Almost all societies contain myths/stories of "The Journey." Why? What is the attraction we have to journeys? What are some of the American Journeys? What lessons, what themes, what values do we see played out in the stories of journeys? (Specific to 'The Odyssey: What was the difference between Odysseus' journey and Telemachus' journey?)
Please respond in the comments section with a brief paragraph. Be sure to read your classmates comments so that yours is not too similar or repetitive, and be sure to include example or line numbers from the epic if appropriate.
Almost all societies contain stories or myths about "The Journey" because people want to incorporate their beliefs into a story that everyone could read. An example of this would be in The Odyssey because all the gods exist throughout the story and they are the basis for their beliefs. The attraction we have to journey exist because we like to take ourselves away from the mundane in life and look at something truly amazing and to entrance us in a world unlike anything we know. Some American Journeys are The Mayflower (the story of the pilgrims) and then some is reflected in our music and literature like Percy Jackson which is based partly off the Odyssey. Some of these are more literal then others are though. A few of the themes and lessons we see played throughout the Odyssey are hospitality, respect for the gods, loyalty, pride, honor, and temptation. Odysseus' was much more perilous than Telemachus' because of the gods and creatures he encountered didn't always take to him. Telemachus was more just sailing from one place to another and listening to stories to find information about his father.
ReplyDeleteA lot of societies contain stories or myths about "The Journey" because people like to tell exciting stories of hardships that people face during a long journey. The story usually includes culture and beliefs that people can relate to. The attractions we have to journeys are the unthinkable challenges and problems the characters in the journey face. Some american journeys include the Mayflower and the gold rush. Some themes and lessons we see played in the Odyssey are xenia, respect, and temptation. Odysseus' journey was much more herculean and unpredictable, and Telemachus' journey was more predictable because it was just from place to place listening to stories to find out more about his father.
ReplyDeleteMany societies contain stories or myths about "The Journey" because it shows how people got from one place to another. Its an exciting story that most people of the culture can relate too. The attractions that I believe we have to journeys is that the journeys that you hear about are exstrodonary and different, and its something fun and exciting to hear about. Some American journeys are when Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and, like Trevin said, literature like the Percy Jackson series adapt journeys from different cultures. A few examples of some themes and lessons in The Odyssey is Xenia, respect, temptation, loyalty and pride. The difference between Odysseus and Telemachus' journeys are vast. In Telemachus' journey he sailed from place to place trying to find information about his father, and it was not life-threatening. On the other hand, Odysseus' journey was filled with adventure and was unpredictable. Odysseus' journey was more "adrenaline filled" and had more life-threatening experiences than Telemachus' did.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all societies have their own stories or myths about some kind of journey. When most think of a journey, they tend to think of a long physical trek from physical point A to point B. However, you don't have to go very far to embark on a journey. Growing older is a journey in itself, and because of that, it is something we all can relate to. There is, although, one thing that stands true for all kinds of journeys. In some way, one will go from point A to point B, physically, mentally, or even spiritually. I think that these journey myths tend to stand out and be more read because not only is it usually action filled, but it also contains much symbolic meaning that we can relate to in our everyday "Journeys". Some American journeys are the gold rush, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, operation Desert Storm, and the journeys of our everyday life.
ReplyDeleteLessons exemplified in journeys are very broad in scope, but usually relate to some kind of enlightenment or new view on life. The themes and values of journeys are literally endless, because it relates back to the journey itself. There are a lot of stories of journeys out there.
The differences between Odysseus' journey and Telemachus' include not only the physical route, but also the lessons learned and insight gained.
Telemachus only goes on a short journey to question other kings and friends of Odysseus to learn of his whereabouts. He learns to have hope that his father is still alive. Odysseus is on a much longer journey of physical endeavor and hope that his home has not forgotten him. He learns, once he gets back home, that he is still missed and also not to give up.
Coleman--that's a very thoughtful blog post. I like that you include the Civil Rights Movement and Desert Storm as journey stories. J.B.--thank you for the vocabulary word!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to encourage all of you to think more about Telemachus' journey as we continue with the epic. In what ways is his journey perilous too? What is at stake for Telemachus? How can we see his journey as a literal trek and also a metaphorical trek into manhood and responsibility?
See you tomorrow!
Many societies contain myths/stories of "The Journey" to encourage people to work harder by demonstrating that their lives are not as hard as they had imagined and that more things could go wrong. The attraction that we have with journeys is that we like to hear different accounts of certain people's travels and how people overcame significant obstacles to reach a particular destination or goal. Some of the American Journeys are the abolishment of slavery and the Super Bowl. Some lessons/themes/values that are portrayed of journeys is persistence, bravery, and mental strength. The difference between Odysseus' and Telemachus' journeys is that Telemachus was searching for a person/news of a person (Odysseus), and Odysseus was searching for his homeland. Also, Odysseus' journey was affected more by the gods than the journey of Telemachus.
ReplyDeleteStories of journeys are a very important part of our culture and society. A journey is "the act or instance of traveling from one place to another." There are two types of journeys: physical and spiritual. In The Odyssey, Odysseus faces a physical journey. He encounters many obstacles such as Calypso, the Lotus-eaters, and the cyclops in his attempt to return home. In this circumstance, a journey is literally traveling from one place to another. Telemachus' journey was more of a spiritual journey. A spiritual journey is something that instead of literally taking you somewhere, it is an act or instance that makes you a different person than before. His faith in his father's return has been tested repeatedly. He had to wait at home for ten year! He also was raised without a real father. He had to figure out how to take care of Penelope and still be a kid all at the same time. Telemachus was probably a lot stronger of a person after dealing with such a tragic event. Humans are attracted to journeys because in some way or another we are all on our own adventures. We can see ourselves in Odysseus as he feels like he is trying to fight off the whole world. When something goes wrong in our own lives by losing someone we love, we find ourselves sympathizing with T elemachus. I think that these types of stories are meant to give us hope in our own lives. When we see how many times Odysseus is almost defeated yet continues, it gives us hope to do the same. The band Journey even decided that this concept would be something a lot of people found interesting and relatable; therefore, they came up with their band name. The theme is even when things may seem undoable we can rise up and conquer. Lewis and Clark went of one the of the most famous journeys in American history as they went to explore the land of the Louisiana Purchase.
