Juhyoung Lee, Pd 7, 5/12/23

 Modern Mythology 2023

Name: Juhyoung Lee

PD: 7

5/12/23

Creativity & Fiction

The streets were littered with bodies. Every direction I looked, a crimson stain fell into my view. Car alarms, firefighter sirens, and the harsh banging of gunshots filling the street with noise. The scream of metal ripping and tearing. Fires ate all in their path. The living died and the dead came back to life. As I layed in a pool of my own blood, my vision faded and the sharp sting of teeth ripping into my neck subsided. Then I joined the bodies.

The next time I opened my eyes, the fires had subsided and the only sounds were the shuffling of empty feet. But I only noticed my hunger. When was the last time I ate? I couldn’t remember. The sun went down and the moon filled its place.

I felt no fatigue. I needed no sleep. All night I wandered. I stumbled and fell. I looked down at my legs only to see that my toes pointed in opposite directions. On my right leg my heel led the way with my toes following right behind. Were my leg always like that? I couldn’t remember. 

I felt no pain. My legs moved and that all I needed. The sun filled the sky again and I wandered. My hunger only grew. Where am I going and what am I doing? I just kept on limping. The Sun fell beneath the ground and the moon rose up

Finally I spotted a meal. They ran on two legs and screamed. The shuffling of empty feet quickened into a mindless run. I ran too. They ran behind a swinging wood wall with a cross on the front. We were hungry. Smashing into the door, we scraped and tore away. I hit a weaker wall. It shattered as I charged into it. The wall turned into a dance of colors as it broke. We were in. BANG. We kept coming. BANG. The little foods and the big foods kept running. We ripped and tore away, eating everything in our path. I set my eyes on the biggest morsel. It was big, plump and held a little morsel and a wood stick that made loud noises. It went through another wood swinging wall. It ran and we ran after it. We were faster. We grabbed the big morsel but the little morsel slipped away. The feast screamed and struggled. We ripped and tore. The sun fled and the moon rose. They joined the bodies.

Joseph Royzman, Pd 7, 5/19/23

 Creativity & Fiction

Craft a piece of FAN fiction related to any of the reading we’ve done in class that addresses one or more of the following: 

Scene 1

The dimly lit room is filled with antique furniture and shelves lined with ancient books. Lestat paces back and forth. Louis sits in a chair, lost in his thoughts.

[Lestat] (with passion) Louis, my love, I can’t deny what we feel anymore. The connection between us runs deeper than just friendship. It's time to embrace our love, to surrender to the passion that burns within our immortal hearts.

Louis looks up, his eyes meeting Lestat's gaze. His face shows a combination of desire and uncertainty.

[Louis] (whispering) Lestat, you know the risks. Our kind does not understand or accept such love. We will be cast out and hunted forever.

[Lestat] (kneeling in front of Louis, holding his hands) I can’t bear to live without you, Louis. It was hard enough to see you with Armand, but I love you. To deny this love would be to deny who we are. We are bound by blood and forever tied in our souls. Let us ignore the judgment of others and follow our desires.

Louis hesitates, conflicted by his own doubts and the weight of societal expectations. He thinks of Armand. But, the intensity of Lestat’s words becomes too strong to resist. He can’t deny his feelings for Lestat.

[Louis]) Then let us defy the world, Lestat. Let our love be a beacon of hope and strength in our eternal life. I am yours.

Lestat's eyes light up with joy and relief, his heart filling with love.

[Lestat] (hugging Louis) Oh, Louis, my dear. Together, we’ll face the challenges ahead. No haters can extinguish the flame that burns between us.

They kiss, sealing their love in that moment. The world fades away as their connection deepens, and their souls intertwine as if they were soulmates.

Scene 2

Days turn into nights, and nights into centuries. Lestat and Louis navigate the trials of their immortal existence, constantly reminding each other how much they love each other.

They face the judgment of their fellow vampires, who cannot comprehend how they could love each other. The coven's disapproval weighs heavily upon them, but Lestat and Louis refuse to hide their affection.

[Louis]  We won’t be silenced, Lestat. Our love is beautiful and true, and it will endure. Let them judge us. We have each other, and that is enough.

