1. The archetypal importance of the Hero’s Journey

2. Monday: No school Tuesday: To the Anglo-Saxons reputation was everything. Pick a character in your book and make a claim about his/her reputation. What do people think about him/her? Provide evidence as support. Wednesday: Identify a conflict your character faces. Predict the resolution and provide evidence to support your prediction. Example: In The Goldfinch by Donna Torti the main character, Theo, has stolen a valuable piece of art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is struggling with his own conscience. I think this conflict will be resolved when his mentor discovers the painting and convinces Theo to turn himself in. Thursday: Joseph Campbell claims that the dragon represents our ego, or obstacles that stand in our way of realizing our potential. It might be fears, insecurities, greed, addiction, etc. What dragon is your character facing? Explain with evidence from the novel. Friday: What are your dragons? What keeps you from reaching your potential, from being the person you want to be? Write for 10 minutes (1/2 – 1 page).

3.  Open House 6:30 tomorrow night.  Creative Writing Club is meeting today in Room 119 at 2:30.  Grading period ends next Friday (September 18). If you are still missing assignments see me about getting them turned in!  I am available on Mondays after school for additional help. Other days too – just let me know!

4. EPIC POEMFILM  Grendel’s mother was a monster  No father mentioned  Beowolf went back to Sweden to become king  Killed Grendel’s mother  No love  Unferth doesn’t die  Beowolf had a son (Dragon)  Grendel’s mother was a shapeshifter  Hrothgar was Grendel’s father  Beowolf became king after meeting Grendel’s mother  Grendel’s mother is still alive  More romance  Unferth killed when dragon attacked

5.  Why would the film’s director choose to make the artistic decisions he made?  Gold represents wealth, power and beauty. The dragon and the dragon’s mother are gold.  The romance is added to appeal to an audience that connects with romance as a motivation in making decisions.

6. Use the chart to compare Beowulf to one of our culture’s more contemporary heroes.

8. Stage of JourneyWhere Stage Appears in the Epic and Evidence to Support (cite line number) Call to Adventure Helpers Grendel attacks Herotand Hrothgar calls for a hero. “When he first heard about Grendel, Hygelac’s thane was on home ground. There was no one like him alive” (195) Wiglaf, Hrunting (sword), 14 Geat warriors Crossing the Threshold Shadow Presence Beowulf crosses the water and sails to Denmark. “ He announced his plan: To sail the swan’s road and search out that king.” (199) or Beowulf dives into the fiery lake and swims among the sea monsters to fight Grendel’s mother. Dragon Tests Supreme Test Battle with Grendel’smother “She rose quickly and retaliated, Grappled him tightly in her grim embace” (1542) Swimming through the firy lake to fight Grendel’s mother. Battle with dragon Reward Reputation is legendary “They extolled his heroic nature giving thanks for greatness... 3173 and 3180) Dragon hoard Return Restores safety to the land after defeating the dragon and his people revel in peace and glory.