Unit 1 Writing Prompt

Third Marking Period Writing Prompt The Giver: Jonas as the Archetypal Hero DUE: Thursday, March 31, 2016

Your task is to write a minimum 5-paragraph character analysis of Jonas as he relates to the archetypal hero. You should break down Jonas’ personae based on the 10 steps of the hero’s journey, as discussed in class. Below, you will find any necessary definitions, information, and a complete listing of the 10-step pattern of the hero’s journey.

You should focus this essay on an in-depth look into the world of Jonas and how he exemplifies the archetypal hero. You will need to address as many of the 10-steps of the archetype as you see Jonas fulfilling. If there are steps he does not follow, address this as well, in one paragraph.

Structure: Your essay will need include an introductory paragraph, a concluding paragraph, and as many body paragraphs as needed to complete your analysis. You may want to develop one body-paragraph for every step you address.

Textual Evidence: You are mandated to cite textual evidence to support/defend each point you are making. There is plenty of evidence in The Giver to support your analysis. Follow the citation format:

“Textual evidence quoted” (Lowry page#)

You should not just cite evidence, but you will need to make certain to “connect the dots”, meaning take your citation and connect it back to the step in the journey you are referencing.

Your analysis essay will be scored against the Pennsylvania informational rubric found in your Writing Tool Box Folder distributed at the beginning of the year.

**When writing, you should have your Highly Effective Writing book with you at all times. This is an excellent resource for specialized vocabulary and specific word choice, (esp. sensory imagery, power verbs, thought transitions, compare and contrast, and hooks to rope your reader). See (pages 2-11) for the Writing Process: Response to Literature/Expository Essays. The Hero’s Journey:

Heroes in literature, take on a similar pattern on the road to actually being considered a hero. If we break the pattern down, we will find ten steps that mark the hero’s journey. They are:

1. From birth, the hero is marked as “different” 2. The hero’s parents may be Gods or of royalty a) Hero is unaware of this fact b) Hero is raised by outsider 3. At some point, the hero is raised by outsiders 4. The hero develops special talents/powers a. Hero is under the guidance of a mentor/teacher 5. The hero must undergo physical and mental trials 6. The hero leaves on a dangerous quest to prove themselves a. Quest seems impossible b. Hero encounters difficulties/challenges along the way c. Hero will face the underworld or death, but will come back in the end 7. The hero’s abilities/powers rescue him/her 8. After achieving their goal, the hero turns to go home a. The journey home is always difficult b. On the way, the hero faces challenges: they are tested over and over again 9. Hero returns home and receives a reward of some sort 10.The hero becomes a ruler or takes a position of fame

Use the list above to guide your analysis of Jonas as the archetypal hero. You will find that Jonas, too, encompasses several of the qualities mentioned in the hero’s journey. In fact, each of the steps may help you organize your essay and mark a paragraph to be included in addition to your introductory and concluding paragraphs. The Archetypal Hero: Background Information

The following is taken directly from the website: [Be sure to visit the site for further information] http://tatsbox.com/hero/heroques.htm#arch

What are Archetypes?

“Simply put, an archetype is a recurring pattern of character, symbol, or situation found in the mythology, religion, and stories of all cultures. In the context of archetypes, Campbell defined his work as a search for "the commonality of themes in world myths, pointing to a constant requirement in the human psyche for a centering in terms of deep principles."(The Power of Myth, xvi). Jung defined his concept of the archetype as a formula that is the result of "countless experiences of our ancestors. They are, as it were, the psychic residue of numberless experiences of the same type." (quoted in Gordon ii). Both men felt that the experience of being human can be examined collectively across time, space, and culture, and that our commonality can be traced to the most primitive origins of the human consciousness, where the archetypal themes originate in modern men and women. Archetypes can be thought of as the precursor to conscious thought, existing in the unconscious mind as expressions of psychic happenings, but without a basis in the physical world. Humans didn't "invent" archetypes, but they do express archetypes in the conscious world of art, literature, and religion. Unconscious energies are given form in this way. Therefore, the hero is not someone "out there" in the world; he is all of us and our need to grow and mature.” (http://tatsbox.com/hero/heroques.htm#arch)

Why do we have heroes?

“The archetypal hero appears in all religions, mythologies, and epics of the world. He is an expression of our personal and collective unconscious, as theorized by Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. All archetypal heroes share certain characteristics. This fact has only come to light this century, after people like Joseph Campbell began comparing mythologies of the world. Heroes are constructions; they are not real. All societies have similar hero stories not because they coincidentally made them up on their own, but because heroes express a deep psychological aspect of human existence. They can be seen as a metaphor for the human search of self-knowledge. In other words, the hero shows us the path to our own consciousness through his actions. Jung called the process of forming a consciousness "individuation," which means the process by which we reconcile the conscious/unconscious aspects of the psyche (Davies, et al. 327-331). Thus, when the hero slays a monster, he is not literally killing it in the real world, but facing an aspect of the unconscious, such as lust or rage, in order to control that side of his being. The hero stories can be thought of as road maps to successful assimilation of the conscious, rational mind with the unconscious, animal mind. The images of the hero conquering death or returning from a successful battle provide the restricted conscious mind with new raw material into which to expand, thereby forcing the consumers of the hero stories to expand their conscious image of themselves (Davies, et. al. 331). The hero stories are both a record of primitive encounters with the unconscious and a prompt for individuals to enter into the struggle for higher consciousness. Functioning in this way, heroes give men and women hope for such things as life after death, reprieve from suffering, and a sense that order rules their lives.” (http://tatsbox.com/hero/heroques.htm#arch)