Elven Zheng, Period 7, 1/13/23

Elven Zheng 

Period 7

01/13/23

Modern Mythology

Literacy & Learning

Alas, the end of the Norse Mythology is upon us. Overall, the unit was very enlightening. I was always quite interested in Norse mythology (Rick Riordan books!), but I never really explored it on my own. Throughout this unit, I’ve learned a lot about the Norse and their stories. When we explored the different realms and the rewards in Norse culture, we agreed that the intention was to glorify the battlefield and incentivize everyone to participate there. Heroes who died in battle would celebrate a glorious afterlife in Valhalla with a bunch of mead and light. To enforce this propaganda even more, they scared people with Helheim. Helheim was a dark and gloomy place, home to non-warriors. Being in Helheim meant having a colorless afterlife. After hearing those depictions of the afterlife, even I was sold on being a warrior so that I could party for the rest of my afterlife in Valhalla! Their stories reflect their way of life, promoting battles and being a warrior. Besides devoting their lives to the battlefield, the Norse also touched upon critical theories such as Marxist Critical Theory and Feminist Critical Theory. Every story had a deeper message hidden inside, whether it was to be a warrior or to be weary of karma and not end up like the devious trickster Loki.

The biggest boost to my learning in this unit was the Norse Mythology Project. The project was difficult, as it required a lot of creativity. Teams had to create their own transformative retelling of a Norse myth. My group and I transformed The Children of Loki, making Tyr and Fenrir the main characters of the show. We saw an opportunity to shine a light on their relationship with each other, presenting a lesson on trust and betrayal. It was a hectic procedure, trying to write like the Norse. Instead of moving along with the script, my group and I kept trying to come up with nonsense alliterations to align with Norse storytelling. It was an experience, though. Writing poetry and using a dictionary to find words make alliteration possible is a headache. Still, I had a great time planning the project out with my group-mates and suggesting far-fetched ideas. Our project turned out fine, but it could have been much better. We spent too much time worrying about measly lines in the script to venture outside the box. Aside from learning through research from my own project, the other projects were also very enlightening. Everyone did a phenomenal job, expressing their respective stories in a creative and intriguing way, hooking me for five periods straight! From a giraffe costume to spilling water on Theodore (again), every group held the audience’s attention captive. The courts, journeys, time traveling, disco parties, and musicals all helped me to better understand each story. Messages I initially glossed over when I read the stories myself were brought up by others, filling in blanks I had in my understanding. The activities that followed each performance required me to use my brain to shift from enjoying a show to think critically. There were often questions that questioned morality: was X justified in their actions? These roused up discussions, as it could go in any direction. There could be arguments made for multiple sides, as different time periods or different values can be applied to the single question at hand.

Everything I learn can be implemented in my life one way or another. The critical thinking I experienced during this project will allow me to continue digging deeper for below-the-surface ideas. The presentations are all very memorable. Their lasting impressions will help me remember the Norse stories for the future. I would assume one day I could flaunt my knowledge on Norse mythology, impressing and bragging about what I know. Having this knowledge would also improve my creative writing, allowing the addition of a sentence such as “They’re acting just like Loki!” and "It feels like we're approaching Ragnarok." to my arsenal. This unit was a refreshing experience; it was more than just a revisit to Norse mythology for me.