Vogler 7&8

Approach to the Inmost Cave, the seventh stage of the Hero's Journey, is a time of emotionally charged preparation. In this stage, the hero prepares physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to face the Shadow. Preparation may entail a number of last minute tests to prove the hero's readiness. Information could be available through the support of a team, reorganization of previously acquired clues and facts, or by stepping inside the opponent's mind and mapping out a game plan. The hero receives the gifts of unconditional love and camaraderie from his team or within an intimate relationship. This external show of love and admiration reinforces the hero's own sense of self love and provides a good dose of the emotional strength needed to face the dark. The ordeal is the crisis point of the story where there is the most dramatic tension. This is the ultimate test the hero faces, the biggest challenge. In many stories, the ordeal is life threatening. In all stories, the ordeal is life changing. The hero may face the loss of the mentor and allies and usually faces a major physical or emotional challenge.


The Inmost Cave is a special world within a world where the supreme wonder and terror awaits. It is the villain's lair, it may be a cave, a castle, a city, a planet anywhere. The hero must prepare for the ordeal and remain on guard against illusions and temptations, the hero and his allies may make plans, do reconnaissance on the enemy, try to psych out the opponent, regroup. The stakes are higher here than in earlier challenges the hero faced. In the supreme ordeal, the hero must die so that he can be reborn, transformed, come into balance. The death may be symbolic. For example, there may be an suspenseful accident where the hero appears to be dead or feels the presence of death, an experience that results in a change in attitude. At this point, the audience's concentration should be intense. The interactive storyteller can use this to good advantage to try to create in the audience-hero the kind of emotional transformation portrayed in the story.

During this personal development stage, we need the support of others to face the denied parts of ourselves. The greatest human fear is that of the unknown. And when we reject any emotion or quality which makes us human, we are creating an unknown quality. What we resist, however, persists, and our fighting spirit needs fortifying before facing that dark unknown.

Questions

1.Are you the hero of your own life, or the supporting character of someone else's story? Who makes the choices in your life? Whose life are you living?

2.What kinds of the villain does have in your story?

3. Do you think have you ever suffered the greatest fear? What way do you have for enduring the crisis?