Shakyl Lambert

GNED 1201
Worksheet 5
Part 1: The character I have decided to write about is David
Charleston, the protagonist of a recent favorite novel of mine,
Steelheart. He is a man who is consumed by revenge after witnessing
the death of his father at the hands of the titular character. Because of
this, he has a vast amount of knowledge on the various Epics and their
various weaknesses. Unfortunately, he has spent so much time doing
research that he has not developed a lot of general social cues. A
recurring gag in the book is his inability to make good metaphors.
Throughout the course of the story, as he gets to know the Reckoners
and spends time with them, he realizes that he has dedicated so much
time to the idea of revenge that he does not think about the long term
ramifications of what will happen when or if he succeeds.
Part 2: In addition, I will be mapping out the plot of Steelheart.
Inciting Action: While David is at the bank with his father, the bank
is attacked by an Epic (a super-human) named Deathpoint. Steelheart,
a near-invulnerable Epic, arrives at the bank to declare his control over
Chicago. While Steelheart battles police officers, Deathpoint attempts
to kill Steelheart from behind. Davids father grabs a gun from a fallen
security guard and kills Deathpoint, but also somehow manages to
graze Steelheart. Steelheart is enraged and kills Davids father with
his own gun. David hides within the bank and is rescued hours later,
moments before Steelheart destroys the bank, sending it underground.
He then turns the entire city to steel. David swears revenge.
Exposition: 10 years later, the Epics rule the world. Chicago has been
rechristened Newcago. The rich live above ground and enjoy basic
amenities like food, water and electricity. The poor have retreated in
the under-streets, struggling to survive. Steelheart is now the supreme
leader of the city, and controls a massive empire of both human
soldiers and other Epics. David hopes of joining the Reckoners, an
underground resistance group of Epic-killers. The Reckoners consists
of 5 members: newest member Megan, researcher Tia, weapons expert
Abraham, the eccentric Cody, and their leader, Prof.
Rising Actions: David successfully convinces the Reckoners to follow
his plan after saying he has seen Steelheart bleed, the only living
person to do so. They set out to find a way to lure out Steelheart, as
well as determine his unique weakness. They decide to fake the arrival
of an Epic named Limelight (played by Prof) coming to claim

Steelhearts territory. They blow up a power plant, and kidnap an Epic

named Conflux, who gifts his abilities to power the city. Unfortunately,
Megan is killed during the kidnapping. Steelheart finally answers the
challenge and arranges to meet.
Climax: Steelheart confronts Prof at the old baseball field, which the
Reckoners have rigged with various traps and explosives. While the
Reckoners face off against the Enforcement soldiers and attempt to
discover Steelhearts weakness, David faces off against two Epics
Nightwielder and Firefight. He kills Nightwielder, but is shocked to see
Megan alive and well. He discovers she is Firefight, an Epic with
reincarnation abilities and one of Steelhearts lieutenants. She flees
soon after. Steelheart finally confronts David after defeating Prof. He
finally realizes Steelhearts weakness: He can only be killed by
someone who does not fear him. Steelheart is about to shoot David
with his own gun when he triggers a detonator David slipped inside the
barrel; triggering the explosives underneath them, killing himself.
Falling Action: Prof saves David from the explosion, upon which
David discovers Prof is an Epic as well. He does not become evil like
the other Epics as he gifts his abilities to power the Reckoners
gadgets, similar to Confluxs abilities.
Resolution: The Reckoners leave the field and vow to protect the city