Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey, Part B

A sculpture of the great Greek hero, Odysseus, from the legendary mythos.

The story picks up right where it left off in Part A of the anthology, as Odysseus and his crew have fled from the sorceress Circe and left her island intact, but sailing toward the realm of Hades, which is a very dangerous task. After sailing to the Land of the Cimmerians, Odysseus prepares sacrifices, as instructed by Circe to attract the souls of the dead to him in order to speak with Tiresias, a blind prophet that will lead him home. They encounter and speak with ghosts, including the recently deceased Elpenor, who passed away after getting drunk and falling, which broke his neck. Tiresias tells Odysseus that Poseidon is punishing him and reveals the situation with the suitors to him that is occurring back at his palace. After he speaks with Tiresias, the spirits of his mother, Agamemnon, Ajax, and many famous women, and is quickly overtaken by many spirits, causing his men to have to sail away to escape the spirits. Odysseus, at the instruction of Circe, is tied to the mast of his ship and his and his crew mates ears are to be filled with beeswax in order to down out the song of the sirens, an iconic moment in Greek mythology. He and his men hold fast to the path told to him by Circe, and the ship survives at the expense of 6 of his men being eaten. 

Bibliography: The Odyssey by Homer (translated by Tony Kline in 2000). http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-homers-odyssey.html

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey Part A

An illustration of Odysseus' ship from Homer's Odyssey

The Odyssey is an incredible story that has survived generations and generations through verbal storytelling and, eventually, the written form. The portion of the story begins with the great Greek hero Odysseus trying to return home to his kingdom of Ithaca ten years after the events of the Fall of Troy. He is trapped on Calypso's island and escapes with the help of the gods of Mount Olympus and builds a ship and forms a crew, while his wife, Penelope, is being treated by suitors who do not know that Odysseus is still alive. After happening upon the land of the Cyclops and the son of the god of the sea Poseidon, who is named Polyphemus, Odysseus does battle with the Cyclops to escape being eaten and killed by him, though this is very difficult because Poseidon holds a grudge against Odysseus for blinding one of his sons, and Poseidon later sends an incredible storm to wreck his ship. Later, Odysseus and his crew must escape the magic of Circe, who attempts to enchant him with a drug in his tea and seduce Odysseus in order for his crew and himself to leave safely. Following the death of Elpenor, Odysseus and his crew are able to escape the wrath of Circe and leave Circe's island. This piece of the story is one of my favorites, and I am so happy to be able to read and enjoy part of it once again. 

Bibliography: The Odyssey by Homer (translated by Tony Kline in 2000). http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-homers-odyssey.html

Feedback Thoughts

A funny cat meme I found about feedback.

Feedback is one of the best gifts that a person can receive, but it is not always neatly wrapped or presented in a manner that someone believes that it's a gift. Feedback, along with trial and error, are mechanisms that have driven the human race forward since the beginning of time. This is essential ingredient in science, and it is why scientific discovery must be peer-reviewed to be taken seriously. Sometimes we mess up and can be blind to it because of our emotions, but it is important to understand and receive criticism and feedback to be able to grow as a person. However, it is not always easy to hear and it is not always delivered nicely to us. The article Why It's So Hard To Hear Negative Feedback gets to the core of that issue, which is the fact that the delivery of feedback is often done incorrectly and in bad faith. This can really affect and damage your mental image of yourself, and it's often hard to refrain from feeling badly. However, the article Why rejection hurts so much - and what to do about it deals with the latter, recovering and receiving criticism and feedback. The best piece of advice in this article is "have zero tolerance for self-criticism". We are already being criticized, so why pile on ourselves when we could be thinking about how to change in the future. 

Topic Brainstorm!

An image of Lucifer from the story of Dante's Inferno

TOPIC IDEAS

My first topic idea for my semester-long project is Dante's Inferno. I read the entire Divine Comedy in the 8th grade as a challenge from my English teacher, but being in the 8th grade did not fully allow me to understand everything that was happening in the story, and I was not really able to grasp any deeper level of understanding or references. Therefore, I'd really enjoy being able to fully re-read Inferno and become more familiar with a story that interests me! I am a Christian, and I have always been eager to read any story about anything that includes my faith, and the idea of "Circles"of Hell is interesting to consider. I'd likely retell this story in a similar manner to the original.

