Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

“Character is Destiny”

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King Arthur And His Knights of the Round Table

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Ancient tales about a king and his brave knights who founded a kingdom in Britain. They established order and freedom, seeking the glory of God, the punishment of wrongdoing, and the promotion of righteousness.

The book begins with Merlin, a mysterious wizard and a young boy who was worthy to wield Excalibur, a mighty sword, and rule as king. His character and leadership attracted a group of men who became the knights of the Round Table. Through many strange quests and adventures, they confronted evil knights and kingdoms, rescued damsels in distress, and achieved heroic acts of bravery.

The stories of many great knights are told, including the greatest of them all, Sir Lancelot of the Lake. The adventures culminate in a quest for the Holy Grail and a final battle.

Which quest did you enjoy the most and why?

1 Samuel For You

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Samuel is a book in the Old Testament that’s key to understanding the entire Bible. It’s about the nation of Israel 1,000 years before Christ. Things were a mess. The people wanted a king. Samuel, the prophet, anointed Saul to be king. However, Saul did not become the hero.

David, a humble shepherd boy, becomes the hero. In a war between Israel and Philistia, David defeats a giant named Goliath. The people rejoice, but Saul grows jealous and tries to kill David. Saul turns away from God and loses everything, while David seeks after God and is exalted.

David suffered persecution, became king, and rescued his people. But more importantly, Samuel reveals that David’s life pointed to a greater king, Jesus of Nazareth.

Samuel is a riveting story. Many life lessons can be learned. And Bible teacher Tim Chester is a marvelous guide.

Studying Samuel and David will help you:

  1. Understand the Bible better
  2. Learn how to make friends
  3. Learn how to handle difficulties
  4. Learn how to lead
  5. Learn how to become a less anxious, happier person

What did you find most helpful about 1 Samuel?

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

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King Caspian journeys across the eastern sea in search of the seven lords who were loyal to his late father. Joined by Edmund, Lucy, and the priggish Eustace, they have many unusual, scary, and thrilling adventures.

Caspian’s leadership is tested on the Lone Islands. They meet a dragon, a wizard, and other unusual creatures. A sea serpent, a land of dreams, a lake of gold, and the end of the world are in store. Reepicheep (a talking warrior mouse), like a brave knight, spurs them on to feats of bravery and honor as he tries to reach Aslan’s country.

Pay attention to the character contrasts between Eustace (the anti-hero) and the heroic Reepicheep. We are meant to learn from both. Also, the dragon episode is one of the key parts of the book, alluding to truths revealed in the Bible about becoming morally clean.

This is the third book in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. I recommend reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, first.

What did you most enjoy about this story?

Land of Hope

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This is one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. It’s about America’s story from its discovery and founding to recent history. Overall, Wildred McClay provides a broad overview of significant events, people, and ideas, aiming to show what made America a land of hope.

Events include the unsettlement of Europe, the Revolutionary War, Westward expansion, the Civil War, industrialization and modernization, the World Wars, and more.

Leaders include Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and many more.

If you want a complete and fascinating explanation of who and what made America the greatest country on earth, this book is for you.

Horseriding

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Horses are magnificent creatures, enjoyed by leaders and everyday people for thousands of years. George Washington and Winston Churchill rode horses in combat. (Virginians considered Washington their best horseman, and Churchill rode in Britain’s final cavalry charge.) Legends, like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, rode horses in battle and on their quests. Princes of history and fiction learned to ride well: Cyrus the Great and Capian are two examples. Paul Revere’s midnight ride marked the beginning of America’s War for Independence and is perhaps the most famous horseback ride in history.

During America’s westward expansion, families crossed the Great Plains and farmed with horses, and young men carried mail across dangerous wilderness in what became known as the Pony Express. Cowboys on horses drove cattle across the Midwest. Horses played a big role in westerns like the Rifleman, and in classic John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies.

The world has changed, but horses still play a vital role. Police officers ride strong, beautiful horses in cities to maintain public order and peace. Horses play a critical role in state funerals and parades. And beautiful thoroughbreds are raced in the Ascot and the Kentucky Derby.

Horses, except for the lion, are quite possibly the most honored of all animals. No creature has helped man quite as much. They feature prominently in classic literature and the Bible, where it is revealed that Christ will return on a white horse.

Horseriding has been considered a noble activity. Churchill wrote,

No one ever came to grief—except honourable grief—through riding horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle. Young men have often been ruined through owning horses, or through backing horses, but never through riding them; unless of course they break their necks, which, taken at a gallop, is a very good death to die.

Learning to ride a horse well is exciting, but it’s also a challenge; it takes time and effort to become comfortable in the saddle. It’s important to know that horses are intelligent creatures. An expert rider can guide a horse with the slightest prompting. I recommend giving horse riding a try at a local farm.

Do you ride? What is your riding horse like?

Pilgrim’s Progress

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This is a story about a man’s quest to find the most valuable of all treasures. It is one of the most read books of all time. Abraham Lincoln was deeply influenced by it. Charles Spurgeon, England’s greatest preacher, read it every year. Interestingly, the author, wrote it in prison.

