HEROISM
‘I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ – Christopher Reeve
What makes a hero? Who decides that a person is a hero?
We often falsely equate bravery and heroism with size and strength. What heroes do you know of who are more like Hal – clever and inventive?
LEADERSHIP AND LOYALTY
What does Hal learn about leadership in the course of the book, as he reluctantly takes on the role of leader and grows to realise what the duties and responsibilities of a leader are? Consider the following quotes about leadership from the book:
o "As the boat progressed, Stig had noticed a subtle change in his friend. Although Hal was usually reticent and avoided drawing attention to himself, when it came to building the boat, he became far more assertive. He knew what he was talking about and he knew what he wanted, and this knowledge gave him the confidence to take control and direct the others in their tasks.‟(p. 62)
o "Since a successful ship crew required a captain, or skirl, to command, the brotherband system also developed another vital skill: leadership. Natural leaders tended to come to the fore in the bands. They were the boys with that little extra, that indefinable quality that caused the others to look to them for ideas and direction. Sometimes, at the beginning of the training, a band would elect its most popular member as leader. But popularity wasn't always the most important part of leadership and, quite often, before the training period was over, that leader would have been replaced by someone else – someone who had shown that he had the necessary confidence and ability to command.‟(p. 128)
o "Hal's our best helmsman. So, since he'll be in control during the sailing contests, it makes sense if he's in charge the rest of the time.‟(p. 149)
o "You don't want me as your leader," [Hal] said. "Choose someone else." Stig grinned at him. "Who?" he said. "Not me, that's for sure. I'll keep losing my temper. Look around you. Can you see anyone else suited for the job?
"You're smart. You're a thinker. That's what we're going to need for a leader. Particularly since we're a few men short."(p. 149)
o "Hal hesitated, then took the plunge. If he didn't take charge, they'll be finished before they even started …They went to work and, within half an hour, they had the materials sorted into neat piles. Hal strode along the line of beams, fingering his chin thoughtfully. Now that he had a specific problem to deal with, he felt more confident about issuing orders.‟(pp. 150–151)
o "I'm to blame [for Jesper‟ laziness] …You elected me as skirl. It‟ my responsibility …I‟ taking that seriously, even if you aren‟. In future, if I give an order, I want it carried out …This isn‟ a game! …This is brotherband training. It‟ our future. If you want me as skirl, you have to agree to obey my orders – not just the ones you agree with, but all of them. Otherwise, pick someone else.‟(pp. 193–194)
Are the qualities of a leader really „ndefinable‟ What leadership qualities can you identify in Hal, and in Tursgud and Rollond? What qualities make each a good, or not so good, leader? Which of the three brotherband skirls would you rather have as your leader, if you were in a brotherband?
How important is popularity in a leader? How important is being a „hinker and a planner‟ Identify some leaders in real life (politicians, company leaders, sports captains) and discuss what their leadership qualities are. What other qualities are important in a leader?
What do Hal and the Herons learn about leadership being a „wo-way street‟? Does a leader need to be loyal to their team, and a team loyal to their leader?
FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE
Is it fair that all the Herons are punished with demerit points for Jesper‟ laziness when he doesn‟ sharpen his axe properly?
Is it fair that, as their leader, Hal takes a greater share of the blame for the brotherband‟ mistakes?
Do you think that the training technique of „e‟e all rewarded together and we‟e all punished together‟(Chapter Eighteen) is effective?
Is Erak‟ punishment of the Heron brotherband in Part Four fair? Why or why not?
SAILING AND NAVIGATION
Activity: Organise an excursion to a sailing ship and have a tour of how the ship works.
Drawing: Make your own drawing of the Heron, based on the illustration in the opening pages and what you have read in the book. Then write labels for each of the parts of the ship, as described in the list of sailing terms.
WORK YIELDS RESULTS
‘Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.’ – Samuel Johnson
How much of becoming a great warrior is made up of routines and repetitive training, and how much is natural ability?
Is the emphasis on training and learning in Brotherband different to other fantasy books you have read, e.g. books where magic is an easy solution to any problem?
