1. Vogler’s chapter on “Polarity” (the writers journey_ mythic structure for writers) notes
the significance of reversal of fortune in creating suspense. Discuss moments in the Star
Wars monomyth that exploit this form of polarity as a plot device. You must locate
moments that relate to all three varieties of reversal: Aristotle’s concept of catastrophic
reversal; recognition; and romantic reversal (p. 320-322). Since you are working with
both a film and a graphic novel—both visual media—consider in your response how
Lucas and Thomas both use aesthetic form to further advance the motif of polarity, the
messaging within the monomyth, and the literal and metaphoric construction(s) of the
film’s “dragon.” ← Craft your thesis around this final idea.
2. Polarized Plot Constructions (incorporate this theme in the paper)
Your group is working (overall) on comprehensively responding to Option #2 of the
Close Reading prompt →Vogler’s chapter on “Polarity” notes the significance of reversal
of fortune in creating suspense. Discuss moments in the Star Wars monomyth that
exploit this form of polarity as a plot device. You must locate moments that relate to all
three varieties of reversal: Aristotle’s concept of catastrophic reversal; recognition; and
romantic reversal (p. 320-322).
Catastrophic Reversal
Define what this means, using at least one direct quotation from Vogler’s text, along
with your own words → A catastrophic reversal is essentially the moments in the
story where the hero is about to meet a terrible fate, but at the last moment are
saved just in the nick of time. A good explanation in Volger’s text is “It suggests
that a play is a kind of weaving in which the strands of the plot, the fortunes of
the various characters, interlock and crisscross, typically with the fortunes of the
antagonist going up when the luck of the hero is going down and vice versa.”.
What Volger is saying is that the luck of the hero and main antagonist are
intertwined into the story and when one’s luck is at its peak the other has theirs at
its lowest.
Identify a scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope that exemplifies this polarity →
Luke and the rest of red squadron slowly being defeated by the enemy tie
fighters and it’s only luke and one other member left and luke is about to be shot
down soon, and Han and Chewbacca arrive in the millenium falcon and shoot
one of the tie fighter knocks the other two off course one of which is the one
Darth Vader is piloting.
Explain your choice → This is a dark moment in the story Luke is so close getting
to the start destroyer’s exhaust port and yet if he can’t get rid of the tie he will fail
the mission and the last hope the rebels have will die if he doesn’t live, but then
in a reversal of luck Han and Chewbacca come in at the last second to save
Luke’s life and ensure that the rebels can win the fight against the empire.
Locate a YouTube video of your representative scene from the film that gives us some
insight into how this example of polarity is represented in the film, and cut and paste
the link here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuKqcfO31is
Find another example of this polarity within a monomyth other than Star Wars →
Disney’s Hercules where Hades has unleashed the titans and they are about to
capture all the gods meanwhile Hercules lost is fighting the cyclops in Thebes
without his powers and after defeating meg is mortally wounded thus breaking
Hades’s promise and thus regaining his strength needed to defeat the titans.
Recognition
Define what this means, using at least one direct quotation from Vogler’s text, along with your
own words → “In the ancient world a favorite device for bringing about an
emotionally charged reversal was a recognition scene, in which the disguised
identity or secret relationship of a character is revealed, and the fortunes of the
characters are reversed. These are scenes where long-lost lovers are united”
Identify a scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope that exemplifies this polarity →
recognition comes from obi wan and darth vader. Their main interaction comes
when they have a lightsaber battle and obi wan sacrifices himself. And also Darth
Vader says he senses someone who he hasn’t seen in a long time. Ever since this
scene, the mood changed in the movie, there was always something you knew
was coming.
Locate a YouTube video of your representative scene from the film that gives us some insight
into how this example of polarity is represented in the film, and cut and paste the link here →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKF9g_BKmXU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kp
HK4YIwY4
Find another example of this polarity within a monomyth other than Star Wars → in the
odyssey, Odysseus reveals his true self, and temps the kings suspicion by forcing
him to ask who he is.
Remember—the goal is for you to provide a brief, but comprehensive, “mini-lesson” for your
classmates on the above concept, so in addition to filling in your responses (above), please also
include any notes you feel will help the rest of the class master this concept.
Romantic Reversal
Define what this means, using at least one direct quotation from Vogler’s text, along with your
own words → A kind of current, like magnetic current or electric current, flows
through the invisible lines that connect characters in stories and people in
relationships; The romance may begin with attraction, based on noticing
superficially similar tastes or sensing that the other person can supply the
elements missing from one’s personality.
