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| Stonehenge |
But what about The Hero and the Crown? It's only 25 years old--practically a 'baby' in the world of literary classics. It features a female hero who slays dragons--a non-traditional protagonist for classics. It centers around a coming-of-age story that stars both a girl and a horse (and giant dogs and cats)--a strange band of warriors by anyone's definition.
Does this narrative have what it takes to survive the ever-growing world of printed books? Will it be here in 10 years? 20 years? 50 years? Why or why not?
This is purely an opinion post that may not require extensive textual citation. Still, you might find it prudent to let the text aid in its own defense.
I think that the story "The Hero & The Crown," will continue to be popular for a long time in the future. I think this because the story line is very medieval. The story is medieval, talking about dragons and heroes and has other science fictional aspects. Because of this, I think that this story will continue to be popular. If an author is able to be successful in writing a fictional story like this that resonates with common day society, then to me that seems like a very successful story.
ReplyDeleteThe story also resonates with young women today because it has an inspirational story about a girl who breaks from of societal expectations and eventually gains respect in Damar. This aspect will continue to make this story a great reading choice for young women from about the ages of 13-22, when they too are "coming to age."
Overall this story was my favorite of all of the stories we read in the class. The story line was excellent, and I also thought there was great closure and a great end to the story. The last line "for the not quite mortal part of her did sleep; that might love her country and her husband," really made an interesting end to the story. It was amazing that Aerin was willing to put Luthe aside for what she really wanted in life. Overall, this provided closure and calmed unanswered questions.
Because of all of these great aspects I believe that this will be a favorite amongst young readers for a long period to come.
Although “The Hero and the Crown” is not a very old book, neither is the feminist movement. The book is centered around a female protagonist—a concept quite new to the literary world, just as the feminist movement is quite new to society.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I, like Crystal, consider myself more of a middle-of-the-roader on the feminist continuum, I appreciate the value of this book and what it does to elevate females in the world of literature. I really feel that this book has “staying potential”; that is, that it will continue to be a part of various literary canons for years to come. Its undertones of feminist thought combined with its unexpected fantastical nature appeal to many readers of various backgrounds, a feat not often met by authors.
Overall, the book was very enjoyable to read. Although its storyline is, in essence, traditional, its strong characters and interesting plot twists that McKinley incorporates make the book non-traditional and fresh. Excluding Aerin’s trysts with Luthe, of course.
Unlike the two posts above me, I believe the antithesis. I do not believe “The Hero and the Crown” has staying power. I agree with all the points that Rachel and Amber made in accordance to the book’s strong medieval connections and apparent feminist ties; however, in this day and age, it is becoming increasingly harder and harder to write “that book”—or the “one” that will be remembered.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I was unaware of this book and its author until it was introduced to me in this class and seeing as it has been around for twenty-five years, it seems like, had it really had staying power, it may have already been introduced in other classes or literary outlets. In disagreeing, I am not by any means tainting the skill or craft that McKinley has put into her novel, nor do I think that it is anything but fantastic. But taking a realistic point of view, I do not think this book has what it takes. It seemed to me like many of the other books I have read and will continue to read—essentially it had nothing that really stuck out or made me feel like I took something really important away from its pages.
Books like “The Odyssey” and “Beowulf” have upheld the stain of time and have come out stronger than initially introduced. Keeping this in mind, it is important for me to recognize how Jane Austen was not popular while she was alive. She gained fame only after her novels were published in her passing. Therefore, I must add that although I do not believe “The Hero and the Crown” has staying power—only time will provide the true answer.
I agree that "The Hero and the Crown" does have potential to be around for the "long haul."
ReplyDeleteAlthough stories about slaying dragons and saving kingdoms are nothing new in the literary world, the fact that McKinley's story features a female hero within this plot line is something that most books do not include. This book represents female empowerment (a notion which is relatively young in this country, as well as in many others) and thus lends itself to important, uncharted place in literature.
Importantly, "The Hero and the Crown" is a well written story with rich characters. For that alone, it could earn a prominent place amongst other literary works. However, I feel that because this book entered onto a new territory with "girls who do things" it has the potential to become a classic.
