Eric Nguyen Lin, Period 7, 1/9/2022

 Eric Nguyen Lin

Period 7

1/9/2022

Modern Mythology 2022

Literacy & Learning

• Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or nonfiction covered in class.

    The most recent pieces of fiction that we’ve read are the stories in Norse mythology. It’s very interesting to read about a different culture. The Norse, through the god’s actions, seems to be very violent and immoral when they partake in acts ranging from betrayal/trickery to murder. However, when we take in the fact that their entire culture was entirely based on survival, community, and honor, it seems more acceptable. I also find it very intriguing how, unlike other cultures, the gods are mortal and fated to die. Everyone in the stories is aware of the inevitable end, Ragnarok, but still prepares for the lost battle, showing how prominent honor and survival are in their morality.

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

    In the class, we learned about a wide variety of cultures and beliefs. This includes Greek culture, Norse culture, etc. With this new knowledge, we are able to look past our differences and gain a better understanding of why they and/or their gods do what they do. The Greek gods made many mistakes and had many flaws (promiscuous behavior of Zeus, Hera’s punishments towards helpless women, etc) which can be seen as them being very unjust and cruel. Because the gods were supposed to take on exaggerated versions of themselves, they were just revealing that gods, just like humans, are prone to mistakes. They also emphasized hubris and the idea that beauty meant being balanced. In many of their stories, we can see the fatal flaw that usually leads to the heroes’ or characters’ downfall is imbalance or overconfidence (believing that they can defy the gods, believing that they are more important than others, etc). We learned how the Norse lived in an area deprived of many resources, which meant they would have to get resources from others. Because we learned they had to pillage for the survival of themselves and their community, we are able to look past our own morals and understand that the reason the gods were so violent in their actions is to survive.

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

    Using the idea of looking past differences and our own personal beliefs, we are able to look at and analyze everything from different angles. This could include history, where we could better understand why the opposition possibly did or believe what they did. This could also help us be better people in general. If someone is acting unlikeable, we could understand that they might have something going on in their life and look past them or even try and comfort them.