Identify a scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope that exemplifies this polarity → Han
and Luke are arguing to rescue Leia and Luke tells Han that they have to go save Leia, but Han is
being stubborn and his ego was currently hurt and he said to luke, “I’m not going anywhere,
better her dead than me” Then we see the crew rescue Leia, and destroy the death star, with all
of them rewarded and recognized for their efforts by Leia and the council. Hence envy became
lust.
Explain your choice → Han and Leia had found their romance through the most cliche romantic
portrayal; where Han, being the smuggler badass, is adventurous, outgoing, and courageous.
Leia is of royalty blood and not your typical match for a criminal mastermind such as Han, we
see a slow progression but ultimately the romance still needs buildup as we see in the later
movies when Leia tells Han Luke is her brother.
Locate a YouTube video of your representative scene from the film that gives us some insight
into how this example of polarity is represented in the film, and cut and paste the link here
→ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dkAXBqQcIE (1:06)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yixG8pfncOs (:44)
Find another example of this polarity within a monomyth other than Star Wars → I chose
Beauty and the Beast; We see an unexpected romance one that needed a lot of
build up to make solid, and the moral of the story is that we should value inward
characteristics such as kindness over other superficial qualities, such as wit and
appearance. This moral is presented by showing that Beauty valued the inward
characteristics of Beast, and fell in love with him despite his outward appearance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GxLnPS0uNw (8:35)
3. Requirements:
–
Expand on the topic
–
MLA format
–
4-5 pages
–
reference movie (star wars: a new hope)
–
Refer to the attached rubric for outline*
SU20 1
Prof. Swanson
EN218-50: Here Be Dragons
RUBRIC for Close Readings
Tasks
Required Components
Max.
Points
Reading
Comprehension
✿ Analysis demonstrates fundamental understanding of the
corresponding text(s) and/or film(s), including knowledge of
author/screenwriter/director, basic plot, setting, characters, and
details essential for overall comprehension.
10 pts.
Thesis
Development
✿ Offers a clear, developed, and insightful thesis that responds
to the close reading prompt.
✿ Thesis provides a clear argument that drives the analytical
focus of the close reading.
✿ Thesis is crafted with skill and precision (the best thesis
statements are generally presented as one, necessarily complex
sentence located at the end of the first paragraph).
10 pts.
✿ Identifies specific passages, sentences, phrases, and/or words
for analysis (if working with a written text).
✿ Identifies specific scenes, moments of dialogue, and/or key
visual/auditory elements for analysis (if working with a film).
✿ All identified textual and/or media elements are thoroughly
analyzed and relate to/support a thesis and clear line of reasoning.
✿ Discussion of text(s) and/or film(s) is organized cohesively.
✿ Direct quotations and/or paraphrases from primary sources
are documented using correct MLA format for in-text
parenthetical citations.
20 pts.
Mastery of
Primary Source(s)
Instructor’s Feedback
Earned
Points
SU20 2
Mastery
of Secondary
Source
✿ Demonstrates a working knowledge of monomyth structure
as outlined by Vogler, including understanding, recognition, and
analysis of tropes and archetypes in their conventional and
unconventional forms.
✿ Demonstrates ability to apply concepts from Vogler’s text
within the context of primary source text(s) and/or film(s).
✿ Discussion of concepts is organized cohesively and
synthesized within discussion of primary source text(s) and/or
film(s).
✿ Includes specific references to passages, sentences, phrases,
and concepts from Vogler’s text.
✿ All included concepts from Vogler’s text are thoroughly
analyzed and relate to/support a thesis and clear line of reasoning.
✿ Direct quotations and/or paraphrases from Vogler’s text are
documented using correct MLA format for in-text parenthetical
citations.
20 pts.
Analysis &
Critical Insight
✿ Demonstrates ability to explore both explicit and implicit
ideas within primary and secondary texts, drawing appropriate
inferences where necessary.
✿ Identifies themes, motifs, social/historical/political
connections that reflect engagement with the text beyond its
surface elements.
✿ Contributes original and unique insights into the work itself.
✿ Engages with the text(s), rather than simply discussing it.
✿ Demonstrates that the student has learned something
meaningful from their experience with the text(s) and/or film(s).
20 pts.
SU20 3
Expands the
Conversation
✿ When applicable, makes connections between the selected
text(s) and/or film(s) and other course text(s) and/or film(s)
containing similar themes/ideas/insights/messaging.
✿ Makes connections relevant to the sociological implications of
the monomyth (i.e. identifies and connects the primary text’s
“dragon” to real-world issues, problems, or challenges).
✿ Positions the primary text within a critical framework (i.e.
identifies potential “problem areas” in the construction of that
particular monomyth).
✿ Offers commentary on the students’ own impressions of the
text and/or film and arrives at an overall assessment/critique of
the piece.
