Were the Dark Ages really so dark?
As pointed out by John Green in his video, "The Dark Ages, How Dark Were They Really?", the Dark Ages weren't always exactly "dark". The Dark Ages began in 410 after the fall of the Roman Empire. Some dark aspects of the Dark Ages were that everything was influenced by superstition. Feudalism, caused by less trade and fewer cities, had both negative and positive aspects. The negative side of feudalism was that peasants, nor anyone else, could move up the social class ladder. Peasants even worked as slaves in order to receive protection. One positive side of feudalism was that lords protected better than the state could. Some not so dark aspects are that Spain became the centre of art. Even though 100 million people died from wars, the wars were actually smaller. Thus, with there being less danger, life expectancy grew from 28 to 30 years old.
As pointed out by John Green in his video, "The Dark Ages, How Dark Were They Really?", the Dark Ages weren't always exactly "dark". The Dark Ages began in 410 after the fall of the Roman Empire. Some dark aspects of the Dark Ages were that everything was influenced by superstition. Feudalism, caused by less trade and fewer cities, had both negative and positive aspects. The negative side of feudalism was that peasants, nor anyone else, could move up the social class ladder. Peasants even worked as slaves in order to receive protection. One positive side of feudalism was that lords protected better than the state could. Some not so dark aspects are that Spain became the centre of art. Even though 100 million people died from wars, the wars were actually smaller. Thus, with there being less danger, life expectancy grew from 28 to 30 years old.
Depth Psychology: The Basis for Archetypal Analysis
By exploring the theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung regarding the collective unconscious, we are diving deeper into the psychological aspects of literature. By taking a psychological approach to movies and books, called "Archetypal Analysis", we are able to understand where archetypes truly derive from. |
What are Archetypes?
By understanding what exactly an archetype is, we are able to see the true meaning of different works of art and literature. One such example of an archetype would be Severus Snape from Harry Potter as the Evil Figure who is Ultimately Good. Throughout the entire series of Harry Potter, Severus was always a thorn in Harry's side. It was not until the end of the series that we find out that Snape had only been looking out for Harry. |
A Synopsis of the Quest Archetypes in Percy Jackson & The Olympians; The Lightning Thief (2010) by Christian and MelissaAtop the Empire State Building in New York City, Zeus and Poseidon, Percy's Supernatural Aid, meet. Zeus reveals that his mater bolt has been stolen and accuses Poseidon's demigod son, Percy Jackson of stealing it. Poseidon explains that Percy does not know his true identity, but Zeus declares that unless the bolt is found and returned to Mount Olympus before the next summer solstice, he will wage war, community being threatened.
Percy, the sixteen-year-old dyslexic hero, while at a local museum on a school field trip, is attacked by a Fury, the herald, that has disguised as his substitute. The Fury demands that Percy give her the lightning bolt (boon). Percy's best friend, Grover Underwood, and Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner, help Percy and scare off the Fury. After learning why the Fury attacked Percy, Mr. Brunner gives Percy a pen and tells him that it is a powerful, magic weapon. Grover takes Percy and his mother Sally to Camp Half-Blood, a camp for the demigod children of the Gods and the first threshold. However, on their way to the camp they are attacked by a minotaur that appears to kill Sally, who is unable to enter Camp Half-Blood. Grover tells Percy to use the pen, and to Percy's surprise it turns into a sword. He fights the minotaur with the sword and fails. Percy kills the threshold guardian with its own horn and then faints from shock. Percy wakes three days later and learns that he is the son of Poseidon and that Grover is actually a disguised Satyr and his protector (friendly beast), and that Mr. Brunner is actually the centaur Chiron, the mentor, in disguise. Chiron explains to Percy that he should travel to Mount Olympus to convince Zeus that he is innocent. Percy begins training to control his demigod powers, which include water manipulation and using water to heal. At Camp Half-Blood he meets other demigods including Annabeth, daughter of Athena; and Luke, son of Hermes. After winning a game of Capture the Flag, Percy is visited by a fiery apparition of his uncle Hades, the Devil Figure, who reveals to Percy that Sally is with him in the Underworld and that he will return her only if Percy gives him the lightning bolt, the call to adventure. Defying Chiron's orders, Percy decides to travel to the Underworld with the company of Grover and Annabeth, his Loyal Companions. The trio is told to locate three pearls that belong to Hades' wife Persephone in order to escape the Underworld once there. They head out and locate the first pearl at an old garden centre where they are attacked by Medusa, the ruling parasite. Percy decapitates Medusa and takes her head with them for later use. They find the second pearl in the Parthenon in Nashville. Using winged shoes Percy retrieves the pearl from a statue of Athena. Unfortunately, they are confronted by the Hydra, the minion, which Grover petrifies using Medusa's head. The third and final pearl is located at the Lotus Casino in Las Vegas, where the trio eats lotus flowers and forget their reason for being there. They stay there for five days until Poseidon, speaks to Percy in his mind, which helps him return to his senses. Percy then frees Grover and Annabeth and they flee. Now with all three pearls, they head to the Underworld, the centre of abyss. In the Underworld they meet Hades and Persephone. Percy begins to tell Hades that he does not have the lightning bolt, but Hades finds it hidden in Luke's shield, revealing that Luke is the thief and trickster. Persephone, the EFUG, knocks out Hades with the bolt to get back at him for keeping her prisoner for all eternity and then hands the bolt to Percy. However, since there are only three pearls, Grover stays behind with Persephone in order for Percy, Annabeth, and Sally to leave. They teleport to the Empire State Building, return threshold, but are attacked by Luke, who wants to destroy Mount Olympus. After dueling across Manhattan, final trial, Luke is defeated by Percy. Percy then returns the bolt to Zeus, who forgives Percy and allows Poseidon to speak with his son. All is forgiven and war did not start. |