This novel can be considered an insightful and well written portrayal of the power women can hold in (traditional) male roles. Even though the story is set in a different world, it portrays some of the gender inequalities women in our culture may face and gives hope that one can overcome them. More generally, it is a good story that should be read simply for the enjoyment of doing so. I feel that for these reasons it will be a popular tale for many years to come, providing both entertainment and insight to our culture.
As much I enjoyed The Hero and The Crown, I feel like it won't be around for the long haul. The idea and themes of the story are common and will probably be repeated for decades, but this exact book may not be the number one popular version of this story. The medevial theme, the theme of a strong female character, and the theme of slaying dragons aren't going anywhere. They will be in stories forever. But, I'm not sure about this exact story. It's like the Twilight series. They have common themes that everyone loves, but there will be many similar and chances are they might be left in the dust behind a book that does an even better job at showing those themes.
ReplyDeleteThis question largely depends on what you think qualifies a book to fit into the canon. And whether or not you liked this particular book. So in my opinion, in order for a book to become a "classic", I think it has to appeal to a variety of people AND have a plot that is substantially different from any other. (Case in point: I don't plan on seeing Dear John added to the canon any time soon or ever, although I love the book.) Of all we've read, there may be similarities (obviously the existence of heroes, gods, and monsters) but all of the stories are significantly different from each other and you'd be hard pressed to find another story similar to it. As far as the Hero and the Crown is concerned, I think right now is has potential but I'm not convinced that another better book might be in the works. It's story line is relatively new (and strange!) but I would not be surprised to see another author bring in a girl hero and create an even more interesting story.
ReplyDeleteChildren are one of the hardest critics, so because of this the children have to be the ones who to determine if this book survives for the next fifty years. Books are reviewed by adults and The Newberry Medal is given out by adults through the American Library Association. The adults are the ones determining what books children should read but who says the children will like the stories they say are fantastic. Children and adults have different opinions on what creates a good story. On one website where the students reviewed The Hero and the Crown, http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=books.viewBook&book_id=1123, many people said they enjoyed The Hero and the Crown. One girl called the story break taking and another said it was lovely. The girls loved the strong woman figure and how she was a girl who was out is society doing heroic tasks. Some said they just did not fall in love with the story, but no matter if the book is considered a classic, there are people who do not enjoy the story. Based on these reviews, the reviews of the adults, and my own personal opinions I believe this story has potential to be a classic, especially for young girls. Young girls want to be inspired and believe they are just as capable, if not more capable, to do the same things as men do. It empowers them to be strong confident women and this is a story that girls can relate to no matter when the story was written.
ReplyDeleteUnlike some of the posts above me, I believe the antithesis. I do not believe “The Hero and the Crown” has staying power. I agree with all the points that Rachel and Amber made in accordance to the book’s strong medieval connections and apparent feminist ties; however, in this day and age, it is becoming increasingly harder and harder to write “that book”—or the “one” that will be remembered.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I was unaware of this book and its author until it was introduced to me in this class and seeing as it has been around for twenty-five years, it seems like, had it really had staying power, it may have already been introduced in other classes or literary outlets. In disagreeing, I am not by any means tainting the skill or craft that McKinley has put into her novel, nor do I think that it is anything but fantastic. But taking a realistic point of view, I do not think this book has what it takes. It seemed to me like many of the other books I have read and will continue to read—essentially it had nothing that really stuck out or made me feel like I took something really important away from its pages.
Books like “The Odyssey” and “Beowulf” have upheld the stain of time and have come out stronger than initially introduced. Keeping this in mind, it is important for me to recognize how Jane Austen was not popular while she was alive. She gained fame only after her novels were published in her passing. Therefore, I must add that although I do not believe “The Hero and the Crown” has staying power—only time will provide the true answer.
I agree with Corinne that this book does not have staying power. As with the other books we've read in the semester have only staying power because of the time they were written or books written by great authors. Although I enjoyed Hero and the Crown and the fact it won the Newberry Medal also speaks highly of the book as well as the author, before this class I had never heard of this book or author before this class and has already been around for more than enough years to become a "must read" piece of literature. For me it felt like it was more of a “girl” book and in a different setting I think would resemble many other teen romance books so it isn't a story that really stands out or is truly that different. Without the appeal to a bigger audience the past books we've read have debatably had, it doesn’t have as strong a case for having staying power as the others have. Although it is a medieval story which is not the most common type of teen love story, there have still been lots before and will plenty after it that will have a similar story to Hero and the Crown.
