Why do the gods care when Idunn is kidnapped?
Idunn is important to the gods because of the fact that in truth she decides whether they live or die since her golden apple keep them youthful. Her apples prevent them from aging.
From reading the myths of Northern Europe, what do we learn about their culture and values. Be specific. Support your claims with examples.
From reading the myths of Northern Europe we learn that their culture doesn't necessarily believe in immortality which means that everything has limits. We also learn that to the Norse people that they value loyalty and kindness.
Who is more like Prometheus, Loki or Odin? Support your decision.
Odin is more like Prometheus because he is willing to sacrifice so much of his own comfort for the ultimate benefit of others no matter what the price might be such as giving up an eye and hanging from a tree.
Identify three other ways in which Norse mythology is like other myths that we have studied so far. Be specific.
Norse mythology is like other mythology we have studied so far in the way it has a beginning before the universe was actually created (Ginnungagap), it has a story of how the world was created (out of Ymir's corpse), and it has a story of how human being were created (from an ash tree and a elm tree).
Provide three reasons that Loki is such a popular figure?
Loki is a popular figure because he is funny, he has a fairly well balanced personality, and he has large range of different emotions that easily relate to many different people.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Norse Mythology Images
"Yggdrasil." 6 November 2005. Illustration. Photobucket. 1 December 2008. http://media.photobucket.com/image/yggdrasil/iori_ragnarok/yggdrasil.jpg?o=5.
"Fenrir." 2007. Illustration. Kat Harpin.net. 1 December 2008. http://www.katharpin.net/fenrir.html.
Norse Mythology Definitions
- Vikings: Vikings were a brutal and pessimistic sea culture from Finland, Norway, and Sweden that believed in fate.
- Ginnungagap: Ginnungagap was the dark void before the universe was created.
- Nifleheim: Nifleheim was the land of fog and ice.
- Muspellheim: Muspellheim was the land of fire.
- Yggdrasil: Yggdrasil was the world Ash Tree connecting all worlds.
- Asgard: Asgard is the land of the gods or where the gods preside.
- Midgard: Midgard is the land of human beings.
- Hel: Hel is the land and home of the dead.
- Bifrost Bridge: The Bifrost Bridge is a divine bridge usually depicted as a rainbow that connects Midgard and Asgard.
- Ymir: Ymir was a wild, fierce, and evil frost giant who is killed and then used to create the world.
- Odin: Odin was the oldest and greatest of all the gods who gave one of his eyes for knowledge about everything and ruled the domains of thunder, battle, and fertility.
- Frigg: Frigg is Odin's wife, known as the cloud-spinner, whose domains were love destiny and marriage.
- The Valkyries: The Valkyries were Odin's daughters who decided who would be killed and who would be heroes.
- The Norns: The Norns are the Fate Maiden of the past, present, and future.
- Thor: Thor was Odin's fierce tempered son of thunder, battle, and fertility who wielded the hammer known as Mjolliner.
- Balder: Balder was Odin's most beloved son that ruled radiance, rebirth, justice, and light, and was ultimately killed by Loki.
- Njord: Njord was Odin's brother who ruled the wind and sea.
- Frey:Frey was Njord's son that ruled over prosperity, sun, rain, and fertility. He can be compared to Apollo.
- Freya: Freya was Njord's daughter who ruled love, fertility, beauty, magic, war, and death. She can be compared to Aphrodite.
- Idunn: Idunn is Odin's daughter-in-law who grows the golden apples that keep the gods youthful.
- Loki: Loki is a half-blood god who is the son of giants and is a trickster with magic powers.
- Fenrir: Fenrir is Loki's son who is know as "the wolf destroyer."
- Jormungandr: Jormungandr is the evil world serpent.
- Ragnarok: Ragnarok is doomsday. This is when Loki and his children destroy the world and evil triumphs over good.
- Runes: Runes are symbols usually carved into small rocks that are used as a form of communication. The Runes can be used to read a person's Fate laid out by the gods almost like tarot card readings. These Runes have many unique purposes to the Norse culture. Runes have hidden meaning behind each symbol.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"The Bad Wife" Non-Verbal Representation
Friday, October 24, 2008
Academic Vocabulary
A myth is a tale of gods and goddesses, early science and politics, and social behavior.
