Kelly Li, Period 5, 2/8/2021, Day B

Kelly Li
Period 5
02/08/2021
Day B
Modern Mythology 2021

Socio-political Consciousness

What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

Typically, I choose to stay out of discussions about politics or the issues with our world as they might be uncomfortable to talk about. However, I feel that these unsettling discussions are necessary, especially during these times where everyone is learning more about themselves and their own personal values. It is vital that we can educate one another about the issues of inequity, oppression, and power because someday, this generation will have a greater responsibility in society and take hold of the reigns on the decisions of our government. Evidently, there have been many demonstrations of the bigotry, prejudice, and oppression happening in our world, still. Despicable actions such as hate crimes toward a particular group or unnecessary use of power or force from police officers show how questionable the people in our society are, and the range of reactions towards these acts show how controversial these issues can be. I feel that it is important that we do not ignore what is going on and that we can have efficient and educative discussions to acknowledge these hard topics, rather than avoid them for the sake of our own “bliss”. I think having respectful conversations about inequity, oppression, and the multitude of other difficult issues in our communities will guide future generations toward a more positive and healthy environment. Although these issues may not be extinguished for a very long time, tackling them by educating others and hearing one another is better than ignorance or averting the problems.

How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

I reflect critically on my own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences by actively listening or reading about other people’s feelings or thoughts, and then learning from that. Being aware of other people’s perspectives allow me to reflect on myself and gain a better understanding of how the world around me functions. When reading the news or listening to podcasts about other people’s beliefs, I tend to find myself in agreement or disagreement or thinking about how I view the situation but nonetheless, it is informative and helpful as I take into consideration of their own personal views. By being mindful of everyone’s experiences, I can form my own opinions and connect them to my own thoughts. Overall, I like being informed by those who live different lives contrasting from my own as well as informing others about my own experiences so that we can learn from each other, form healthier connections, and develop a broader understanding of one another. As time passes by, I value growth and improvement as I progress to hopefully becoming a better listener, a better communicator, and the best version of myself overall.

Winona Liu, Period 2, 2/5/21, Day A

Winona Liu

Period 2

2/5/21

Day A

Literacy & Learning

Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

    The lesson on “Thor’s Journey to The Land of The Giants” provided so much insight. In the beginning of the class, the Mentimeter indicated that the majority of the class believed that Norse values are not present today. I was one of those students: I had always associated the Norse with people who did not differentiate between good and evil, a characteristic that thankfully we do not encompass today. However, I changed my opinion by the end of the lesson. In the story, Thialfi claims that he is the fastest person he knows and despite losing every time, he races Hugi three times. Likewise, Thor tries to drink from a horn, lift a cat, and wrestle Elli. The Norse continue to accept challenges until Utgardaloki says stop. Their defeat are not failures because they demonstrated perseverance. Even when evil conquers in Ragnarok, the Norse believe they won because they continued to try. Determination is a value that we share with the Norse. When I do not do well on a test, I study harder and do better the next time. When I don’t know dance steps, I practice the choreography longer. Athletes are always competing against new opponents and trying to improve; with their victories also comes several losses.

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

    The lesson “The Death of Balder” and “The Last Days of Loki,” specifically the debate on who is to blame for Ragnarok, really influenced my critical perception. From a first glance, most of my classmates were eager to blame Loki. After all, knowing that it would make him vulnerable, he intentionally told Hod to throw mistletoe at Balder. Because of his actions, the gods lost one additional person to fight on their side during Ragnarok. That being said, the debate taught me that there is always an argument aside from my innate view. The gods had Loki watch as Vali, Loki’s son, turned into a wolf and killed his own brother, Narfi. They let snake poison drip on Loki’s face, making him suffer rather than killing him. While Loki’s actions were certainly immoral, the gods’ punishments were extreme. Loki and Odin had mixed blood and although Loki does use his trickery to help the gods at times, he is always considered a troublemaker. In “The Apples of Immortality,” when the eagle forces him to complete a task rather than the usual other way around, his deceitfulness and other prior qualities amplify. After all these years, his punishment made his resentment reach its maximum point. Ragnarok was no surprise: the gods made an enemy out of Vali and Loki and they would fight against each other in Ragnarok. This lesson actually made me feel somewhat sympathetic for Loki.

