Storybook Styles

Topic:  The topic I have chosen for my Storybook Project is Norse Mythology with an emphasis on Valhalla and the Valkyries and Heroes who reside there.  My goal for this project is to find stories that are new to both me and my readers, that provide a view of Valhalla and how people believed it functioned as a realm of fallen warriors.  The concept of Valhalla is something I learned about recently when it was mentioned on a TV show I watch called Lost Girl (long live Canadian Television).   Since the show introduced me to the concept I am hopefully going to figure out a way to incorporate it into my storybook.  I want to include the story The Judgment Hall of the Dead, even though it doesn’t provide too much information on Valhalla itself I still think this could be a useful set up concept to forward my project.

Bibliography:

1.     Specific Episodes of Lost Girl.  In Particular:  Season 5 Episode 1 “Like Hell Part 1” 

2.    The Judgment Hall of the Dead from The Nine Worlds: Stories from Norse Mythology by Mary Elizabeth Litchfield (1894)

3.     I also plan to surface Valhalla reverences in Wikipedia    

Valhalla Depiction
Image from Wikipedia Source

Possible Styles

Perspective of a Valkyrie: One potential approach to my storybook project would to tell all the stories from the perspective of a Valkyrie.  According to legend Odin ruled over the Valkyries.  The Valkyries were fierce female warriors who would escort fallen heroes to Valhalla if they were worthy.  If I utilized this approach I could find a story about a famous Valkyrie and use that individual or make up my own character and insert her into the stories.

Viewpoint of a Warrior:  Another key character viewpoint I could consider is that of a warrior.  The warrior could be in training, in battle, or even a fallen hero.  If I used this approach I could highlight the desire individuals who believe in Valhalla felt to achieve greatness on the battlefield.  I could use a hero who is fighting to be better as they strive to be like the heroes said to have passed on into Valhalla.  

Championship of Warriors:  Since there are said to be so many great warriors in Valhalla it is only natural that they would come together for tournaments and championships in the afterlife.  I could construct such a gathering for my own story and utilize the stories I find as sort of backdrops, backgrounds, and flashbacks to enhance my own plot.  I think this approach could be interesting since I could make stories I collect clash and combine.

Hero Therapy:  Similar to my previous concept this style would require me to make up a sort of consulting program for heroes who were battling with depression surrounding their death.  By creating somewhat of a counselor figure I could have various heroes recount their days on the battlefield in a natural occurring setting.  Once again containing plots within my own plot.