Prometheus and Pandora
I liked this story and how the showed the changes in humans until the gods decided to leave them on their own. It very much relates to the story of the bible in which God decides to destroy all the humans because of their actions. Its been stated that the stories on the bible are all metaphorical and invented so I wander if they got the same idea from Greeks, or what happened because that is not the only story that seems similar. This is probably one of the best stories in this book because it explains the creation of man.
Proserpine
Proserpine was queen of the underworld. She was forced to marry and she remained sad. Although she was a good person, she was forced to live with the evil and with the dead. This story teaches us that we aren’t able to choose our families, and parts of our lives. There are simply things that we cannot change but we surely can accept them and enjoy them. Life is what you make out of it.
Vertemnus and Pomona
What I learned form this story is that you shall not hide what you feel. Not only on love but also with your enemies and the people that surround you. You have to be yourself and have the guts to do what you want to because that’s the only thing that will make you happy. I think that love is really strong and although you cant change what others feel for you, you can try and that’s what Vertemnus should’ve done from the start. According to the story he was young and handsome and he shared similar tastes to Pomona so that’s why I think he should’ve presented himself at first. Nevertheless, his plan worked and he lived happily ever after. I strongly believe that you can achieve what you propose and you truly desire. It’s the emotions with the actions that lead to you to the best things in this world.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
myths 11th entry
Midas
Its funny, to find this store in the bible too. This makes you think about the origin of the Christian religion, which contains many elements and stories from previous ones. I think that this story represents the greed that we all have but shouldn’t. Humans, represented with Midas want to have it all without thinking on how that will affect everything and everyone around him. When you’ve done everything wrong, its too late to fix the problems you’ve caused. I am seeing this book of myths as one of those books that teaches kids how to behave. I think it worked pretty well, to combine values with religion.
Venus and Adonis
This story once again explains that death cant be avoided nor predicted. As much as we want to live for ever, we have to die. In this story Adonis is honoured after death by the flower called the Anemone and this shows that its worth living and its worth dying and being remembered. This shows that human’s life is too short to misuse it and that we have to take advantage of everything possible to enjoy it and do what we have to do because one day we’ll be all gone and hopefully, we’ve done enough on earth to be remembered for the rest of the eternity.
Minerva
As with Midas, greed and ambition were the plot of this story. Arachne thought that she was the best but I think that she deeply knew that Athena was superior. She got into the problem and ended up becoming a spider. The word in Spanish for spider is “Arnaña” which comes directly form the word of the woman called Arachne. I like the explanation for the creation of the spider and I must say that my favourite myths are those that explain how things came out to be that way (like Ishamel).
Its funny, to find this store in the bible too. This makes you think about the origin of the Christian religion, which contains many elements and stories from previous ones. I think that this story represents the greed that we all have but shouldn’t. Humans, represented with Midas want to have it all without thinking on how that will affect everything and everyone around him. When you’ve done everything wrong, its too late to fix the problems you’ve caused. I am seeing this book of myths as one of those books that teaches kids how to behave. I think it worked pretty well, to combine values with religion.
Venus and Adonis
This story once again explains that death cant be avoided nor predicted. As much as we want to live for ever, we have to die. In this story Adonis is honoured after death by the flower called the Anemone and this shows that its worth living and its worth dying and being remembered. This shows that human’s life is too short to misuse it and that we have to take advantage of everything possible to enjoy it and do what we have to do because one day we’ll be all gone and hopefully, we’ve done enough on earth to be remembered for the rest of the eternity.
Minerva
As with Midas, greed and ambition were the plot of this story. Arachne thought that she was the best but I think that she deeply knew that Athena was superior. She got into the problem and ended up becoming a spider. The word in Spanish for spider is “Arnaña” which comes directly form the word of the woman called Arachne. I like the explanation for the creation of the spider and I must say that my favourite myths are those that explain how things came out to be that way (like Ishamel).
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Myths 10th Entry
Roman Divinities
Most of the names I found here relate to the modern names of things. For example Faunus, the god of fields and shepherds relates to the Spanish word for fields and environment called “Fauna”. It is incredible, to see the amount of influence that this culture has on our lives. Most of the words come from them (or at least in Spanish) and lots of fests and holidays too. Saint valentines day relates to cupid and I think that Christmas relates to saturnalia, an event in which they shared gifts and offered peace amongst each other.
Latona and the Rustics
This is one of the goddess that punished people for being rude at her. This time, they deserved it because they were mean to her and they ignored the superiority she possessed. This story reminds me to Pinocchio because he didn’t behave correctly and he suffered in exchange. (With the increase of his nose size). I think that people should be punished if they act incorrectly and this time I agree with the gods.
Phaeton
I didn’t understand fully this story because it shows the end of the world. Chaos all over the world and gods and people dying. Gods initially were allowing the destruction of the world but I don’t seem to find a reason because after all, their job was to protect the earth, wasn’t it? When I began reading it I thought it was going to explain solar eclipses or something by the sort but I finished it and I couldn’t discover the purpose for this story. This, unless that occurrence lead to a time of suffering and scarcity.
