Best / Worst Birthday

  My best birthday happened just few weeks ago, it was my 17 years old birthday. The best birthday I had was also the worst, and how is that possible? I’m going to tell you now.

On November, 11^th, all my friends in the dorm celebrated my birthday one day earlier because my birthday which is on November, 12^th is a regular school day. So one day before then, my friends set up an awesome and delicious dinner for me on Friday night. I’m very thankful for that because I felt that those people care about me. Also, at that night, I remembered there is one thing they said that I will never forget, they told me that they will be my family here and celebrate every important date and holiday with me. This sentence is really touching my heart because through this one sentence I know that now, at here, I will not only have friends, but also family who will always taking care of each other and support me. That is one of the reasons that I said this is my best birthday ever.

Then the next day, November 12^th, in the morning when I first walked in to the school, my friend start taking me to the opposite direction of my locker with a really weird reason and I quickly know that my friends are doing something on my locker and prepare the surprise for me. As expected, when one of my friends come into my classroom and ask me to go to my locker, I know that there’s really something happened on my locker, but the thing that I didn’t expect is that all my friends are holding the balloons and stand beside the hall way and after they saw me walking down they started popping the balloons and singing happy birthday song for me. I was really surprised by that, but also very touched.

After all this, they had totally made my day, but when I looked at the facebook and trying find if my best friend leave any messages to me, but  they did not. That is why it bring my day back down to the bottom. And I think the reason that I get that kind of feeling is because friends really take a huge part of my life, that is why I feel at that way.

Is Odysseus a Good Epic Hero, or not?

        Odysseus has been a really important hero character in the Homer’s epic – The Odyssey. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is a really brave, intelligent, and clever hero. Although on his way back to his home is a perilous, he never gives up and faces every situation in front of him.

Even those that he never gives up the idea of going back to Ithaca, I still don’t think he is a really good example of an epic hero because Odysseus too easily to get fascinating by the nymph and I think a hero shouldn’t get allure by somebody else so easily. Also, I think the biggest problem that make he get back to Ithaca so late and taking so long time is because of this. If he didn’t get fascinating by Calypso for so long time, he would go back to Ithaca earlier than 20 years after.

In conclusion, although Odysseus is a really brave, intelligent, and clever hero in Homer’s epic, he is still a normal person and will get fascinating by somebody else. And that is also the reason that I think that he is not a good example of and epic hero because unlike other hero, he is a normal person, but powerful and smarter than others. However, I think a great hero shouldn’t be allure by others, especially women so easily. Because you could lost everything or even die by that.

Hero Analysis

  In The Odyssey, Homer portrays Odysseus as a family man longing to get back to his wife and son. He even gives up immortality with Calypso and Circe in order that he may return to his wife’s arms. And the heroic qualities that Odysseus has are brave, perseverance, cleverness, intelligent and careful. He is a really determined character in the book because he pass through every hard situation that the gods give it to him and finally get back to his homeland and meet his wife and son again after 20 years.

  Odysseus is also really easily to get seducing by the nymph. For example, in the island of Ogygia where is the place that Calypso live and Odysseus get stock there for 7 years, for this, I think that if Odysseus really have the heart to go back to Ithaca, with his intellect, he won’t get stock in the island of Ogygia for that long time. Also, he was fascinated by the other nymph, Circe, after Circe swear that she won’t trick them again and shows her hospitality, and also provide everything that Odysseus and his men needed. Odysseus completely forgets that he has to go back to Ithaca till one of his men and Circe remind him.

  I think he is an ideal hero because he did not afraid to face the situation that the gods give it to him. Also, he had faced several times of dead and even gone to Hades home for the hint about how he can go back to Ithaca. So, I think he is a really brave and intelligent person and definitely an ideal hero.

Comparison of Modern Hero and Odysseus

  Over thousands years hero has been a very important and famous archetype in varied books, stories, and movies. There are many differences between the modern hero and Odysseus, such as, the use of super natural power and the enemy that they face. However, they still have the similar characteristics, such as, bravely, powerful, and super intelligence.

First of all, they were different because the use of super natural power and the enemy that they face. For example, in the avengers all the characters like Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, they all have super natural power, but Odysseus is just a normal person but stranger than others. Also, the enemy in the avengers that they have to face is Loki and other creatures from other space, but in the Odyssey, Odysseus’ enemies are the gods. And that is some of the reasons that the modern hero is different from the Odyssey.