20 pts.
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
the significance of reversal of fortune in creating suspense. Discuss moments in the Star
Wars monomyth that exploit this form of polarity as a plot device. You must locate
moments that relate to all three varieties of reversal: Aristotle’s concept of catastrophic
reversal; recognition; and romantic reversal (p. 320-322). Since you are working with
both a film and a graphic novel—both visual media—consider in your response how
Lucas and Thomas both use aesthetic form to further advance the motif of polarity, the
messaging within the monomyth, and the literal and metaphoric construction(s) of the
film’s “dragon.” ← Craft your thesis around this final idea.
2. Polarized Plot Constructions (incorporate this theme in the paper)
Your group is working (overall) on comprehensively responding to Option #2 of the
Close Reading prompt →Vogler’s chapter on “Polarity” notes the significance of reversal
of fortune in creating suspense. Discuss moments in the Star Wars monomyth that
exploit this form of polarity as a plot device. You must locate moments that relate to all
three varieties of reversal: Aristotle’s concept of catastrophic reversal; recognition; and
romantic reversal (p. 320-322).
Catastrophic Reversal
Define what this means, using at least one direct quotation from Vogler’s text, along
with your own words → A catastrophic reversal is essentially the moments in the
story where the hero is about to meet a terrible fate, but at the last moment are
saved just in the nick of time. A good explanation in Volger’s text is “It suggests
that a play is a kind of weaving in which the strands of the plot, the fortunes of
the various characters, interlock and crisscross, typically with the fortunes of the
antagonist going up when the luck of the hero is going down and vice versa.”.
What Volger is saying is that the luck of the hero and main antagonist are
intertwined into the story and when one’s luck is at its peak the other has theirs at
its lowest.
Identify a scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope that exemplifies this polarity →
Luke and the rest of red squadron slowly being defeated by the enemy tie
fighters and it’s only luke and one other member left and luke is about to be shot
down soon, and Han and Chewbacca arrive in the millenium falcon and shoot
one of the tie fighter knocks the other two off course one of which is the one
Darth Vader is piloting.
Explain your choice → This is a dark moment in the story Luke is so close getting
to the start destroyer’s exhaust port and yet if he can’t get rid of the tie he will fail
the mission and the last hope the rebels have will die if he doesn’t live, but then
in a reversal of luck Han and Chewbacca come in at the last second to save
Luke’s life and ensure that the rebels can win the fight against the empire.
Locate a YouTube video of your representative scene from the film that gives us some
insight into how this example of polarity is represented in the film, and cut and paste
the link here → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuKqcfO31is
Find another example of this polarity within a monomyth other than Star Wars →
Disney’s Hercules where Hades has unleashed the titans and they are about to
capture all the gods meanwhile Hercules lost is fighting the cyclops in Thebes
without his powers and after defeating meg is mortally wounded thus breaking
Hades’s promise and thus regaining his strength needed to defeat the titans.
Recognition
Define what this means, using at least one direct quotation from Vogler’s text, along with your
own words → “In the ancient world a favorite device for bringing about an
emotionally charged reversal was a recognition scene, in which the disguised
identity or secret relationship of a character is revealed, and the fortunes of the
characters are reversed. These are scenes where long-lost lovers are united”
Identify a scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope that exemplifies this polarity →
recognition comes from obi wan and darth vader. Their main interaction comes
when they have a lightsaber battle and obi wan sacrifices himself. And also Darth
Vader says he senses someone who he hasn’t seen in a long time. Ever since this
scene, the mood changed in the movie, there was always something you knew
was coming.
Locate a YouTube video of your representative scene from the film that gives us some insight
into how this example of polarity is represented in the film, and cut and paste the link here →
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKF9g_BKmXU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kp
HK4YIwY4
Find another example of this polarity within a monomyth other than Star Wars → in the
odyssey, Odysseus reveals his true self, and temps the kings suspicion by forcing
him to ask who he is.
Remember—the goal is for you to provide a brief, but comprehensive, “mini-lesson” for your
classmates on the above concept, so in addition to filling in your responses (above), please also
include any notes you feel will help the rest of the class master this concept.
Romantic Reversal
Define what this means, using at least one direct quotation from Vogler’s text, along with your
own words → A kind of current, like magnetic current or electric current, flows
through the invisible lines that connect characters in stories and people in
relationships; The romance may begin with attraction, based on noticing
superficially similar tastes or sensing that the other person can supply the
elements missing from one’s personality.