[Lestat] (nodding) Right on, my love. We are pioneers, challenging the very nature of our existence. Let us show them the power of love, the strength it gives us in this eternal night.

Together, they venture out into the world, hand in hand, their love shining through the darkness of vampire-hood. They constantly face discrimination, but their bond is unbreakable. Their love becomes an inspiration to other lost souls, offering them hope in a seemingly hopeless world.

Scene 3

Lestat and Louis attend a glamorous vampire social event, where their presence sparks controversy and intrigued glances. The elite of the vampire society watch the couple with a mix of fascination and disdain.

[Lestat] (raising his glass) To my dear Louis. To love that transcends the boundaries of time.

[Louis] (smiling, clinking his glass against Lestat's) To love that defies even death itself. Our love is immortal!

The ballroom erupts in whispers as Lestat and Louis do the Tango, their bodies moving in perfect harmony. 

Scene 4

Lestat and Louis stand on a rooftop, overlooking the city below. The moon watches over them  and the wind gently passes by.

[Louis] (looks at Lestat, smiles) We have faced countless hardships. But our love has pushed us through everything.

[Lestat] (caressing Louis' cheek) Indeed, my love. Our journey has been difficult, but our love has persisted and grown exponentially with every obstacle we've overcome. We made it this far, let’s keep going.

They gaze off into the distance and dream about what is left to come.

Mitchell Pozovskiy, Period 6, 5/11/2023

 In the shadowy depths of Heorot, Grendel lurked, his eyes fixed on the boisterous celebrations within. The hall echoed with laughter and song, the sounds of revelry that seemed to mock his lonely existence. The monster's claws tightened, his heart burdened with a longing for connection, for purpose beyond the cycle of violence that defined him.

One fateful night, as Grendel observed the mirthful warriors, a melodious strain reached his ears. It was the enchanting voice of a young bard, his fingers dancing on the strings of a lyre. The monster was drawn to the bard's narrative, his tales of heroes and love, woven with a touch of melancholy and longing.

Curiosity piqued, Grendel approached the bard cautiously, his deep voice a rumbling growl. "Tell me, minstrel, can one find solace amidst despair? Can redemption be sought and found?"

The bard, taken aback, looked into Grendel's eyes, seeing a flicker of vulnerability within his fearsome exterior. With a gentle smile, he replied, "Redemption is a complex journey, my friend. It exists for those willing to seek it, even in the darkest corners."

Those words resonated within Grendel, stirring a glimmer of hope within his tormented soul. He embarked on a path, both physical and metaphorical, driven by a yearning to discover his own redemption. Along his journey, he encountered diverse characters who mirrored the complexities of society, each with their own struggles and shades of gray.

There was the enigmatic ruler, blinded by power and oblivious to the suffering of his people. Through observing the injustice inflicted upon the common folk, Grendel's understanding of the socio-political landscape deepened. He became a symbol, not merely of opposition, but of the unrest simmering within the marginalized, the voiceless.

As Grendel faced the king, his voice resonated with newfound strength, "Your reign of oppression ends here! The time for justice and equality has come!"

The clash that followed transcended physical strength; it embodied a battle of ideologies, a clash between entrenched power and the yearning for change. Grendel's multidimensional character emerged, his own redemption entwined with the liberation of his fellow outcasts, driven by a longing for a society where empathy and compassion reigned.

In the end, Grendel's triumph was not measured in the spilling of blood but in the transformative power of understanding and connection. The barriers that had confined him for so long shattered, revealing a path to redemption rooted in empathy.

With newfound purpose, Grendel embraced his role as a catalyst for change, becoming a bridge between humans and monsters. His actions, nuanced and complex, defied the simplistic narratives of fear and hatred, nurturing a society where the lines between "us" and "them" blurred.

And so, the tale of Grendel was rewritten, no longer a one-dimensional monster but a story of awakening, redemption, and the timeless struggle of the human spirit to transcend its own limitations.

Sameer Auluck, Period 6, 3/29/23

 Sameer Auluck

Period 6

3/29/23

Modern Mythology 2023

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?

