The Journey Portfolio

8/11/2019 The Journey Portfolio

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The Journey Portfolio

Material 1Stairway to Heaven (Song)

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed

With a word she can get what she came for.

Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure

'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.

In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,

Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,

Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,

And my spirit is crying for leaving.

In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,

And the voices of those who stand looking.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,

Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,Then the piper will lead us to reason.

And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,

And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,

It's just a spring clean for the May queen.

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run

There's still time to change the road you're on.

And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,

The piper's calling you to join him,

Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know

Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

And as we wind on down the road

Our shadows taller than our soul.

There walks a lady we all know

Who shines white light and wants to show

How everything still turns to gold.

And if you listen very hardThe tune will come to you at last.


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When all are one and one is all

To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.


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Material 2The Journey by Mary Oliver (Poem)

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice-

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

Mendmy life!

each voice cried.

But you didnt stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations-

though their melancholy

was terrible. It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice,

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could dodetermined to save

the only life you could save.


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Material 3The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (BookPlot Summary)

Bilbo Baggins lives a quiet, peaceful life in his comfortable hole at Bag End. Bilbo lives in a hole

because he is a hobbitone of a race of small, plump people about half the size of humans, with

furry toes and a great love of good food and drink. Bilbo is quite content at Bag End, near thebustling hobbit village of Hobbiton, but one day his comfort is shattered by the arrival of the old

wizard Gandalf, who persuades Bilbo to set out on an adventure with a group of thirteen militant

dwarves. The dwarves are embarking on a great quest to reclaim their treasure from the marauding

dragon Smaug, and Bilbo is to act as their burglar. The dwarves are very skeptical about Gandalfs

choice for a burglar, and Bilbo is terrified to leave his comfortable life to seek adventure. But Gandalf

assures both Bilbo and the dwarves that there is more to the little hobbit than meets the eye.

Shortly after the group sets out, three hungry trolls capture all of them except for Gandalf. Gandalf

tricks the trolls into remaining outside when the sun comes up, and the sunlight turns the nocturnal

trolls to stone. The group finds a great cache of weapons in the trolls camp. Gandalf and the dwarf

lord Thorin take magic swords, and Bilbo takes a small sword of his own.

The group rests at the elfish stronghold of Rivendell, where they receive advice from the great elf

lord Elrond, then sets out to cross the Misty Mountains. When they find shelter in a cave during a

snowstorm, a group of goblins who live in the caverns beneath the mountain take them prisoner.

Gandalf leads the dwarves to a passage out of the mountain, but they accidentally leave behind

Bilbo.

Wandering through the tunnels, Bilbo finds a strange golden ring lying on the ground. He takes the

ring and puts it in his pocket. Soon he encounters Gollum, a hissing, whining creature who lives in a

pool in the caverns and hunts fish and goblins. Gollum wants to eat Bilbo, and the two have a

contest of riddles to determine Bilbos fate. Bilbo wins by asking the dubious riddle, What have I got

in my pocket?

Gollum wants to eat Bilbo anyway, and he disappears to fetch his magic ring, which turns its wearer

invisible. The ring, however, is the same one Bilbo has already found, and Bilbo uses it to escape

from Gollum and flee the goblins. He finds a tunnel leading up out of the mountain and discovers

that the dwarves and Gandalf have already escaped. Evil wolves known as Wargs pursue them, but

Bilbo and his comrades are helped to safety by a group of great eagles and by Beorn, a creature who

can change shape from a man into a bear.

The company enters the dark forest of Mirkwood, and, making matters worse, Gandalf abandons

them to see to some other urgent business. In the forest, the dwarves are caught in the webs of

some giant spiders, and Bilbo must rescue them with his sword and magic ring. After slaying his first

spider, Bilbo names his sword Sting. Shortly after escaping the spiders, the unlucky dwarves are


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captured by a group of wood elves who live near the river that runs through Mirkwood. Bilbo uses

his ring to help the company escape and slips the dwarves away from the elves by hiding them inside

barrels, which he then floats down the river. The dwarves arrive at Lake Town, a human settlement

near the Lonely Mountain, under which the great dragon sleeps with Thorins treasure.

