Week 14 Story Lab: Overview of Mythology

Since the semester is almost over, I wanted to do something a little different for this week. I generally write stories, but I wanted to try a story lab. I chose to do the Crash Course videos for a few reasons, the first of which is that I just genuinely love Crash Course. The second is that I thought it would be fun to take the knowledge I have absorbed throughout the semester and apply it to the three videos I watched. I wanted to see what broad knowledge about myths and mythology in general I could apply to my own writings, as well as the stories I have read through the semester. 

Persephone being taken to the underworld by Hades, as referenced in the first video.

(Wikimedia Commons)

What Is Myth?

• Some myths are crazy old and exist in many different forms
• There are many different interpretations of myths
• The line between myth and religion can be blurry
• Myth: a special kind of story that that has two primary characteristics- significance and staying power
• Subject is about something important
• Stories that have survived centuries
• Myth of Persephone- Etiological Narrative
• Daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and wife of Hades
• Primitive science
• Types of Myths
• Creation
• Pantheons
• Apocalyptic
• Heroes
• Objects

Theories of Myth

• Mythology: the systematic study of myth
• Plato was among the first to equate myths with lying, but if they were philosophical myths they were rational
• Euhemerism: interpreting myths as primitive explanations of the natural world or as time-distorted accounts of long-past historical events
• Tertullian and Clement- myth as falsehood and influenced by demons
• Mythos vs Logos
• Myths as falsehood vs myths as transcended truth (base for western mythology)
• Theologies
• James Frasier and The Golden Bow
• concept of myths as primitive science
• Bronislaw Malinowski
• myth is not symbolic but it is a narrative resurrection of primeval reality 
• Freud (ugh)
• we make terrible realities palatable with myths
• collective human consciousness
• Joseph Campbell- "The Power of Myth" in the 1980s
• Mythology is a vehicle through which the individual finds a sense of identity and place in the world
• Monomyth
• Claude Levi-Strauss
• Structuralism: myths betray a complicated and underlying structuralism
• Mircea Eliade
• Sacred vs Profane
• Archaic vs Modern

The Hero's Journey and the Monomyth

• Heroes: tell us something about ourselves and a goal to find our place in society
• The Hero's Journey: Momomyth
• 3 Main parts
• Separation from the world
• Call to destiny/adventure
• Refusal of call
• Supernatural Aid
• Crossing the threshold
• Belly of the Whale
• Trials and Victories of Initiation
• The road of trials
• The meeting with the goddess
• Woman as temptress
• Atonement with father
• Apotheosis
• The ultimate boon
• Return and Reintegration into Society
• Refusal of the return
• the magic flight
• Rescue from without
• Crossing back over the threshold
• Master of the two worlds
• Freedom to live

Reading Notes: Russian Folktales, Part B

The Warlock

This is apparently the "Grand Warlock of Wikipedia," but I like to imagine that the warlock in the story looked somewhat like this.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Observations:

• The language used here is very old-timey. Not all the language is necessarily like that, but there are certain parts that I would not know without looking them up
• Okay but why did he have to be watched over after he was dead? I feel like there is more cultural context needed here
• Also, why was it the wives that had to watch over him?
• So were warlocks not part of the Christian faith? It is an oddly specific request to not want a cross near or around you at all, especially after you are already long dead
• Um, why is he speaking to the daughter's from the grave? Also, why did she answer?
• I do like the dialogue tactics used here though. The ways the dialogue is repeated throughout the story is something I know I have noted before, but I truly do want to try to emulate in this week's writing.
• I do enjoy the slightly spooky element that is happening here. It seems like these are common themes in Russian folktales that I enjoy
• I would like to try to use the subtle spookiness present in this story in my own writing
• I tend to be overt in all my writing, so trying to be subtle would be a welcomed challenge
• Oh no. Again, I do not think I have ever written about a character dying, although I am surprised that I have not. I would like to try to do this I think!
• I like the idea that the writer introduced something that just seemed a bit odd in the beginning, like the fact that he did not want to be near a cross or have his daughters in law sport one. This element ended up being a key part in the story. I think that is something good writers do often. I would like to try to sneak something in my stories like this and then have it be extremely important in the end. It feels fun.

Overall I enjoyed this story a lot! It was spooky and fun while still being short. I thought the writer did a good job bringing in subtle elements that were super needed for the ending. I think I will re-tell this story this week!

Bibliography:
Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887)

The Warlock

Reading Notes: Russian Folktales, Part A

The Treasure

This goat mask is supremely creepy and I imagine the pope looked somewhat like this.

