Herman’s Comments (group member since Nov 07, 2016)

Herman’s comments from the 833 Reading Responses group.

Question:What is a moment that reveals something important about your protagonist?

In Darren Shan’s fantasy novel, Wolf Island, the protagonist, Grubbs Grady, makes an important decision that reveals something important about him. Grubbs Grady is a 15 year-old magician, capable of doing things that a regular person can only imagine of doing. He lives in a world that is manifested by demons trying to cross over to our world. Demons can only cross if a window between worlds is open or if there is a tunnel connecting the two worlds, thankfully. Magicians are people who can tap into their magical potential and use it to protect themselves against demons. Beranabus, who is a magician, noticed that Grubbs was a magician and wanted to recruit him to help defeat demons and stop demons from crossing. Grubbs’ experience with demons hasn’t been a pleasant one, the first time he saw a demon was when his parents were murdered. As a result, it isn’t surprising when Grubbs said no to Beranabus. However, the next time Beranabus asks him, he faces his responsibility, buthesitantly goes with Beranabus. This is a quote that takes place when Grubbs entered the demon universe to face his destiny; “I take a breath, hold it, then willingly step forward with him to face my destiny in the universe of all things foul and demonic” (200). Despite being scared after all that the demons had done to him, Grubbs did what he had to do. Grubbs could have declined Beranabus’ request and lead a semi-normal life, but he did the right thing. This shows that Grubbs will not run away from his responsibility when it is needed. He didn’t have to go with Beranabus, he could have been a coward and stayed where it was warm and safe. In conclusion, this is a moment that reveals something important about my protagonist.

Focus: The area of focus that I choose to improve on was my context. I felt like I was saying too much in my context. I wanted to work on shortening it a bit, but still providing all of the necessary information that the reader needs to know. In the end, I didn't really change much, but I shortened it a little.

Focus Question: What were some important choices or decisions that your protagonist makes?



In Darren Shan’s first book of the “Demonata “series, Grubbs makes some really important decisions. After Grubbs finds out that his parents were brutally murdered by demons, Grubbs is then transferred to a mental facility, were they try to help him get back his mentality. Instead of willingly accepting their help, he refuses it because the nurses and doctors don’t believe that demons are real. And because of his actions, he’s only allowed to live in the mental facility. Until his uncle, Deverish Grady, pays him a visit. He knows the two demons and their master, Lord Loss. He says that if Grubbs decides to act to his doctor’s likings’ he can live with him and he’ll tell Grubbs more about demons and their master. Grubbs chooses to listen to him and soon he’s off to live with Deverish. Grubbs makes a huge decision in this chapter. He listens to his nurses and in return they helped him. But he didn’t have to do this; he could have stayed in the facility for all his life. But he didn’t, he made a decision and it was for the better. “Deverish was right. Now that I was working with them, they are able help me.”(46) In conclusion Grubbs made a decision that might have been bad but fortunately turned out to be a good choice.

Question: How has the character’s background impacted him/her?
In P.C. and Kristin Cast’s fantasy novel, “Marked,” Zoey’s background impacts her because it makes her feel unsafe, embarrassed, and annoyed when the topic is brought up. Zoey is a 15 year old girl that was marked, meaning that has to go to the house of night or else she’ll die. Someone who is marked is on the path to being a vampyre, unless they can’t survive the change and they die. But in the middle of this Zoey’s parents refuse to believe that Zoey has been marked, and believe that Zoey has turned evil. They won’t let Zoey give into evil and so they would rather let her die then let her go to the house of night. On page 25 of the book it says, “They weren’t going to let me leave. Not tonight, and maybe not ever, or at least not until I had to be hauled out by the paramedics.” This is the scene where Zoey’s parents are unwilling to let Zoey go. Her parents would rather let Zoey die then let her run off to the house of night and ruin their reputation as the perfect family. As a result Zoey gets annoyed and feels unsafe in her parents’ hands.