Identify a scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope that exemplifies this polarity → Han
and Luke are arguing to rescue Leia and Luke tells Han that they have to go save Leia, but Han is
being stubborn and his ego was currently hurt and he said to luke, “I’m not going anywhere,
better her dead than me” Then we see the crew rescue Leia, and destroy the death star, with all
of them rewarded and recognized for their efforts by Leia and the council. Hence envy became
lust.
Explain your choice → Han and Leia had found their romance through the most cliche romantic
portrayal; where Han, being the smuggler badass, is adventurous, outgoing, and courageous.
Leia is of royalty blood and not your typical match for a criminal mastermind such as Han, we
see a slow progression but ultimately the romance still needs buildup as we see in the later
movies when Leia tells Han Luke is her brother.
Locate a YouTube video of your representative scene from the film that gives us some insight
into how this example of polarity is represented in the film, and cut and paste the link here
→ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dkAXBqQcIE (1:06)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yixG8pfncOs (:44)
Find another example of this polarity within a monomyth other than Star Wars → I chose
Beauty and the Beast; We see an unexpected romance one that needed a lot of
build up to make solid, and the moral of the story is that we should value inward
characteristics such as kindness over other superficial qualities, such as wit and
appearance. This moral is presented by showing that Beauty valued the inward
characteristics of Beast, and fell in love with him despite his outward appearance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GxLnPS0uNw (8:35)
3. Requirements:
–
Expand on the topic
–
MLA format
–
4-5 pages
–
reference movie (star wars: a new hope)
–
Refer to the attached rubric for outline*
SU20 1
Prof. Swanson
EN218-50: Here Be Dragons
RUBRIC for Close Readings
Tasks
Required Components
Max.
Points
Reading
Comprehension
✿ Analysis demonstrates fundamental understanding of the
corresponding text(s) and/or film(s), including knowledge of
author/screenwriter/director, basic plot, setting, characters, and
details essential for overall comprehension.
10 pts.
Thesis
Development
✿ Offers a clear, developed, and insightful thesis that responds
to the close reading prompt.
✿ Thesis provides a clear argument that drives the analytical
focus of the close reading.
✿ Thesis is crafted with skill and precision (the best thesis
statements are generally presented as one, necessarily complex
sentence located at the end of the first paragraph).
10 pts.
✿ Identifies specific passages, sentences, phrases, and/or words
for analysis (if working with a written text).
✿ Identifies specific scenes, moments of dialogue, and/or key
visual/auditory elements for analysis (if working with a film).
✿ All identified textual and/or media elements are thoroughly
analyzed and relate to/support a thesis and clear line of reasoning.
✿ Discussion of text(s) and/or film(s) is organized cohesively.
✿ Direct quotations and/or paraphrases from primary sources
are documented using correct MLA format for in-text
parenthetical citations.
20 pts.
Mastery of
Primary Source(s)
Instructor’s Feedback
Earned
Points
SU20 2
Mastery
of Secondary
Source
✿ Demonstrates a working knowledge of monomyth structure
as outlined by Vogler, including understanding, recognition, and
analysis of tropes and archetypes in their conventional and
unconventional forms.
✿ Demonstrates ability to apply concepts from Vogler’s text
within the context of primary source text(s) and/or film(s).
✿ Discussion of concepts is organized cohesively and
synthesized within discussion of primary source text(s) and/or
film(s).
✿ Includes specific references to passages, sentences, phrases,
and concepts from Vogler’s text.
✿ All included concepts from Vogler’s text are thoroughly
analyzed and relate to/support a thesis and clear line of reasoning.
✿ Direct quotations and/or paraphrases from Vogler’s text are
documented using correct MLA format for in-text parenthetical
citations.
20 pts.
Analysis &
Critical Insight
✿ Demonstrates ability to explore both explicit and implicit
ideas within primary and secondary texts, drawing appropriate
inferences where necessary.
✿ Identifies themes, motifs, social/historical/political
connections that reflect engagement with the text beyond its
surface elements.
✿ Contributes original and unique insights into the work itself.
✿ Engages with the text(s), rather than simply discussing it.
✿ Demonstrates that the student has learned something
meaningful from their experience with the text(s) and/or film(s).
20 pts.
SU20 3
Expands the
Conversation
✿ When applicable, makes connections between the selected
text(s) and/or film(s) and other course text(s) and/or film(s)
containing similar themes/ideas/insights/messaging.
✿ Makes connections relevant to the sociological implications of
the monomyth (i.e. identifies and connects the primary text’s
“dragon” to real-world issues, problems, or challenges).
✿ Positions the primary text within a critical framework (i.e.
identifies potential “problem areas” in the construction of that
particular monomyth).
✿ Offers commentary on the students’ own impressions of the
text and/or film and arrives at an overall assessment/critique of
the piece.
20 pts.
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
