Due dates coming up...

Monday - quiz on Kindred; features due for C+C paper.

A-Day - Thesis statements due at end of class (please note - this will require research on subjects and features to be done outside of class in preparation).

Friday - Introductions and organizational method due.

Monday, 10/27 - First draft due at the beginning of class.

Notes you need...

As advertised in class, I will include notes on archetypes and the Hero's Journey. All students are expected to have these notes in his/her own notebook, though it never hurts to have these available elsewhere.




Archetype: An organized pattern that crosses time and culture.

• An organized pattern means that something—characters or stories or rituals or symbols—is familiar due to its recurrence.


• That crosses culture and time means that people have understood this content throughout history and throughout the world.

Character "Masks"

• The roles that characters play in stories are not static (unchanging).


• One character can have the qualities of more than one archetype.


• This leads to the concept of Archetypal Character Masks - because characters can put on and take off the roles they play in stories (just as people can change the roles they play in life).

Hero:

• The Hero gives the audience a window into the story.


• We see the action through the hero’s eyes. As an audience, we identify with the hero.


• The hero must have a flaw that s/he confronts throughout his/her quest.


• The hero cannot start out as perfect.


• It is the flaw that leads him/her to learn the lesson s/he needs to learn.


• Hero must sacrifice something.

Herald:

• Brings conflict


• Announces the coming of significant change.


• Provides motivation, offers the hero a challenge - to get the story rolling.

Mentor:

• Teacher and guide


• does not take the journey with hero; comes and goes throughout story.


• Gives a gift (tangible or intangible) that helps hero later in story


• The mentor does not appear with the hero at the climax of the story because the hero must face that challenge alone.

Shadow:

• Exploits the Hero’s flaw.


• Challenges the Hero and provides a worthy opponent.


• Not synonymous with “villain,” though these are often the same character.

Shapeshifter:

• Character who changes from the Hero’s perspective.


• Sometimes not sure what side they are on.


• Brings doubt and suspense – changes mood of a story.


• Often deceives and/or betrays Hero.


• Often changes appearance. (think Disney movies)

Threshold Guardian:

• Tests the commitment of the Hero.


• Temporarily blocks forward progress of the Hero.


• Hero gains something valuable from TG after encounter.


• Can be a friend, enemy, character, or object.

Trickster:

• Relieves tension.


• Cuts big egos down to size, brings the hero and audience down to earth.


• Can provide comic relief, though does not need to be funny.


• Is often mischievous.

Hero's Journey:

1. The Ordinary World
· where story starts
· problem in world
· problem in hero (flaw)

2. The Call to Change
· hero is presented with a problem to solve
· hero sets goal—can’t stay in ordinary world as he/she was

3. The Threshold/Commitment to Change
· hero commits to adventure at this point
· overcomes fears and hesitation to do so

4. The Unknown World/Challenges, Allies, Enemies
· a new, physical world (literal)or a new direction in life (metaphoric)
· hero meets challenges along way; sometimes fails because of flaw
· allies help hero along way
· enemies hurt/impede hero along the way

5. Into the Abyss/Danger Zone
· greatest challenge thus far
· hero does it on his/her own
· hero may die, physically, mentally, emotionally
· audience feels let down after this point

6. Transformation and Revelation
· hero conquers fear, starts to overcome flaw
· a part of hero “dies” so he or she can move forward
· hero is renewed

7. Atonement/Rebirth
· Hero wins or loses here
· hero is now “at one” with new self

8. The Return
· hero goes back to share with his own community
· shares something physical (a ballpark, a sword, a trophy, e.g.)or something abstract (knowledge, a better relationship)

Annotations for Kindred

A reminder...

Take notes as you read! If you prefer not to interrupt your reading, make sure to record info after you have finished reading for the day - do not leave it for tomorrow, or put it off for another week. The info will be easiest to recall as you are reading, or shortly after.

We are annotating for:

1. Archetype character masks
2. Stages of the Hero's Journey
3. Examples of heroic/cowardly survival

While some bits of the text will have more info you will want to remember/take note of than others, make sure to take notes on what you've read every day (at least 5 entries per 10 pages). You will be able to use these notes on graded discussions/essays throughout the trimester.

Kindred Reading Schedule

In case you've misplaced your reading schedule for Kindred, here you are. Remember that the due dates are for the beginning of class - whether or not we have a quiz that day!

Mon, October 13th – read to p. 18
A-day, Oct.14/15th – read to p. 28

Mon, Oct. 20th – read to p. 52 Quiz on pp 9-51
A-day, Oct. 21/22nd – read to p. 67
B-day, Oct. 22/23rd – read to p. 81
Fri, Oct. 24th – read to p. 91

Mon, Oct. 27th – read to p. 108 Quiz on pp 52-107
A-day, Oct. 28/29th – read to p. 121
B-day, Oct. 29/30th – read to p. 131
Fri, Oct. 31st – read to p. 143

Mon, Nov. 3rd – read to p. 154
A-day, Nov. 4/5th – read to p. 169
B-day, Nov. 5/6th – read to p. 178
Fri, Nov. 7th – read to p. 189 Quiz on pp. 108-188

Mon, Nov. 10th – read to p. 198
A-day, Nov 11/12th – read to p. 213
B-day, Nov 12/13th – read to p. 229
Friday, Nov. 14th – read to p. 240 Quiz on pp. 189-239

Mon, Nov. 17th – read to p. 252
A-day, Nov. 18/19th – finish book (264)