Periods of transition, growth, and exploration are facilitated by new journeys and challenges.
Whether graduating from school or embarking on a new path, stepping into the world this way can be a thrilling, yet uncertain time in a person’s life. It’s a period marked by new opportunities, self-discovery, and the challenge of creating a future based on newfound independence.
Some of literature’s most enduring works focus on characters at a crossroads, about to step into an unknown world with nothing but hope, ambition, and a sense of adventure.
In this guide, we explore key themes in stories of great adventure—where characters embark on new journeys, explore unknown territories, and push themselves beyond what they thought possible. These themes are particularly resonant for anyone entering the next chapter of their life, whether it’s the world of work, travel, relationships, or self-actualization.
DISCUSSION POINTS:
- Stepping into the Unknown
- Independence and Self-Reliance
- Growth and Transformation Through Adventure
- The Call to Explore and Learn
- Overcoming Challenges and Obstacles
- Discovering Identity and Purpose
- Friendships and Companionship on the Road
- The Tension Between Comfort and Change
- The Search for Meaning
- The Thrill of New Beginnings
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- How do the characters in these works react to stepping into the unknown? What does their journey reveal about their character?
- What role does independence play in each character’s adventure? How does it shape their decisions?
- What challenges or obstacles do these characters face, and how do these contribute to their growth?
- How does the adventure itself serve as a metaphor for the search for personal meaning and purpose?
- What does “home” mean to the characters, and how does this definition evolve as they experience the world?
- How do these adventures highlight the importance of personal relationships and companionship in times of change?
- What are the tensions between comfort and the call to explore in these texts?
- How do the adventures of the characters speak to the universal human experience of finding one’s place in the world?
- What does success or failure look like in each of these adventures? How do the characters define achievement?
- How do these works connect to the experience of graduating and entering the next chapter of life?