What is a quest?
Dictionary definition: “a long or arduous search for something” (The New Oxford Dictionary of English 1998)
Who goes on a quest?
- Real life quest seekers may include scientists, archaelogists and famous explorers like Christopher Columbus who discovered America.
- There are also plenty of fictional quests in fantasy fiction books. Think of Harry Potter looking for the Horcruxes or Indiana Jones looking for the Holy Grail. Many myths and legends are also based on a quest.
- Characters in books are often heroes like knights, super heroes, characters with special powers or ordinary people in an extraordinary situation.
What may a quest seeker be searching for?
- A quest seeker may be trying to find a magical object, rescue a person, discover knowledge, a cure for an illness, a place or a creature.
The Summer Library Challenge has its own characters and story that you may like to use.
The Quest Seeker's characters:
(please note: the characters do not normally have blue faces but we're having a little technical difficulty. For clearer pictures visit the Quest Seeker's website & your local library)
- Louis: Age 5. Likes - martial arts, animals, stories. Dislikes – animal cruelty.
- Raj: Age 11. Likes – reading and extreme sports. Dislikes – bullies.
- Belle: Age 10. Likes – making music and books. Dislikes – litter bugs.
- Flic, the feisty fairy: Age 134 fairy years. Likes – rough and tumble and bright lights. Dislikes anything pink.
- Magical creatures: Firebird, Drax the dragon & the Giant.
- Gatekeeper: Cadmus: challenges quest seekers to bring back the golden book. On the Quest Seekers reading challenge we are told that Cadmus’ age is unknown, that he likes his cat Ferdinand & dislikes pickled onions.
There are 3 stages for the Quest Seekers to complete on their challenge to bring back the Golden Book. These are:
- Firebird Rising
- Mountain Mission
- Dragon's Lair
Whether you want to use the Quest Seeker's characters & creatures or create your own consider the following:
- Their... likes/dislikes; good/bad habits; strengths/weaknesses; friends & family; home; what they look like; age; dress sense etcetra....
- If using the quest seeker's characters consider the names they've been given, look at their pictures & details on the Quest Seekers Website. For instance Cadmus is a gatekeeper - what do you think that being a gatekeeper may involve?
- Magical creatures - what are their powers, how do they look, where do they live? Are they good/bad, dangerous or helpful?
- Drax the dragon appears in the third stage Dragon's Lair. The Giant appears on the second stage - Mountain Mission & the first stage is the domain of the Firebird. Think about what being a giant, firebird or dragon may mean. Example: is your giant like the BFG or does he eat children? Does your dragon breathe fire or fly?
Whether you create your own quest story or follow the Quest Seeker's three stage challenge, consider the following:
- What dangers and challenges will be faced?
- Who and what will be met on the quest? Who will help you?
- What is your quest? What do you seek?
- The Quest Seeker's characters are trying to find the Golden Book. 'Golden' suggest that it may be precious, perhaps powerful. Describe the thing you seek. Where do you find it? Who does it belong to?
- Think of the stages & their names. Example: Firebird rising - what does the word fire mean to you (warmth/danger/powerful/consuming)? What is a firebird? What will this stage look like? Mountain Mission - the word 'mountain' may suggest a difficult climb, a challenge, awesome scenery. Whereabouts does the giant appear on this stage. Dragon's Lair - what does Drax's lair look like? What does it smell like? What challenges will be faced on this final stage?
- If creating your own quest try using all the five senses to describe the stages of your journey & decide what/who you will encounter at each stage.
· Visit http://www.questseekers.org.uk/ to learn more about the quest seekers.
· Have you read any books about Quests? If so tell us about them.
· Have you watched any films that are based on a quest? Write about them.
· If you are doing the library Quest Seekers reading challenge: what books are you reading? Why did you choose them? Write and tell us what you’re reading. Which books did you like or dislike and why? Who are your favourite characters and why?
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