In 1280, King Edward "Longshanks" invades and conquers Scotland following the death of Alexander III of Scotland, who left no heir to the throne. Young William Wallace witnesses Longshanks' treachery, survives the deaths of his father and brother, and is taken abroad on a pilgrimage throughout Europe by his paternal Uncle Argyle, where he is educated. Years later, Longshanks grants his noblemen land and privileges in Scotland, including Prima Nocte. Meanwhile, a grown Wallace returns to Scotland and falls in love with his childhood friend Murron MacClannough, and the two marry in secret. Wallace rescues Murron from being raped by English soldiers, but as she fights off their second attempt, Murron is captured and publicly executed. In retribution, …show more content…
Wallace rebels against the English, and as his legend spreads, hundreds of Scots from the surrounding clans join him. Wallace leads his army to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and then destroys the city of York, killing Longshanks' nephew and sending his severed head to the king. Wallace seeks the assistance of Robert the Bruce, the son of nobleman Robert the Elder and a contender for the Scottish crown. Robert is dominated by his father, who wishes to secure the throne for his son by submitting to the English. Worried by the threat of the rebellion, Longshanks sends his son's wife Isabella of France to try to negotiate with Wallace as a distraction for the landing of another invasion force in …show more content…
Warned of the coming invasion by Isabella, Wallace implores the Scottish nobility to take immediate action to counter the threat and take back the country. Leading the English army himself, Longshanks confronts the Scots at Falkirk where noblemen Lochlan and Mornay, having been bribed by Longshanks, betray Wallace, causing the Scots to lose the battle. As Wallace charges toward the departing Longshanks on horseback, he is intercepted by one of the king's lancers, who turns out to be Robert the Bruce, but filled with remorse, Bruce gets Wallace to safety before the English can capture him. Wallace kills Lochlan and Mornay for their betrayal, and wages a guerrilla war against the English for the next seven years, assisted by Isabella, with whom he eventually has an affair. Robert sets up a meeting with Wallace in Edinburgh, but Robert's father has conspired with other nobles to capture and hand over Wallace to the English. Learning of his treachery, Robert disowns his father. Isabella exacts revenge on the now terminally ill Longshanks by telling him that his bloodline will be destroyed upon his death as she is now pregnant with Wallace's child.
In London, Wallace is brought before an English magistrate, tried for high treason, and condemned to public torture and beheading. Even whilst being hanged, drawn and quartered, Wallace refuses to submit to the king. As cries for mercy come from the watching crowd deeply
Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, conveys, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”. In other words, Aristotle states that the gaining of self-knowledge provides an individual with the ability to know one’s personal gifts and accountabilities. To start one’s adult life a person must pursue the journey of self-discovery to learn in depth about their skills and weaknesses. Individuals must find themselves through the limitations and ordeals that they face during their voyage for self-awareness. For example, in Tim O’Brien’s short story, “On the Rainy River”, the narrator shares his story about self-discovery. O’Brien looks back into his past, to the time when he was called to serve in the Vietnam War. O’Brien’s initial
Watching a film, one can easily recognize plot, theme, characterization, etc., but not many realize what basic principle lies behind nearly every story conceived: the hero’s journey. This concept allows for a comprehensive, logical flow throughout a movie. Once the hero’s journey is thoroughly understood, anyone can pick out the elements in nearly every piece. The hero’s journey follows a simple outline. First the hero in question must have a disadvantaged childhood. Next the hero will find a mentor who wisely lays out his/her prophecy. Third the hero will go on a journey, either literal or figurative, to find him/herself. On this journey the hero will be discouraged and nearly quit his/her quest. Finally, the hero will fulfill the prophecy and find his/herself, realizing his/her full potential. This rubric may be easy to spot in epic action films, but if upon close inspection is found in a wide array of genres, some of which are fully surprising.
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish property-owner who come to be one of the central leaders throughout the Wars of Scottish Independence. Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace overpowered an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297, and was granted Protector of Scotland, serving till his death at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298. Mel Gibson plays’ William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish soldier that led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. This speech uses a variety of different techniques and methods to motivate his viewers into accepting and believing that freedom is precious. Freedom in the 13th century was cherished greatly as it’s “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved”.
What is a hero? To our understanding, a hero is a person who is admired for great or brave acts. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, and writer wrote The Odyssey. In this novel he talks about The Heroes Journey which are twelve different stages of adventure known as the Ordinary World, the Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting the Mentor, Crossing the Threshold, Test/Allies/Enemies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, Ordeal, Reward, the Road Back, Resurrection, and the Return With The Elixir. The Odyssey is about a legendary hero named Odysseus, who fought among the Greeks in the battle of Troy and went through the stages of The Heroes Journey. Odysseus lived in Ithaca, Northwest of Greece, with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus.
the year 1280, King Edward also known as In “Longshanks" invades Scotland after Alexander III of Scotland died, left no heir and is conquered by England. A Young William Wallace bears witnesses to Longshanks' betrayal, William survives both the deaths of his brother and father, and then taken on a pilgrimage through Europe by his Uncle Argyle, where he becomes educated. As years pass, Longshanks gives his nobles land and grants privileges in Scotland, including the right to take a mans wife as his own. At the same time, an older Wallace arrives in Scotland runs into childhood friend Murron MacClannough who he falls in love with and then marries in secret. English soldiers attempt to rape Murron and Wallace saves her, in a second attempt becomes captured and is executed publically. Trying to gain vengeance, Wallace guides his men to exterminate the English in his hometown.
