Unit 3: The British Isles and Northern Europe

Assignment:

Reflect on the cultural values and universal lessons found in the myths selected for this unit. Choose one of the options below and write a short essay.

Do either Option A or Option B. Do not do both.

Option A: Short Essay Topics

Choose one of the topics below to write a short essay (3-5 paragraphs) exploring one or more of the myths from Unit 3. Be sure to begin the essay with cultural background and include at least two significant direct quotes from the reading.

Topic 1

Explain how the climate and geography of the British Isles and/or Northern Europe inform the mythic narratives and cultural values. Identify the origins of at least one myth from Unit 3 by telling where and when it comes from. Describe the culture by explaining how the people lived and what they value. The Celtic myth “The Ages of the World” and the Norse myth “The Creation, Death, and Rebirth of the Universe” are good topics for this option.

Then, discuss two or three examples of how geography and climate affect people’s values in modern life in the United States.

Topic 2

Tricksters are characters who break rule and ignore social norms. Although often destructive, they can also be helpful when it suits their goals or sense of fun. In Nordic myths, Loki often appears as trickster. Select one or more myths from Unit 3 that feature Loki. Identify the origins of the myth by telling where and when it comes from. Describe the culture by explaining how the people lived and what they valued. “The Theft of Thor’s Hammer,” “The Death of Balder,” and “The Theft of Idun’s Apples” are all good choices.

Then briefly summarize the myth(s). Identify Loki’s trickster behavior and the consequences of his actions. Finally, relate him to either someone you know personally or to someone you can think of in a modern context (film, fiction, politics, etc.). Provide specific examples of their trickster behavior.

Topic 3

The two epics in Unit 3, Beowulf and Sigurd the Volsung, give us a long, detailed look at the behaviors and motivations of cultural heroes. Describe the origins of one of these epics and the culture that produced it.

As you summarize the tale of Beowulf or Sigurd, identify at least five ways in which the main character fits the formal definition of classical hero. Evaluate his successes and failures. Conclude if his journey would be considered an admirable achievement by the standards of today. To address this essay topic well, review The Classical Hero notes and “What Makes a Hero?

Option B: Selected Quotes

Instead of writing an essay about a single myth and selecting quotes from the reading, you will write about two (2) of the quotes below.

For each, identify the origins of the myth, including the location and culture of the people who believed it. Briefly summarize the myth from which the quotation has been taken.

Then introduce the quotation by describing the scene and identifying the speaker(s) if dialogue is quoted. Tell what led up to this moment and explain why it is important. Be sure to include parenthetical documentation; you may use the citations that are provided.

Finally, address the questions thoughtfully and in complete sentences.

Remember, you need to choose two of the following:

1. “As he walked off to find a place to rest, the Fomorians laughed at the sight of him. Dagda’s stomach was so bloated from his meal that he waddled” (“Dagda the Good” 266). Explain why Dagda has the last laugh. How does this show Dagda as a good leader?
2. “They were certain they would be able to prevent his death. Frigg, Balder’s mother, volunteered to take this great task upon herself” (“The Death of Balder” 218). Discuss the role of motherhood and how its love and loyalty can be vulnerable.
3. “’Ask of us whatever you will,’ High One replied, ‘and you will leave here wiser than when you arrived’” (“The Creation, Death, and Rebirth of the Universe” 208). Does King Gylfi leave wiser? Why or why not?
4. “The Tuatha De were a very talented and learned race of gods. In the islands of northern Greece, they had learned many arts and crafts, along with magic” (“The Ages of the World” 260). What is so different about the Celtic gods compared to others you have read about? Are they really “gods” in a traditional sense?
5. “Grendel’s hard heart was always flooded with a surging sea-swell of hatred, for he despised the Dane-folk. Descended from the race of Cain, Grendel bore the age-old curse, the mark of murder, of his death-dealing ancestor. Like Cain, Grendel had been banished from life among happy folk” (Beowulf 270). How does Grendel behave? What motivates his actions?