Story Structure: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Deconstructed

The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon – understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero's Journey:

· Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

· Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

· Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.

Hero's Journey: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) deconstructed

FADE IN: Context: the backstory of the ring; introducing Allies and Enemies: an alliance of men and elves fight the dark Sauron etc.

Introduce Hero in his Ordinary World: Frodo Baggins.

Introduce the Mentor: Gandalf.

Creatures in the Hero's Ordinary World: the people in the village.

Hero and Mentor relationship: "Gandalf, I'm glad you're back."

Foreshadow of the Journey: "you haven't aged a day."

Status and Capabilities of the Hero: Gandalf and Bilbo discuss Frodo.

Meeting Allies: Sam, Pippin et al.

Ally's Challenge: the girl.

Developing Characters and Relationships: at the party.

Call to Adventure : Bilbo disappears with the ring.

Interdiction: "there are many rings in this world and none of them should be used lightly…"

Refusal : Bilbo won't leave the ring behind.

Foreshadow of the Journey: Bilbo leaves.

Pull of the Call: the rings speaks and Frodo picks it up.

Magical Gift: Gandalf puts the ring in an envelope and gives it to Frodo.

Antagonism Developed: the castle; the night riders leave.

Backstory: Gandalf in the ancient library.

Time Pressure: the night riders reach the border of the village.

Foreboding of the Journey: Gandalf afraid on his return to the hobbit village.

Backstory of the Antagonist: Gandalf and Frodo discuss Sauron.

Time Pressure: the enemy is approaching.

Hero forced out of his Ordinary World: "the ring cannot stay in the Shire…what must I do…?" Pushed to a New Self: "you'll have to leave your name behind."

Allies forced to travel with the Hero: "I have a better use for you, Sam..."

Warnings of the Journey: "be careful, the enemy has many spies…""the ring wants to find its master."

Marker out of the Ordinary World / to the First Threshold : the scarecrow; "this is it, if I take one more step, it'll be the farthest I've ever been…"

Time pressure / Pursued by the Enemy: night riders.

Threshold Guardian battle on entry to the First Threshold : Gandalf meets and battles Saruman.

Meeting Allies: Frodo meets Pippin et al.

Meeting enemies: Frodo et al barely escape the night riders.

Threshold Guardian to the Inner Cave: the gate keeper.

The New World and Creatures of the Inner Cave: the Inn.

Rules set by an Authority Figure: the barman.

Meeting the Shape Shifter: Aragorn.

Backstory of the night riders: they were kings who each received a ring.

Physical Separation : leaving the Inn under Aragorn's lead.

Character Development and Relationships: "we have no choice but to trust him..""what about second breakfast…?"

Antagonist Development: Sauron asks Saruman to build an army.

Mentor's challenge: Gandalf must escape from the tower.

Road of Trials:

Trial 1: Frodo et al attacked by the night riders; stabbed; rescued by Aragorn.

Mentor's Challenge: Gandalf speaks to the moth.

Antagonism Developed: the birth of the ferocious army.

Trial 2: the wound is killing Frodo; saved by Arwen; the river of horses.

Trial 3: Frodo near death; saved by the Elves.

Mentor's Challenge overcome: Gandalf escapes Saruman.

Celebrating the passing of the Trials: Sam et al join Frodo.

Meeting the Oracle: Elrond.

New World of the Sword: the Elvish World.

Marker of Change: Bilbo is older and has written a book.

Pulled Back: "Sam wants to go back and so does Frodo.

Time Pressure: Sauran's evil cannot be contained by the Elves.

Meeting New Allies: Legolas, the dwarf et al.

The Oracle guides toward the Sword: the fires of Mount Doom.

Hero and Shape Shifter meeting: Aragorn confronts Boromir.

Hero's Romantic Challenge: Aragorn and Arwen.

Hero and Shape Shifter confrontation: Boromir and Aragorn confrontation.

Warning against seizing the Sword: there is evil there that does not sleep.

Push toward the Sword: Legolas stands.

Time Pressure: Dwarfs and Elves argue.

Seizing the Sword : Frodo will take the ring to the fires of Mount Doom. The Fellowship is born: Aragorn, Legolas, the Dwarf, Boromir, Sam et al join Frodo.

Magical Gifts given by the Mentor: Bilbo gives Frodo a sword and a vest.

Warnings of the Journey: Bilbo momentarily turns devil.

Developing Characters and Relationships: the break on the rocks

Night Sea Journey: forced onto the pass by the birds.

Foreshadow of the Shape Shifter's turning: Boromir hesitatingly gives back the ring.

Antagonist Developed: Saruman sends out his army.

Night Sea Journey: forced into the mines.

Serpent Battle : Frodo taken by the serpent.

Inner Challenge Conquered: "I wish the ring had never come to me.."

Reward: "that's the way out…"

Atonement with the Father : Gandalf taken by the ancient beast.

Hero and Shape Shifter conflict: outside the mines.

Refusal: they have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood, they cannot go back.

Shape Shifter's Inner Challenge: "even now, there is time…"

Apotheosis : Frodo knows what he must do, he is just afraid to do it; "even the smallest person can change the course of the future…"; looking in the water; meeting with the Lady of the Wood.

Antagonist Development: Saruman releases his armies.

Magic Gift: the Lady of the Wood gives Frodo the Light…

Time Pressure: Saruman's armies approaching.

Ultimate Boon : Looking upon the Kings of Old; the huge statues.

Time Pressure: "something draws near, I can feel it…"

Shape Shifter shows his True Nature: Boromir tries to take the ring from Frodo.

Magic Flight : Frodo runs from Boromir and then Aragorn and then Saruman's army; "can you protect me from yourself;""run Frodo, run…"

Crossing the Return Threshold : the Antagonist's armies arrive.

Rescued from Without : Boromir saves Pippin; the horn of Gondor.

Shape Shifter's reward: Boromir dies.

Master of the Two Worlds : Aragorn defeats the beast leader; comforts Boromir.

Refusal of the Return : Frodo get on the boat; refuses to go back; Sam walks into the water.

FADE OUT: Boromir buried; Aragorn et al follow Pippin et al; Frodo and Sam go on.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

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Kal Bishop

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