Vogler's Annotated Bibliography (Stage One: The Ordinary World & Stage Two: The Call to Adventure)

Vogler, Christopher. “Book Two: Stages of the Journey-Stage One: The Ordinary World & Stage Two: The Call to Adventure.” The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. 3rd Edition. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 83-105.

Summary

The ordinary world is the “world of common day”. It stories, the ordinary world is presented at the beginning, and it presents us the background of the main character. One thing that can make the audience interested about the movie, or story, is to select a good title that can strike a metaphor to make the audience curious about the movie, thus convincing them to be part of the experience (84). A prologue if often used in many stories. It gives us a sort of background; a cue to the audience to what kind of story is going to be about (86). The Ordinary world has a very important question, suggest the dramatic question of the story (88). When you start watching a movie, the first time you see the main character (the hero) is unforgettable. You pay attention to everything; what is he wearing, his attitude, if he/she is within a group, etc. Now, most important is what is the character doing at the moment of entrance (89).

One thing that most of the fairy tales share in common is that the hero lacks something, or is missing something. The most common case is the loss of family members (91). We all know that heroes often feel like they are on top of everything, that they are the best. Heroes often posses a flaw called hubris, a kind of pride or arrogance (92). Stories are supposed to establish what’s as stake. If they fail to do so, the audience will be left with the question: “So what?” (94). I think one of the main interesting parts of a story is the Call to Adventure. At this time the audience is focused in the story at the maximum level. It may be true that the fact that the hero is going somewhere else fills us with fears and doubts, but it also makes us curious about what may happen, and what are the consequences going to be (99). The Call to Adventure is what makes the story go on. It may be disorienting and distasteful to the hero, but it is necessary for him to grow (102).

Reaction

In this part of the book, Vogler explains to us what the Ordinary World consists of, and what is the role of it. I totally agree with Vogler when he says that it is the background of a hero, because the hero’s ordinary world let us know how the hero is like. It is like a reflection of the morals and values of a hero. I also agree with the fact that Vogler stated that we pay close attention to the hero when making the first entrance. Personally, I look as much as I can, because I think that will help me to get a better understanding of the personality of the hero. And when heroes think they are the best… I totally hate that. That pride or arrogance (hubris) makes me punch them in the face. When the hero is called for an adventure I pay close attention to the reactions, because I just enjoy watching the facial expressions of acceptance, or refusal. It is also true that the Call of Adventure fills me with questions like: “Is he/she going to be able to survive?” and other ones too.

Questions:

1. Why do you think the Ordinary World and the Special World are so different in a story? What does that tell us?
2. How a hero’s “hubris” can go back to normality? Why do they have that flaw?
3. When stories leave you with the question: “So what?” what do you think was missing?