1/3/20 Michelle Kang Period 8

Modern Mythology 2020

Michelle Kang PD8

January 3, 2020

Aim: After studying Ragnarok and Book of Revelation, how does humanity’s perspective on the apocalypse reflect its feelings about the present and future?

Do now: What are the characteristics of the apocalypse in different mythologies?

We started off class with vocab quiz #5. Ryan said that there is usually conflict involved in the mythologies. To further draw insight, Ms. Fusaro asks the class why is there a conflict? Myunbo said in Norse mythology, they knew there was a conflict in the future so they would prepare for it. Winston added that in Norse, at the end of Ragnarok, there is a new beginning. Helen also commented on how the apocalypse usually deals with heavenly beings. Still, not quite there, the class was forgetting one big attribute. Ryan said there is a divine reckoning and divine judgment. There are bad times and bad things happen, all of this is caused by people. When humanity becomes corrupt/bad, apocalypse is a way for humanity to restart. Ms. Fusaro continued to add how it represented cleansing, rebirth and the “Phoenix effect” which happens when people are so bad they burn down and start again. There are symbolic elements such as water and fire. The few remaining are tasked with repopulating the Earth, essentially a new age of humanity. Ms. Fusaro points out that across many cultures, the apocalypse shares these attributes. 

Video: What is Ragnarok?

After watching the video Ms. Fusaro told the class that these Norse stories were not written down because the Norse did not have a written language. It was until the monks came that these stories were written down. She asks the class how did people remember these stories? Kenton brought up the possibility that people did not remember, they made the stories up. Ryan adding that it could have been passed down as bedtime stories. Ms. Fusaro then explains that it was through music that these stories were passed down. She made a point about how the class probably knows the lyrics to a thousand sounds and possibly in different languages.

Reading: “Voluspa” from Poetic Edda

Reflection: Today I learned that in Norse mythology, the apocalypse is in a way a punishment for humanity. When humankind becomes corrupt/bad, Earth takes things into their own hands by sending forth an apocalypse to cleanse and rid humans of evil. Apocalypses such as Ragnarok shows us that ultimately humans are the ones that doom themselves by making bad decisions. I also learned how in all cultures, music is a form of communication and how music makes it easy to remember/pass down messages. What I learned today helps me connect Ragnarok to the Book of Revelations by comparing the two’s differences and similarities. We can use what we learned from this lesson to further draw comparisons of Norse mythology and other mythologies as well. In addition, we can further use music to help pass down stories and messages to later generations.