Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Norse Mythology Vocabulary
1. Vikings: Are the Norse explorers, wariors, merchants and traders that roamed over northern europe and north america in the late eighth to early eleventh century AD.
2. Ginnungagap: The great primordial void in Norse mythology that the world evolved from.
3. Nifleheim: The land of Fog and ice; it later became Hel, where the people who did not die a heroic death went.
4. Muspellheim: The land of fire; the giant Surt gaurds the entrance.
5. Yggdrasil: The world ash tree; it connects all the worlds together: Asgard the home of the gods, Midgaurd the human world, and the underworld-Hel.
6. Asgard: The beautiful home of the gods; It sits on the top branches of Yggdrasil.
7. Midgard: The land of the human race; It sits in the middle of Yggdrasil surrounded by water in which the world serpent sleeps.
8. Hel: Both the place and a God; Hel: where the people who did not die a heroic death went. see also Nifleheim. Hel: queen of the underworld; goddess of fertility and beauty but also of sickness and death. Daughter of Loki.
9. Bifrost Bridge: The rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to our world; Midgard.
10. Ymir: The first giant, born from the water that dripped from the union of Muspelheim and Niflheim. Killed by Odin. Was the sacrafice that made Midgaurd, his body was used to create the land and sky.
11. Odin: The god of all the gods, ruler over all. see also Zeus. his domains were wisdom, was, witchcraft, poetry, storms, and night.
12. Frigg: The wife of Odin. Also called: Cloud spinner she's the most powerful godess. Her domains are love, destiny and marrage. see also Hera.
13. The Valkyries: Odins daughters. Choosers of the slain/Hero selectors.
14. The Norns: The fate maidens. Urd: Past,Verdandi: Present, and Skuld: future. see also The Fates.
15. Thor: Odin's warrior son, the strongest god. Three prized posessions: Mjolliner his hammer, his belt and his iron gloves. His domains are thunder, battles and fertility.
16. Balder: The Beloved of all the gods. Loki's undoing. His domains were: Radiance, rebirth, justice, light and beauty.
17. Njord: Odin's brother. Domains: wind, sea, trade. Patron of sailors. see also Posiden/ Neptune.
18. Frey: God of Fertility, prosperity, sun and rain. see also Apollo.
19. Freya: Frey's wife, godess of love, fertility, beauty, magic, war and death. see also Aphodite.
20. Idunn: Oden's daughter-in-law; Goddess of youth- keeper of the golden apples that keep the gods youthful.
21. Loki: Trouble. Son of a giant; mixed blood of Odin; magic powers; Trickster- cunning and deceitful, many disguises; evil; father of: Fenrir, Hel, and the World Serpent.
22. Fenrir: Son of Loki; Giant wolf.
23. Jormungandr: Son of Loki; also known as The World Serpent.
24. Ragnarok: The end of the world in war fire and flood.
25. Runes: The earliest written language that is recorded. note: Think Hyroglyphics on scrabble tiles.
2. Ginnungagap: The great primordial void in Norse mythology that the world evolved from.
3. Nifleheim: The land of Fog and ice; it later became Hel, where the people who did not die a heroic death went.
4. Muspellheim: The land of fire; the giant Surt gaurds the entrance.
5. Yggdrasil: The world ash tree; it connects all the worlds together: Asgard the home of the gods, Midgaurd the human world, and the underworld-Hel.
6. Asgard: The beautiful home of the gods; It sits on the top branches of Yggdrasil.
7. Midgard: The land of the human race; It sits in the middle of Yggdrasil surrounded by water in which the world serpent sleeps.
8. Hel: Both the place and a God; Hel: where the people who did not die a heroic death went. see also Nifleheim. Hel: queen of the underworld; goddess of fertility and beauty but also of sickness and death. Daughter of Loki.
9. Bifrost Bridge: The rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to our world; Midgard.
10. Ymir: The first giant, born from the water that dripped from the union of Muspelheim and Niflheim. Killed by Odin. Was the sacrafice that made Midgaurd, his body was used to create the land and sky.
11. Odin: The god of all the gods, ruler over all. see also Zeus. his domains were wisdom, was, witchcraft, poetry, storms, and night.
