Trips can either be quick with no
encounters of any kind, or trips can be long with obstacles that need to be
overcome. Of course the second one makes for a more interesting and complex
story. Every trip is a quest according to Thomas Foster’s How to Read Literature like a Professor. Whether it be a walk to
the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread or a journey across the world to
rescue a damsel in distress, a trip can be considered a quest with these 5
elements: a quester, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, challenging
experiences, and a real reason to go there.
Most elements mentioned are pretty obvious,
but the two elements that seem to spark some attention are the reason and the
real reason. The reason is most times mentioned in the beginning of the story.
However, most times this reason fails. The real reason is discovered and
replaces the first reason. In the end, the protagonist gains an educational
experience about himself.
Not all stories will tell the
obvious tale of a prince’s quest to slay the dragon, but instead a lot of
quests can be found in stories that involve self-knowledge and self-discovery. Thus,
characters often are young, naïve, and in need of a life changing experience. Stephen
King’s The Body, or the movie Stand By Me, created based on King’s
novella, reflects this idea of a quest to self-knowledge and
self-discovery. The story takes place in
a small town where everyone knows everyone. The town was not the happiest place
to live, having a lot of abusive and dysfunctional households. At the time the
story takes place, it was announced that one of the young boys that lived in
the neighborhood went missing. One boy overhears that the missing boy was
actually dead and his body was lying down by the local railroad tracks. Four preteen
boys made plans to set out and find the body in hopes to gain fame. On their
way, the four boys were chased by a dog at a dump, almost hit by a train, and got
themselves infested with leeches. In addition to becoming closer through these life
threatening circumstances, the boys also became closer than ever after sharing
personal stories with each other of their lives and their hardships. Their
first reason for their quest disappeared. They no longer wished to become
famous. It is in that moment the boys found out who they truly are and what
they are capable of. The characters gain self-knowledge ultimately being their
real reason.
In order for any trip to be
considered a quest, it is necessary that the journey includes the 5 elements
listed above. According to Joe Bunting, the writer of the #1 Amazon Best Seller
Let’s Write a Short Story!, a quest
consists with these five elements along with a few more details. He explains
the importance of the character’s traits and the type of friends that follow him
along the journey. He also explains that the main character might face his
biggest challenge right before obtaining his goal. His explanation of a quest
can be found here at: thewritingpractice.com/the-quest/.
