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Daniel Magalhaes
January 28, 2015
Professor McGlade
Olson: Classical Mythology
Authorship: S. Douglas Olson is the author of Classical Mythology,
Day 1: The Pilgrims, George Washington and Santa Claus. Throughout
the research essay, it is prevalent that the writer was able to provide
his argument while leaving any biases behind so that any subjectivity
was lost. As an author of a research paper, it is important that this is
done to further validate the information being processed by the reader.
Aims & Objectives: The purpose of this particular study of classical
mythology is for students like myself to understand this alternative
way of thinking of contemporary American society. In fact, as
Americans, we have used mythology in a modern sense, one that does
not position the traditional meaning of these so-called foolish or
outdated notions as an important stature in late 20th century.
Therefore S. Douglas Olson has written this so that as students, we can
gain a new understanding that myths are not limited to telling us about
past societies, but in fact, shape the way our culture carries out many
of its current traditions. He also touches upon, in the beginning of his
article, how students can find a Classical Mythology course interesting
as long as teachers can articulate the right source of knowledge down
to their learners.
Argument-Thesis: The argument is laid out very simply on paper. It
reads that variety in interpretation is essential to the study of
mythology, and no single point of view can ever be wholly correct or
complete. Olson uses three well-known examples of American myths:

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the story of the Pilgrims, Santa Claus, and George Washington. In the
case of the Pilgrims, he provides his audience with proof that we carry
out current traditions and holidays because of these Pilgrims who
emigrated from England in search of religious freedom. But he then
questions and argues that what we believe is the reason they came to
America to be false, that in fact, they came to this land of opportunity
for economic reasons and some came as prisoners or political
refugees. Our myth tells us we did not take this continent by force.
Instead, this was a gentle and friendly migration approved on both
sides (Olson 297). The historical reality is that, contrary to popular
belief; American Indian tribes were destroyed in war, and if not driven
off into reservations. The second example that the author uses is that
of George Washington, where he provides the less information of the
three to support his view of mythology. However, he explains the story
of George Washington and how his honesty led to good karma and how
this type of behavior is of the Good American. However, as we all
know, we do not see this in every one of our citizens. We act foolishly
and prematurely at times, as did the young George Washington when
he was once given a hatchet as a present and promptly used it to cut
down a cherry tree belonging to his father (Olson 297), but the myths
suggests that we are rewarded disproportionally. The third example
of Santa Claus is the myth that Olson seems to focus much of his
article about. He explains that this myth, which is hard to know where
and how individuals have come to know the story has changed over
time, as has our culture throughout the 20th century. At a time Santa
Claus was known to smoke, but as society began to learn that smoking
was bad for our health, that big, fat man with the white beard was no
longer found with a cigarette in his mouth. The idea of checking his list
twice was told only when a popular 1934 song mentioned these words.
Olson suggests that this paternal figure has been reflected in the way
parents have disciplined their children. If they continue to act foolishly

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Santa can see what they do and will punish them (Olson 299). He
also proves the point that much like old Greek gods, which we seem to
only accredit the word mythology with, Santa Claus is all-knowing and
all-seeing.
Methods-Tools: As evidence to support this reasoning, Olson has not
provided quantitative data, such as graphs and data, but he has
backed his thesis with well proven points that has lead me to
understand these modern myths a way I have never in the past. When
writing an essay of this sort, it is difficult to acquire measurable data
that is applicable to the very study of mythology, but Olson could have
provided photographs to aid the audience visualize what was being
read. For example, he could have provided a picture of Santa Claus
from the past smoking or of the Pilgrims and their relationship with the
Indians sharing a Thanksgiving meal (which we know did not happen).
Overall, however, the information was reliable and accurate with
accordingly specified footnotes to clear any ambiguous opinions.
Structure: For the most part, the layout and overall structure of this
article was one that I could easily survey. However, I would like to
mention that like I have in my paper today that most research essays
(from which I have read in the past) offer specific categories labeled by
content. For example, there is an introduction, then a category of
background information, hypothesis, methodology, data information,
conclusion, etc. so that the audience can even further follow the way a
research essay is supposed to be read. Olson was still able make his
point quite simply nevertheless but giving an introduction and
subsequently providing body paragraphs in the order which he began
the article, concluded with a final outlook of his thesis.

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Style: The way by which Olson wrote his essay was one in which the
reader, specifically I, was able to enjoy fully throughout. He began the
article questioning the current understanding of students like myself
(which was accurate) and because of this I immediately took interest in
what he had to offer. Like I said previously, his style of language, which
excluded the use of data tables, also omitted the use of a lot of jargon,
which reflects a generally unbiased and objective viewpoint. Not only
does giving several perspectives (feminist, Marxist) validate Olsons
overall message, but also ultimately interests readers of all kinds.
Conclusion: S. Douglass Olson was able to make one very simple
conclusion: these stories have no absolutely fixed or stand form,
although popular literary and artistic versions of them do exist and
may be very influential; instead they change and develop along with
the society that maintains and reproduces them (Olson 300). Through
George Washington, the Pilgrims, and specifically Santa Claus, Olson
was able to captivate his readers and force them to understand an
alternative perspective, one that we are not used to reading or
hearing. Most importantly, the author notes, is that students and
people in general who have read his research essay are able to pair
myths with present manifestations rather than just an insight of the
past.
Personal Opinion: I had never considered the thought of Santa Claus
and the story of the pilgrims and even our first president the way Olson
has. For that reason, I was both happy to have read this and impressed
that this author was able to take historical events and apply them as
mythological understandings that function as a means of social selfidentification (Olson 300). He was able to do this with an unprejudiced
opinion, one that was still relevant to his argument. The information he
provided me with was interesting because it was accurate and reliable,

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which created respect from me, the reader, for the authors outlook on
mythology.