Which of the following is NOT one of the four stages commonly found in Campbell's monomyth (Hero's Journey) as summarized in many standard overviews?

• A. Crossing the Threshold
• B. Refusal of the Call
• C. Ordeal
• D. Call to Adventure

Answer: (B)

In many standard overviews, Campbell’s monomyth is boiled down to four broad stages: departure, initiation, return. Within departure you see the Call to Adventure and the moment of Crossing the Threshold; initiation centers on the Ordeal as the heavy test, and return wraps up with the hero bringing back some form of gift or reward. Refusal of the Call is a moment of hesitation that can occur before the journey begins, but in this four-stage framework it isn’t counted as its own separate stage. It’s usually considered part of the lead-up to the Call or an early hesitation within departure, not a standalone stage. That’s why Refusal of the Call isn’t listed as one of the four stages, while the other options—Call to Adventure, Crossing the Threshold, and Ordeal—are.