Suzi Ayers Melissa Murray Ali Beltrami

Caves  Definition-  Deep down where the character delves into true self.  The place the character goes when “invisible” or inactive.  Viewed as an extreme may signify death.  Significance-  Most primal symbol of shelter, linked with the womb, rebirth, origin, and the center; darker meanings include the entrance to Hell or the unconscious.

Caves in Literature  The Odyssey-  Inside of a cave Odysseus meets and conclusively blinds the monstrous Cyclops in such a furious and illogical manner that he angered the powerful god Poseidon causing the worst of woes for Odysseus and his crew.

Caves  Example:  Little Mermaid- Ariel keeps all of her human possessions hidden in a cave which shows her true secret self  Hercules- Hercules defeats the three headed monster inside a cave therefore proving to the Greeks that his true nature is as a hero.

Caves  Examples cont.:  Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- Harry and Dumbledore enter into a dark and dangerous cave in order to destroy one of Voldemort’s Horcruxs’ the cave signifies a part of Voldemort's childhood, which is when he started to show his true evil self.

Mountains  Definition-  Symbolizes the obstacles that must be faced before the center can be reached.  They are part of the earth that is closest to the heavens, where humans can communicate with the Gods.  Symbol of transcendence, eternity, purity, and spiritual ascent; associated with immortals, heroes, sanctified prophets, and gods.  Significance-  Mountains are thought to be the bodies of divinity.  Ascend to heavens. Thought that the heavens were reached by climbing a spiral path such as up a sacred mountain.

Mountains in Literature Moses and the Ten Commandments- “A few days later Moses and Aaron climbed the cliffs. The mountain was covered with smoke and there was a sound like a huge trumpet playing from the cloud. The people could hear the blast but could not see where it came from. They trembled in fright. This was a great moment for the people of Israel for God had come to meet them. Once Moses and Aaron were on the mountain, God came down to meet them in a cloud of smoke and fire. God wanted to give the people a set of laws, or commandments. They could learn and shape their lives around these rules thus learning the difference between right and wrong. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.” - The high peak links the Earth with Heaven creating a way for Moses to talk to God. The mountains were also a great obstacle for Moses to cross but once he did he was granted with the ten commandments.

Mountains  Example-  Sound of Music- at the end the Von Trapp family travels over the mountains to escape from the Nazis control.  Mulan- when facing and fighting the tremendous army of Huns Mulan has to cross the mountains and then use them against the Huns in order to survive.

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