ReplyDeleteI'm in two (or three?) minds about The Hero & the Crown. Firstly, I think that this genre lends itself to timelessness, arguably the first deciding factor in a book becoming a "classic". It does not mention any actual historical events, popular culture personalities/groups, or anything similar, all of which can prove quite aging. We should also note its span of readers' ages - it won a Children's Literature award, while still managing to engage a class of adult students. This, too, leans towards the longevity of the book.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I wonder how much of its current success is due to the surge in popularity of fantasy/Gothic/supernatural literature. Like Corinne, I had not heard of this book before this class, despite its being older than I am. We've seen, over the last five to ten years, this literary fad come to prominence, as books like Harry Potter, Twilight and the Sookie Stackhouse novels enjoying huge success in the last few years. I feel as though The Hero and the Crown is probably apt to ride the coattails of these forerunners, but I do wonder what its audience will look like after this fad has subsided.
Christy Hunter
ReplyDeleteI feel that The Hero and the Crown has the potential for staying power. However, throughout my reading career I've come to realize that what determines a book's longetivity is often decided by many factors outside the text's actual literary value. There are many books which should be part of the American literary canon which aren't, just as there are books which should not be part of the canon, that are. Librarians, teachers, critics, publishing companies, and even just the sense of "this is what we have always read" seem to sometimes play a larger part in this process than the text itself. Because of this, I think it's very difficult to predict which works are here to stay.
The fact that the novel is well written, engaging, and portrays a female protagonist who "does things" certainly seems to suggest that this work will continue to be reread. At the same, it's not overtly feministic to the point where you get annoyed with it either. There's a nice balance which I think Robin McKinley juggles well. It also has the ability to engage different types of readers. I have never been a big fan of the fantasy genre, but I found myself quite interested in this story. Early in the novel, I felt like I could imagine the world of Aerin perfectly; her motives, actions, and relations with other characters felt real to me. This leads me to believe that the novel could continue to be enjoyed as time goes again. It has the power to transport you to a different existence, a main reason why I think people read in the first place.
Although it's not something I would read more than one time, I believe this is a high quality novel and I hope to see it future readers enjoy it as much as I did.
I do not think that this story will be around 50 years from now. I don’t even think it will be here 20 years from now. Even though I did enjoy reading this book over the rest of the books this semester, it does not have that “great narrative book” feeling about it. I agree with other people in the class that it does not stand out to me as a different romance story. I don’t think I am alone in this aspect either because stories lately have become so generic. I feel like the other books we read had a lot more depth to them than this one. Also I felt like a lot of guys would not enjoy this book as much as the girls did, which basically cuts your audience in half. However I thought it was unique in one way, the fact that the girl was the hero in the story was a nice twist.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to say whether or not "The Hero and the Crown" will last forever. I think that it has the potential to do so because it creates strong issues about female power and coming of age. It is a different mix of characters, but it works. I think that more and more teachers are trying to use a variety of YA literature in their classroom that breaks the normal boundaries. Hopefully, this will be one of those texts that is picked up in the future and will create that staying power. However, it is really hard to tell if a text will last that long because not all text that we now consider classics were popular during their time. I think this has great potential, but I am not completely convinced that it has the staying power of language and theme that Jane Austen's "Persuasion". Although, I am not saying that there is no chance.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that I do not feel this book has staying power. There are many reasons why a book is read over multiple generations but one of the biggest is that it relates to a multitude of people. This book does not relate to a many different types of people. Yeah, if you like books about dragons it resonates with you but that is a narrow group of people. A book that is destined for the canon has to relate to a great number of people. It also has to relate to many generations of people. As times change, the book still has to relate to people. I don't feel that the Hero and the Crown does that.
