Ellen’s Comments (group member since Sep 07, 2011)

Ellen’s comments from the 2012 - Ms. Richardson L.A. group.

MUNDANE WORLD:
The mundane world is when a hero finds that (s)he or he is in an enviorment where they are bored and crave to leave. The Odyssey begins on Calypso's island. Even though Odysseus is in a place so beautiful it is even shockingly gorgeouse to a god, and he has everything a mortal man could want he still wants to leave. He stands on the beach staring out to the ocean crying because he misses the world and loves ones he left behind.
THE CALL TO ADVENTURE:
When a hero get an oppurtunity to go on a journey, that is the call to adventure. When Zeus commands Calypso to let Odysseus leave her island he gets a crew and trys to find his way home.
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD:
Crossing the threshold is when a hero finnaly leave to new land they are not used to. When Odysseus and his crew go to the island of the dead, they have gone to a new place that is nothing like any other place they have ever been. It is the moment when the crew is completly unaware of what to expect.
PATH OF TRIALS:
When a hero faces struggles these are examples fo the path of trials. Odysseus faces many trials through out the story. They must face a cyclops that eats Odysseus's men, Syrons that can lead a ship to its water fate whith ats singing. They even had to face a witch that turned his men into pigs. Odysseus has been facing trials through out the entire story.
NEW MENTOR:
Odysseus does not have a specific mentor, but the being that is protecting more then anyone is Zeus. Zeus made Calypso let Odysseus go. Even though Zeus also made Odysseus and his men become lost at sea he did it to teach Odysseus lesson, so he would'nt make the same mistake. Zeus is protecting and teaching Odysseus just like a mentor.
NEW ENEMIES:
The greatest enemy of Odysseus and his men is the cyclops. The cyclops captured them and ate many of his men. An enmy needs to be concured by the hero, and Odysseus defeated the cyclops by tricking him so the other cyclops would not come to his aid after they blinded the cyclops. Even though Odysseus faces many enemys, the cyclops was the most dangerouse.
NEW CHALLENGES:
One of the challenges the crew has to face are the syrons. The men must put wax in their ears so not to hear the syrons song, but some of then men like Odysseus which to face the challenge and time themsleves to the boat so they can hear the syrons song but not become a victim to death.
NEW KNOWLEDGE:
Odysseus learns about the cyclops. He did not know if they were friend or foe. When he faced them he learned that the cyclops were most definetly foe. He used words to describe them such as scavengers, cannibles, and no order.
MASTER OF TWO WORLDS:
Master of two worlds is when the hero become a master of many diffrent enviorments. When odysseus finnishes his journey he is praised by the gods and royalty. He becomes a respected man of the sea, of man, monsters, and even gods.

In these ways Odysseus follows the steps of the heroes journey.

Mythology is about humans. Human fears, desires, pain, and love. Mythology is a way that people tried to explain things they didn't understand such as death and the after world. It also lets people show the things they fear or want. Joseph Campbell's quote relates to mythology in the way that it also is about the human mind. The quote says things such as, We have not to even risk the adventure alone. This is an example of the fear of being alone and having to blindly try to face problems head on. This quote defiantly relates to mythology, because it is a way to show the human mind.

We have not to even risk the adventure alone, this sentence says, we shouldn’t have to try to
face a trial by ourselves. There will always be someone that understands what you are going through
and can help you.“For the heroes of all time have gone before us,” and “We have only to follow the thread of the hero’s path,” heroes such and Martin Luther King jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Terrisa , and so many more
have given their whole lives to helping others and make a difference so people like you could live an
easier life. They had to face struggles just like the rest of the world, and you must learn from them and
follow the path they have set for us.“The labyrinth is thoroughly known.” Everyone has faced struggles and are the only one that has faced a trial. Millions know what another person is going through and have concurred the battle. People know what to do in a similar situation. Seek the help of someone who has experienced it.“Where we thought to find abomination, we shall find a god,” This sentence shows that bad things can be a double edged sword. What can cause you pain and hard ship could also be one of your greatest
blessings. Having to deal with trials like losing a family can actually help you by making you a stronger
person.“And where we thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves.” Hurting others physically or mentally
tells people more about you then it does about them. Hurting another person could hurt you even more then it will hurt the person you are hurting.“When we thought to be alone, we shall be with the rest of the world.” You are not alone. People are always there to help you, give you advise and help you through trials. This quote just makes me feel like even if I think I’m doing something on my own there are still so many people helping me. No one can do everything on your own it takes a group of people.Each sentence in this quote has a different meaning and advice. Joseph Campbell wrote this to show that what you want might not be as much of a blessing as you think it is, and that bad things can end up being a good experience for you. Life is a double edged sword so make a good experience out of the bad and the good.

I do agree with the concept of what he wrote. We are not alone in this world which means we don't have to face our battles alone. What I most strongly agree with is that what may seem like a blessing can be a curse, and what may seem like a punishment could actually be a positive life changing experience. Humans can not predict how something will affect our life.Joseph Campbell really understands life and you can tell but what he wrote.

