College Reading Spring13 discussion

While currently reading the Fellowship of the Ring I have realized that many different books contain an idea on an adventure that the main character must undergo. So my question is how does the "adventure" affect the characters involved and change them. This can include how they are modified for better or worse.

Having an adventure in a book makes the main character face different challenges that he must overcome to continue along, or in some cases survive. In the book "Black" by Ted Dekker, the main character is constantly waking up in a new world and he struggles to find out which world is actually the real one. Through all of his confusion though and stressful adventures, he finds his meaning in life and ends up feeling valuable in the world.

I most definitely think that the adventure in a book can affect and change the characters involved for the better or worse. While reading the novel Eragon, you notice how in the beginning he is a weak boy who will give up once you take him down. This changes drastically throughout the course of the book. Eragon quickly learns how to defend himself and fight. As well as bravery and courage.

I believe that challenges, especially in adventure books, not only test a character’s resolve in a tough emotional crisis, but also that character’s ability to face physically demanding challenges. As many people know, a person’s stamina while preforming difficult physical actions is much attributed to a person’s mental stamina as well. For example in the book The Hunger Games, the main character Katniss, is faced with many physical challenges while fighting for her life. She could have easily given up because these challenges were too difficult, but she persevered through them because she was also fighting for family’s safety and well -being. This motivation not only shows her physical stamina, but also gives insight to the kind of person Katniss is.