the virgin’s journey

7/24/2019 The Virgins Journey

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the Virgins promise

An alternative/companion

to the Heros Journey

Based on the book The Virgins Promise: Writing Stories

of Feminine Creative, Spiritual and Sexual Awakening

by Kim Hudson


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This character arc (or character growth process) is called The

Virgins Promise. It is based on archetypal symbols and comes

from the realm of fairy tales. The story usually follows the journey

of a woman seeking to bring her authentic self to life by followingher dreams.

Amanda

Seyfried

(above) asRed Riding

Hood; Drew

Barrymore as

Cinderella in

Ever After.

Kristen Stewart in Snow White and The Huntsman


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Archetypes are universal character types that people relate to at a deeper

psychological level. Psychologist Karl Jung pioneered the idea in the 20th

century and Joseph Campbell used it in his book about the heros journey

titled The Hero with A Thousand Faces. Fairy tales often containfemale archetypes, while myths use male archetypes.

The CroneThe Whore

The HeroThe Coward

The Mentor


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However, the

Virgins Promise

arc can also be

used as a mans

journey toward

self-hood and

authenticity.


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The traditional

Heros Journey

-- which isbased on Myth

-- can also be a

womans

journey.


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To understand the difference between the traditional Heros

Journey and the Virgins Promise, one must understand the

difference between Myth and Fairy Tales.

Fairy Tales (Virgins Promise)

Journey is internal;

Centered on self-worth and

selfhood;

psychologicalindependence

Set in casual, everyday life

events in the domestic realm

Characters are generic andcommon

Happy and optimistic style;

happily ever after ending

Mythical Tales (Heros Journey)

Journey is external

Centered on world of

obligation;

physicalindependence

Set in a world or circumstance

that is foreign, very unique

Characters are very specific

Tragic tale of hardship; overall

pessimistic


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Beat Sheet Differences - Heros Journey. Virgins Promise

Virgins Promise Beats

Act 1

1. Dependent World2. Price of Conformity

3. Opportunity to Shine

(inciting incident)

4. Dresses the Part

Act 2

5. The Secret World6. No Longer Fits in Her World

7. Caught Shining

8. Gives up What Kept Her Stuck

9. Kingdom in Chaos

Act 3

10. Wanders in the Wilderness

(moment of doubt)

11. Chooses Her Light

12. Re-Ordering/Rescue

13. The Kingdom is Brighter

Heros Journey Beats

Act 1

1. Ordinary World2. Call to Adventure

(inciting incident)

3. Refusal of the Call

4. Meeting with the Guide

5. Crossing the First Threshold

Act 2

6. Tests, Allies and Enemies

7. Preparations

8. Crisis (moment of doubt)

9. Reward

Act 3

10. The Road Back

11. Final Battle

12. Return with the Elixir


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Virgins Promise Beats

Act 1

1. Dependent World -protagonists world/need forgrowth/movies question

Common scenarios:

* material survival

* social convention - Elle Woods is Daddys little

rich girl who has found the man of her dreams,

Warner, and believes he will propose, completingthe plan for a perfect life.

* protection

* conditional love

2. Price of Conformity - suppression of protagonists

true self

Common scenarios:* sleeping through lifeWarner tells Elle he needs

to marry someone who is serious because he has

plans to be a senator.

* restrictive boundaries

* servitude

* psychological danger

Getting to Know the Virgins Promise with Legally Blonde


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3. Opportunity to Shine action leads to first

expression of the Virgins true nature

(inciting incident)

Common scenarios:

* directed by fate, actively pursued

* actively pursuedElle gets into Harvard

to prove shes worthy of Warner (Anti-3)

* wish fulfillment

* someone in need

* pushed by crone (older wise woman)

4. Dresses the Part Protagonist relates to

energy of authentic self and transforms

into something tangible

Common scenarios:

* Becomes Beautiful

* Receives a physical object

* Participates in a fashion show Elle

puts on a pair of horn-rimmed glasses on

her first day of law school

* Undresses



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Act 2

5. The Secret World a separate world from the

dependent world is created so protagonist canexperience her personal authority

Major concern: Fear of Discovery

Elle puts on glasses and impersonates a lawyer

for her beauty salon friend. She likes being

taken seriously. She starts Harvard Law.

6. No Longer Fits in Her World Virgin increasespower in self-knowledge; feels more

discomfort with dependent world

Common scenarios:

* Becomes reckless

* Becomes confused

* Attracts attention

* Declares task too hard Elles boss/professor

makes a pass at her and she quits her job and

is ready to quit law school; All people see is

blond hair and boobs. I was just kidding

myself. It turns out I am a joke.



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7. Caught Shining Two worlds collide; secret

discovered; she is punished, shamed or exiled

Common scenarios:* Grows too big

* Circumstances change

* Recognized by her dependent world

* Betrayed Just when Elle believes that

people are taking her seriously, her boss

makes a pass.



Virgin sacrifices some of her

past to move on; major turningpoint in psychological growth

Common scenarios:

* Fear of Being Hurt Elle

thinks shes a joke and packs to

go home (anti-8)

* Fear of Loss of Love

9. Kingdom in Chaos Virgin

begins to change and causes

chaos in the Kingdom; others

are effected; old sense of order

begins to crumble

Elles decision to quit law firm

leaves Brooke, the defendant,

without an advocate.


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Act 3

10. Wanders in the Wilderness (moment ofdoubt) second stage of changing beliefs;

life is uncomfortable ; she experiences

being alone and separate from DW

* Elle returns but begins to ask stupid

questions in the trial

11. Chooses Her Light Virgin trusts herself,pursues her dreams, or passions; last stage

of transformation

* Elle dresses herself pretty in pink and

steps up to the challenge.

12. Re-Ordering/RescueVirgin moves from

secrecy to claiming personal authority; thekingdom accepts her own vision of herself

Common scenarios:

* Sees her valueEmmett comes up with a

plan for Elle to use her power of a blond

for the greater good


* Reconnects her with the kingdom

* False rescue* The test

* Multiple rescuesBrooke fires

lawyer and hires Elle with

support of Emmett


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13. The Kingdom is Brighter - The

Kingdom accepts the Virgins newself; changes for the better

Common scenarios:

* Evil has been uncovered and

removed

* New life is injected in the kingdom

Elle is valedictorian and is a shiningexample of looking beyond first

impressions and having faith in

yourself

* Unconditional love binds the

kingdom



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Virgins Promise Beat Worksheet

Virgin Movie Title: Protagonist: Main Characters:

1. Dependent World

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Price of Conformity__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Opportunity to Shine

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Dresses the Part

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Secret World

__________________________________________________________________________________________

6. No Longer fits Her World

__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Caught Shining

__________________________________________________________________________________________


__________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Kingdom in Chaos

__________________________________________________________________________________________10. Wanders in the Wilderness

__________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Chooses Her Light

__________________________________________________________________________________________

12, Re-Ordering (Rescue)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

13. The Kingdom is Brighter

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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