Joseph Campbell

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

The Heros Journey Chart
Movie:
Call to Adventure: How
does the character
receive the call to
adventure?
Refusal of the Call:
Does the character
accept the call
immediately?
Answering the Call:
What motivates the
character to accept the
call?
Supernatural Aid
Guide/Mentor: Is there
a specific character who
helps the hero
understand the life
situation or provides the
hero with special
training?
Talisman: Is there a
particular item that has
special significance to
the hero?
Companions: Who is
with the hero on his
journey? How do these
companions help the
hero face the
challenges?
Crossing the
Threshold: At what
point in the story does
the hero leave the
familiar world and move
into a new, unfamiliar
circumstance?
Threshold Guardians:

Separation
Due to his brothers unpredictable death, Jake was
proposed with taking over his mission. As an exmarine this was an easy decision, however as a
paralyzed man this was extremely hard.
The movie does not show the decision, instead, starts
off the movie with Sullys decision.
Jake Sully accepts the role promptly due to his civic
duty as well as marine duty. Little does he know what
he will do once he is on Pandora.
Neytiri, Sullys romantic interest, helps him
understand his mission. Neytiri immerses Sully in the
culture of the Navi and teaches him the reasons and
motives for their ways. She brings him internalize their
ways, and makes their culture his culture.
There is a spirit tree which lights up at night, which is
a true symbol of the Navi culture and also the money
making deal for the United States.
An entire US Army mission to Navi went, however
Sully was one of the few to be completely immersed
as an avatar into their culture. Others did not face
challenged Sully did, and surely did not have to make
decisions like him.
The beginning of the movie starts off with him
crossing the threshold and a majority of the movie
was him getting acquainted with this unfamiliar
circumstance.

No, most of the others try to support Sully. However,

Are there characters that

try to prevent the hero
from crossing over into
the unfamiliar territory or
circumstance?
Initiation / Road of
Trials: What specific
challenges does the
hero face?
Brother Battle: Does
the hero battle physically
or mentally with
someone who is a
relative or close friend?
Meeting with the
Goddess: Does the
hero meet with a
character with special
beauty and power?
Abduction: Is the
character kidnapped, or
is someone close to the
hero kidnapped?
Night or Sea Journey:
Where do the heros
travels take him?
Dragon Battle: Does
the hero battle some
kind of monster? Does
the hero have to face
some inner demon?
Ritual Death or
Dismemberment: Is the
hero injured and thought
to be dead? Does the
hero mistakenly believe
someone close to him is
dead? Does the hero
suffer an injury in which
he loses a limb or use of
some other body part?
Sacred Marriage: Does
the hero have a special
emotional bond (it could
literally be a marriage)
with another character?

at the end of the movie once already immersed in the

Navi culture, military guards wanted him to side with
the United States and betray the Navis.
Sully faces the challenge of siding with the United
States and stealing from the Navis, or fighting with
the NaVis and betraying native culture.
He physically battled the US Army, while fighting the
the Navis. The army was trying to steal a pricey
mineral, which the Navis believe is spiritual. In the
fight for the mineral, Sully ultimately sided with the
Navis.
Yes, all the avatars have special powers. They have
their own Gods they follow.

No, Sully never gets kidnapped, however in his avatar

body another US Army soldier almost pulled the plug
waking him from his sleep and avatar consciousness,
which is very dangerous.
The planet of Pandora, home of the Navis.
No, the only people he fought was the United States
army.

Yes, he was originally thought to not be able to travel

to his avatar body. Only once returned to his former
self was he able to fully transform to his avatar body
after his real body died. He does not mistakenly
believe someone is dead, however, he lost a leg in
battle prior to the beginning of the movie.

He has a bond with his love interest, Neytiri.

Throughout the movie they show their special bonds.
Including intimacy through their hair and a multiple
kissing scenes.

Atonement (at one

with) with or
Recognition by the
Father: Is the hero
reunited with his father
in some way?
Entering the Belly of
the Whale: Is there
some point in the story
where the hero must
face his deepest fear or
the darkest evil in the
story?
Apotheosis
(Deification): Is there a
point in the story where
the hero is held up as an
ideal or where the hero
is worshipped as a god?
Ultimate Boon / Magic
Elixir: Does the hero
find some special
solution to the problem
he is attempting to
resolve? This might be a
magic potion or a key to
something.
Refusal of the Return:
Does the hero initially
refuse to return to the
homeland or the place
that he began the
journey?
Magic Flight / Pursuit:
Is there some point
(generally toward the
end) where the hero is
being chased or is
otherwise trying to
escape something?
Rescue from Without:
Is there so point in the
movie, when all seems
hopeless, when it looks
like the hero is going to

No, Sullys father is not in the movie.

He ultimately fights his own home, fighting against

who he fought with for years. This was a key point in
the movie, and what brought its specialty was the idea
of going against the United States. Usually the home
culture is valued sacredly.
No.

No, the special potion would be the mineral the

United States seeked from Pandora in the first place.
However, it was made clear early on of the United
States motives.

The Return
No, Sully goes against the normal and ends up not
returning to the United States. In fact, he gives up his
human body all together and completely immerses
himself in his avatar body.
He is being chased by the United States Army
general, and is trying to stop him from pullng the plug
on his avatar body.

Yes, in fact they make Pandora look like it is in ruins.

The fight in Pandora between the Navis and
Americans destroyed the land. For a good bit of the
fight, it looked like the United States was winning and
you saw many Navis in distort.

die, then suddenly he is

rescued unexpectedly?
Crossing the Return
Threshold: Is there
some point where the
hero clearly returns
home?
Master of Two Worlds:
Does it appear that the
hero has conquered life
in both the familiar and
unfamiliar worlds?
Freedom to Live: Since
the hero typically begins
the journey to resolve a
problem, does it appear
the problem is at last
resolved so that all can
live freely?

No.

Yes, Sully conquered lift in America in his human

body. He was a military man, but had his leg
amputated. Then, he went against the odds and
became immersed in the Navi culture and became
familiar in their previously unfamiliar world.
Sully appeared to be no longer happy in his human
body, so ultimately yes he solved his problem and
found a whole new life somewhere new. When his
entire life and body was destroyed on earth, he made
a new plan and world for himself.