This semester we read World War Z by Max Brooks. The novel is about the apocalypse and the invasion of zombies. One thing I liked about the book is its uniqueness in how it told the story. Instead of one continuous plot, this novel uses many different accounts from people all over the world, which highlights their own circumstances and backgrounds. The invasion of zombies in this novel was a worldwide issue, so the use of these many accounts is very insightful and highlights the diverse experiences of all of the characters. One of the biggest themes of the books is the will to survive. In the book, the humans would do anything in their power to outlive others, even if it meant killing other humans. One account spoke of a little girl who has faced psychologically trauma throughout her life because of something that happened during the zombie invasion. In the account, she told the readers how her own mom tried to murder her for the “greater good”, with the intention that she wouldn’t face the suffering of the zombie invasion. After the attempted murder, the little girl was all by herself, without parental figures and it shows how you can’t even trust those closest to you in apocalyptic times. 

In class, we watched the episode “The Grove” from the Walking Dead. This episode takes place in the middle of the zombie apocalypse and was the story of a group of survivors from a prison that was recently infected by the zombies. The group included 2 adults named Carol and Therese, 2 little girls named Lizzie and Mika and an infant named Judith. They find an abandoned house and they move in, even though there were walkers nearby, which worried Therese. In the show, Lizzie had the notion that the walkers were friendly and that they shouldn’t kill them. She even tried feeding one that was injured on the road. Moving forward, Lizzie ends up killing her own sister Mika, because she thought her walker form would live forever and would be friendly with her. She almost killed the infant Judith, but was confronted by Carol and Tyreese. Horrified by Lizzie’s actions, Carol decided to shoot her in the head. She believed that she would be a big hindrance in their mission to survive the zombie invasion, and that she was already too far gone to be taken care/cured. This episode also shares the World War Z theme of survival. Carol killed a little child, because she knew that she would be a danger to many other people. There is no remorse in the end of the world.

We can see many instances of themes of survival around the world. For example, in the sinking of a cruise or any other ship, a “Great Panic” would occur. People running around, throwing things, all hell breaking loose. They would do anything they could to survive, even if it meant endangering many others. They might throw each other overboard, fighting over the remaining life jackets. The life boats would be overflowing with women and children, with the men left behind fighting for survival. The people’s will to survive will

Vitaly Podvorchan, Period 7, 5/17/2023

 

Blog 4

D&D Retelling as World War Z

Brooklyn, New York USA

[Sean Zhao greets me in his office after being reluctant about letting me interview him. I sit across from him as he twiddles his thumbs. He clearly has done well for himself, with shiny quartz all around the room. The left half of his face is covered in cloth. In civilian life, he was just a student entrapped during the outbreak]

They all just left us to die in there, those rat bastards. I was in my lunch period in the library doing my thing and I heard over the loudspeaker a gruesome yell and what seemed to be a cry for help. We saw the teacher put her phone down and rush to lock the doors to the room. Her face was pale as she started boarding up the doors and immediately told us to get down. We all hoped this was a lockdown drill, maybe someone entered the school, but deep down we knew what was happening. We get under our desks and last thing I know, all I hear is rampage outside. This wasn’t a lockdown drill, the Zacks made it to our school and broke in. Hell, I don't know why the government pushed us to continue to go to school because we were in a “safe zone”, their incompetence led to the demise of all my classmates.

How did you end up surviving after they broke through the library door?

Sheer luck. I remember hiding under a pile of bodies as they broke in, must have thrown them off their scent. Some other classmates did the same and weren't as lucky, or made the slightest sound and were mauled in front of my eyes as I couldnt make a noise. After hiding out for a few hours, but what seemed to be weeks, there were only two Zacks near the library, the rest swarmed over to the staircase nearby and went downstairs. Luckily I wasn't the only one who managed to survive, my peer Michael managed to live out the rampage the same way. We kind of gave each other a look and realized this was our time to try to escape, such an opportunity would present itself again soon. I grabbed a stapler and beat a smaller Z’s skull to death as Micahel stabbed the other in the neck with a few pencils he had. We moved through the hallway trying not to alert the Z’s in the staircase next to it and found a small haven in the chem lab. 

There were empty rooms throughout such a big rampage?