After sneaking into the mountain, Bilbo talks to the sly dragon Smaug, who unwittingly reveals that

his armorlike scales have a weak spot near his heart. When Bilbo steals a golden cup from the

dragons hoard, Smaug is furious and flies out of the mountain to burn Lake Town i n his rage. Bard, a

heroic archer, has learned the secret about Smaugs weakness from a thrush, and he fires an arrow

into the dragons heart, killing him. Before Smaug dies, however, he burns Lake Town to the ground.

The humans of Lake Town and the elves of Mirkwood march to the Lonely Mountain to seek a share

of the treasure as compensation for their losses and aid, but Thorin greedily refuses, and thehumans and elves besiege the mountain, trapping the dwarves and the hobbit inside. Bilbo sneaks

out to join the humans in an attempt to bring peace. When Thorin learns what Bilbo has done, he is

livid, but Gandalf suddenly reappears and saves Bilbo from the dwarf lords wrath.

At this moment, an army of goblins and Wargs marches on the mountain, and the humans, elves,

and dwarves are forced to band together to defeat them. The goblins nearly win, but the arrival of

Beorn and the eagles helps the good armies win the battle.

After the battle, Bilbo and Gandalf return to Hobbiton, where Bilbo continues to live. He is no longer

accepted by respectable hobbit society, but he does not care. Bilbo now prefers to talk to elves and

wizards, and he is deeply content to be back among the familiar comforts of home after his grand

and harrowing adventures.


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Material 4Life of Pi directed by Ang Lee (Movie)

A Canadian novelist namedYann Martel meets an Indian man, Pi Patel, with some knowledge from Pi's late

father's friend, known to Pi as "Mamaji", for a good book. Pi tells Yann his life story.

In a flashback, Pi's father named him Piscine Molitor aftera swimming pool in France.By the time he reached

secondary school, he changed his name to "Pi"(the Greek letter, ) because he was tired of being called

"Pissing Patel" (due to the pronunciation of his name). Pi's family owned a zoo, and Pi took great interest in the

animals, especially aBengal tiger namedRichard Parker.When Pi tries feeding the tiger through the cage bars,

his enraged father runs in and tells him that the tiger is dangerous and would kill him if it had the chance, and

so his father forces Pi to witness the tiger killing agoat to prove his point. Pi is raisedHindu andvegetarian,but

at 12 years old, he is introduced toChristianity and thenIslam,and decides to follow all three religions as he

"just wants to love God". His mother supports his desire to grow, but his father, a rationalist, tries to convert

him to his own way of thinking.

When Pi is 16, his father decides to move the family toCanada,where he intends to settle and sell the zoo

animals. Pi's family books passage on a Japanese freighter namedTsimtsum.During a storm, the ship founders

while Pi is on deck. He tries to find his family, but a member of the crew throws him into alifeboat.As the ship

falls into the sea, a freedzebrajumps onto the boat with him, breaking its leg as it lands. Pi watches helplessly

as the ship sinks, killing his family. After the ship disappears, Pi sees what he believes is a survivor struggling in

the ocean. He calls out to the 'survivor' who swims towards the lifeboat, however it turns out to be Richard

Parker. Pi attempts to prevent the tiger from entering the boat with anoar,however it climbs in anyway.

After the storm, Pi finds himself in the lifeboat with the injured zebra, and is joined by anorangutan who has

survived the sinking on a floating crate ofbananas.Aspotted hyena emerges from a tarpaulin covering half of

the lifeboat and snaps at Pi, forcing him to retreat to the end of the boat, while it kills and eats the zebra, and

later fights the orangutan, eventually killing it too. Later, Richard Parker emerges from under the tarpaulin,

killing the hyena and attempting to attack Pi, who distracts it by throwing a rat into its mouth. The tiger then

retreats under the tarpaulin and does not emerge for several days.

