- (Group 1) What is the only permanent thing? Change
- (Group 2) What is a modern version of Pan and Apollo? Tenacious D
- Archetype: the old stuff
- Signature: the new way you tackle the old stuff
- (Group 3) What false idol brought snow-Pygmallion to life? John Madden
- (Group 4) At the beginning there was the Flood and at the end there was the Flood.
- (Group 5) How did John get away from the Cyclops? He said his name was No Man
- (Group 6) What can be said about all ends? They are also beginnings
- What two parts did Corrin say were about the same? Heart and Groin
- In Triston's final, they didn't have written knowledge, they had Oral Traditions.
- What did Jon Orsi's final compare the writing process of ? Loss of virginity
- James Joyce compares himself to what mythological personage? God
- Eat raw flesh of one dismembered is called what? Omophagia
- "In my Beginning is my End"
- The happy ending of a fairytail is the Transcendance of a tragedy.
- Mythology does not Construct your faith. It Reconstructs your religion.
- What does Narcissus's mother ask the oracle? Will he live to old age
- What is a Moly? Magic herb in mythology
- What does Pegasus mean? Fountain horse
- What is the ticket to the underworld? Golden Bough
Mythologies
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Final Test Questions
The rest of the Presentations
- Importance of being in Africa
- Illiada Quote pg#23
- How mythology is kept to life through movies
- Endings where gods make things okay
- Pretty Woman--"Making a hoe a housewife"
- *******Deusxes Machina: god comes at end and fixes everything
- Henderson the Rain King
- Book focused on memories
- He makes connections to real world
- Page 199 "How shall a man be broken for some switch dwelling"
- Romilayu is the true hero
- Didn't like Henderson
- He was too self-centered
- Related Henderson the Rain King to personal life
- Read serious religious books for fun
- Thought stories were fun, but would never relate to
- Don't appreciate culture unless you are immersed in it
- Learned mythology has always been there in her life
- We exemplify myth
- Events lead up to flashbacks
- Passage from Finigins Wake
Individual Presentations
- Henderson vs Freud
- Therapy session with Freud
- Henderson is child like
- Story skips around
- Discover conscious
- Struggle of conscious and unconscious mind
- Henderson is Public Magician
- Related to succession
- Dahfu becomes immortal
- "Long live the king"
- Orphean Myth--Ovid
- She told story to Mom
- "Why would you tell a story like that?"
- You cannot defeat death
- The power of art and love
- ******Sonnet 146*******
- Henderson the Rain King and Chapter 7 in Myth and Reality
- Henderson's apocalypse of his past
- He is a Be-er
- He overcomes his fear
- He has the will to change
- Africa is a state of mind
- Step out of your comfort zone
- "Pompous Ass"
- What is art?
- Deadalus and Orpheus
- Symbolism is very important
- "Artist cannot escape his art or his fate"
- Art is both a gift and a curse
- 12 pages long
- Research on Illiada
- Religion in Illiada
- All things are sacred
- Non-religious man is not real
- Symbolic is things that we ourselves make important
- **********Hierophany: everything is sacred; bring to life**********
- 3 Ovid stories compared to 3 movies
- Pigmalion vs My Fair Lady
- Pyrumus and Thisby vs Trison and Esol
- Apollo and Daphne vs Sound of Music
- Henderson the Rain King
- Connected to other stories
- Friend went to Africa, similar to Henderson
- Guy names his baby after friend
- Cell phones are super popular
- "Sex with me doesn't cure AIDS" (Billboard)
- Children can name plants, but can't read or write
- Children are mythical
- The Ugly American
- She wears a bracelet with white beads
- She has to sleep with brother-in-law to move on from death of her husband
- Henderson is trying to get back to illo-tempore
- He is not in touch with reality
- He goes to Africa to get in touch with himself
- He was in dream-time
- "The beginning is the end"
- Illiada's Myth and REality
- Reality is secondary
- Myth shapes our reality
- Take pieces of myth and carry on for generations
- She went on a medical missions trip to Africa at age 15
- Her dad is a doctor
- Africans are peaceful and don't care what others think
- Worked in OR
- Man had to go out and kill a lion
- He walked 3 days to hospital
- Man was gored by a wild beast
- They dare to dream
- She lived a dream there
- "We can all change for the better"
- Henderson the Rain King
- Mythical Structure--Beginning, Middle, End
- He always suffers
- Revelation--I want
- Modern society has mythical things
- Demythologizing Batman Begins
- Fear of bats because father's death
- Super ego = God (villan)
- Repressed ID
- Connect Bible to Mythology
- Unicorns=Re'em; Re-yod-em
- Real unicorn=deer with one horn
- Biblical references (lots of them!)
