DIY Medieval Fantasy Camp, part 8: Ordeal


"The Supreme Ordeal may be a dangerous physical test or a deep inner crisis that the Hero must face in order to survive or for the world in which the Hero lives to continue to exist. Whether it be facing his greatest fear or most deadly foe, the Hero must draw upon all of his skills and his experiences gathered upon the path to the inmost cave in order to overcome his most difficulty challenge."

This is probably the least academic of all the weeks of this camp. By now your students have earned the right to blow off some steam and have fun!

Now that your students have experienced a battle, it is time to challenge them even more. Invite as many people as you can to further the story that has been unfolding. What alliances have they made? What decisions have they made regarding defending their own group as well as defending the defenseless?  However the story is going, you must follow it, with, at the same time, encouraging honorable actions
source
You should be at the point of the big battle or big negotiations. This is the point of the climax of the story.

The Hero must prove himself many times while on adventure
At some point in the battle many of the heroes will "die." They will then be lead (by a mythical figure or angel) back to the Cave of Judgement, where they justify their actions and are encouraged to be more honorable or congratulated for their honor and bravery. They will be "resurrected" back to continue the story next week.

"Only through some form of "death" can the Hero be reborn, experiencing a metaphorical resurrection that somehow grants him greater power or insight necessary in order to fulfill his destiny or reach his journey's end. This is the high-point of the Hero's story and where everything he holds dear is put on the line. If he fails, he will either die or life as he knows it will never be the same again."

Popular Posts