This document provides instructions for a group assignment where students will present on a fictional superhero using various mythological frameworks. It discusses choosing a hero, dividing up characteristics and cohorts, possible presentation formats, and includes a reminder that the presentation is worth 25 points. Students are also assigned a final 3-5 page essay analyzing a book or film not covered in class using mythological elements discussed like the hero's journey. Possible books and films for the essay are provided.

1. Are We really halfway
done????

2.  Wait
until everyone has a midterm before
you turn your paper over. You have a half
hour. When you are done, you can leave but
please come back at 1 PM for the rest of the
class.

3. Each group will introduce a superhero (one
of the standards or any favorite
characters from games, films or books;
you may not use a real-life hero, though,
only a fictional one) according to
his/her and his/her cohorts’ mythological
characteristics. Your group will give a 2025 minute presentation during one of the
classes assigned (see schedule). All group
members should participate in the
planning, preparation, development of
materials and actual presentation
equally. You will receive a group grade.

4. When you present the superhero, you can choose to divide his/her
characteristics and/or cohorts in a number of ways:
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Themes
Rank’s hero’s journey
Campbell’s hero’s journey
Tricksters
Similarities to Arthurian legend
Bierlin’s meanings
Folktale motifs
Pyschological interpretations
Historical/anthropological meanings
Propp’s morphology
Symbols
Characteristics of urban Legends
Accuracy of film to comic strip/written text (if any such
exist)

5. You do not have to choose all of these and
some of you may want to break up certain
sections, such as Campbell’s hero’s Journey.
I am not very fussy about whom you pick but
be ready with several choices for your group.
I really think repeats would make it duller
for us. You can include any of the standards,
such as Batman, Wonder Woman, or the
Fantastic Four, or you can choose nonstandard heroes such as Harry Potter or the
Terminator. You could even choose The Little
Mermaid if you so desired. Just make sure
that everyone in your group has access to
information about /her/him/them.

6. Your first task is to get into groups and choose the superhero
you want to present. I would suggest 4 to 6 people per group
but no more than 6.
You will then have several classes to get ready for
presentations. You do not have to do a lot of work outside of
the class to prepare since we have a lot of prep time.
Some possibilities for presentations: (Don’t stop here! The
possibilities are endless.)
A group game such as Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune
• A Talk Show Format, such as Jerry Springer or Oprah Winfrey
• A panel lecture.
• A slide show or a Power Point presentation
• A role play or dramatic presentation
• A puppet show
• A video taped news show, talk show or documentary
A visual representation such as drawings, posters, or cartoons.
•

7. Remember that the presentation will be worth
25 points, so it is worth it to put some time
and thought into it. I’m also hoping you will
have some fun with it.
 If you choose to show a bit of a video you
may, but you can only show five minutes of
it maximum since we are limited for time.
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8. Due the last day of class.
The major assignment is for you to write a 3 to 5 page
essay about an aspect of myth and folklore as it
pertains to a book or film we have not studied in the
class.
You will analyze a film or a book, using any or all of the
methods we have gone over in class. You may also use
any of the myths or legends we have not discussed from
the book, including a comparison of the creation myths,
the flood myths, the hero’s journeys. Remember—you
are not simply summarizing the book or movie; you
are tracing the hero’s journeys, analyzing tricksters,
finding folktale elements, explaining mythic themes or
explanations of existence, describing common folktale
elements, and/or explaining symbolism.

9. Print up the final project and presentation
papers under Assignments on the website.
Read Rosenberg:
pp. 609-613
Quetzalcoatl
pp. 616-620
The Emergence
pp. 622-624
Lodgeboy and Thrownaway
pp. 635-636
Raven and the Sources of
Light
pp. 638-641
Sedna
pp. 644-652
Caught By A Hair String

10. *** Important: make it clear what you
are analyzing by giving the specific
element and explaining how the part of
the story you are describing fulfills the
element. Don’t say merely that
Dorothy is in the belly of the whale
when she is trapped in the house in the
tornado but also explain why the
experience represents the belly of the
whale.

11. Some film possibilities (including but not
limited to):
Pirates of the Caribbean
Wall-E
Wizard of Oz
Gravity
The Dark Knight
Twilight

12. Some book possibilities (including but not
limited to):
The Hunger Games
The Hobbit
The Once and Future King
Persepolis
Game of Thrones
Harry Potter

13. Games, cartoon series, or TV series:
You tell me