‘TRUE HEROISM IS REMARKABLY SOBER, VERY UNDRAMATIC. IT IS NOT THE URGE TO SURPASS ALL OTHERS AT WHATEVER COST, BUT THE URGE TO SERVE OTHERS AT WHATEVER COST.’ ARTHUR ASHE
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA! In this project you will: discuss what makes a (super)hero; read about everyday heroes and superheroes in comic books; discover what the hero’s journey is all about and link the pattern to your favourite book or film; watch some scenes from the film Kick-Ass; create your own comic book page.
CONTENTS 1
2
3
2
From average Joe to true hero
3
1.1
A hero is someone who ...
3
1.2
The incredible Adam Spark
9
The hero’s journey
12
2.1
The journey is a cycle
12
2.2
The story’s characters
14
What makes a superhero?
17
3.1
Everyday superhero
17
3.2
Superhero versus supervillain
19
3.3
Obsessed with superheroes
22
4
Let’s go on a (web)quest!
27
5
Superheroes and comic books
31
5.1
Order, please!
31
5.2
What is happening?
34
6
A new superhero and supervillain have risen!
38
7
Tracking tools
42
8
Sources
44
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA!
1 ⁄ FROM AVERAGE JOE TO TRUE HERO 1.1 ⁄ A HERO IS SOMEONE WHO … SPOKEN INTERACTION
1 Discuss the following questions. a Is a hero someone we simply admire, respect or look up to? b Is a hero some kind of ‘superhero’ with ‘superpowers’? c Does it take a lot of money and fame to be a hero? 2 Who are your heroes? Rank these people according to their heroic status. Give concrete examples (e.g. names) if possible. Report back to class.
frien d
s
ce le brit
sp o rt s pe o pl e/ at hl et es
Average Joe
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA!
ies
f a m i ly
f ic t io n a l ch a r acte rs
SPEAKING
pe o ple with ‘heroic’ job s
h is t o r ic a l f ig u r e s
true hero
3
3 What is a hero anyway? Complete the word web with words (characteristics, actions, people, etc.) you link to the word ‘hero’. Add arrows if necessary.
HERO
SPOKEN INTERACTION
4 A hero is … a Interview a classmate and make a note of their answer. b Then report back to class.
Statement
Completely agree
More or less agree
More Completely or less disagree disagree
A hero is never afraid. A hero has to be rewarded for his/her actions. A hero puts others before his/her own needs. A hero has to be society’s role model. A hero doesn’t need to have superpowers. A hero can make mistakes. A hero is always popular. A hero stands up for himself/herself.
4
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA!
5 Now read the quotes about being a ‘true hero’. Which quotes, do you think, are the best? Make a list of your top three.
eroes. It is on’t create h Hard times d n the ‘hero’ rd times whe a h e th g n ri du b Riley vealed. – Bo within us is re (politician)
1
3
The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else. – Umberto Eco (Italian novelist)
The soldiers that didn’t come back were the heroes . It’s a roll of the dice. If a bullet has yo ur name on it, yo u’re a hero. If you hear a bullet go by, yo u’re a survivor. – Bob Fe ller (athlete)
5
7
2
If you have not been a villain at a certain point in time, you will never be a hero. And the day you are a hero, you may become a villain the next day. – Carlos Ghosn (businessman)
4
Who is to say who is the villain and who is the hero? Prob ably the dictiona ry. – Joss Whedon (a uthor and direct or)
6
A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares. – Debi Mazar (actress)
A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown. – Tom Hanks (actor)
8
9
u would in any novel yo , ow kn u yo l, Wel ne to push ro has someo he e th at th hope I find the and villains e back against, ose who do th ing villains th e th or most interest asons, r the wrong re right things fo ons. Either re the right as r fo gs in th wrong gray area ing. I love the one is interest Dan Brown and wrong. – between right Da Vinci Code) (author of The
READING
10
idual who ordinary indiv n a is ro e h A re and th to perseve g n re st e th s find elming ite of overwh endure in sp Reeve Christopher obstacles. – ) r Superman (actor, forme
It’s really irrita ting when you open a book, and 10 pages into it yo u know that the hero you m et on page on e or two is gonna come th rough unscat hed, because he’s the hero. This is compl etely unreal, and I don’t lik e it. – George R . R. Martin (author of the Game of Throne s books)
6 Can you add words from the quotes to the word web in exercise 3? Use a different colour.
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA!
