Out of The Silent Planet OCW Anonymous 10th Grade

Authors write hero’s journeys every day. They tend to be similar and predictable to the reader, as every hero shares at least one trait with other heroes. However, some stories contain heroes with certain characteristics that distinguish them from the rest, such as Ransom in C.S. Lewis’ Out of The Silent Planet. The most unique aspect of Ransom’s character as a person on a hero’s journey in his open-mindedness. This trait adds to the meaning of the story by deepening the contrast between good and evil, illustrating the significance of variety in writing in the modern world.

Ransom’s open-mindedness is his most unique aspect as a person on a hero’s journey. For example, Ransom meets a non-English speaking hross, named Hyoi, on page 56. “He [Ransom] summoned up his courage and advanced, holding his hand...” (Lewis 56). Although Ransom was afraid, he still was able to communicate with a creature which most other heroes would not even consider attempting, revealing his curiosity towards learning new languages. Contributing to this burst of confidence was Ransom’s profession as a philologist, as it provided him with a higher chance of learning the Malacandran language. This meeting of a mentor as a part of the hero’s journey is...