Chasing History's Monsters [Friday, Period 1]
When the students entered the Danger Shop, they would find themselves in a scene of what appeared to be a simple village. Surrounding the village, however, were thick and shadowy woods.
"Welcome to a village located in the Margeride Mountains in south-central France, 1767," Annja began speaking once everyone was in the class. "For three years, these mountains were rumored to be terrorized by horrible wolf-creatures."
"It was believed that the Beast of Gévaudan was involved in 210 attacks on people in those three years," Arya continued. "113 of those attacks resulted in deaths."
Annja gestured to one of the simple huts where the sounds of mourning were able to be heard. "Of course, with each death that happened, more people were determined to kill this beast and the legend of the creature grew." She sighed. "As the legends grew, so did the death toll."
"Werewolf." Arya's lips twitched slightly as she said the word. "That's what they ended up calling the beast. Since the survivors of the attacks had such completely different descriptions of the beast, it must have been a magical creature -- something not of this world."
"Some people even went so far as to say that it was a curse from God." Annja's jaw clenched, but that was the only outward sign of her personal feelings about this.
Arya raised an eyebrow at Annja, but didn't comment on her reaction. Instead, she picked up a pile of papers that had been sitting on a tree trunk and started passing them out among the students.
"These are different views on the legend of Beast of Gévaudan or La Bête du Gévaudan," Annja continued. "Read through them and then we want you to break into groups of two for discussion. What do you think the beast really was? Do you think the Beast would have gained such legendary status if this had happened in a more modern time? How would you have handled the different witness reports if you were the one investigating the attacks?"
Arya gave the last student their packet and returned to where Annja was standing. "Begin."
"Welcome to a village located in the Margeride Mountains in south-central France, 1767," Annja began speaking once everyone was in the class. "For three years, these mountains were rumored to be terrorized by horrible wolf-creatures."
"It was believed that the Beast of Gévaudan was involved in 210 attacks on people in those three years," Arya continued. "113 of those attacks resulted in deaths."
Annja gestured to one of the simple huts where the sounds of mourning were able to be heard. "Of course, with each death that happened, more people were determined to kill this beast and the legend of the creature grew." She sighed. "As the legends grew, so did the death toll."
"Werewolf." Arya's lips twitched slightly as she said the word. "That's what they ended up calling the beast. Since the survivors of the attacks had such completely different descriptions of the beast, it must have been a magical creature -- something not of this world."
"Some people even went so far as to say that it was a curse from God." Annja's jaw clenched, but that was the only outward sign of her personal feelings about this.
Arya raised an eyebrow at Annja, but didn't comment on her reaction. Instead, she picked up a pile of papers that had been sitting on a tree trunk and started passing them out among the students.
"These are different views on the legend of Beast of Gévaudan or La Bête du Gévaudan," Annja continued. "Read through them and then we want you to break into groups of two for discussion. What do you think the beast really was? Do you think the Beast would have gained such legendary status if this had happened in a more modern time? How would you have handled the different witness reports if you were the one investigating the attacks?"
Arya gave the last student their packet and returned to where Annja was standing. "Begin."