McNeela
When Every Story is a Quest…Even Your Own
Inspiration:After learning about the adventures and perils that both Gilgamesh (remember that
guy?) and Odysseus have faced, you are now official experts on the archetypal mode known as
the QUEST TALE. What better way to prove your expertise with this content material than to
construct your very own quest!
If you have forgotten the FIVE MAJOR elements of a quest you can follow this basic outline and
also refer to the Foster chapter we read from How to Read Literature Like a Professor related to
quest stories. Here are the five basic story components that your piece must contain:
1. A questor: someone that satisfies the role of a hero (you can develop your hero
according to the TRAGIC HERO characteristics or you may deviate from that pattern).
Remember though, a questor can never be too old or too young; he or she needs to be of
the age where lessons can be learned; therefore, the age range should be from the teenage
years through mid-adulthood. **Additionally, questors are usually accompanied by a
sidekick or entourage that aids the hero on the journey. The sidekicks contain attributes
that the hero lacks (think about my buddy Harry Potter and how Ron and Hermione add
assistance when Harry needs a moral compass or an intelligent strategy).
2. A location: The questor needs to be able to leave the relative comforts of his or her home
in order to go someplace in search of something. The location does not have to be as
glamorous as the island where the man who survived the great flood lives, it can be
simplistic, such as the A&P Supermarket that we read about in the Foster chapter.
3. The stated reason for leaving: Why is the hero leaving? What is he or she hoping to
find? For Gilgamesh, he wanted eternal life, for Harry (initially), he wanted the
Sorcerer’s Stone, for the hero from the short story “A&P,” he needed a loaf of Wonder
Bread.
4. Supernatural forces or obstacles (aka:some sort of nemesis): The only way that
growth takes place during a quest is if there are obstacles the hero has to tackle on the
journey, otherwise, no lessons can be learned. Refer back to Odysseus, that fella had
more obstacles than he could handle from sassy nymphs and sorceresses, six-headed
beasts, cannibalistic giants, an aggressive Cyclops, mutinous crew members, Lotus
Eaters, conspiring gods, acid spewing whirlpools, to just downright weariness, his list
goes on and on. These dark forces do not have to be mystical or magical in origin, they
can range from inclement weather, to having to deal with a wardrobe malfunction, or
handling the local bully. The choice is yours.
5. The big reveal or the real reason for the quest: Self-knowledge, enlightenment,
personal and spiritual growth. Young Harry learned that no one person can defeat all evil
in the world on his or her own. He also learned that an orphaned boy who lives under the
stairs can achieve greatness and is not destined to be a failure just because those around
him have failed him (such as the Dursleys). Believe it or not, Odysseus learned a thing or
two on his journey as well; he learned that in all situations you have to be humble in the
face of a higher power, pride will often lead to destruction, and that hospitality can make
or break one’s personal survival. What will your hero learn?
Suggestions:Your quest does not have to be mythological in nature (although it can be), it
can be modern or futuristic. Also, this quest can be autobiographical if you like; if you feel
you have already experienced the characteristics of a quest and feel comfortable writing
about it, by all means- go for it.
Requirements:
 Formal writing rules apply in terms of sentence structure, grammar, and word
choice (you are allowed to use slang but you must still avoid taboo words. I urge
you to incorporate sophisticated language into your writing- it will absolutely
enhance the story and your grade).
 Length: a minimum of 3 pages (no funny business with the spacing- this is a full 3
pages; maximum of 5)
 Typed:The story must be typed, double-spaced, with a proper header and a creative
title. DO NOT ADD EXTRA SPACES.
 Margins: 1 inch standard margins.
 Point Value: 200 points
 Due Date: November 16th- you have PLENTY of time to craft this story and make it
spectacular. I would run through several drafts before your final submission. Have
your peers read it, have your parent or guardian read it, have me read it. Be
conscientious about your writing.
Happy Writing, Scholars!