Your Name: __________________________
The Hero Archetype Reflection Sheet
1. The Known World: On Your Own
Think of your own examples of main characters in the beginning of their own stories. What is their life like? How do they feel?
Brainstorm a few character from movies or stories you know.
How does this character feel about his / her home?
2. The Call to Adventure: On Your Own
Think of your own examples of characters from stories or movies? What motivates them to start? Do they get a letter? An invitation? Do they meet someone new? Do they move to a new place? Do they find out about something they want or need to find or accomplish?
Brainstorm a few character from movies or stories you know.
How does this character get started on his / her adventure?
3. Separation Through a Threshold: On Your Own
Think of your own examples of characters from stories or movies? What doors, gates, tunnels, barriers, borders etc. do they cross. How do these doors cut them off from familiar surroundings or familiar people?
Brainstorm a few character from movies or stories you know.
Once the character crosses, how does the setting / other characters seem different?
4. Meeting a Mentor: On Your Own
Think of your own examples of characters from stories or movies? Who helps them? What kinds of help do they get? A tool? A weapon? A Map? Information? Advice or Guidance?
Brainstorm a few character from movies or stories you know.
Once the character meets a mentor. how does it effect the hero? Does the hero change in some way? If so, how?
5. The Road of Trials: On Your Own
Think of your own examples of characters from stories or movies? What difficult tasks do they have to complete? What dangerous places do they have to navigate safely? What tests must the hero pass?
Brainstorm a few character from movies or stories you know.
Once the character begins to complete a task, what obstacles does he or she face? How does the skill, object or lesson from the mentor help the hero complete the task?
6. The Belly of the Whale: On Your Own
Think of your own examples of characters from stories or movies? Once they have completed or failed to complete their task, do they return to the place where they started? Have they changed? Have their relationships changed? Have they become more or less empathetic, loyal or compassionate?
Brainstorm a few character from movies or stories you know.
When their quest is over, how are they different? How is their life different? Do they have new items or new knowledge? How has their community changed?
7. The Return: On Your Own
Think of your own examples of characters from stories or movies? Once they have completed or failed to complete their task, do they return to the place where they started? Have they changed? Have their relationships changed? Does their community acknowledge their efforts? Have they become more or less empathetic, loyal or compassionate?
Brainstorm a few character from movies or stories you know.
When their quest is over, how are they different? How is their life different? Do they have new items or new knowledge? How has their community changed?
Tonio Favetta is the author of Falling From the Ground, a Y/A SciFi adventure. He also teaches high school English.
Tonio Favetta 
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