Pi retrieves biscuits, water rations and a hand axe from the lifeboat and builds a small raft to stay at a safe

distance from Richard Parker. He begins fishing and is able to feed Richard Parker. He also collects rain water

for them to drink. When the tiger jumps into the ocean to try and hunt fish, Pi considers letting it drown but

ultimately helps it climb back into the boat. One night, ahumpback whale breaches and lands on the rope

connecting the raft to the lifeboat, completely destroying the raft. Pi loses most of his supplies, forcing him to

eat fish for the first time in his life. Pi trains Richard Parker to accept him in the boat and realizes that caring

for the tiger is keeping him alive.

Weeks later they reach a floating island of edible plants, supporting amangrovejungle, fresh water pools, and

a large population ofmeerkats.Pi and Richard Parker eat and drink freely and regain strength. At night, the

island transforms into a hostile environment: Richard Parker retreats to the lifeboat and the meerkats sleep in

the trees while the fresh water pools turn acidic and digest the dead fish in the pools. Pi discovers that the

island itself is carnivorous after finding a human tooth embedded in a flower. The next day, Pi and Richard

Parker leave the island.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yann_Martelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piscine_Molitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_tigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Parker_(shipwrecked)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsimtsumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsimtsumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsimtsumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeboat_(shipboard)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangutanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bananahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_hyenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpback_whalehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpback_whalehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_hyenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bananahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangutanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeboat_(shipboard)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsimtsumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Parker_(shipwrecked)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_tigerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piscine_Molitorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yann_Martel


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Some time later, the lifeboat reaches the coast ofMexico.Pi is crushed emotionally that Richard Parker does

not acknowledge him before disappearing into the jungle. Pi is rescued and brought to a hospital.Insurance

agents for the Japanese company that owned the freighter interview him, but do not believe his story and ask

what "really" happened. Pi tells a different story, in which he shares the lifeboat not with animals, but with his

mother, a Buddhist sailor with a broken leg, and the cook. In this story, Pi says that the cook killed the sailor in

order to eat him and use him as bait. In a later struggle, Pi's mother pushed her son to safety on a smaller raft

before the cook murdered her and threw her body overboard. Pi then took the knife and killed the cook, and

managed to survive on the cook's flesh until reaching Mexico. The insurance agents are not satisfied with this

story either, but they leave without questioning Pi any further.

Next, Yann notes the parallels between the two stories: the orangutan was Pi's mother, the zebra was the

sailor, the hyena was the cook, and Richard Parker was Pi. Pi asks which story the writer prefers, and Yann

chooses "the one with the tiger" because it is "the better story", to which Pi responds, "Thank you. And so it

goes with God". Glancing at a copy of the insurance report, Yann sees that the agents wrote that Pi survived

227 days at sea with an adult Bengal tiger, meaning they had also chosen to record the more fantastic story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance_agenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance_agenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance_agenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance_agenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico


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Material 5The Voyage of Life by Thomas Cole (Paintings)

The Voyage of Life - Childhood

The Voyage of Life - Youth


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The Voyage of Life - Manhood

The Voyage of Life - Old Age


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Print AnalysisThe Journey by Mary Oliver (Material 2)

Who is undertaking the journey?

The journey shown in the poem is undertaken by the reader.

What is the journeywhat happens on the journey?

This journey is a life journey. On this journey you are trying to find the purpose of life but there are

people and things that will try to distract you. Even though these voices are tempting, you refuse to

stop and you are determined to overcome all these obstacles to reach your goal.

Why is the journey being undertaken?

The experimental journey of life is being undertaken because you have no other choice but to take it.

Every life has its purpose and you, like everybody else, must take this journey in order to discover

the purpose of your existence.

What type of journey is being taken?

