The+Companion

 ====** Loyal. Trustworthy. Brave. Comical. Dependable. Honest. Pragmatic. It almost seems impossible that all these traits could exist within one character, but where would the sidekick be without them? The sidekick, also referred to as 'the companion', is one of the oldest literary devices, finding its roots in mythology and religion. When Moses went to speak to the pharaoh, he brought his brother Aaron along, as Moses himself was slow of speech, though his brother was a good speaker. Aaron supplemented his brother, providing what he lacked, just as all companions do. The companion provides a service, symbolically speaking, to a personality that often has a stronger nature or a role that carries more authority. Usually, a hero and his or her companion are of the same sex and their relationship is purely platonic. It is also unusual for a companion to have their own, separate adventures as they usually never leave the hero's side out of loyalty. The companion is often used by the author to explain the goings on to the reader; without the companion, the hero has no one to talk to and therefore would reveal little about what they are thinking or planning, a bit like an evolution of the Greek Chorus.**====
 * //The Companion // **

Greek Mythology  Iolaus  

Other Mythology Little John

**Broad where Robin is lithe, straightforward where Robin is cunning, Little John is the perfect compliment to his master’s character. Little John is Robin Hood’s closest companion, often accompanying him alone on adventures. He is loyal, dependable, strong, and smart, all characteristics of the archetypal companion. There are variations on the basic form though. In many versions of the stories, Little John has a quick temper, which contrasts with Robin’s own good natured, playful disposition. The most classic example of this is his first meeting with Robin, when both set foot on a log spanning a river at the same time, neither backs down and Little John challenges Robin to a fight, which Little John eventually wins. No matter his temper, Little John’s loyalty to his leader always wins out, as is exemplified when after Robin cheats him, Little John quits his service, but immediately upon hearing that Robin has been captured, Little John returns to lead the merry men to his rescue. Another difference from the archetypal sidekick is that Little John has many adventures of his own, completely disconnected from Robin’s, in which he is the hero.**

Literature **Samwise Gamgee **

**Sam Gamgee is the personification of loyalty and honesty in J. R. R. Tolkien’s //Lord of the Rings//. As Frodo’s gardener, Sam already has a loyalty to ‘Mr. Frodo’, but after Gandalf makes him promise to remain by his master’s side, that loyalty becomes fierce. When Frodo determines to leave the fellowship and make the rest of the journey to Orodruin alone, Sam nearly drowns so that he may follow him. While Sam’s faithfulness is definitely his defining trait, he is many other things such as dependable, resourceful, and practical. Near the end of their quest, when Frodo is too weak to walk, Sam carries him almost the whole way up Mount Doom’s slopes, even though Frodo protests that the entire thing is hopeless. However, Sam differs slightly from the archetypal companion in that he is his own hero. In the //Return of the King//, when Sam believes Frodo to have been killed by Shelob, Sam makes probably the hardest decision of his life: leaving his master and taking the ring to complete the quest.**

**Dr. John Watson **

 **Dr. John Watson fits the needs of Sherlock Holmes beautifully as he is the perfect compliment to Holmes' self obsessed, egotistic figure. An intelligent, yet ordinary man juxtaposed to the renowned detective that is Holmes, Dr. Watson lends the detective his ears and eyes, often giving Holmes information that only someone not used to deduction might have noticed. Though lacking Holmes’ insight, Dr. Watson’s capability and bravery as an individual demonstrate his true colors. Despite Dr. Watson's loyalty to Holmes, his case does differ slightly from that of the archetypal companion in that in all but three of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Watson is the narrator, though it is clear that Holmes is the hero. This is atypical, as usually it is either a first person narrative from the hero's point of view or in third person. Through their various cases, Watson and Holmes show their reliance on the other's attributes to become literature’s most renowned detective duo.**

<span style="background-color: #319a28; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","Book Antiqua",Palatino,serif; font-size: 200%; text-align: center;">**Real Life** =<span style="color: #319a28; font-family: &#39;Arial Black&#39;,Gadget,sans-serif;">Hillary Clinton =

**Hillary Clinton was first lady to Bill Clinton, former president. As his wife, she stood by his side and supported him both domestically and politically. Unlike other first ladies before her, Hillary Clinton was a political figure and thereby helped serve as an "assistant" to her husband. She fits into the companion archetype very well, being supportive, loyal, and steadfast—even in his toughest times. However, there is one major difference between Hillary Clinton and the usual companion: normally sidekick and hero are of the same sex and their relationship is platonic; this is not the case with the Clintons.**

<span style="color: #319a28; font-family: &#39;Arial Black&#39;,Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

**Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was one of the most influential woman of her time and as the first lady she assisted her husband. She could be considered both a companion to her husband, President John F. Kennedy, and to her country as she spent much time restoring America's historical monuments and tending to her history. She travelled with her husband as a good-will ambassador in many countries, loyally assisting him in his work and following him wherever he went. During the time after her husband's assassination, Jackie Kennedy showed a strong will in America’s time of need. She created the John F. Kennedy Library as a memorial to her husband, documenting her faith. Kennedy’s dedication to her country and husband is really a perfect example of modern companionship.**

