Mario B. answered • 04/22/21
College English Tutor with Experience Teaching Kids
Oh, I love this stuff. Joseph Campbell is always interesting.
If we're talking about the real world 2021, these are some examples of what you would see in a Hero's journey.
•an ordinary world - Could be any location on Earth, but ideally a place that your audience can relate to. Maybe a Philadelphia Suburb or something. Maybe an orphanage. Maybe a job at a tech company.
•the call to adventure - Some random weirdo, or some event, has to force the main character out of their home. Anything that forces them out of their comfort zone and into the adventure can be "The Call to Adventure." Maybe the main character loses their on. If the main character is a child, perhaps they lost their parents (cliche, I know), or they run away from their home and into a stranger part of society.
•supernatural aid / mentor - This is usually the Gandalf character in a story. Anybody that keeps the main character focused or shepherds them into a new environment/journey is typically the mentor. Or maybe it's just a comic relief friend. For 2021, it can be any type of individual who's seen positively in society. Or maybe it's a wise homeless person. They can even be something as simple as a teacher.
•allies / helpers / enemies - Obviously, sidekicks and friends accompany the main character. For Harry Potter, it's Ron and Hermione. For Lord of the Rings, it's the Fellowship. For 2021, it can be a random group of friends, political figures, activists--anyone that fits into the modern world and helps on the journey.
Some 2021 enemies can be politicians, Twitter trolls, corrupt government officials, or hardcore criminals. You can afford to think outside the box as well.
•the roads of trials - If we're talking about 2021 specifically, some trials may include overcoming the pandemic. Finding ways to overcome police brutality seems like another good trial. Then we have things like climate change, human trafficking, and getting over the internet's destruction of our privacy. In America, racism seems to be a huge issue, but I think that's what this assignment expects.
•reward and the journey home - By this point, the main character has overcome worldly and personal issues. They would return home, but they can also find a new place or person that represents home. Think about the trials I mentioned above; then, think about the aftermath. Maybe the hero has rooted out corrupt government officials. Maybe, they've made the world a little more tolerant. Keep in mind, the character doesn't have to solve any of the problems for good, such as racism. However, if the main character did something to improve the situations of a few individuals by talking the Road of Trials, then that would count as a sufficient reward.
