This website from IMDB (Internet Movie Database), gives a lot of information and links for the movie. Have a look and explore the characters, reviews, trivia and goofs.
TASK 1 - Analysing Star Wars as a Hero's Journey
Using the information from the resources above, you are to prepare a written analysis of the film Star Wars Ep 4 - A New Hope. This analysis needs to include the following sections:
A BRIEF overview of the film's storyline - this can be done using dot points;
In what ways the plot matches the overall structure of the Hero's Journey;
A comparison between the characters in the film and the Archetypal characters in the Hero's Journey;
Mentioning two other films that use the Hero's Journey as a basis for their work and briefly describing the connections with Star Wars.
Words - minimum 600
Due Date - To be advised.
You will be sent a more detailed Task Sheet via email which outlines the Assessment standards used for this task.
WRITING YOUR OWN INTERACTIVE QUEST NARRATIVE
For the next couple of weeks you will be writing your own quest narrative. This will be done using interactive computer software such as Powerpoint. Even if you have never used this program, you will learn quickly. It enables you to incorporate text, images (which you can take from the Internet), and links between pages/screens. This will make your story INTERACTIVE. Follow the steps outlined below to help you construct your Interactive Quest Narrative. You will take this information and use it to build your story on the computers.
You need to include the following in your planning:
ENVIRONMENT Devise a world in which your quest will take place. It could be in the past, or the future, on Earth or not. Harry Potter is set in modern times but in an ‘alternative’ world of magic and witchcraft. Briefly describe your world.
HERO/PROTAGONIST Think of a hero. Remember some of the qualities that a hero should possess – including the usual thing of being orphaned in some way. The hero needs to be forced to leave the safety of his/her home in order to undertake the quest.
THE QUEST – what will your hero be asked to do?
VILLAIN/EVIL FORCE/ANTAGONIST – What evil character will be trying to stop the hero? Why? Think of the ways in which the antagonist will try to do this.
OBSTACLES What obstacles will your hero face and overcome? Divide them into the three categories of Environment, Evil Forces and Personal Doubts.
HELPERS Devise a wise and magical guide, a couple of comic sidekicks and a brave but reluctant ‘larrikan’ (such as Han Solo or Madmartigan).
As people engage with your story, they will encounter all of the above. A Home Page needs to help the user navigate through your story.
YOU WILL PRESENT YOUR STORY TO THE CLASS IN AN ORAL PRESENTATION. This can be done "live", or you can record a video, or make a Multimedia presentation with your (group's) narration, or present the story in some creative way. The important thing to remember is that it must include the voice of every person in the final presentation.
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PAGES: 10 or the equivalent depending on the final format you choose.
Here SIX ideas that you might help you get started with this task Option 1
In some ancient time and in a faraway land a roaming tribe invades another tribe. After a great battle
the roaming tribe is defeated and the survivors flea the land they have invaded. They don’t leave
empty handed for they take with them a significant person or a sacred object.
The person/thing must be retrieved at all costs. To pursue the enemy there is only one boat, or one
horse, or one …….(or some reason only an individual or a small party can pursue them) . The greatest
warriors of the land are either dead or injured and cannot take on the task. Only one can do it.
Option 2
A terrible disease has swept the country. Doctors are totally confused about the nature of the illness or
how to combat it. They only know that it is destroying the population.
An old professor at a university has an idea and calls on a young student who is doing obscure research
to find a solution to the problem.
Option 3
The greatest superheroes in the world have all been slain by an evil overlord. It seems the world is at
the mercy of his greed and cruelty. Somewhere, in a secret location, there lays the world’s only hope.
What is it?
An old man, father and mentor of one of the slain heroes, knows of its existence. Who can he find to
accept the quest to save mankind?
Option 4
A family in the country is in a desperate situation. Their farm is suffering from drought and hence their
crops and animals are dead or dying. They cannot sell the farm as no one wants it and they haven’t got
the money to move.
A poor traveller brings news of a fortune that can be made in a far off land. He has failed himself at the
quest but believes riches can be made for the lucky and the strong. Who will risk the journey in an
attempt to save the family from starvation?
Option 5
A family has lived for many years with the tragedy of having their father killed by a merciless rival.
The rival disappears and the children of the dead man grow to adulthood.
News comes to them that the killer has been seen in a nearby town. For the family to regain their
esteem, exact revenge and put the matter to rest they believe the killer must suffer the same fate as their
father. One must be chosen but will the quest for revenge destroy the family?
