The Legend of Ganghwa Island (Semester Project)

Here's the link to my short story: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r6Xm1FN_b7f6dJnOZpxcdUDh8BnaZdQPlUE3iciGB4k/edit?usp=sharing

Comments

  1. Anya Kaplan-HartnettMay 14, 2020 at 7:42 AM

    This story is so beautiful! I love how you seamlessly combined recorded history, legends, and creative writing into one piece. The island seems so vivid and exciting, and their government presents an alternative model for just leadership. I wonder how the new King responds to Jinju's advice?

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  2. Elizabeth TMay 14, 2020 at 11:49 AM

    This is a great story, though I have to admit I know very little about the history of Korea, so this was all new to me. It was fascinating. I love the society you’ve designed on Ganghwa Island, and the idea that the exiled prisoners would choose to rebuild a utopia disconnected from the government that exiled them – though I can’t help but wonder how the people who chose to remain will deal with the introduction of King Yeonsan into their midst. It seems like most of them have pretty good reasons to hate him.

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  3. Sophia SchmitzMay 15, 2020 at 2:04 PM

    I love this story! Just like Elizabeth I do not know much about the history of Korea. It was really interesting to me because all the things I was learning about Korea were new. I thought it was really unique how you took Ganghwa island and made it into a utopia. You were able to blend facts with your own fiction really well.

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  4. Charlotte EbelMay 16, 2020 at 11:38 AM

    I really enjoyed your story! The way that you blended the utopia of Ganghwa Island with the tragic backstories of the main characters was very well done. I also liked how the new king is not just a one-dimensional savior who will immediately transform the country. Having Kim Jinju be good friends with the 7 Days Queen complicated my feelings at the ending and added more depth to the story.

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  5. Mayahuel MalikMay 19, 2020 at 6:53 PM

    I loved this story! Though I know a bit about Korean history, from peoples presentations and the small pieces we learned freshman year, I knew nothing about ganghwa island or the king ruling at the time. I loved the way you weaved in all the connections between the Kim Jinju, the 7 days Queen, and Aunt Sunhee. It truly felt like I was reading a chapter in a book, I coulnd't wait to see what happened next. I wonder what it would have been like for the people on Ganghwa island to see the former King show up, and how the power dynamic would have worked after the coup.

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  6. SashaMay 19, 2020 at 7:35 PM

    A really interesting project! I've heard of the island itself, but nothing about its history. Generally we don't get to learn a lot of Korean history, and so I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I also found the islanders explanation for their societal reform very interesting and compelling.

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  7. Elisha HamMay 21, 2020 at 3:37 AM

    As a fellow Korean and history nerd, I loved your project! I'd always thought of the exile island (Jeju is the one you're talking about, I'm assuming) as this place with a not-so-great past, but you made me think when you mentioned that many free thinkers and rebellious subjects were exiled there. Little is know about the history of Jeju, so it's not completely absurd to think that some version of your government might have actually been constructed. I also loved how you chose to fill in this sort of gap in history with your story. (I also really loved the name "Jinju", or "pearl" when translated -- just one of the little Korean details you included that I enjoyed!)

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  8. Grace JuhnMay 22, 2020 at 10:53 PM

    This was so fun to read especially because it was such a different society than what everyone sees in kdramas or old historical movies. I liked that you created a society where class didn't exist and everyone was free to be whoever they wanted to. Imagine how different Korea would have been if this type of society was prevalent in the old days! I also like how you gave justice to all the people in exile; every time I hear about Korean history, I remembered that everyone shamed those who went into exile so it was refreshing to see the land of exile be even better.

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  9. FaizahMay 26, 2020 at 8:40 AM

    Great story! I really like the optimistic outlook on his missing part of history. I like the way you blended parts of your own imagination with real elements of Korean history and culture. I don't know much about Korea or its history, but this was a really cool way to learn something new about the culture!

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