I was dumb enough to think so. The room was pretty quiet so as we walked in we assumed we would be safe, until a Zack lunged out at me from behind the door. I was able to pin it to the ground as Micahel grabbed the nearest glass flask, broke it upon the desk and stabbed it in the back of the head. He was able to save me but the stab into the Z just sprayed a whole lotta of blood into the left half of my face. I knew I had to be quiet but I freaked out. They didn't tell us anything, if the Z’s infected us through blood or by bite, so I thought I was a goner. Micahel talked me through it, we realized that 2 stories down was the exit so that calmed me down.All we had to do was get this blood off my face before it infects me. I at least wanted to escape before I turned or made him put me down. You think I wanna die in this damn school? I was two months from graduating, I'm getting out on my own terms at least. We know now that bites were the way to be infected, but we don't risk anything. With another one of the glass shards, Michael painstakingly tore the skin off where blood was and any areas near, hence the cloth I wear now. Luckily most of the Zacks were all in the school, so we decided to jump out and that would be our path to freedom. If we jumped we might sprain a leg, but those Z’s were slow so it was the only way for us to get out without blowing up a whole staircase. We jumped into a bush and hobbled down and made refuge by jumping house to house, most were empty so we raided the fridges while we waited out for rescue. 

Shifeng Xie, Period 6, 5/23/23

 Creativity & Fiction

• Craft a piece of FAN fiction related to any of the reading we’ve done in class that addresses one or more of the following: 

• Literary elements (i.e. structure, tone, diction, mood, irony, and figurative language) to craft a narrative.

• Structural features of drama (stage directions, character attributions/tags, dialogue, monologues, and/or soliloquies) to craft a script.

• Multidimensional characters to develop themes and create socio-political metaphors

(A continuation of World War Z)

Reflection

Months after the horrible war against the zombie apocalypse…

“All rise.” 

A long pause ensues as members of the assembly get up one by one.

“Are all members of the UN committee present today?”

Silence…

“Let the record show all nations in attendance today.” says the President of the General Assembly.

The Secretary-General then gives a report and speech, followed by a debate started by Brazil

“Brazil would like to talk about the recent apocalypse and preventative measures against any future events of similar nature,” says Brazil’s representative. “We believe that a major issue that resulted in the apocalypse was the lack of information and communication within underprivileged areas. We believe that more resources should be allocated to underprivileged areas in an attempt to close the gap between developed and underdeveloped countries”

The assembly gives a resounding nod of approval

“Another issue that contributed to the apocalypse was families' ignorance and unwillingness to accept the reality of the situation, despite the threat and severity of the situation. Many families did not want to believe their beloved family members had become a ghost of what they once were.” Brazil’s representative said with a hint of sorrow, almost as if he was speaking from personal experience. “Brazil now passes the debate on to the host nation” 

All eyes turn towards the representative of the US as he stands.

“Ahem, we would like to start off by reiterating Brazil’s sentiment. However, we believe their proposal is rather unrealistic to achieve and would like to propose our own measures to the issue. We would like to start a campaign worldwide. By educating the world, people are better equipped to handle future events similar to the one our world was recently plagued by. They would know how to handle and report any irregularities within their neighborhood so us governing bodies can take immediate action before the situation becomes too big for us to handle.” says the American representative. “America now passes the debate to the next country”

The debate goes back and forth for the next few hours, with representatives of all countries giving their opinions.

Eddy Lu, Period 6, 5/9/23

 Eddy Lu

Period 6

5/9/23

Craft a piece of FAN fiction related to any of the reading we’ve done in class that addresses one or more of the following: 

Literary elements (i.e. structure, tone, diction, mood, irony, and figurative language) to craft a narratives

Structural features of drama (stage directions, character attributions/tags, dialogue, monologues, and/or soliloquies) to craft a script.

Multidimensional characters to develop themes and create socio-political metaphors.

The untold story of Persephone

Many of you might have heard the story of me how I was a naive little girl who got tricked into eating 6 pomegranate seeds by a creepy old man and now I am stuck in the underworld for 6 months. However, let me explain to you my point of view. 