ReplyDeleteWhile this is was my favourite of the books we've read this semester, I'm sad to say I just don't think that The Hero and The Crown has what it takes. While it's an excellent read, I guarantee that within a year I won't remember it, however The Odyssey and Beowulf will remain in my mind. It's a great story, a growing up novel about a misfit princess, she battles dragons, and theres even a love plot, however I feel like it easily blends in with the majority of other Young Adult novels. Nothing really makes it stand out too much in my mind. I also agree with what Christa said, "...has to relate to a great number of people. It also has to relate to many generations of people. As times change, the book still has to relate to people." and I feel that this is where the book is lacking. I feel that there aren't really a whole lot of people who relate to it, the female hero and dragon fighting really appeals to a select crowd, and if you're not part of it, you probably won't enjoy the book. That being said, I still love it!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading Hero and the Crown. Aerin is a very strong character who grows throughout the novel. It isnt everyday that you read a story about a female hero who slays dragons. Many stories are written about male heroes who slay dragons. That being said I don't think that this story has the ability to stay in the literary world for a long time. I think that 20, 50 years from now this novel will go unnoticed. That isn't to say it isn't a great book because I really enjoyed it I just don't think it appeals to the general public. Like I said before most people are expecting to read a fantasy novel about a man who slays dragons and saves the day. I think that having a woman who slays dragons is far fetched and a lot of people wont want to read it. I would still recommend it to younger children to read because I did think it was a really good book. Robin Mckinnley does a great job of painting a picture and making the reader really feel like they are in the novel themselves.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this book will not be in the same category as the other books that we have read during this semester. First i think the book was well written for the most part but there were some inconsistencies that will really hurt its staying power. For instance the fight seen with Asgded was a real let down. For a book to be talked about in years to come i believe the level of writing needs to stay at a constant level throughout.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that for the audience this book was written for has alot of competition and has a high risk of being lost within the large selection of books that make up this segment. Until this class i had never heard of Hero and the Crown and i feel that to have a chance of becoming a classic it needs to not only exist amongst the academic world but by a much larger section of society.
Hero and the Crown in my opinion did not make a significant enough attempt to make a statement about a larger social issue. Yes there was "Girls that do things", but i do not believe this book really addressed the problem about the role of women in society. By giving Aerin such masculine qualities it did not really show the benefits women in leader ship roles could bring to society. Hero and the Crown simply blurred the line between men and women. It is for these reasons i do not think this book will have staying power.
Although I agree with the many comments on The Hero and the Crown being an awesome book, I must also agree with those that say that the book is not in it for the “long haul.” I do agree with the fact that it is a newer idea to have a female play the role of the protagonist and that in doing this it somehow sets the story apart, but, like some others, I also do not believe that The Hero and the Crown has just what it takes to stay around like other stories we have read.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Corinne that in this day and age it seems like it is becoming harder and harder for an author to write a “classic.” I think to qualify as such it needs to have an original and interesting story line. The Hero and the Crown does have an interesting story line but it is not an original. Yes, it does have a girl as the hero and I am sure there are very stories which do this but it is still a story line which has been told over and over again.
I really loved reading The Hero and the Crown and I think it is an amazing book but I do not think that I came away feeling as if I “got” something from the story. The Odyssey and taught lessons and had very original story lines and this, I believe is what has made them stay around.
My thoughts on this could end up being completely unfounded and The Hero and the Crown could end up being a book that sticks around and becomes very well know, as Crystal stated, it is still very young in the literary world, and liking the book, I am hoping that it will stick around.
I found The Hero and the Crown to be an enjoyable read with an entertaining plot and characters that are easy to relate to. However, I don't really see it as much more than that, and for this reason, I have a difficult time seeing it standing the test of time and becoming part of the literary canon.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the novel, I was definitely interested in the story to a certain extent, but I found myself searching for something more that would really draw me in. However, now that I have finished it, the novel still has not left an impression on me that I will remember for years to come. Granted, McKinley does focus significantly on the message of female empowerment, but I think that there are much stronger real world examples that I find more inspiring and relatable than a girl in a fantasy novel about fighting dragons and evil wizards.
