Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Hey everyone,
I was wondering how much of Beowulf we should be reading by thursday. Half the book, or the first 100 lines; theres a pretty big difference. I'm sure some of you are having the same dilemma so comment so we could discuss it.
JORDAN!!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Minutes of the Meeting

We got our essays back and continued the Heroic Archetype lecture. Here are the notes, mind you I'm not the best note-taker, so you may want to stay after if you were absent.

Mythic Hero #6
-there is a guide
-once hero passes some sort of test or trial, the guide shows up
--usually revered but unlikely person
-things will be offered ambiguously, meaning not spelled out
-hero will not be warned of danger, obviously
-hero must use common sense and knowledge to grow and mature
-guides usually have some unknown connection to opposing forces
-guides tend to have great power, but they lack power to fight in their old age (guides are commonly older, more frail people)

Mythic Hero #7
-there is a "descent into darkness"

EXAMPLES OF DESCENTS:
Finn deciding to rescue Jim and risk going to hell
Pinocchio in the belly of the whale
Holden Caulfield coming out of the mummy crypt in the museum

--is always figurative, but can be literal
---always preys on fears of the hero
---hero must face this conflict alone
-victory of hero is symbolized by a return to the light, cleansed and reborn in a sense
-heroes don't tend to destroy evil, evil destroys evil
ie: Vader kills the emperor, not Luke
ie: Gollum throws the ring into the fires of Mt. Doom, not Frodo

Mythic Hero #8
-something is different about the hero after the journey
--hero possesses some sort of new wisdom or maturity that was not part of the original quest
--other characters don't fully understand new knowledge or that the original "goal" was just a symbol

Mythic Hero #9
-Hero suffers physical wound
-hero may be wounded or killed to achieve goal
ie: Beowulf
-suffering is not as important as new knowledge or greatness
ie: 300

Mythic Hero #10
-the new knowledge of the hero is brought back to the hero's community somehow so that the hero, if he or she survives, becomes the guide of the next generation's hero

That's about it. Like I said, not the best note-taker, so you may want to stay after and get some help from Mr. Lazarow with this stuff.

~Ken

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Minutes for September 26

Mr. Lazarow was absent on friday so we continued the work we received on Thursday. The best thing to do would to continue reading Beowolf and answer the questions.
If you were also absent on Thursday the substitute told us if we knew all of the correct answers to the entire packet we would gaurentee an Ace on the final.
Sorry Mickey

Sean H

Saturday, September 27, 2008

What did we do Friday?

Hey, does anyone know what we did on Friday?
Please tell me...

Mickey Gill

Thursday, September 25, 2008

minutes from 9/25

today mr. laz was at the dodge poetry festival, so we had a very attractive, just kidding, substitute. he handed out a worksheet on Beowulf and said that if we complete the worksheet then we will pass the final because everything on that is on the final.

i think it would be a good idea for everyone to complete the worksheet, or at least review it with your book so you can get a good idea of what is on the test! but take your time, since we only just started reading the poem. maybe fill it out as you go along? whatever floats your boat.


so anyways, get the worksheet done! it seems important and is a good opportunity.
ellen hassinger

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

ideas about hero's more common today

today in class we talked about how mr. laz was saying that his pictures and examples of heros were a little outdated, soo im just wondering if you guys thought of any "modern" heros?

ellen hassinger

Heroism

As for heroism, I agree with Jordan partially. I do believe it's all about a person's perception. My heroes will be different then others because of the way I see the world or certain ideals. And that idea goes for everyone. I'm not personally going to call somebody a hero for being brave or courageous, but someone else may. 

-Ryan Grosso