This blog is for the “Monsters and Marvels through the Ages” course, taught by Dr. Leslie Donovan in the University Honors Program at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, USA. It provides an easily accessible, electronic space for 100-level Honors students to discuss texts and ideas, develop critical thinking skills, and practice college level writing. While anyone may read our work, only class members may post.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Who or What Are You?
You have been given name of a mythical or fictional character or creature to use as your pseudonym for work on this blog. Look up your pseudonym and write a brief description of who/what your character is.
My pseudonym is Aslan. In C.S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia" series, Aslan is the powerful and mysterious lion guardian of Narnia and those who travel there. Aslan is often seen as representing Christ when discussing symbolism in the "Chronicles of Narnia." In the first book of the series, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan sacrifices his own life to atone for the sins of another and is also able to restore life to those turned to stone by the evil powers of the White Witch.
My pseudonym is Gandalf. In J.R.R. Tolkien's series, "The Lord of the Rings," Gandalf the Grey, as he is also known, is one of the last and oldest wizards to appear in Middle-Earth but is one of the wisest. Gandalf is the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring, whose task it is to destroy the Ring of Sauron, which is "the one ring to rule them all," in the Fires of Hell. However during the journey through the Mines of Moria, Gandalf dies fighting a Balrog, a servant of the first dark lord. He is reincarnated as an even stronger wizard, now known as Gandalf the White. With his renewed strength, and after many more battles and obstacles, Gandalf is able to lead the Fellowship to the Fires of Hell where the Ring is finally destroyed. Many believe that Gandalf embodies Christ guiding his followers to do what is right.
My pseudonym is a mythical, three-headed dog-like creature named Cerberus. Cerberus is the offspring of a giant named Typhon and a monstrous creature who is half woman and half snake named Echidna. Cerberus' job is to be the watchdog of the underworld also known as Hades. Cerberus allowed new spirits to enter Hades or the "realm of dead," but never let any spirits leave. Only a few ever managed to sneak past Cerberus, some being Orpheus, who lulled him to sleep by playing his lyre, and Heracles, who brought Cerberus to the land of the living for a short time.
In Greek mythology, my pseudonym is an immortal winged horse that is the offspring of Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa. When the hero Perseus beheaded Medusa, Pegasus leapt forth from her blood (others say it was from her body) and as a result of his galloping, created the well Hippocrene on the mountain Helicon. Later on, the gods allowed yet another hero named Bellerophon to capture Pegasus in order to kill the Chimera monster. When Bellerophon tried to mount the horse, it threw him off and rose into the sky, where it became a constellation. In another version, Bellerophon succeeds in killing the Chimera, but when he tries to fly to the summit of Mount Olympus, Zeus sends a gadly to sting Pegasus, who throws Bellerophon off.
My pseudonym is King Arthur. King Arthur can be found in stories like Culhwch and Olwen, and he is also found in others like Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur. King Arthur is presumed to be based off an actual person, but not off of any known king at that time. King Arthur was the one who pulled the fabled sword from the stone, and by doing so he was able to unite his country and fight off enemies from across the seas with the help of his Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur marries a woman named Guinevere who ends up leaving him for the knight Lancelot, and this causes Lancelot and King Arthur to war with each other. King Arthur supposedly dies from a mortal wound after fighting off a rebellion from Mordred, but it is uncertain and the tale of King Arthur ends there.
My pseudonym is Puck. Puck (or Robin Goodfellow) is a Germanic and Welsh mythological shapeshifter usually portrayed as a goblin or a fairy (when in his original form). He is sometimes given a more sinister appearance closer to that of the devil, as in Icelandic puki means little devil. He is usually depicted as a mischievous character who would mislead people down the wrong roads sometimes letting them fall off of cliffs. However, Puck is probably most well-known for appearing in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" where he is intrepreted in a much lighter and kinder light (although he still does some impish acts).In this intrepretation of the character, he is well known for breaking the fourth wall asking the audience "If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is amended."
My pseudonym is Falkor. From what I have found it is the name of the dog/dragon creature from The Neverending Story. Falkor is a Luckdragon. Luckdragons have the ability to fly and can also breathe fire. Their most well known characteristic is their luck. They seem to be lucky in everything they do, despite outside forces. Luckdragons can fly even though they don't have any physical atribute that would allow this, such as wings. They are one of the only survivors of The Nothing. The Nothing was an event that nearly consumed the world these creatures come from.
