Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Deconstructed

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Deconstructed Raider of the Lost Ark follows the Hero's Journey template...

o Introduce the Hero, his nature, his capabilities and his character in his Ordinary World [Indy in South America]. o Introduce the Shape Shifter [Belloq] and the Hero's inner challenge [the snakes]. o Hero's status [attractive to women]. Introduce a Mentor / Supernatural Aid . Develop Hero's character. o Heralds (government agents) bring the Call to Adventure . Develop the Hero's suitability to embark on the adventure. Explicitly state the Call to Adventure. o Warnings (a form of Refusal ) before embarking to the First Threshold [by the Mentor]. o Journey to the First Threshold . Pursued by the antagonist [the Germans]. o Introduce the character of the romantic challenge. o Hero meets and conflicts with his romantic challenge. o Develop the Antagonism [the Germans]. A Trial [Marion in danger]. Hero passes the Trial [rescues Marion]. o No Way Back [Marion's bar burns down]. o Belly of the Whale . Physical separation from the First Threshold [Marion will journey with Indy. On the plane]. o Road of Trials . Meeting with a new Mentor. Mentor guides the Hero [updates Indy]. Mentor warns the hero about the adventure. o Pursued by the Antagonist [the monkey and the Germans]. o Separation. Enhance the hero's back-story; Hero separates from romantic challenge. Conflict [Indy loses Marion]. o Feelings of loss at the separation. o Meeting with the Shape Shifter and Antagonist. Appreciation of each other's abilities. Polarization. Restatement of the challenges. o Escape from the Antagonist. Saved by the Mentor. o Meeting with the Oracle. Antagonist sets up an attack on the Hero. o Meeting with the Goddess . Hero discovers the location of the Sword. o Mentor saves the Hero from the Antagonist's attack. o Antagonist references the Reward. Polarization between the Antagonist and Shape Shifter. o Hero travels to seize the Sword. Guardians [German soldiers] interfere, but are overcome. o Hero seizes the Sword. o Hero escapes from the Chamber of the Sword. o Reward and Reattachment. Hero rejoins his romantic challenge [Indy finds Marion]. Comedic element [Indy leaves Marion tied up]. o Woman as Temptress. Hero prepares to embark on the Night Sea Journey [Indy prepares to dig for the Ark]. o Time pressure caused by the Antagonist [Nazis push Belloq]. o Night Sea Journey . The hero descends downwards stealthily and in the dead of night [Indy digs in the dead of night]. o Danger of the descent recognized. The danger relates to the Hero's inner challenge [Serpents block the way]. o Shape Shifter pursues the Romantic Challenge; attempt to usurp the Hero's prize [The Shape Shifter is an alternative hero; Belloq hits on Marion]. o Serpent Battle. Hero battles the serpent [Indy faces a Cobra - his inner challenge]. o Romantic Challenge refutes the advances of the Shape Shifter [Marion rejects Belloq]. o Hero rewarded for defeating the serpent [Indy finds the Ark]. o Time pressure increases. Comedic element [Nazis prepare to torture Marion; it's a coat hanger]. o Hero et al forced into a near death experience [Indy and Marion buried underground]. Extreme time pressure. o Antagonist foreshadows a confrontation [Belloq won't believe Indy is a problem solved until he is out of there]. o Atonement with the Father . Hero battles the Antagonism [Indy battles with the Nazi soldiers]. Extreme time pressure. [Marion is trapped and the flames are nearing]. o Apotheosis . Hero has an insight [it's now or never; the Ark on its way to Cairo]. o Ultimate Boon Hero has inner resolve to capture the Reward [Indy chasing the truck]. o Refusal of the Return. Departure with the boon. Antagonism [Nazis and Belloq] not yet defeated. Friendships. Goodbyes. Kisses. o Magic Flight . On the boat home. Sexual (reward) and comedic in nature ["it's not the age, it's the mileage."] o Rescued from Without . Hero forced to return [Marion and the Ark stolen by the Nazis]. o Hero dresses in the Wolves Clothing. Comedic element [Indy in the Nazi soldiers uniform]. o Foreshadow of the Final Conflict [Indy bumps into Belloq]. o Crossing the Return Threshold . Hero allows himself to engage in the Final Confrontation [Indy agrees not to destroy the Ark]. o Master of the Two Worlds . Journey to a dangerous place. Final Confrontation. Hero able to cross between Worlds. o Freedom to Live [Hero and romantic challenge together post the adventure]. Learn more... The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/ You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site. Kal Bishop, MBA ********************************** You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Deconstructed