Most of the names I found here relate to the modern names of things. For example Faunus, the god of fields and shepherds relates to the Spanish word for fields and environment called “Fauna”. It is incredible, to see the amount of influence that this culture has on our lives. Most of the words come from them (or at least in Spanish) and lots of fests and holidays too. Saint valentines day relates to cupid and I think that Christmas relates to saturnalia, an event in which they shared gifts and offered peace amongst each other.
Latona and the Rustics
This is one of the goddess that punished people for being rude at her. This time, they deserved it because they were mean to her and they ignored the superiority she possessed. This story reminds me to Pinocchio because he didn’t behave correctly and he suffered in exchange. (With the increase of his nose size). I think that people should be punished if they act incorrectly and this time I agree with the gods.
Phaeton
I didn’t understand fully this story because it shows the end of the world. Chaos all over the world and gods and people dying. Gods initially were allowing the destruction of the world but I don’t seem to find a reason because after all, their job was to protect the earth, wasn’t it? When I began reading it I thought it was going to explain solar eclipses or something by the sort but I finished it and I couldn’t discover the purpose for this story. This, unless that occurrence lead to a time of suffering and scarcity.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
myths 9th entry
The Graee and the Gorgons
The graee and the gorgons weren’t important on mythology except medusa but I think that is the case with all the monsters of mythology. There was only few famous centaurs and even less flying horses. I agree with some modern writers that say that these monsters were all personifications of terror because either they really were personifications, or people didn’t know what they were doing back then.
Perseus and Medusa
I’ve know this story since I was a little kid when I saw it on discovery channel. This story is a good example that teaches us to confront your fears. Something I’ve learned in the past months is that you have to face your deepest fears because if you avoid them, they will come back and haunt you. In my opinion, if you want to succeed in life, you have to attack it, to receive it with positive expectations because things always end up being better if done this way.
Perseus and Atlas
Back then, people believed strongly in the oracle’ sayings and I don’t know if this is good or bad. After I’ve read like 20 myths, I am in the side of the humans. I still think that gods punished humans in an unfair way. Their punishments were based on personal wants rather than on logic or on doing the correct thing. Gods could be compared to the government. They do what they please and they favour some but make the rest suffer. There is one thing that’s been there since the beginning oh humanity and that is corruption and greed.
The graee and the gorgons weren’t important on mythology except medusa but I think that is the case with all the monsters of mythology. There was only few famous centaurs and even less flying horses. I agree with some modern writers that say that these monsters were all personifications of terror because either they really were personifications, or people didn’t know what they were doing back then.
Perseus and Medusa
I’ve know this story since I was a little kid when I saw it on discovery channel. This story is a good example that teaches us to confront your fears. Something I’ve learned in the past months is that you have to face your deepest fears because if you avoid them, they will come back and haunt you. In my opinion, if you want to succeed in life, you have to attack it, to receive it with positive expectations because things always end up being better if done this way.
Perseus and Atlas
Back then, people believed strongly in the oracle’ sayings and I don’t know if this is good or bad. After I’ve read like 20 myths, I am in the side of the humans. I still think that gods punished humans in an unfair way. Their punishments were based on personal wants rather than on logic or on doing the correct thing. Gods could be compared to the government. They do what they please and they favour some but make the rest suffer. There is one thing that’s been there since the beginning oh humanity and that is corruption and greed.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Rhetoric
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/opinion/17males.html?n=Top/Opinion/Editorials%20and%20Op-Ed/Op-Ed/Contributors
This Is Your (Father’s) Brain on Drugs
By Mike Males
I really enjoyed this article because it showed a different perspective in regards to drugs and mental abilities. I guess that the article to which he responded too was about teens and how bad they are. It is common to criticize others but to avoid or ignore your own problems and mistakes and that is why I enjoyed it so much, because not only teen have problems, middle-agers do too!
The majority of rhetoric used was logos but since I have to talk about other sub categories of rhetoric, I’ll show different examples.
“youths are being maligned to draw attention from the reality that it’s actually middle-aged adults — the parents — whose behavior has worsened.”
This statement uses blame to parents, who behave worst than their children and if you’ve read the whole article, you’ll know that he is also blaming some scientists for making misleading assumptions about worsened behaviors. In the other category, it uses Ethos to sustain it.
“18,249 deaths from overdoses of illicit drugs in 2004, up 550 percent per capita since 1975, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics.”
This statement uses Logos to create a powerful convincing line and blames middle-aged people, who have been setting an incorrect example to us, the teens. It uses the present to blame them and clearly, the argument is supported by amazing facts.
Basically, the rest of the article uses the same format as the one stated in the previous quotes. It shows facts that prove wrong the writer of the original article.
“Strangely, the experts never mention even more damning new “discoveries” about the middle-aged brain, like the 2004 study of scans by Harvard researchers revealing declines in key memory and learning genes that become significant by age 40.”
This quote evokes values and is found in the present tense. It blames but also wonders why does people don’t do it if they know it. I sincerely think its incredible, to be blaming all the teens without focusing on the adults, which have a stronger impact in cultures.
