REL1980-03.Topics: Stories that House.Sp15.Neraas,Julie

Stories are the loom upon which we weave the meanings of our lives, and mythic stories are always about soulmaking. In the Great Stories, universal themes and patterns emerge across time and culture; creation, the wrestling of order from chaos, love, loss, the battle between good and evil, sailing off course, being tutored by the gods, descent to the underworld, the road of tests and trials, threshold crossings, and homecoming. In this course we examine parallels between Great Stories, old and new, and we ask: given our rapidly changing world and a withering planet what new stories need to be woven in our time? Readings may include: The Hero and the Goddess, Jean Houston; The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood; The Best Day, The Worst Day, Donald Hall; Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed, Philip Hallie; Pushing the Bear, Diane Glancy; Inanna, Wolkstein and Kramer; American Requiem, James Carroll; Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston; The Life of Pi, Yann Martel