Sarah’s Comments (group member since Sep 04, 2011)

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

MUNDANE WORLD: Odysseus follows the first step in the thread of the hero’s path in book 5 by living in a mundane world. A mundane world does not necessarily mean the world that the person lives in is dull and not beautiful. In fact, the place in which Odysseus lives is beautiful and wonderful. It is a place where any human would be happy to live. To Odysseus, it does not feel right. He feels trapped and longs for a better life for himself. He is itching to leave this place. Although it is very amazing and everything was visually perfect, it wasn’t perfect to him. In his heart, he knew there was more for him than just living in a beautiful place with a beautiful woman, Calypso.

THE CALL TO ADVENTURE: Odysseus has many different points in his journey that could function as his call to adventure. The one that begins his entire journey to returning home from the very first step is when Hermes comes and tells Calypso to let him go. Odysseus then realizes there is more to his life and he needs to be set free. Like many heroes, Odysseus second guesses the call to adventure. He thinks long and hard, he sits watching the ocean with “wet eyes” contemplating whether or not it is worth it to leave. He thinks and tries to decide if he wants to take on the adventure or stay safe in this place with Calypso. He feels it would be wrong to just stay for her. In the end, Odysseus decides that accepting the call to adventure is the right thing to do, even if Calypso disagrees. The call to adventure for heroes does not necessarily have to be an actual physical thing. It is the thing whether emotion or physical that forces the hero to leave his mundane world. This is why the call to adventure for Odysseus is when Hermes tells Calypso to let him go. It is the pivotal moment in Odysseus’ journey that forces him to leave.

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD: Odysseus has many different moments in his overall journey to becoming a hero that would qualify to be him crossing the threshold into his adventure. Some of those would function as smaller adventures inside his main journey. Overall, Odysseus’ crossing the threshold is when he builds the raft and sails away from Calypso’s island. Crossing the threshold does not necessarily have to be literal in meaning that they actually cross a line that completely changes their lives. It means beginning their adventure on the pathway to becoming a hero; they eventually leave their ordinary world to see beyond other horizons. When Calypso helps him build the raft and he is preparing to leave, he emotionally crosses the threshold and decides that there is more to his life out there. His literal crossing the threshold would be when he actually sails away, leaving his mundane world, and begins his journey.

PATH OF TRIALS: For Odysseus, everything that was in between him leaving his mundane world and him becoming master of two worlds would be his path of trials. First, Odysseus is washed ashore and taken captive by a Cyclops. The Cyclops began to attack and eat his men. Odysseus had to figure out how to escape this trial. He undertook the difficult challenge of attacking the Cyclops while he slept. He and his men escaped the Cyclops’ cave by covering themselves in sheep’s wool. They were easily mistaken for the Cyclops’ sheep and let loose.
Second, would be Circe’s island. Although there were not many physical trials that Odysseus had to face on Circe’s island, the main trial was trying to get away from the island. It was another one of those moments in the story where Odysseus had to overcome his self-pride and decide that he needed to continue his adventure, even if it was going to be difficult for him to leave. Odysseus’ excessive hubris caused him to make decisions he probably should not have made, prolonging the path way to becoming a hero. On Circe’s island in Book 10, his hubris and deciding whether or not he should leave this situation was one of the greatest trials.
Finally, the most difficult trial to Odysseus to overcome was simply to determine where best to live out his life. He had to decide whether or not it was worth it to leave a woman of such beauty and elegance. Deep in his heart, he knew it was wrong. Would he have the courage to listen to love over lust and return to his wife?

HERO’S MENTOR: For Odysseus, his mentor was Hermes. By Hermes telling Calypso that Odysseus needed to leave and seek his better life, it embodies the ideal mentor. A person that takes the time to think about others and their divine qualities and future potential is a mentor in every way. Odysseus also had his men. Although some of them were apprehensive about the adventure, without their support, Odysseus would not have been able to overcome some of the trials that he overcame. They added strength and unity to the journey.

