Annotative Bibliography #7

Vogler, Christopher. “Approach to the Inmost Cave, and The Ordeal” The Writer's

Journey : Mythic Structure for Writers. 3rd ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese

Productions, 2007.

Stage seven of the hero’s journey is the approach to the inmost cave. This occurs after heroes have already become acquainted with the new world. During the time of the Approach heroes often times will make plans, study the enemy, and “have the last cigarette”. Time and again, the approach to the inmost cave is a common time for a romance or “courtship” to take place. There are several different ways the hero can go about the approach. The hero can boldly stride up to the castle or the hero can not be 100% confident in the approach. The hero may have to go through a series of obstacles before being able to approach in inmost cave, such as an impossible test. What you want is never as easy as you would like more times than not what the hero desires must be earned. Reorganization can also take place during the approach. The hero might change their mind or change their game plan. Also, no matter how many times one escapes their fate, the issue must be faced sooner or later. The eighth stage of the hero’s journey is the ordeal. This is the absolute darkest and most terrifying place the hero will reach in the story. In every story the hero faces death in someway or another, and often time it occurs during the ordeal. This stage is not to be confused with the climax; rather it is considered the crisis. The stage usually occurs near the middle of the story; this is called a central crisis. There also can be a delayed crisis. This is when the crisis occurs at the end of act two. A crisis that involves death often makes the audience realize how lucky they are to be alive. The hero doesn’t have to die in order for this to happen; the hero could witness or cause a death, sometimes this could be the death of the villain, or the hero’s ego could die.

I think the approach to the inmost cave is a critical time in stories for romance to become involved. Frequently the hero will be having doubts about entering the inmost cave and look to a friend or a lover to comfort them. Many a time, the hero will get all “dolled up” during the approach. As in the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and all of her friends get ready for the inmost cave. They go to the beauty parlor in order to look their best for their meeting with the wizard. I think it’s a very good point that the ordeal should be considered the crisis, not the climax. This is because it doesn’t have to be the most interesting point of the story, but the most dangerous for sure. I think it is very interesting that when a hero appears to die it makes the audience appreciate life that much more.

1. Can you think of an example of when the hero faces the approach to the inmost cave and decides to turn around rather than continue and face the ordeal?

2. What is the difference between the climax and the crisis?

3. What do you think the ordeal is in the book “The Memory Keepers Daughter”