The Truth About Stories by Thomas King Overview: Thomas King, in The Truth about Stories, makes a critique of a Western/European worldview by comparing the creation myth of Christianity (the book of Genesis) to a native creation myth. Implied is a critique of individualistic capitalism and a celebration of a more connected view of the world, one that sees collaboration and cooperation as fundamental.
This essay will explore the ways in which stories influence how our society functions in connection with the concept of "freedom’. The point of the project is to think creatively and critically about the world in which we live, and the world in which we would like to live. Consider the narratives that you have grown up with, that you see in the news, in social media, and the competing narratives and/or counter-narratives.
Prompt: Using King’s comparison of competing narratives as a model, identify a current set of competing narratives (preferably to which you are personally connected) and analyze the relationship between narratives and freedom. Consider the questions below:
What are the implied values in the competing narratives?
What is each narrative’s role in society?
How does the narrative contribute to and actively shape cultural ideals and expectations?
How does the narrative support or revise conventional ideas, practices, or expectations?
How does the narrative create meaning?
How does each narrative promote specific values of freedom, or oppression?
Which cultural groups are affected by the narratives?
How do the narratives participate in influencing the formation of personal or group identity?
How do the narratives connect with wider social assumptions that are promoted through media, stereotypes, and single stories?
After selecting a narrative to research and completing the module assignments, compose an essay that includes the following:
A thesis that argues the narrative(s) connection to freedom
Apply King’s ideas about the ways in which narratives influence cultural values and norms
How can narratives achieve or prevent freedom for individuals and communities? How does this happen and why do stories matter in the creation of cultural values?
Which groups benefit from the narratives? Which groups are harmed by them?
Who decides on the narratives? How are they promoted, reproduced, and shared?

- "the die is cast; i have consented to return if we are not destroyed. thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision; i come back ignorant and disappointed. it requires more philosophy than i possess to bear this injustice with patience. i have lost my hopes of utility and glory; i have lost my friend."

the story "the show must go on" is named after a popular phrase in show business   which means that no matter what the circumstances the show or film that has been put together should be played or filmed for the waiting audience. the story aims to teach us that even though certain people and situations may initially appear as problems when they enter our lives, we should be optimistic and treat them as opportunities to better ourselves and our work. in the end, we may not get exactly what we wanted in the first go but we will understand that all persons and situations enter our life for a specific reason.

in "the show must go on" tessa is initially upset on being paired with varick who is neither similar to her nor related to someone famous as she had desired but is instead a midwestern boy who has never left his home in ohio. however, as the story progresses varick turns out to be a blessing in disguise for tessa. he teaches her that we should make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. she was aghast to discover that he had an open-ended design for his script that he wanted to develop spontaneously as he filmed for the program. she considered his ideas as a waste of a golden opportunity. as the story progresses, tessa begins to appreciate her partner's viewpoint when things do not exactly go as she had planned them.

in the fourth week, tessa reviews her footage to discover that her film is a complete opposite of what she had thought. she is filled with envy when she discovers that varick's film which she had greatly underestimated was looking way better than her own work. varick had utilized the obstacle of the storm and captured the thunder laden sky in a breathtaking way. moreover, instead of rushing through the special effects like tessa he had made it a point to minimize the side effects and made the best of every situation. after this incident, tessa realized the importance of being spontaneous and going with the flow as the same methods that she had disapproved of had produced far better results than her own. she becomes friends with varick and shares and discusses her work with him. in the end, her film is saved when she learns to turn the obstacle of refusal from the museum into an opportunity to film the runners as they pass the museum. the judges appreciate her film and she learns that   "the show must go on".

it's from "the future glory" by john trumbull. he suggests that the queen is the ruler of her empire. when she sees that her own men were fighting and getting injured, so she become a nurse to bring them back to good health. i hope this .