NEW ENEMIES: For Odysseus there are several things and people that became his enemies. People and monsters like the Cyclops, Circe, Scylla, and even the Suitors. They embodied temptation, betrayed the laws of nature, and the evil of mankind. Overall, Odysseus’ main enemy, the one who created more obstacles, confusion, and frustration would be Poseidon. He ultimately is the one preventing Odysseus from reaching his ultimate goal.

NEW CHALLENGES: Coming with the path of trials, there will be many physical challenges that Odysseus will be forced to face. One of the main challenges he came across was not so much physical as emotional and mental. One of the most difficult challenges was for Odysseus to overcome his hubris and excessive self-pride. Odysseus was forced to come to the point in his life where he had to decide who he was, and that is one of the most challenging things a person must face in their life.

NEW SKILLS: Along with trials, Odysseus did gain new skills. These skills were not necessarily actually physical powers, but more things in his attitude that he gained. Some of these skills were not actually beneficial to him though. Odysseus gained the mindset of a clever man. He was very cunning and clever and was able to get himself and his men out of situations many would not be able to escape. He gained excessive hubris. This did not necessarily help Odysseus, but further put him deeper into problems. An example of this is when he could have used beeswax in his ears to not hear the Sirens, but instead his pride gets to him and he wants to be tied to the mast to prove that he can withstand the Sirens. Some of his trials could have been made easier if he was not filled with such hubris.

NEW KNOWLEDGE: From the challenges, mentors, enemies, and even himself, Odysseus returned with new knowledge. Odysseus gained a new understanding of who he was as a person. He had to closely look at himself and think if what he was doing in his life was right for him. This realization that there was more to himself than just living with Calypso, forced him to begin his journey and also made him take a closer look into his own heart. Although along his journey he was filled with self-pride and hubris, he learned from that. He learned that maybe if he entered things with a humble heart, things would be a lot easier for him.

MASTER OF TWO WORLDS: Overall, Odysseus becomes master of two worlds when he returns from his journey. When he is victorious over the god’s attempts to thwart his return, he becomes a master of the world where he was sent on his journey. The journey can be looked as one world and he becomes master of that world when he is literally victorious. He becomes master of his real world when he takes the new knowledge, skills, and experiences he faced in the journey to better himself in his real life. Changing himself to a better person and overcoming his hubris masters both of his worlds.


One may ask what this story says about what it takes to be a hero. The Odyssey suggests that there is more to becoming a hero than one may expect. It is not just luck of the draw if the hero must be forced to overcome hardships and trails or if they just get everything they need handed easily to them. There is a pattern. Every hero must fight the journey and follow the pathway to becoming a hero. In every hero’s journey there is an ordinary world that they are itching to leave. There is a pivotal moment in which the hero will receive some sort of call to action. Whether or not that call is literal or emotional, varies and differs, but is apparent in every hero’s journey. Next they must cross some sort of threshold. They must literally be gone from their ordinary world to begin their journey. Then they will face some sort of path of trials. With their return, they all will learn things about themselves that they never knew, bringing new knowledge, enemies, and friends along the way.

One of the things that people must understand when watching the patterns of the hero’s pathway, is that there are warning and cautions they must be aware of if they desire to follow the hero’s path themselves. The hero’s pathway is not something that is simply given to you. You will face trials, not only physical, but also mental and emotionally. People must be prepared to face these. A caution to consider is that sometimes in the hero’s path there is a moment where the hero is forced to decide whether he wants to take his/her own life to save some else’s. That is something that a reader who desires to follow the thread of the hero’s path must take into consideration, because it is a risk that often goes unseen until it suddenly is a life or death situation. Are you willing to sacrifice?

In reading mythology, readers may often wonder in what ways do creatures, misfortune, and mystical events mirror the challenges people face in the real world? Many monsters created in mythology, one in particular from The Odyssey, is the Cyclops that can connect and resemble problems in people’s lives that seem too big for them to overcome. The Cyclops can resemble cancer. It can resemble addiction, abuse, bullies, and even the reader themselves. Creatures, misfortune, monsters, and mystical events mirror any problem in the reader’s life that is bigger than them. Things they fear, things that prevent them or take them away from their comfort zone.

