Annotated Bibliography 6

Vogler, Christopher. “Crossing the First Threshold and Tests, Allies, and Enemies” The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structures For Writers 3rd Ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 127-141.
Summary
In this chapter Vogler explains the Crossing of the First Threshold stage of the Hero’s Journey story. You are told that the final stage of Act One is the Crossing of the First Threshold. After the Hero gets his advice and/or items from the mentor, usually he hesitates until either an inner or outer force pressure the Hero until he is pushed over the threshold and into the adventure. Threshold Guardians can appear in any part of the story, but they usually block a narrow passage forcing the Hero to confront the aspect that the Guardian represents. The Crossing, we are told is the passage between the two worlds often resulting in a crash landing into the new world.
The Tests, Allies, and Enemies stage of the story must occur in the special world and appear in stark contrast to the ordinary world, even if the Hero doesn’t physically leave the ordinary world. This new world is always more dangerous and has higher stakes. An important function of this stage is to challenge the Hero to a lesser degree than the life or death situations that he will face later. How the Hero escapes trap, their ability to judge character, their own character under pressure, and their ability to adapt to the new rules are all tested in this part. This is also a time for the Hero to establish a sidekick or team and gaining knowledge of their enemy. Watering holes, bars, and cantinas are very common in this stage as natural congregation place, which allows the Hero to recuperate, hear the latest gossip, make friends and enemies, observe, and confront. The places of congregation are also hotspots for sexual intrigue and gambling, which are very common tests of character.
Reaction
In the first section Vogler’s examples are less common examples and harder to understand, this makes the archetype of the Threshold Guardian more vague and harder to understand. In the second chapter the examples were very mainstream, and were actually the first two movies I thought of in relation to bars and cantinas for allies and enemies.
Questions.
1. What are some other places besides bars and cantinas that the allies and enemies can be found during this stage
2. Do you need a Threshold Guardian in the First Threshold stage
3. Can you think of any examples of the Tests, Allies, and Enemies stage happening before the First Threshold stage