My second topic idea for my semester-long project is The Man in the Moon. This Native-American story has been so ingrained into the fabric of children story-telling for so long that every single child has at least of heard of the idea of there being a man in the moon. There are countless adaptations of this story in so many styles and languages now that it's crazy to understand the breadth of this story. I loved a version of this story that my mom would tell me, and I think it would be really cool to be able to try to tell it myself now as a 20 year old adult. 

My third topic idea for my semester-long project is Alice in Wonderland. This British story is likely one of the most well-known pieces of folklore or mythology in the world, especially for a newer generation of people that are less likely to study Greek, Roman, or Norse mythology. This is also likely due to the cartoon adaptation from Walt Disney Productions in the 20th century, but it is an iconic story that I hold dear to myself, and I will definitely be re-telling to my children when I have the privilege of being a father. I would re-tell this story in my project as a thought-for-thought iteration and less of a word-for-word one, and I'd be excited to do this project in particular.

My fourth and final topic idea for my semester-long project is Homer's Odyssey. This is one of the greatest and most well-known and studied pieces of Greek mythology, let alone any mythology, in the history of the world, which is no small feat considering how many stories exist in the world. I've read and re-read the Odyssey many times and I am always fascinated and intrigued to do so each time I set out to read it. This story has so many themes common and relevant to the human experience, even now over 2000 years later. It is truly a masterpiece of storytelling and I would love to be able to re-read the Odyssey and do a project over it. 

Week 2 Story: Pygmalion

An image of Pygmalion and his masterpiece, and love, Galatea together

Pygmalion, a decorated and celebrated sculptor, hailing from the land of Cyprus, was a man dedicated to his craft. This, of course, had many benefits, but it also took a personal toll on his own life. Worst of all, after seeing the wicked daughters of Propoetus, he had completely given up on the idea of women and love at all, deciding to live his life as a bachelor. The culmination of loneliness, sadness, and anger lead Pygmalion to near madness, pining for a chance to reconnect with society and with women., but he could not be with just any mere flawed woman of the earth. Therefore, he set out to carve the most realistic, detailed, and beautiful sculpture of a woman. After many weeks and months of careful craftsmanship, Pygmalion had finished. Knowing that the Festival of Aphrodite was just days away, he set out to find a most suitable offering to the goddess of love herself. On the day of the festival, he approached the altar of Aphrodite and he laid out his offering and prayed for many hours for Aphrodite to breathe life into the statue he so lovingly named Galatea. After many hours, he abandoned hope and headed back to his workshop in a depression. In a fit of sadness and loneliness, he laid his lips upon the surprisingly warm lips of the statue. The warmth shocked Pygmalion, and he kissed again to make sure his senses were not deceived. The statue gained color and eventually began walking and talking and breathing like a human. Pygmalion was deeply in love, and it appeared Aphrodite had answered his prayers. Galatea and Pygmalion began living with and for one another and they eventually had a son named Paphos, a shining example of a true man. After years on the island of Cyprus, the townspeople realized that Galatea was not of their kind and not a true Cyprian citizen. The constant scowls and ridicule from society took an even greater toll on Pygmalion, who had given up his life to dedicate it to Galatea. Eventually, the constant berating drove Pygmalion to insanity, which distressed Galatea, and seeing no way out, committed suicide to escape Pygmalion's crazed frenzy. 

Author's Note: I love and respect the nature of mythology, and it has always been a great inspiration for me to read and become well-read; however, progress is only achieved through trial and error, therefore I added a twist to the ending to represent a new take on a traditional Greek tragedy.

Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000). https://sites.google.com/view/mythfolkloreanthology/metamorphosis

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

An image of Pygmalion, the sculptor who fell in love with a statue.

The story that really caught my attention, and kept it, was the story of Pygmalion. I have always been a huge fan of Greek myth, and I was really excited when I saw this one on the anthology! I read this story in my high school English class for fun, and it's such an interesting concept. Pygmalion, a legendary sculptor from Cyprus creates a statue of ivory that represents the perfect woman and the epitome of womanhood itself. The thought of women no longer interests him when he has already created perfection in his eyes. He prays to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and makes an offering to her at her altar on the day of her festival. When he returns to the statue and kisses it, he realizes the statue is no longer hardened, and the statue has become a woman, who he marries and eventually produces a child with. The story is so interesting to me because it deals with the idea of beauty and love being in the eye of the beholder, and I believe that's absolutely true to life itself. 

Bibliography

1. Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000). http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/ovids-metamorphoses-pygmalion.html

Week 2 Reading Overview

An image from Greek mythology that I found because of my love of the classic Greek mythos.

