Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
are accompanied by animal Allies, like Athena and her companion owl, or Artemis
and the deer who is often seen running at her side. T h e jester of European folktale,
T i l l Eulenspiegel, was always associated with two symbols, an owl and a mirror. H i s
name "Eulenspiegel" means " O w l - M i r r o r " and suggests that he is wise as an owl and
that he holds u p a mirror to the hypocrisy of society. T h e owl became T i l l s reluctant
Ally in the animated film Till EulenspiegeLThe heroes of Westerns are often supported
by animal Allies like Roy Rogers' elegant steed Trigger and dog Bullet.
ALLIES F R O M BEYOND T H E GRAVE
Ancient folktales tell of Allies even among the dead. T h e name for the band "The
Grateful Dead" had its origins in a folktale term for the dead who give aid to living
people in gratitude for doing something to set their souls at rest, such as paying a
debt to give them decent burial
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