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

    One discussion I found interesting was the discussion of how no one is to blame for Ragnarok because it is inevitable. Ms. Fusaro asked the question of how fate plays a role in society in our world today. The Greeks and the Norse believed that destiny was fixed and if you tried to avoid it, you would just end up closer to your fate. However, I believe that in modern culture, some people would believe that by knowing your fate, you can alter it. For instance, I just finished watching the Flash, which incorporates the view that the timeline can be changed. As a society, perhaps we are more hopeful because trying to do something to avoid something negative in the future is better than doing nothing.

    Another key point from the Norse mythology unit was the evolution of morality. In Norse culture, Odin was a very well-respected ruler and Thor was the strongest protector. While the Norse would not question Odin’s wisdom, from our reflection, his choices were not the best. Even if Balder was invincible, Odin was overconfident and took a chance when he let the gods throw materials at him. Likewise, Thor played a role in the suffering of Loki’s children who were innocent and was willing to sacrifice Freya’s marriage for his hammer. Marvel certainly does not depict this arrogant version of Thor because that is not who we would consider a hero.

    Overall, I enjoyed the Norse presentations. We were able to take texts from so long ago and turn it into an insightful lesson. It made me realize how much work goes on behind the scenes and it showed that there is always more textual analysis that can be done.

Rieko Luo, 2/4/2021, PD8, Day C

Rieko Luo
Period 8
2/4/2021
Day C
Modern Mythology

Goal Setting & Growth
At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

This week marks the first week of February. By now, many seniors, including myself, are nearing the finalization of our college process. All that is left is sending out our Mid-Year School Reports and updated Transcripts to our colleges. However, after having the first breath of relief and finally relaxing during Regents Break, I have lost a great deal of motivation to continue doing my school work and completing scholarship applications. Perhaps the infamous “Senioritis” is finally kicking in. From numerous warnings from my teachers, friends, and older siblings, I realize that I may be walking into the endless dark pit. Therefore, before I fall into the grasp of “Senioritis,” I want to step back and take some time to reevaluate my possible future actions. One of my specific goals at this time is to set aside an hour every day for myself to do anything that makes me happy. For the rest of the day then, I need to recenter myself and focus on the important tasks at hand, such as school homework, classwork, and college scholarships.


How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I have had many disruptions and distractions spanning the past few weeks. My older sister gave birth in the middle of the night, and I suddenly became an aunt over FaceTime. My neighborhood had an internet outage for a whole day, and I missed an AP Chemistry exam I had to take that night. New York City faced one of the severest snow storms we have seen in years, and I spent all afternoon clearing the two feet of snow in my driveway. Despite these obstacles, I have not been discouraged from upholding my responsibilities as a student. I reached out to teachers about my situation, and thankfully, most of them are generous and understanding. With extension grants, I stayed up at night and immediately made up my exam and late homework assignments. These sleepless nights, unfortunately, had an adverse effect on my productivity the next day in school. I was tired, anxious, and even a little cranky. To offset this, I tried spending increments of an hour doing something that I enjoyed, something that would make me happy, and most importantly, something that would help alleviate the stress consuming me. From taking 20-minute power naps to jamming to Korean hip-hop music with my siblings, that hour dedicated to myself proved to be an outlet that I greatly needed and something I certainly plan on continuing to practice.


How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

I realize that my obstacles I may be facing are not as significant as what the world may be suffering through. For instance, my older sister gave birth alone due to hospital COVID-19 social distancing restrictions on the number of occupants and visitors in the building. Without her husband, parents, or any support system, I cannot imagine the anxiety and fear my sister was going through as she became a mother by herself in a room full of strangers. Just like my sister, many women are facing similar situations as her around the world. However, despite the foreign nature of the situation, my sister was still happy and celebrated with us through FaceTime. She adapted to the situation quite quickly and still managed to put on a smile for us through the camera. She was alone yet surrounded by her loved ones at the same time. This event and COVID-19, in general, have caused me to view my future and goals differently. Sitting by myself in front of my computer at home, it feels like I am charging head-on at my obstacles alone, but I know that I am not the only high school senior struggling to stay afloat at this time. With this knowledge comes reassurance and hidden support that will continue to motivate me to persevere and push on towards my future.

