QuestMotif

=__Quest__= The following information has been taken from: []

A typical quest will announce that the [|heroes] must assemble some [|artifact], which unfortunately for them has been broken into several pieces, each of which is guarded by terrible threats which the heroes must overcome. The quest allows the heroes to shine and show the qualities that make them heroic.
 * Quests** are a [|plot device] frequently found in [|fiction], especially in [|fantasy fiction] and in [|role-playing games].

Perhaps the original quest motif is the quest of [|Gilgamesh], who goes out in search of the secrets of eternal life. Another ancient quest tale is the story of [|Odysseus], who finds many dangers between him and his goal, which is simply to return home. This quest tale was told by [|Homer] in //[|The Odyssey]//. The [|Golden Fleece] is the object of another famous quest from the tale of [|Jason] and the [|Argonauts] in [|Greek mythology]. Perhaps the most famous quest motif from fiction centers around the [|Holy Grail]; this is an interesting use of the motif, in that those who tell tales of the Holy Grail not only get to deal with heroes who succeed, like [|Parsifal] or [|Sir Galahad], but also with heroes who fail, like Sir [|Lancelot].

A familiar modern literary quest is seen in the tale of [|Frodo Baggins]'s quest to destroy the [|One Ring] in //[|The Lord of the Rings]//. The One Ring, its baleful power, and the difficult method which is the only way to destroy it, is used by [|Tolkien] to tell a meaningful tale of friendship and the inner struggle with temptation, against a background of epic and supernatural warfare.

In the hands of lesser artists, unfortunately, the arbitrariness of the quest, the [|MacGuffin] character of its objects, and the thin plot devices used to make its accomplishment difficult, make the quest motif one of the more obvious and least satisfying devices in fiction. This has unfortunately not prevented the quest device from being used in a thousand mediocre [|computer role-playing games].



**The following information has been taken from:**__[| http://www.webenglishteacher.com/hero.html]__
=__The Archetype of the Hero's Journey__= [|George Lucas and the Power of Myth] Students explore the archetype of the hero's journey, myths of good and evil and their impact in the modern world, and the impact of George Lucas in modern myth. Students read, research, write, debate, and produce projects. This set of standards-based lessons is from the PBS American Masters series. [|Hero: The Hero Archetype in Literature, Religion, and Popular Culture] An outline of characteristics with illustrations from //Star Wars//, //Braveheart//, //The Lion King//, and other stories. [|Heroes are Made of This: Studying the Character of Heroes] Students explore the concept of heroism in life and in literature. Most of the 6 sessions of this unit plan can be used consecutively or individually. This lesson is designed for grades 9-12. [|The Hero's Journey] Students use this interactive site to create a hero and journey, guided by the archetype. [|The Hero's Journey] An environment to explore the classic mythical story structure, sometimes called the monomyth, and to create your own stories. [|The Hero's Adventure] Questions to support Joseph Campbell's work, //The Hero with a Thousand Faces//. Scroll down for a biography of George Lucas. This handout requires MS-Word or compatible application for access. [|How have the qualities of heroes changed over time?] In this WebQuest, students compare the qualities of ancient Greek heroes with modern heroes. [|Preparing for the Journey: An Introduction to the Hero Myth] Before reading a challenging narrative such as The Odyssey, it is useful to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the myth and structure behind the literary concept of the hero and the hero’s journey. This lesson engages students in an exploration of the journey through picture books and an online interactive tool. After analyzing the picture books and presenting their findings to the class, students are better equipped to embark on the study of a more substantial text. Designed for grades 9-12. [|A Story of Epic Proportions: What makes a Poem an Epic?] Students learn about the epic poem form and to its roots in oral tradition. They study the epic hero cycle and will learn how to recognize this pattern of events and elements in both ancient and modern texts, including //Star Wars//, //The Lord of the Rings//, and //Harry Potter//. [|Tracking the Ways Writers Develop Heroes and Villains] After examining how moviemakers communicate the villainy of Darth Vader, students examine a passage from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone that describes the villain Voldemort, noting how Rowling communicates details about the character. Students then read novels in small groups, with each group member tracking a character in a reading log. When they finish their novels, students design posters and present details on their novels to the class. Designed for grades 9-12.
 * [|Arthurian Legend]| |[|Beowulf]| |[|Classical Mythology]| |[|Creation Stories]| |[|Fairy Tales and Folktales]| |[|Homer, //The Iliad// and //The Odyssey//]| |[|Mythology Main Page]|