Secondly, compare to the modern hero and Odysseus, their similar characteristics are bravely, powerful, and super intelligence. For instance, the heroes in the avengers are all very powerful than the others, and so do the Odysseus. Also, they are super intelligence and bravely, so they can fix the problems and pull themselves out of the situation. Especially, all the heroes of the avengers and the Odysseus. In the avengers, all the heroes are asked for help to annihilate Loki and destroyed the mass of creatures that he made for taking over the earth. Then, in the Odyssey, Odysseus get through every kind of situation and save himself from the dead several times.

In conclusion, no matter the modern world hero or Odysseus, they both have differences and similarities between each other. And no matter is the thousand years ago or today, hero is always the most important archetype in the varied books, stories, and movies.

Telemachus

  My father had been left home for 3 years now and because of that there are many suitors around my house and they even take over our house just because my mother, Penelope, doesn’t want to marry any of them. And the only reason that they want to get marry with my mother is that they want to replace my father’s throne and be the king of the Ithaca. Even thou mother doesn’t want to marry any one of the suitors and express the opinion about the marriage to one of them; none of the suitors give up. This had become a really big problem for me and I just don’t really know how to solve this problem and protect my mother from the suitors. And I felt that I have responsibility to take care of my mother and also take care of the kingdom since my father have been away for so long time. One day, Athena, the goddess of the warfare and wisdom, appear to my house and told me that I can find the information about my father by sailing to the Pylos and Sparta and she also help me to solve the biggest problem that I had - the suitors, she advise me to gather an assembly of the island's leaders to protest the invasion of the suitors. Later on, I go visit King Nestor of Pylos  and King Menelaus of Sparta, old comrades of my father's, to gather from them any new of Odysseus. At the assembly, there's two leading suitors - the aggressive Antinous and the smooth-talking Eurymachus - confront the prince. They accuse my mother of delaying too long in my mother's choice of a new husband. Telemachus speaks well but accomplishes little at the assembly because the suitors are from some of the strongest families in the area and are impatient with my mother's delays. As I secretly sets off for Pylos and Sparta, the suitors plot to assassinate me. I learns little of my father but is encouraged to visit Sparta where King Menelaus reports that my father is alive but held captive by the goddess nymph Calypso.

Two Witches

  Once upon a time, there are two witches, witch Kathy and witch Sammy, witch Kathy live in the south side of the forest and witch Sammy live in the north side of the forest. Their personalities are really different from each other. Witch Kathy is really wicked and evil kind of person, but witch Sammy is a really kind, nice and beautiful witch, she also helps animals and people a lot when they need her. In the forest, no matter south side or north side of the forest, everybody love witch Sammy more than the wicked witch Kathy.

Years after, there no people and animals like to get close to the witch Kathy’s house and even the plants, the plants around witch Kathy’s house are all die with no reason. And one day, when witch Kathy go to the town, she found out that nobody are afraid of her and doesn’t even want to get close to her. Even when she is buying some stuff from the people, they will run away from her. After she get back to her house, she had buying nothing and she was really mad the people in town. So, she starts planning to completely destroy the town and kill all the people and hanging their head on top of the mountain. But while she was planning her plan, a bird called Bandy, see what witch Kathy is planning that she quickly fly back to the north side to told witch Sammy what is witch Kathy going to do to the people. Then witch Sammy quickly prepare everything up and go to witch Kathy’s house immediately, but just on the way to witch Kathy’s house, witch Sammy saw lots of smoke and heard the bomb sound. When she get close and close to witch Kathy’s house, the smoke and the sound are more clearly. She quickly knows that witch Kathy is not only mad because the smoke also shows how witch Kathy hated the people in the town. So, witch Sammy fly faster and faster just because she want to stop witch Kathy and she know that witch Kathy was just thinking different ways from the normal person, she is not that wicked and she also likes animals but every animals afraid of her face so none of the animals like to get close to her and that is why witch Kathy start hate everything.

