Gus Empie

Personal Myth

Period 6

16 January 2009

Long, long ago, there existed a simple town. The towns name isn’t really important, but what they were doing in the town is important. The people in this town were the banana capitol of the world. They had bananas as far as the eye could see. They made bananas that were round, bananas that were red, bananas that were 10 feet tall, and even bananas that grew on trees. The point is, the town loved bananas.

One day in this fruit loving town where making a very potent kind of banana that could be smelled three towns over. The sweet sent of bananas drifted over to neighboring island that was home to a very special creature. The creature in question was easily 40 feet long, had rough, leathery wings, and had deep red eyes, and before you jump to conclusions thinking that this is another run-of-the-mill dragon, you can stop right there, because this was far worse than any dragon, this was a magon, a half dragon, half monkey. You think dragons are bad, try fighting one that has an opposable tail. The magon awoke from its deep slumber and sniffed at the air, smelling the tangy sweet bananas fragrance, and immediately took to the sky.

The banana loving citizens were going about there normal day, when a shadow was cast over their town. At first nobody noticed it, thinking it was just a cloud that was passing over, but it only took one frightened lady to alert the whole town that it was something far more sinister. The magon swooped down on the city, tearing roofs off homes, looking for the source of the smell. He found a factory where the bulk of the bananas where being made and started to consume everything he could find. He was eating so fast that he picked up a factory worker and peeled his cloths off and ate him.

Needless to say the people of the town were in quite a pickle, the magon was eating their lively-hood, but they had nothing to fight the magon with, their city was too busy making bananas to raise an army or make weapons of any kind. The people did the only thing they could think of, which at the time was to assume the fetal position and begin to cry, but after they had pulled themselves together, one of the citizens remembered an old hermit who lived in the woods, who was said to be an expert on magons. The surviving people headed for the hills, and when they got there, they pleaded there case to the hermit. The hermit agreed, no one knows why he agreed, he was a terribly mean old man, maybe this magon killed his dad, or dog, or goldfish, I don’t know, but the hermit did agree.

It was dawn, the sun was just setting over the banana capitol, when the hermit presented himself to the now, quite full magon. The magon paid little attention to him and focused on getting a good night sleep after his banana feast. The hermit took this opportunity to create an explosive banana. The hermit placed it next the magon, sure that he would see it, and he booked it to the hills. The next morning the magon awoke, and sure enough, he saw the lethal banana. Deciding it would make a nice snack he gobbled it whole and took off for his lair. The hermit, having seen this, waited until the magon was far enough away and activated the detonator. The magon seemed to hang in the air for a fraction of a second, and then came an earth shaking roar, similar to being trapped underneath a water fall. The magon was thrown into the air and dissolved into a million sparkling stars. And that is how the stars where made. END.

Giclee,Mark. "Yggdrasil the Scred Ash Tree." 17 September 2005. oil paniting. www.allposters.com. 1 December 2008.

1. Vikings: Vikings where Norse people who would raid villages and sail the oceans. they where known as pagans and heathens.
   
2. Ginnungagap: Ginnungagap was a dark void in the beginning of time, and it separated Niflheim and Muspell.
3. Nifleheim: Nifleheim is the land of ice and fog.
   
4. Muspellheim: Muspellheim was the land of fire and it was guarded by surt, a giant.
   
5. Yggdrasil: Yggdrasil is an ash tree that connects all of the worlds together with its branches.
   
6. Asgard: Is the home of the Norse Gods.
   
7. Midgard: Midgard is where all the mortal men and women live.
   
8. Hel: Hel is where almost everyone goes when they die, save the bravest and strongest men.
   
9. Bifrost Bridge:Its a bridge (some times depicted as a rainbow) that connects the human world with the God world.
   
10. Ymir: Ymir was a wild giant. The first male and female came from his armpit. Odin and the other Gods later turned his body into the earth.
    
11. Odin: He was the god, he was god of war, wisdom, and witchcraft.
    
12. Frigg: Frigg is Odin's wife and she is the Goddess of lave and marriage.
    
13. The Valkyries: Valkyries are the daughters of Odin and they decide who get into Valhalla.
    
14. The Norns: The Norns (also known as the fate maidens) they controlled your fate, they where past, present, and future.
    
15. Thor: Was the strongest son of Odin, he was the god of thunder, battle, and fertility.
    
16. Balder: was the "perfect son." He was the God rebirth, justice, and light.
    
17. Njord: Njord was the God of the sea, and fertility, he was also the father to Frey and Freya.
    
18. Frey: God of fertility, brother of Freya.
19. Freya: Goddess of fertility, sister of Frey.
    
20. Idunn: Goddess of youth, and daughter in law to Odin. She had golden apples that kept the Norse Gods young.
    
21. Loki: Trickster God, he was also half giant. Caused a lot of problems, brought about Ragnarok.
    
22. Fenrir: Son of Loki, was a giant wolf.
    
23. Jormungandr: also son of Loki (also known as the world serpent.) was a giant snake that lived in the ocean.
    
24. Ragnarok: "doomsday" It was the battle to end all battles. Between Loki (with the help of his kids.) and the Norse Gods.
    