12. Frigg: The wife of Odin. Also called: Cloud spinner she's the most powerful godess. Her domains are love, destiny and marrage. see also Hera.
13. The Valkyries: Odins daughters. Choosers of the slain/Hero selectors.
14. The Norns: The fate maidens. Urd: Past,Verdandi: Present, and Skuld: future. see also The Fates.
15. Thor: Odin's warrior son, the strongest god. Three prized posessions: Mjolliner his hammer, his belt and his iron gloves. His domains are thunder, battles and fertility.
16. Balder: The Beloved of all the gods. Loki's undoing. His domains were: Radiance, rebirth, justice, light and beauty.
17. Njord: Odin's brother. Domains: wind, sea, trade. Patron of sailors. see also Posiden/ Neptune.
18. Frey: God of Fertility, prosperity, sun and rain. see also Apollo.
19. Freya: Frey's wife, godess of love, fertility, beauty, magic, war and death. see also Aphodite.
20. Idunn: Oden's daughter-in-law; Goddess of youth- keeper of the golden apples that keep the gods youthful.
21. Loki: Trouble. Son of a giant; mixed blood of Odin; magic powers; Trickster- cunning and deceitful, many disguises; evil; father of: Fenrir, Hel, and the World Serpent.
22. Fenrir: Son of Loki; Giant wolf.
23. Jormungandr: Son of Loki; also known as The World Serpent.
24. Ragnarok: The end of the world in war fire and flood.
25. Runes: The earliest written language that is recorded. note: Think Hyroglyphics on scrabble tiles.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Dipper
THE DIPPER
Once long, long ago, there was a man and a woman with seven kids. Once while her husband was away hunting in the forest she had sexual intercourse with a snake. The husband finds out, and after killing the snake he decides to kill his wife. Telling his children to run he hides inside his tent, when his wife puts her head in he chops it off. The head then decides to chase the children. When the head catches them it makes the children live in a tee-pee with it.
One day the head decides to go out and scrape a hide, telling the seven children to stay inside and not look out, the head goes out and begins to scrape. Soon the children become bored, and as children will they began daring each other to peek outside. Eventually one of the older boys peeks out of the tee-pee. The head knows this and decides that all her children are bad, and that it is going to kill them.
Knowing this the seven children run as fast as they can from the head. One of the younger girls gives an older brother and awl. The awl grows into many awls and traps the head for three days. When the head gets free it is madder than it was before and more determined to catch them than ever, when the little sister sees that the head is catching up again she hands one of her older brothers a piece of flint which turns into a raging fire. When the head finally makes it through the flames, all of its hair is gone. The head resumes its chase. This scenario is played out three more times, first with a rock that turns into a mountain, second they come across a rageing river and cajole a pair of cranes to let them across on their nears and lastly, the big shindig, the seven children play ball at top of a hill, as they play they raise up until they are to far up for the head to jump and reach them. They became the constellation the dipper.
"The Dipper.” The Seven Stars. Indian Mythology Publishing, 2006. 6 November 2008.
< www.indianmythology.org/assiniboin/seven_stars.html#Dipper >
Once long, long ago, there was a man and a woman with seven kids. Once while her husband was away hunting in the forest she had sexual intercourse with a snake. The husband finds out, and after killing the snake he decides to kill his wife. Telling his children to run he hides inside his tent, when his wife puts her head in he chops it off. The head then decides to chase the children. When the head catches them it makes the children live in a tee-pee with it.
One day the head decides to go out and scrape a hide, telling the seven children to stay inside and not look out, the head goes out and begins to scrape. Soon the children become bored, and as children will they began daring each other to peek outside. Eventually one of the older boys peeks out of the tee-pee. The head knows this and decides that all her children are bad, and that it is going to kill them.
Knowing this the seven children run as fast as they can from the head. One of the younger girls gives an older brother and awl. The awl grows into many awls and traps the head for three days. When the head gets free it is madder than it was before and more determined to catch them than ever, when the little sister sees that the head is catching up again she hands one of her older brothers a piece of flint which turns into a raging fire. When the head finally makes it through the flames, all of its hair is gone. The head resumes its chase. This scenario is played out three more times, first with a rock that turns into a mountain, second they come across a rageing river and cajole a pair of cranes to let them across on their nears and lastly, the big shindig, the seven children play ball at top of a hill, as they play they raise up until they are to far up for the head to jump and reach them. They became the constellation the dipper.
