Compare and contrast the “Refusal of the Call” stages of both The Epic of Gilgamesh (topic 1) and Euripides’ Medea (topic 2).

Guidelines
This short writing assignment should be a 400-500 word essay that conforms strictly to
conventional MLA formatting standards, i.e., double-spaced, 1” margins on all four sides,
12pt. Times-Roman font, etc. As with any properly written compare and contrast analysis,
use a minimum of three points of comparison (and contrast). You may find some suitable
criteria options to use in your analysis in the Vogler text.
Sample Brainstorm Process for a Compare/Contrast Analysis
Consider, for example, a hypothetical compare/contrast analysis on castles (which yours is
not on): Let’s say that you narrow your focus to two supernatural amulets of two heroic
figures. You’ve chosen the legendary “Sword of Omens” of the character Lion-O from the
ThunderCats franchise (topic 1) with the mystical “Sword of Power” of the character HeMan
from the Masters of the Universe franchise (topic 2). What ties them together are that
they are both swords and that both owners are heroes in their own right. Obviously, the two
famous weapons will have some characteristics that are similar (comparing) and some
characteristics that are different (contrasting). To keep your analysis consistently parallel
(and to avoid killing its flow), it is required that the same criteria are used equally to
analyze both topics. This hypothetical example will compare and contrast first the physical
characteristics of each sword (criterion 1), then the history of each sword (criterion 2),
and, finally, the purpose and importance of each sword (criterion 3). When the criteria is
clearly identified in the analysis’ thesis statement (as is the case in sample below), it
becomes what is called a roadmap or blueprint plan for the writing assignment (required).
Sample Thesis Statement
Breakdown*:Let’s see the component breakdown of the sample thesis above.
(a). Topic(s): Topic 1-Shrek and Topic 2- Tangled (highlighted above in green)
(b). ARGUABLE Opinion on the Topic(s): The call to adventure in one topic (Shrek) is more
easily identifiable than in the second topic (Tangled) based on three of Vogler’s criteria.
(highlighted above in blue)
(c). Criterion #1: Reconnaissance (highlighted above in yellow)
(d). Criterion #2: Disorientation (highlighted above in yellow)
(e). Criterion #3: No More Options (highlighted above in yellow)
* Your thesis statement (which will differ greatly in content from this sample),
must also contain a representation of every component listed above, i.e.,
components (a.) through (e.). Since this is a course themed on travel, let’s
utilize a travel metaphor for clarification.
The “call to adventure” stage of the departure phase in Dreamwork’s Shrek is more
easily identifiable than that in Disney’s Tangled, when lined up with Christopher
Vogler’s conditions of “Reconnaissance” (Vogler 101), “Disorientation and
Discomfort” (Vogler 102), and “No More Options” (Vogler 103).
ENG220CL—Short Writing Assignment 4 Guidelines
Remember, you are the writer, and your instructor is the primary reader (audience):
 In the actual thesis statement, components (a.) to (b.). metaphorically INFORM THE
READER OF WHERE THE AUTHOR IS TAKING THEM.
 In the actual thesis statement, components (c.) to (e.) metaphorically INFORM THE
READER OF HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET THERE (roadmap/blueprint plan)
 It is required that your thesis statement perform each of these functions, i.e., telling
your readers where they are going to go (to Paris!), and telling them how they are going
to get there (by automobile, aircraft, and passenger train). Good thesis statements have
a TOPIC+AN AGRUABLE OPINION+A BLUEPRINT PLAN OF REASONS. Theses that don’t
perform all of these functions will be considered incorrect.
 It is not enough that you merely identify the criteria for each topic and the similarities
and differences of those criteria in each topic. You must also supply ample hard evidence
to support any/every claim. For example, if you claim that the swords themselves, as
wielded by the heroes of both Masters of the Universe and the ThunderCats, are, in fact,
crucial to the heroes’ successes, your evidence to support that claim would be in the
form of quoted—and properly cited with proper lead-in devices—passages from the
primary texts, with suitable, follow-up explanations of why they were included in the
analysis.
The example in the box below has all of the required specifications:
(a.) a proper lead-in phrase (highlighted below in yellow),
(b.) a quoted passage that follows the lead-in device (highlighted below in green),
(c.) a proper parenthetical citation (highlighted below in blue), and
(d.) a follow-up, explanatory sentence (or, sentences), a.k.a., lead-out device (highlighted
below in pink).
The final, and most important, example of dual-natured Prince Adam/HeMan
not being able to really function as a hero without his enchanted Sword of
Power lies in that fact that, without it, he is only Prince Adam, a normal, mortal
man. When Prince Adam wields the sword and proclaims the battle cry, “By the
power of Grayskull, I have the power!” he is magically transformed from his
ordinary self, to the heroic and muscle-bound He-Man (Wetzler 22). This shows that,
while the mundane Prince Adam might have some heroic traits, such as the
willingness to actually go on an adventure, he utterly powerless to do so without this
magic amulet. Only the sword can transform Prince Adam to He-Man, and only HeMan
has used it to defeat his uniquely powerful enemies; and, evidently, he must not
be able to do either if he does not have it in his possession.