Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Wonder Friend. Wonder Friend Wonders, “What Is Your Quest?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Wonder Friend!
Do you love adventure? Are you an explorer at heart? Do you love to take road trips with your family? Do you yearn for a life filled with purpose and nonstop action?
If this sounds like you, then we have just the thing for you. What is it? A mission? Not quite. A trek? Sort of. An adventure? Definitely. We're talking about a quest!
A quest can be defined many ways. One common definition of a quest is an exciting search involving an adventurous journey. Can you think of an example of a quest?
Quests were popular in medieval romantic literature. They were plot devices that drove a storyline along at a rapid pace as the hero tackled danger and experienced adventure while traveling, all in search of a particular goal.
Quests appear often in mythology and other types of literature. In fact, quests can be found in the folklore of most countries and cultures.
The objects of a quest can take many forms. It could be a precious metal, such as gold. Some quests involve a search for a magical creature or a cure for a disease. Other quests may involve a rescue mission for a fair maiden in distress.
Quests involve lots of travel. Over the course of a quest, travelers get the chance to encounter many obstacles and exotic locations. New and interesting cultures may also be encountered, leading to all sorts of exciting scenes.
At the end of a quest, the main character often sets a new goal: to return home. The return journey can be a new quest of its own, with home as the new object of desire. Of course, if a quest ends with the successful finding of a desired object, a character might choose to stay in a new land with a new culture.
An example of an ancient quest can be found in Homer's Odyssey. Perhaps the most famous quest is the search for the Holy Grail from the legend of King Arthur.
A more modern example of a quest can be found in the books — and spectacular movies made based upon — J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. If you're familiar with the search for the One Ring or the great adventures of Bilbo Baggins, then you definitely know what a true quest is!
So what will your quest in life be? What kind of adventure do you seek? Perhaps you will go on a quest for true love. Maybe a dream job will be your ultimate quest. How about a search for a cure for a serious illness? Each of us encounters different types of quests throughout our lives. Some of us are lucky enough to go on multiple quests during a lifetime. Think about your goals and hopes and passions and fulfill your quest!