Sunday, August 27, 2017

Reading Options for the Class

Looking through the UNTextBook, I am just astonished by the sheer amount of stories we have at our disposal. So much so, it is so hard to select just a few subjects that I would like to dive into. A few units, however, that have caught my attention would be the ones that I've already been exposed to as a child and that I would like to explore further: Dante's Inferno, Monkey King, and Homer's Odyssey.

"Dante's Inferno" has always been my favorite of Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy", for its themes and imagery used. I especially enjoyed the end of the story, where we meet Satan, whose image is far removed from that of what we are accustomed to growing up in the United States. I can definite see myself using this for my storybook, maybe playing along with the levels of sins and putting my own spin on them.

The tale of the Monkey King has a special place in my childhood. Growing up, I've watched movies, read books, and heard stories of the Monkey King. I look forward to reading more about Sun Wu Kung and his exploits in greater detail, especially that of how his story ends. Despite having known and seen all the books and movies about him, how his story actually ends since many of the iterations that I know of don't necessarily follow the legend.

Finally, for Homer's Odyssey, my selection of this unit was obvious for myself due to my love for Greek mythology. I especially love how Odysseus, a mere man, is sent on a grand expedition only to have his story be interwoven with that of many famous Greek mythological beings.  One story that truly stands out for me was his experience with the Cyclops. The reason why I enjoyed this story was that it showed that Odysseus was more than just a warrior; he was an intellect who sought to protect his man. Also, the mere imagery of he and his men clinging for dear life on sheep always makes me chuckle.

These are the three units that I am almost guaranteed to look at first for when I decide to start my storybook.
                                    Image result for odysseus cyclops
(Odysseus blinding the Cyclops:

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