I have found much overlap between the three templates and have
produced an amalgamated template:
Campbell, Propp, Vogler amalgamated theory
a. The Ordinary World (V)
b. Call to adventure (V) Hero
leaves society (P)
c. Refusal of the Call
(C,V)
d. Meeting with the Mentor
(V) Supernatural Aid (C) Meets a stranger (P)
e. Crossing the First
Threshold (V)
f. The Belly of the Whale
(V), Trials, Allies, Enemies (V), The Road of Trials, Arduous Journey (P)
Capture by Strange Warriors (P)
g. The Meeting with the
Goddess (C) Protection by ugly girl (P)
h. Woman as temptress (C)
Appearance of the Queen, the beloved one (P)
i. The Approach to the
Innermost Cave (V) Lovemaking (P)
j. Ordeal (V)
k. Atonement with
the Father
l. Apotheosis ( C )
m. The Ultimate Boon (C),
Reward (V), Resolution (P)
n. Refusal of the Return
(C)
o. The Magical Flight (V)
p. Rescue from without (C)
q. The
Road Back (V)
r. Master of Two Worlds (C)
Resurrection (V)
s. Freedom to Live (C)
Return with the Elixir (V)
Possibly one does not need
not to include each element every time. Also, we may need to skew it a little
as Vogler suggests, so that our stories remain fresh. Nevertheless, this can
make a useful planning tool
Exercise 1
Find a novel you love and see how well it pins itself to
this template
Exercise 2 (for those writing a novel)
Check your plan to see if you have all of these elements. You may not have, and that may be fine but would
it hurt to add the missing ones in? You will probably realise after completing exercise
1 that you can interpret these themes very broadly. And don't forget to skew them. If you don't
plan, skip this exercise and go on to exercise 3.
Exercise 3 (for those writing a novel)
Check your novel against the template. Are there any elements
missing? Would your novel benefit from including them? Is there something about
your novel that is not working? Is there anything in this template that can help?
