You did a great job, and clearly what is here is only a sampling of your thoughts. From your conversations, many of you had begun talking about not just the characters, but their interactions (the deeds, the tasks, how things happen, what didn't happen) to get further into the possible psychological understanding of the myths.
Joseph Campbell says each myth teaches us about how to live with one of the mysteries of life. What are we learning about how to live? Notice the process, like going from innocence to knowledge in Little Red Riding Hood, and also notice the content, what is she losing innocence about? What mystery of life does she understand better? The frog had to ask for a favor, rather than go it alone (like Luke has to). What might this represent?
As people amplify, you can ask "Why this form of the myth?" Why a hero who is thrust into an adventure, rather than choosing to go on it? Why the crow as tempting with _____ rather than Christ's temptations (money, power, faith) or Buddha's temptations (money, power, women)?
Frog
ignorant, ugly, selfish, materialistic
Sky God
power, supportive, wisdom, responsibility
Well
unconscious
Frog's Tail
equality, hope, material, selfishness, vulnerability
Other Animals
society, conflict between conscious and unconscious
Wolf
villain, trickster, sly, greedy, dark side of unknown, sin
represents unknown & unconscious, animal instincts, aggressive, pleasure-seeker (feeding)
Grandma
helpless, dependent, goodness, innocence
revered, frail, elderly, needy
LRRH - Hero
taste of all archetypes, intuition, rebellion, Luke
innocent, gullible, messenger, well-meaning
Huntsman
hero?, consciousness, Han Solo
2nd chance - Fairy
Narrative:
House of everything known, secure
conscience/conscious, journey
curiosity
intuition, Adult and conscious house
Characters
Jack, Jack's mother, Mum (big tall lady), Ogre, Milky white, Bean seller
Hero -
the gold, the hen, harp
Yun
- ok "shadow" unconscious to her problem (Ignorant)
Hermit
"Hero"
Tiger
"Persona" mask of the husband
Tiger's whisker
= love
"potion"
= lesson = Yun ok's realization
they complement each other
The crow
like a teacher, clever, mentor, disciplinarian
trickster, mean, teacher, wise, decietful, bad , chooses...
Amplifications: evil, trouble maker from Snow White, Poe, Indian Lore, Sleeping beauty, symbolizes temptation, Dumbo - crows create false hopes by offering Dumbo a feather guaranteeing him the ability to fly.
The coyote
impatient, scavenger, curious, naive, gullible
simple, ignorant, gullible, lesser evil, hunger - instinct, self absorbed, has to, cannot resist temptation
Amplification: roadrunner, coyote is driven by hunger, instinct, survival, doomed to failure, symbolizes desire
The Rabbit
He was quick-witted. He had instinctual knowledge. He knew what the coyote was plotting right away. He represents survival of the wits.
victim/Apollo
The Hole:
the hole represents an escape but if you aren't careful, your escape can trap you!
The coyote
coyote was the trickster. he represents deception. He tries to take advantage of a bad situation.
villain/Dionysus
"Cousins"
Dionysus & Apollo are still connected
Amplification:
"3 Little Pigs", Tom & Jerry cartoon, "Rumpelstiltskin all have to do with deception of some sort.
The Deer
first - helpful, caring innocent victim
last - deceitful, cold hearted, sly, being mean to survive
conniving - protect her children, cause trouble to coyote
The coyote
first - predator, sly deceitful
last - nice, innocent, sensitive, naive
innocence - curious, naive, give children stars
strong, instinctual, protective, menace,
in the story they switched roles
we first thought that the coyote was trying to trick the deer but we found out that the coyote was the naive one
Meaning: brains (win) vs. brawn
Amplification:
Bambi, tortoise & the hare, Wily E. Coyote (coyote never gets road runner), Robin Hood
Father Hare
wisdom, advice, role model, higher power, logic
wisdom, experience, nurturing, teaching, like Apollo, Obi-Wan
1st & 2nd Hare
selfish, independent, irresponsible, failure, lazy, inventive
foolish, youthful, short-sighted, naive, didn't think about possible consequences for their actions, both like Dionysus
3rd Hare
clever, responsible, industrious, sensible persevering
practical, thoughtful, holistic, saw the big picture, like Apollo,
Fox
consequence, death, inner voice, guilt, conscience
villain, bad guy , antagonist, opposing, following natural instinct,
Amplifications:
like Epimethius, wolf in 3 pigs, whale in Pinocchio
Amplifications for story:
like the 3 Pigs, the are prey for predator, trying to stay alive, houses.
Questions
What parts of the psyche could be "trying to stay alive", based on the imagery of the story?
Last Modified: Friday, October 3, 1997
Tom Link
tomlink@pop.seanet.com