Explain
why Guédelon site is so unique. What does a place like Guédelon say about the
pursuit of a fantasy escape?
Explain
why wizard rock is so popular in popular culture.
What
did Ethan learn from the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) Pennsic
Wars LARP in Pennsylvania?
What is
the main message Ethan (or maybe Ethorain) learned from the knight Sir Gareth
Nikodemos Somerset?
Does
Ethan’s preoccupation about flirting and sex conflict with his pursuit of
fantasy escapism?
How
does reality leak through fantasy experiences in different ways? Does the game
create a stronger sense of self, as Phyllis Priestly asserts?
Analyze
Phyllis Priestly’s gaming experiences with World of Warcraft, paying attention
to her purpose and influence.
Does
Phyllis, Ethan or any individual introduced in the text effectively “escape a
boring home life or a relationship drained of intimacy and spark” (191)? Or
does anybody neglect real life while being too far gone, like Rajeev?
Why
is fantasy so popular among military veterans?
Consider
Levi Hunt, the medic with the NC National Guard (introduced on page 204), and
Chris Jones, a character from the Forest of Doors LARP (who he also runs into
at the Dragon*Con starting on page 236).
How can
fantasy fight “the ignorance of the non-gaming world” (210)? Is escapism
universally liberating?
Consider
Nissa Ludwig, the thirty-nine year old woman with a muscular disorder
(introduced on page 210).
Analyze
Dragon*Con. What is so special about this convention for Ethan and for others?
Consider
costumes, celebrities and the transformation of Daniel Gauthier (Frodo
impersonator).
Ethan
repeatedly suggests that sexual intentions are the reason why he is at Dragon*Con.
Do you agree with that? What does Ethan take away from Dragon*Con and the
fantasy community there?
How
do Hobbits reflect an idealized type of life? Reference Chapter 3, On
the Tolkien Trail, as well as other instances of Lord of the Rings portrayal.
Starting
with Ethan’s break up at the start of chapter 7 (page 109), analyze Ethan’s
preoccupation with finding physical and emotional love.
Consider
his intentions at Dragon*Con in chapter 13, the love for fantasy pursuits in
chapter 9, and his intentions at the SCA LARP in chapter 10.
What
pushes Ethan to bury his LOTR figurines in New Zealand?
Explicate
Ethan’s argument about the positive and negative effects of contemporary
fantasy gaming, and choose and defend a side.
By
Jason Shaffer
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