Hero's Journey

The Odyssey

I. DEPARTURE

*Call to Adventure: How does the character receive the call to adventure?
          King Agamemnon and King Menalaus went to Odysseus and ask for Odysseus help for war against the trojan.

*Refusal of the Call: Does the character accept the call immediately?
          No, because he don't want to leave his wife Penelope and his first born child Telemachus that had just been born.

*Answering the Call: What motivates the character to accept the call?
         Odysseus has no choice but to fight because he was force to come with them and Agamemnon and Manelaus are both close friends of Odysseus so he cannot say no to them.

*Supernatural Aid: Who or what helps on his journey? Why?
          >Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war helps Odysseus on his journey because before Odysseus leave Ithaca , he prayed to Athena to guide and help him through the war and Athena is Odysseus goddess.

            >Aeolus, God of wind helped Odysseus by giving a sac of wind so that Odysseus can safely sail home.

            >Hermes, messenger of gods helped Odysseus by giving him a herb that can protect him from Circe curse and also Hermes convince Calypso to let Odysseus go home.
       
            >Circe, helped Odysseus by telling him that he needs to find the blind prophet Teiresias in the underworld so that he can return home and some advises that can help Odysseus in his journey.

*Guide/Mentor: Is there a specific character that helps the hero understand the life situation or provides the hero with special training?
              Athena is Odysseus mentor, she always appears on Odysseus every time he needs guidance. She always gives advise and  inspirational words to Odysseus. She always help Odysseus when he has problems. As Odysseus is sailing towards Troy, Athena appears and says that he must defeat the Trojans and he must be strong.

*Talisma: Is there a  particular item that has significance to the hero?
           Sac full of wind given by Aeolus the god of wind, that can help Odysseus safely sail home.

*Companions: Who is with the hero on his journey? How do these companions help the hero face the challenges?
           Odysseus' crew is with him throughout the journey. They face all the challenges together and they never leave Odysseus.

*Crossing the Threshold: At what point in the story does the hero leave the familiar world and move into a new, unfamiliar world?
         After the trojan war, Odysseus together with his crew decided to go home but Poseidon holds a grudge against Odysseus for thinking that the gods didn't help him in the trojan war. Poseidon makes Odysseus' journey home more difficult and the journey of Odysseus to the unfamiliar worlds begins.

*Threshold Guardians: Are there characters that try to prevent the hero from crossing over into the unfamiliar territory or circumstances?
        Yes. First is Circe ,she wants Odysseus to stay in her island and make him her lover and also Calypso because she fell in love with Odysseus.

II. INITIATION

*Road of Trials: What specific challenges does the hero face?
          The challenges that Odysseus faced are the following:
                 -his journey going home
                 -to get out in the cave of Polyphemus
                 -entering the underworld and face the 3 headed monster
                 -to get back his kingdom from Penelope's suitors

*Brother Battle: Does the hero battle physically or mentally with someone who is a relative or a close friend?
         NO, he did not battle to any one who is a relative or a close friend.

*Meeting the Goddess: Does the hero meet with a character with special beauty and power?
         YES, Odysseus met Circe, a devastatingly beautiful witch-goddess and Calypso, a devastatingly beautiful nymph.

*Abduction: Is the character kidnapped, or is someone close to the hero kidnapped?
           NO, but Odysseus stay in the island of Circe and Calypso for a how many years and the two don't want Odysseus to leave them.

*Night or Sea Journey: Where do the hero's travels take him?
            >Odysseus and his crew reached the island of the Lotus Eaters to search for foods.
            >They dock in an island where they find Polyphemus a cyclops who happens to be Poseidon's son.              
            >They reached the island of Aeolus where he get a sac of wind that Aeolus gives him.
            >They reached the island of the Laestrygonians where the cannibals eat some of Odysseus crew.                   
            >They reached the island of Circe where they stay there for a short period of time but ended up staying for a couple of years.
            >They enter the underworld to find the prophet Teiresias to ask for their way home.
            >Odysseus reached the island Ogygia where he finds Calypso who fell in love with him and ask him to stay with her in the island.
            >Odysseus reached the island of the Phaecians where King Alcinous the King of Phaecians helps him return to Ithaca.

*Dragon Battle: Does the hero battle some kind of monster? Does the hero face an inner-demon?
           YES, Odysseus face a three-headed monster and Polyphemus a cyclops.

*Ritual Death or Dismemberment: Is the hero injured and thought to be dead? Does the hero mistakenly believe someone close to him is dead? Does the hero suffer an injury in which he loses a limb or use of some other body part?
          YES, Odysseus is injured because of his journey and all people in Ithaca except his family thought he is already dead.

*Sacred Marriage:  Does the hero have a special  emotional bond? ( It could literally be a marriage with another character )
           NO, Odysseus don't have any special emotional bond with others because he really loves Penelope his wife but he goes to bed with Circe and Calypso.

*Atonement ("at one with") with or Recognition by the Father: Is the hero reunited with his father in some way?
           In the movie, Odysseus father didn't mention but in the book of Homer Odysseus and his father Laertes reunited.
*Entering the Belly of the Whale: Is there some point in the story where the hero must face his deepest fear or the darkest evil in the story?
        Yes, when Odysseus enters the underworld. He is afraid that he may not come back.

*Apotheosis (Deification): Is there a point in the story where the hero is held up as an ideal or where the hero is worshipped as a god?
         NO because Odysseus is known to be a good and brave king.

*Ultimate Boon/Magic Elixir: Does the hero find some special solution to the problem he is attempting to resolve? This might be a magic potion or a key to something
         >Magical herb protection from Circe's curse and a sac full of wind given by Aeolus for a safe sail going home

III. THE RETURN

*Refusal of the Return: Does the hero initially refuse to return to the homeland or the place that he began the journey?
            NO, because Odysseus gone for 15 years and really wants to see his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus.

*Magic Flight/Pursuit: Is there some point (generally toward the end) where the hero is being chased or is otherwise trying to escape something?
            YES, when Odysseus in the island of Calypso he saw a ship and Calypso's maid chased him because Calypso don't want Odysseus to leave.

*Rescue from Without: Is there some point in the story when all seems hopeless, when it looks like the hero is going to die then suddenly he is rescued unexpectedly?
             YES, when Poseidon brought up a large waves as part of his revenge and Nausica the daughter of King Alcinous found and rescued him in the sea side.

*Crossing the Return Threshold: Is there some point where the hero clearly returns "home"?
             YES, after Odysseus tell his journey to King Alcinous, the King have pity on Odysseus and offer him a ship that can take him back to Ithaca. On their way to Ithaca Odysseus fell asleep and when he wake up he is already in Ithaca. Athena comes to him and tells him that he is already home.

*Master of Two Worlds: Does it appear that the hero has conquered life in both the familiar and unfamiliar worlds?
            YES, because Odysseus face all the challenges in his journey and be able to return home and bring back his kingdom.

*Freedom to Live: Since the hero typically beings the journey to resolve a problem, does it appear the problem is at last resolved so that all can live freely?
            YES, because Odysseus be able to return home and he resolve the problems in the kingdom when he came back and Odysseus and his family leaves happily.

Reaction Paper

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

1. In the movie, Percy is able to command the sea, while Tyson has great strength and keen senses of smell and hearing. Imagine you are the son or daughter of a god and possess an extraordinary ability. Describe the ability you would choose for yourself and how you might use it on the quest.

If I will be a daughter of a god and if I will possess an extraordinary ability I will choose the ability of invisibility because if I can see that there is enemies near me I can be invisible and it will be easy for me to defeat my enemies and can pass through them easily because they cannot see me and also if my friends are in trouble I can easily help them because I can also make them invisible.

2. How do Percy's feelings about Tyson at the end of the story differ from his feelings about Tyson at the beginning of the story? What do you think is the reason for this change?
Compare the relationship of Percy and Tyson to their father, Posiedon. Site some instances to support your statement.

             At first, Percy is in doubt of having a brother because Tyson is a Cyclops and he was ashamed to have a monster as a brother. He did not believe him and he did not trust Tyson but later on he is fond of Tyson after the adventures they had together and when Luke and his henchman ambush them Tyson save Percy’s life and when Percy thought Tyson is dead he felt guilty because he did not treat Tyson as a brother.

             Percy relationship to his father is at first, Percy resented his father, feeling as if he were abandoned, but as he sees more of his father they form a close bond. When every time Percy tries to talk to his father to ask help, it ends up with no response while Tyson never had a bond with his father because he was one of the many homeless Cyclopes but his father always help him when he ask for help.

3. How is the reawakening of Thalia, the daughter of Zeus, impact the prophecy that says “a half-blood child of one of the Big Three gods will be a dangerous weapon or destruction”?

Thalia can also be one of the prophecy that can bring back Zeus to life and Zeus will take advantage of that.

Demeter

Goddess of Fertility and Agriculture

         Demeter possessing an introverted temperament, a kind, and has a gentle-soul, she re-paid people well for even the smallest favors. She is concerned with bearing, raising and nurturing children and family. She was also depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheaf of wheat and a torch. She is the goddess who taught mankind about agriculture, she is also the goddess responsible for creating winter and a mystery religious cult. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. She is the daughter of Cronos and Rhea. And also has a daughter Persephone who abducted by Hades.

        My similarities to Demeter are, like Demeter I am also a shy type person I don't like to be notice by people. I am also a kind person I really want to help people in need especially if I know that I can help them. I also love children, I love to play with them and I am happy to see a happy family. I am also a matured person. I know how to handle things in a situation especially my problems and I have a green thumb that's why I chose Demeter because she is the goddess of Fertility and Agriculture. I love to plant vegetables and trees, I am happy every time I see my plants grow and I am always talking to the plants when I am watering them. 

Movie Analysis

                                  

   

                                   
                                       Les Misérables

Genre: Novel, Epic, Historical fiction

Characters:




Jean Valjean- an ex-convict who suffers 19 years in prison by just stealing a bread. He has a adopted daughter name Cosette.

Cosette - Fantine’s daughter and Jean Valjean adopted daughter.  Her mother left her to the Thenardiers' while working but the Thenardiers' made her their servant.









Javert - A police inspector who called Jean Valjean 24601 and strictly believes in law and order and will stop at nothing to enforce France’s harsh penal codes. He nurses an especially strong desire to recapture Valjean, whose escapes and prosperity he sees as an affront to justice.








Fantine - Mother of Cosette. A working-class girl who leaves her hometown of Montreuil-sur-mer to seek her fortune in Paris to send money to her daughter.











Marius Pontmercy - A member of the Friends of the ABC who join the insurrection at the barricade and fell in love with Cosette.











M. Myriel - The bishop of Digne who helped Jean Valjean to start a new life and make him a honest man.










M. Thénardier - Father of Eponine. A cruel, wretched, money-obsessed man who first appears as Cosette’s keeper and tormentor.








Mme. Thénardier - M. Thénardier’s wife and Eponine mother. Just as evil as her husband and takes special pleasure in abusing Cosette.











Eponine - The Thénardiers’ daughter who helps her parents steal, but she is eventually redeemed by her love for Marius.










Gavroche - He is a happy-go-lucky child who is also fierce and brave, especially during the barricade.

Enjolras - The leader of the Friends of the ABC. Together with Courfeyrac and Marius, Enjolras leads the insurrection at the barricade.






Setting:

             France, Paris, Montreuil, Montfermeil

Plot:

         Jean Valjean also known as 24601 is released from a French prison after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread and for subsequent attempts to escape from prison. Jean Valjean wants to start again after wasting how many years but he find hard to look for a job because he is an ex-convict and people judges him.. Jean Valjean find a place to stay outside the convent but M. Myriel, the kindly bishop of Digne saw Valjean and let him enter the convent. Myriel offer Valjean food and drink but Valjean repays the bishop by stealing his silverware. The police arrest Valjean but Myriel covers for him, claiming that the silverware was a gift. The police release Valjean and Myriel makes him promise to become an honest man. Eager to fulfill his promise, Valjean masks his identity and enters the town of Montreuil-sur-mer. Under the assumed name of Madeleine, Valjean invents an ingenious manufacturing process that brings the town prosperity. He eventually becomes the town’s mayor.

         In Montreuil, Fantine finds work in Madeleine’s factory. Fantine’s coworkers find out that Fantine has a daughter and Fantine lost her job. Desperate to have money for her daughter she resorts to prostitution. One night, Javert, Montreuil’s police chief, arrests Fantine. She is to be sent to prison, but Madeleine intervenes and told Javert that Fantine must send to a doctor not to the prison. Fantine has fallen ill, and when she longs to see Cosette, Madeleine promise her that he will find Cosette and will take good care of her and Fantine dies from the shock. However, Javert, discovered that Madeleine is the 24601 that he is searching for years. Javert shows up to arrest Valjean while Valjean is at Fantine’s bedside.

        Valjean escapes from Javert and heads to Montfermeil, where he find Cosette and be able to buy Cosette from the Thénardiers. The Thénardiers turn out to be a family of scoundrels who abuse Cosette while spoiling their own daughter, Eponine. Valjean and Cosette move to a run-down part of Paris to start a new life.

        One day, Marius sees Cosette at a public park. It is love at first sight and Marius ask Eponine to help him to find where Cosette lives. Eponine, who is in love with Marius, helps Marius discover Cosette’s whereabouts. Marius is finally able to make contact with Cosette, and the two declare their love for each other. But Valjean and Cosette move to England before Marius came back to their house because the Thenardier  finds their home.

        The uprising seems doomed, but Marius and his fellow students nonetheless stand their ground and vow to fight for freedom and democracy. The students discover Javert among their ranks, and, realizing that he is a spy, Enjolras ties him up. As the army launches its first attack against the students, Eponine throws herself in front of a rifle to save Marius’s life. As Eponine dies in Marius’s arms, she hands him a letter from Cosette. Marius quickly scribbles a reply and orders a boy, Gavroche, to deliver it to Cosette.

        Valjean manages to intercept the note and sets out to save the life of the man his daughter loves. Valjean arrives at the barricade and volunteers to execute Javert. When alone with Javert, instead of killing him Valjean secretly let him go free. As the army storms the barricade, Valjean grabs the wounded Marius and flees through the sewers. When Valjean emerges hours later, Javert immediately arrests him. Valjean pleads with Javert to let him take the dying Marius to Marius’s grandfather. Javert agrees. Javert feels tormented, torn between his duty to his profession and the debt he owes Valjean for saving his life. Ultimately, Javert lets Valjean go and throws himself into the river, where he drowns.

        Marius makes a full recovery and is reconciled with Gillenormand, who consents to Marius and Cosette’s marriage.Valjean confesses his criminal past to Marius and he told Marius to take good care of her daughter Cosette because he will go and left her daughter. During the wedding of Marius and Cosette, Thénardier told Marius that Valjean saves his life during the barricade.Marius and Cosette rush to Valjean’s side just in time for a final reconciliation. Happy to be reunited with his adopted daughter, Valjean dies in peace.


Theme:

The Importance of Love and Compassion

       The movie shows that love and compassion are the most important gifts one person can give another and that always displaying these qualities should be the most important goal in life. It shows how Valjean’s transformed from a hate-filled and hardened criminal into a loving father and a helpful man.

Social Injustice in Nineteenth-Century France

       The movie shows how the poor people struggle because of the social injustice during nineteenth-century in France. How the criminals suffers in the prison, just like Jean Valjean who steal a loaf of bread and suffers for 19 years.

The Long-Term Effects of the French Revolution on French Society

        The movie shows the social impact of the numerous revolutions, insurrections, and executions that took place in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century France. Similarly, the battle at the barricade is both heroic and futile, a few soldiers are killed, but the insurgents are slaughtered without achieving anything.


Symbolism:

Myriel’s Silver Candlesticks

        The candlesticks are the most prominent symbol of compassion, they shed a light that always brings love and hope.When Myriel gives Valjean his silver candlesticks, Myriel is literally passing on this light as he tells Valjean he must promise to become an honest man. The candlesticks reappear frequently in the movie to remind Valjean of his duty that he has to attain his goal of love and compassion.

Snakes, Insects, and Birds

         In the movie, each character represent something just like the orphaned figures of Cosette and Gavroche are frequently referred to as creatures of flight: Cosette as a lark and Gavroche as a fly. The Thénardiers, on the other hand, are described as snakes, and Cosette’s time among them is likened to living with beetles. These opposing symbols suggest that whereas Cosette and Gavroche can rise above their miserable circumstances, the Thénardiers are rooted in their immoral pursuits. They are creatures of the earth, which means that they are not as free as Cosette or Gavroche, who can fly wherever they please.

         The relation of the title of the film in the film as a whole is that, the les miserables in english means the miserable one or the poor ones and the films shows the struggle of the poor people, how people fight for their freedom and seek for justice. Among the characters I can relate with Cosette because despite of all her struggle as a kid, she never gave up and  became a strong and loving woman as she grow old. The part of the movie that struck me most is at the end when Jean Valjean and her adopted daughter Cosette met again and they talk and ask forgiveness before Jean Valjean died and Jean Valdean died happy and all the people who died for their freedom is happy in the other world because they died with honor.

        For me, the message of the movie is that we must stand for our right and fight for our freedom. It doesn't mean that you are poor you have no right to speak for your self and just look down. As long as we know that we are right and we are not doing anything wrong, we have to stand and fight for our country.  I really like the movie because it is an eye opener for us. You can get many lessons that you can apply in your life and also it is entertaining because it is a musical movie.

        I agree with the main theme/purpose because for me the purpose of the movie is to be the eye opener for all the people that the justice must be equal for the poor and rich. That we must fight for our freedom and for the justice. I specifically like the part were M. Myriel welcome Jean Valjean without judging him and offer him food and drink and a stay to sleep. M. Myriel gives Valjean a chance to start a new life and make him a promise to become an honest man.

        For me, there are no aspects of the theme which are left ambiguous because it shows clearly in the movie the importance of love and compassion, the Social Injustice in Nineteenth-Century France and the The Long-Term Effects of the French Revolution on French Society from the beginning until the end of
the movie.The film relate to the things that are happening in my life in the sense of fighting for my right especially if I know that I am right and also to be brave in facing all the struggle that I may encounter.

Bio Poem

Rose Ann

Friendly, Adventurous, Optimistic, Helpful

Sibling of Dan Elie

Lover of Wattpad, Chocolate & Ice Cream

Who fears heights, ghost & darkness

Who needs to work hard, money & vacation

Who gives friendship, love & care

Who would like to see Channing Tatum, Iguazu falls & Eiffel tower

Resident of the City of Smiles, Bacolod

Tambanillo

Minsan may isang Puta by: Mike Portes

The Meaning of the Poem:

When you read the title you can already say that the poem is about a slut girl. As I read it I understand why the author choose that title because it is really about the story of a slut girl, as I continue read it I sympathized the girl because the reason why she became a slut is for her children and some of her children left her to have a happy and abundant life in abroad. When I reach the end and found out that the girl name is "Pilipinas" that's time I realized that the poem has a deeper meaning. It is not only talking about a slut girl but it is talking about our country the Philippines. 


The poem talks about our country that once invade by foreigners the Spanish, Japanese and the Americans. How they abuse our country and the Filipinos, but the Americans help us and they have taught us how to read and speak English that's why many Filipinos like Americans. And it also talks about how talented Filipinos are, and how Filipinos go to abroad to work and gain more money to have a better life. I like the poem because it is an eye opener for us Filipinos to realize the importance of our country. We must love our country because we are lucky to have a beautiful one and if we will not take good care of our country we will be the one who can destroy it.

The Mechanics of the Poem:

The poem has no set of rhythm pattern or rhyme scheme, so it is a free verse. The author did not follow any specific guidelines, she let her thoughts run wild so the poem read more like a conversation or story. 

The devices used in the poem are simile,metaphor, alliteration, hyperbole, and allusion.

The tone of the author are angry, despair, pitiful, and upset.

The mood the poem create is allegory .

Why Do I Listen To Music?

  Did you know .....

• that your favorite song is probably your favorite because you associate it with an emotional event in your life..

• your heartbeat changes and mimics the music you listen to..

• flowers can grow faster by listening to music..

• the type of music you listen to affects the way you perceive the world..

     
          That's how powerful music is... Music has been proven to change our moods, that's why therapist recommends it. According to Victor Hugo "music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot be silent ". I agree with Victor Hugo because for me music is our way to express what we really feel. Only music can make our feet dance and music can be the voice of our hearts. People listen to music for different reasons and at different times.

I listen to music......

               because it is my stress reliever, it makes me feel relax after having a stressful day. It feels like I'm lying on the clouds especially when I'm listening to slow acoustic music and love songs. Every time I feel lonely I just listen to music because music can comfort me. Also listening to music can make me smile, sad, cry and laugh because I can relate with the song and music can let our mind reminisce back to our past. If I cannot confront someone, I express it through music by singing a song related to what I wanted to say in that person. If I'm in love I can feel butterflies in my tummy and I can't get the smile on my face every time I listen to music especially love songs. If I'm sad and I'm listening to sad music I can really feel the pain but at the same time the pain eases and I feel better. That's how music affects me and my life.

Music plays an important role in our life, without music the world would be empty, dull and lifeless. Music can calm you down, it makes you happy and alive. Music makes you enjoy life, it allows you to cry and laugh. And most especially music allow you to dance and makes you fall in love.