Foundations of Storytelling: Sumerian Epics and Greek Tragedies for ages 12+

$180.00
sold out

You know what’s very cool and also eye-opening? Seeing parallels in storytelling between a text that was written a millenia or two ago and Spider-Man.

When we read “Oedipus Rex”, we get a tingle of premonition about the prophecy, knowing that somehow, despite every character's best efforts, poor old Oedipus will end up killing his father and marrying his mother. We get that same sense of knowledgeable dread when Peter Parker gets bitten by the radioactive spider - and at every twist that Jack Sparrow makes in an effort to escape the cursed gold.

As the audience, we know something that the main character doesn’t - and humans have loved that element of storytelling for a long time. That’s just one small piece of this terrific class - in addition to how you tell a story, there are emotions and experiences that become long-running themes: Hubris and Humility, Fate and Destiny, and the Quest for Knowledge and Truth, to name a few!

Students will be encouraged to think about their favorite pop media and how those works incorporate each theme, and to share those thoughts in class. (“Adventure Time” features hubris! “Avatar the Last Airbender” is rife with quests for knowledge and truth!) Your kiddos will love discovering and discussing the parallels between ancient works and their favorite modern media, as well as going on this epic literary adventure.

This is seriously one of my favorite things to teach - kids exploring the muscle of comparing and contrasting, and making connections - critical thinking for the win!

This class has one creative writing assignment per week, during which students can work independently or team up to create a myth or short story showcasing the theme discussed that week.

You know what’s very cool and also eye-opening? Seeing parallels in storytelling between a text that was written a millenia or two ago and Spider-Man.

When we read “Oedipus Rex”, we get a tingle of premonition about the prophecy, knowing that somehow, despite every character's best efforts, poor old Oedipus will end up killing his father and marrying his mother. We get that same sense of knowledgeable dread when Peter Parker gets bitten by the radioactive spider - and at every twist that Jack Sparrow makes in an effort to escape the cursed gold.

As the audience, we know something that the main character doesn’t - and humans have loved that element of storytelling for a long time. That’s just one small piece of this terrific class - in addition to how you tell a story, there are emotions and experiences that become long-running themes: Hubris and Humility, Fate and Destiny, and the Quest for Knowledge and Truth, to name a few!

Students will be encouraged to think about their favorite pop media and how those works incorporate each theme, and to share those thoughts in class. (“Adventure Time” features hubris! “Avatar the Last Airbender” is rife with quests for knowledge and truth!) Your kiddos will love discovering and discussing the parallels between ancient works and their favorite modern media, as well as going on this epic literary adventure.

This is seriously one of my favorite things to teach - kids exploring the muscle of comparing and contrasting, and making connections - critical thinking for the win!

This class has one creative writing assignment per week, during which students can work independently or team up to create a myth or short story showcasing the theme discussed that week.

Academic Fine-Print for Grownups: Using both “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex,” we will analyze themes, characters, and societal values. Students will gain insight into the historical, cultural, and artistic context of these texts, as well as the complexities of human existence. Students will leave this class with an expanded awareness of how ancient media has affected modern media, plus a portfolio of 6 short pieces of creative writing.

For your Curriculum Records, we will cover:

  • Historical Context

  • Foundations of Critical Thinking

  • Ancient Literature / Modern Media

  • Philosophy

  • Ethics

  • Creative Writing

Dates and Location:

Section A: Ages 12+ will meet Wednesdays from 1-3pm ET, and will run from Wednesday 9/11/24 through Wednesday 11/20/24 (No class Wednesday 10/2, Wednesday 10/9, and Wednesday 10/16.) All 8 classes will be held over Zoom.

Class Etiquette: I expect and require gentle, respectful language in my classes, and ask that all students come to class prepared to treat each other with kindness. These classes are a great opportunity for your kiddos to practice social/soft skills, with the underlying perspective that we’re all in this together.