Vogler Annotation p.175-194

Vogler, Christopher. “The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers." Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998 p. 175-194.

Summary:
The Reward is used as a consequence for the difficult encounter with death for the Hero. The hero may use this reward as a time to relax and throw a celebration so as to be rejuvenated for returning to the Upper World. Scenes like these act also as breaks for the audience to "catch [his or her] breath" and begin to know the characters better (177). The aftermath may be used as a chance for a love scene. The Hero has the chance in the aftermath for the "seizing of the sword." This is when the hero takes possession of what was sought after in the Special World. The heros in the reward are acknowledged as changed persons, emerged as a special or new being; they may have newer and wiser perceptions or seeing through deception. Another form of a new Hero is the enlightened, with self-realization. Others may also acknowledge and see the new Heroes and thus have an epiphany in which the realization is related to a higher being, or relation to divinity. The survival of death may cause ego inflation and distort the hero's perceptions in a negative aspect as well, causing another Ordeal.
With the end of the celebration or reward the hero must return to the Ordinary World on the Road Back. This Road back may either be back to the Ordinary World, or to an entirely different destination. The journey represents "the resolve of the hero to return to the Ordinary World and implement the lessons learned in the Special World" (189). This journey is a rededication to the journey after the moment of rest and celebration previous to it. Often heroes become more motivated when opposing forces come back and challenge the Hero. The hero then feels the need to "finish the opponent" and have a final end. These forces can come back in a last effort which give the hero a need to finish them off. By opposing the last force the hero may have a cost to his or her fortunes such as wounding the hero or hero's allies. Another form of pursuit is that of the pursuit of admirers. Villain escapes may occur to re inflict drama into the story. Setbacks may occur to have a climax of Act Two; this may be brief or a sequence of events.

Reaction:
I found the Reward of Vogler to be fairly repetitive and much of the information had "fluffers" in it. I felt Vogler could have shortened the chapter with ease. However, I liked how Vogler shows the reader this can be used as a time of breathing for the audience. I thought this was an interesting point, after much dramatic events its nice to have a moment of rest. People can feel overwhelmed if there is too much action, or begin to be numb to the action. I had never thought of the pursuit by admirers and enjoyed that section, as if the admirers are a twist on a villain. I found the Road Back to be one of the more surprising chapters out of Vogler's text, with many twists and turns I have not thought of. I feel the Road Back may be a time for movies and stories to take turns that make them into a huge surprise.

Questions:
If there is no moment of break and relaxation for the audience, do they generally feel overwhelmed?
If a hero's perceptions are deceived and ego inflated by the cheating of death, is there likely to be another ordeal the hero must overcome in the story?
With the pursuit of admirers could this be negative and positive, on or the other, or only one?