- Props--cool mask with mirrors behind
- Why I already knew and learned to remember--Title
- Everything is new to her
- Started connecting things she learned in class to her past
- She reads books about myths to apply to her life
- Based her paper/presentation on a dream
- Allegory of the mind
- Mirrors show reality, infinity, and all-knowing
- Homeopathy
- The kind was anticipating the reain, so he had an umbrella
- Purple ribbons and skulls with cloth
- The moving of the ephigies
- Seriousness of ceremony
- Details of Henderson the Rain King
- Had a difficult time reading book
- Thought if Henderson read the Golden Bough, he would have been a lot better off
- He is always suffering
- He goes by ways that he is not
- Cub represents his owner's new way of life
- I want, I want was gone
- Escatology
- Obsessed with Literal Escatology
- The world is going to end in 2002 on a napkin
- Learned the world ends every day
- Henderson is a fetus
- He decends (his underworld) to Africa
- He is consumed with flame of grief
- Left in islolation room between flame and ash with Dahfu
- He brought fertility back to his heart
- Always interested in myths
- learned myths turn into real people and real events
- Connects life to Io and Jove
- She brought herself out of depression
- "I hate mythology"
- She now embraces mythology
- No longer ancient timeless science fiction
- She is Catholic (practicing not recovering)
- Relates her religion to mythology
- Myth is something that never was, but will always be
- "trust the tales, not the teller"
- I want, I want
- 3 sections: At home US= viloin, pigs; Leaving family to go to Africa (wants change); King Dahfu--1st good deed, satisfies "I want"
- Who is Eclepious (healer of human arts)
- James Joyce book
- Read 1st page and thought it would be easy
- His birthday April 27th
- media and entertainment
- Advertising related to mythology
- Nike--looks like wing from goddess
- Broke down Henderson the Rain King
- Escapes life; always running away from reality
- Belly of the whale
- Mythology is everywhere
- The book Doom
- Main character represents Apollo (Paul)
- I want, I want
- We have all heard the saying, but we have been told we can't. He never has.
- Africa wasn't the answer to his problems. It helps.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
My Final Paper
Jenna Theisen
Dr. Michael Sexson
9 December 2010
Mythologies
Loyalty of a True Friend
While reading Henderson the Rain King, I found the main character to be very self-centered, spoiled, dishonest, and all together rude. I think the majority of the people in the class related to Henderson toward the end of the book when he makes up for all of his mistakes. I, on the other hand, believe the most deserving character who did not get enough attention in the book is Romilayu, an African guide and interpreter of Henderson’s.
In the story Henderson wants to go to Africa on this big adventure and eventually runs into an African interpreter named Romilayu. He would guide Mr. Henderson on his journey across Africa and in return would get the jeep Henderson promised him.
I really admired Romilayu’s character. He is in his mid thirties and is obviously a very hard worker. The thing I admired most about him is his loyalty. Not only is he loyal to Henderson, but he is also extremely loyal to his religion. “He said his prayers every evening. He fetched up deep sounds from his chest, like confiding groans of his soul” (45-46). Even when Romilayu is in the worst of times and confronted with challenging obstacles, he never turns away from his religion.
Even when Henderson screws up the most with the frogs, it is Romilayu who is there to encourage him to be a better man. Everyone else is so disappointed in him, but not Romilayu. He minds his own business and does not point fingers at anyone.
Henderson does not think of Romilayu’s feelings when confronted with certain obstacles. When they stay in the hut and have to make a fire to stay warm, Henderson tells Romilayu, “Rustle up some kindling, I tell you, and make it snappy” (133). There is no respect in that tone. He does not treat Romilayu very well and Romilayu does not say or do anything negative to Henderson in return. Even when they find the dead body in the hut, Henderson does not treat him very well. He says, “I directed Romilayu to turn him over. He wouldn’t; he wasn’t able to obey….” (135). The word ‘obey’ makes it seem Romilayu is a slave to Henderson. That word alone shows disrespect towards Romilayu. Again this happens when Henderson freaks out and wants Romilayu to go and wake someone. He is confused and questions Henderson and all Henderson says is, “‘Do what I tell you’, I yelled….” (136). Romilayu is confused and is afraid of Henderson. All he wanted to do was please the man and Henderson wasn’t even kind enough to give him accurate instructions.
When Henderson finally gets to meet King Dahfu, he completely forgets about his buddy Romilayu. We see this in the first encounter with the king. Henderson momentarily forgets about Romilayu and then questions where he is. “I wanted him by my side. He was allowed to walk behind me in the procession, carrying all the gear. Tried in strength and patience, he bent under his double burden; it was out of the question for me to carry anything” (149). It was out of the question for him to carry anything because he was the guest of the king. I thought this scene right here was the most important scene in the book. Romilayu has been so faithful to Henderson, yet he lets him take most of the burden when he meets the king. Henderson shows his self-centeredness when not helping Romilayu. He acts as though he is better than the people under him, including a loyal friend.