After witch Sammy fly in witch Kathy’s house, witch Kathy is just going to shout the magical incantation out and this magical incantation can make all the people in town get a really weird illness and then after five days you will die painfully. So, witch Sammy is just get there on time, she stop witch Kathy shout out the incantation and stopped the slaughter, but after witch Sammy stop her, witch Kathy mood get worse than before. But witch Sammy stop her anyway. And guess what make witch Kathy calm down again? The answer is a hug and a sentence “I love you” and everything stop the bomb didn’t explore and witch Sammy saves all the people and also save the witch Kathy. And why am I saying the witch Sammy not only save the people and also save the witch Kathy because witch Kathy was going to explore the bomb and then kill herself. But after witch Sammy told to her, she starts calm down and turn back to the normal witch Kathy.

Archetype

   Universal symbol is the definition of the archetype and sometimes archetypes are really important elements in, movies such as Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Percy Jackson. The most common archetype in these movies is their setting, character and story.

  Firstly, the setting in the movie – Harry Potter is the perfect example of this archetype. For example, when all the students were returning to the school, they have to go through the pillar in the train station. And that pillar is kind of a magical pillar and only the students from Hogwarts can get through. Also, in the school, every painting, pictures, and newspaper in these movies series are like playing a video, it can move, talk, and it can even give you information that you need. Moreover, there are ghosts flying around the school and you can chat or asking them questions to the paintings Mr. and Mrs. Ghost and they will give you response and answered your question. Sometimes they are the good resource for use because they know things happened before. Those examples are the archetype of setting in Harry Potter series.

  Secondly, all the characters in Harry Potter series are some sort of Magical power and they all have a magical stick can enchant. For instance, the characters in the Harry Potter all have to learn how to use the magic in their magic class. Also, people had their own dark side so do the characters in the Harry Potter, for example, everyone is afraid of the Devil – Voldemort.

  In conclusion, the common archetypes are the shadow, soul, divine couple, self, and child birth. Also, ever kind of archetypes are the important elements for making a movie and a story.

Mythology

  Mythology has always been really important for our society and daily life. There are many things affect us from the myths, such as the name of the months and space, religons, and the artwork.
  Firstly, the name of the months and space are named by the myth's god. For example, January was named after Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors. Also, March is also called as its named after Mars, the Roman god of war. Moreover, all the planets are named after the Roman's main gods. So, as the examples you can see that myths are really going to our life, but maybe you just don't know it.
  Secondly, the religions were affect by the mythology, too. For instance, many religions that are still around today initiated from ancient mythology. Also, some people and cultures follow various routines or observe certain "holiday" due to traditions that are steeped in ancient mythology.
  Lastly, we have a lot of artwoek portraying characters from mythology. For ecample, "Diana and Actaeon" is the painting about Titan, "Atropos" and "Leda and the Swan". Also, people even study mythology as their job for living. Moreover, those artworks today are really important for people because it respresent what did ancient greek god look like and also there are some of the details that show us some god's characteristics, their goddess, and the things that respresent themselves.
  In conclution, those evidence shows us how important is the mythology and how people believe it and practice it. We even use the name of the gods to named our months, plannets and store. That is how mythology affect our daily life.

Evonne Wang

 

My name is Evonne Wang and I from Taiwan, Taipei.

I have two brothers and I am the eldest one in my family.

Also, my brother is studying in Windermere, FL and he is in 10th grade, too.

My youngest brother is in Taiwan and he is 6 years old now.

Moreover, this is my second year in Lake Mary and also my second year in debate.

I really enjoyed the time in debate, especially when we go traveled around for the tournament. Those are really awesome experience for me. But even debate can build a lot of confident for public speak, it still have a lot of work before every tournament and it won't be easy if you are a novice in debate. But after one year training, I think I feel lots more confortable in debate class and public speaking.

Furthermore, favorite subject is math because it is really easy for me to get an A in the math class because since I already learn those lessons in Taiwan that it will be more easier for me. So, I like to take math class. But when I was in Taiwan I don't even like math because math in Taiwan is a really hard subject for me and I need a lot of time to work on it then I won't get a bad grade for it.

Also, history is the subject that I will never want to take, wheather in America or Taiwan. Because history have to memory lots of thing and I am actually not the kind of person who is good at memory lots of things. And I even got "F" several times in the world history class. But fortunately I pass the world history at the end of the year.