Hello I am Bansee. Banshees are known by popular culture to make a very distinguishable cry near the end of someone's life, signifying their inevitable expiration. Ireland is the birthplace of the Banshee myhth, where the Irish once believed that the dead would be tyed to this world in a different form. Many of the spirits would be forced to follow their families. Depending on the opinion of their families, Banshees would either possess good or evil. Good banshees are known to watch over and protect their families, whereas evil Banshees demonstrate bad intentions and uneartly, hateful howls toward their family members. Near the end of their lives, Banshees celebrate their kin's imminent demise through terrible howls.
Legend has it that a man named Chulainn was the blacksmith for the King of Ulster, Conchobar MacNessa. His forge was protected by a big, ferocious dog, which was usually chained when people were about. One evening, Chulainn invited the king and his retinue for dinner. When asked if there was anyone else to arrive, the king had forgotten his nephew, Sétanta, was yet to arrive, so Chulainn released the dog so that it could protect the forge. When Sétanta arrived, he was forced to kill the guard dog in self-defense. Sétanta was little more than a child, probably in his very early teens, but had the strength and prowess to kill the dog. Sétanta felt so bad that he offered to take the dog’s place until a replacement could be found. Cú means dog in the ancient Irish language, thus Cú Chulainn (also Cú Culan) translates to Chulainn’s dog. The name stuck with Sétanta through the rest of his life. He became Ireland’s fiercest warrior, and it was said that as long as Sétanta was on his feet he couldn’t be killed. This account is based the information found at http: //www.all–ireland.com. There are numerous variations to this myth, dealing with his birth, his deeds and his death. He is known as “the Irish Achilles”, “the hound of Ulster”, and even “the badass of the week” in other websites. There are songs, movies and even sports teams and pubs named after this person(also a brand of Irish whiskey, among many other things). As my alter ego, I feel a bit intimidated by carrying the name, particularly since I am nothing like this guy. Who knows? Maybe there’s something about me I still have to learn…
My pseudonym is Quetzalcoatl, which is a mythical feathered serpent (much like a dragon) that was worshiped as a god by the ancient Aztecs. The serpent was a boundary maker between the earth and the sky. It was also a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind.
My pseudonym is Merlin. Merlin was a wizard from Arthurian Legend who served as somewhat of a supernatural guide for King Arthur. While the most well-known persona of Merlin is the fictional one which frequently appears in popular culture, historians believe that there may have a similar character who did exist at one time. The real Merlin (if he actually existed) of course, did not have any magical powers.
My pseudonym is Dracula.Dracula is the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker. The novel introduces the infamous vampire, Count Dracula. The novel tells the story of Dracula’s journey from Transylvania to England and his encounters with a group of men and women led by Abraham van Helsing. Fifteenth century Romanian general and Prince Vlad III the Impaler inspire aspects of Count Dracula’s character. Dracula, unlike many other vampires of Eastern European folklore, presents an image of aristocracy, charm, and valor. Besides being a vampire, Dracula has other super natural powers such as super strength, telepathic abilities, and can command nocturnal animals. Dracula is often used in pop culture. He has been played by more actors in film and television than other horror character.
My pseudonym is Geb. Geb is the Egyptian god of earth and was known as the third divine king of earth and because of this, the Egyptian throne was known as the "seat of Geb."
He was often depicted as green because he was the vegetation-god and is always shown resting on his side, leaning on his elbow with a raised up knee, representing mountains and hills.
Even only being the god of earth, he lead souls to heaven after their death.
My pseudonym is Chimera. A chimera is a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor. The Chimera is usually associated with being made up of multiple parts of different animals. It has the body of a lioness and a tail that ends in the shape of a snake's head. There is also a head of a goat located on the back near the center of the Chimera's spine. In Greek mythology, the Chimera is the offspring of Typhon and Echinda and is the sibling of the mythical creature, Cerberus. The term chimera has also come to describe any mythical animal with parts taken from different animals and, more generally, an impossible or outlandish fantasy. The Chimera is also briefly mentioned in Homer's The Illiad. The Chimera also was known for breathing fire.
My pseudonym Morgan le Fay. She is the half sister of King Arthur of the Arthurian legend and also a sorceress. "le Fay" is French and means "fairy" thus, she is Morgan the fairy; seemingly fit that she is a sorcerress. While her name is French, she originated from Welsh mythology. She is an adversary to King Arthur and in other tales she remains a villainess. She appears in many tales other than the Arthurian Legend, for example, The Legends of Charlemagne,Chanson de geste of Huon de Bordeaux and more.
