Journey+to+Center


 * Discussion Time:**
 * Friday****, January 20,** **7:55-9:25 (2B)**

Ben Sawtelle Jake Smith Thomas Robichaud Matthew McGonigle Griffin O'Rourke Debe Overhaug Steve Steinbock
 * Group Members:**


 * Facilitator:** Does anyone want to volunteer to be the facilitator of the discussion? I (Matthew) volunteer if no one else wants to.

=**Agenda**=

//Characters//

Harry (Axel) - Doubter, homesick, scientific, wuss, scared Professor von Hardwigg (Professor/Otto Lidenbrock) - Energetic, dreamer, believes in 'myths', loves questioning scientific theories, willing to explore, determined Hans - Guide, quiet personality, strong willed, dedicated. “Does not understand the quest, motivated by money” “Sometimes the guide is limited by powers stronger than his [protaganist’s] own” Gretchen (Grauben) - Harry’s (Axel’s) girlfriend/fiancée and Hardwigg’s (Lidenbrock’s) goddaughter. She’s concerned for their safety but doesn’t protest the journey. She’s very pretty and Harry (Axel) calls her his Virlandaise.

//Setting//

Set in the mid to late 1800's Age of scientific exploration Germany / Iceland / Under the Earth (Caverns/ Underground Ocean/ Volcano) / Italy Dark walls, few lights don’t exactly lift spirits. Summer time, June / July / August

//Important plot details//

Finding and decoding Arne's manuscript The call to action Journey to Iceland Finding and descending the tunnel “The fear, loneliness or despair experienced by the hero is a type of death-rebirth which leads to enlightenment or maturity, changing the hero in important ways” Take wrong tunnel and running out of water Harry (Axel) gets lost and has to find his way back to Hans and the Professor Confrontation with menacing forces Loneliness Discovery of the underground sea Traveling upon the sea (Giant sea creature duel/ Storm) Ejection from sea Hero has changed

//Conflicts//

Man vs. Man (Harry vs. von Hardwigg) (Axel vs. Lidenbrock) - one believes in geological theories vs. one thinks everything needs to be proved with physical evidence to be true) Man vs. Nature (Struggles with finding water and the claustrophobic feeling created by the miles and miles of rocks) Man vs. Self (Harry / Axel in mental conflict over what it means to travel to the center of the Earth, leave his girlfriend)

//Narration//

Shows the change in Harry (Axel) throughout the book, from believing in popular scientific theories to believing in what he sees with his own eyes (something previously thought to be a myth) Not much emotional story-telling. It kind of reads like an article to be published in a scientific journal with some personal details included.

//Qualities of the Journey//

The journey really shows the changes that take place in Harry’s (Axel's) train of thought from one thing to the other.

//Questions (Whip around, everyone answers)//

//Before Discussion//

Did you like the book? What in the book did you not understand? Any thoughts/emotions provoked? Would you have read this book if it wasn’t assigned? What was your favorite part of the book? If you had been invited on the expedition, would you have joined them? Can you relate with a character in this book? What do you think about the professor dragging his nephew unwillingly to the center of the earth?

//After Discussion//

Has your opinion of the book changed? Which character is your favorite? Why? Would you read a sequel? How do you feel about the author? Why? What do you think the most thought provoking section of the book is? Are there any characters you think differently about now then when we started? How do you think the scientific world would react to a journey such as this?

//Connections//

Can you relate this book to another book you may have read or want to read? How are they similar or different? This book was originally written in French. Do you believe the statement "lost in translation" applies to this story? Here is a link to an illustrated version of Journey to the Centre of the Earth: http://www.tkinter.smig.net/ClassicsIllustrated/JourneyCenterEarth/index.htm

//Map//: