Author Archives: Caitlin

The Iliad

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  • 1.What are differences and similarities between Achilles’s relationship with his fellow Achaeans and Hector’s relationship with his fellow Trojans? Outline not only how these two warriors relate to those around them but to each other.

Hector and Achilles were both the leaders, Hector was the leader of the Trojan war and Achilles the leader  of the Myrmidons. The men are looked upon as great leaders, Achilles is looked at as a god and Hector a prince that leads his country. Both men made mistakes  during the war, and also miss being in the war themselves. The big difference between Achilles and Hector was what they were fighting for, Achilles was fighting to show that he was a hero, to show that he was the best. Where as Hector was fighting for his nation and his family and had a better moral judgement.

  • 2. The excerpt from Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried gives context for those of you who have not been in battle. It speaks to the breaking down of all known boundaries, such as good and evil, that occurs in war. Achilles breaks the Greek standard and religious observance of respect for the dead by dragging Hector’s body around. Even though Hector is his enemy, his acts would have been seen by a B.C. Greek soldier as sacrilege. What is it that brings Achilles back to balance after his berserk episode, and what significance can this transformation have, what does it communicate?

I believe that it was seeing Hector’s father that brought Achilles back to balance, he realises that everyone has lost during this battle and everyone is suffering not just himself. Seeing Priams suffering and weakness when asked for a proper burial helped bring Achilles morals and compassion come back.

  • 3. Achilles spends the first 18 books of the epic Refusing the Call. He even refuses the Embassy’s offer, a scene in which he proclaims an interest in a domestic life. This proclamation is interesting when compared to the circumstances of Hector in Book 22 when, as we he waits for Achilles to arrive for the final battle he knows he will ever fight, his father Priam and his mother Hecuba call to him from the gates of Troy. This scenes speaks to the inner-tug these warriors feel between two distinct codes of behavior: 1. The Warrior Code and 2. The Familial Code. The first code is dependent upon Honor and and Victory; the second on responsibility for offspring and spouse. Are these two codes mutually exclusive? Why or why not?

I believe that the Warrior Code and the Familial code are not mutually exclusive. Hector was able to show that he had a balance of both codes, wanting to fight but yet loved his family very much and wanted to protect them. Whereas Achilles only had the Warrior code in mind, fighting and winning was his only passion.

Gilgamesh

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1. Can you identify any of the stages of the Hero’s Journey in the story of Gilgamesh? You may begin by asking yourself: What is Gilgamesh’s Call to Adventure; or what is Enkidu’s?

The story didn’t really remind me of a true hero’s journey like what I had been imagining or when I tried to compare it to any movies, example: Disney movies, Harry Potter, or even Lord of the Rings. I mostly got from the story that Gilgamesh  went off, met a friend and after he has his call to adventure by wanting to cut down the cedar tree, Gilgamesh and Enkidu together fought the Humbaba and defeat him. Gilgamesh’s  friend then sacrifices himself, making Enkidu, I believe, the hero instead of Gilgamesh.

2. Do you believe any of the Four Functions of Mythology, as outlined in ‘Mythological Themes in Creative Literature and Art’, are alive and active in the story of Gilgamesh? Why or why not?

I believe that they four functions of mythology were in the story. Through the whole story we watch Gilgamesh transform to a more mature adult.

3. What judgement would you make concerning the success or failure of Gilgamesh’s journey? For instance, he failed to return with the Plant of Everlasting Life, but what did he gain instead? Is it a worthy replacement for eternal youth?

Gilgamesh did not return with the Plan of Everlasting Life, and then had to watch his friend pass. But he did grow and become wiser on the trip, that can be seen as a gain to some.

A Hero’s Journey

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1. What movies can you recall–besides The Matrix, which was mentioned in the lecture notes–that follow the thread of The Hero’s Journey? When you cite your film, or films, be sure to judge whether or not you believe the general formula was appropriated well or poorly; and, moreover, describe a few scenes that match some of the stages of the journey, such as done in the video in the lecture notes.

When thinking of what movie I could relate to that follows the thread of The Hero’s Journey, I instantly thought of all Disney movies. Almost all Disney movies have the same theme, the main character is trying to achieve something, example: Mulan – trying to her dads approval and trying to find her place, Lion King – Simba trying to prove he is a good enough cub to his father, Little Mermaid – trying to be with the man she loves. I could go on about every Disney movie on how they are all Journeys.

I will discuss how Mulan is the journey of a Hero today. Mulan starts out with a girl that doesn’t feel she really fits in, especially after she makes a mess of things while trying to be a proper suitor for men. Mulans father then is summoned away due to war, and Mulan trying to save her fathers life and to win approval runs away to war.  This is the start, or the “Call to Adventure” of the story. Next Mulans ancestors call upon little MuSho the dragon to help Mulan upon this journey, the supernatural aid.

Mulan begins her transformation while at camp after she is kicked out because she was “not man enough”. Her helper MuSho provides inspiration and she works past her challenges. Leading to her revelation and surpassing her piers. The Transformation then happens once the others finds that she is a female, and kick her out, only for Mulan to come back and save the King and she is accepted.

The Return is when Mulan comes back from the war and her family is more than happy to have her home safe and sound and with a man now. I believe that this movie was appropriated well because it gave girls a good motivation that if you have a hard journey due to not fitting in well or not ready for a suitor its okay to try and venture out.

2. Do you believe current cinema either meets or fails to meet the human needs expressed in the four functions of mythology? Those needs would be: the need for mystery; the need for a picture of the universe in which human beings belong; the need for a picture of our society in which each person belongs; the need for a picture of our own psychology that helps with the transitions of a human life, from childhood to adulthood, from adulthood to death. Can movies meet any of these needs? Why or why not?

I believe that current cinema  somewhat meets the human needs. I feel that the current wants for movies are more important when it comes to making movies and that it was is being produced that the moment. Marvel movies meet the needs of the universe in which human beings belong. But other than that current cinema is meeting the wants of humans instead.

Intro

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Hello,

My name is Caitlin. I was born and raised in Fairbanks. I lived there till this past May 2014, and I decided to move to Silverdale, Washington due to “friend”(we started dating after I moved down here) that was in the Navy. I am in love with Washington and honestly not living in Alaska any more.

I have been going to UAF since, sadly, 2007. I started out my freshmen year wanting to be a dentist due to a love with improving smiles. I found that I was terrible at math, and had no motivation for school.  After two years I switched my focus to becoming a hygienist, but had the thought processes of becoming a dental assistant before hygiene school. I completed the dental assisting program and started working full time as an assistant. Over the past five years as an assistant I have come to realize that I do not enjoy the dental field.So last year I took an accounting class and loved it, I then switched my degree focus to Accounting.

I’m honestly taking this class because I need it. I do love love love to read, I can sit and read for hours. BUT when it is required to read, I can’t seen to find it in me to want to read that book and then have to write about it! So I am hoping that I can change my ways with this class and help me become a better writer and required reader.

Me and the boyfriend at a Mariners game.

Me and the boyfriend at a Mariners game.