Monomyths [Tuesday, February , Period 3]

[steel_not_glass]

"Welcome to your midterms, kids," Cindy said, sounding amused, as the class filed in. She nodded to her two TAs if they were here, holding out a sheaf of papers for them to pass around. "I'm sure you know the rules: eyes on your own paper, hand them in at the end of class, if I can't read your handwriting, it doesn't count, and don't spill coffee

Comments

Sign in #6

[steel_not_glass]

Scholarly

Re: Sign in #6

[kestrelswolf]

Re: Sign in #6

[bitch_prince]

Arthur Pendragon

Re: Sign in #6

[bigdamndestiny]

Merlin

Any Questions?

[steel_not_glass]

"And before you ask," Cindy added, reaching for her book, "yes, this is an open note test."

Re: Any Questions?

[kestrelswolf]

After passing out the papers, Firekeeper gave her own a cursory glance, as if in the last day or so, the little black marks on the paper might've somehow arranged themselves into something she could understand.

They hadn't.

Fine example of a TA she was, unable to even do the test herself.

And so, face hot with humiliation, Firekeeper strode up to the professor's desk and presented her with the blank paper.

Re: Any Questions?

[steel_not_glass]

Cindy glanced down at the paper, puzzled, and then back at Firekeeper. "Was there an extra?" she asked.

Re: Any Questions?

[kestrelswolf]

"No," she shrugged. "I- cannot write," she admitted.

Essay Question #1

[steel_not_glass]

While the stages of Act One differ for the masculine and feminine journeys, the way that they are expressed in the narrative are often very similar. For example, it can be difficult to tell whether the world the hero is living in is really perfect, or simply an illusion.

How is it possible for the author/director to use the same narrative details to portray two completely different journeys? Specifically, what is it about those journeys that allow the author/director to tell two different stories, even is the basic actions and details are the same?

Re: Essay Question #1

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime grinned when he spotted this one. He'd practically asked that very question!

Well, sort of.

Okay, not as well or coherently, but it was close.

Close enough that he felt confident of his answer, at least.

Re: Essay Question #1

[new_to_liirness]

Liir answered the question, going for 'point of view' as his technique. He didn't actually know the term 'unreliable narrator', but that was the general track he chose to take. It was a somewhat twisty answer, but there was a sort of logic to it.

Essay Question #2

[steel_not_glass]

Choose any two films or novels we've discussed in class. Discuss why it is an example of Act One for either a masculine or feminine journey, using examples from the text. Choose one of each type of journey.

Alternately:

If you were an author or director, discuss how you would let the audience know what kind of journey your hero was beginning. Give examples of each stage of Act One, how you would incorporate that aspect into your narrative, and why. Do so for both the masculine and feminine journey.

Re: Essay Question #2

[new_to_liirness]

Liir took the second question, if only because other people's stories weren't his best subject. He always felt as if analysing a text required him to step too far away from himself and it was a self that was still a little shakey down at the base.

So he focused on the second question, expanding somewhat on his answer to the first by discussing the sort of visuals he'd use which might contrast the illusion and the real (for the feminine journey) versus using simple, emotionally resonant images for the masculine journey.

Bonus Question!

[steel_not_glass]

Would you rather be on a masculine or feminine journey? Why? With what you've learned thus far, which journey would you say you are on? Has your opinion changed since our first class?

(Supporting details are appreciated, but nothing overly personal is required. Full confidentiality applies to this answer.)