25. Runes: Was the writting of the Norse people, they belived that they held power and could predict the future when use right.
    

“The Two Brothers Summary”
By Gus Empire
This story is about two Cree brothers (go figure) who are walking by a lake. One boy is playing with a toy; meanwhile an old man is in a boat, drawing ever closer. The boy throws his toy up in the air and the old man grabs it. The younger brother follows the man into shallow water and demands his toy back, but as soon as that happens the old man grabs him. During all this the older boy is trying to follow him but he has already gone into deep waters. The older brother swears his revenge and turns into a wolf.
The old man makes the younger brother marry his daughter, although it didn’t take much to force the marriage. After the old man dies, the younger brother sets out to find his older sibling. He finds out that he is living with the wolfs, so he disguises himself as a dead mouse and the wolves start to eat him. Immediately after his brother starts eating him, he springs his trap and grabs his bother by the legs.
The brothers live together but are not on good terms with each other. One day they are out hunting dogfish and the older brother finds a magic toad that said that his job was to sing and bring the dogfish back to life. For this reason, the brother kills the toad, wears his skin, and starts bringing the dogfish back to life so he can eat.

“The Two Brothers.” Indian Mythology, Stories, Tales, and Legends. 2006. 8 November 2008
Gristmill, Kelly.
“Walk in Beauty.” 2001. Charcoal painting. Obed Wild and Scenic River. 11 November 2008. .

Academic Vocabulary

Hero: A hero is a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability. A hero is also a founder of something new, such as a religion, a city, or a new way of life. an example of a hero is the story of Achilles.

Hero Journey: The hero journey is the road of trials , battles and obstacles. an example of a hero journey is Psyche's quest for Cupid.

Universal: Universal means existent or operative everywhere or under all conditions. It is representative of every man with a special characteristic that sets him apart. An example of universal is the hero Hercules.

Cyclical: Cyclical means Of, relating to, or characterized by cycles. an example of cyclical is the seasons.

Life from Death: Life from death means renaissance; a revival. An example of rebirth is the myth of Baldar who was reborn.

Duality: Duality means being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses. an example of duality is the Japanese myth of the Great Egg that broke off into two halves which became the heavens and the earth.

Archetype: Archetype means An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned, a prototype. Three examples of an archetype creation are the Japanese creation myth, the Hebrew creation myth, and the Australian Aborigine myth.

Creation: Creation means The divine act by which, according to various religious and philosophical traditions, the world was brought into existence. An example of this is when Ra appeared out of primeval chaos, and made the earth.

Matriarchal: Matriarchal means a woman who rules a family, clan, or tribe. A woman who dominates a group or an activity. An example of this is Mother Earth.

Patriarchal: Patriarchal means a man who rules a family of soceity. An example of patriarchal is Father sky.

Sacrifice: Sacrifice means the act of offering something to a deity in propitiation or homage, especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person. An example of sacrifice is the myth of Aun sacrificed her nine sons to Odin.

Gus Empie
Romance Story
Period 6
16 September 2008
Cupid and Psyche
“Psyche rushed out after him into the night. She could not see him but she heard his voice speaking to her. He told her who he was, and sadly bade her farewell. The importance of this myth is it describes relationships in a positive way. It is the classic story of man loves woman, and woman loves man, yet something is standing between them. The over all theme of this short story is one must work hard to get someone to like you, and that relationships are not always so easy. It is a story that shows if you love something enough, you have to work for it and never give up.
Cupid’s arrows are a considerable symbol. Although they do not play a big part in this particular story, they are still crucial. A natural symbol of love was the arrows had the power to make you love or hate someone after being struck by one. Cupid’s arrow is still used to this day as a psychological symbol, such as the arrow through the heart on a valentine card. The social symbol for Cupids arrows is that love is important because we all need to be loved.
In the story, Cupid must take Psyche away to an isolated cabin in the middle of no where, which brings me to my next symbol, the cabin that Psyche had to stay at. It was a natural symbol for safety from Venus. It provides everything that one would expect a cabin to have: food, water, shelter, heat, all of which a psychological. On a social level this provided a “safety blanket” if you will, for Psyche. It was in such a safe place that Psyche’s only worry was becoming lonely.
The box of beauty that Venus tells Psyche to get from Persephone is a social symbol. It symbolizes curiosity and the instinct to always look good. In the story, Psyche could not help her self to some of Persephone’s beauty, and she felt that when she saw Cupid again, she would need to look good. Venus knew that Psyche would open the box when she slapped the title of beauty on it. After Psyche opened the box she passed out.
This myth is important because it is a real Romeo and Juliet story, if Romeo’s mom was a jealous goddess. It reinforces the idea that “true” love can never be stopped and at the end of the day, the two lovebirds will be together. I encourage you to take a lesson from this story and tell that certain some one how you feel.