Vogler annotation #7

Vogler Annotation #7

21 October 2008

 

Vogler, Christopher, and Michele Montez. The Writer's Journey : Mythic Structure for Writers. 3rd ed. Boston: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 143-173.

 

Summary

 

            In The Approach to the Inmost Cave, our Hero finds himself yet closer to the Ordeal with which he will be confronted at the heart of the Special World.  This stage sometimes appears as a courtship, while other times it may be a “bold approach” as seen in confident and committed heroes.  This is also the step in which many obstacles will commonly appear, like in The Wizard of Oz.  They are happy and relieved to finally reach the Emerald City but there are still a number of impediments they must overcome.  Threshold Guardians will also appear in this step, as a form of obstacle.  This is the point where the Hero is ultimately shown that she must complete the task at hand.

            The Ordeal is the stage where our hero is finally confronted with death or its equivalent.  The Ordeal must not be confused with the climax, however.  The Ordeal can more accurately be called the crisis.  The placement of the Ordeal in your piece of writing is crucial to audience engagement.  A reliable source of suspense and entertainment is found in a central crisis.  A central crisis is a crisis placed at the midpoint of the story.  A delayed crisis is also a very effective way to instill suspense in your audience.

            The Ordeal is also the stage in which our Hero confronts their Shadow.  The outcomes of this stage vary from the death of the villain to the villain escapes death.  Villains are also sometimes heroes of their own stories.  We will also commonly see our hero cheat death in this step.

 

Reaction

 

            The Approach to the Inmost Cave is the step where the reader feels a sense of relief while simultaneously questioning, “Could it really be that easy?”  We, therefore, know as readers that there is more coming in the story.  The Ordeal is that for which we have been waiting throughout the story.  It is the culmination of the suspense built up and is also the most awe-inspiring of the story.  It is this step that makes us forget to breathe and cling to our seats as we longingly wait to see what will become of our Hero.

 

Questions

 

1.     Is the Ordeal always the most suspenseful part of the story?

2.     Is the Approach to the Inmost Cave sometimes more suspenseful of a stage than that of the Ordeal?

3.     How does this affect the flow or content of the story?