In the novel "The Tale of Two Cities" Charles Dickens set the mood of the book with the phrase "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." When I was told that this book could relate to the modern reader I didn't believe it until l I read that phrase. In 1859 innocent people were given the same punishment as a murderer, Children worked in dangerous factories while others starved to death; But then theirs the other type of citizens. These people are wealthy, they have all the need and more. These were the best of times and the worst of times, but do we not face similar hardships now? People who live in poorer countries are poor, starving, have little or no education, and run to save their lives everyday, the worst of times. Then there are the wealthier countries, such as the US, we have food, jobs, a good government, shelter and some have all they could need and more, the best of times. We even have examples of this just in america. Some people are wealthy, have jobs, big houses. These people are living in the best of times. While others don't even have a home or anything to call their own, The worst of times.

Some people say that Dicken's novels can not relate to a modern day reader, but I have taken just a small sentence from the Tale of Two Cities and have already shown how it can relate to a modern day reader. Charles Dickens has written a book that is complicated but timeless. Readers from 1800s right up to the 2000s can relate to this novel and I'm quite sure future readers will too.

Katniss Everdeen from the novel "The Hunger Games" embraces the villain archetype. The main characteristic she follows that is found in the villain archetype is the need or desire to harm and kill others. She shows examples of this in multiple places in the book, here are a few examples.

On page 134 Peeta had just admitted his love for Katniss during an interview. Katniss felt by during the he made her look week. In a rage Katniss, " slammed my palms into his chest, causing him to lose his balance and he fell and crashed into an ugly urn filled with ugly fake flowers. The urn tipped over and shattered into hundreds of pieces. Peeta lands into the shards, and blood immediately flows from his hands." Katniss had no desire to let him explain why he did this, she just wanted to get revenge and hurt him.

When Peeta joins and alliance that was made to kill everyone else in the game. Katniss feels betrayed and thinks to herself on page 162, "I will eagerly watch the night skies for signs of his death if I don't kill him myself." Katniss wants to kill Peeta just because he made this mistake. She wants him to die or kill him herself.

After Katniss killed off many of the careers with a hive of tracker jackets, she takes the bow and arrow form Glitters dead hands. She now feels so powerful with this bow on page 197 she thinks to herself. " I feel like I can fight now. If Cato broke through those tress right now, I would not flee, I would shoot. I find I am actually anticipating the moment with pleasure." Not only is Katniss planing on killing Cato but she is excited and wants to kill him. She enjoys the thought of hunting him.

These examples show not only is Katniss killing people to survive but she is all so harming them out of rage and she finds joy in it. So this is why the main character of "The Hunger Games" Katniss Everdeen, embarrasses the villain archetype.

In Suzanne Collins book "The Hunger Games" The Main character Katniss Everdeen is a great example of embracing the Villain archetype. She has some of the same traits shown in the villain archetype such as, She Finds pleasure in harming others.

People might argue that she didn't have a choice she had to go in the game and kill others to survive. This is a completely valid argument, but, When Katniss got the bow and arrows she said "If Cato ran towards me right now i wouldn't run, i would shoot, in fact I'm looking forward to that moment." Also earlier in the book she is angry and ashamed and the actions Peeta is showing and says "I will watch eagerly in the sky for signs of his death if I haven't already killed him myself." These examples show that Katniss embrasses the Villain archetype more then any other.

Susan Collins book "The Hunger Games" Is a great example of the wide variety of different Archetypes, specifically hero and villain. The main character Katniss Everdeen is more commonly known to be the hero but, is the just because the readers grows more attached to her so they automatically make her a hero? I feel she better portrays the villain archetype.
When entering the hunger games Katniss's first priority is to hide and stay alive, but the further you enter into the text Katniss becomes stronger and falls into the blood thirsty atmosphere of the games. Katniss befriends and teems up with a young 12 year old girl named Rue. But when Rue is killed Katniss quickly takes revenge on then boy who took her life. When Katniss receives a bow she thinks "If Cato broke through the trees right now I wouldn't flee I'd shoot, I'm actually anticipating the moment with great pleasure." Sure in the games everyone must embrace their evil side to survive but examples of her villains ways are shown before she enters the hunger games, such as trying to drowned her sisters cat, and holding a grudge and not being able to forgive her mom from when she became depressed and couldn't take care of them after the death of their father.
Katniss has most of the characteristics that make up the villain archetype such as, She has a troubled past, She may find joy in killing, She is determined to get what she wants, she breaks rules, and is short tempered.
Susan Collins did an amazing job writing her characters, she showed that the hero's are not perfect and the villains aren't only evil, she showed we are all human and even though some characters might have more villain archetypes they still will have some heroic ones.

The scarlet Ibis symbioses Doodles disability and being out of place and different, but it also represents the beauty in doodle.The scarlet Ibis is from south america and its so out of place in this new land it has entered, doodle Is very different then must kids and out of place in his environment. The scarlet Ibis is week and has a limp but still remains graceful and lovely. Doodle is week and is disabled but still has such a beautiful soul and personality.