It all started one morning when Mother asked me to go into the woods and pick some wild berries for her. I followed the usual path that I would normally follow and arrived at a vast open yard filled with blueberries. I saw a little bird drinking some nectar and decided to approach it. It gracefully landed on my index finger and began to groom itself. I hadn’t thought much of it and I put the bird onto my shoulders and I began to pick some blueberries. However, the bird would not stay still, it kept on flapping its wings and I got the sense that it was trying to lead me somewhere. I was curious and adventurous, so I followed the bird into what would become a life-changing experience for me. 

Boom. I began to lose consciousness and felt that I was going to fall. Before that tho, I saw the bird transforming into my dad, the great almighty Zeus, and he gave me to Hades. When I regain focus, I was in the underworld already. I was frightened, scared, and most of all felt betrayed. Did my own father just give his daughter away to an old senile man? I remembered Hades was asking me a lot of questions but in my head, all I could think about was why my father did what he did and how I can go back home. I asked Hades if I could go back to which he said he wanted to show me something. Before I can get my act together, Hades took my hands and we arrived at a large body of water. Hades gave the guy some coins and we proceeded to dock his umm boat. It looks like wood debris and I was skeptical if it can hold my weight alone. As we moved along the bodies of water, the guy Charon showed us the dead who were unable to afford the ride, stuck in the bodies of water. I kinda felt bad for them but Hades told me that they were terrible individuals and deserved to be punished. 

After we exited, Hades introduced me to his dog Cerberus who despite his awful stench and well three heads, was quite a cute pet. I played with him for a while but in my head, I was trying to find a way to head back. 

I asked Hades again if I could go back and see my mom to which he said there was one more thing waiting for me. 

Hades took me to a vineyard where I saw all kinds of fruits and berries and I asked if I could pick some up and told him that I needed to pick some up for my mother. He said, “Of course you can. Would you like to try some”. Whatever they say about me, about how I was rebellious or whatnot was inaccurate. I did not know that I could not eat anything from the underworld. So what happened next? You guessed it. I picked up some berries and ate them. As time went on, the story transformed from berries to pomegranate seeds. Hades brought me back up to my mom, with my father as the mediator, and proposed that I would be with him for 6 months of the year and would come up and live with my mother for 6 other months. I realized that it was indeed a plan coerced by my father and hades and I told my mother about it. However, we were powerless in front of the powerful Hades and Zeus. 

Although now I grew closer to Hades, my prized possessions are my two children.  Speaking of my children, I am currently writing a personal story about them. It will be coming out in a couple of weeks. Hope you enjoyed my point of view.

Kalliopi Lambrinoudis, Period 6, 4/28/23

 Modern Mythology 2023

Kalliopi Lambrinoudis PD 6 4/28/23

Claudia’s Diary

Tonight, for the first time, my pen glides across my paper as I pour my deepest thoughts and desires onto these pages. My name is Claudia, and I am a vampire.

I don’t remember my human years. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been trapped in the fragile body of a five-year-old girl, hungry for blood. Lestat, who had created me, taught me the ways of a vampire. Despite my seemingly harmless exterior, I’m always on the hunt. My intellect surpasses that of a grown man, but people still dismiss me as a child. The contradiction within me grows every day.

Honestly, I’ve grown tired of playing the role of an innocent child. I possess the mind of an adult, the desires of a vampire, but I must adhere to the facade of a little girl. I look at grown women feeling nothing but jealousy and frustration. Lestat believes my current existence is better than the life I could’ve led. But he doesn’t understand. The world taunts me with its adult pleasures, with things I can only observe from afar. My existence feels incomplete, a constant reminder of what I am denied. I am trapped. My body is nothing more than a prison. The more I think about it, the more I resent the life that was thrust upon me against my will. I resent those who gave it to me. 

Louis, my creator, treats me like a child, despite the fact I am well beyond my 60s. He dotes on me, smothering me with affection, but his actions only remind me of my eternal imprisonment.

But it is Lestat who I despise the most. He was the one to turn me into a trapped me, leaving me with an unending dissatisfaction with my life for as long as I exist. I will never forgive him for this curse. 

