Annotation pgs 143-173

Vogler, Christopher. The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. 3rd ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 143-173.
Summary
In this section Vogler goes into more depth with the Approach to the Inmost Cave and the Ordeal stages of his hero’s journey. In the Approach the hero is entering a new “zone with its own Threshold Guardians, agendas, and tests”. There are many sub stages here and Vogler again uses the Wizard of Oz to illustrate his points. First, the heroes will regroup and make plans. Sometimes a romance will develop before the bold approach wherein the hero will attempt to just barge into the sitchuation. Typically, a hero will face at least one sort of obstacle. This is where they may come in contact with a threshold guardian, like Dorothy’s first encounter with Marvel in the Wizard of Oz. Finally, after a series of more “complications” and obstacles the hero will finally breakthrough and encounter their enemy during the Ordeal.
The Ordeal is the main event in hero’s story. Vogler states that the main point of the Ordeal is that the hero will die so that he can be reborn. Something will happen and they come back changed. Oftentimes, the Ordeal is related to the hero’s innermost fears and personal challenges. After being reborn, they realize these challenges and are ready to fight. Vogler also makes sure the reader realizes that the Ordeal is a crisis and not the climax of the story. There are many points of tension during the Ordeal and often the hero brushes with death. The audience has a connection with the hero at this point and that connection becomes jeopardized.
Reflection
Again, Vogler uses metaphors and the Wizard of Oz to make his points. There is a huge amount of detail involved with these stages. The two stages almost have a hero’s journey in themselves. I noticed each element in stories I have read and movies I have seen. There is no way each element could possibly fit in one story, but I could see how they all worked. I also think the Ordeal is really just the hero’s own personal fears come to life. They need to beat these fears within to physically beat their opponents outside.
Questions
1. What do you think about the parent aspect? Do you feel you need to please your parents?
2. Do you think that the Ordeal really just mirrors our inner fears?
3. Can a villain really have their own journey?