An example of a myth is the Story of Persephone, Demeter, and Hades.
A hero is a universal character with a unique characteristic who embarks on a cyclical journey.
An example of a hero is Hercules.
A hero journey is a cyclical journey consisting of a call to adventure, companions, spiritual guides, initiation, trials, final battle, transformation, and a gift to be shared.
An example of a hero journey is the Adventure of Hercules.
The definition of universal in the world of mythology is that it applies to all, is large, includes everything, and connects with everyone.
An example of universal is Atalanta’s independent and carefree attitude.
An archetype is the foundational model or the original kind or model.
Examples of an archetype are the different foundations of Creation: the universe starting from an egg, watery abyss, or void.
Cyclical means that something progresses in a circular pattern and always ends where it began.
An example of cyclical is the Hero’s Journey.
Duality is when two opposites make up a whole, whether equally or unequally.
An example of duality is Mother Earth and Father Sky.
Creation is the beginning of the world and universe.
An example of creation would be the story of the universe coming to being from an Egg, Watery Abyss, or Void.
Cosmology is the study of the world and universe.
An example of cosmology is the Big Bang Theory.
Life from death is that life is created from death that continues in a cyclical pattern.
An example of life from death could be the Cronus was killed and used to create the world.
Matriarchal is the foundation of female power where the mother rules.
An example of matriarchal figure would be Tiamet.
Patriarchal is the foundation of male power were the father rules.
An example of patriarchal figure would be Zeus.
A sacrifice is a gift offered with the hope of receiving a gift that will benefit everyone.
An example of a sacrifice is the offering of food or living beings to the gods and pharaoh in Egyptian culture.
An example of a myth is the Story of Persephone, Demeter, and Hades.
A hero is a universal character with a unique characteristic who embarks on a cyclical journey.
An example of a hero is Hercules.
A hero journey is a cyclical journey consisting of a call to adventure, companions, spiritual guides, initiation, trials, final battle, transformation, and a gift to be shared.
An example of a hero journey is the Adventure of Hercules.
The definition of universal in the world of mythology is that it applies to all, is large, includes everything, and connects with everyone.
An example of universal is Atalanta’s independent and carefree attitude.
An archetype is the foundational model or the original kind or model.
Examples of an archetype are the different foundations of Creation: the universe starting from an egg, watery abyss, or void.
Cyclical means that something progresses in a circular pattern and always ends where it began.
An example of cyclical is the Hero’s Journey.
Duality is when two opposites make up a whole, whether equally or unequally.
An example of duality is Mother Earth and Father Sky.
Creation is the beginning of the world and universe.
An example of creation would be the story of the universe coming to being from an Egg, Watery Abyss, or Void.
Cosmology is the study of the world and universe.
An example of cosmology is the Big Bang Theory.
Life from death is that life is created from death that continues in a cyclical pattern.
An example of life from death could be the Cronus was killed and used to create the world.
Matriarchal is the foundation of female power where the mother rules.
An example of matriarchal figure would be Tiamet.
Patriarchal is the foundation of male power were the father rules.
An example of patriarchal figure would be Zeus.
A sacrifice is a gift offered with the hope of receiving a gift that will benefit everyone.
An example of a sacrifice is the offering of food or living beings to the gods and pharaoh in Egyptian culture.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
"Orpheus and Eurydice" Interpretation Essay
Music has been a gift belonging to the gods. Few mortals possess such a gift, but of the few with the gift of music, Orpheus, the Thracian prince, is one of the greats. His music enchanted all who heard it and no one could resist his sweet notes; however, only one person was ever able to enchant the musical prince herself, a woman by the name of Eurydice. The two were married but as the bride walked through a meadow, she was bitten by a snake and immediately died. At that moment, Orpheus decided to travel to the Underworld to appeal to Hades and Persephone for his love’s life. His story can be described on three different levels: natural, social, and psychological.