"The Dipper.” The Seven Stars. Indian Mythology Publishing, 2006. 6 November 2008.
< www.indianmythology.org/assiniboin/seven_stars.html#Dipper >
The Dipper nonverbal representation
Orman, Joe. “Rattle Snake.” 7 November 2007. Photograph. Nationaljillographic.blogspot.com.11 November 2008. http://joeorman.shutterace.com/Wildlife/wildlife_rattlesnake1.jpg
Friday, October 31, 2008
Nikki Sauer
Per. 2
10/24/08
Vocabulary
A MYTH is: a traditional story usually focusing on the deeds of gods or heroes, often in explanation of some natural phenomenon.
An example of a myth is the story of Demeter and Persephone is an example of how we got spring.
A HERO is: One who is idealized for superior qualities or deeds of any kind; often they are models of human behavior in their society; at the end of their hero journey they typically have a boon to share with humanity.
An example of a hero is Hercules; he is admired for his herculean strength.
A HERO JOURNEY is: the cyclical road of trials, battles and obstacles that the hero undertakes.
An example of a hero journey is how Hercules fights monsters for redemption.
UNIVERSIAL is: how the myth and/or characters apply to the world and every one in it.
An example of a universal archetype is how Hercules has a temper problem.
An ARCHTYPE is: the original model of myths and their characters.
An example of an archetype are the three types of heroes; Cultural: not real, creations, gods;
Trickster: half animal, half human; and Human: human characteristics
A CYCLICAL pattern is: a circular continuous pattern that is in constant rotation and returns to the beginning.
An example or a cyclical pattern is the story of Ra the sun god from Egyptian mythology.
DUALITY is: a state of twoness, a separation of two entities that are often opposites of one another.
An example of duality is the story of Ying and Yang from Chinese mythology.
CREATION is: the beginning of all the cyclical patterns in the universe.
An example of creation is the three typical images associated with creation, darkness/ nothingness, the egg, and the watery abyss.
LIFE FROM DEATH is: the ideas that death creates life, or that sometimes you have to sacrifice one for the lives of many.
An example of Life from Death is the story of Prometheus from Greek mythology; he gave up his freedom to bring us fire.
MATRIARCHAL is: a society that’s foundation is one of female power.
An example of a matriarchal society is the story of Demeter from Greek mythology; her needs as a mother are placed above those of the man Hades.
PATRIARCHAL is: a society that’s foundation is one of male dominance and power.
An example of a patriarchal society is the story of Beowulf from the Norse mythology.
A SACRAFICE is: someone or something that is given to the gods as a gift, often a living entity that had to be killed; often giving something up to help the common good.
An example of sacrifice is the story of King Arthur from European mythology; he gave up his life to save his people.
Per. 2
10/24/08
Vocabulary
A MYTH is: a traditional story usually focusing on the deeds of gods or heroes, often in explanation of some natural phenomenon.
An example of a myth is the story of Demeter and Persephone is an example of how we got spring.
A HERO is: One who is idealized for superior qualities or deeds of any kind; often they are models of human behavior in their society; at the end of their hero journey they typically have a boon to share with humanity.
An example of a hero is Hercules; he is admired for his herculean strength.
A HERO JOURNEY is: the cyclical road of trials, battles and obstacles that the hero undertakes.
An example of a hero journey is how Hercules fights monsters for redemption.
UNIVERSIAL is: how the myth and/or characters apply to the world and every one in it.
An example of a universal archetype is how Hercules has a temper problem.
An ARCHTYPE is: the original model of myths and their characters.
An example of an archetype are the three types of heroes; Cultural: not real, creations, gods;
Trickster: half animal, half human; and Human: human characteristics
A CYCLICAL pattern is: a circular continuous pattern that is in constant rotation and returns to the beginning.
An example or a cyclical pattern is the story of Ra the sun god from Egyptian mythology.
