Vougler 293-313

summary: Vougler begins by saying that the Hero's journey model not only describes a pattern in myths and fairy tales, but it's also an accurate map of the territory one must travel to become a writer. The hero's journey and the writers journey are in mind indistinguishable. They both follow the same basic patterns and sequences and writing is an often perilous journey inward to probe the depths one's soul and bring back the elixer of experience, a good story. He then describes storys as being somewhat mythical and magical, stating that they have the power to heal us or hurt us. He then draws a comparisson between writers and shawmans saying both are prepared for their work by enduring terrible ordeals. The writer and the shaman both share a godlike power, and travel to other worlds and create worlds out of space and time. He decribes writers as having a magical power to bottle up worlds and bring them back in the form of stories to share with others. 

     The next major idea Vougler conveys is the idea that stories are alive, conscious, and respond to human emotion. They are alive because they seem to be consious and purposeful. Like living beings they have an agenda, something on their minds. They want something form you. They want to wake you up, to make you more conscious and alive. Most of all they want to teach you a lesson disguised as entertainment. They have healing power and can help us deal with different emotions. They have survival value by allowing humans to think metaphorically and pass down the accumulation of wisdom. Good stories show atleast two journeys an outer and an inner. 

    Vougler then recounts the story of rumplestilskin to illustrate his point that wishes are a powerful element of stories. He stresses that the expression of a wish even a frivolous one, near the beginning of a story is important because it calls the story and adventure into being. This wish can be used to teach the audience a lesson because often the hero wishes for something that she or he desperately wants at that moment, but the story teaches the hero to look beyond it to what they really need. The aim of good story telling is to get the audience to make the wish along with the hero. " Good story tellers invite the audiences to invest themselves in the fate of the characters by making them likeable or giving them universal drives, desires, and human weaknesses. Ideally what happens to the hero is happening on some emotional level of connection to the audience. Then it's the storytellers job to grant these wishes. Once in a while however thwarting the audiences' desires is effective. to challenge the assumptions of the watchers.  He then explains the importance of being careful what you wish for. The importance of will is another factor. Wishing can only take you so far, you need the will to attain your wishes. A strong will can be transformed into actions. 

reaction: 

     The section of the reading that I liked the best was the last part about wishes and will. Vougler says how wishes have to be turned into action. Dreams must be made real. I especially like how he states that, "wishing is the yearning of a seed to grow into something great." This made me think about how all major accomplishments and profound changes in history started out as a wish. Another word for a wish is a dream. This made be immediately make a connection to Martin Luther King and his, " I have a dream" speech. Wishes and dreams may seem small and insignificant when they first arise, but if they are shared and acted upon they can turn into something great. Martin Luther King changed the world by sharing his dream with others. I think that any one person with a big dream and enough will has the power to move mountains. This has been proven throughout history.

Q's :

 Where do we see this idea of , " be careful what you wish for," play out in our society today?

Vougler states that, "wishes can evaporate at the first set back, but the will endures". Can you think of a time where this has been true in your own life? 

Vougler also states, " Challenging and stressful situations are repeatedly introduced so that the developing person becomes more resilient, accustomed to conflict and opposition and determined to overcome any obstacle. " Do you think strength of character and an overcoming personality can be developed without trials and tribulations? Are the trials always a necessity of growth?