In conclusion, Odysseus’ reaction suggests that overcoming challenges and avoiding folly will take difficult paths. It will take trials, skills, and a true self-knowledge. It suggests that overcoming challenges will take not only physical but emotional strength. As readers look at the patterns of the hero’s path they will be able to prepare for the good and the bad. Because every hero will have that moment of despair, but in the end it will make them stronger.

“We have not to even risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known. We have only to follow the thread of the hero path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god. And where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves. Where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to center of our own existence. And where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.”

“We have not to even risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us—“ This first line refers to the idea of not fearing making a difference. It means that if one want to become a hero, she is not out there alone. There are many others that have gone before that have shown us that the impossible is most definitely possible. She need not fear being the only one. Risky adventures alone can be scary, intimidating, and can hold a person back from what they truly want to accomplish; but comforting memories of those heroes who have gone on before us to make significant differences, can reassure us.

“We have only to follow the thread of the hero path--” To modern reader that wants to be a hero, there are examples of those who have gone before to whom she can follow and look up. These examples are not always going to lead one straight to her desire. In the thread of the hero path, there are struggles and obstacles they must overcome. Very rarely does a hero easily achieve an accomplishment. So if one looks at what she wants to do, then she must look toward past heroes and figure out what obstacles she might have to learn to face along the way.

“And where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves—“ This part of the quote means if a person out to destroy someone else on this path, she will only destroy herself. If this person lets the fact that she is too worried about others and what they are doing get to her, then she has put her ultimate goal of making a difference in jeopardy. Slaying another must not mean to literally kill a person or necessarily slay them. It infers that “slaying” another can be letting go of one’s pride, thinking of oneself as superior to others, or intentionally putting someone below themselves to make her rise above. This will lead to one’s own demise.

“And where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world—“ This part of the quote can mean that when someone is struggling on their pathway to becoming a hero, that they could start to lose sight of their goal because they begin to feel alone. What they don’t realize is that everyone is rooting for them. There are many people in our world today that would not want our country and lives to become better. When someone is struggling, losing hope, feeling discouraged and thinking that they will never reach their goal, they have to remember that we are all here standing beside them and supporting them, waiting for their inner hero to surface changing our lives.

In conclusion, Joseph Campbell’s quote can connect to mythology. In mythology there are many life lessons that it teaches. This quote talks about becoming a hero. In all myths that include heroes, they face obstacles before they become a hero. This quote is referring to the lessons in mythology that a hero might learn along the way to their crowning moment. The quote is also bringing a more modern view on mythology, showing you how the life lessons that are found in myths can relate to your life, and becoming who you really want to be.

Although A Tale of Two Cities was written in 1859, I believe that it is relevant to a modern reader. The novel starts out saying "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way--." (pg. 1) If one breaks down this opening quote, one can find several connections from the mid 1800's to modern day.
“The best of times” as referenced in the novel can be seen with “There were a king with a large jaw, and a queen with a fair face on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the Lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled forever.” (pg. 1) This statement in the text allows the reader to picture an era of extreme happiness, riches, and royalty; much like the riches in our society today. These people are caught up in their own accomplishments, spending money on clothing, technology, the latest this, and the latest that. There are many people in our world thriving with endless positive opportunities and gaining endless amounts of money, prospering with everything they could have dreamed.
On the other hand, first world countries like India and Africa have starving children worrying about their next meal, not even aware of the newest iPhone. “A youth was sentenced to have his hands cut off, and his tongue torn out with pincers…” (pg. 2) From the text that while the best of times and most successful of kings and queens ruled over one part of the world, extreme violence, trauma, and suffering was just as common. Our current population is at both ends of the spectrum. There are people suffering from starvation, foreclosures, loss of jobs, war, and a poor economy.
The age of wisdom and the age of foolishness can also connect to a modern reader. In our world today there are people at both wise and foolish. There are people inventing, creating, perfecting medicines, using technology, expanding government, and using education to give them the lifestyle that will take them far in life. While at the same time, some people can't see past their own personal pleasures. They are out drinking and partying every night. They are throwing money into the economy to their own demise; their selfish mindset overpowering their drive to succeed-foolishness. By Dickens comparing and contrasting the qualities of his society in 1859, his words can still connect to modern day. Because of human nature, people will always contrast each other.
In conclusion, A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, does connect to our modern world today. With the patterns of mankind, the unchanging idea of being the best of times and worst of times, along with wisdom and foolishness, this book will be able to connect to present day and ongoing future generations, forever.