Daniel Langer, Period 5, 2/3, Day B

Creativity & Fiction

    Craft a piece of fiction that addresses one or more of the following:

• Literary elements (i.e. structure, tone, diction, mood, irony, and figurative language) to craft a narrative and/or poetry.
• Structural features of drama (stage directions, character attributions/tags, dialogue, monologues, and/or soliloquies) to craft a script.
• Multidimensional characters to develop themes and create socio-political metaphors.

Harry woke up to the text alert sound on his phone, and checked his notifications. He had a single new text, and it read “You may leave once you are done with the homework.” 

He looks around, and finds himself in a classroom. On the board, there is a list of problems, with the word ‘homework’ written above them. Behind him is a door, and that leads to a bathroom and bedroom, which doesn't make sense for a classroom to have.

Harry, now thoroughly confused, gets up and goes to leave. As he leaves the classroom, he sees other people also walking out of their classrooms, all with the same confused look on their faces. 

After doing a headcount, there are 50 people, with seemingly no connection, all from different places. They figure out that they all got the same text, and all have problems to do for ‘homework.’ 

The group searches the building, but is unable to find a way out. They do however manage to find a cafeteria that is fully stocked, a locked door that doesn’t open, no matter what. They realize that the building they are in resembles a school, but are unable to find anything specific about it. It is as generic as humanly possible. 

At first, they seem to have no choice, so they eat the food from the cafeteria, check their classrooms, and eventually go to bed in the dorms. 

The next morning a school bell rings at 9am, waking everybody up. Now awake, all 50 people eventually get to the cafeteria in search of food for breakfast, and to their surprise find that it is completely cleaned and restocked with fresh food. After some investigation, nobody can find an explanation for it, so they just accept it for what it is and move on.

For the first few days, there is nothing for Harry to do but try to do the homework, so that’s what he does. What he quickly realizes, however, is that these equations are extremely difficult, and possibly even impossible. When talking to the others, they seemed to have the same problem. 

Harry thought about his family, and hoped that they were ok. Each of the 50 people brought to the school had someone outside waiting for them, and everybody wanted to get out of this school. 

A week since everyone was brought to the school, the door that was previously locked mysteriously opened. When it was investigated, there was nothing visible outside the doorway. It was just black. Jessica, another person brought to the building stuck her hand past the doorway, and as soon as she crossed the threshold and came in contact with the darkness, was pulled in and vanished. There was no sound, nothing. She was just gone. Someone tried to go in after her, but after they also just vanished, people stopped trying. 

Life continued on, wake up, eat, go to room, try to do homework, get stuck, eat lunch, do nothing, eat dinner, do nothing, sleep, and repeat. 

Around 20 days after Jessica and the other person went through the door, Ryan, the person who’s classroom is right next to Harry’s, went through the door. He had a pregnant wife and could not wait, trapped, unable to solve the problem needed to escape. He would rather disappear and possibly die than be stuck in this prison of a school. He, just like the rest, vanished without a trace as soon as he came in contact with the darkness. 

After Ryan, people started leaving at a constant rate. They would rather risk the darkness than stay in the school. 

As the numbers dwindled down, Harry thought of what was awaiting him at home. His parents were probably worried sick, and his sister was most likely angry that he went missing before he helped her move out, like he promised. 

Weeks, and then months passed, and eventually there were only 14 people left out of the original 50. Over the last months, Harry had become very close to Brianna and Allen, the two people closest to his classroom. They would meet in one of their rooms and play with cards that they made themselves, or just talk about what was probably going on past the door. 

During one of these conversations, Brianna noticed that Harry was quieter and more depressed than usual. When she asked about it, Harry explained that it was his sisters birthday today. He had never missed a birthday, and was disappointed that he missed this one. 

Since Harry was unable to make any progress on his homework, and had just about given up on it, he evaluated his options. He could live out the rest of his life with 13 other strangers who he only met a few months ago, he could somehow solve impossible problems and be able to leave, or he could risk going through the darkness and hope that there was something good on the other side. 

