The Purpose of Myths

1)Name four fundamental questions that myths address.

• What is the nature of the universe in which I live?
• How do I relate to that universe?
• What must I do in order to survive?
• Who am I?

2) Name four themes in world mythology.

• The first parents are often the gods of sky and earth.
• The creator-god usually fashions the first human beings from parts of the earth-perhaps clay, trees, rocks, or plants.
• Heroes are children of gods who have an unusual birth, possesses extraordinary strength.
• The gods destroy at least one world of mortals by causing a great flood.

3) What is the beginning of the universe for most major cultures?
A chaotic, formless mass that a god or pair of gods separates. The gods multiply so that each can have his or her particular role in the universe scheme, and the creator-god brings life to earth in the form of plants, animals, and human beings.

4) What do hero myths and epics teach members of society?
The heroic myths and epics of a society teach its members the appropriate attitudes, behaviors, and values of that culture.

5) Why do ordinary people identify with heroes?
They too want to live in such a way that they are remembered for their good deeds.

6) What is the foundation of the Matriarchal Society?
The political, social, and religious foundation of the matriarchal society was the agricultural year.

7) What is Sigmund Freud's view of myths?
Sigmund Freud and his followers view myths as the expression of the individual's unconscious wishes, fears, and drives.

8) Myths demonstrate that people possess...
 The intellectual capacity to understand the world in which they live.

BOR Essay

Me As the Youngest Child

       As the youngest child the birth order research described me perfectly. It said that I was many things. The ones I related to the most were absentminded, impatient, vivacious, precocious, uncomplicated, and that I blame others for stuff. My own life experiences helped me relate to these words even more.
       Two words that the research says I am is absentminded and impatient. I am constantly getting in trouble for being absentminded. I am fully aware that I show a lack of attention. One time I was in science class and my teacher was explaining what to do for a project and I wasn't paying attention. So, then I heard my teacher say to get to work and I was completely lost. I try to fight it, but I'm a daydreamer. I am also very impatient. I have mini heart attacks in the morning before school because I have to wait for my sister. She has to put on her makeup and she always puts her heels on right before we are about to leave, so it stresses me out. Which is why I am impatient. These are just two ways that the research describes me right. There are still many words that describe me from the birth order research.
       Two other words from the research that are like me are vivacious and precocious. Me being vivacious actually explains a lot. Literally ever guy friend I've had ended up crushing on me. I'm normally not myself in front of guys I like or don't know, but I am in front of my guy friends. Which would explain why they like me because apparently vivacious is an attractive quality. The research also says that I am precocious. My mom said that I have always been precocious. Since I was about two years old I would use words like incredible, hilarious, and delicious rather than great, funny, or good. I know it is kind of hard to believe, but my mom always used words like that in front of me, so I picked up on it. There are still a couple more words that the research used to describe me that I believe are quite accurate.
       The last two words that describe me from the research are uncomplicated and that I blame others. I am pretty straightforward and an open book, so I can see how that can be classified as uncomplicated. My family and friends all seem to know what I would want or what to get me. Even if they don't get the right thing I don't make a big deal about it because at least they tried, so I can see how that is an uncomplicated reaction. Another characteristic from the birth order research is that I blame others. I basically do this just to tick people off. It's hilarious. Especially when I do it to my sister. I can even come up with a way that makes it seem like their fault not mine. They even start to believe me. I sometimes say that I am kidding and take the blame, but not always. These six words from the research sum me up entirely. I couldn't believe that I am the way I am because I'm the youngest child.
       In conclusion, the birth order research accurately describes me as the youngest child. The research was pretty much spot on. There was only like two things that I would disagree on, but the rest was completely right. The research even helped me better understand myself as I compared the words to me. It explained a lot of things for me. Such as why I am the way I am.

Birth Order Traits

BOR Research and Evidence T-Chart

What The Research Says			Evidence Showing Accuracy or Inaccuracy
Rebellious			Although it may not be considered a good personality trait I am very rebellious. I usually tend to do the opposite of what I am told. Whenever I am told not to do something it makes me want to do it even more. I can't help it. I guess it's because my older sister does whatever she is told and I try to be my own person rather than be like her.
Charming			I have been told that I am very charming. Whenever I would meet my mom's friends or family that I hadn't seen in a long time they would tell my mom that I was charming. I asked how and my mom said it's that way I say things, so I don't know I guess my tone of voice is charming.
Precocious			I am definitely precocious. I always thought it was the way that I grew up because I had to grow up pretty fast. Many of my past teachers have told my mom at conferences that I am mature for my age. I kind of noticed because I used to think that certain kids my age were immature, but it was that I was too mature.
People Person			I do not think that I am a people person. I actually strongly despise being around people. I guess it's that I am easily annoyed, so I can't stand being around people because I find them annoying. Again it is not one of my best personality traits, but it's true.
Uncomplicated			I am completely uncomplicated. I guess it's because I tend to just go with the flow. I hate controversy so I just people please. I have been told that I shouldn't just people please, but honestly it is way better than controversy. Which makes me uncomplicated.
Manipulative			As ashamed as I am to admit this I am manipulative. I thought that I inherited that trait from my dad, but I guess it is associated with being the youngest? I can basically get people to do stuff for me whether they want to or not. It doesn't just work on my family it also works on my friends. I don't know how I do it. It just comes naturally to me.