Despite my unfortunate predicament, I must persevere. I am just as thirsty for knowledge as I am for blood. For what I can’t grow physically, I can make up for by growing intellectually.  

Sam Ng, Period 2, 5/8/23

Sam Ng

Period 2

5/8/23

Creativity & Fiction

Craft a piece of FAN fiction related to any of the reading we’ve done in class that addresses one or more of the following: 

Literary elements (i.e. structure, tone, diction, mood, irony, and figurative language) to craft a narrative.

Structural features of drama (stage directions, character attributions/tags, dialogue, monologues, and/or soliloquies) to craft a script.

Multidimensional characters to develop themes and create socio-political metaphors.

Reading of Choice: Grendel by John Gardner

Grendel's Mother's Backstory:

I wasn’t always this way… I used to be able to communicate with humans. My mother cohabited with a small group of villagers and we lived happily. We would hunt together and build homes - we had our physique and the humans had their intelligence. Together, we were strong. There was no obstacle we couldn’t overcome. If we wanted vegetables, we would work relentlessly in the field while they worked on creating better tools and cooking processes. 

We could have easily expanded our dominance to our heart’s content, but that’s not what we wanted. We were content with living with what we had, our self-sufficiency. The people treated us as equals, we learned in the same classrooms, played in the same streets. 

Mother warned me about a mysterious figure. She said he was not to be trusted. I nodded my head, I would not be anywhere near this figure. This man, as I later found out, was a descendant of Cain. One day while I was bringing freshly picked beans into the kitchen, I tripped. I yelled out in pain and he rushed over to my assistance. 

I initially flinched, startled by our proximity. He attempted to lift me up but I refused to let him. Instead, he gave me a cloth to bandage my scratches. I didn’t want to use it but the blood was starting to flow from my knee. Hesitantly, I wrapped the cloth when I saw that he had started to walk away. He turned back and it almost seemed as if he smiled, ever so slightly.

Later that night, while I was eating dinner with my mother and the townspeople, she asked me how I got the bruise. I told her that I fell but I didn’t tell her about my encounter with the man. Maybe it was because a part of me knew it was wrong. But still, I couldn’t keep my mind off him…

A few days later, I saw the man walking by himself and I ran up to him. “Here’s your cloth, sir. I cleaned it. Thank you.” He seemed shocked that I went up to him, but quickly changed his demeanor to a friendly, happy one. We sat down in front of the steps of his house and chatted.

A neighbor must have seen us talking because when I got home, mother was furious. She wouldn’t hear any of my explanations. I tried to be nice and calm but her refusal to hear things from my perspective annoyed me. I left out of anger and went to the man’s house.

…

When Grendel was born, everyone despised him. He was an outcast and by that same nature, I too was outcasted. My mother didn't want to recognize me and told me she doesn’t have a daughter like me. This was my curse by the people and mother I grew up with. 

It didn’t stop there. The man told me he couldn’t have anyone knowing about his existence. He subsequently killed off everyone I knew and loved. He couldn’t bear to kill me because of our affection. He chose to remove my ability to speak. 

Since then, I have traveled from town to town, looking for anyone who would understand me. Nobody did. Nobody. Looking at Grendel, I knew we would never be accepted. It was then that I decided to raise him in the bottom of this lake.

Grendel looks at me with eyes of disdain, I know. He hates that I can’t speak with him. He hates that I raised him here by himself. Yet, I love him to death and would die for him. I hope that before I die, I will have the opportunity to tell him how dearly I love him...

Shifeng Xie, Period 6, 3/21/23

 Shifeng Xie, Period 6, 3/21/23

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?

During our monsters unit, we dissected John Gardner’s novel Grendel, a novel where a monster recounts his experiences as he interacts with humans, battles with the hero Beowulf, and grapples with his existential existence, ultimately questioning the nature of good and evil, and the significance of his own monstrous identity

I think this story reflects a prevalent issue in modern society, which is racial profiling and stereotypes. People instinctively form a thought or opinion about whatever they see, based on perceptible qualities. In Grendel’s case, people instinctively see Grendel as a threat due to his physical qualities, as he is described as a “large, hulking creature” having “matted fur, sharp claws, yellow eyes, and a fearsome countenance” And because of their assumptions and clouded judgment, they are unwilling to approach Grendel despite Grendel’s want to fit in with the humans. Similarly, society often makes assumptions about others due to their physical qualities, like skin color, height, gender, etc. to make an initial analysis of others and determine their next course of action based on the initial analysis.