15 comments:
My pseudonym is Aslan. In C.S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia" series, Aslan is the powerful and mysterious lion guardian of Narnia and those who travel there. Aslan is often seen as representing Christ when discussing symbolism in the "Chronicles of Narnia." In the first book of the series, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan sacrifices his own life to atone for the sins of another and is also able to restore life to those turned to stone by the evil powers of the White Witch.
My pseudonym is Gandalf. In J.R.R. Tolkien's series, "The Lord of the Rings," Gandalf the Grey, as he is also known, is one of the last and oldest wizards to appear in Middle-Earth but is one of the wisest. Gandalf is the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring, whose task it is to destroy the Ring of Sauron, which is "the one ring to rule them all," in the Fires of Hell. However during the journey through the Mines of Moria, Gandalf dies fighting a Balrog, a servant of the first dark lord. He is reincarnated as an even stronger wizard, now known as Gandalf the White. With his renewed strength, and after many more battles and obstacles, Gandalf is able to lead the Fellowship to the Fires of Hell where the Ring is finally destroyed. Many believe that Gandalf embodies Christ guiding his followers to do what is right.
My pseudonym is a mythical, three-headed dog-like creature named Cerberus. Cerberus is the offspring of a giant named Typhon and a monstrous creature who is half woman and half snake named Echidna. Cerberus' job is to be the watchdog of the underworld also known as Hades. Cerberus allowed new spirits to enter Hades or the "realm of dead," but never let any spirits leave. Only a few ever managed to sneak past Cerberus, some being Orpheus, who lulled him to sleep by playing his lyre, and Heracles, who brought Cerberus to the land of the living for a short time.
In Greek mythology, my pseudonym is an immortal winged horse that is the offspring of Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa. When the hero Perseus beheaded Medusa, Pegasus leapt forth from her blood (others say it was from her body) and as a result of his galloping, created the well Hippocrene on the mountain Helicon. Later on, the gods allowed yet another hero named Bellerophon to capture Pegasus in order to kill the Chimera monster. When Bellerophon tried to mount the horse, it threw him off and rose into the sky, where it became a constellation. In another version, Bellerophon succeeds in killing the Chimera, but when he tries to fly to the summit of Mount Olympus, Zeus sends a gadly to sting Pegasus, who throws Bellerophon off.
My pseudonym is King Arthur. King Arthur can be found in stories like Culhwch and Olwen, and he is also found in others like Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur. King Arthur is presumed to be based off an actual person, but not off of any known king at that time. King Arthur was the one who pulled the fabled sword from the stone, and by doing so he was able to unite his country and fight off enemies from across the seas with the help of his Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur marries a woman named Guinevere who ends up leaving him for the knight Lancelot, and this causes Lancelot and King Arthur to war with each other. King Arthur supposedly dies from a mortal wound after fighting off a rebellion from Mordred, but it is uncertain and the tale of King Arthur ends there.
My pseudonym is Puck. Puck (or Robin Goodfellow) is a Germanic and Welsh mythological shapeshifter usually portrayed as a goblin or a fairy (when in his original form). He is sometimes given a more sinister appearance closer to that of the devil, as in Icelandic puki means little devil. He is usually depicted as a mischievous character who would mislead people down the wrong roads sometimes letting them fall off of cliffs. However, Puck is probably most well-known for appearing in William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" where he is intrepreted in a much lighter and kinder light (although he still does some impish acts).In this intrepretation of the character, he is well known for breaking the fourth wall asking the audience "If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is amended."
My pseudonym is Falkor. From what I have found it is the name of the dog/dragon creature from The Neverending Story. Falkor is a Luckdragon. Luckdragons have the ability to fly and can also breathe fire. Their most well known characteristic is their luck. They seem to be lucky in everything they do, despite outside forces. Luckdragons can fly even though they don't have any physical atribute that would allow this, such as wings. They are one of the only survivors of The Nothing. The Nothing was an event that nearly consumed the world these creatures come from.
