2006, Form B. In many works of literature, a physical journey - the literal movement from one place to another - plays a central role. Choose a novel, play, or epic poem in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.
In The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, the characters have to undertake a journey from a small village to a large city, and from there, they go to a place in which the doings of the whole world are worked. This epic journey not only helps the characters grow, but symbolizes that growth itself.
When our main characters, Rand, Mat, and Perrin, are introduced, they are mischievous farm boys, excited for a yearly festival. Rand's friends are teasing him about Egwene, the girl he's in love with, who, this year, is considered a woman. The village and the daily day to day workings of their lives symbolize simplicity. As they're getting ready for the long awaited festival, things are quite exciting, which foreshadows the excitement to come. The journey has not begun yet- they are still in their peaceful, sheltered hometown-still innocent.
That night, dark creatures that were originally thought to be fictional attacked the village and the outlying homes. Rand makes a journey back to the village and is greeted by total chaos. This is where things start. This small journey symbolizes a shaking-he must move now to save himself, literally and figuratively.
Moraine, a mysterious lady in the village, has taken a liking to the three boys, and deems it imperative that they leave as soon as possible. Without explanation or trust, Rand must leave his now severely injured father to a yet unknown location. This sudden shock is the true start of his journey, and him not knowing his destination symbolizes the uncertainty he has about his future.
As they flee, they are pursued daily by more and more enemies, and this makes their journey harder while hardening their resolve. The physical burdens as well as the darkness they start to see shows us how they are slowly losing their innocence as they travel to new lands.
Out of desperation, they take refuge in a ghost town. The characters being forced to take refuge in a place of darkness symbolizes the nature of their journey, as well as how their minds no longer have the lightness of before.
(here is where I finished earlier)
Out of desperation, they take refuge in a ghost town. The characters being forced to take refuge in a place of darkness symbolizes the nature of their journey, as well as how their minds no longer have the lightness of before.
(here is where I finished earlier)
I do not notice much difference between this version and its original. The plot still comprises the majority of the piece and I am having trouble finding how this journey develops character growth and subsequently the meaning as a whole. Perhaps you could give some background information and then focus the journey's effect on the meaning.
ReplyDeleteYou start off very strong because you talk about how the journey symbolizes growth and you describe the overall journey from a simple village to a complex world. Be careful that as you continue to write the essay you don't rush through it and thoroughly develop each idea. For example, how do physical burdens and darkness allude to a loss of innocence?
ReplyDeletePreeti, I think you have the basis of a pretty good essay here, but there are definitely some improvements to be made. You spend a lot of time summarizing the plot, for example the first paragraph is really a summary and gives no analysis. Perhaps it may be good to talk about how this exposition shows their lack of growth at the beginning of the story. The end of the essay does a little bit better relating to growth, but there is still a lot of summarizing. I think try to expand the explanation of the thesis more, by talking about exactly how it shows growth, even if its seems obvious. Other than that, I think just some minor editing would help to cut out vague words like "things".
ReplyDelete