Transcript Hero’s Journey in Nonfiction

Hero’s Journey in Nonfiction
Can we find examples of the
Hero’s Journey in nonfiction?
Perseverance Story
We’re going to read “The Race to the South Pole,” a
biographical account of Roald Amundsen – the first man to
make it to the South Pole. Amundsen’s slow-but-steady pace,
combined with his perseverance, ultimately led him to plant his
flag at the pole first.
Describe a time when you used perseverance to
overcome a challenge or to achieve a desired goal.
– Proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
– Use at least 3 appositives.
– At least 1 page long
Reading Strategies
• Set a purpose
– Determine what you want to know
– Decide pace
• Notice Text Structure
• Stop & Process
• Make connections
K
What I KNOW
W
What I WANT to
Know
L
What I LEARNED
Set a purpose
• Get an idea of what this is about
– Look at title, pictures, etc.
– Skim (read 1st sentences of paragraphs)
– Fill in K column
• Come up with some questions you want to
answer
– Fill in W column
• Decide your pace
Notice Text Structure
• Chronological
– First, next, then, days, time
• Why?
– Helps you know what’s important
• Chronological = I need to know what happened
and in what order it happened
– Helps you decide how to take notes
• Jot down main events
• Perhaps make a timeline?
Stop & Process
• Stop Periodically (you decide when) and ….
– Clarify
– Recap
– Ask a question
– Answer one of your purpose questions
– Jot down a note
– Share your opinion
– Make connections
Make Connections
• Text to Text (another story/article)
• Text to Self (your own life)
• Text to World (current or past events)
• This reminds me of ….
• This is just like…
• I’ve heard this before in ….
After You Read
• Recap
– Fill in the L column
After You Read
1. How is this work of nonfiction representative of the
ideal of the Hero’s Journey?
2. What is Roald Amundsen’s Ordinary World?
3. Describe his Call to Adventure
4. Is there evidence to show that Amundsen was
reluctant? That he might Refuse the Call? Explain.
5. Did Amundsen have a Mentor? Explain.
6. What is the Threshold Amundsen has to pass
through in order to continue on his journey? What
makes you think this?
7. Are you surprised that a work of non-fiction can
closely follow the fictional structure of the Hero’s
Journey? Why or why not?
Personal Writing
• http://www.lyricalworks.com/herojourney/h
erojourney.htm
• What are your dragons? What stage have
you reached in your own hero’s journey?
Explain your response. (min. 150 words)