INVENTIVENESS
‘To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.’ – Thomas Edison
‘To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.’ – Joseph Chilton Pearce
Hal is always inventing things – sometimes they work and sometimes they don‟. Is it important to keep trying, even when you fail the first time around?
Activity: Hal thinks of inventions that will make life easier, for instance when he tries to install a water supply to his mother‟ kitchen. Think of your own life, or someone you know. What invention would make your life easier? Write a description of how your invention would work and what its benefits are.
VALUES
Compare the Skandians and the Magyarans. The Skandians are „aiders‟(see Chapter One) and the Magyarans are „irates‟(see Chapters Eleven and Twelve). Some might see these two as the same thing, but there are differences in the way each group operates, summed up on p. 287.
What are the values of the Skandians, compared to the Magyarans? Which is portrayed more positively and which more negatively? Which is more „onourable‟or „air‟or „oble‟? Would the people of Alto Bosque (see Chapter One) agree with your assessment? What techniques has the author used to influence your response to the two groups? (Consider such aspects as viewpoint, structure and characterisation.)
Classroom debate – an ethical dilemma: Imagine that you are Erak and his councillors, and you have to decide whether to let the damaged Magyaran ship into your harbour to make repairs. You suspect that the Magyarans are pirates, but the unwritten rule of the sea is to help those in need. Divide into two groups and debate whether or not to help the Magyarans.
BRAIN VS BRAWN, CHEATING VS INGENUITY
The Heron brotherband have fewer members than the other teams, and they‟e the boys that no one else chose – yet they are able to win some of the challenges. Make a list of the character attributes/qualities that the different members of the Heron brotherband have, and how each contributes to the team‟ success in different challenges.
In the tug-of-war, should the other teams have agreed to compete with two fewer people so that the Herons would not be disadvantaged?
What do you think of the idea expressed in the book that it‟ all right for the Herons to use their ingenuity to beat the other teams, which some might call cheating? Are the Herons cheating, or are they using the skills they have to overcome their disadvantages? Do you think they cheated in the tug-of-war? Do you think they cheated in the night attack? Or were their solutions to problems good examples of „hinking outside the square‟
‘I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.’ – Christopher Reeve
What makes a hero? Who decides that a person is a hero?
We often falsely equate bravery and heroism with size and strength. What heroes do you know of who are more like Hal – clever and inventive?
LEADERSHIP AND LOYALTY
What does Hal learn about leadership in the course of the book, as he reluctantly takes on the role of leader and grows to realise what the duties and responsibilities of a leader are? Consider the following quotes about leadership from the book:
o "As the boat progressed, Stig had noticed a subtle change in his friend. Although Hal was usually reticent and avoided drawing attention to himself, when it came to building the boat, he became far more assertive. He knew what he was talking about and he knew what he wanted, and this knowledge gave him the confidence to take control and direct the others in their tasks.‟(p. 62)
o "Since a successful ship crew required a captain, or skirl, to command, the brotherband system also developed another vital skill: leadership. Natural leaders tended to come to the fore in the bands. They were the boys with that little extra, that indefinable quality that caused the others to look to them for ideas and direction. Sometimes, at the beginning of the training, a band would elect its most popular member as leader. But popularity wasn't always the most important part of leadership and, quite often, before the training period was over, that leader would have been replaced by someone else – someone who had shown that he had the necessary confidence and ability to command.‟(p. 128)
o "Hal's our best helmsman. So, since he'll be in control during the sailing contests, it makes sense if he's in charge the rest of the time.‟(p. 149)
o "You don't want me as your leader," [Hal] said. "Choose someone else." Stig grinned at him. "Who?" he said. "Not me, that's for sure. I'll keep losing my temper. Look around you. Can you see anyone else suited for the job?
