The Lord of the Rings trilogy is three feature films based on the book with the same name that describes a quest to destroy a powerful and corruptous ring, making the wearer invisible. We wil try to split up the plot in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and relate it to the 12 stages of the Mythic Circle, as propounded by Joseph Campbell. As we will see, it easily conforms to the Mythic Circle approach even though some stages might be a bit overlapping. Sometimes maybe because of the strong character gallery in The Lord of The Rings. We could do a Mythic Circle approach for each major character as many of them have their own goals and journey in the story.
1. The Ordinary World
”The hero is introduced, the audience is obliged to ask themselves the question - “Who do I identify with?”. The hero is commonly restless and not fitting into the background against which they are placed. ”
The protagonist Frodo lost both his parents at a young age and was adopted by his uncle Bilbo, an excentric outsider in the hobbit community of the Shire.
2. Call to Adventure
”Something big is about to happen, a herald appears to summon our Hero forth. The audience ask themselves - “Who/what is this?” “What will now change?”.”
During Bilbo’s birthday party, he hands over the ring to Frodo, in a suspiciously reluctant manner, which inspires Gandalf to search for the true nature behind the ring. Gandalf returns to the Shire to tell Frodo that it was infact the ring made by Sauron (the antagonist), who wants his ring back to become powerful again and conquer Middle-earth. Frodo decides to leave and take the ring to Rivendell, home of a mighty elf lord. Frodo leaves with some of his friends, most importantly Sam.
3. Refuse the Call to Adventure
”The audience is given a list of reasons why it’s not possible to follow the call, they signal to the audience that the quest is challenging and may bring fear and danger.”
The nine Riders, Sauron's undead and most powerful servants, are sent out in the quest to find the ring. Frodo escapes just in time and is nearly intercepted. But knowing that the Riders have reached the Shire, their hometown is no longer safe and there is no way back without finishing of the mission they have started.
4. Enter the Mentor
”This entity acts as a guide to help the hero through their ordeal.”
In the village of Bree, Frodo meets Aragorn. He saves the hobbits from an attack by the Riders, and becomes their guide and protector on the remaining journey towards Rivendell.
5. Crossing the Threshold
”The crossing may be voluntary or involuntary. Perhaps the mentor provides the impetus, or the villain pushes the hero into action with another dastardly act. The hero up until now may have resisted, but this is the final straw.”
While camping they are attacked by the Riders and Frodo uses the corruptous ring before being stabbed by an magic blade, that will turn him into a evil wraith if not healed. Once again, Aragorn helps them to.
6. Tests/Allies/Enemies
” In giving a brief glimpse of their colours the audiences is able to fleetingly see what the hero’s capabilities are. Now that we’re in the New World we see its different values, currency, locations, rules and characters. The audience (and the hero) have to determine who can be trusted/not trusted.”
In Rivendell, the council decides that the ring needs to be thrown into a volcano located in Mordor, the realm of Sauron. Frodo realizes that he is destined for this task. He is accompanied by nine companions to guide and protect him and together they set out from Rivendell.
Gandalf sacrifice himself while battling a monster, allowing the fellowship to flee, and Boromir tries to steal the ring from Frodo, which leads Frodo to run off in an attempt to continue the quest alone. He is soon joined by Sam, at this seemingly impossible journey to Mordor.
7. The Approach
”The hero approaches the central ordeal, and the flow of the story pauses. The hero (and the audience) are asked - “Are we really committed, do we really want to go on with the journey?” This is the planning and reconaissance stage where bonding/intimacy/humor may occur. The masks characters have been wearing will shift or change and the audience is able to appreciate other aspects ?deeper character attributes.”
Stage 6, 7 and 8 in ”The Lord of the Rings” is very much overlapping each other as the characters are continuously put to test and as a result shows off different masks.
As Frodo and Sam makes their way towards Mordor, they are attacked by Gollum. Overcoming the confrontation, Frodo takes pity on him, and makes the decision to spare his life. Gollum changes from being their enemy to become their guide, mentor and ally to Sam's objections. After entering wood elf territory, Frodo allowes Gollum to be captured in an act too prevent Gollum from being killed. But this leaves Gollum feeling betrayed. The wood elves let them go, but warns Frodo about Gollum's treacherous nature.
8. Death and Rebirth
”The hero (usually goes somewhere) and confronts death, and may appear to die. • Others of the hero’s team/band lament thinking that the hero is now lost to the. ”
Frodo gets stung by a giant spider, sedating him, and after unsuccesfully trying to wake him up, Sam believes Frodo is dead. Some orcs found the paralyzed body, knowing he was not dead, they took him back to their tower where Frodo wakes up. Sam rescues Frodo from the tower.
9. Reward/Payoff for having survived death
”The cause for celebration, a chance for ego inflation and to assume “immortality status”. The hero gains more power, there is the opportunity for intimacy/comedy - a reaction or contrast to stage 8.”
Sam rescues Frodo, an intimate moment. Dressed up in orc-armour, a comedic moment, they escape.
10. The Road Back
”Reassertion of why the journey was undertaken, which may come from whatever force was stirred up initially. The opportunity for a counter-punch. Typically this stage involves chase scenes.”
As they are getting closer to the volcano, Frodo became progressively weaker from the ring and they run out of water. When they finally reach the volcano, Gollum reappear and attacks.
11. Resurrection
”The “Going out from the Hunt and Returning Stage”. Typically the hero(s) are set apart and may then go through another death and rebirth ordeal which further reinforces their separateness. There is commonly an element of judgement at this stage.”
As Sam continous to fight Gollum, Frodo continous towards the volcano. But he finds himself unable to destroy the ring, but instead claiming it for himself. Gollum gets past Sam, attacks Frodo, gets the ring but falls down into the lava with it. The hobbits are then saved by some giant eagles just before the volcano errupts.
12. Return with the Elixir
”Will typically involve - a reward for the ordeal, distribution of gifts/prizes, returning something unselfishly to the group, a time for farewells and perhaps reacquaintance with the trajic hero who is doomed to repeat the adventure, if for instance they refused the initial call. It is also a chance for the audience and the hero to take stock, to say “we’ve been somewhere and we can compare our world to there”.”
Aragorn is crowned king. The hobbits return home to the Shire, where Sam marries Rosie. Frodo leaves Middle-Earth for the elven kingdom with Gandalf and Bilbo, leaving all his property with Sam who stays in the Shire.
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