Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is the purpose of journeys outlined in popular fiction? What examples of journeys do you consider to be the most transformative? What effects might journeys have on characters?

Teaching Suggestion: Edward Tulane, the novel’s protagonist, is a loveless and sentient toy rabbit. Edward is primarily concerned with his appearance and does not love those around him. The transformation of Edward’s character takes place on his miraculous journey where he learns to love. Consider discussing character journeys and the impact they have on character growth and how they are used in popular fiction. Then use the resources to further explore the hero’s journey. Consider creating a chart to compare popular journeys with Edward’s journey for students to reference and update as they read the novel. Consider using the article as an outline for the anchor chart.

• This 6-minute video explores what a hero’s journey is and how it is used in popular fiction.
• This article explores the highlights of a typical hero’s journey in fiction.