12 Stage Narrative Week 6 - The Iron Giant

Today we looked at the 12 stage narrative first created by Joseph Campbell. It suggests that every story has 12 stages that the hero must go through as the film progresses. Our task was to choose a film, and try to identify the 12 stages. I chose to look at the Irong Giant because it is one of my favourite animated films.

1. Ordinary World

At the start of the film we are introduced to the main character Hogarth Hughes. A regular young boy who's mother works full time at an American diner. Being a Sci-Fi and Comic Book enthusiast Hogarth is thought to have a very over-imaginative brain.

2. Call to Adventure

After finding half of his T.V. antenna chewed off, Hogarth discovers a path of destruction left by something huge. Being curious and motivated by his fascination with sci-fi, he decides to goes in search of what he assumes to be “Invaders from Mars”.

3. Refusal of the call

After following the trail of destruction Hogarth is eventually lead to a power station, where he encounters the invader for the first time. The alien turns out to be a Giant metal-eating robot who becomes entangled in some over head cables. After Hogarth saves him by turning off the switch to the power, the Robot regains consciousness as Hogarth flees in fear. He keeps running until he is found and picked up in the car by his mother.

5. Crossing the threshold

I believe that Hogarth reaches this narrative stage before meeting the mentor in this story, because he chooses to face his fear of the Giant himself rather than first learning a lesson. Hogarth returns to the woods to find the Giant and soon realises that he is actually very thankful. The shut off switch is offered to Hogarth by the Giant as a way to convey is thanks and appreciation despite the language barrier that is first apparent. It also seems like a symbol of Hogarth’s original fear of the Giant being thrown away.

4. Meeting the mentor

Now the mentor is introduced. Hogarth befriends Dean the owner of a scrap yard and asks for his help in sheltering the Giant due to the isolation of the area and food source that he has to offer. Hogarth reveals for the first time that he is being bullied at school and in response Dean offers Hogarth some friendly advice about being himself, and not worrying about others opinions.

6. Tests, allies and enemies

Kent Mansley a government agent is called to investigate the strange occurrences that the Giant has been causing. He manages to rent a room in Hogarth’s house after suspecting him to be an eye witness. Hogarth now has to struggle with visiting the Giant under Kent's constant supervision without being caught. It is obvious at this point that Kent is disliked by the General of the Army and is clearly trying to impress him with his dangerous alien theory.

7. Approach to the inmost cave

Kent manages to blackmail Hogarth into telling him where the Giant is being kept and finds a photo of them together as proof. After Kent alerts the General, Hogarth desperately tries to warn Dean about the army’s arrival the next morning before his friend is discovered, though Kent makes it very difficult for Hogarth to leave the house.

8. Ordeal

After Kent and the army are tricked into leaving by dressing the Giant up to look like a work of art made by Dean, Hogarth continues playing with the Giant and gets out a toy gun. Unknowingly to either of them however, the Giant retaliates defensively towards weapon fire and nearly kills Hogarth with a deadly laser beam. The Giant feels ashamed of nearly harming his friend and runs away.

9. Reward

As two children are about to fall from a tall building, the Giant manages to get there just in time and save them as they fall into his hand. The town’s people respect the Giant for his deed and see him as a hero rather than a threat. The Giant wanted so much to be accepted, and this is his long awaited reward.

10. The road back

Kent lies to the General and demands that the Giant has evil intentions. The army pursue and attack the Giant with Hogarth in hand and are eventually shot down by the some American fighter jets. The Giant believes Hogarth to be dead and in a fit of rage and anguish, the Giant transforms into a huge alien weapon and starts retaliating. Hogarth only being knocked unconscious confronts the Giant and tells him that killing is wrong. The Giant listens to Hogarth and reverts back to normal, returning to the town to prove once and for all that his intentions are only good.

11. Resurrection

Refusing to be humiliated by the Giant, Kent takes the General’s walkie-talkie and orders a nuclear missile to be launched. The Giant then selflessly chooses to sacrifice himself by flying into the bomb to save the lives of the people he cared for. I feel that he is resurrected when Dean creates a statue in his honour some time after the event took place. This forever reminds people of the selfless act that he performed and resurrects his legacy.

12. Return with the Elixir

Hogarth is now respected by the kids at school and Dean appears to be dating his mother, replacing his missing father figure. Hogarth is sent a piece of the Giant that was found after the blast. However, the same night he discovers that the piece has escaped its box and starts tapping at the window. Hogarth, knowing that when the Giant is disassembled can fix himself, then realises that somewhere the Giant is still alive and opens the window, allowing the piece to return to him.

#md6001