I also think that it is very difficult in today's world to write a fantasy novel that can stand the test of time. Ever since books like The Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia rose to popularity, it seems like everyone is trying to jump on the fantasy bandwagon, and many use recycled story elements and characters. Therefore, even a novel like The Hero and the Crown, which arguably has some original elements, can easily get lost in the shuffle. Harry Potter has managed to achieve extreme popularity, but even as a huge fan I realize that this is probably due more to its entertainment and pop culture value than its literary value, and I certainly don't think The Hero and the Crown is in the same class as Harry Potter.
That said, I don't have a problem with The Hero and the Crown, and I understand why people would continue reading it and taking inspiration from Aerin's character. I just don't think that in the long run, the novel has anything truly unique and different enough about it to stand the test of time.
Unlike many others, I feel that The Hero and the Crown has what it takes to survive the ever-growing world of novels. The fact that Aerin is not only a hero, but also a woman, speaks highly of the importance of this novel. I believe that 20 years from now this novel will be considered both revolutionary for our time and still relevant in present society.
ReplyDeleteThe Hero and the Crown could be the start of a revolutionary type of novel where the hero is played a woman and not a man. Even today this novel is inspiring in the way it teaches young girls growing up that they too can be heroes. I feel that McKinley is challenging young girls to go their own way in society. Just as Aerin followed her own path, young girls should follow theirs. They should ignore the barriers of gender and lead themselves to their own happiness. McKinley’s powerful message to young girls as well as women is proof that The Hero and the Crown is no joke, it’s in it for the long haul. The message that The Hero and the Crown conveys to its readers is what makes it a captivating and timeless novel. I feel that this message is not only relevant today; it will still be relevant in 20 years.
I don't feel that this book has what it takes to withstand the test of time and hold the same literary power as other great novels that we read in class such as The Odyssey and Beowulf. Upon reading the story, I wasn't thoroughly enthralled by its plot nor its overall message that the author may have wanted their audience to take away. I felt that the storyline was just as common as any other fantasy tale that took place in the medieval times with magic and dragons. I admit that having the protagonist being a young female was probably a novel concept 25 years ago especially in the genre of action fantasy was a defining moment and a step forward for feminism, I didn't see anything else that really stuck out besides that.
ReplyDeleteFor a book to have staying power I believe it has to be an original and truly remarkable story. While The Hero and the Crown has a great storyline which is both captivating and entertaining, it lacks what many famous books such as the Odyssey and Beowulf have which is publicity. There are many horrbile books out there which have staying power strictly due to the fact that they are highly publicized and well marketed. Books such as Beowulf, the Odyssey, 1984, etc... all are required reads in high school which brings those books publicity. Those books are considered "classics" and classics have staying power. But what makes it a classic? That is a question I don't know the answer to because I feel like sometimes stories are chosen at random and if they have a decent storyline and are old they become hyped up and considered a good book.
ReplyDeleteThe Hero and the Crown won the Newberry medal however and this might give the book staying power. It is also part of a series and generally books in popular series have staying power, example Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight. All these books which belong in a series have a large fan base which gives it staying power because once again like I said they are well marketed and highly publicized. The Hero and the Crown might have a large fan base which I don't know about but the fact that I haven't heard about it in the news or seen it reviewed in magazines or seen it get made into a movie says that the series is not as popular as LOTR or Chronicles of Narnia.
Another reason it might not have staying power is because the author, at least to me, isn't as widely known as say J.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis. These are legendary authors whom will probably both be remembered forever but Robin McKinley was unknown to me before I read The Hero and the Crown. I feel like this book is good enough that it will stay for at least another 50 years but I do not believe that this will be like a Odyssey, Illiad, or Beowulf. I love the book and it is a book where I actually wanted to read more, which a book hasn't done to me since Harry Potter. I think the book is clever, interesting, and entertaining enough that it will stay for at least another 50 years but beyond 100 years I think is very doubtful.
After reading The Hero and the Crown I would say that it does not have staying power. The plot was entertaining and I was interested throughout it but the coming of her hiding place theme may just have been lost on me. Like Alisha I felt like this story line has been told in many different forms. That being said I enjoyed Aerin’s battles and the characters especially Talat and the relationship between Talat and Aerin.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes Out of the Silent Planet have staying power to me is that it deals with humanitarian views and the advance of technology. These only become more apparent as time goes by because technology will always be advancing. Books like Out of the Silent Planet make us question advances and think twice about the pros and cons.
