The modern hero: teachers and everyday changemakers

¶ … hero?

The definition of "hero" has changed quite radically over the centuries. Today, there seems to be two types of hero: the "action hero" type displayed most prominently in films involving actors such as Sylvester Stallone; and the more subtle hero, who makes necessary and radical changes, but on a much more subtle level. Many of today's heroes are charity workers, rescue workers, teachers, and writers. For me, the most important characteristic of the modern hero is the ability and drive to make a difference in the lives that share the world with them.

By this definition, one might believe the greatest heroes to be those with large amounts of money to donate to worthy causes across the world. The band U2 or actors such as Leonardo diCaprio, for example, give a large amount of money to help animals, children, the poor, and the earth. However, I think the greatest heroes are those the world never knows about on a large scale. One example is a teacher I had 10 years ago. According to many reports, teachers don't receive anywhere near the money they deserve. And many teachers are not worth much. However, Ms. Jenny cared not only about her profession, but also about the students she was working with. Regardless of the money she made, she acted as if she wanted to be no other place on earth than in the class with us. She opened worlds of knowledge and also universes of deeper understanding. She lay the groundwork for what I am today. She is a true hero, because she showed love in a world that had become jaded and enchanted with glamor that is only fleeting. She confronted the evil of superficiality to help us learn. She wanted to make us authentic human beings, just like she was. She believed that the power of the future was in the young.

Journal Exercise 1.5B: Responding to Gilgamesh

There are several requirements for an epic poem. It should be a long narrative poem, celebrate the adventures and achievements of a hero, and incorporates the traditions of a nation. The poem "Gilgamesh" does all this. It is a long narrative poem with the central character of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is two parts god and one part human, and rules the people as king. This type of super-human quality is a common tradition within the literature of the time.

Another element of the story is that the king oppressess the people harshly. In response, the gods intervene. This type of direct divine intervention is a further common element in the tradition of the poem's time. The gods sympathize with the people's request and send Enkidu, a wild man to act as rival against Gilgamesh.

In contrast to Gilgamesh's nature as super-human, Enkidu is subhuman, created from the natural world rather than the divine. Enkidu, however, becomes more human after contact with a harlot. Although he was physically very strong, he loses these powers as a result of this contact. In the same way, one might say that Gilgamesh also lost his powers by coming into contact with Enkidu. After their first altercation, the two become friends. They grow increasingly similar, with Enkidu losing his powers as a result of human contact and Gilgamesh letting his powers fall by the wayside as a result of comfortable city living.

When the two decide to go on an adventure together, it is as equals in terms of physical prowess and mental fitness. Gilgamesh's contact with Enkidu therefore shows his susceptibility to becoming less than his potential by succumbing to temptation, just like Enkidu did. His strength, however, lies in his physical superiority to Enkidu, while Enkidu in his transformed from seems to be the intellectual power of the two. Neither, however, bothers to pay attention to the ominous nature of Enkidu's dreams

Journal Exercise 1.6A: Defining Honor

Like the concept of "hero," the idea of honor can also have a variety of connotations in the modern mind. There are many different areas of life, for example, each with its own code of honor. What these generally have in common is a sense of sacrificing one's individual needs and concerns to help others. One's central code of honor, for example, is most prominent in stressful situations, such as the battles fought in the Iliad. It is easy to be honorable when the needs of others coincide with one's own. However, when there is a conflict between saving oneself and putting oneself in danger for others, it is not so simple. In this light, honor for me is therefore to put the needs and concerns of others above one's own.

On the other hand, honor is also a sense of integrity, even when the concerns of others are not the concern. Resisting the temptation to steal or cheat, for example, is also honorable, even in a context where these would cuase no or minimal harm to others. In this case, honor is defined as a sense of honesty in all one's actions.

This latter definition is less spectacular than that of Homer's; however, it is no less important in terms of one's relationships with oneself and others. Homer's fighters would be unable to live with the shame of running from a battle. A person with honor today would be unable to live with the shame of having cheated, even if nobody else knows about it. It is therefore a much less public type of honor, but no less important.

Journal Exercise 1.9B: What Women Want

I believe that women want companionship and security from a marriage. These are, however, very broad requirements. I also think each woman has her own particular preferences, according to their personality. Women would want somebody they can talk to and relate to. Although the general conception is that women want romantic men, I don't think this is true of all women. Mostly, I think it is a matter of personal preference.