Latin Roots #1

ROOTS AND DERIVATIVES

1. act, ag, ig: to do, to move, to drive
2. ali, alter: another, other
3. am: at/ to love
4. anim: life, spirit, soul

WORD LIST

1. agenda: a list of things to be considered or done
2. agile: able to move quickly and easily
3. alienate: to cause (someone) to feel that she or he no longer belongs in a particular group, society, etc.
4. altercation: a noisy or angry argument
5. amiable: friendly and pleasant
6. amorous: having or showing strong feelings of sexual attraction or love
7. animated: produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another : produced through the process of animation
8. equanimity: calm emotions when dealing with problems or pressure
9. inalienable: impossible to take away or give up
10. inanimate: not living : not capable of life
11. magnanimous: having or showing a generous and kind nature
12. reactionary : pertaining to, relating to, marked by, or favoring reaction; especially :  ultraconservative in politics

Sentences

1. With the new school schedule I wish I had an agenda, so I don't forget to do homework for one of my six classes.
2. The old lady is no longer agile.
3. The young girl was alienated because she didn't dress like all her "friends".
4. The parents altercation caused the kids to cry.
5. She was amiable to the new student at school.
6. The married couple of twenty years still had amorous for one another.
7. My favorite animated movie is Up.
8. The young girl learned to have equanimity in order to be strong for her little sister after the death of their parents.
9. The stuffed toy bunny rabbit was inalienable to the little girl.
10. The little girls best friend was her toy bunny even though is was inanimate.
11. The girl was voted prom queen for being magnanimous. 
12. The subject was not reactionary to the students, but they still had an opinion on the matter.

Reflections On Week 1

No there are not any factors that will affect my participation in this class. I recently had to get internet for this class, but it was fine with me. My mom was a little upset, but I like having the internet. We always had a computer just no internet, so I was excited that she had no choice than to get it for me because I need it for this class. I do have a smart phone so if I need it I have one. I don't really understand why we would need it for class, but I guess I'll find out soon enough. So all in all I don't have anything that will affect my participation in this class. 

The best ever learning experience I had was when I was in choir and we went to Disney Land! I know it doesn't sound very educational, but it was. We got to go backstage and they taught us how Disney movies and cartoons were made. We also learned about the recording process of music. We got to use everyday objects as instruments and record the sound and then they matched our music up with a scene from a Disney movie. It was really cool! I was in seventh grade and it was in Junior High so my sister was in eighth grade, so I got to experience it with her. I was fascinated with everything because that is along the lines of what I want to do when I grow up and what I want to go to college for. It was an amazing learning experience and it made me look forward to my future because I got to see how fun it is going to be. 

In this class I am most excited about the books we get to read. It sounds kind of nerdy, but it's true. I really liked the books we got to read in honors English 1, so I hope the ones in this class are just as interesting. The books we read will make a practical difference in my life because I get to say that I read a book that was a classic. For example I now get to say that I read the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. So that is what I am most excited about. A thing that I am concerned about is presentations. I am typically shy, so I get really nervous just talking to people let alone in front of them. I try to stay calm, but the longer I am in front of the class I start to shake really bad. My voice doesn't just shake my whole body does. I don't really know why. I think I start to get scared maybe because I shake when I'm scared. I was always told that I would get used to talking in front of the class the more I did it, but that's a lie. I haven't gotten used to it. So this is the only thing that I am most concerned about. 

My Six Words

I chose these six words because they basically sum up my life. I love to sleep because first of all who doesn't? My weekends are spent sleeping in until like one o'clock in the afternoon. I don't really care if I sleep my life away because at least I'm happy with the way I'm living. I don't care for the saying "We will sleep when we are dead" or something like that? Anyway it's like cool I get to sleep more than I do now which is absolutely fine with me! So yeah anyone who knows me will say that those six words fit me perfectly.