Choose from CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4.

Week 3: Homer's Illiad

Week 4: Gospel of Mark

Choose from MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6.

Week 5: Life of the Buddha

Week 6: Arabian Nights

Choose from ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.]

Week 7: The Monkey King

Week 9: Brer Rabbit

Choose from NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11.

Week 10: Hiawatha

Week 11: Blackfoot

Choose from BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13.

Week 12: King Arthur

Week 13: Canterbury Tales

Choose from EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15.

Week 14: Inferno

Week 15: Decameron

I am very excited to learn about Greek mythology, and I will likely do some extra credit reading for those weeks, but I am also very excited to read the folklore of Brer Rabbit, as I just went on Splash Mountain in Disney World recently, which is themed around the tales of Brer Rabbit. I am also looking forward to reading British and other European mythos and folklore because I have been interested since reading excerpts of them in my AP Language and Literature classes in high school, and being a biology major, I am not really able to study or read these awesome stories without taking away from my other studies. 

Time Strategies

A visual representation of my thoughts when I think about the timely nature of a due date.

After reviewing my schedule for the class, though I did not follow it very closely this first week, I feel my current schedule still meets my needs and fills up my schedule very nicely and will not overwhelm me! The first week back to school was full of a lot of new and exciting things and opportunities, but as the semester gets back into gear, my schedule will calm down. I am generally very good with my time, though I do not actually use a calendar or planner. I have a very good memory and I am often able to remember what I need to do by what time to be successful, as long as I think about it once or twice and consciously reiterate it to my brain. Most things I forget are small things that are not really of consequence because if they were, I would be thinking about them and I would not let myself forget. I am often of the mindset that if what I am doing now (excluding mental and physical health breaks) is not helping me achieve something that I must do, then it is wasted time. It's a very good rule of thumb that has made me successful in the classroom. If I am doing something that is not helping me out, then I will recognize that and usually look over notes/do whatever assignments are outstanding. This personally works for me, but I do see the inherent value of a planner and I am very open to trying it out to see if that helps me further my time management skills. 

Technology Thoughts

A cool graphic I found that describes how I am feeling while learning about all of these new technologies we will use in this course

I am not at all familiar with most of the technology tools and webpages we will be using in this course starting next week, but I am very excited to be able to learn how to work them accurately and efficiently. I do know about bookmarking pages, as it's a common habit I keep anyway, Google Docs, and basic image editing (though I admit I do it on my smartphone, not my laptop). I am really looking forward to learning how to use and create more complex and fun blogs, as I am really enjoying the course blog so far! I also know that I will need to have a firm grasp on using the course webpages and tools in order to successfully create my semester-long project. I took this course for my love of mythology, but I think I will take away a better grasp of technology, a new learning style, and a new perspective on grading in general, as I've never taken a course set up in a manner such as this. 

Assignment Thoughts

A figurative picture of me pondering the assignment types and extra credit opportunities

The assignments in the course I am looking forward to the most are definitely the reading and blog commenting categories. I am a really big fan of reading and I cannot wait to begin delving into the realm of both mythology and folklore this semester because I believe that reading keeps our minds sharp and allows us to appreciate the world around us more clearly. Additionally, I am really looking forward to being able to read other students' blogs and hear their thoughts and opinions on course material and their general outlooks on life and what matters to them. I am very much a people person and I am excited to meet my fellow classmates and get to know a little more about their stories. I am also very excited at the prospect of extra credit so I can possibly skip some assignments that I don't feel like doing or am too busy to complete on time. This course is very accommodating and I am glad to be in it!

Growth Mindset

A cool meme I found that epitomizes a growth mindset in action.

Though I have never explicitly heard of Carol Dweck, I have been familiar with the concept of a growth mindset since my elementary school days due to some wonderful and passionate teachers I've encountered. The idea of a growth mindset is very empowering, regardless of whether or not you believe it works or has effects. The very notion that believing your brain can grow and evolve as you grow older and can influence the way children think about life and can even make college a more tangible and achievable goal for disadvantaged students, which frankly is powerful in and of itself. I am definitely interested in learning more about growth mindsets this semester, as it can be an effective parenting tool for me and my future wife to be able to instill confidence and the notion of change into our childrens' minds. I've definitely had to adapt my study skills at OU and focus more on learning the way that is the most effective for me in order to be successful in a time-efficient manner. I am excited to be able to experience firsthand the ability of our minds to change and adapt to overcome obstacles. 