The defying of the general female archetype in The Hunger Games is found in the character Katniss Everdeen. Her lack of emotional vulnerability, sensitivity to the needs of others, and yearning for peace throughout many parts of the book portray her embracing the general male archetype of being a protector. The archetypical patterns of a protector show the intense love a male has for people he desires to protect and keep safe by putting himself in harm’s way or in the eye of danger to ensure the safety of those loved ones. He may look for any opportunities or sense of safety to keep his loved ones from getting hurt. Katniss’ embodiment of this particular archetypical pattern shows her embracing the general male archetype. The following proves Katniss as a protector.

As Katniss screams out “I volunteer! I volunteer as a tribute!” (Page 22) you see one of the first clues of her proving to be a protector. As she sacrifices her life to protect her younger sister, Prim, she is ensuring her safety. She is ensuring that Prim will stay alive. If that means that Katniss might lose her life, she is still willing to do it. In general male archetypes, we often see self-sacrificing to ensure security for the ones they consider to be their loved ones. This is exactly what Katniss is doing in the beginning of the book with her stepping up to volunteer.

In conclusion, Katniss embraces the general male archetype by being a protector throughout the novel, The Hunger Games. There are many examples and quotes in the text that show her motivation to keep family and loved ones alive. Although Katniss is indeed a female, she rejects many of the archetypical factors and patterns, while embracing the general male characteristics. Yes, there are places in The Hunger Games where Katniss is emotionally vulnerable, showing her sensitivity and yearning for peace and love, but overall, her embodiment of the archetypical pattern of being a protector proves her to embrace the general male archetype.

(Please ignore my last post. This is the correct one.)
The inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective experiences and present in the individul unconscious, that we call "archetypes" are commonly found in the novel The Hunger Games. Archetypes of general male, general female, hero, and villian can all be prominantly found in this book, but the specific archetype I would like to focus on is the general male archetype. The general male archetypcal patterns of being the provider and protector are emphasied specifically in Katniss Everdeen.
When you think of the patterns that often appear in the general male, you often might think of strength and being a provider and protector. The insecure, vulnerable, and fragile persona of the general female archetype is durastically rejected with Katniss Everdeen. Her skill with hunting especially shows her motivation and drive to be the protector and provider of her family. She desperately trys and will do anything to make sure her family is safe and well fed.
I think that women have often had the patterns of being more motherly and nurturing while the males are the ones out hunting, suffering with their strength to give everything and anything they can to their families. I think that Katniss shows the strength and motivation to be the protector and provider that the general male archetype generally follows and embodies.
Sure there are times when males can be emotional and vulnerable too. But the general male archetype shows the prominant patterns I'd strength, providing, and protecting all throughout history. This leaves me to the conclusion that Katniss Everdeen rejects the common female archetype and embraces the general male, in the book the Hunger Games. Her qualities of being the provider and protecter are red lights blinking to show us that she definately isn't your typical girl.

