Caleb Ramos

Mrs. Cramer

College Comp

2 December 2021

A Ranger’s Heart 2.0

Throughout John Flanagan’s book series (I am only discussing the first book and some of

the second) Ranger’s Apprentice it is frequently shown how every character is capable of

growth, and that helps us further understand the characters. They can be methodical but still feel

like real people. There are several themes that repeatedly get portrayed; that even if you're small

you can be stronger than someone big. Strength comes in many forms with growth being a larger

part of what defines strength in the book. I want to analyze how these repeated themes help us to

further understand why the characters feel like real people rather than fictional beings; Fictional

that have things go their way whenever it’s convenient to the story.

Flanagan does a magnificent job at introducing us to multiple characters throughout the

story like Will, the main character, Halt, his mentor, Horace, his childhood enemy turned friend,

Gilan, his senior ranger, and many others. Starting in book 1 we are introduced to Will. Will is

an orphan who was left with a note saying that his father died a hero and his mother died from

complications at birth. He is raised in an orphanage that is governed by the kingdom and is

treated well by everyone except Horace. Eventually the day comes when they’ll both be selected

for a future profession by the respective craftsman that teaches it, but Will is chosen to be a

Ranger’s apprentice rather than a warrior. More than 6 months later a festival is had as a vacation

in which all the apprentices are given a day to take a break. Things escalate between Horace and
Will which result in a brawl. They are caught by Horace’s craftsman Sir Rodney, and leave

things unsettled. At this point it’s clear how they’ve changed. They are both strong in their own

ways, but they lack the temperance to use those strengths with refined purpose. 6 weeks pass

leaving Will and Halt in a forest during the winter season. They come across a boar along with a

farmer who’s lost a lot from the boar, so Halt gathers a small force of knights and strong warriors

to assist in the boar's defeat. Unknown to everyone there is a second boar, and targets Horace.

Will saves Horace despite their differences which leads the boar to attack him. Tug (Will’s

ranger horse) then saves Will in a heart wrenching scene. Halt finishes the second boar with an

arrow to the heart. After this Horace and Will have a heart to heart to have each other's backs and

Horace says that he will always be on Will’s side when he needs it for whatever reason. Will

becomes a local hero after this event with some outlandish tales. Rather than letting it boost his

ego he finds himself worrying about Horace hoping that he knows that Will doesn’t embellish

himself since he saw it as a mutual effort. Horace and Will are shown to grow together after this

experience which drives them both to respect the other and grow past their differences regardless

of how physical they are. Horace's bullying, however, gets worse as the students look down on

him for being saved by the hooded loser apprentice. After disgracing Horace and beating him to

a pulp, the students discuss how they are going to make the ranger brat pay as well. Horace

remembering his promise says to himself “It’s time I make good on that promise.”, and so he

follows the upper classmen. Will delays the fight with his training but eventually succumbs to

the three older boys. Halt puts an end to the fight but when Horace arrives and leaves their

punishment to Horace as he has been through the most because of them. In a heartwarming

moment after this Horace thanks Halt by calling him Ranger but, Halt tells Horace that his
friends call him Halt and Horace's life from this point begins to improve as the bullies are exiled

for their actions which allows Horace and Will to become best friends.

In book 2 towards the beginning, Halt tells Alyss (One of Will’s wardmates) that he

really does miss Will more than he thought. For the first time in both books Halt demonstrates

that he’s developed a special bond with Will, a more paternal manner than he once thought. The

once cold, calm and collected senior ranger Halt felt something more than just logic driving his

actions. He had grown to love his student; wanted to both teach him more and see him once

more.

Repeatedly throughout the story of Ranger’s Apprentice, the growth of the characters’

actions is tested from physically to emotionally. The characters don’t have a perfect way to

resolve every issue, but as they grow it’s clear that they are using their strengths to get further

and drive them. As we watch different relationships develop and flourish, we begin to understand

the motives that drive some of the characters. Halt developing a bond with his young student

through teaching, Will and Horace overcoming their childhood to be friends, and the growth the

two apprentices found in themselves through their training. Their strength keeps on pushing them

to further heights. They feel human from their sense of humor to their thoughts and ideals. Their

strength takes on many forms from determination to skills that can be mastered. It leaves us

feeling like we too can be strong our own way if we look for it.

Sincerely, Caleb Ramos

 Work Cited Page

John, Flanagan. Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1 The Ruins of Gorlan. New

York: Philomel Books, 2004. Print

John, Flanagan. Ranger’s Apprentice Book 2 The Burning Bridge. New

York: Philomel Books, 2006. Print