Hello I am Bansee. Banshees are known by popular culture to make a very distinguishable cry near the end of someone's life, signifying their inevitable expiration. Ireland is the birthplace of the Banshee myhth, where the Irish once believed that the dead would be tyed to this world in a different form. Many of the spirits would be forced to follow their families. Depending on the opinion of their families, Banshees would either possess good or evil. Good banshees are known to watch over and protect their families, whereas evil Banshees demonstrate bad intentions and uneartly, hateful howls toward their family members. Near the end of their lives, Banshees celebrate their kin's imminent demise through terrible howls.
Legend has it that a man named Chulainn was the blacksmith for the King of Ulster, Conchobar MacNessa. His forge was protected by a big, ferocious dog, which was usually chained when people were about. One evening, Chulainn invited the king and his retinue for dinner. When asked if there was anyone else to arrive, the king had forgotten his nephew, Sétanta, was yet to arrive, so Chulainn released the dog so that it could protect the forge. When Sétanta arrived, he was forced to kill the guard dog in self-defense. Sétanta was little more than a child, probably in his very early teens, but had the strength and prowess to kill the dog. Sétanta felt so bad that he offered to take the dog’s place until a replacement could be found. Cú means dog in the ancient Irish language, thus Cú Chulainn (also Cú Culan) translates to Chulainn’s dog. The name stuck with Sétanta through the rest of his life. He became Ireland’s fiercest warrior, and it was said that as long as Sétanta was on his feet he couldn’t be killed.
This account is based the information found at http: //www.all–ireland.com. There are numerous variations to this myth, dealing with his birth, his deeds and his death. He is known as “the Irish Achilles”, “the hound of Ulster”, and even “the badass of the week” in other websites.
There are songs, movies and even sports teams and pubs named after this person(also a brand of Irish whiskey, among many other things).
As my alter ego, I feel a bit intimidated by carrying the name, particularly since I am nothing like this guy.
Who knows? Maybe there’s something about me I still have to learn…
My pseudonym is Quetzalcoatl, which is a mythical feathered serpent (much like a dragon) that was worshiped as a god by the ancient Aztecs. The serpent was a boundary maker between the earth and the sky. It was also a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind.
My pseudonym is Merlin. Merlin was a wizard from Arthurian Legend who served as somewhat of a supernatural guide for King Arthur. While the most well-known persona of Merlin is the fictional one which frequently appears in popular culture, historians believe that there may have a similar character who did exist at one time. The real Merlin (if he actually existed) of course, did not have any magical powers.
My pseudonym is Dracula.Dracula is the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker. The novel introduces the infamous vampire, Count Dracula. The novel tells the story of Dracula’s journey from Transylvania to England and his encounters with a group of men and women led by Abraham van Helsing. Fifteenth century Romanian general and Prince Vlad III
the Impaler inspire aspects of Count Dracula’s character. Dracula, unlike many other vampires of Eastern European folklore, presents an image of aristocracy, charm, and valor. Besides being a vampire, Dracula has other super natural powers such as super strength, telepathic abilities, and can command nocturnal animals. Dracula is often used in pop culture. He has been played by more actors in film and television than other horror character.
My pseudonym is Geb. Geb is the Egyptian god of earth and was known as the third divine king of earth and because of this, the Egyptian throne was known as the "seat of Geb."
He was often depicted as green because he was the vegetation-god and is always shown resting on his side, leaning on his elbow with a raised up knee, representing mountains and hills.
Even only being the god of earth, he lead souls to heaven after their death.
My pseudonym is Chimera. A chimera is a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor. The Chimera is usually associated with being made up of multiple parts of different animals. It has the body of a lioness and a tail that ends in the shape of a snake's head. There is also a head of a goat located on the back near the center of the Chimera's spine.
In Greek mythology, the Chimera is the offspring of Typhon and Echinda and is the sibling of the mythical creature, Cerberus. The term chimera has also come to describe any mythical animal with parts taken from different animals and, more generally, an impossible or outlandish fantasy.
The Chimera is also briefly mentioned in Homer's The Illiad. The Chimera also was known for breathing fire.
My pseudonym Morgan le Fay. She is the half sister of King Arthur of the Arthurian legend and also a sorceress. "le Fay" is French and means "fairy" thus, she is Morgan the fairy; seemingly fit that she is a sorcerress. While her name is French, she originated from Welsh mythology. She is an adversary to King Arthur and in other tales she remains a villainess. She appears in many tales other than the Arthurian Legend, for example, The Legends of Charlemagne,Chanson de geste of Huon de Bordeaux and more.
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