Neal's Essential Story Elements

Favorite Archetypes

 * 1) Reluctant Hero
 * 2) Wise Old Mentor (who dies at critical juncture)
 * 3) Two Villains (i.e. Satan & Antichrist; Darth Vader & Emperor) Greater evil remains hidden until later in the story. Lesser evil bears mark of outward deformity symbolic of inner.
 * 4) Harrowing of Hell / Exile in Wilderness / Death & Rebirth
 * 5) Heroic Quest
 * 6) Hermit / Oracle / Soothsayer (possibly blind)
 * 7) Bard / Wandering Minstrel / Storyteller (possibly blind)
 * 8) "Home" as a value / Simple way of life / Dream
 * 9) Father/Son Relationships
 * 10) The Broken Sword Reforged

Favorite Plot Devices

 * 1) Riddles to Solve
 * 2) Party is split up into smaller "questing" groups
 * 3) Chapter endings are cliffhangers

Favorite Themes

 * 1) Search for God / Spirituality / Truth
 * 2) Simple Life vs. Industrialism
 * 3) Courage in Spite of Fate/Odds
 * 4) E.O.R. (Education, Opportunity, Responsibility)
 * 5) Supernatural Power of Words (books, poetry, song, lore, creation, etc.)