Annotated Bibliography-Book Two- Ordinary World and Call to Adventure

Cameron Bradley

Annotated Bibliography

 

Vogler, Christopher. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Studio City:

Michael Wiese Productions, 2007.

 

Summary

Book two of the Writer’s journey describes the stages of a story called the ordinary world and the call the adventure.  These two stages deal with setting the foundation of the book from the title to the characters in the story.  Both of these stages also help the story move forward before a drastic change sparks the met of the story.  The ideas expressed in these stages must be in contrast to the rest of the story. 

            The ordinary world and call to adventure create a view of what the world is the book is supposed to be.  The ordinary world can deal with showing the audience the hero from the story.  Ideas of a prologue can also be expressed.  Anything that sets a clear view of an average day can be considered the ordinary world.  The call to adventure deals with a problem that contrasts the ordinary world.  This problem must be acted upon or the ordinary world will face a terrible ordeal.  The hero must decide in this stage whether he or she should act upon the action or deny they problem. 

 

Reaction

            This part of the book seems to be the most boring when telling a story.  Ironically, the most important ideas must be expressed in this stage.  Without this stage; the foundations of the story will fall apart and there will be not story.  Of course this part of the story may parallel with the real world.  That may e the element that bores the reader at first.  Once the problem arises, the audience starts to get excited. 

 

Questions

1.     What are some good ways to establish what is at stake in the story?

2.     Does the dramatic questions really have to be introduced here? Can it be at the end?

3.     What are some warnings that the all of adventure is about to occur? How can I predict a foreshadowing event?

 

Terms

1.     Noir-adj-of or relating to crime in literature

The Dark Knight painted a great picture for the noir genre by telling a dark police story. 

2.     Gauntlet-idiom- accepting to act upon a challenge

Spiderman decided to accept the gauntlet to save the city. 

3.     Synchronicity-noun- the sequence of events that are set to have meaning

The synchronicity of the events made the story easy to understand.  

Vogler annotated Bibliography

Cameron Bradley

Annotated Bibliography

 

Vogler, Christopher. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Studio City:

Michael Wiese Productions, 2007.

 

 

Summary

 

            The second half of the first stage chapter focuses more on other types of archetypes in literature.  These are the threshold guardian, herald, shape shifter, shadow, ally, and trickster.  Each of these archetypes can either work alongside the hero or become an obstacle for the hero.  There are also different personality types that represent each of these archetypes.  Adding these archetypes to a story can add dramatic effect to the tale. 

 

            Personalities differ from each archetype.  The threshold guardian usually works alongside the antagonist or anti-hero of a story.  There can be multiple guardians to become obstacles for the hero on his path to the villain.  The herald is a character that announces change in the story.  Heralds give motivation to the hero to show a change of heart or objective.  Anyone who affects the hero, positively or negatively, can be a herald. 

 

            The next two types archetypes are shape shifter and shadow.  The shape shifter brings drama into the story.  The heroes’ feelings are relayed onto the shape shifter.  Love is one of the main emotions portrayed by the shape shifter.  The shadow creates negative feelings for the hero.  Shadows can put a hero through many tests that bring out the best in him or her. 

 

            The final two types are the ally and the trickster.  Allies can accompany the hero by giving the hero a helping hand.  An ally can takes many forms such as a human, animal, or force from nature.  Allies can have one or many skills that assist the hero in an obstacle.  The tricksters are mostly in a story for comical relief.  The tension created is numbed down to a slower pace. 

 

Reaction

 

Threshold guardians seem to be characters put in a story not of their own free will.  Heralds help move the story along by forcing the hero to make a personality change.  Shape shifters just bring more drama in the story to test where the heroes’ true feelings are.  Shadows show the darkest part of a heroes’ heart.  Allies re the most help to the hero because they have skills that can help the hero both psychologically and physically.  Tricksters seem to be tension reducers that keep the hero, and a bored audience, from going insane. 

 

Questions

 

1.     What are some of the many forms a ally can take besides an animal or human?

2.     Can a villain perform without a threshold guardian?

3.     At what stages do these archetypes usually show up in a story?

 

Terms

1. Strife- noun- vigorous or bitter conflicts, discord, or antagonism

The husband finally obtained a divorce from the strife of his evil wife. 

 

2. Catalyst- noun- something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected

The little boy did not want to become a catalyst in the argument between his friends. 

 

3. Subtleties-noun- delicacies or nicety of character or meaning

The patient was overwhelmed from the subtleties of the blood donors.  

Intro-which cartoon character am i?

My name is Cameron Bradley.  I have never asked myself the question, which cartoon character relates to me the most.  Some of my acquaintances have told me I remind them of Shrek.  Another person told me Homer Simpson.  I had to slowdown today and see what hobbies I have in relate to a cartoons character.  I finally decided that I remind myself of Popeye the Sailor. 

A few of the attributes I share with Popeye are my desire for a healthy lifestyle, shyness around people, and grumpiness to many situations.  For the past few years, I have been training myself body to become for physically fit.  I want to wake up each morning and feel good and refreshed.  That means eating lots of spinach.  I can be shy around people I do not know and people I do know.  I am really introverted and that makes it hard for me to find somebody like Olive Oyl.  Finally, I really like trying to take things easy.  I don’t like drama and I get grumpy when a messy situation comes up.  That can even mean handling Sweetpea.  My only difference with Popeye is that I am still learning how to swim with Ec-Sar.