Brooke Green
10/13/08

CO 122: Analytic and Persuasive Writing
Annotated Bibliography # 6
Prof. Kathleen Robinson
Fall 2008


Vogler, Christopher. “Book Two: Stage Five: Crossing the First Threshold and Stage Six: Tests, Allies, Enemies. The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure For Writers. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 127-141.

Summary:

Stage Five: Crossing the First Threshold-

Vogler discusses the act of the hero crossing the first threshold in this chapter, and the importance of this action. The hero is standing in between two worlds right before the threshold, that he must cross in order to continue his journey to the adventure. Once the hero crosses this threshold he is committed to the journey and must continue down the path, wherever it may lead. Since heroes are not always willing to set off on these dangerous journeys a “plot or turning point” is usually made in order to push the hero to accept the journey. These events can be external or internal. The external events usually include some sort of villain harming someone close to the hero, pushing him over the edge. Threshold Guardians usually appear around these gateways to test the hero and try and stop him from continuing on the journey. The Threshold Guardians are supposed to teach the hero an important skill or give a piece of knowledge before they begin the journey, and if nothing else the hero must “absorb them.” However, usually the way around them is really easy and they just need to be ignored or moved around. Threshold Guardians can even shape shift from enemies to allies. Reaching the “boarder of the two worlds,” requires the hero to put everything else aside and take a “leap of faith,” into the unknown. Because once that leap is made it cannot be reversed. This crossing the first threshold is a “turning point at which the adventure begins,” and the end of the first part of the story and the ordinary world.

Stage Six: Tests, Allies, Enemies-

The next chapter of Vogler is Tests, Allies, and Enemies, and is an important part in any story. Tests are given to the hero in order to prepare him for what lies ahead, and to give him the knowledge he needs in order to make it to the end of the journey and get his goal. These test are supposed to build the hero up to the last challenge, and are therefore not going to be a difficult as the last ordeal. Allies are important archetypes that help the hero through the journey and can even be a sort of sidekick to the hero. Allies can be a lot of archetype all in one because since they are guiding the hero through the journey, they serve as a sort of mentor too. They can also be tricksters and provide comedy to the story if it is needed. Enemies in stories serve as the “shadow, the trickster, the threshold guardian, and sometimes the herald.” One type of an enemy is the rival. He does not want the hero dead, but he does want to defeat the hero in competitions. In this new world the hero has entered, there are also new rules that must be learned, and learned quickly. Watering holes are when the hero purposefully goes out looking for adventure and might also be looking for information on how to continue the journey, or how to defeat a certain obstacle.

Reaction:

I did not know that crossing the first threshold was so important to the story until I read this chapter, but I understand why it has to be. There needs to be an obvious difference between the two worlds, and a struggle to accept the second one. I liked the idea of the enemy being a rival because I know a lot of movies like this, and I feel that in the end both the hero and the rival have grown so much and learned from each other that they can be more of allies than enemies.


Questions:

1. Can you think of any threshold guardians that become allies to the hero?

2. Can you think of a movie where the enemy is a rival, but he grows to be an ally or a distant friend of the hero’s?

3. Are there any heroes with no allies whatsoever?