The Journey of a Hero

Much of today’s popular culture contain the Journey of a Hero, a format of the path a hero takes that contains three main stages: the Departure, the Initiation, and the Return. The Lord of the Rings, a trilogy, follows Frodo Baggins, a young Hobbit, as he sets off on an odyssey while being aided supernaturally by a wizard, kicking off the Departure stage of the Heroic Journey. Along the second stage, or Initiation, to destroy an evil Ring, he encounters multiple life-threatening situations that claim the lives of his comrades and meets help. When he destroys the Ring, he becomes trapped from his home, but mythical beings help carry him home, completing the last stage of the Heroic Journey, the Return. The Lord of the Rings, directed by Peter Jackson, fits the elements of the Heroic Journey because Frodo leaves the Shire, initiates his path toward Mt. Doom, and returns a renowned hero.

In the Departure stage, Frodo answers a Call to Adventure to destroy the Ring and receives supernatural aid from Gandalf the Grey. Gandalf, a wizard, is a family friend of Frodo and when Bilbo, Frodo’s uncle, leaves Frodo in charge of a ring crafted many years ago by the Dark Lord Sauron, Gandalf explains to Frodo he is in danger and needs to leave immediately. By telling Frodo the imminent dangers of the Ring and that he should leave, Gandalf acts as a guardian for Frodo. Gandalf also points Frodo toward safe spots where Frodo can hide, acting not only as a guardian, but also a guide. After explaining the dangers of the Ring, Gandalf tells Frodo he must leave and destroy the Ring, sending him on his adventure. By informing Frodo of the dire situation, Gandalf unveils an entirely new world to Frodo. Not only does Frodo have to explore this new world, but he has to surmount it to reach his destination. Because Frodo answers a Call to Adventure with Gandalf as his supernatural aid, The Lord of the Rings fits the Departure stage of the Heroic Journey.

Trudging along, Frodo not only overcomes a Road of Trials, but meets a goddess, Galadriel, in the Initiation stage. Progressing on his path, Frodo and his companions encounter the Balrog and Lurtz, which both try to impede his progress. The Balrog, a flaming demonic creature, delays Frodo’s progress by dragging away Gandalf the Grey, Frodo’s supernatural aid. As Frodo and his companions camped out by a river, a band of Uruk-Hai led by Lurtz not only kill Boromir, a defender of Frodo, but also kidnap Merry and Pippin, close friends of Frodo. When Frodo reaches the land of the Ithilien elves, he is aided by Galadriel, a lady that hones nature and foresight. Galadriel embodies a mother figure by telling Frodo what is to happen if he does not succeed his quest, acting as a caring mother and persuading Frodo to push on. She also gives him the Star of Erindi, a symbolic light of hope that was a gift from mother to son. Frodo faces a Road of Trials and comes across a Meeting with the Goddess, allowing The Lord of the Rings to snap into the Initiation stage of the Heroic Journey.

After destroying the Ring, Frodo and his friend Sam become trapped by an erupting volcano, but Gandalf the White and three giant eagles carry them home. After Frodo destroys the Ring in Mt. Doom, the volcano erupts and Frodo becomes trapped by flowing lava and showering debris. The lava denies Frodo access to food and water, forming a literal barrier. Also, the lava isolates him from the outside world, forming a symbolic barrier, or threshold, between him and the outside world. After being trapped on the volcano without food or water, Gandalf the White, reborn after being killed by the Balrog, flies giant eagles to the volcano to rescue the two Hobbits from the barrier. The mythical giant eagles take the two on a magical flight over the Return Threshold and back home. With Frodo crossing a Return Threshold by means of a Magic Flight, The Lord of the Rings corresponds perfectly with the Departure stage of the Heroic Journey.

The Journey of a Hero comes in three broad stages; the Departure, Initiation, and Return stages embody the Heroic Journey. Frodo answers a Call to Adventure by leaving his home and encountering supernatural aid from Gandalf the Grey in the Departure Stage. Slowly progressing through a Road of Trials and meeting a Goddess, Galadriel, marks off the Initiation Stage. Crossing a Return Threshold by means of a Magic Flight courtesy of giant eagles completes the third and final stage, the Return. Frodo leaving his home, the Shire, initiating his way toward Mt. Doom, and returning a recognized hero signifies that The Heroic Journey applies to The Lord of the Rings.