There are very few scenes after this where Romilayu is mentioned. In fact the only time Henderson mentions Romilayu is when he is having difficulties with the king. And even then, the scenes are of Romilayu faithfully praying for the both of them.
We later learn that Romilayu has a family. He has a wife and six children. Yet, he is still out in the middle of Africa helping a man who in most cases does not deserve the loyalty of such a kind-hearted man like Romilayu. Then Henderson asks Romilayu to take a letter to send to his wife and gives him the papers to the jeep, but Romilayu is not happy. He knows that his dear friend is sad and that hurts him. He is so loyal that he does not want to leave the man in his darkest hour.
Finally, when Henderson is in real danger, it is Romilayu who gets him out. He does not turn his back on Henderson when all Henderson is worried about is the dead king. He helps him to escape from yet another darkness Henderson gets himself into.
Henderson does finally see the love Romilayu has for the man in the end and comes to appreciate Romilayu for all of his hard work and loyalty. He rewards him by buying more gifts and putting them in his new acquired jeep. While parting, Romilayu is so sad to see his friend go. After all Henderson has done, Romilayu is still so loyal and worried about him. With tears they finally go their separate ways. It is not until Henderson is truly alone for the first time does he appreciate all Romilayu has done for him.
People focus their attention on Henderson. He has gone through a lot of things in his voyage of finding his inner self and overcoming his problems. He has treated people with disrespect throughout the entire book. It is Romilayu who has always been there for him. Even when the king was gone, Romilayu was there to help him back up. Even when Henderson killed the frogs and destroyed the Arnewi’s culture, it was Romilayu who was there to help him move on and did not blame him. In my personal opinion, Romilayu is the hero hidden in the shadows of darkness. Without his loyal friend, Henderson would not have gone through the experiences he did to become a better man.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Bad Day
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Group Presentations 2nd day
- Live music
- Golden Bough reading
- Hercules (Cornucopia)
- Feast--song "Unwritten"; Psalm 100
- Dry, no rain, too hot!
- Henderson the Rain King
- Synchronocity: Two events coming together by chance
- Possible Test Questions
- What movie did Dr. Sexson mention we see related to the presentation? Answer: Oh Brother Where Art Thou
- What was reffered to in the presentation? Answer: Golden Bough, Henderson the Rain King, Bible, Hercules and Aculous, and Apocalypse
- What were the names of the three songs sung during the presentation? Answer: Rain, Rain, Go Away; Unwritten, Dancing for Rain
- How did they come up with the topic of rain for their presentation? Answer: Golden Bough quote
- What is significant about Counting Crows and this presentation? Answer: They have a song that mentions Henderson the Rain King.
- When did he learn to play the guitar? Answer: 8 years ago
- Why is the song Unwritten significant in this presentation? Answer: Gives a feeling of rain
- Why did they use a blue sheet to represent the rain? Answer: It was easy and inexpensive (low budget)
- How many times did they rehearse this presentation? Answer: 3 times
Group #5
- Skit
- "The Life of John (the college student)"
- Barbarians--Philistines
- Roomates ruin his Mythologies book
- "The way to win over a girl is to text her 15 minutes later and act like you don't care"
- Old beggar comes up to John and begs for money; he refuses
- "There are no boring books. Just boring people"
- "Books give life meaning" and "Don't let jealousy get the best of you"
- Girls dancing
- NO MAN
- Possible Test Questions
- What does the buff guy do for a living? Answer: he sells Kirby vaccuums
Group #6
- MYTHOPOLY!!!
- Cool game pieces
- Daphne, Narcissus, Trojan Horse, Bear, Arachne, Sickness (Swan)
- Dr. Sexson's face was in the center
- Possible Test Questions
- What happens when you land on FREE PARKING? Answer: You get a bag of gold coins
- In the game Mythopoly, what is jail? Answer: Hades/Hell
- Why isn't there a winner? Answer: The beginning is the end and the end is the beginning.
Group Presentations 1st day
- Double Mythology
- Categories: The Golden Bough, Henderson the Rain King, Myth and Reality, Ovid's Deities, and Blogs
- Possible Test Questions
- What was the final question in Double Mythology? Answer: Draw Dr. Sexson and quote him.
- Game
- Random slides
- Give clues and act some out
- Possible Test Questions
- What is the modern version of Pan and Apollo? Answer: Tenacious D
- What scene was acted out by Katie and Seth? Answer: Perseus and Madussa
- Woman falls in love with a snowman
- Boys are all bad
- They scratch themselves and party too much
- John Madden answered prayer
- Snow boy turns into real boy
- Possible Test Questions
- What substance did they use besides ivory? Answer: Snow
- Who was the deity to grant her wish? Answer: John Madden (famous football coach/announcer)