Persuasion had staying power to me because it was a very well written romance novel that pointed out the sometimes outlandish lengths people will go to to prove they belong in high society. Plus it reminded it is good to be strong in your convictions.
Overall, I really liked The Hero and the Crown but it didn’t hit a nerve that it would stick to for a long time.
I believe The Hero and the Crown will be around for the long haul. It may only be 25 years old but it is the story of a true hero. True, it is so different, but that in itself should help it survive.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe that it is an amazing book for anyone who loves animals, especially horses. Having read all the books I have read, I don’t ever remember reading a book that was able to capture the true beauty and essence of the human-animal bond, as Robin McKinley did. There is nothing like the bond between a person who loves his animal. She was able to give the horse, Talat, not only personality, but character, in both serious and humorous ways. Seeing a horse and a girl interact with a strong bond is one thing, but being able to envision, write, and to then have readers be able to imagine it—truly a masterpiece in itself.
This book inspires women. Although this book has a medieval storyline, this novel was written after the woman’s rights movement, when women were finally achieving equality. In the past, women were not looked at as or considered heroes, only men were. Women were not generally considered “brave” like men. Women who were not “feminine” were scoffed at, just as Aerin was. This book does not only show that women can be heroic and brave, but it also symbolizes that a woman CAN be able to do the SAME things that a man can do, and that a woman should not be limited to only “feminine” things. A woman is inspired, in this novel, to live HER life to be whoever she wants or is called to be.
Lastly, with it being a “coming-of-age story”, it has the ability to relate from generation to generation. Everyone who walks on earth living their teenage years to adulthood, no matter what the generation, has their own coming-of-age story. This is what allows this book to be so relatable. In our teenage years, we are trying to find out who we are. We are trying to find out not only what our purpose is of being here but also what our purpose is in life. Aerin struggles, just as the average teenager struggles, but she finds herself in the end, giving all teenagers hope in finding themselves in happiness.
I think The Hero and the Crown does have staying power because it's hopeful, it's good, and it adds a twist to the class "knight and dragon" story. If readers continue to relate to Aerin and find themselves interested in her character I believe that they will continue to read her adventures.
ReplyDeleteI liked the story and I am planning on giving the book to my little sister, who might tell a friend about it, who might tell their sibling, etc. If I didn't like the book I wouldn't suggest it to anyone and it would have lost some future readers. However, I thought it was good and I'm doing my part to keep the story going. If many others feel the same the book will have many more years of popularity.
In any case, it was a unique and imaginative book, and you can tell that the author put a lot of herself into it. An honest and heartfelt narrative is definitely a factor in the popularity of a work, and I think The Hero and The Crown has that.
Now that I have read The Hero and the Crown, I would say that it has what it takes to become a classic with time. One of the main reasons that I think this is because of all of the parallels we have been able to find between this story and the already proven classics we have read. This story is unique in many ways, and much more modern than many of the other texts we read in class, however, there are endless similarities between the texts. I think that the fact that there are so many similarities shows that it has much of what it takes to be a classic in years to come.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I think that the story line is one that is timeless, which I think is important for a book to be classic. The coming of age story is one that readers can all relate to, and will be able to relate to in the future. In the case of Persuasion, it was a book that was written many years ago, yet the story is still able to resonate with readers today. I think this book will have a similar draw to it. It is a contemporary story to us as of now, but as time passes the writing style may become aged. However, the story line will stay relatable. Even through changing times, we have seen that the coming of age story is one that we still relate to. It is still a struggle in society just as it was hundreds of years ago.
The fact that this book is about a girl who slays dragons will only help it to connect to more readers in my opinion. It has a female protagonist, yet it is not necessarily a girl’s story. Many females may be able to relate to certain aspects of the female character that males may not, however, there is enough in the story around the character to attract male readers as well. Overall, I think the The Hero and the Crown has what it takes to prove itself as a classic in literature.
"The Hero and the Crown" will certainly still be around in time to come. Robin McKinley is a good author, and she wrote a story that should be able to withstand the test of time. It is probably only a matter of time until it is picked up and ruined by a big Hollywood movie producer, where its popularity will once again skyrocket. This book is going to remain relevant to society because it is a coming of age story that both girls and boys can relate to in many ways. Anyone that feels like the black sheep of the family will have a connection with Aerin. Stories with staying power are stories that we feel like could have been written about ourselves.
