Choose two of the “other worlds” described in the unit. Compare and contrast the way these other worlds impacted the real life world for characters.
One of the "other worlds" described in the unit is the fantasy world of Narnia in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In this story, the Pevensie children stumble upon a magical wardrobe that transports them to the enchanting land of Narnia. This other world impacts their real life world as it allows them to escape the bleakness of war-torn England during World War II.
In Narnia, the children find adventure, make new friends, and become key figures in the battle against the White Witch. Their time in Narnia gives them a sense of purpose and courage, which ultimately transforms their personalities and influences the real life world upon their return. They learn valuable life lessons about loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice, which they carry with them back to their real lives.
Another "other world" described in the unit is the dystopian society of Panem in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. In this world, the totalitarian government forces children to participate in a yearly televised death match known as the Hunger Games. This other world impacts the real life world of the characters in a much darker and oppressive way compared to Narnia.
For characters like Katniss Everdeen, the other world of Panem strips her of her freedom and subjects her to constant surveillance, fear, and violence. This impacts her real life world by forcing her to become a survivor and a symbol of rebellion against the oppressive regime. Panem's harsh reality leaves scars on the characters, both physically and emotionally, and their experiences in this world shape their actions and motivations.
While both Narnia and Panem are other worlds that provide an escape from the characters' real life world, they differ greatly in terms of their impact. Narnia offers a sense of hope, redemption, and growth for the characters, while Panem presents a grim and harrowing existence that fuels the characters' desire for change and freedom.
Choose two of the “other worlds” described in the unit "A sound of thunder" and "Nethergrave". Compare and contrast the way these other worlds impacted the real life world for characters.
In the short story "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury, the character Eckels travels to a different time period through a time machine. He finds himself in a prehistoric world where dinosaurs roam. However, his actions in this other world have dire consequences on the real life world. While he is warned not to disrupt anything, Eckels accidentally steps off the designated path and crushes a butterfly, altering the course of history. When he returns to the present, he finds that the seemingly small change he made has created a dystopian reality where everything is altered, including the English language. The impact of this other world is catastrophic, as it shows the fragile nature of time travel and the butterfly effect.
In the short story "Nethergrave" by Gloria Skurzynski, the main character Jeremy experiences an online virtual reality game called "Nethergrave." Through this game, he is transported to a virtual world that becomes his refuge from the real life world, where he faces loneliness and bullying. In this other world, Jeremy is able to escape his real life problems and have control over his own destiny. He forms friendships with fellow players and gains confidence, as he can be someone completely different from his real life self.
However, the impact of this other world on the real life world for Jeremy is quite different from the consequences in "A Sound of Thunder." In "Nethergrave," Jeremy becomes so engrossed in the virtual world that he neglects his real life responsibilities and relationships. He becomes detached from reality, ignoring his family and failing to interact with people in the tangible world. This withdrawal from reality has a negative impact on his real life social skills and emotional well-being.
In both "A Sound of Thunder" and "Nethergrave," the other worlds have significant impacts on the real life world for the characters. However, while the impact of the other world in "A Sound of Thunder" is unintentional and catastrophic, leading to severe consequences, the impact in "Nethergrave" is more personal and psychological, resulting in detrimental effects on Jeremy's real life social and emotional development. Both stories highlight the potential dangers and consequences of immersing oneself in a different reality, whether it be altering the course of history or neglecting real life relationships and responsibilities.