Introduction to a Hopeful Future Doctor

A picture of my girlfriend and childhood best friend (left) and myself (right).

Hello everyone! My name is Chase Gaddis and I am a Biology/Pre-Medicine major from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a large suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I have always been interested in trying to understand the way people function and interact with the world on a daily basis, so choosing biology as my major has been the plan since 7th grade, when I figured out what college was and all of that other important stuff. Definitely the coolest part about learning about biology is seeing the same types of processes and fundamental elements that are present in so many diverse types of life being applied across the board of existence. The best class that I've taken at OU was BIO 1134, which studies ecology and diversity of biological systems, which is exactly what I have always wanted to focus on! That class, and the very idea of understanding biological systems, really cemented my dream of trying to become a doctor. I have always felt like doctors are just mechanics for people, and that thought has always interested me! Aside from all of the boring scientific stuff, I am currently in Orlando, Florida. I will be at Disney World until Monday afternoon, and I am so pumped to be here. I love all things Disney, and going to the parks and riding the rides here just adds a whole other dimension to my love of Disney. My favorite movie I saw in 2018 was definitely Mary Poppins Returns, and I encourage all of you to see it. In my free time, I enjoy running (sometimes), playing soccer, and playing any Nintendo video games of any era. It would be rash of me to include a picture of my girlfriend and not mention her at all, so I will do that now. I met Lexi in my 5th grade class at Wolf Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and I have liked ever for as long as I can remember! I finally got the courage to ask her out in 10th grade, and wouldn't you believe it, she said yes! We have almost been dating for 4 years at the time of typing this, and I hope there are more years to come! That's pretty much all there is to me, so if you have any burning questions, comment something below!

Week 1 - My Storybook Favorites

The image above is of the Greek god Poseidon reigning over the sea, his domain.

Throughout the duration of this course, we will be required to complete a semester project called a "storybook", which is a means to express a given mythological story or concept. Our instructor gave us a selection of past storybooks from previous classes and sections of this course, and another course that she teaches, to evaluate them and give us insight into what we may want to do with our own projects and presentations. Here are my top three favorite storybook projects that I read and perused earlier today, and how they stood out to me personally. 

Creation

This storybook has a very interesting topic that is common to being human; how our earth was made, what may be its cause, or what caused it to come into being. I really enjoy the cosmic aspect of the presentation to reflect the very nature of what is being talked about and the theming was outstanding. I hope my presentation also has a coherent theme that reflects my own chosen topic. Additionally, the separate tabs help to differentiate between certain subtopics and give the presentation further structure and stability overall. 

Chasing A Rabbit Trail

Again, the theming of this presentation is bar none. The tone and perspective of the writer of the presentation adds another element and dimension to it that really stuck with me and made an impression. The Brer Rabbit story also interests me because it is used in theming in Disney's Splash Mountain water rollercoaster in the Magic Kingdom park, which I mention because I am going to Disney World tomorrow, actually! The story and folklore has always interested me because of my family's frequent trips to Disney World, and I appreciate the impact of folklore in the daily lives of people. 

Real Housewives of Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology is the very reason that I took this course, and I was so excited to be able to learn more about a topic that interests me at such a deep level. The presentation topic has a very real and personal connection to my own life and I am astounded by the impact of mythology of people. Mythology also has a real place in popular culture that is so key and enriching to be able to understand. The theming of the presentation is also something that stood out because of the images and episode-themed tabs that treat the presentation like a real show, which implies the name. 

Week 1 - Arezzo, Italy... My Favorite Place!

I had the opportunity to travel to Arezzo, Italy this summer with the University of Oklahoma for an upper division course on Roman history. The city is so beautiful and contains such fascinating early history of the ancient and medieval worlds that clash and complement the modern infrastructure of the new Arezzo. There are gelato carts everywhere, and ancient ruins are open and exposed throughout the city, which further develops the feeling of living in history. The weather is always very fair and it was a place that felt at my happiest for a while. I think the notion of a being foreigner also added to the vibe of exploration and wonder I felt while there. I am very thankful for the university for having programs that allow students to travel and explore the world, and maybe even allow others to find their new favorite place!

The image is a picture of the Cathedral of Arezzo, one of the most identifiable landmarks in the city, in the center of the ancient portion of the city.

TEST POST!!!

This is my test post to make sure my blog is working and all that jazz!