Using 'The Interlopers' by Saki, we identify 'The Call to Adventure' as the feud's motivation, 'The Ordeal' as being trapped under the tree, and 'The Return with the Elixir' as the moment they reconcile before the unexpected arrival of wolves.
When analyzing a short story through the lens of Joseph Campbell's 'Hero's Journey', it's important to identify stages that align with the narrative arc of the chosen text. Let's assume 'The Interlopers' by Saki is the selected story. Three significant stages from the Hero's Journey within this story might include:
The Call to Adventure: This stage represents the moment when the protagonist is first introduced to the central challenge of the story. In 'The Interlopers', this could be when the characters Ulrich and Georg each set out into the forest intent on finding and confronting the other, hoping to end their longstanding feud.
The Ordeal: This stage involves the characters facing a significant challenge, often the story's climax. In this case, it would be when Ulrich and Georg are trapped under a fallen beech tree, forcing them to confront their conflict and their mortality together.
The Return with the Elixir: This stage is typically when the hero returns home with knowledge or power gained on their journey; however, in 'The Interlopers,' the 'elixir' takes the form of a newfound mutual understanding and decision to end the feud, though this comes moments before a pack of wolves arrives, leading to a dark twist on the usual 'return.'
Through analyzing these stages, one can explore the transformation of characters, the central themes, and how the Hero's Journey framework applies to this narrative.