Our dissection of Grendel has caused me to rethink my approach to analyzing people. While it’s fine to make assumptions about a person based on the perceivable physical qualities, you should still keep an open mind as you never know what really goes on in the person’s life. This new approach has reaped me many benefits, as it’s given me a chance to meet many people who I might not have met previously had I not been open to approaching people despite first impressions.

Michael Varriano, Period 2, 5/18/23

Blog #4: Fan Fiction for Beowulf

My name is Argon, but now, since I am the last of my kind, I am simply called the dragon. I am the most powerful creature in the realm and challenging me may be a symbol of heroism and bravery, or pure foolishness.

I was not always the last dragon. Since mythical times my family and I were prominent amongst the dragon kingdom. My parents, Arthur and Gwen were the rulers of the realm. I will tell the story of how we fell from Royalty.

It was a fiery summer night. It was the day of the annual dragon games, a test of which dragon could fly the fastest, spit the hottest fire, and pillage the most powerful village. As the prince of the Dragingdom I was expected to win the dragon games again, for the 1500th year in a row. I began to fly. With the cool wind on my scales I began to fly towards the sun. I flew faster than the speed of sound, flew to the sun, and ignited the sun with my flames. I then landed in the center of the Dragindom and my subjects roared with delight.

In the dragon kingdom, the strongest dragon rules, and you can be challenged for your princeship. A dragon with all blue scales rose up, he went by the name of Baxter. Blue flames flared angrily as he announced he would be challenging me for the royal title of prince. Baxter did not fly at the speed out sound, Baxter did not ignite the sun with blue flames, Baxter began to torch village after village and kingdom after kingdom. Baxter did not stop with human villages. He began to torch the villages of fellow dragons, slaying the weak and the children in their sleep. The royal guard of Dragondom moved on him and encircled him. My parents, Arthur and Gwen joined the circle and prepared to torch Baxter to dust.

The great circle of dragons moved swiftly. With a great roar they threw the most powerful flames the Dragondom had seen in millennia. Baxter enclosed himself in a defensive orb of blue flames. To my surprise, instead of faltering, his orb of blue flames expanded out towards the circle of dragons.

It became obvious, we were doomed, he was too powerful. I joined in the offensive, breathing the strongest flames I could muster; our flames were repelled. The entire realm glowed with a radiant light as if we were on the surface of the sun itself. Then everything went black.

When I awoke I was all alone. The kingdom I was sworn to protect was no more. My friends and family were not to be found. Neither was Baxter, the blue dragon, he too disappeared in the blinding light of flame that he caused over his lust for power. It turned out that we are no better than the humans seeking valor and attention such as the Beowulf who will someday slay me and end the race of dragons.

This is my story and the story of the dragon,

Farewell,
Argon

Tyler Sljukic, Period 2, 5/15/23

Blog #4: Fan Fiction

“The screams. Oh, the screams. They haunt me to this day, lurking in every corner of my mind. They watch and they listen, eagerly waiting for the day I join their harrowing cries, once and for all.

“We were foolish. Blind and arrogant souls which laughed in the face of death. We ridiculed, we taunted, we threw stones. Fortune favors the brave, and who is braver than the man who rejects death, casting him away with words and stones?

“How foolish we were.

“We were scared. Terrified in the face of that which we could not overcome. Who wouldn’t be? This alien existence on our doorstep, grotesque and so vaguely human it makes your skin crawl as if you were infested by worms. What else were we to do? Open our arms to this hideous amalgamation of man and monster, letting it into our homes and sanctuary? Share our food and bed with a horrid beast, with hands strong enough to snap us as twigs? Of course we cast it out!

“Alas, we paid our recompense in blood.

“It was a squalid day, but a boring one nonetheless. What better way to spend the time than throw stones and the monstrosity which lurked just outside our homes? We laughed, spit, and hollered until the creature was ushered away in a state of shame. Yet another day had claimed the dignity of the beast, and we celebrated our victory! When we heard the crash of a door, we simply thought someone had laughed so hard, they took their own door down!

