This is the seventh stage of the Hero’s Journey.
The hero encounters a value that drives him to consciously and forcefully enter the world of the antagonism something he has previously resisted on some level. This value is often outside the hero’s present frame of reference or pattern of behaviour and involves significant sacrifice.
The goal of this stage of the journey is to Seize the Sword a tangible purpose that lays in the depths of the antagonisms world. Therefore it is not unusual that the Sword lies deep underground, in the dark, in an uncomfortable environment, is guarded by the antagonist’s lieutenants and so on.
In Carlito’s Way, Al Pacino agrees to help Kleinfeld break Tony T out of jail. (the Sword) He does this out of loyalty to his perceived “brother,” who saved him from a thirty-year stretch in prison. Even though it is against his best instincts, against the advice of his spiritual guide (Gail) and at risk to his romantic challenge (Gail).
In The Godfather, Al Pacino secretly hopes to avoid following in his father’s footsteps even though he shoots Captain McCluskey and Sollozo, he still hopes that after Sicily he will be able to stay our of the Mafia. But the assassination of his brother Santino drives him to seek revenge and head the clan (the Sword).
In A Fistful of Dynamite, Rod Steiger is an avaricious bandit. But the murder of his children causes him to “count them for the first time,” and consciously seek revenge (the Sword) a non-avaricious goal even though there is a high risk that he will be captured and executed.
In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker catches a glimpse of the future where Han, Leia et al are being tortured. He has to give up his training with Yoda and set out, without the assistance of his supernatural aid (Obi Wan) to save them (the Sword).
The 106 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at