DUALITY is: a state of twoness, a separation of two entities that are often opposites of one another.
An example of duality is the story of Ying and Yang from Chinese mythology.
CREATION is: the beginning of all the cyclical patterns in the universe.
An example of creation is the three typical images associated with creation, darkness/ nothingness, the egg, and the watery abyss.
LIFE FROM DEATH is: the ideas that death creates life, or that sometimes you have to sacrifice one for the lives of many.
An example of Life from Death is the story of Prometheus from Greek mythology; he gave up his freedom to bring us fire.
MATRIARCHAL is: a society that’s foundation is one of female power.
An example of a matriarchal society is the story of Demeter from Greek mythology; her needs as a mother are placed above those of the man Hades.
PATRIARCHAL is: a society that’s foundation is one of male dominance and power.
An example of a patriarchal society is the story of Beowulf from the Norse mythology.
A SACRAFICE is: someone or something that is given to the gods as a gift, often a living entity that had to be killed; often giving something up to help the common good.
An example of sacrifice is the story of King Arthur from European mythology; he gave up his life to save his people.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Demeter and Persephone
How would you feel if the god of hell stole you from the world that you know, love and feel comfort in and took you against your will to live with him in the dark, unfamiliar scary depths of the Underworld? It would be terrifying, foreign and maddening. The relationship between Demeter, Persephone and Hades is a very interesting and eye-opening story. It also explains the seasons, marriage, innocence, and temptation. It all starts with Demeter, the Mother of the Earth. Unlike other goddesses, she lives on earth and can feel human emotions. She portrays motherhood, is nurturing and offers protection. She has a daughter named Persephone who she loves with all her heart. Persephone represents spring, rebirth, purity, innocence and being impressionable. While Persephone innocently loves life without a scare in the world, Hades comes up to earth, sees the beautiful girl and steals her away from the life she loves and knows. Hades represents death, intimidation and temptation, sin and jealousy.
To begin the process of really getting to know the myth and the characters in it we need to know and understand the three levels of interpretation. They are natural, social and psychological. The natural level is all about the big picture and how the world sees the character. It is the universal understanding of the story. A natural story explains nature and why things are the way they are. On a social level, we dig a little deeper. It is more local; its the level between the world and individual. It may support religious beliefs or represent a social event or why some people or animals behave the way they do. The deepest level of interpretation is psychological. This is the individual level. Many emotions and feelings that myths represent are psychological. It also explains the reason for needs and desires.
Demeter can be analyzed in three different levels, natural, social and psychological. On the natural level, Demeter is the Goddess of Corn and the Earth. She provides food and crops. Aside from the big picture, Demeter also stands for agriculture and the growing of crops to survive and having good soil to grow food and live. On the psychological level Demeter is nurturing, caring, loving, protecting and safe, which is evident by the way she cares for her daughter who she loves more than anything. When her daughter is forcefully taken from the earth she then represents loss, grief sadness and suffering. Which is different because most Gods live on Olympus and do not have or need to experience these emotions, or any emotions for that matter.
Demeter is not the only one that has a physiological level. Persephone is known widely as spring, flowers, trees, newness, babies, rebirth and everything pretty and good. On a bit deeper level we see that she is also about happiness, growth, beauty, innocence, virginity and purity. Persephone can do no wrong. On a very deep level, psychological level, she represents love, being a daughter, being in the teenage learning period and being impressionable and adventurous. After she is taken away from everything she loves, she changes a little bit and this represents loss and guilt, shame, sin, being tempted and falling into temptation.
Hades can also be analyzed on these three levels. On a large level he is seen as the God of the Underworld, and god of death and the god of cruelty. The thing about Hades is that he is just and fair but that is rarely what he is categorized as. On a social level, we see he is intimidating and tainting and also evil representing sin and temptation. But if we really dig deep into the inner realms of Hades and all that he stands for, we can look past the stereotyping and see that he is also lonely, self conscious, fearful, and compassionate. He is also jealous of the gods who get the glamorous life of Olympus, which is very understandable.
