Fitting The Lord of the Rings into The Hero's Journey stages

Campbell's work has been applied by a wide variety of modern writer and artist, for example the best known is George Lucas - Star Wars trilogy and J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings which also have the fitting of the Monomyth stages. I will be using the Lord of the Rings to go through the stages of the hero's journey, for my review. Hopefully I got it right, I have divided it into 3 posts – Departure, Initiation and Return.

Stages of the hero's journey in The Lord of the Rings:

DEPARTURE

1. The Call to Adventure: The hero is called to adventure by some external event or messenger.

The story begins in the Shire, as Frodo Baggins inherits the Ring from Bilbo his uncle.

2. The Hero is reluctant at first.

At first he was reluctant, but Gandalf the Grey, a wizard learns of the Ring's history and advises Frodo to take the Ring away from the Shire, before it will bring misfortune to Shire. He and his company encounter the Ringwraiths whilst still in the Shire, the destroyer sent by the Dark Lord Sauron.

3. Helpers/Amulet:

In Frodo case :
Helper are -
Samwise Gamgee (Sam) his friend, 2 cousions Meriado Brandybuck (Merry) and Peregin Too (Pippin) to help him,
Gandalf the Grey - a wizard (Merlin-like character - who is the hero's mentor/Supernatural aid)
Tom Bombadil - enigmatic and powerful, who aided Frodo and company
Aragorn "Strider" - guide and protector,
Elrond, master of Rivendell - rescued Frodo and company by creating and controlled a flood waters to rise up and sweeped the Ringwraiths away.
Along the journey Frodo, have more helpers coming to aid him.


4. Hero crossing of the first threshold/Belly of the Whale (final separation from the hero's known world and self. In this stage, hero shows willingness to undergo the change.

Frodo was hurt but recovers under the care of Elrond. The Council of Elrond knows much of the history about The Dark Lord Sauron and the Ring, the harm that it may brings if not destroy by returning it to the Cracks of Doom in Mordor (the mission). Frodo the hero, volunteers to take the Ring and a "Fellowship of the Ring" is chosen to accompany and protect him (More helpers).

(to be continued next post - Initiation)