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B.M.

Miss Fowler/Mrs. Fernandes/Mrs. Langone

English 9-3

5 November 2021

Matt Ragland Article

In the “Hero’s Journey: Using an Ancient Framework on Modern Stories” Matt Ragland

argues how the Hero’s Journey can be applied to your own life, personally and career wise. The

initial stage in the Hero’s Journey, Conventional Slumber, is very similar to the Ordinary World.

The hero maintains the same - old routine everyday. Raegland states that, “the hero feels quite

comfortable going through the motions, even if they are good and admirable.” When the Hero

feels changes arising without a decided outcome, they are ready for an adventure. Another stage,

Training and Discipline, is also very similar to testing, allies, and enemies. We rely on mentors,

guides, and companions to join and support us through executing our purpose. As said in the

article, “To stay in the fight, pursue the call, and do the work takes guts and courage.” The final

stage is, Return and Contribution, this is when you become a mentor and a guide by supporting

the community and the world around you. This is a gift to share upon others and for a better life.

Training and Discipline and Conventional Slumber are examples of how the Hero’s Journey can

be used.
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Jim Hull Article

In the “Not Everything is a Hero’s Journey” Jim Hull discusses how the Hero’s

Journey cannot be applied to every story, and how it is being used where it doesn't belong. The

Hero’s Journey doesn't work because it is so general. It doesn't provide enough understanding to

where it is helpful or accurate. As stated in the article, “it adds confusion and noise to many an

author’s intuition.” When a story does not apply it is stretched out and lengthened in order for it

to fit in. Also, the characters must grow but they don’t have a heroic transformation within the

character. Jim Hull discussed that, “This is NOT a physical transformation but rather, the

transformation of character that he undergoes.” Like the Beauty and the Beast, the main

character, Belle, and the impact character, Beast, is the one that has the major transformational

change. The Hero’s Journey is being used too much to the point where the story is changing from

trying to be compared to the Hero’s Journey.

Analysis Paragraph

Hull’s article is more important and relevant than Ragland’s article because the

Hero’s Journey is being overused. Ragland’s article creates more confusion and stretches out the

stories, causing the meaning to change. Ragland claims that, “coming back into the world with a

gift to share and a way to better our lives” (Ragland). What Ragland states in the article does not

provide enough evidence and cannot always be applied to everyone’s life. However, Hull argues

that there is more than one way to write a story. Hull states, “there is nothing inherently better

about a story where the main character transforms” (Hull). Solving problems is a part of a story

and sometimes solving them requires the centerpiece of a story. The main character doesn't have

to just undergo a major transformation. The writer can do what they would like in a storytorty as
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long as they meet the essential points. Hull gives more realistic examples than Ragland does

about the Hero’s Journey about how it is very general and doesn't give an accurate understanding

of the story.