Myths & More

"Calvin and Hobbes" by Bill Watterson When writing comments or critiques, I try to think of making progress towards the future. I never really had a word for it until reading “feedforward instead of feedback.” Giving someone suggestions for the future, usually a minimum of two for the benefit of the other person's growth. This is somewhat similar to the idea of having a growth mindset, except it requires more external support. I find that the more people I share my ideas with, the more I can improve. Additionally, positivity can be a good thing, but forced positivity can come across as passive-aggressive or condescending. That’s also why it’s important to note the difference between praise and feedback. Process praise, based on good efforts and hard work, can be beneficial, whereas parental praise is often intrusive and undermining to individual growth. Overall, it might be best to avoid using unnecessary praise in feedback in the long run.

Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien After reflecting on what I might like to write about for my Storybook Project, I have decided that I would like to use dragons as my main topic. Reflecting on the stories that I found an interest in last week, I chose a lot of stories with dragons or dragon varieties (The Three Roses, How The Dragon Was Tricked, Ryūjin, and Hu Gadarn), so I might as well make that the subject of this semester long project. As I mentioned earlier, dragons are an interesting mythical creature to analyze, and I’d like to examine why they’re treated as the antagonist in stories. I hope that I will be able to draw inspiration from the UN-Textbook and the Sacred Texts this fall, as I think it will be beneficial to the creation of my Storybook.  Stories Mentioned: The Three Roses How The Dragon Was Tricked Ryūjin Hu Gadarn

Martha and the Tarasque In the days of old, when monsters and miracles were unwavering, there was much ruin in the world. In order to stop the constant destruction, there were those who served to leave the world much better than they found it. Among those where Martha, a healer and a devout. After the event of her baptism, she set sail across the sea to share the name of the good lord, along with many others. Traveling for many days and many nights, she soon arrived in what we now know as France, settling down in Aix. There, Martha spread the gospel and acted as the local healer, treating the sick and the elderly who lived nearby. One day, word spread throughout the town of a man-eating beast who lived in the woods nearby, somewhere between Arles and Avignon. Concerned for the townsfolk, Martha traveled along the Rhône and set out for the woods with nothing but holy water and a cross. Sure enough, she discovered a beast hidden deep in the forest, feasting on an unrecognizable man. ...

Saint Martha Link to story. Link to continuation. Title: Golden Legend: Saint Martha Author: Jacobus da Varagine (1230-1298) Editor: F. S. Ellis (1830-1901) Notes:  Following up on the rest of the story, it appears Martha continued to live as a devout christian and a healer. People believed that she could perform miracles and heal them through prayer, even after her death.  Martha and the Tarasque Characters: Saint Martha Jesu Christ Syro, Martha’s father and duke of Syria Encharia, Martha’s mother Mary, Martha’s sister Lazarus, Martha’s brother Saint Maximin, who baptised Martha and siblings The Tarasque, a dragon offspring of the Leviathan and Bonacho Drowned man, brought to life Places: Syria Magdalen Castle Bethany (Palestine) Jerusalem (Israel) Marseilles (France) Aquense/Aix (old France) Rhône river (France) Galician Sea (Spain) Forest between Arles/Avignon (France) Tarasconus (old Provence, F...

Juliana of Nicomedia Link to story. Title: Golden Legend: Saint Juliana Author: Jacobus da Varagine (1230-1298) Editor: F. S. Ellis (1830-1901) Jacobus de Varagine F. S. Ellis Notes:   Jacobus da Varagine (aka Jacapo de Fazio) was an Italian historian and archbishop who compiled stories for the Legenda Aurea , or the Golden Legend , during the middle ages. F.S. Ellis (aka Frederick Startridge Ellis) was an English writer and editor who edited the Golden Legend in 1892 (later republished in 1899 and 1900).  Characters: Saint Juliana of Nicomedia Eulogius/Eleusius, administrative officer of Nicomedia  Juliana’s father Emperor Devil Beelzebub Voice (presumably the christian god) Angel Places: Nicomedia (ancient Greek city, now Turkey) Prison Sea Events: Juliana’s father betrothed her to Eulogius, a pagan officer Juliana’s father beats Juliana for opposing the marriage Eulogius tortures Juliana and sends ...