Independent Reading meets Independent Research
Double Spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, MLA format
independent reading book (IRB); choose from the list below.
"The Golden Compass" – Phillip Pullman
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" – J.K. Rowling
"American Gods" – Neil Gaman
"The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" – C.S. Lewis
All four of the Independent Reading Books reflect one storyteller?s version of the functions of the hero ? a reincarnation of the ancient folktale. For Rowling, this meant giving one boy magical powers in a modern world to fight for good. For Lewis and Pullman, this meant creating new worlds, where their heroes and protagonists could fight the powers of good and evil, and wrestle with the presence of a higher power or God ? in The Chronicles of Narnia, through the character Aslan, and in Pullman?s The Golden Compass, the presence of the magisterium. For Neil Gaiman, this meant pitting classic and modern heroes against one another in a contemporary world. All four of these authors used the classic functions of the folktale, and their own personal contexts to tell a story applicable to not only them, but the evolution of the society around them.
For your second essay, I would like you to further research the foundation of the folktale and the journey of the hero; and further, use your Independent Reading Book to compare and contrast how contemporary storytellers (particularly your contemporary storyteller) are doing their part to maintain the presence and importance of heroes and folktales. Included in this investigation must be a thoroughly investigated thesis that argues for your IRB author?s underlying intentions with their stories, and whether or not these stories are successful in maintaining and evolving classic functions.
Guidelines and Requirements:
A thoroughly argued thesis statement
A discussion of opposing viewpoints
3-4 supporting texts (your IRB is not included); one of these texts may be from our class textbook
A works cited
A final draft (including works cited)
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