So even though it may seem like the story of Demeter and Persephone is solely about how the seasons change from summer to winter, when we dig deeper and try to relate to the characters on a personal level we find that we can learn much more than we thought possible. If we can relate to Hades and how he feels being stuck, lonely and jealous in the Underworld maybe we can start to understand why he took a beautiful, loving, young girl to sit with him at the throne. He may even be a great husband but when we characterize him as evil, dark and cruel we can not always see past that and really relate. So that is why it really helps to understand when we look at the three levels. This proves that in order to really understand mythology we must try to reach deeper into the stories and find out who the gods really are. Not only will it be easier to understand but it will also make learning more fun and interesting.
How would you feel if the god of hell stole you from the world that you know, love and feel comfort in and took you against your will to live with him in the dark, unfamiliar scary depths of the Underworld? It would be terrifying, foreign and maddening. The relationship between Demeter, Persephone and Hades is a very interesting and eye-opening story. It also explains the seasons, marriage, innocence, and temptation. It all starts with Demeter, the Mother of the Earth. Unlike other goddesses, she lives on earth and can feel human emotions. She portrays motherhood, is nurturing and offers protection. She has a daughter named Persephone who she loves with all her heart. Persephone represents spring, rebirth, purity, innocence and being impressionable. While Persephone innocently loves life without a scare in the world, Hades comes up to earth, sees the beautiful girl and steals her away from the life she loves and knows. Hades represents death, intimidation and temptation, sin and jealousy.
To begin the process of really getting to know the myth and the characters in it we need to know and understand the three levels of interpretation. They are natural, social and psychological. The natural level is all about the big picture and how the world sees the character. It is the universal understanding of the story. A natural story explains nature and why things are the way they are. On a social level, we dig a little deeper. It is more local; its the level between the world and individual. It may support religious beliefs or represent a social event or why some people or animals behave the way they do. The deepest level of interpretation is psychological. This is the individual level. Many emotions and feelings that myths represent are psychological. It also explains the reason for needs and desires.
Demeter can be analyzed in three different levels, natural, social and psychological. On the natural level, Demeter is the Goddess of Corn and the Earth. She provides food and crops. Aside from the big picture, Demeter also stands for agriculture and the growing of crops to survive and having good soil to grow food and live. On the psychological level Demeter is nurturing, caring, loving, protecting and safe, which is evident by the way she cares for her daughter who she loves more than anything. When her daughter is forcefully taken from the earth she then represents loss, grief sadness and suffering. Which is different because most Gods live on Olympus and do not have or need to experience these emotions, or any emotions for that matter.
Demeter is not the only one that has a physiological level. Persephone is known widely as spring, flowers, trees, newness, babies, rebirth and everything pretty and good. On a bit deeper level we see that she is also about happiness, growth, beauty, innocence, virginity and purity. Persephone can do no wrong. On a very deep level, psychological level, she represents love, being a daughter, being in the teenage learning period and being impressionable and adventurous. After she is taken away from everything she loves, she changes a little bit and this represents loss and guilt, shame, sin, being tempted and falling into temptation.
Hades can also be analyzed on these three levels. On a large level he is seen as the God of the Underworld, and god of death and the god of cruelty. The thing about Hades is that he is just and fair but that is rarely what he is categorized as. On a social level, we see he is intimidating and tainting and also evil representing sin and temptation. But if we really dig deep into the inner realms of Hades and all that he stands for, we can look past the stereotyping and see that he is also lonely, self conscious, fearful, and compassionate. He is also jealous of the gods who get the glamorous life of Olympus, which is very understandable.
So even though it may seem like the story of Demeter and Persephone is solely about how the seasons change from summer to winter, when we dig deeper and try to relate to the characters on a personal level we find that we can learn much more than we thought possible. If we can relate to Hades and how he feels being stuck, lonely and jealous in the Underworld maybe we can start to understand why he took a beautiful, loving, young girl to sit with him at the throne. He may even be a great husband but when we characterize him as evil, dark and cruel we can not always see past that and really relate. So that is why it really helps to understand when we look at the three levels. This proves that in order to really understand mythology we must try to reach deeper into the stories and find out who the gods really are. Not only will it be easier to understand but it will also make learning more fun and interesting.
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