CLAA05_Ancient to Modern Myth Adaptation

I’m working on a History exercise and need support.

Many mythological themes can be found in numerous cultures worldwide throughout history. Re-write the plot of one myth from class to fit today’s world and our modern ideas/mindset. Think about questions such as: How would the story be different? Would there be consequences to the characters’ actions? How would the situation be interpreted with our modern views? Perhaps think about how Hollywood might portray this story if it were a feature film.

Examples: A legal drama recounting the trials of Horus and Seth, Hollywood and Marvel’s superhero version of Gilgamesh, A romcom about Osiris and Isis’ relationship struggles.

You may also set your story in the future, or a time period from the past, but different from ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia (e.g. Gilgamesh in space, Samurai Sinuhe, Medieval kings and queens, etc.). Some students have chosen to do a media mash-up putting the characters into a modern movie or TV show (e.g. Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Office, etc.). All of these ideas and options will be accepted as long as the overall themes, emotions, and plots remain, and the assignment purpose is completed.

Myth Adaptation Parameters

This assignment can be turned in anytime during the semester and students are encouraged to complete it earlier rather than later. The last day UTSC allows assignments to be submitted, Monday, June 22, 2020 by midnight, is the absolute last day the assignment will be accepted. Adaptation stories will be graded on elements such as creativity, originality, inclusion of the characters and incorporation of plot from the ancient myth, as well as format and structure. You may write any genre you choose and may include any elements you want, e.g. dialogue, monologue, images, etc.

Along with the adaptation, students must submit an analysis discussing in what ways the original story is timeless and can fit any society or era, as well as what features only fit ancient Egyptian or Mesopotamian culture and why. For the analysis, it is easiest to describe your thought process writing your own adaptation discussing why you included certain elements and omitted others. This analysis does not need to be formally structured, a more stream of conscious explanation is fine, whatever you prefer.

Due Date: Assignment can be submitted anytime during the semester, last day accepted is the last day of the F semester, Monday, June 22, 2020

Myth stories must be submitted online through Quercus. They will also automatically be uploaded to Turnitin.com to check for plagiarism through the Quercus submission.

Value: 15% of the final grade – 10% for your story and 5% for the analysis (they will be graded separately)

Length – Story: 4 pages minimum, no maximum

Length – Analysis: 2 pages minimum, no maximum

• All pages (excluding the title page) should be numbered

Format: None! Do whatever you’d like. If you need a format guideline, then go with typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, normal 1-inch margins.

• You may change the format as needed to be more fitting to your composition (e.g. a screen play would likely require an adapted format to be more accurate to that style of storytelling).
• Cover page optional, but please be sure to include your name, student number, date, course, and myth adaptation title somewhere at the beginning of your assignment.
• Inclusion of images allowed if desired though not necessary.

Sources: Zero! This is a creative writing and analysis assignment. You should not be doing extra research but documenting in the analysis what you have learned in the class. As for your story, I already know the source of the original you’re adapting so there is no need to make a bibliography for 1 source.

• That being said, if you bring in other types of sources or information you found elsewhere, please do cite them.

Class Adaptation Anthology eBook: At the end of the semester, after final grades have been posted, for those interested, we can create a CLAA05 Class Adaptation Anthology of your stories. It is a nice way to share your work and read the stories your peers wrote. This is not required at all, please don’t feel pressured, it is simply a souvenir of the class for those who want to participate. For more information, and to view a handful of past stories from Fall 2019 and Fall 2018, check out this blog post: https://everydayorientalism.wordpress.com/2020/04/20/writing-ancient-near-eastern-mythology-fan-fiction-a-creative-way-for-students-to-engage-with-course-content/

List:

Mesopotamia (medium = cuneiform tablets)

1. Sumerian King List
2. Atrahasis
3. Enuma Elish (The Epic of Creation)
4. Eridu Genesis
5. Enki and Ninmah
6. Enki and Ninhursaga
7. Enlil and Ninlil
8. Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld
9. Nergal and Ereshkigal
10. Death of Ur-Nammu
11. The Epic of Gilgamesh
12. Lugal-E
13. Anzu
14. Adapa
15. Etana
16. Erra and Ishum, cuneiform tablet
17. Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta
18. Lugalbanda and the Thunderbird
19. Dumuzi Stories
20. Sargon Birth legend

Egypt (medium = papyrus usually)

1. Heliopolis Creation
2. Hermapolitan Creation
3. Pyramid Texts (various, pyramid walls)
4. Coffin Texts (various, on coffins)
5. Book of the Dead (various – tomb walls and papyri)
6. Ptah the Creator (Shabako Stone)
7. Book of the Heavenly Cow (Tomb paintings/texts)
8. Journey of Ra/Re (Book of the Amduat and tomb walls)
9. Osiris and Isis (Plutarch text)
10. The Man who was weary of life
11. The Story of Sinuhe (various papyrus and ostraca)
12. The Shipwrecked Sailor
13. Doomed Prince
14. Two Brothers (Papyrus d’Orbiney)
15. Contendings of Horus and Set
16. The Blinding of Truth by Falsehood
17. The Birth of Hatshepsut (temple walls)
18. King Cheops and the Magicians (Westcar Papyrus)
19. The Romance of Setna Khaemuas and the Mummies
20. The Adventure of Setna and Si-Osire