Joe Royzman, Period 7, 11/07/2022

Joe Royzman, Period 7, 11/07/2022

-Literacy & Learning

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

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

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

With the Norse mythology unit coming to a bittersweet close, I’ve taken the time to reflect on my learnings. In this unit, I deep dove into the traditions and belief systems of the Norse. First, I learned the hierarchy: with the chief god being Odin and his sons Thor and Loki playing prominent roles. The Norse believed in the concept of Ragnarok, which was a series of events that would lead to the end of the world and the deaths of many of the gods. After Ragnarok, it was believed that a new world would rise from the ashes of the old one. The Norse also believed in the power of magic and the use of runes for divination and protection. One thing I loved were the lessons and values they put forward through stories. They emphasized the importance of strength, wisdom, family, and the dangers of hubris - which are all ideas I value in my own life. 

The unit culminated with the Norse Mythology Project. My group and I were tasked with creating a transformative performance depicting Neil Gaiman’s “The Story of Gerd and Frey”. After much debate, we decided upon the angle we wanted to take. We retold the story with a pop-culture twist and from a feminist theory perspective. It was fun getting creative. Writing an original script gave us total freedom, while still maintaining the principles of the original story. We added references to social media, zoomer phrases, and even “mead-pong” successfully creating an engaging script. Our goal was to hold our audience’s attention which we achieved using captivating settings like our disco party and Frey’s “Minecraft” themed room. Though I admit, our storyline could’ve been a bit more aligned with the tale, but taking a slightly different approach wasn’t a bad move either. Classwide activities raised interesting questions challenging the morality of different scenarios, which was very thought provoking. I also enjoyed exploring the various critical lenses each group used to delve into norse themes and criticisms.

Aside from studying the Viking way of life, I loved this unit because I got to apply my developing acting skills. Taking Theater Production this year was the first time I entered the world of performance, and I’ve honestly had a great time so far. And through the Norse Project, I took the lead acting role of Frey, where I put my skills to the test for a REAL audience, not just other actors. I believe I grew from the experience, so I’m grateful.