Journal Exercise 1.9C: The Wife of Bath

The Wife of Bath is very opinionated about her position in a marriage and the things she wants from a man. She believes in sex for pleasure, for example, something that was probably quite progressive for the day. She also likes to play a dominating role in marriage and tells her companions how she always made every effort to be boss in her various households.

Journal Exercise 1.10A: Revisiting the Monster Archetype

There are many types of monsters portrayed in the movies today. Most notably, the modern type of monster often does not look monstrous. This monster is often human, with a monstrous personality. One prominent example is that of "Jigsaw" in the Saw movies. This is the type of person who enjoys hurting others, has good reasons for it, and does not believe that he has done anything wrong. Similar monsters appear in Stephen King books, where the monstrous comes in the form of the psychologically scarred character.

Journal Exercise 1.11A: Late Breaking News

His household rejoiced as Priam returned from Achilles with the body of his deceased son, Hector. Priam was believed dead by his family when they learned that he left to retrieve the body from the enemy warrior. He returned late yesterday afternoon with his son's body. The family report that they are overjoyed to see him. According to Priam's spokesperson, he was treated with great respect by Achilles, an honor the warrior did not care to extend to the victim. Priam is reported to have found some common ground with Achilles, as both men have suffered great losses due to the war.

Journal Exercise 2.1A: Printing Press and the Internet

The printing press sparked a revolution because it created a medium by means of which literature could be made accessible to everybody. This caused a spike in literacy, which in turn created a nation of intellectuals, rather than simply a few powerful leaders.

The same could be said of the Internet. When it was first invented, only a few powerful and rich people had access to it. However, today computers and the Internet prices have fallen to the extent that almost everybody can have access to this technology. Even in poor countries, programs are being implemented to get everybody online.

Although the Internet and online technology can create a fall in hardcopy sales, this does not mean that literacy will decrease. In fact, I believe the world's literacy levels will improve, since the online media requires reading and writing skills to communicate.

Journal Exercise 2.2A: Carpe Diem!

I can see a large amount of the Carpe Diem philosophy in the world today, especially among the rich and famous. The problem with this is that pleasure also often results in self-destruction, as seen so often among the young stars. Two specific examples I can think of include Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. In the past, Marilyn Monroe and River Phoenix can also be seen as icons of how this philosophy can be extremely destructive.

Journal Exercise 2.2B: Responding to Literature

The idyllic escape can be seen in several movies and literature today, including films such as "Blue Lagoon" and "Hook." Adventure films such as "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Tomb Raider" also provide wonderful escapist material for those who feel they need to take a break from the everyday world. In television, escapes are depicted in serials such as "Lost," where almost all the action takes place on an island.

Journal Exercise 2.4: Reader's Notebook

Assignment 1: Famous phrases

All that glitters is not gold

Bated breath

Love is blind

Quality of mercy is not strained

The truth will out

Assignment 2: Character notebook

Portia is intelligent and strong-willed. She has made up her mind about who she wants to marry, but nevertheless remains gracious towards her suitors. Her intelligence is most evident in the speech she gives to save Bassanio's life.

Bassanio's character can be seen from his conversation with Antonio, his rich merchant friend. From this conversation, it is clear that Bassanio is young, inexperienced, and tends to waste what money he has. He therefore frequently has to borrow money from Antonio.

Journal Exercise 2.5A: A Modern Marriage Test

I think the test is not only unfair, but also doesn't measure anything significant. There is no sense of testing the love of each person for Portia, or even of any particularly worthy trait. Any person can pass or fail the test. I would rather devise a test of love. I woud perhaps make a person write an essay on the qualities of the person they are going to marry. This would at least show if the suitor can communicate to express his love.

Journal Exercise 2.7A: Responding to Literature

There was probably an element of both beign dramatically wronged and receiving his deserved punishment. In terms of beign forced to convert to Christianity, I feel that Shylock was indeed dramatically wronged, as this is not directly related to his crime. The sacrifice in terms of fines and property are, however, deserved.

Journal Exercise 2.8A: Responding to Literature

Physical humor is generally embodied in the figure of Launcelot Gobbo, who frequently clowns around in the play. Launcelot also achieves humor by trying to confuse his blind father by disguising himself.

Shylock is indeed the victim of racism, especially at the end of the play. However, this does not mean that he is not particularly villainous. Demanding a pound of flesh as leverage for a loan and attempting to in fact claim this pound of flesh is particularly villainous and cruel. I believe that Shylock's end was richly deserved, and even that he deserved more than what was done to him.

Journal Exercise 2.9A: Responding to Literature