story rolling, because the main character is finally introduced. The call may be a message from the unconscious, or come in the form of dreams, fantasies, or visions. Sometimes the Call to Adventure comes to the hero in the form of temptation. The Herald usually delivers the message to the character. Sometimes the hero has difficulty with distinguishing whether or not the Herald is its ally or enemy.
Reflection
This reading was helpful in better understanding the Ordinary World and the Call to Adventure. Vogler goes into more depth about the importance of the Ordinary World, and how the writer should pay close attention to the way it starts a story. The Call to Adventure is important because it’s the first time we really see the main character. You get to see the way he handles the Herald and the way he receives his Call to Adventure.
Questions
1) What does the way the hero receives his/her call to adventure say about the hero?
2) Why is it important for the writer to capture his/her audience in the beginning?
3) What’s more important- the title, the opening imagery, or the prologue? Why?
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4 comments:
I think the title is the most important thing out of the three because the title can help decide if the reader really wants to bother with reading the story or not. I know that sometimes I have not read books because the title did not captivate me enough to even find out what the book was about
I think that it is important to catch the readers eye in the begining of the book because it will determine whether or not the reader will continue on, and enjoy the book.
The way in which the hero recieves his/her call to adventure gives an idea of their willingness. For an unwilling hero, a very persuasive or dramatic herald is usually sent (Darth Vader for Luke) to 'force' the hero to jump on the bandwagon of adventure. For a willing hero who is already looking for adventure as a way out of his/her boring Ordinary World (Jackie Chan in Shanghi Noon), the herald sometimes has to do very litle as the hero will often volunteer to go along with them. The hero might also be willing to do this because they might be in search of something that is unattainable in the Ordinary World.
The beginning of any story is the most important part of a story. It is during this first part that most of the readers assumptions about the book will be made. If they like what they see they will read on if not you have lost your reader and the story is wasted no matter how good the rest is. Things such as the title help capture or lose the audience. For example there is a movie called wrist cutters. When i ask if they have seen it and give the title they laugh aand say things like wow are you depressed or hum sounds creepy. The title was what kept them closed minded
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