Wizard World vs. Star Wars: Common Literary Themes

Explore literary themes found in both Star Wars and the popular British wizard books.

What you'll learn:
Recount the different types of fantasy literature.
Explain the basic progression of The Hero's Journey and give examples.
Describe why authors and readers alike find the Orphan Hero theme appealing.
Explain the literary themes of Good vs. Evil and Death and Immortality, giving examples from classical literature.
Find a myriad of new books to read that use the same themes as these two popular fandoms.

Requirements:
None

Description:
Explore literary themes found in both Star Wars and the popular British wizard books, along with other awesome novels that share these same themes. Great for fans, but no prior knowledge of these two fandoms is required to enjoy the class.
In this class, we'll discuss the plot elements and themes that the Wizard World and Star Wars have in common. Students will learn how to identify these themes and spot them in books they read in the future. Along the way, I'll recommend a variety of young adult novels (both classic and modern) that also fit these themes. This class is a great way to find your next favorite book!
Due to the nature of the class, expect there to be spoilers both from Star Wars and from the Wizard World. (This course is not an official product of the Harry Potter Universe and has no affiliation with the Wizarding World.)

Part 1: The different types of fantasy literature - what fantasy categories do the two fandoms fit into?
Part 2: The popular narrative pattern known as The Hero’s Journey. What Harry Potter books fit the Hero's Journey pattern? What Star Wars movies fit this same pattern?
Part 3: The "Orphan Hero" theme and why readers and authors love it so much.
Part 4: The Curse of Immortality, and the Light vs. Dark dichotomy (with its prevalence throughout human history).

Who this course is for:
Harry Potter and Star Wars fans who want to compare their literary themes.

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