1. The Hero’s Journey
The case of Finding Nemo

2. What are the steps in the Hero’s Journey?
The Ordinary World
Call to Adventure
Refusal of the Call
Meeting with the Mentor
Crossing the First Threshold
Tests, Allies, and Enemies
Approach
Ordeal
Reward
The Road Back
Resurrection
Return with “Elixir”

3. Hero’s Journey- It is a cycle!

4. The Heroic Cycle – Finding Nemo
Our hero: Marlin

5. Home (The Ordinary World)
Oriented
Familiar
Established identity
Status
Known
Satisfied
purposeful
Setting/
Character
First Day of School

6. The Call to Adventure/Refusal of Call
Voluntary or involuntary
Called upon to do something
Why our hero goes on the adventure

7. Preparation (Meeting with Mentor)
Prepare mentally and/or physically
Prepare materials
food, water, weapons, etc
Get allies to go on journey with you

8. Crossing the First Threshold
Geographical
Psychological
POINT OF NO RETURN!
Leaving comfort zone
Watch this clip of the movie to see how several of the steps play out in just a few short minutes!

9. The Road of Tests, Allies, and Enemies
Physical and psychological tests
Tests/ordeals/trials
Initiations
Demons/monsters
Obstacles/barriers
There may be many of these!

10. Trials in Finding Nemo

11. Ordeal Reward Despair Hit rock bottom
No hope
Loss of identity, direction, etc.
Saved by another character or gift
Revelation/epiphany

12. Two Major Ordeals Rewards

13. Rewards in Finding Nemo
Jellyfish field
It looked like Marlin’s bravery ended with the death of Dory and maybe himself. Yet, as grim as it looked, sea turtles rescue them, bring them back to health.
Swallowed by whale (this is the big moment)
Saved by Dory (and Marlin ‘letting go’)
Has revelation/epiphany

14. Resurrection Physical/Psychological Acceptance New perspective
Become a better person
Learns to let go.
Understands how to
love, care, and trust.

15. The Return with “Elixer”
Arrive back home
Achieve goal
Because of
transformation

16. The “Elixer” Internal or external Knowledge/abilities Wisdom/values
Materials/wealth
Alliances
Qualities

17. Home
Return back to the start but with a better life because of the journey.
Notice how we have come full circle, but our hero has learned his lesson.