ReplyDeleteI think journeys have symbolic meanings to people. The biggest journey a person can go on is their own life. Also, journeys show hardships, and some of them are similiar to the hardships we face in our own lives. We enjoy hearing these "journey stories" because we can relate to certain events in them. One American journey that is currently going on is the one in Iraq. The troops have set forth on their own war journey, and some are still out there waiting to come back. In journeys, we usually see the theme of nostalgia, or homesickness. This relates to a lot of journeys because the person it is based on is usually called on a journey against their will. Values we see throughout journeys are bravery, sacrifice, and wisdom. Also, we see a lot of indecisiveness, which is also a lesson. Making decisions are parts of every journey, but the decision that you make can change everything. Another lesson that is usually learned is compassion, which the main person has to learn to truly be a wise person. Telemacchus journey was different from Odysseus's journey because he was journeying to find truth; to know if his father was dead or alive. Odysseus' journey was a journey of honor. He left to fight in a war, and now the honorable "soldier" deserves to go home.
ReplyDeleteSocieties all contain myths or stories about a journey or the journey because journeys always have something good at the end of them but you have to work hard to get to the end. Journeys are used in a myth to tell the reader that good thing wont just be handed to you and that theres always hard times and struggles that have to be faced before glory or fame. another reason why journeys are used so often in stories or myth is because there are so many themes and traits that can be learned throughout a journey. Examples would be physical and mental strength, bravery, and endurance. Some of the american journeys are the the voyage of Lewis and Clark, Columbus, and you can think of every sport season as a journey because you go through tough practices and games but if you work hard enough then the fame and glory comes. The difference between odysseus journey and Telemachus' journey was that Telemachus did not have to struggle or go through hard times during his journey. on the other hand Odysseus went through very hard times and never knew exactly when he would get home.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all societies contain myths/stories of "The Journey." because its something everyone can relate to. We have all had journeys no matter how old we are or where we live. Journeys dont always have to be from place to place you can have emotional journeys as well as physical journeys. Emotional journeys can be anything that changes your way of life like growing up as coleman said. Our attraction to journeys is because it is adventerous and fun and it usually teaches a lesson or has something oyu can relate to in your life. Some american journeys are independance which was a long hard journey that changed the whole world or americas revolution among the years in general. Things we can do now and our limits and expectations are different than 100 years ago due to our journey throught the years. You ussually always learn something from a journey. In most journeys today on TV and stuff you learn a lesson by the show or movie with a journey for a person to find themselves or someone else or maybe uncovering a mystery as the theme. Odysseus's and telemachus's journies were physical, the theme of Odysseus's to find his way back home and Telemachus's to findhis long lost father. The lessons and values we learn in this is to always cherish your family and no matter what people say or do never give up, its never over until its over. Everyone said that Odysseus was dead but Telemachus still tried and even though suitors swarmed his house he still had hope that his mother and father would be reunited. And if Odysseus hadnt perservered and remembered what was dear to him he would have never found his way home.
ReplyDeleteSocieties have the story of the "Journey", for enthusiasm, and to add some thrill to that certain background of that place, whether it be some old civilization, or modern day city or state. We are attracted to "Journeys", because they are filled with adventure, and thrill. Basically, they portray uniqueness, and enthusiasm. A journey for America was the American Revolution, which included the Revolutionary War of America. This was a long hard journey, that included many deaths, pain, sacrifice, adventure, but with a great reward, which was independence, for America. America was then free from the rule of Britain. The themes that we usually see in these stories, include romance, adventure, empathy, sympathy, pain, and sacrifice, but usually for a greater cause. Odysseus' journey was much longer than Telemachus' journey, and probably more perilous as well, where Telemachus was just gone to find news of his father, so he can then come back home to Ithaca, and then get rid of the suitors from his father's estate.
ReplyDeleteAlmost all societies contain myths and/or stories of "The Journey" because its something everyone can relate to. We have all have had journeys no matter how old we are or where we live. Journeys dont always have to be from place to place you can have emotional journeys as well as physical journeys. Emotional journeys can be anything that changes your way of life like growing up as Coleman said. Our attraction to journeys has to do with the fact that it is adventerous and fun and it usually teaches a lesson or has something you can relate to in your life. Some american journeys are independance which was a long hard journey that changed the whole world or America's growth throughout the years in general. Things we can do now and our limits and expectations are different than 100 years ago due to mankinds journey throught the years. With our many technological and expectational values changing so has the concept of the journey. You ussually always learn something from a journey. In most journeys today on TV and stuff you learn a lesson by the show or movie with a journey for a person to find themselves or someone else or maybe uncovering a mystery as the theme. Odysseus's and Telemachus's journies were physical, the theme of Odysseus's to find his way back home and Telemachus's to find his long lost father. The lessons and values we learn in this is to always cherish your family and to no matter what people say or do never give up, its never over until its over. Everyone said that Odysseus was dead but Telemachus still tried and even though suitors swarmed his house he still had hope that his mother and father would be reunited. And if Odysseus hadnt perservered and remembered what was dear to him he would have never found his way home.
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