Gryphon's War: A Narrative Fiction

In Greek literature, the character Gilgamesh from The Epic of Gilgamesh and Odysseus from The Odyssey by Homer can be compared by their similar journeys and differing heroic qualities.

Soon high jungle closed in... The air here was dark too, and the creepers dropped their ropes like the rigging of foundered ships. His feet left prints in the soft soil and the creepers shivered throughout their lengths when he bumped them. He came at last to a place where more sunshine fell. Since they had not so far to go for light the creepers had woven a great mat that hung at the side of an open space in the jungle; for here a patch of rock came close to the surface and would not allow more than little plants and ferns to grow...Then he bent down and wormed his way into the center of

The book The Spartacus War by Barry Strauss is an in depth look at one of Roman history’s most legendary events, the gladiator revolt led by Spartacus. Spartacus has become a legend, creating a storyline that has inspired many movies and television shows, such as Stanley Kubrick’s epic Spartacus in 1960, starring the legendary Kirk Douglas. Spartacus has inspired a perfect mix of men over time with various backgrounds and beliefs, from Stalin and Marx, to Voltaire, and even to Ronald Reagan. How though, did Spartacus create a massive revolt of slaves that would create a massive problem for the mighty Rome? Strauss attempts to create a chronology of the Spartacus War using his vast knowledge of the Italian landscape, ancient documents, and

Moving swiftly through the trees, Cobyn followed a mental map he had of the surrounding area.  He and his family had traveled from the Marshlands before. It had been the place he had been born. The Unknown had driven them out though, leaving their city to burn. Cobyn's infant sister, Aleen. Aleen, had been lost that day, as had so many other Keddish people.  The moon shone down from above, like a silver sun lighting his path. Creatures moved, fast and flitting through the trees as Cobyn walked, keeping a quick pace. He could hear the crunching of the leaves under his bare feet, and occasionally the moonlight would catch the hilt of the sword making it shine. Cobyn hurried. The armies would not clash for many days, having

"Push forward, PUSH FORWARD!" He bellowed his voice hoarse from all the smoke. His men tired and sore from being pushed to near breaking scrambled to fill the gap left by their imposing leader. The men sunk gratefully to the ground, with the retreat sounded, their leader had ordered them back to the main encampment for some well earned rest. The leader shrunk to the ground a little way off from his men,

In perhaps his greatest work, The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck tells a story of Tom Joad and his family, who are forced to abandon their farm during the depression era Oklahoma dust bowl. They decide to travel to California along with many other in search for jobs and homes, and look for a great future. In the time considered, The Grapes of Wrath, gives a shockingly real view on the struggles citizens at the time faced. In the tragic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck uses Christian symbolism effectively in order to shape and reinforce the theme of the dignity of wrath. Steinbeck convey’s this through the use of Jim Casy, Tom Joad and Rose of Sharon.

The short story Gryphon by Charles Baxter is about a substitute teacher that challenges the way the children in the classroom usually think and encourages them to think with their imagination. Growing up, I also had a teacher that challenged me to think creatively as well. She inspired me to work hard and learn as much as I could. Both the story and my personal life have strong influences of a teacher wanting to better the student’s life in an unconventional way.

SUBJECT: "Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War", The Landmark Thucydides ed. By Robert Strassler, NY, Touchstone, 1998.

“Still kicking, still fighting,” Sager said. “I haven’t won the battle. It’s not over yet. But I haven’t lost it, either. There have been some victories and some setbacks, but I still have to fight it. A lot of work to do.”

Why did I do this," his arms became heavy now as he hacked and pulled the space behind him shortening as he could sense the space ahead, but not see it. "So close," hack and pull the machete was covered with thick sap, making it heavier and harder to cut. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," he said louder and louder as his arms were a whirlwind of motion the brambles behind beginning to reach out, starting to wrap around his feet and legs as he struggle to pull up. Pants and feet beginning to be bound as he pulled up, the next adrenaline rush was all fear this time, his breath short and in gasps as he felt himself closed in. The branches and brambles reaching for him, to smother him, cover

Tragedy has struck but battles were won, a great loss and a great defeat. The

The crunch of foliage under his boots was the only sound for miles, as the knight Siegfried marched through the woodlands on a lone patrol. His sword was sheathed and on his hip as he pushed aside bushes and low hanging branches. "Blasted nettles" he cursed as he pushed through a bush, relying on his steel armor to protect him. "Why do they even send us on patrol anyway?" He rambled to himself "Every evil thing that crawls, walks, slithers, swims or flies on this planet has been quiet."

Much of what is known of the history of the Scythians comes from the account of them by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who visited their territory. Herodotus was a great Greek researcher of the fifth century B.C.E, who wrote about the customs and way of living of several civilizations he visited. In one of his investigations he found a very interesting group of nomad tribes, who were called the Scythians. His findings were recorded in Herodotus’ Fourth Book of The Histories,. In this book, he describes the civilization of the Scythians a as a big, influential and diverse group of nomad tribes that had a well-developed society and military forces. At the same time, he discusses the nature and development

Gryphus vitreus, like all brachiopods, is a sessile animal which lacks a distinct head. This species appears to be simple from a morphological viewpoint but does still possess some complex features, for example; it has no organs of locomotion but does possess a simple heart and a nephridia, which is its excretory organ. Despite this, this brachiopod has a small mass of nerve cells which comprise the ‘brain’ as it were, that controls metabolic activities and sensory actions. The shell of G. Vitreus is strongly convex with strong radical edges externally and this species is only 4cm in size (Coudre, Unknown). All brachiopod shells are composed of two separate parts known as valves. However, contrastingly to other bivalve organisms, G. Vitreus’ bilateral symmetry runs through the two valves and not between them; the hinge line of this species is on the anterior of the organism. As with all brachiopods, Gryphus vitreus has an epithelial lining of the shell known as the mantle which encloses the internal organs, creating an internal mantle cavity. The cavity is split into the inhalant and exhalant chambers, where the

Business and ethics have long been a difficult subject because of the various viewpoints people have. The many different industries also make it difficult to define in black and white what is ethical and unethical across the board. Some may assume that to be an ethical business all they must do is abide by the laws and regulations put in place by the government or regulating authorities. Others assume that an ethical business does the aforementioned but also has fair and honest operations, as well as providing a positive environment for their employees. The question of “When is it acceptable to profit from harming others in business” is one that does not have a black and white answer, it is dependent on the individual answering it. However, you will find a common ground with others on where you stand with this issue.