Part of the joy of the Big Read Lakeshore program is reading a book on your own and then learning about the book from different perspectives. One of my biggest takeaways from the programming around Circe was how ingrained storytelling and myths are in culture. Every civilization has stories and oral traditions to pass down …
Category Archives: Big Read 2022
Connecting An American Sunrise to Circe 
This November marked my second year working for the Big Read Lakeshore. As a future teacher, the Big Read and Little Read Lakeshore programming has taught me a lot about the importance of reading and what it means to read in community. My first year working with the Big Read program and reading An American …
Continue reading “Connecting An American Sunrise to Circe ”
Mythic: Kruizenga Art Museum
Each year the Kruizenga Art Museum (KAM) curates an exhibit based on the chosen Big Read Lakeshore book. This year the exhibit is based on Greek Mythology, specifically, characters included in Madeline Miller’s novel Circe. Charles Mason, the curator at the KAM, mentioned that he thought about a few different things when selecting artwork for …
Greek Democracy: A System Worth Copying?
It’s no secret the United States government system is based on Greek democracy; however, we need to ask the question, “is it a system worth copying?” To answer this, we need to examine both the pros and cons of the current and original democratic system. The US government system is often described as a republic …
Why I Care about The Big Read
Returning to Hope College this Fall semester, I have had the opportunity to work closely with the NEA Big Read Lakeshore that hosts a series of author events through November. This year, the theme is Greek Mythology and the Hero’s Journey. Organizing event details alongside Dr. Deborah Van Duinen, Director of the Big Read, has …
Greek Mythology and General Education
You might be wondering, is Greek Mythology really relevant today? Well, in order to fully understand just how relevant it is, you first need to understand Greek mythology. Mythology is important for the understanding of history, art, and literature. Science, philosophy, psychology, astronomy, and many other topics were heavily influenced by Greek myth. This is …
Firekeeper’s Daughter: The Hero’s Journey and the Ojibwe Medicine Wheel
The 2021 Big Read programming featured Angeline Boulley and her debut novel Firekeeper’s Daughter. Her book is one example of following the hero’s journey, but it contains a twist by also using the Ojibwe medicine wheel to create the story. She discussed the structure of her book at the Michigan Council of Teachers of English …
Continue reading “Firekeeper’s Daughter: The Hero’s Journey and the Ojibwe Medicine Wheel”
The Odyssey: Choosing a Translation
With over 60 English translations, knowing which translation of The Odyssey to read can be difficult. In the original Greek, The Odyssey is in blank verse, using dactylic hexameter, both of which are common attributes of Greek and Latin poetry. Some translators of The Odyssey choose to keep their translation in blank verse while others …
So You Want to Learn About Greek Mythology?
Question: Why did Achilles pull over to the side of the road? Answer: He heard Sirens. Question: What game do Greek Gods play at birthday parties? Answer: Hydra and go seek. Question: What did Poseidon say to the sea monster? Answer: What’s Kraken? If you are not laughing, either you do not have a sense …
Continue reading “So You Want to Learn About Greek Mythology?”
Heroes and the Home
They say home is where the heart is a trend which is true for many heroes as they leave home to embark on the hero’s journey. In one of the Big Read meetings for our area teachers, participants were asked what aspect of home they miss most when they go away from home. I answered …