"You're smart. You're a thinker. That's what we're going to need for a leader. Particularly since we're a few men short."(p. 149)
o "Hal hesitated, then took the plunge. If he didn't take charge, they'll be finished before they even started …They went to work and, within half an hour, they had the materials sorted into neat piles. Hal strode along the line of beams, fingering his chin thoughtfully. Now that he had a specific problem to deal with, he felt more confident about issuing orders.‟(pp. 150–151)
o "I'm to blame [for Jesper‟ laziness] …You elected me as skirl. It‟ my responsibility …I‟ taking that seriously, even if you aren‟. In future, if I give an order, I want it carried out …This isn‟ a game! …This is brotherband training. It‟ our future. If you want me as skirl, you have to agree to obey my orders – not just the ones you agree with, but all of them. Otherwise, pick someone else.‟(pp. 193–194)
Are the qualities of a leader really „ndefinable‟ What leadership qualities can you identify in Hal, and in Tursgud and Rollond? What qualities make each a good, or not so good, leader? Which of the three brotherband skirls would you rather have as your leader, if you were in a brotherband?
How important is popularity in a leader? How important is being a „hinker and a planner‟ Identify some leaders in real life (politicians, company leaders, sports captains) and discuss what their leadership qualities are. What other qualities are important in a leader?
What do Hal and the Herons learn about leadership being a „wo-way street‟? Does a leader need to be loyal to their team, and a team loyal to their leader?
FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE
Is it fair that all the Herons are punished with demerit points for Jesper‟ laziness when he doesn‟ sharpen his axe properly?
Is it fair that, as their leader, Hal takes a greater share of the blame for the brotherband‟ mistakes?
Do you think that the training technique of „e‟e all rewarded together and we‟e all punished together‟(Chapter Eighteen) is effective?
Is Erak‟ punishment of the Heron brotherband in Part Four fair? Why or why not?
SAILING AND NAVIGATION
Activity: Organise an excursion to a sailing ship and have a tour of how the ship works.
Drawing: Make your own drawing of the Heron, based on the illustration in the opening pages and what you have read in the book. Then write labels for each of the parts of the ship, as described in the list of sailing terms.
WORK YIELDS RESULTS
‘Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.’ – Samuel Johnson
How much of becoming a great warrior is made up of routines and repetitive training, and how much is natural ability?
Is the emphasis on training and learning in Brotherband different to other fantasy books you have read, e.g. books where magic is an easy solution to any problem?
INVENTIVENESS
‘To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.’ – Thomas Edison
‘To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.’ – Joseph Chilton Pearce
Hal is always inventing things – sometimes they work and sometimes they don‟. Is it important to keep trying, even when you fail the first time around?
Activity: Hal thinks of inventions that will make life easier, for instance when he tries to install a water supply to his mother‟ kitchen. Think of your own life, or someone you know. What invention would make your life easier? Write a description of how your invention would work and what its benefits are.
VALUES
Compare the Skandians and the Magyarans. The Skandians are „aiders‟(see Chapter One) and the Magyarans are „irates‟(see Chapters Eleven and Twelve). Some might see these two as the same thing, but there are differences in the way each group operates, summed up on p. 287.
What are the values of the Skandians, compared to the Magyarans? Which is portrayed more positively and which more negatively? Which is more „onourable‟or „air‟or „oble‟? Would the people of Alto Bosque (see Chapter One) agree with your assessment? What techniques has the author used to influence your response to the two groups? (Consider such aspects as viewpoint, structure and characterisation.)
Classroom debate – an ethical dilemma: Imagine that you are Erak and his councillors, and you have to decide whether to let the damaged Magyaran ship into your harbour to make repairs. You suspect that the Magyarans are pirates, but the unwritten rule of the sea is to help those in need. Divide into two groups and debate whether or not to help the Magyarans.
BRAIN VS BRAWN, CHEATING VS INGENUITY
The Heron brotherband have fewer members than the other teams, and they‟e the boys that no one else chose – yet they are able to win some of the challenges. Make a list of the character attributes/qualities that the different members of the Heron brotherband have, and how each contributes to the team‟ success in different challenges.
In the tug-of-war, should the other teams have agreed to compete with two fewer people so that the Herons would not be disadvantaged?
What do you think of the idea expressed in the book that it‟ all right for the Herons to use their ingenuity to beat the other teams, which some might call cheating? Are the Herons cheating, or are they using the skills they have to overcome their disadvantages? Do you think they cheated in the tug-of-war? Do you think they cheated in the night attack? Or were their solutions to problems good examples of „hinking outside the square‟