The Mabinogion & Crafting Presence: Literature + Essay-Writing Worksheet for 18-Year-Olds

Instructions

This worksheet explores two distinct forms of writing: the ancient, mythological narratives of The Mabinogion and the modern academic analysis found in a text like "Crafting Presence: The American Essay and the Future of Writing Studies." Read the excerpts below and use them to answer the questions that follow. Your goal is to analyze the purpose, style, and effect of each writing form.

Part 1: First Impressions and Analysis

Read the following two excerpts carefully.

Excerpt A

And so Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, rode forth into the deep woods of Glyn Cuch. No sooner had he loosed his hounds than he heard the cry of another pack, not of his own world, their baying as sharp and clear as silver bells. He spurred his horse toward the sound and came upon a clearing where a stag, bright as the moon, was brought down by hounds of a dazzling, spectral white, their ears tipped in blood-red.

Excerpt B

The Montaignean essay, in its foundational form, is not merely a vehicle for information but a performance of mind. Its recursive, exploratory nature allows the writer to 'craft a presence' on the page—an intellectual persona that thinks, questions, and discovers in real-time. This stands in stark contrast to the rigid, thesis-driven structures often prioritized in contemporary writing pedagogy.

1. Based on the style and content, what is the primary purpose of Excerpt A? What is the primary purpose of Excerpt B? (e.g., to entertain, to inform, to persuade, to argue, etc.)
2. Who do you believe is the intended audience for each excerpt? What clues in the text support your conclusion?
3. List three words that describe the tone of Excerpt A. List three words that describe the tone of Excerpt B.

Part 2: Crafting Voice and Presence

The title of the academic text refers to "Crafting Presence." This concept can be applied to any form of writing. A writer’s “presence” is the sense of a distinct voice, personality, or authority that comes through the text.

1. In Excerpt A, where does the narrator's "presence" seem to be? Are they a character in the story, an invisible observer, or something else? How does this choice affect the way the story is told?
2. In Excerpt B, the author’s "presence" is that of a scholar. How do they establish this intellectual presence and authority? Point to specific words or phrases (e.g., specialized vocabulary, sentence structure).
3. Both excerpts describe a form of journey or discovery. Excerpt A describes a physical journey into a forest, while Excerpt B describes an intellectual journey of an essayist. How does the language used in each reflect the nature of that journey (e.g., concrete and sensory vs. abstract and conceptual)?

Part 3: Synthesis and Critical Thinking

Consider the fundamental roles these two types of texts play in culture and learning.

• The mythological tales in The Mabinogion were used to transmit cultural values, explain the unexplainable, and explore human nature through narrative. The academic essay, as described in Excerpt B, is a tool for intellectual exploration and the construction of knowledge. In what ways can a modern essay function like a modern myth? Discuss one significant similarity in their function, even if their styles are completely different.

Part 4: Creative Application

Choose a simple, mundane activity from your daily life (e.g., brewing a cup of tea, waiting for a download to finish, scrolling through a social media feed).

1. In 2-3 sentences, describe this activity in the style of Excerpt A, imbuing it with a sense of mythic importance, vivid imagery, and narrative action.
2. In 2-3 sentences, describe the same activity in the style of Excerpt B, analyzing it as a concept and exploring its deeper meaning or function in an academic, reflective tone.

Answer Key

Note: Some answers, particularly in Parts 3 and 4, are subjective. The provided answers offer guidance and examples of strong responses.

Part 1: First Impressions and Analysis

1. Purpose: The primary purpose of Excerpt A is to narrate and entertain, drawing the reader into a story. The primary purpose of Excerpt B is to argue and inform, presenting an academic thesis about the nature of the essay.
2. Audience: Excerpt A's audience is likely broad, intended for anyone who enjoys stories, mythology, or fantasy. Clues include its narrative structure and fantastical elements. Excerpt B's audience is academic and specialized (e.g., university students, professors of writing studies). Clues include specialized vocabulary ("Montaignean," "recursive," "pedagogy") and its analytical, theoretical focus.
3. Tone:
   • Excerpt A: Mythic, narrative, ominous, wondrous, folkloric.
   • Excerpt B: Academic, analytical, formal, critical, authoritative.

Part 2: Crafting Voice and Presence

1. The narrator in Excerpt A has an omniscient, third-person presence. They are an invisible storyteller who is not part of the action but sees all of it. This allows the focus to remain entirely on the character (Pwyll) and the unfolding supernatural events, creating a traditional, folkloric feel.
2. The author of Excerpt B establishes an intellectual presence through:
   • Specialized Vocabulary: "Montaignean," "recursive," "pedagogy."
   • Academic Jargon: "vehicle for information," "performance of mind," "intellectual persona," "thesis-driven structures."
   • Complex Sentence Structure: The sentences are multi-claused and build a sophisticated argument.
   • Analytical Tone: The use of contrast ("stands in stark contrast to") shows a mind actively analyzing and categorizing ideas.
3. Excerpt A uses concrete, sensory language to describe the physical journey ("deep woods," "spurred his horse," "dazzling, spectral white," "ears tipped in blood-red"). Excerpt B uses abstract, conceptual language to describe the intellectual journey ("performance of mind," "exploratory nature," "rigid, thesis-driven structures").

Part 3: Synthesis and Critical Thinking

A possible answer: A modern essay can function like a modern myth by providing a framework for making sense of the world. While a myth uses gods and heroes to explore morality or natural phenomena, an essay uses personal experience, research, and reflection to explore complex ideas (like justice, technology, identity). Both forms represent a journey of discovery—one through a magical forest, the other through a chain of thought—that ultimately aims to arrive at a deeper truth or understanding for the reader/listener.

Part 4: Creative Application

Example based on the activity "brewing a cup of tea":

1. Mythic Style (A): And she approached the great silver beast that roared with the voice of a coming storm. Into its belly she cast the sacred herbs, gathered from a faraway land, and commanded the beast to yield its steaming spirit. The chamber filled with a fragrant mist as the dark, life-giving water flowed into the ceremonial cup.
2. Academic Style (B): The ritual of tea preparation serves as a structured pause, a deliberate counter-narrative to the chaotic acceleration of modern life. This act of controlled transformation—from inert leaf to potent infusion—functions as a micro-practice in mindfulness, centering the individual's presence within an otherwise fragmented temporal experience.