It is only after our class period today that I was able to pinpoint why Leguin’s A Wizard of Earthsea did not win me over. I have come to realize that I am not fully able to transport back and forth from a child’s mindset and my current reading level of a college student along with an inability to connect with a 1960s high fantasy novel in comparison with more recent high fantasy renditions. Obviously, the comparison with Harry Potter was hard to disregard while following Ged’s journey after entering the wizard world and the unexpected trials and tribulations he endures with the magical journey of Harry Potter and his time at Hogwarts.
I have to be honest, right after I finished reading, I put the book on my bedside table and stayed in bed for a good ten minutes just thinking about the text. What was missing? Why was I consciously aware of the fact that I was never truly pulled in? What would children of today think? The last question really came into play during my overall reflection and I was glad to see it addressed today in class. Sarah’s conviction of Ged as a hero she didn’t really like because he really only cared about himself gave just one insightful opinion that reassured my own feelings of uneasiness with the book. While some may argue that Ged is the perfect example of a high fantasy hero, I stand by a child’s innocent insight as I believe it may be the most telling of all.
Purpose for Imaginative Literature
14 years ago
I agree with you Andrea. I never connected with my inner child while reading The Wizard of Earthsea. It was frustrating because I was constantly disappointed by the characters actions. I wish I had a greater emotional response to the novel. I did however understand how Sarah felt Ged rude and at times insensitive.
ReplyDeleteI also felt like something was missing from the text. I never connected with Ged or the story in general - I agreed with everything Sarah said in class too. I think that our opinion of a high fantasy hero is different today than it was back in the 60s. Also, for those of us who have read Harry Potter, it is hard NOT to compare other fantasy/hero novels to it.
ReplyDeleteWhat influenced me most in this novel was the lack of personal relationships. It made the story seem distant to me and therefore I didn't desire to get involved, unlike Harry Potter. Maybe it is wrong of me to let lack of personal relationships in a novel have such a great impact on me, but I can't help it! Maybe Harry Potter has ruined all other fantasy hero novels for me ;)I also felt like something was missing from the text. I never connected with Ged or the story in general - I agreed with everything Sarah said in class too. I think that our opinion of a high fantasy hero is different today than it was back in the 60s. Also, for those of us who have read Harry Potter, it is hard NOT to compare other fantasy/hero novels to it.
What influenced me most in this novel was the lack of personal relationships. It made the story seem distant to me and therefore I didn't desire to get involved, unlike Harry Potter. Maybe it is wrong of me to let lack of personal relationships in a novel have such a great impact on me, but I can't help it! Maybe Harry Potter has ruined all other fantasy hero novels for me ;)
I have to agree - I couldn't quite connect with the character of Ged. I too compared him to Harry Potter throughout Earthsea... I felt that Ged didn't measure up to the hero standards I brought with me from past novels. I really enjoyed your insights and I think you made some good points - especially about trying to slip back into a child's mindset. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteNice job! I agree. I disliked wizard of earthsea and would not have been able to read it as a child. I felt that I couldn't connect with the character of Ged at all and didn't think he had that many likeable traits or hero traits that other wizards such as harry potter seem to have.
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