ReplyDeleteOf course, saying it will still be read in one thousand years like The Odyssey is probably asking for too much. The Odyssey has been able to last such a long time because of Greek culture and it being one of the first epic tales. There are thousands of fantasy books like "The Hero and the Crown", so even if the book itself doesn't go on the story probably will in one form or another.
I believe that The Hero and the Crown will be a highly remembered book for years to come for a number of reasons. Firstly, The Hero and the Crown portrays an old epic tale about a warrior who is also the main character that battles monsters especially dragons. Along with this type of adventure, it happens to be a female warrior which I believe will be praised and thought of in the very near future if not already mainly because it is unlike the ordinary epic tale which in return will gain many more female readers. Secondly, I really do not know why this book would not be remembered for years to come when all thirty students in our class can make a meaningful parallel between The Hero and the Crown and all of our previous books. As already stated, The Odyssey, Out of the Silent Planet, and Persuasion with out a doubt will be remembered for years to come and maybe forever. When a college English class is able to think of thirty meaningful parallels for this book, it is certain that The Hero and the Crown shares many similarities with other books that are more than worthy of being remembered. I do believe that this book will start appealing to more of the teenage girl audience because of the content and the main character being an awesome female warrior. The Hero and the Crown has the right story content as well as the uniqueness of story to be a well remembered book throughout my lifetime.
ReplyDelete"The Hero and the Crown" is a great book, there is no arguing that. It's full of action and fun filled adventure for the reader to enjoy. The characters are well developed with their own personalities. The reader can really lose themselves in this book. However, I do not think that this book will stand the test of time.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all though this is a fun, interesting story, it is one that we have read before. Here is a young hero struggling to make a difference. It's the classic coming of age story. We know how it will end, and there's nothing really so different about it to make it stand out. It is well written and well put together, but so are so many other stories out there.
Some reasons why the other works such as "the Odyssey" or "Beowulf" stand out is because of their historical significance. "The Odyssey" was one of the first epics and "Beowulf" is one of the first great poems. Though historical significance isn't the entire reason why these books last, it doesn't hurt. "The Hero and the Crown" has no historical significance. It wasn't the first of its kind. It wasn't written during some great human suffrage, like "Grapes if Wrath" during the depression. "The Hero and the Crown" is just a fun read. Readers will appreciate the book for what it is, but it's not going to be something they will hold above others.
The Hero and the Crown for me was certainly entertaining but I am not quite sure that it is a claaic that will stand the test of time. I do not think that the Hero and the Crown will be around thousands of years from now like Beowulf and The Odyssey. This certainly has entertainment value but I was not moved or inspired by this book. A text that is truly great (in my opinion) is one that causes the reader to think and ponder. A great text will have an impact on it's readers and some texts will even inspire them to better themselves.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that bothered me about Hero and the Crown was the explanation of the magic in the book it seemed rushed almost as if McKinley ran out of ways to explain the picture that she had in her head. On page 191 Luthe tells Aerin that he only tells her things that he wishes to tell her and other things he chooses not to explain. This almost seemd to me like a cop out by McKinley. I am not sure if Hero and the Crown is a good genre to be a classic. Amongst books of it's genre I see Hero and the Crown as a giant but I do not see it stacking well against other books from other similar genre's of its time. My last point is that some books that are considered giants of our era have no business being in such a category and some that do belong there are not. In my opinion it doesn't really matter because if the reader enjoys it then who cares. Isn't the book for the reader?
I definitely think that this narrative has a chance to survive. If you look at the trends of how people are going, gender roles are changing. My guess is that before I die, there will be a female president of the US. This shows that the story line with a female hero will be more and more accepted as we move forward, and this could be considered a frontier pushing novel in the fact that it has chosen a female hero. This goes along the lines of the Disney movie, the Princess and the Frog. This is the first time in the history of Disney that the main character was African- American. Times are changing and I feel that The Hero and the Crown will stay around, more than just in college literary courses.
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