Psychologists

__Task 1, Books I-IV__ As a troubled teenager growing up without his father, Telemachos has been coming to you for counseling. For months, you have been observing his actions and listening to him talk about his family and home life. Most recently, along his journey, Telemachos has been sending you letters, sharing the details of his experiences with you. As a result of all of these sessions with your patient, what can you conclude about Telemachos’ character? Can you diagnose Telemachos? In your psychological report, list Telemachos’ behaviors, beliefs, or statements and your conclusions about him.

__ Task 2, Books V, VI, and IX __ You have the opportunity to meet with Odysseus in the land of Phaicia between his visit with the king and his recreation with the residents. He has been away from his home for two decades, and you are certain that his time in battle and violent travel afterwards has had some effect on his overall psyche. Does he show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder? Write a transcript of your brief session with Odysseus, including questions and answers, with a brief explanation of your findings. Remember, you want Odysseus to talk about his past experiences and his reaction to them, and you hope that his answers will reveal his personality and character. [Hint: You may need to investigate post-traumatic stress disorder and provide some information/links for your classmates.]



To learn more about PTSD, click on the link below. []

__Task 3, Books X-XII__ Since you are a renowned psychologist, you are in the process of writing a self-help book. You are currently creating/drafting a chapter entitled, “Fate vs. Free will: Does man control his own destiny?” Using the adventures that Odysseus and his crew experience as evidence, create/draft this chapter. You may use evidence from the second reading as well. Remember that as a counselor, you want to provide examples that explain the advice you are giving your readers. Consider creative ways to present your findings/advice (i.e. chart, outline, etc.).

Here is an outline to organize the travels of Odysseus from the perspective of fate versus free will, and the graph below serves as a visual aid to accompany the numbered events identified in the document.





__Task 4, Books XVI-XXIV__ Since you have just completed a case study of Telemachos and Odysseus, the editors of the magazine // Psychology Today // have asked you to write an article entitled, “Discovering the hero in all of us.” Applying your knowledge of Telemachos and Odysseus, create/draft this article in which you advise the average person on how to follow the heroic cycle in everyday life. What lessons have you learned from Telemachos and Odysseus to help guide all of mankind? Consider a creative format for your article; your readers need clear direction for their lives!

__ Discovering the Hero in All of Us __

In pieces of literature such as The Odyssey, one can find great heroes like Telemachos and Odysseus. These two characters lived lives that can be traced through the heroic cycle. To follow the heroic cycle, it is not necessary to go to such extremes as Telemachos and Odysseus did. In fact, the average person can even follow the heroic cycle in everyday life!

How or when can YOU follow the heroic cycle?

Well let’s say you were to go to a party, as many people do. Many people, however, do not have good, clean fun at parties, and make many harmful decisions. Step one of the heroic cycle is the calling to go out on a journey. The calling, in this case, would be an invitation you may receive or a flyer that you see which announces the party. After making your decision to go to the party, it is time for Step two. Step two of the heroic cycle is the separation from home and preparation for your journey. To follow this step, you would plan what to wear to the party, who you will go with and possibly get your hair or makeup done if you are a girl. Along the way of this preparation, you will reach Step three in the cycle. Step three is the help you receive from other people. This may be as much as your friends getting ready together, or having someone drive you to the party. You will come across the guardians of the threshold, Step four, when you arrive at the venue for the party. The guardian may simply be the host of the party, or whoever is at the door, waiting to let you in. You will then experience Step five, which is crossing the threshold and facing the dangers and opportunities. This is where it is essential to make all of the right decisions in order to properly follow the heroic cycle. Crossing the threshold, of course, is very simple, because all you are doing is entering the party venue. The dangers and opportunities you face, however, are the dangers of drinking and taking drugs, r having unwanted followers. The opportunities you face are those of having fun, although it is up to you to make the right decisions in order to keep the fun good and clean. Step six is the road of tricks- monsters, big tasks or tests, to prepare and pursue a final goal. Here your final goal is to stay pure and have clean fun, while the monsters will be the endless bad choices you can choose, and the big task here is to say NO. After a short while of partying, someone may approach you and ask you to do something which you know you shouldn’t. This may be something like drinking, smoking, taking drugs, or performing actions which you are uncomfortable with. This is where Step seven of the heroic cycle comes in. Step seven is the saving experience or gift- the one big thing which the hero does to complete the task. To follow the heroic cycle you must do the right thing here which is saying NO. Say NO to the dangerous options that you are confronted with so that you can complete your task of having a clean yet fun party experience. Doing so will lead you to Step 8, which includes the transforming changes like maturity and adulthood, coming of age. Here you have an increased self-confidence in your abilities to stand up. Also, you will have moved on from the immature beliefs that one must be drunk or out of their proper state of mind in order to fully enjoy themselves. Step nine is then returning home, which in this case you will be able to do so consciously and without being wasted. The final step, Step 10, is sharing the gift. The gift is what you have learned that you would like others to learn and apply to their lives as well. Here it is up to you to influence your friends to have good, clean fun and say NO to the bad paths and options just like you did.

Telemachos and Odysseus

Odysseus was brave, and he didn’t lose hope even though he had been away from home so long. He didn’t let himself be overcome with fears. He was also able to say NO to things that he knew were bad choices such as the temptations on the island. Telemachos too was brave, because he went to look for his dad and also kept his faith and hope that his dad was still alive. He also had courage, such as when he needed to stand up to the suitors that were lingering around his mother. We can all be just as brave and courageous, and have the sense to make good decisions in order to follow the heroic cycle in everyday life.