Sept. 3, 2008

Introduction to the class with a reading from, "The Juniper Tree".

(image url: http://www.austinwaldorf.org/store/junipertreelogo.jpg courtesy of google images.com)

omphalos:

1. the navel; umbilicus.

2. the central point.

3. Greek Antiquity. a stone in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, thought to mark the center of the earth. (Citation: "Dictionary.com." Omphalos. Britanica, Inc. 3 Sept. 2008 .")

"If a person were called to fix the object in the modern museum of Delphi that best expresses the importance of the ancient sanctuary, he would, without hesitation, name the omphalos, the navel. Long time ago, the supreme god Zeus released two eagles at the edges of the earth, and they met each other at Delphi (satellite photo). The mytho-scientific experiment was commemorated by the omphalos. This story appears to have been invented to give meaning to an already existing monument, the significance of which was no longer understood. Perhaps, the Delphian omphalos originally was a baitylos, a 'house of god', as they were well-known in the ancient Near East." (Citation of the omphalos stone image and quotation obtained from: "Delphi." Delphi. Livius.org. 3 Sept. 2008 .")

~Basically, omphalos can be described as a place to get from one place to another. In the case above, the omphalos stone in the Temple of Delphi is the center of the Earth where one can explore portals into the heavens, the world of the God's, and so forth. In connection to this class, we will be adventuring into various portals of children's literature. Some examples of common portals throughout children's literature include: Alice's Rabbit Hole, Jack's Bean Stock, Dorthy's cyclone to Oz, and C. S. Lewis's wardrobe.

~The importance of naturalism and realism as it unfolds itself in much of children's literature.

~Myth and Displacement of the "fairy tale."

~The four primary foundations of literature include:

1) Mythological

2) Classical

3) Biblical

4) Children's literature
(Image courtsey of: http://kara.allthingsd.com/files/2008/02/alice-in-front-of-rabbit-hole.jpg, googleimages.com.)