I came to a conclusion; that the vast majority of things in life contain a slight bit of rhetoric and that’s why its very important. I also found that If you want to say something and convince people, you have to use all the kinds of rhetoric available.
This Is Your (Father’s) Brain on Drugs
By Mike Males
I really enjoyed this article because it showed a different perspective in regards to drugs and mental abilities. I guess that the article to which he responded too was about teens and how bad they are. It is common to criticize others but to avoid or ignore your own problems and mistakes and that is why I enjoyed it so much, because not only teen have problems, middle-agers do too!
The majority of rhetoric used was logos but since I have to talk about other sub categories of rhetoric, I’ll show different examples.
“youths are being maligned to draw attention from the reality that it’s actually middle-aged adults — the parents — whose behavior has worsened.”
This statement uses blame to parents, who behave worst than their children and if you’ve read the whole article, you’ll know that he is also blaming some scientists for making misleading assumptions about worsened behaviors. In the other category, it uses Ethos to sustain it.
“18,249 deaths from overdoses of illicit drugs in 2004, up 550 percent per capita since 1975, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics.”
This statement uses Logos to create a powerful convincing line and blames middle-aged people, who have been setting an incorrect example to us, the teens. It uses the present to blame them and clearly, the argument is supported by amazing facts.
Basically, the rest of the article uses the same format as the one stated in the previous quotes. It shows facts that prove wrong the writer of the original article.
“Strangely, the experts never mention even more damning new “discoveries” about the middle-aged brain, like the 2004 study of scans by Harvard researchers revealing declines in key memory and learning genes that become significant by age 40.”
This quote evokes values and is found in the present tense. It blames but also wonders why does people don’t do it if they know it. I sincerely think its incredible, to be blaming all the teens without focusing on the adults, which have a stronger impact in cultures.
I came to a conclusion; that the vast majority of things in life contain a slight bit of rhetoric and that’s why its very important. I also found that If you want to say something and convince people, you have to use all the kinds of rhetoric available.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
myths 8th entry
The Centaurs
The centaurs are amongst my favorite mythological creatures because they are part human and part horse. They are very strong and quick and were supposed to be loyal to men. It would’ve been great if these animals did exist and that makes me wonder who and why invented all these myths and creatures?
The Pygmies
This story reminds me of people who are born with disabilities, whether they are mental, emotional or physical. They do their best and have their own goals and own life but there is always some one that makes them feel bad about themselves because they think they are better than they are.
The Griffin
I knew this character from the series of Harry Potter and I liked it because it was made from the fiercest animals around. A lion, the king of the jungle and an eagle, the king of the skies ended up creating the strongest animal of them all. I am amused that these animals don’t play such a role in mythology because in my opinion, they could show up from fearless enemies to loyal friends.
The centaurs are amongst my favorite mythological creatures because they are part human and part horse. They are very strong and quick and were supposed to be loyal to men. It would’ve been great if these animals did exist and that makes me wonder who and why invented all these myths and creatures?
The Pygmies
This story reminds me of people who are born with disabilities, whether they are mental, emotional or physical. They do their best and have their own goals and own life but there is always some one that makes them feel bad about themselves because they think they are better than they are.
The Griffin
I knew this character from the series of Harry Potter and I liked it because it was made from the fiercest animals around. A lion, the king of the jungle and an eagle, the king of the skies ended up creating the strongest animal of them all. I am amused that these animals don’t play such a role in mythology because in my opinion, they could show up from fearless enemies to loyal friends.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Myths 7th entry
Nisus and Scylla
This is a story that reminds me of honor and pride. It isn’t the same to win a soccer math when the other team doesn’t presents itself than to win it by playing and giving it all. Maybe Minos didn’t want the territory but the fame and he felt offended by the actions of Scylla.
Echo and Narcissus
This first story is about the creation of the echo. It is funny how the story makes sense. She wasn’t able to speak before and ended up repeating what was said. I haven’t read much but I hope I see more myths containing explanation of natural occurrences.
Hero and Leander
I cant imagine someone in modern days doing the impossible for love although it happens, it isn’t as common. These stories show that love was very important to them. I also read a story similar to Romeo and Juliet but with different characters and situations. This means that love was one of the most important things for them and I think that love was the only feeling that surpassed gods commands.
This is a story that reminds me of honor and pride. It isn’t the same to win a soccer math when the other team doesn’t presents itself than to win it by playing and giving it all. Maybe Minos didn’t want the territory but the fame and he felt offended by the actions of Scylla.
Echo and Narcissus
This first story is about the creation of the echo. It is funny how the story makes sense. She wasn’t able to speak before and ended up repeating what was said. I haven’t read much but I hope I see more myths containing explanation of natural occurrences.
Hero and Leander
I cant imagine someone in modern days doing the impossible for love although it happens, it isn’t as common. These stories show that love was very important to them. I also read a story similar to Romeo and Juliet but with different characters and situations. This means that love was one of the most important things for them and I think that love was the only feeling that surpassed gods commands.
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