After a few days of mulling it over, he finally decided to go through the darkness, and told his friends. The next day, they came to see him off, and he mentally prepared himself for what awaited him. 

After saying his goodbyes, he turned to the door, opened it and stared at the darkness. After a moment of hesitation, he reached his hand out into the darkness, and as soon as his fingertip touched it, everything went black. 

When Harry opened his eyes, he was standing outside of his house, phone in hand. Then he heard a ding. It was the same ding that sent him the first message, telling him to do his homework. Hesitantly, Harry looked down at his phone. Once again, he had a single notification, a text, but this time it said “You don't have to complete something to be done with it.”

Angel Lee, Period 5, 2/3, Day B

For the past couple of weeks, we have been reading Norse myths and going through team presentations during class. Group 5 presented lessons on "The Story of Gerd and Frey" and "Hymir and Thor's Fishing Expedition." I found it interesting how Norse mythology also has a "Cinderella story." Logically speaking, if I was in Frey's position, I would not have give Sumarbrander to Skinir, knowing that Ragnarok was bound to happen. However, it does connect to the idea that love trumps logic and thought sometimes. When we were discussing Hymir's and Thor's journey to get the cauldron, I realized that Thor may not have been the hero that he was always portrayed to be. He killed 100 giants without thinking... because he wanted to keep a cauldron. He never seems to realize his flaw or feel remorse, because the gods' view of him as being their protector makes him feel superior. Also, he has never needed to take responsibility for his actions, because if something does go wrong, he default to two choices: blame it on Loki, or kill it! 

Group 6 discussed Balder’s death and Loki’s punishment for indirectly killing him. Loki and Balder represent exact opposites of each other. Loki is hated by everyone, Balder is loved. Loki is disloyal and cunning, while Balder is joyful and pure. One can see how Loki can be jealous of the attention that Balder gets. It is similar to an older sibling getting jealous of their newborn baby sister because the parents are focusing on the baby more. As Odin’s brother and the son of a giant, Loki does not truly belong on either side. Humans always seek a sense of security, and usually one’s one can provide that comfort. However, Loki does not have that. By helping both the giants and gods, he is not aligned with either, and thus, is not welcomed. While Balder receives love and protection by merely existing, Loki is despised. Despite helping the Gods fix their problems, take the blame, and obtain treasures for them, Loki gets nothing in return. Of course, the treatment from the gods does not justify how he killed Balder, but it broadened my perspective of Loki and the Aesirs as characters. Also, a friend and I discussed the loyalty and dedication that Loki’s wife showed. He was being tortured, yet she held the bowl to catch the poison so that he would be in less pain. He cheated on her with a giant, yet she still stayed by his side. We found it almost heartwarming, that a story filled with cruelty and murder would contain such heartfelt emotions. Although some Norse gods are portrayed as violent, cold, tough, they are still human and it shows when love is their ultimate weakness. 

From my group’s project, we investigated Loki’s portrayal as a villain and questioned whether it was justified. Based on the two myths that my group read, there could’ve been an argument supporting and rejecting the notion that Loki is a villain. It made me realize that there are multiple perspectives to every situation. Marvel’s influence on the general public has made everyone perceive Loki as a trickster and automatically assumes that Thor and Odin are heroes. However, Marvel’s series of movies about Norse mythology fails to mention Thor’s violence or Odin’s bias. It suggests that humans like having a clear, easy answer to everything. It is simple to assume that those that aren’t “heroes” are villains. However, what truly defines a hero? Does Thor’s good deeds justify his lack of regard for others? From doing the project, I understood how there’s a fine line between good and evil. Also, due to the god’s mortality in Norse mythology, I was able to reflect on the similarities of humanity and how certain themes are recurring in various cultures. It reinforces the importance of human connection, especially in today’s society. In a world where we are so physically disconnected from each other, it is comforting to know that there are still many beliefs that connect all of us.