The journey which is being taken in this poem is an inner journey since it is a journey to study our

own soul.

What does the composer want us to understand about this journey?

The composer wants us to understand that the journey of life is not an easy one. Your purpose in life

is to set and complete goals but as you do this, there will be many obstacles that will try to lead you

astray. The composer said that these obstacles are the bad voices of people/society and the pathsfull of branches and stones. The people will shout their bad advice to try to get you to conform to

the normal society so the author tells us to ignore all this nonsense and listen to your own inner

voice instead. The composer also says that in our journey there will be voices which are disturbing

such as the melancholy calls for help. However, these voices must be ignored as they will prevent us

from continuing our journey. There will also be many branches and stones as we walk this journey

and this refers to the many hardships and problems we will encounter during our lives. The author

tells the reader to ignore everything except our own voice, because that voice has kept us company

for many years and it is the only voice that will save us since it is our own conscience.

What are the major techniques used by the composer to depict the journey or to explore an ideaabout the journey?

The poem is written in free verse and the structure is continuous, with only one stanza break. This is

similar to our own journey because it is continuous as well. The composer uses the metaphor of a

physical journey as a metaphor for a spiritual journey towards change in our own lives. The constant

use of figurative language evokes sensory images of a tug at our ankles and a road full of fallen

branches and stones which reflect the obstacles that attempt to keep us from our destination.

Personification was also used in lines 14-15, Though the wind pried, with its sniff fingers at the very

foundations. The wind is given qualities of human fingers.


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Visual AnalysisThe Voyage of Life by Thomas Cole (Material 5)

Who is undertaking the journey?

The journey is undertaken by a man.

What is the journeywhat happens on the journey?

The Voyage of Life shows the different stages of a persons life. The man embarks on his life journey

as a small child standing in a small boat with an angel who acts as the childs protector. The second

painting shows that the child has turned into a teenager and the boat is now on a river instead of the

bay. In the third painting the youth turns into a man and he is shown to be travelling through a dark

storm. In the final painting, the man becomes an old man. Everything around him becomes calm and

dark.

Why is the journey being undertaken?

The journey is being undertaken because the man has no choice but to take it.

What type of journey is being taken?

The journey which is being taken in this poem is an inner journey since it is a life journey.

What does the composer want us to understand about this journey?

The artist wants to visually present to us the stages of a persons life. He shows that during

childhood and youth, there is not much to worry about as you are fully protected by angels so you

can enjoy life whichever way you want. However, as you enter manhood, life becomes increasinglydifficult and present with many problems which you must overcome. The raging storm is similar to

the problems that we are left to face during our time as an adult. He is trying to convey to us the

idea that as we grow older, the golden veil of early life will transform into a world of sorrow and

hardship. This all ends once we become old. The old man has survived the trials of life and is joyful

because he knows that his faith has sustained him through life. The man is ready to die and go to

heaven. The artist depicts old age as the stage where corporeal existence starts to fade away while

glimpses of immortal life start to appear in the mind.

What are the major techniques used by the composer to depict the journey or to explore an idea

about the journey?

The artist uses the landscape, boat, angel and river to tell us what occurs during each stage of life. In

the first painting, the landscape is lush with flowers blooming and the baby holds a full hourglass

which indicates the start of a new life. The warm sunshine reflects the innocence and joy of

childhood. In the second painting, the landscape is the same but the boat is now on a wide river,

which portrays the expansion of the voyagers views and experience. On the far right the river starts

to become rough and full of rocks, depicting the tough future of the voyager. In the third painting,

the man shows no confidence as the river has become present with surging currents and menacing

rocks. The warm sunlight of youth has been taken over by dark, stormy skies and the grass is

replaced by hard rock. The artist uses the landscape as a comparison to the troubles that weencounter during our adulthood. In the final painting, everything around the old man has aged


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greatly, and so did his boat, which has been heavily damaged. The Sun is about to set, which tells us

that the withered old voyager is reaching the end of his time.

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