Approach to the Inmost Cave and The Ordeal

Summary
In this section of Vogler’s text, he describes the “Approach to the Inmost Cave” and “The Ordeal.” The approach is the build up to the actually ordeal of the story. Therefore, both of these sections of the journey are full of action and emotion. Every hero has a different approach to the inmost cave, whether it is with brute confident force, careful planning, or accidental. The hero needs to be aware that because they are entering a new threshold, they might face more guardians or obstacles even before the ordeal. The ordeal is the biggest obstacle that the hero will face. Furthermore, the hero is often threatened by death. As the hero appears dead, the audience at an ultimate low, wondering if the writing will actually kill off their main character. However, as the hero awakes, the audience’s emotions bounce higher than they were prior to the apparent death. The excitement of the approach to the inmost cave and the ordeal leave the audience anxiously waiting to see if the hero will succeed.

Reaction
Because these two sections of the journey are exciting, Vogler’s text seemed a little livelier in this portion of the text. I found Vogler’s relationships to Campbell’s ideas interesting as they applied to film. However, I do wish he would relate his ideas to a film other than the Wizard of Oz. When he first began using Wizard of Oz, I found it helpful. During the previous section we read, I was beginning to tire of the film. During “The Ordeal” chapter, Vogler related every section of the chapter back to the Wizard of Oz. Although his explanations are helpful, I am really hoping for some more variety in the next section that we read.

Reflection
Vogler included a small snippet in “The Ordeal” chapter about change. For some reason, this portion of the text stuck with me. He states, “No one can go through an experience at the edge of death without being changed.” I related to this quote, because I started thinking of even lesser experiences than near death that leave an individual irreversibly changed. Sometimes even seemingly small events can cause great change. Our first project proved the changes that everyone had faced and hopefully overcome. In my hero’s journey, I described how moving around a lot as a child molded me into the person that I am now. I tried to demonstrate change by paralleling my story to the transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

Questions
How does “the elasticity of emotion” affect the audience during the hero’s near death experience? Have you ever felt this way?
Why do you think that it is important to understand that the villain is the hero in his/ her own story?
Why is it important that the hero undergoes great struggle during the ordeal?

Web of Language

http://illinois.edu/blog/view?blogId=25&topicId=717&count=1&ACTION=VIEW_TOPIC_DIALOGS&skinId=286

Story Corps

When searching for an article at npr.org, I decided to listen to a story entitled, "Antartic Ice May Melt, But Not for Millenia." I chose this story, because I am invested in the health of the earth as well as the current issue of global warming. The article explained that we should not be so invested in worrying about the Antartic ice melting, because there are more vital catalysts to short-term sea level rise, such as water expanding due to higher temperatures. I'm glad that I chose this article, because the information furthered my understanding of global warming and sea level rise.

Six Word Memoir

Falling
engineers
the
strength
to
stand.

Free Rice

Today, I visited www.freerice.com and was amazed at how simple it was to give food to people in need. Not only was I helping to donate rice, but also I was widening my vocabulary. Now that's multitasking! The website, in structure and content, is just what people need to get excited about fighting against poverty and hunger. Even such a small sense of accomplishment and awareness can rally the world to find solutions to poverty.

"Crossing the First Threshold" and "Tests, Allies, Enemies"

Summary
In this section of Vogler’s text, he describes two new parts of the hero’s journey, “Crossing the First Threshold” and “Test, Allies. Enemies.” Crossing into the first threshold is the first point in the story when the hero experiences two different worlds. The main obstacle in this portion of the journey is the threshold guardian, an archetype that was introduced earlier in the text. After defeating the threshold guardian, the hero must take a “leap of faith” into the new world. Next, Vogler describes different aspects of the new world. For instance, the first thing that the audience will mostly notice is the contrast between the ordinary world and the new world. Also, the hero will be faced with a series of tests in the new world. He/she will meet enemies during the tests. During the hero’s quest for knowledge, he will most likely meet allies and friends along the way as well.

Reaction
This portion was laid out similarly to the rest of Vogler’s text. I find it helpful that in each section Vogler explains more of the archetypes and how they fit into different parts of the journey. For instance, in the “Crossing the First Threshold” chapter, Vogler further explains the place and purpose of the Threshold Guardian. Also, Vogler follows up every chapter with how it compares to The Wizard of Oz. I find this portion of the chapter very helpful, because Vogler helps the reader to relate with modern culture. Another modern film that Vogler uses to better explain the threshold is Beverly Hills Cop. Having seen the film several times as a child, Vogler’s connection brought his ideas into a more vivid perspective.

Reflection
During the “Crossing the First Threshold” chapter, Vogler states that “They [the hero] may crash in the other world, literally or figuratively” (Vogler 130) I find it interesting that Vogler identifies how the hero’s leap of faith may result in a “rough landing.” In Metamorphosis, the main character, Gregor, is forced into the new world, when his body is literally transformed into a cockroach. The story does not appear to fit the hero’s journey mold at first but taking a closer look at the text proves that with a little analyzing the story parallel’s Vogler’s theories. Obviously, Gregor was faced with a rough landing when he was suddenly in the body of a cockroach. I found it interesting to apply Vogler’s terminology to the strange circumstances in the Metamorphosis.

Questions
1. Who are the threshold guardians in some of the pieces we read?
2. Have you ever taken a personal leap of faith?
3. How can allies be beneficial to the hero?