Finding the Structure of Popular Light Novels
from the "Hero's Journey"Tokyo Metropolitan Oizumi High School, W201902-5

Background and Aim
The Rise of the Light Novels
Theory : Hero’s Journeysummary of the structural elements of the stories

Case : Popular light novels
A case study to identify structural characteristics
of appealing light novels.

Results and discussions
3. Ambiguity of “Mentor”
Anal.1) "Meeting with the mentor" is parallel to other stages.
Anal.2) Herald
Mentor→“Meeting with the mentor” stage is Difficult to distinguish.
Anal.4) No typical “Mentor.”
Mentor≒This may be due to thefact that the protagonist ismore than capable fromthe beginning.

Hero asa catalyst
Ally

4. Explanation of settings by “Refusal of the call”

Methods
Analysis of light novels using "Hero's Journey.”Works
citedOtsukaVogler(1) Stage classification
using "Story Maker."(2) Archetype classification
using “Character Maker.”(3) Elemental detection
at each stage using"The Writer's Journey."(4) Functional detectionof archetypes using"The Writer's Journey."

Definition"Hero" is an archetype.
The protagonist is the main male character and the narrator.
The heroine is a female character who supports the protagonist.

1. Distribution of “Hero" characteristics
between protagonist and heroine
Willing Hero Herald
Protagonist＝& heroin& Unwilling Hero

One or the other is a “Hero as a catalyst" or a "sacrifice.”“The film takes an unorthodox but effective approach to the"Hero's Journey" by distributing the characteristics of the "hero"among the main characters, including the villain.” (Vogler, 2022)

The characteristics of the “Hero” are shared
between the protagonist and a heroine. Interaction
between positive and negative “Hero” in all works.

2. Alien in the “Ordinary world”
The first sceneAnal.1)“Ordinary world”
for charactersAnal.3)

Confusing world
for readers

the readers get into the worldof the story smoothly.

→Aren't these exchanges rather negative?

5. Two types of “Shadow”
Anal.2)

ShadowAnal.4)

Shadow: Rival type

Changing archetypes

or Guardian

Mentor＝Results and discussions

Furtherinformation
is provided“In many works, "the truth (information) is revealed throughpositive exchanges between characters." (Haraguchi, 2013)＝

My youth romantic comedy is wrong AS I EXPECTED
Sword Art Online
A Certain Magical Index
The Ryuo’s Work Is Never Done!

“Refusal of the call”
HeroHerald
Disbelief or denial

Story development x
Character x
12-stage story pattern 8 basic archetypes

Light Novels surveyed“This Light Novel is Amazing!” Survey
2010s overall ranking in the works category
Four works in the Hall of Fame

Anal.2)
Anal.4)

Anal.1)Ally

6. The comings and goings of "Hero's Journey"
Anal.1) For example, Protagonist’s “Hero’s Journey” about

self-realization Beginning
Involved withthe heroine“Crossing the threshold”

EndConclusion
Characteristics found・Characteristic distribution of “Hero" characteristics
between hero and heroine.
・Interaction between positive and negative heroes.
・The confusing “Ordinary world” of the first scene.
・Difficulty in identifying “Mentor.“
・Explanation of the setting by “Refusal of the call.”
Points that need to be considered
・The nature of the two types of “Shadow" andthe reason for their existence.
・Consideration of two brunches of the "Hero's Journey."
Research in terms of both expression and structure.
Analysis of individual profiles of the characters.

References
大塚英志 (2013). ｢ストーリーメーカー 創作のための物語論｣. 講談社.
大塚英志 (2014). ｢キャラクターメーカー ６つの理論とワークショップで学ぶ「つくり方」｣. 講談社.
鎌池和馬 (2004). ｢とある魔術の禁書目録｣. 電撃文庫.
川原礫 (2009). ｢ソードアート・オンライン1 アインクラッド｣. 電撃文庫.
クリストファー・ボグラー, 府川由美恵 (翻訳) (2022). ｢作家の旅 ライターズ・ジャーニー 神話の法則で読み解く物語の構造｣.
フィルムアート社. (Christopher Vogler, 2007. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Michael WieseProductions).
白鳥士郎 (2015). ｢りゅうおうのおしごと!｣. GA文庫.
宝島社 (2019). ｢このライトノベルがすごい!｣.
原口良介 (2013). ｢ライトノベルにおける物語展開パターンの構造化および分析｣.
渡航 (2011). ｢やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。｣. ガガガ文庫.