The simplest level or the natural level is where the story can be described through the physical world. One might make a note of the fact that Orpheus is a prince; music plays a role in the story, and a brief marriage leading to death and the resulting death of Orpheus after his failed journey to the underworld. These symbols or events are things that could show how one could always be tempted by what appears sweet and beautiful, but one should not give into impatience.
After the natural level, the reader of myths should then move on to analyze such a tale on the social level, where the story is related to society. Music played by Orpheus also might explain entertainment in a society. Orpheus and Eurydice’s story tells of marriage and death, events that are usually part of a healthy society. Although, love was not all that common in a marriage, love was found in this couple’s marriage. When a loved one dies, many people are thrown into a pit of depression but there is nothing that can be done to undo what has already happened. Yet, Orpheus attempted just that and ended up back in that same pit of depression because he tried the unimaginable by using his music to convince the gods to undo a death.
Finally, readers should relate the myth to themselves on the psychological level. How could this myth relate to an average Joe? Among the deeper feelings of the tragic tale, a person realizes how Orpheus became too impatient after traveling to the underworld and successfully retrieving Eurydice that when he had turned, Eurydice had not made it completely out of the Underworld herself. This, thus, resulting in his lost love’s death all over again and forcing him to go on without ever seeing her alive again. He returned to his music as he simply wandered the earth in his pit of darkness, but as he played, he was attacked by a pack of wild women who dismembered his body.
Stretch your mind and analyze stories on these three levels. Perhaps, by doing so, you might learn something new about the world or even yourselves. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is that of love, death, and adventure. Their story should teach about a few of the tests each person must pass throughout life.
The simplest level or the natural level is where the story can be described through the physical world. One might make a note of the fact that Orpheus is a prince; music plays a role in the story, and a brief marriage leading to death and the resulting death of Orpheus after his failed journey to the underworld. These symbols or events are things that could show how one could always be tempted by what appears sweet and beautiful, but one should not give into impatience.
After the natural level, the reader of myths should then move on to analyze such a tale on the social level, where the story is related to society. Music played by Orpheus also might explain entertainment in a society. Orpheus and Eurydice’s story tells of marriage and death, events that are usually part of a healthy society. Although, love was not all that common in a marriage, love was found in this couple’s marriage. When a loved one dies, many people are thrown into a pit of depression but there is nothing that can be done to undo what has already happened. Yet, Orpheus attempted just that and ended up back in that same pit of depression because he tried the unimaginable by using his music to convince the gods to undo a death.
Finally, readers should relate the myth to themselves on the psychological level. How could this myth relate to an average Joe? Among the deeper feelings of the tragic tale, a person realizes how Orpheus became too impatient after traveling to the underworld and successfully retrieving Eurydice that when he had turned, Eurydice had not made it completely out of the Underworld herself. This, thus, resulting in his lost love’s death all over again and forcing him to go on without ever seeing her alive again. He returned to his music as he simply wandered the earth in his pit of darkness, but as he played, he was attacked by a pack of wild women who dismembered his body.
Stretch your mind and analyze stories on these three levels. Perhaps, by doing so, you might learn something new about the world or even yourselves. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is that of love, death, and adventure. Their story should teach about a few of the tests each person must pass throughout life.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
My Expanded Definition of Mythology
There is more to mythology than many people have come to believe. A few weeks ago I was someone who saw mythology as a way ancient civilizations explained the world around them as well as means of teaching morals. My new definition of mythology isn't much different from before, just that myths include religious, moral, and personal stories that cannot be proven true. One of those stories might be the story of Hercules who was punished by Hera to complete several tasks after he had killed his family in one of his violent rages. Another could be of Cronus who feared one of his children would kill him so he ate all his children but without his knowledge one, Zeus, escaped then later returned to free his siblings from his father's stomach and then, with their help as well as several other beings, defeated Cronus. Mythology is not simply entertaining stories because besides stories being interesting, many teach lessons. Mythology is a vast subject containing many parts, you need to see it from every angle.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/greek%20mythology/DDakota_83/GreekMythology.jpg?o=7
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