Ordinary World and Call to Adventure

In this section, Vogler outlines different elements that can be used to introduce themes to the audience. The Ordinary world is essential as a tool to compare against the Special World. The audience becomes involved with the character and connected after experiencing their Ordinary World. To keep the audience captured, the writer must portray what the character can possibly loose or gain from the adventure. Once the seed is planted the call to adventure gets the plot moving. A herald delivers a message for the quest or challenges the hero. Some heroes accept this call immediately while others initially refuse. In the end, the hero accepts after a battle of resistance.

Before a story can begin, the writer must portray hints of the nature of the experience through mediums including the title, opening image, or a prologue. Prologues for example give background to guide the reader in order to help them distinguish differences later. The Ordinary World gives clues about the hero's emotions, experiences and personal and social life. The hero's adventure begins with a call from the herald in the form of a person, a message, an unconscious sign or an internal drive. It is up to the hero to decide whether or not to accept the call or trust the herald. Some calls provide the audience with unfortunate events yet to come. Each hero experiences and confronts their call of adventure differently providing constant entertainment for the audience.

In the Ordinary World, a dramatic question can be proposed which involves the reader with the character. In our own stories, we can identify this question. For me, it was whether or not my character will achieve a sense of security ever? The character is also given both an inner and outer problem from which they learn and grow. For Ardita, she had to confront her inner conflict, her ego while her kidnapping constituted the outer problem. We understand her Ordinary World as a high class life, being a spoiled brat and getting whatever she wants before she is transformed in the Special World.

Do you believe that titles give the reader a sense of the themes?

What are some universal themes other than losing a parent, that can connect readers across cultures?

Does the entrance of the hero always paint a picture of them?