Dorsey's Reading Literature: Friday, September 29, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:

Targets for Today:

I can read for enjoyment, and participate in discussions about literature.

Today’s Agenda:

1. Reading The Rithmatist beginning at page 338.

2. About The Hero's Journey -- a pattern followed in many stories (See below for notes.)

3. Rithmatist or Your Own books

Next week we will have a Rithmatics Tournament -- Outside.

Take Notes Under Reading Response Log

Take Notes Ms. Dorsey's notes on Archetypal Characters based on a

presentation by Annette Lyon (local author and good friend of

James Dashner - Maze Runner):

The Writer’s Journey is a book that explains common types of characters and plots.

Archetypes

Hero – audience identification -- someone we

can relate to on some level if Malfoy were our

main character, would we sympathize with him

growth, change –

action --

character flaw – biggest weakness (could be fear or pride or . . )

sacrifice -- (example, Harry willing to die for the greater good)

Mentor – often a wise old man or woman

(Dumbledore and Hagrid)

--Teaching

gift-giving (light-sabre) --

motivating hero – quelling fear, kick in the pants, etc

can turn out to be a villain shape-shifter

Threshold Guardian

obstacles

testing the Hero

(Dursley letters, purpose – to test the hero)

Herald

issues the challenge

announce a coming change, that all is not well

provides motivation to Hero

person or object

Shape-shifter --

not what he or she appears to be (Snape?)

“Real” self-revealed can force change

good or evil, can be any character

Shadow

the villain

tests the hero’s true abilities

forces Hero to rise to the challenge

often appear beautiful, elegant, or good (Shapeshifter)

The Princess

a woman who has special insight or power

can be a potential love interest, but may end up as a sister-figure

Trickster

balances out the drama with a little laughter

brings things into perspective

The Journey

Hero’s Journey

Ordinary World

forshadowing of special world
introduction of story quest
meeting of the hero and his or her problem (as the story progresses, the stakes get higher and higher)

Call to Adventure
herald arrives, announcing change
Hero is the one who must act

Refusal of the call
fear an other excuses
reluctant heroes vs willing heroes
more than one call
threshold guardian

Meeting with the mentor
before commitment to the adventure
gets the story moving
provides hero with training and or a helpful object

Crossing the First Threshold
shows hero’s commitment to go forward
leaving ordinary world, entering special world
threshold guardian
life will never be the same again

Test, Allies, Enemies (Bulk of story)

If your character runs into an obstacle and overcomes it, he or she has to run into another obstacle close behind it. Challenges get progressively more difficult.
testing of hero indifferent situations
discovering who are allies, who are enemies
obtaining sidekicks
the rival
hero’s adjustment to New World is another test
watering holes – a scene where sitting in a gather place (Hogwart’s Express, tavern in Star Wars)

Approach to the Inmost Cave (may be about ¾ of way through)
bold vs. quiet approach
preparation and harder testing for the ordeal
illusions and Threshold Guardians
hero uses lessons already learned to overcome harder obstacles
a new Special World (example – going down where the Sorcerer’s Stone is kept)

Ordeal (where he overcomes fatal flaw – you flip the flaw upside down)
Hero must battle the Shadow (“final exam” using new knowledge)
Hero faces greatest fears
Hero willing to sacrifice and/or die
Hero appears to die (or sees death, or causes death)

Reward – Seizing the Sword
“capture” the treasure or reward
celebration (“campfire” scenes)
epiphany: Hero understands something new about self

Resurrection

The Road Back
hero heads back to ordinary world with elixer
common time for chase scenes
setbacks (villain steals back elixer, etc.

Return with the Elixir