Theresa Luo, Period 2, 2/10/2021, Day A

Theresa Luo 
Period 2
2/10/2021
Day A
Modern Mythology 2021

Literacy & Learning

Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

When we were first introduced to Norse Mythology, I automatically made the association to the Marvel comics and movies. However, besides the obviously strong and confident Thor and the extremely cunning Loki, I had no real understanding of what Norse mythology entailed. Most importantly, I never assumed any type of Norse mythology or lessons within these pieces of literature had any impact on my day to day life. However, once I indulged myself in “Thor’s Journey To The Land of The Giants” and “The Apples of Immortality”, I understood just how prevalent Norse lessons are entrenched in society. One of the largest lessons I learned was the acceptance of failure and the outlook on failure. When Thor ventured to the land of the giants and competed with the giants, he automatically accepted failure. He assumed his inability to lift the cat all the way or drink the entirety of the horn defined his incompetence and weakness. However, it was revealed these were tasks that no man, warrior, and a human being could possibly do, but he did it! This taught me just how important perspective is to your own day to day life. Even if you view failure as a linear function, it never really is. Failure means trial; it entails giving your all even if you don’t succeed at first. These lessons were so personal and impressive to me and I finally understood why such topics are covered in this course. 

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

I recently learned the connection between Beowulf and the Book of Genesis. More specifically, I learned the linkages between Grendel, the all evil monster, to his father Cain. This piece of information definitely surprised me as I would’ve never picked out these underlying influences. However, once I learned the first groups of people who physically turned the previous solely oral stories of Beowulf to pieces of literature were monks, my perspective of the book changed. At first, I read the story without much background information or historical context. I was essentially reading at the “frosting” level. However, understanding the connections between different pieces of literature or through the New Historicism theory, I gained a deeper comprehension of how the story came to be. I finally understood why Grendel is so deeply hated since his murderous intentions have roots in his own father. This essentially hints at how killing is in his blood. Seeking these historical linkages gives reading context. It allows so many people, including myself, to read at a deeper level. These takeaways will forever change my perception of stories. 

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

All these stories are so much more than just stories. They contain life lessons that can aid our personal growth and development. They can change our influence and outlook on other pieces of literature, work, and even everyday life. As mentioned above, reading “Thor’s Journey To The Land of The Giants” and “The Apples of Immortality” changed my perspective on failure and showed me the similarities between humans and gods. From Beowulf and Norse pieces, I understood how important historical context is. There are so many connections to the Book of Genesis, such as the apples of immortality to the apples of Eden. By seeing just how much a reader can take away from simply reading, I’ve learned to take in the world and my other classes with greater appreciation. I will constantly try to see what lessons in class can influence my everyday life and will always examine everything with context. I will no longer jump to conclusions without understanding such context because this will never draw the full story. This goes for other stories and understanding people’s experiences as well. Such lessons from this class will forever shape my perspective on the rest of the world.