The inherited pattern of thought or symbolic imagery derived from the past collective experiences and present in the individul unconscious, that we call "archetypes" are commonly found in the novel The Hunger Games. Archetypes of general male, general female, hero, and villian can all be prominantly found in this book, but the specific archetype I would like to focus on is the general male archetype. The general male archetypcal patterns of being the provider and protector are emphasied specifically in Katniss Everdeen.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, I think, is a perfect example of the playing against and following of archetypes. Suzanne Collins is expert at both embracing and defying archetypes in this story. Although there are times where Susan definately follows the rules and embraces gender archetypes, I believe she is stronger at defying them.
Lets take Katniss, for example. Katniss most definately defys the common female archetype. In fact, when I first started the book I thought by the way she spoke, acted, and dressed, that she was actually a boy. There are many clues that play into Katniss defying the female archetype. Right at the start on page 4 she quotes "I pull on trousers, a shirt, and tuck my long braid into a cap." There's something about trousers and hiding your hair that doesn't scream out female to me. Katniss rejects the common female archetype here, because usually women are more caring about what they look like. They might wear more skirts, or dresses, and most definately want to show off their hair instead of burying it.
Also, on page 133 she says "I press my lips together hoping this will conceal the emotions starting to boil inside of me." This is yet another example of Katniss rejecting the common female archetype by hiding her emotions like a boy would do. Women and female archetypes are more expected and known to be more fragile, sensitive, and open with their emotions. In other words, they're not afraid to cry. Whereas men and the common male archetype are expected and portrayed to be stronger, fighting back and hiding their emotions which is exactly what Katniss is doing.
Yes, there are times in which Katniss embraces the common female archetype, but overall, she rejects it. She is stronger, more driven, more fierce, and more blunt than the common cultural female archetype. Overall, I believe that Suzanne Collins played against Katniss and many other character archetypes in "The Hunger Games". The professional approach to archetypes made "The Hunger Games" much more complex, interesting, and even more relateable.

In the short story "The Most Dangerous Game", the protagonist is Rainsford. At the start of the story, he proceeds to say "Don't talk rot, Whitney," "You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?" This lets us know right away that Rainsford obviously has no empathy. He doesn't care for the animals, or how the animal feels when it is being killed. After his falls captive on an unknown island, he meets General Zaroff. Zaroff was possessed with the passion of hunting. Zaroff was confident in his talent of hunting. He begins to tell Rainsford this: "Hunting had ceased to be what you call `a sporting proposition.' It had become too easy. I always got my quarry. Always. There is no greater bore than perfection." He had evolved to hunting more of a difficult creature. A creature that would actually provide a challenge for him. He hunted men. I think at this point when General Zaroff tells Rainsford this, Rainsford begins to be apprehensive about the idea of hunting mankind. As he says: "Thank you, I'm a hunter, not a murderer." I think that Rainsford right then decides that humans have the equal amount of fears and pain that he does. I think he realizes he would never want to put a human through that much pain and agony. He hunts animals, which makes sense, as to he is not an animal and does not know how it feels when they get hurt. I think that the experience on the island changes Rainsford for the better. He realizes that his love for life is more than what an animal head is worth. He realizes that pride, and how many animals you have does not matter. It was just a sport, and he would never go that far to kill humans just for the heck of it. Rainsford is still the exact same. He is simply more empathetic which may help him in the future by saving him from getting in over his head with hunting.

The Scarlet Ibis symbolizes Doodle's life in many ways. I believe the most admissible way that the Scarlet Ibis symbolizes Doodle would be the bird had flown so many miles. It had conquered conditions beyond belief, defying what mankind thought was possible. The bird was not meant to live in the conditions that it had flown to. But it had survived, and had made it outside it's own comfort zone. For Doodle, he had come so many miles. He had worked so hard to strengthen his body and to try and overcome his disability. He too had defied what was judged to be "possible" or "realistic". The story reads itself":"Sadly, we all looked at the bird. How many miles had it traveled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree?" Both Doodle and the Scarlet Ibis had come many miles from their original home, or state. They had worked so hard, and died under "bleeding trees", out of their element. Despite the tragedy of them both dying after such accomplishment, I believe anyone could look back on their lives and conclude that they both had come many miles and had overcome much trial and tribulation to try and defy the possible.