Wallace has humble beginnings in a small Scottish town, but still holds a great Loyalty to his country (Axelrod and Phillips). As Axelrod and Phillips mentions, "In 1296, Edward I of England, attempting to impose direct rule over Scotland, deposited John de Balliol, the Scottish King, and had him imprisoned. Scottish nationalists had sporadic encounters with Edward's army when, in May 1297, William Wallace, a small landowner from Renfrew, led a band of 30 rebels in an attack on Lanark. The town was burned, the English Sheriff murdered, and Wallace was on his way to becoming one of Scotland's greatest heroes." Wallace’s humble beginnings can even be referenced as a focal point for his lasting loyalty throughout his life, and Wallace has shown great Loyalty to those close to him during the war as well. Wallace showed great Loyalty to his friends at the battle of Falkirk (“William Wallace, Sir”). After another failure of Surrey to put down the Scottish Rebellion and kill William Wallace, King Edward decided it was best to get the job done himself, and saw a chance to take down Wallace as he marched to Falkirk (“William Wallace, Sir”). His army was vastly superior to the Scots militia, and managed to kill dozens of Scottish soldiers that day, including Wallace's friend and advisor Sir John de Graham (“William Wallace, Sir”). Wallace was left grieving, and even Blind
The Hero’s Journey is an ancient archetype that we find throughout our modern life and also, in the world of literature.Whether metaphorical or real, the journey that a character goes on shows not only the incredible transformation of the hero but it also gives them their life meaning. It is the ultimate human experience and it reflects on every aspect of life. Take Logan, also known as Wolverine, from the X-Men movie as an example. His adventure starts with “The Call,” which is the first step of the Hero’s Journey. This step happens due to the realization of imbalance and injustice that the character has in their life. Logan steps into the first stage of the pattern but is hesitant to start his adventure because he does not know what and
The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative that appears in novels, storytelling, myth, and religious ritual. It was first identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell in his book A Hero with Thousand Faces. Campbell also discussed this pattern in his interview to Bill Moyers which was later published as a book The Power of Myths. This pattern describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds. Campbell detailed many stages in the Hero’s Journey, but he also summarized the pattern in three fundamental phases: Separation, Ordeal, and Return that all heroes, in spite of their sex, age, culture, or religion, have to overcome in order to reach the goal. Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, provides a good example of the Hero's Journey. This story describes the adventures of Alice, a young English girl, in Wonderland. Although she lacks some of the stages identified by Campbell, she still possesses many of them that are necessary for a Hero to be considered a Hero.
So the king had to sacrifice her daughter to the dragon. This all was happening a few days before George made it to the town. As he arrived the princess was being escorted to the dragon’s lair. St. George got on his horse and rode to the dragon’s layer. Know one knows how the battle went
This battle showed that English army was not invincible. The access point to Stirling was a wooden bridge. The bridge could take only two people side by side, and it would take hours for the whole English army to go over it. Wallace’s army was highly outnumbered (different sources indicate different numbers). However, much time was spent on planning the battle. As soon as enough of English army crossed the bridge, Wallace ordered a group of spearmen to go to offence. The bridge was cut off, and British were cut off. Most of the ones that crossed were slaughtered. English leaders were
William Wallace’s overall goal in both the book and the movie was to fight so that the scottish could be free. In the book he said, “We come here with no peaceful intent, but ready for battle, determined to avenge our wrongs and set our country free.” (Wallace page121) This is just one example of him showing that he is a strong and determined leader. Having a good leader is important in battle scenes because it gets the reader emotionally involved into the battle and makes the reader want to pick up a club or sword and charge into battle behind him.
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself ” (Moyers 1). The Hero’s Journey consists of three major parts: the separation, the initiation and the return. Throughout a character’s journey, they must complete a physical or spiritual deed. A physical deed involves performing a daunting and courageous act that preserves the well-being of another person. A spiritual deed calls for action that improves another individual’s state of mind. While fulfilling their journey, a hero must undergo a psychological change that involves experiencing a transformation from immaturity into independence and sophistication.Campbell states that these events are what ultimately guides a hero into completing
Mel Gibson’s Braveheart is an epic focusing on William Wallace, a historical figure in his 20’s who fought against British rule. The movie starts with a young William Wallace, a young boy who lives with his Uncle Argyle, who sees many Scottish nobles hanged by Englishman, which has a profound effect on him. Later in William’s life he meets and marries Murron MacClannough in secret. Murron’s throat is slit by the magistrate shortly after
Gathering men around him as his rebellion gathered momentum, Wallace's greatest victory came at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. This 1297 rout of the larger English force brought Wallace to national prominence. However, the Scots fought under the command of Andrew Murray, rather than the unproven Wallace. Murray's death in the battle left all the credit to Wallace.
News of the rebellion spreads quickly, and hundreds of Scots from the surrounding clans volunteer to join Wallace's militia. Wallace leads his army through a series of successful battles against the English, including the Battle of Stirling and sacking the city of York. However, he is betrayed by the Scottish nobility and defeated at the Battle of Falkirk. He goes into hiding, fighting a guerrilla war against English forces and personally executes two Scottish nobles who betrayed him. Meanwhile, Princess Isabelle, whose husband Prince Edward (Longshanks's effeminate son and heir) ignores her, meets with Wallace as the English King's emissary. She and Wallace share a tryst, during which she conceives Wallace's child. Still believing there is some good in the nobility of his country, Wallace eventually agrees to meet with the Bruce. He is caught in a trap set by the elder Bruce and the other nobles, beaten unconscious, and handed over to the English Crown. Robert the Bruce is enraged by his father's treachery, and disowns him forever.