The Hobbit: Chapter 12; Fantasy Story Draft: Day 3

Please take 5 minutes and complete the questions for our reading quiz on chapters 8-12.

After our reading quiz, please take a look at the handout on beginnings. Then we will read the first part of chapter 8 together. You do not have class on Monday, so please note the reading homework and expect another quiz on your reading assignment on Tuesday.

Lab:

Last class, I asked you to continue writing your fantasy draft. Let's get back to it. Try to add 2 pages or more, double-spaced.

Remember: you will need about 10-11 "chapters" or "parts" or "paragraphs" for your story. These parts should follow the archetype for the hero's journey:
Use the hero's journey archetype and write a short story that includes at least the following scenes:

• Status quo (what is life like for your protagonist? What is "normal")
• Call to adventure (what makes your character get up and go on a quest?)
• Departure (your protagonist must leave his/her comfort zone)
• Mentor or assistance (your protagonist should get some help or advice from someone, like a teacher or mentor or guide or coach, etc.)--note how many people/characters help Bilbo on his journey to become a hero. 
• Trials (usually 3 is the magic #--3 trials, each one more difficult than the last--leading to your climax)--note how many trials and problems Bilbo runs into during the novel! Quite a few!
• Approach/crisis (have your character fail at first...no one said this should be easy...that's why the character will become a "hero") Keep track of how many times Bilbo fails or complicates things before he succeeds on his own!
• Approach/success (then have your character try a different tactic (maybe this time with a magic weapon or object to help him/her)--and succeed 
• Treasure (your character should gain something--even wisdom is something--by the end of the story); Note the objects of value that Bilbo finds in his adventures with the dwarves!
• Result/return/resolution/status quo (hero returns home; back to the drawing board...)

HOMEWORK: Please read chapters 13-15 of the Hobbit. If you are behind, jump to chapter 13 and start reading. Try to progress.

Feel free to take notes in your journal about what you read, particularly as the book deals with the hero's journey we have discussed in class. 

Also, if you wish, you may continue writing your fantasy story. If you haven't kept up with the page requirements for your story (at least 3-4 pages completed...) you should catch up with the rest of us.

Your fantasy draft will be due Monday, April 30.  Also, we will finish reading the Hobbit about then too. So prepare! You can do it!

Please join us May 1 at 7:00 in the Ensemble Theater for our Spring Coffeehouse to honor the senior creative writing class!