For this assignment you will be writing a directed analysis of the Norse Creation story (Gaiman) making use of a secondary text (McCoy) to give you definitions that you can apply directly to the myth to get it to open up to you. Joseph Campbell called this “using a textual skeleton key.”
Again, we begin with this primary question: What is the essential lesson of the Norse Creation Myth? Then structure your answer (analysis) as follows:
Part I: Order From Chaos
What does this mean to you? (Explain). Now, go to the texts.
McCoy: How does he define this concept (use a quote)?
Gaiman: Where do you see this concept, as defined by McCoy, in the primary text (use a quote)?
You: Explain how McCoy’s definition is illustrated by Gaiman’s example. This is where you explain why you put the puzzle together as you did. It is like math, show your work by explaining why you put these two texts together as you did.
Part II: Centrality of Conflict
What does this mean to you? (Explain). Now, go to the texts.
McCoy: How does he define this concept (use a quote)?
Gaiman: Where do you see this concept, as defined by McCoy, in the primary text (use a quote)?
You: Explain how McCoy’s definition is illustrated by Gaiman’s example. This is where you explain why you put the puzzle together as you did. It is like math, show your work by explaining why you put these two texts together as you did.