“That was until we heard the screams.

“It's a gruesome thing, watching the victim of your crimes toss grown men as if they were nothing more than a bale of hay. Claws and teeth ripping through men and women as if they were a blade through cloth. The smell of iron filled the air as the ground turned red, soaked by the payment for our sins. I hid in a barrel, only a child, crying and praying I was never found. I don’t know how I survived, but I knew one thing for certain.

“We didn’t cast out the monster.

“We made the monster.

“And so, child, if you ever hear this name whispered upon the lips of the townsfolk, run as far and fast as you can.

“No man survives Grendel’s wrath.”

Nicholas Paronich, Period 2, 5/10/23

 Creativity & Fiction

Nick: If we suddenly got powers would you be a villain or a hero?

Alan: Neither, I’d be like those antihero dudes who do whatever they want

Nick: Like Batman?

Alan: Yeah I guess

*Nick and Alan are best friends who are casually strolling through the neighborhood at around 9pm on a Saturday in May. 

Nick: I love life right now

Alan: Whoa where is this coming from

Nick: I'm just saying like we are out here on a saturday night just chilling together so peacefully.

Alan: This is creeping me out where is this coming from

*Nick chuckles a bit*

Nick: Relax alan I’m just saying what's on my mind

Alan: Aw i'm on your mind nick

Nick: Pause when did I ever say that

Alan: No its okay you don't have to hide your feelings from me 

Nick: Okay dude real funny

*They laugh and walk together for 30 seconds enjoying the silence.*

Alan: The window is closing for us to get the whole gang together we should probably text everyone soon

Nick: Yeah text Andrew to see if his pool is open I could go for a nice late night swim right about now

Alan: I like that idea I’m on it

*Alan looks at his phone as he texts Andrew and the others.  Nick continues to look straight ahead to find a disturbing image.

Alan: Alright it's sent now we just wai-

Nick: Shhhhhh

Alan: Wha-

Nick: Shut Up dude look

*Nick points at an older looking lady limping in the middle of the street with no clear direction or purpose.  Alan and Nick stand frozen in curiosity tense with fear*

Alan: What in the world is she doing

Nick: Are we sure that's a she I mean I’ve never seen a human walk like that before

Alan: And what is IT doing out this late at night

Nick: I'm actually getting chills can we leave

Alan: I'm with you - 

*The lady snaps her head in their direction and immediately starts speedwalking at them in an inhumane way.  Alan and Nick freeze momentarily and then take off*

Nick: Your car now

*They reach the car and jump in locking the doors*

Alan: DUDE WHAT

Nick: It's a demon

Alan: It's not a demon bro we saw it together but that was not human either

Nick: Im shaking I can’t believe she chased us

Alan: It wasn’t much of a chase but I know what you mean that was scary

Nick: DUDE LOOK

*The lady has locked onto a new target and advances quickly.  Alan and Nick slam on the horn and brights of the car*

Alan: GET OUT OF THERE LEAVE

*The man with his child turns towards the car, inviting the creature to a point of no return.  The creature lunges at the man biting him in his neck and falling onto the floor.  The scene lasts about seven seconds until she lunges after the child next*

Nick: Alan drive right now

Alan: There are still people her-

Nick: DRIVE THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO

*As they yell the man gets up unnaturally and starts sprinting towards the car with a lifeless body.*

Alan: Holy shi-

Nick: Its zombies

Alan: Zombies

In this short script we see two best friends react to the start of the apocalypse.  Although it stops short before the real challenges and hardships of this outbreak, we as the reader feel the initial fear of the unknown behind zombies.  This relates to the book World War Z by following the format of giving an account of the zombie outbreak to as close as the early days as possible.  Humans are creatures of change, so a big change spread thin throughout 10 years will fade.  However that initial switch is what we as readers delve into as well as what Max Brooks zoomed in on.  The instinct of the two kids is the only thing separating them between them being in the car and being a new zombie on the street.  The intuition to know the lady was inhumane and to escape the situation.