(Jullbock from wikimedia commons)

Observations:

• There is a certain lack of information given in the beginning. The story just starts off strong and keeps going with almost no context
• It seems a bit odd that the old man could not get anyone to lend him money, not even the pope. It seems like the pope should be generous? I wonder if this is a little theme in Russian fairytales
  
• I feel bad for the old man. All of the people in his town seem terrible and greedy
• What kind of town does this man live in where he feels like he has to dig his own wife's grave?
• Okay the money seems like the least of this man's problems to be honest
• I love that the second the pope gets the money he decides to be a good pope
• The story is written with small spurts of dialogue, which I enjoy. It feels like a very basic storytelling technique but it works well. I think I could emulate this. 
• Somehow the story has escalated such that there is now a man dressed in a goat skin. What is actually happening?
• Maybe it's just me, but it feels sacrilegious for the literal pope to put on a devil costume and to scare an old man who just buried his wife. Also I am supremely grossed out. 
• I like the idea of adding a slightly gross element to a story, though. I have already talked about trying to write something scary, but I have never thought about writing a bit of gore. I think I could come up with something as weird as this story!
• It is poetic justice that the goat skin fused with the greedy pope. I can not say that I enjoy the ending, but it is somewhat satisfying.

Overall, this story was weird, but it gave me a good sense of the Russian storytelling technique. It reminded me of the Brothers Grimm storytelling style with the dark twists at the end and the overall dark themes. I enjoy this type of story, but it still makes me feel odd inside. 

Bibliography:

The Treasure

Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887)

Famous Last Words: Almost There!

This is how I feel at this point in the semester. I feel like the last piece of the puzzle is ready to be put into place but I just have to do it!

(Image from Pikrepo)

Your reading for this week: The reading went well for me this week! I actually enjoyed reading from the Canterbury Tales unit. I thought reading The Promise of Dorigen was thoroughly enjoyable and was the story that I based my re-telling on for the week. The second story I wrote about was The Prioress's Tale: Little Hugh and was a blood libel. I was sort of shocked while reading this anti-Semitic tale, but it was good to see that side of history. I liked the way both stories were laid out and I thought I would try to emulate some aspects in future writing. 

Your best writing for this week: I thought my best writing for the week was in my telling of The Promise of Dorigen when I wrote The Diary of Arviragus, which was my twist on the tale. I definitely experimented this week with telling the story from a different character's point of view, which is something I have not done. I also twisted the story to be in a different format, the diary, which was also something new. I really enjoyed writing this way and I think keeping in the groove of just sitting down and writing it was helpful.

Other people's writing: I actually read a lot of people's retelling of the story of Gellert, the dog who saved the baby from the intruder, but his master thought he killed the baby so he killed Gellert. I thought Tink did a wonderful job with her retelling. She also switched the character point of view for this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Here is her story!

Your other classes: My other classes are going pretty well. I am nearing the end in all my classes and at this point I am just trying to push through to the end of the semester. I am completely over this semester and this year in general, so I am just ready to be done. I want a break so badly but I cannot take one until I am done with all my work. I just need to get it all done at this point. 

Outside of school: While I did not attend any events on campus, I did go home for Thanksgiving to see my family. We had to do a socially distanced Thanksgiving dinner, which was really weird. My sister and I were the "servers" and we were masked and gloved while distributing food. It was odd but we got it done. I am so ready for the pandemic to be over!

Next week: This next week I am hoping I have time to sit down and finish a lot of work for this class and my other classes. I want to just be done with everything so I may try to have a marathon work session this week! 

Week 13 Review

As I scrolled through the announcement feed I thought this graphic perfectly summed up what I was feeling at the end of the semester. All I want is to take a break, but I simply cannot do that until I get all my work done. It also made me laugh!

I also thought this video would bring more people the joy it brought me when I first saw it. With the year we are having I think it is important to find joy in the little things in life, such as watching a happy man do a dance in the snow. Dancing is always therapeutic for me and I do not think I am alone in that. Enjoy this beautiful little video!

Link to the dancing video!

Growth Mindset: Conversation with Bella

Fixed vs Growth mindset

(Wikimedia Commons)

For this growth mindset conversation I prepared a few talking points before I chatted with my roommate, Bella. I tried to give her an overview of the idea of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset and how that effects your life. She was very receptive to the conversation and genuinely seemed like she wanted to know more, so that was encouraging. Though she had never heard of the term "growth mindset" before, she had definitely heard of some concepts related to the topic. I wanted to make sure I hit the points about taking criticism and using it to improve your activity/performance/whatever you're doing because she will be the first to admit that she has trouble taking criticism sometimes. To my surprise she was very open to having a candid discussion about how she could improve in this area. I had some more points prepared on the way we see "failure" in our lives as well. I told her about the ways we can take our failures and learn from them instead of being down on ourselves. I think she really enjoyed talking about this and the conversation was productive!