Option 6
A hero decides to woo a beautiful princess who has been recommended to him but is well‐protected
and her love is difficult to obtain. The wooer journeys to the girl’s country; he stays at the girl’s court
until he is able to meet secretly with the girl; he wins her love: he proposes; they elope; they are
pursued by the girl’s father and/or his army; they a fight, and, finally, the wedding the two are wed in
the wooer’s home country.
Here's an interesting article about what a Quest Narrative is and how to write one.
Quest Narratives
Posted onDecember 19, 2010byadmin
The quest narrative is one of the oldest and surest ways of telling a story. The Odyssey is essentially a quest narrative, with Odyssey’s journey back to his wife and son serving as the basis for the quest.
Since then, there have been thousands of quest narratives written, including King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, detective stories, Moby Dick, and many others.
The form of a quest narrative is simple. Basically, the author descibes his or her desire to do something, see something, experience something, discover something.
In describing the object of the quest, whether a grail, or castle or insight or pot of gold, it’s helpful to “sell” the quest, emphasizing why it’s important either to the writer or the reader. Since the writer is the reader’s surrogate, describing why you want to go to Rome is often enough, especially if you can make it seem an especially appealing destination.
Some quests are so compelling they don’t need to be sold: the quest to find the Green River Killer or a cure for cancer.
The description of the goal for the quest encourages a sense of seeking, questioning and curiosity, propelling readers forward into the narrative. It gives a structure and suspense to a piece that might otherwise be flat and static.
This is a very adaptable form, appropriate to all kinds of subjects, whether personal essays, travel pieces, investigative journalism, memoir.
You can write a quest narrative about seeking to find the perfect peach, or the perfect glass of Pinot Noir wine, or about coming to terms with your parents. The quest narrative can be used effectively in many different contexts.
The form fits very well with James Stewart’s emphasis on curiosity as the basis of fine nonfiction writing in Follow the Story. The description of the quest immediately poses a quest in the reader’s mind: will the author or narrator achieve the quest?
Quest narratives can be written in a number of points of view. First person is probably most common in nonfiction, but third person can also be used, as in the description of a scientist searching for a cure for the common cold.
HOW TO WRITE A QUEST NARRATIVE:
1) Describe the object of the quest and why it’s important. You don’t have to start the story with this statement, but it should come near the beginning, explaining why you’ve arrived in New Guinea, for example.
2) Set out on the quest. What do you bring? How do you prepare?
3) Describe the journey and the difficulties of achieving it.
4) Describe whether you achieve the goal or not.
We will:
View Star Wars Ep 4 and analyse the features that make it a Quest Narrative
Explore other Quest Narratives
Prepare our own Quest Narratives using Powerpoint (or other multimedia tool). Planning for this will be done by hand in class.
What is a Quest Narrative? Let's have a look at this Youtube video explanation.
Another diagram of classic Narrative Structure
Star Wars - Episode 4 A New Hope
Some resources that we will use:
An excellent video that explains the Hero's Journey across a number of movies
(including Star Wars Ep 4)
)
Another Explanation or two to help you
This website from IMDB (Internet Movie Database), gives a lot of information and links for the movie. Have a look and explore the characters, reviews, trivia and goofs.
TASK 1 - Analysing Star Wars as a Hero's Journey
Using the information from the resources above, you are to prepare a written analysis of the film
Star Wars Ep 4 - A New Hope. This analysis needs to include the following sections:
Words - minimum 600
Due Date - To be advised.
You will be sent a more detailed Task Sheet via email which outlines the Assessment standards used for this task.
WRITING YOUR OWN INTERACTIVE QUEST NARRATIVE
For the next couple of weeks you will be writing your own quest narrative. This will be done using interactive computer software such as Powerpoint. Even if you have never used this program, you will learn quickly. It enables you to incorporate text, images (which you can take from the Internet), and links between pages/screens. This will make your story INTERACTIVE.
Follow the steps outlined below to help you construct your Interactive Quest Narrative. You will take this information and use it to build your story on the computers.
You need to include the following in your planning:
As people engage with your story, they will encounter all of the above. A Home Page needs to help the user navigate through your story.
YOU WILL PRESENT YOUR STORY TO THE CLASS IN AN ORAL PRESENTATION.
This can be done "live", or you can record a video, or make a Multimedia presentation with your (group's) narration, or present the story in some creative way.
The important thing to remember is that it must include the voice of every person in the final presentation.
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PAGES: 10 or the equivalent depending on the final format you choose.
