The Myth of the Monomyth
This is part of Write City Blog’s ongoing Writing 606 series, which will examine and compare several story structure methods over the coming months.
Joseph Campbell studied myths, folktales, and legends from cultures around the world. He discovered a pattern among the stories that is so common it is sometimes called The Monomyth. Most of us, however, know it as the Hero’s Journey, and chances are you were taught to use this framework in writing class. Though well-known, the Hero's Journey can be limiting due to its rigid structure and focus on a singular hero. Let’s look at why this plot tool is a classic and five ways it falls short for many contemporary stories.
What is The Hero’s Journey?
Campbell’s model starts with a regular person living in their “ordinary world.” However, something occurs that threatens to change the status quo and compels them to leave the safety of their home. At first the protagonist resists, but then they meet a mentor who encourages them to start their journey. Along the path, they face some initial trials and tests, most of which have negative results. They also meet allies and enemies who will play a role throughout the rest of the story. After the final confrontation with the antagonist, the now “hero” starts the journey back home. With the powers, lessons, or objects obtained during the journey, the hero can now set things right in their ordinary world. Although the world returns to normal, our hero is changed forever.
Five Reasons it Falls Short
5. It oversimplifies narrative options
The Hero's Journey, with its rigid 12-stage framework, limits storytelling by implying all stories must follow this pattern. It overlooks other narrative forms like kishotenketsu, which does not emphasize conflict, and African traditions that use evolving, cyclical structures that tie folklore to the modern community.
4. It obscures the journey with the character’s inner growth
The Hero's Journey often blends the protagonist's personal journey with the objective story, making it difficult to distinguish between internal and external conflicts. This can obscure the origin of the story's central problem, whether it's internal to the character or an external conflict.
3. It downplays the impact of personal relationships
Campbell’s model centers on a single, usually male hero, often sidelining other perspectives. Female characters typically serve as one-dimensional supporters, and advisors lack meaningful ties to the hero. The deeper problem, however, is that it downplays the importance of these relationships. Since the advisors often don’t have a strong connection to the hero, they could be swapped out with anyone else. In other words, they don’t matter.
2. It leads to formulaic storytelling
When applied rigidly, the Hero's Journey can lead to predictable plots and character arcs. It can force writers to adapt their stories to fit into the framework, rather than allowing the story to emerge naturally.
1. It compromises originality and creativity
Some writers overuse the Hero's Journey, potentially limiting the exploration of other narrative structures. This makes many stories using this structure feel derivative. After all, that’s Campbell’s whole point—all stories are derivations of this template.
While the Hero's Journey can be a helpful tool, it shouldn't be the only tool in your arsenal. It offers valuable insights into storytelling, but it's important to be aware of its limitations and potential to stifle creativity. Consider exploring other narrative structures and approaches to ensure their stories are fresh, engaging, and reflective of the diverse world we live in.