Week 13 Story: The Diary of Arviragus

Dorigen and Arviragus when they were reunited at last.

(Image by Jo-B from pixabay)

May 12, 1523

Dear Diary,

Oh how in love I am! My beautiful love, Dorigen, has just accepted my hand in marriage! We are betrothed and I am absolutely ecstatic. I cannot express how ardently I love this woman. She is so stunning. I have never seen such a face and dare I say I will never see such beauty as she. I have vowed to be fair and true to her for all my days, even when I must depart from her gracious presence. I have never been this happy in all my days!

Sincerely

Arviragus

May 30, 1524

Dear Diary, 

I am feeling very ill on this day, my friend. You see, I have just broken the news to Dorigen that I must depart across the sea. How blissful this past year has been! I am fully distraught at the thought of leaving my dear Dorigen, but I am called by my duty as a knight of the kingdom to seek glory and honor in arms! I have to go, but I have vowed to return just as soon as my tasks are accomplished. I only pray now that Dorigen will not weep for me, but that her days will be filled with friendship and happiness as she awaits my return. The day when we are reunited will be glorious!

Sincerely, 

Arviragus

July 9, 1524

Dear Diary,

I have made it across the waters! I now seek to accomplish what I have set out to do as quickly as possible so that I can return to my love once more. I have a tournament in just two month's time, and I must spend every waking minute until then training for it. I must win!

Sincerely,

Arviragus

September 31, 1524

Dear Diary,

I am pleased to inform you that I have won! The kingdom has claimed a righteous victory on this day for me and my comrades have taken the top prized in the tournament. I was the jousting champion, not to brag, and I am very proud of my accomplishments. Oh, how I cannot wait to be reunited with Dorigen and inform her of the news! She will be so proud of me. She is always so supportive. I love her dearly. In one week's time I will set sail back across the seas so that I may arrive at home before the year's end!

Sincerely,

Arviragus

November 13, 1524

Dear Diary,

I made it safely across the waters without mishap, and I was reunited with my love! As we embraced, she disclosed to me something truly horrific, and something I had never in my wildest dreams imagined she would ever say. You see, while in my absence, this pitiful squire man apparently confessed his love for Dorigen. She told him that she was already madly in love with me, but he would not leave her alone. In an effort to be rid of his nuisances, she told him that when the rocks at the bottom of the cliff from which I sailed away were covered up, which would never happen for they are very visible even at high tide, she would be with him. Her, knowing this would never happen, did not give this man another thought until one day he came back to her and told her to look over the cliff. The rocks were gone, and she had made him a promise. I do not know what to do, diary. She promised him, but she is my one true love! How can I lose her now when she was so close to me only moments ago? This is truly the worst day of my life. 

Sincerely,

Arviragus

November 14, 1524

Dear Diary, 

After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that she must be with the squire. She has made a promise and I do not take those lightly. Though it pains me more than anything in the world has ever pained me, I must let her go to him. I pray now that by some miracle he does not make her follow through on her word, for I do not know if I can bear to spend another day without her by my side. 

Sincerely,

Arviragus

November 15, 1524

Dear Diary,

It happened! I sent her off to him but she has returned to me! According to Dorigen, the squire knew he could not keep her away from me. She was too distraught and although she wanted to honor her promise, he knew she would be miserable for all her days. Oh, glorious day! I have sent a letter to the squire to thank him for his generosity, and I only hope that he can find a love of his own now. But for now and all of my days, I have Dorigen. I am perfectly and completely happy.

Sincerely,

Arviragus

Author's Note:

Hello reader! This is the retelling of the Canterbury tale titled "The Promise of Dorigen." The original tale is written from from a third person point of view, but is mainly focused on Dorigen's story. I toyed around with the idea of doing a gender swap, but ended up wanting to write from Arviragus' point of view instead. The original tale does not really give the readers any indication of how Arvirgaus is feeling when all of the things go down between Dorigen and the squire, so I thought this was a fun way to implement his side of the story into the tale. I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you have fun reading it!

Bibliography:

The Franklin's Tale: The Promise of Dorigen

The Chaucer Story Book by Eva March Tappan (1908)