vogler ordinary/call

Summary

This section of reading introduces the two beginning points of the hero’s journey- the ordinary world and call to adventure. The ordinary world allows the author to create the mood, images, or metaphors in order to get feelings across and for a frame of reference. This section describes that the ordinary world should be shown how it is different from the special world or people won’t care about the transition between the two worlds. Usually the ordinary world is used to give a back story of foreshadowing future events. Finally, it notes how the hero must have something missing from his or her life, internal and external problems, and a deep wound leading him or her to the journey. The call to adventure may be in the form of a string of coincidences, a stirring within the hero, or temptations. Sometimes heroes are in denial and thus refuse the call to action or heralds appear when the heroes do not expect it. Usually the call to adventure begins when someone loses something, whether it be death, kidnapping, or the hero’s sense of identity.

Response

I found this section to describe the two points in the journey fairly well. There seemed to be some overlap in ideas with other sections that I had already read (rehashing of previous thoughts). It makes sense when it said how the author has to show something special and different between the ordinary world and special world. If there was no noticeable change, the reader will not be able to relate. As for the herald “in disguise,” perhaps a hero may refuse a call to adventure because he or she does not realize that the journey is being set up.

Reflection

When the call to action was compared to a “catalyst” the first thing that came to mind was the catalyst in chemistry terms- helps to speed up a reaction. This is exactly what the call to action does as it gets the hero to start his or her journey. Also, when the text described the exposition of the story, Galinda’s backstory in Wicked popped into my mind. The text described her background, describing that she was of “high class.” I saw the ordinary world and call to adventure in daily life as well, especially with internal struggles. When something is bothering me, I receive a call to action in order to fix it, such as if there is a fight taking place between a friend and I.

Questions

1). Describe a time when you entered a special world and then over time it became an ordinary world.

2). When has there been a time where you were given a call to action that you denied? Was the call internal or external?

3). Give a few examples of when an author (or screenwriter) has used exposition in his or her stories.