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O Brother Hero's Journey

Page history last edited by Russell 14 years, 3 months ago

The Hero’s Journey – Film as Text

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

 

In this assignment, we experience a film as our text as opposed to a story or poem. The writers of “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” used the epic poem “The Odyssey” as inspiration for their story of a man who needs to return to his wife before she leaves him forever. As the story unfolds, we should notice the protagonist follows many steps of the hero’s journey. Our job will be to identify those parts of the film that can be related to the hero’s journey.

 

Elements of the Epic Hero’s Journey – Quick Review:

  1. Hero possesses traits “beyond the norm” (like strength, smarts, incredible eyesight, etc.)
  2. The Quest – The hero has a goal or ultimate aim
  3. The Allies – The hero is accompanied by allies, whether human, animal, or “other” – often there is a mentor figure who gives training and guidance to the hero
  4. Supernatural Interference - Supernatural beings (gods, animals, other creatures) aid or hinder the hero’s progress on the journey. Also watch for “The Woman as Temptress” – often the hero is met by someone or something that aims to destroy the hero’s mission
  5. The Road of Trials – The hero experiences significant challenges during the journey; these trials test whether the hero will be elevated (and take his rightful place) or will be defeated (and sink into mediocrity or death)
  6. “The Belly of the Whale” – The hero is deep in a foreign, supernatural world far from what is “normal” and “routine”
  7. Apparent Defeat – Often at the point of deepest darkness, the hero appears defeated or even dead
  8. Resurrection and Restitution – From the depths of doom, the hero (miraculously) emerges to take his rightful place that earlier seemed lost. Also watch for “The Magic Flight” – The hero’s reward seems secure, but there are still forces acting against him, trying to get the “treasure” back – often a chase ensues, with the hero escaping

 

Film viewing, day one:

  1. Identify the names of the characters and the goal or aim of each
  2. What is the main conflict in the film?
  3. What traits does Everett have that qualify him as “beyond the norm?”
  4. What “supernatural interference” has occurred to (miraculously) help or hinder the quest?

Film viewing, day two:

  1. Detail the trials of the protagonist
  2. What scene should be considered the “belly of the whale?”
  3. How are “Pappy O’Daniel” and the lawman with the dark glasses both “godlike” figures?
  4. Identify the “magic flight” and the hero’s ultimate reward

 

Project Details:

You must demonstrate in writing your knowledge of the epic hero’s journey in the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You might write a traditional series of paragraphs that explain how parts of the film “fit” in the hero’s journey. You might create a Powerpoint that compares, in a series of slides, key scenes in the film to the hero’s journey. You might create a chart, a poster, a song, or a poem. Anything you create must be written and show that you successfully made links between the hero’s journey and the events in the film.

 

 

High quality all-around: “A”

Flashes of brilliance: “B”

 

Solid work: “C”

 

Not there yet: “D”

Success in identifying the elements of the epic hero’s journey

Student accurately identifies all of the elements of the hero’s journey in the film

Student accurately identifies all but one or two of the elements of the hero’s journey in the film

Student accurately identifies a simple majority of the elements of the hero’s journey in the film

Student accurately identifies a few of the elements of the hero’s journey in the film

Summaries of key scenes/characters in film

Summaries give just enough information and detail to provide a context; not too long, not too brief

Summaries give all information necessary to provide a context; perhaps a bit more detail could have been provided OR maybe just a bit too much information given

Summaries give necessary information to provide a context; missing key details OR provides much more than necessary

Summaries give barely enough information to provide a context OR give far too much information than necessary

Explanation of key scenes/characters in film

Explanations of how the scene(s)/ character(s) link to the hero’s journey are consistently well-reasoned; student gives consistently clear answers to “How is this related to the hero’s journey?”

Explanations of how the scene(s)/ character(s) link to the hero’s journey are mostly well-reasoned; student gives mostly clear answers to “How is this related to the hero’s journey?”

Explanations of how the scene(s)/ character(s) link to the hero’s journey are present and at times well-reasoned; student gives some clear answers to “How is this related to the hero’s journey?” while some are unclear

Explanations of how the scene(s)/ character(s) link to the hero’s journey are present, yet rarely clarify the relationship; student at times answers “How is this related to the hero’s journey?” but mostly the relationship is left to the reader

 

 

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