<span style="background-color: #319a28; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","Book Antiqua",Palatino,serif; font-size: 200%; text-align: center;">Pop Culture =<span style="color: #319a28; font-family: &#39;Arial Black&#39;,Gadget,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Donkey = = =



<span style="color: #319a28; display: block; font-family: "Arial Black"; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">Ron Weasley

<span style="background-color: #319a28; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","Book Antiqua",Palatino,serif; font-size: 18pt; text-align: center;">Other <span style="font-family: &#39;Palatino Linotype&#39;,&#39;Book Antiqua&#39;,Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 36px;">**<span style="color: #319a28; font-family: &#39;Arial Black&#39;,Gadget,sans-serif;">Sancho Panza **

**Sancho Panza, Don Quixote's peasant companion, loyally follows the crazed man along his journey. Sancho helps the reader understand Don Quixote through his curiosity, creating a window through which the world of his timid yet wild master can be viewed. Sancho is a true companion because he follows his master loyally and unquestioningly, accepting him for who he is and he is also easy for the reader to relate to. This is probably a result of his defining trait of constant curiosity, which also makes him wiser than his master on many levels. However, Sancho does differ from the traditional companion because he is often motivated by gold and personal gain, whereas a companion is usually more selfless.**

<span style="color: #319a28; font-family: &#39;Arial Black&#39;,Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> **Hobbes**

<span style="background-color: #319a28; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: "Palatino Linotype","Book Antiqua",Palatino,serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: center;">References <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Adams, Cecil. "What's the Origin of 'Sidekick'?" Letter. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Straight Dope // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. Ed. Cecil Adams. N.p., 19 Apr. 1976. Web. 16 Sept. 2009. <http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/264/whats-the-origin-of-side-kick>

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Don Quixote Major Character Analysis." <span style="font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Spark Notes // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">. N.p., 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/donquixote/canalysis.html>.

__Encyclo <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">pædia Britannica __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. "Iolas" Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 14 Sep. 2009 < [] >.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> "How to Chose Your Faithful Sidekicks." <span style="font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Irreference // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2009. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <http://irreference.com/how-to-chose-your-faithful-sidekicks/>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Iolaus." <span style="font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hellenica // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2009. <http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Iolaus.html>.

<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. "Jaqueline Bouvier Kennedy." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">John F. Kennedy //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Presidential Library and Museum //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Biographies+and+Profiles/ // <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Biographies/Jacqueline+Bouvier+Kennedy+First+Lady+1961-1963.htm>.

<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"John Watson (Sherlock Holmes)." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">VisWiki //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2009. <http://www.viswiki.com/ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> en/John_Watson_(Sherlock_Holmes)>.

<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jon, Nick, and Bill, comps. "Calvin and Hobbes." Comic strip. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Progressive Boink //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Progressive Boink, 7 Sept. 2004. Web. 16 Sept. 2009. <http://progressiveboink.com/archive/ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">calvinhobbes.htm#>.

<span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Hound of the Baskervilles: Major Character Analysis." //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Spark Notes //<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hound/canalysis.html>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Knight, Stephen, and Thomas H. Ohlgren, eds. "Robin Hood and the Monk: Introduction." <span style="font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Medieval // <span style="font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Publications Online // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. N.p., 1997. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. <http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/teams/monkint.htm>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Koertge, Ronald. "Sidekick Analysis." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Elite Skills // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2009. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <http://www.eliteskills.com/analysis_poetry/Sidekicks_by_Ronald_Koertge_analysis.php>.

<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King: Major Character Analysis." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Spark Notes //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Web. 16 Sept. 2009. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/returnking/characters.html#2>

<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The National First Ladies' Library. "First Lady Biography: Hillary Clinton." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The National First //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Ladies' Library //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. The National First Ladies' Library, 2009. Web. 14 Sept. 2009. // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=43>.

<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Ronald 'Ron' Weasley." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Harry Potter Lexicon //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Ed. Lisa Waite Bunker. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> 2009. <http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/ron.html>.

<span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Samwise Gamgee." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Lord of the Rings Fantasy World //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2009. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><http://www.lord-of-the-rings.org/books/sam.html>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">" **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Sancho Panza **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">." __Encyclopædia Britannica__. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 15 Sep. 2009 < [|**http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/441662/Sancho-Panza**]<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">>.

<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Shrek." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Now Playing, Learning Communication Through Film //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Oxford University Press, 2009. Web. 15 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sept. 2009. <http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/playingnow/shrek/?view=usa>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> "Sidekick." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Knowledgerush // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. N.p., 2009. Web. 16 Sept. 2009. <http://knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Sidekick/>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> "Sidekick." <span style="font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Reference.com // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2009. <http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sidekick>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Stasosphere. "A Gallery of Archetypes." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Meta Religion // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. Stasosphere, 2007. Web. 14 Sept. 2009. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> <http://meta-religion.com/Psychiatry/Analytical_psychology/a_gallery_of_archetypes.htm> = =

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