Performance Standards
Use this link to help you write a Hero's Journey storyHero's Journey Interactive guide
Here SIX ideas that you might help you get started with this task
Option 1
In some ancient time and in a faraway land a roaming tribe invades another tribe. After a great battle
the roaming tribe is defeated and the survivors flea the land they have invaded. They don’t leave
empty handed for they take with them a significant person or a sacred object.
The person/thing must be retrieved at all costs. To pursue the enemy there is only one boat, or one
horse, or one …….(or some reason only an individual or a small party can pursue them) . The greatest
warriors of the land are either dead or injured and cannot take on the task. Only one can do it.
Option 2
A terrible disease has swept the country. Doctors are totally confused about the nature of the illness or
how to combat it. They only know that it is destroying the population.
An old professor at a university has an idea and calls on a young student who is doing obscure research
to find a solution to the problem.
Option 3
The greatest superheroes in the world have all been slain by an evil overlord. It seems the world is at
the mercy of his greed and cruelty. Somewhere, in a secret location, there lays the world’s only hope.
What is it?
An old man, father and mentor of one of the slain heroes, knows of its existence. Who can he find to
accept the quest to save mankind?
Option 4
A family in the country is in a desperate situation. Their farm is suffering from drought and hence their
crops and animals are dead or dying. They cannot sell the farm as no one wants it and they haven’t got
the money to move.
A poor traveller brings news of a fortune that can be made in a far off land. He has failed himself at the
quest but believes riches can be made for the lucky and the strong. Who will risk the journey in an
attempt to save the family from starvation?
Option 5
A family has lived for many years with the tragedy of having their father killed by a merciless rival.
The rival disappears and the children of the dead man grow to adulthood.
News comes to them that the killer has been seen in a nearby town. For the family to regain their
esteem, exact revenge and put the matter to rest they believe the killer must suffer the same fate as their
father. One must be chosen but will the quest for revenge destroy the family?
Option 6
A hero decides to woo a beautiful princess who has been recommended to him but is well‐protected
and her love is difficult to obtain. The wooer journeys to the girl’s country; he stays at the girl’s court
until he is able to meet secretly with the girl; he wins her love: he proposes; they elope; they are
pursued by the girl’s father and/or his army; they a fight, and, finally, the wedding the two are wed in
the wooer’s home country.
Here's an interesting article about what a Quest Narrative is and how to write one.
Quest Narratives
Posted on December 19, 2010 by adminThe quest narrative is one of the oldest and surest ways of telling a story. The Odyssey is essentially a quest narrative, with Odyssey’s journey back to his wife and son serving as the basis for the quest.
Since then, there have been thousands of quest narratives written, including King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, detective stories, Moby Dick, and many others.
The form of a quest narrative is simple. Basically, the author descibes his or her desire to do something, see something, experience something, discover something.
In describing the object of the quest, whether a grail, or castle or insight or pot of gold, it’s helpful to “sell” the quest, emphasizing why it’s important either to the writer or the reader. Since the writer is the reader’s surrogate, describing why you want to go to Rome is often enough, especially if you can make it seem an especially appealing destination.
Some quests are so compelling they don’t need to be sold: the quest to find the Green River Killer or a cure for cancer.
The description of the goal for the quest encourages a sense of seeking, questioning and curiosity, propelling readers forward into the narrative. It gives a structure and suspense to a piece that might otherwise be flat and static.
This is a very adaptable form, appropriate to all kinds of subjects, whether personal essays, travel pieces, investigative journalism, memoir.
You can write a quest narrative about seeking to find the perfect peach, or the perfect glass of Pinot Noir wine, or about coming to terms with your parents. The quest narrative can be used effectively in many different contexts.
The form fits very well with James Stewart’s emphasis on curiosity as the basis of fine nonfiction writing in Follow the Story. The description of the quest immediately poses a quest in the reader’s mind: will the author or narrator achieve the quest?
Quest narratives can be written in a number of points of view. First person is probably most common in nonfiction, but third person can also be used, as in the description of a scientist searching for a cure for the common cold.
HOW TO WRITE A QUEST NARRATIVE:
1) Describe the object of the quest and why it’s important. You don’t have to start the story with this statement, but it should come near the beginning, explaining why you’ve arrived in New Guinea, for example.
2) Set out on the quest. What do you bring? How do you prepare?
3) Describe the journey and the difficulties of achieving it.
4) Describe whether you achieve the goal or not.
Taken from http://www.thewritersworkshop.net/wordpress/2010/12/19/quest-narratives/