approach/ordeal

SUMMARY
This section of the text dealt with the hero's journey through the approach to the innermost cave and the ordeal. The approach deals with the final preparations such as reorganizing the group or having fun before facing an ultimate test. As the hero approachs the innermost cave, the individual has obstacles that he or she may have to deal with such as illusions, threshold guardians, among other events. One may have to appeal to the guardian, pass a test that seems unattainable, as well as trying to get into the villain's mind in order to break them down, either by fooling/ confusing them or showing emotion (crying). Once inside, the hero must face the ordeal, which is the central point of the story. Here a hero usually dies, literally or figuratively, however sometimes he or she only appears to die just to be resurrected later as an enlightened person. Heroes usually witness death or cause the death of something or someone along their quest. During the ordeal, a figure is stood up to, whether it be a Shadow, villain, fears, or even an authority figure such as parents.

RESPONSE
I feel that these sections summarize the events in a story. Usually before heroes goes trudging in to fight an enemy, they think through with a plan. They know these might be the last few moments of their lives, so they want to make the most of their time before the confrontation. Once they have met their nemasis, they try to use its weakness to break it down. In the text, it describes that heroes cheat death or that people live for the thrill of cheating death (roller coasters). I also agree with this. There have been many times when I have watched a movie and was worried about whether the character would make it or not, even if I have already seen it.

REFLECTION
While reading this section of the text, I kept in mind the musical "Wicked." I feel that as G(a)linda and Elphaba make their way to the Emerald City, this can be considered the approach to
the innermost cave. They are on a quest to try to get the Wizard to help the Animals throughout
Oz and once they meet him, Elphaba is given a test (threshold guardian) to see if she can read a levitation spell out the Grimmerie, which she passes when the monkeys are given wings. However, things go awry when Elphaba discovers that the Wizard was behind the silencing of the animals. Also, at the end of the musical, an ordeal takes place when the audience and G(a)linda see what appears to be the the Witch melting, however once everyone leaves the castle, the audience sees the scarecrow (Fiyero) open a trap door that she has been hiding in. Elphaba cheated death.

3 Questions
1. How have you approached one of your innermost caves in life?
2. What has been one of your Shadows during an Ordeal and have you ever tried to pass off this problem on another person or thing?
3. Give an example of when you felt that you have experienced apotheosis