Book Review

by Elizabeth Irwin

 

A Wizard of Earthsea

by Ursula K. Le Guin

In the novel A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin, the element of fantasy is expressed very well through setting and characters. A young boy copies a village witch's spells; she catches him, notices his talent, and teaches him all that she knows. He learns quickly and goes on to study with Ogion, a master. Then Ged, the young boy, goes to Roke Island and challenges a fellow student. He then releases an evil shadow that chases him everywhere he goes. Finally, Ged takes Ogion's advice and chases the shadow. Ged ends up conquering the shadow and living happily ever after.

In this novel, the story is set in an unrealistic world, totally different from ours. It has far off lands and waters where no one ventures, called reaches. There are witches, wizards, dragons, and castles. The setting makes the whole story more mystical. The main place of action is at the end, in the reaches. Ged and Vetch travel through waters that turn into sand; this is where Ged catches the shadow.

Also, the characters add a lot to the story. There are many wizards and witches, and lords and ladies, both good and evil. The contrast between good and evil characters makes the events more interesting, adding jealousy and greed. There is Ged, the main character, who is determined, strong willed, and smart. He is also best friends with Vetch. Vetch, whom Ged meets at Roke, is kind and considerate of others. He stands by Ged through thick and thin. Vetch is always there to support Ged. The characters in this story are well developed. They add a lot of detail.

A Wizard of Earthsea is a fictional story with much fantasy. I enjoyed it very much. The setting and characters are very well developed and detailed, making the book much more interesting. I like the story and would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy literature.

Back to Language Arts Page