Tiffany Lo, Period 2, 2/2/21, Day A

 

• Literacy & Learning

• Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

    One of the readings we discussed in class that I wanted to talk about is one of the Norse Mythology readings. Overall, I enjoyed all the Norse Mythology readings that we were assigned but my favorite one was “Freya’s Unusual Wedding”. This story was entertaining because Thor was dressed up as Freya and pretended to go to the wedding. My favorite part of this story was when Thyrm thought Thor was Freya and he wanted to kiss “her”. It would have been a lot funnier if Thrym kissed Thor and still thought he was Freya. I was also surprised with Loki’s act as the bridesmaid. 
    However, besides it being entertaining I also did not think we would learn about certain values about women as well. For example, “Freya’s Unusual Wedding” illustrates that women should be more valued and respected. Thor was very willing to send Freya to Thrym in exchange for his hammer, conveying that he believes his hammer is more valuable than a person or a woman like Freya. So, I was glad that in the end Freya did not need to be sent to Thrym against her own will. 

• Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

    Because we recently finished reading the Norse Mythology stories, I learned a few new things from almost each story. Loki plays a significant role in Norse Mythology because of his trickery that balances with the good. Though he stirs trouble for the Gods, the outcome is the Gods still finish the wall or they still get great gifts made by the dwarves. Another thing I learned about Norse culture is how valued women are compared to Greek culture. Women are just as important enough to be in charge of the realm of death. To add on, Freya is often considered a “prize” in exchange for something the Gods want because she has great value. The master builder and Thrym both wanted to have Freya but she was not to be treated as someone easily disposable. Lastly, I learned in one of the stories, how a single sacrifice for love made it more difficult for the Gods to fight during Ragnarok. Frey sacrificed his sword that would have been very helpful in fighting the Serpent and the Fenrir. These few things I learned have influenced my critical perception and it will be addressed in the next question. 

• How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

    From learning about Loki, I have learned that it is okay to have days where nothing seems to be going well because there will be days that flow the opposite. If I ever mess up in life, I will take it as a good learning experience to make myself better and prevent myself from making the same mistakes again. Additionally, learning that women serve a great purpose in Norse Mythology can be applied to today’s world. Women are contributing a lot more to society and there are more women employed in the workforce. They are more respected and not to be considered as weak and disposable by men. And finally, I can apply Frey’s sacrifice for Gerd to the world around me as well. If we sacrifice something very important for someone, it is usually because we love him/her. I think sacrifice is a great way to show someone how much he/she means to us. Therefore, if someone says they love me or if I question if I love someone, then I might recall if I would sacrifice anything for him/her and vice versa. 

Amy Li, PD 2, 1/21/21, Day A

 Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

    In class recently, we finished reading about the Egyptian and Norse mythologies. Before covering these two myths in class, I had a basic understanding about the Egyptians and the Norse. I simply thought that the Egyptians cared about death and the afterlife the most in their lives, and that the Norse were Vikings with stories of valor and heroism. The stories covered in class expanded my understanding on these myths: Egyptians valued the eternity of an afterlife, which is why they dedicated everything in their living moments to preparing for death. The Norse myths were not just about a warrior's valor, instead it was about the gods preparing for Ragnarok and the events leading up to it. All the while, I found these stories very interesting and entertaining, as I learned more about the cultures and their values.

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

    During our readings of the Norse stories, my team was assigned with presenting Loki's character. In my mind, I had a general idea of who Loki was. He was a clever trickster who caused mischief for fun and can cunningly escape punishment. He was simply, a "bad guy". However, as my group and I dug deeper and deeper into Loki's character, we discovered that he was more than just a "bad guy". Through his character, he acted as a catalyst for the gods to improve and grow from. Even though he causes many troubles for the gods, in the end, he helps them get new weapons or better their defense in preparation for Ragnarok. Learning about this perspective of Loki made me think about other characters that I've thought of as a "bad" or "good" guy. Perhaps there is another dimension to them that I haven't thought about before. As we continue to Beowulf, I plan to try analyzing his character and see him more than just a hero.

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

    From my group's project on Loki, I learned that in order for light to shine, there has to darkness. I've applied this saying to other classes, as sometimes I don't do so well on a test or assignment. I get upset over it, but I know to keep trying for a better score next time. Setbacks and failures are like the darkness, without it, I can't learn to improve or grow from my mistakes. A good test grade or higher average, are like the shining light. They are there because I've learned from my mistakes and grew from it.