5
7 Look at these phrases taken from the quotes above. Do you remember what the underlined words are? Indicate the correct answer and complete the sentences. A hero is an ordinary individual … A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous …
GRAMMAR The underlined words are adjectives / adverbs. They define a . .. who deeply cares. … who voluntarily walks into the unknown. This is completely unreal…
GRAMMAR The underlined words are adjectives / adverbs. They define
or
an . Adverbs can also define other . e.g. He rescued the woman from the burning building really quickly. 8 Complete the grammar box below.
GRAMMAR How do you form an adverb? Be careful: happy Æ adjective ending in –y Æ terrible Æ adjective ending in –le Æ historic Æ adjective ending in –ic Æ friendly Æ adjective ending in –ly Æ good
Æ irregular adverbs:
9 Read the text ‘Teens as heroes’ and complete the sentences with an adjective or adverb.
Teens as Heroes: A Reminder that the Teenage Years Can Be
(marvelous)
Almost every article about teens reminds us that they may drink too much, drive (reckless), talk back, not talk enough, etc. You get the drift. Well here in a (total) (different) spirit, I would like to give credit where credit is due and that is to our teens, who have (recent) behaved in an (incredible)
6
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA!
(heroic) fashion. These are the teens who have gone above and beyond what we would expect to save others, even if it might have meant endangering their own lives. Let’s remember that teens, like the rest of us, are neither all (good) or all (bad). Here are five examples of teens behaving like heroes. 1 This week, a Washington state middle school student named Jeremy Wuitschick, a 13-year-old, grabbed the steering wheel of his school bus after the bus driver passed out. He (safe) pulled the bus over to the side of the road before putting it into park. And let’s also give kudos to the school administrators who trained the students in how to deal with emergency situations on the bus. 2 Earlier this month, 14-year-old Dakota Edwards of New Hampshire found a wallet filled with several hundred dollars. Did she go to her (local) mall and expand her wardrobe? Nope. She turned the wallet over to her school principal. And she was rewarded. The owner of the wallet gave her hundred dollars for her (thoughtful) and (ethical) behavior. 3 How about the two 17-year-old boys, Cody Decker and Luke Vaughn from Dewitt, Michigan, who saved the lives of two people trapped in a burning car? They not only called 911 but they also risked their own lives by attempting to pull the trapped passengers from the car. Let’s hear it for these teen boys who got more than just their hands (dirty). 4 And, what about 17-year-old Graceann Rumer from Philadelphia, who only had her driver’s license for two weeks? Graceann took over the steering wheel of the bus after the driver (sad) suffered a heart attack. She brought the bus to safety with her (swift) and (careful) behavior. 5 Here is one of my favorites of the year so far: A teenage girl from Utah warned authorities about a plot by two students to blow up a high school. Her name has not been released but her intuition was (right) on and she knows who she is. Nice going. So, the next time you think to yourself – ‘those teenagers’ – try to think of the teens in the above stories and feel pride in what teens are capable of. Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA!
7
SPEAKING
10 Which of the teens impressed you the most? Why?
WRITING 11 What is a true hero in your opinion? Write a short paragraph (about 50 words) with a definition that you think fits best. Use words from the word web in exercise 3, or feel inspired by the words in the word cloud below. Use adjectives and/or adverbs correctly. Read your definition to a classmate and listen to the feedback you get.
Inspiring
Charismatic Sincere
Ingenious
Valiant Selfless Loyal Daring
Kind
Valorous
Responsible
Humble Bold Generous
Intelligent
Determined
Strong
Clever
Disciplined
Courageous
Faithful
Trustworthy Compassionate
Wise
Relentless
Noble Virtuous Fearless Caring Self-sacrificing
Honorable
Dedicated
A hero is someone who
True heroes checklist
Yes, I did. ✓
No, I didn’t. ✗
Classmate ✓/✗
1 Structure and content • I wrote about 50 words. • I clearly described what a hero is. 2 Language • I used adjectives and adverbs correctly. • I formed my sentences correctly. Feedback:
8
TRACKING: POW! WOW! BAZINGA!