The story has two parts. In part one, a man named Christian journeys to the Celestial City. Along the way, he faces numerous dangers and encounters many people, some of whom assist him, while others attempt to hinder or kill him. Part two is about his wife and children as they make the same journey, facing many of the same dangers, as well as new ones.

Two paths, described in the Bible, are represented in the story: the path that leads to life with God and the path that leads to life without God. One commentator said that the book helps readers learn how to live and die well.

I recommend purchasing a book with illustrations.

Here is a map of the main character’s journey:

This conversation about the book will give you an idea of what to expect:

What did you like about the book?

Fencing

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Legends and stories are full of swords. King Arthur had Excalibur. Sir Lancelot brandished the Sword of Truth. King Peter in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe wielded a sword against a wolf, and later, in Prince Caspian, an evil king. Aragorn, the mysterious ranger in The Lord of the Rings, waved the sword of his fathers, the Flame of the West. A small, yet consequential hobbit handled Sting, a sword with an unusual power.

The modern world no longer uses swords in combat, but many thousands of young people train with them in a sport called fencing. Like basketball, soccer, and baseball, fencing is a challenging art that requires technique, conditioning, and practice. Many kids and teenagers participate in fencing tournaments, and some go on to compete in Olympic events.

Fencing clubs offer instruction and training opportunities. You can contact a local fencing club and schedule a training session if you like. Generally, sessions involve running, stretching, form drills, and sparing. A local club in my area provides all of the equipment: chest guard, jacket, mask, glove, and sword.

If you want to become athletic, improve your hand-eye coordination, make friends, and compete, fencing might be for you. It will boost your confidence, and it’s fun.

Archery

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Archery is an old military art that was used by ancient armies, including those of the Greeks. Perfected by Teucer in Homer’s Iliad within the Trojan War, it was one of the first long-distance personal-use weapons. Greek heroes, such as Hercules and Odysseus, employed bows and arrows in warfare, with the latter using them in defense of his home and family.

In modern times, fictional characters like Robin Hood and J.R.R. Tolkien’s elven hero Legolas have popularized the bow. Today, archery is an Olympic sport, and thousands of people compete in tournaments and clubs worldwide.

Some of the best equipment is made in South Korea, where young people learn the techniques and skills, and consider it an enjoyable sport.

Archery is great for developing hand-eye coordination and can be a fun and fulfilling activity to learn. If you’re interested in learning, I recommend looking up archery clubs in your area. An introduction lesson should include basic safety, equipment instruction, and shooting technique. My instructor said there are 14 steps to shooting an arrow.

Additionally, you’ll need to select a bow type; several options are available. Olympic bows are different from bare bows or traditional long ones. (I recommend taking an introduction lesson before you buy equipment.)

Even if you decide archery is not for you, it’s worth trying. If you take a few lessons, you will get the feel of it, build your confidence, and develop an appreciation for the sport.

As you learn the ropes, keep this video in mind. Lars Anderson has taken archery to new levels, while reminding us what it might have been like in combat thousands of years ago.

Robinson Crusoe

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Shipwrecked near an island, Robinson Crusoe struggles to survive. He swims ashore, retrieves supplies, builds a fort, grows food, tracks the passage of time, and hews a boat using crude tools. Not knowing if he would ever return home and realizing that his life had changed forever, he finds peace and happiness in beliefs that he had previously shunned.

The story is unforgettable. I felt like I was on the island with Crusoe, struggling to survive. It made me wonder if I could do what he did. I asked myself, if I were stranded on an island like Crusoe, could I survive?

The book has sold millions of copies and was the inspiration for other stories, such as The Swiss Family Robinson, and movies like Cast Away.

The story is enjoyable to read and is filled with wisdom, emphasizing the importance of diligence, contentment, and gratitude. One of the most potent scenes, something I will never forget, is the scene of Crusoe almost drowning, trying to swim ashore. Another is his epic effort to build a fortified house. His agony and diligence have never left my mind.

Crusoe’s difficulties changed him forever.

I recommend buying a book version with the N. C. Wyeth illustrations.

What did you like most about this story?

The Tale of Troy

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This adventure story, by Roger Lancelyn Green, is a short retelling of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, two of the greatest stories ever told. The Iliad is about the Trojan War; the Odyssey is about the hero’s struggle to return home. This book offers a glimpse of both, but it also provides background and additional details not found in Homer’s works.

Green was a friend of C.S. Lewis and encouraged him to publish The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He’s known for retelling classic stories and myths, such as in Tales of the Greek Heroes. He uses primary sources about the great Trojan War, and the heroes and main characters, such as Agamemnon, Menelaus, Paris, Helen, Achilles, Hector, Ajax, Aeneas, Odysseus, Telemachus, and Penelope.

I read Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey before I read this book, but that is not necessary. This book will help you understand Homer’s stories. However, I would read Homer when you are in high school.

What did you like most about this book?