Reading Options

 (Juno Discovering Jupiter with Io, illustrated by Pieter Lastman in 1583–1633, taken from Wikimedia Commons)

Ovid's Metamorphoses (Week 2-3) 

What fascinates me about Greek gods is how remarkably human they can be in their actions and reactions. From the cataclysmic flood brought on by Zeus' distaste for the sins of what was likely only select amount of humans to the cycle of jealousy centered around the victimized Io, the figures of Greek mythology appear just as flawed as humans are, yet their power seems to elevate them into a supposed state of superiority over mortals, giving a sense of unease to the tales. I feel this would be interesting to express severity of human folly in normally revered figures. The way the sentences are written is a bit concerning, but I might be able to make a story out of them.

Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories (Week 4-5) 

The stories contained in this unit are a tad confusing considering the fluidity in the forms of the Egyptian gods and the diction used, but the stories are nonetheless enticing. The life of Ra and his accomplices sound fascinating and it is intriguing how close to humanity the gods are in these stories, seeming to live alongside humanity and dealing with the consequences of its creation, such as the existence of sinful humans and the establishment of a formal system of an underworld to do away with sinners. This gives me the impression of the Egyptian mythological figures being "gods in training," making them enticing as possible characters to create personalities for.

Japanese Mythology (Week 6-7)

The various amounts of media I consume contain various references to Japanese folklore, so I find this immediately interesting, and the fact that it is written in a very flowery style appeals to me as well. The stories I skimmed also leave some characters open to interpretation, such as Izanagi and Izanami. Another attractive feature is how the mortal world spawned from mystical hands, which gives me the impression that all in Japanese folklore has a touch of the mystical, thus opening the doors for tales that take the essences of humanity and mix them with a mysticism that invites the reader.