Film Analysis: Bridge to Terabithia

Hero: Jess Aarons
Mentor: Miss Edmunds
Threshold Guardian: Leslie, Jess's own thoughts and misgivings
Herald: Leslie. "Don't let the Terabithians Hear You."
Shapeshifter: Jess's Dad
Shadow: Scott Hoger
Trickster: Janice Avery
Ordinary World: Boring day-to-day chores, surviving the sixth grade friendless.
Call to Adventure: Leslie Burke beats Jess in the race; later she invites him to create a magical kingdom with her.
Refusal of the Call: Jess resists imagining, questions Leslie and doubts his own creative ability. "Enchanted Rope?"
Meeting With the Mentor: Music class with Ms. Edmunds, who praises his artwork and encourages Jess. "Have you taken Art lessons? You're Really Talented." --and-- "Jess, Don't let those other kids push you around."
Crossing the Threshold: Jess calls the pinecones grenades, he and Leslie build the treehouse.
Tests: Jess must find and return his father's keys; He and Leslie must confront & defend themselves against the Giant Troll (Janice Avery), Jess's chivalry to Ms. Edmunds in order to protect himself from Scott Hoger.
Allies: Leslie (His best friend), Maybelle (younger sister and confidant), Prince Terrian (P.T. the dog), later on Janice Avery.
Enemies: Scott Hoger (School Bully), Janice Avery (Frightening Eighth Grader), Jess's Dad (Imposing and Demanding).
Approach: Falling Tree impales the tree house (survival), Heightened Bullying (Maybelle's twinkies stolen, ketchup packets) and defense, Ms. Edmunds invites Jess to the Museum.
Ordeal: Leslie is killed by rope-river accident. Jess Must cope with his aching heart and confused emotions.
Reward: Jess is able to endure with his remorse and is still able to imagine.
The Road Back: Jess's father comforts him, Jess begins building a 'bridge' to Terabithia.
Resurrection: Jess calls Maybelle to come to Terabithia with him.
Return with Elixir: Leslie lives on in Jess's memory, Maybelle and Jess continue to imagine in Terabithia. "Can there be purple flowers?"

Hero's Journey

Josephine Katherine Lawson (Jo, for short) has always dreamed of becoming a famous vocalist, and has kept a secret passion for Juilliard school of music locked away in her list of possibilities. She has diligently sought to please her demanding mother by following in her older sister's scholarly footsteps and sustaining her own teen job at the local creamery. But Jo quietly holds grandeur plans of escape from the same-old of Galveston, Texas. When a written invitation asks Jo to attend a young musicians scholarship convention in New York City, Jo leaps for the opportunity and spends half her life savings to go. Jo is faced with difficult peer competition, tests of music theory, and challenging auditions during her week stay at the convention. Though veering from the family norm of logically minded professions, Jo at last finds fulfillment in her aspirations and earns a full-ride to Juilliard. Her parents at last accept her differences and support her openly.

Hero: Jo, 16 years of age, Galveston Resident and Middle Child

Ordinary World: Regular High School and Creamery Job (Regular old hometown)

Call to Adventure: Invitation to Muscial Convention

Special World: Scholarship to Julliard, major in vocal performance