Wonder of the Day #949
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LANGUAGE ARTS — Literature
Have You Ever Wondered...
- Where do ogres live?
- What is an ogre?
- Can you create an ogre?
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Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Wonder Friend. Wonder Friend Wonders, “What is an ogre?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Wonder Friend!
In the pages of ancient fairy tales and fables, all sorts of mythical and magical creatures live their lives and enchant our dreams. There are sweet fairies that spread pixie dust. Of course, there are also huge, hideous monsters that feed on human beings, too.
What are we talking about? Ogres, of course! If you’ve seen any of the Shrek movies, you might have a mental image of what an ogre looks and acts like. Shrek isn’t your typical ogre from mythology, though!
Ogres have existed in mythology and folklore for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Although they have been depicted in many ways, they’re almost always very large and human-like. In artwork, they’re often pictured with huge bodies, large heads, and lots of hair.
The idea of ogres may have started way back when prehistoric humans known as Neanderthals roamed Earth. Ogres are often grouped with other large, beastly creatures, such as giants, Cyclops, and trolls.
The origin of the word “ogre” is a mystery. Most experts agree it’s a word of French origin. Some believe it comes from Hongrois, which means “Hungarian.” Others think it comes from an Italian word—orco. That means “demon.” Still others say ogre refers to mythical giants Gog or Magor. It could have even come from even an ancient Greek river god named Oiagros.
Whatever the origin of ogres, they’ve been around in literature for a long, long time. Ogres tend to be dim-witted, unpleasant creatures. And they don’t like humans! They’re often found in woodland settings, such as forests. That means Shrek’s swamp home isn’t far off the mark. You’ll also find ogres in caves and high mountain peaks.
They can also often be found hiding under bridges, like trolls. Many stories tell of them attacking castles in search of humans. Given their brutal nature, ogres are often thought of as being male. However, there is also such a thing as a female ogre, known as an ogress! Of course, if you’re a Shrek fan, you already knew that!
Ogres have been featured in famous works of fantasy and science fiction. That includes the works of popular authors such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Ogres often make appearances in modern fantasy and role-playing video games, too. Where else have you seen ogres?
Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1
Wonder What's Next?
We think tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day sounds like a great idea!
Try It Out
Wasn't today's Wonder of the Day ogre-iffic? The fun doesn't have to stop yet. Explore one or more of the following activities with a brave friend or family member:
- What have ogres looked like throughout history? Jump online to check out Ogre Pictures to see some examples of how ogres have been pictured by different people. What do you think? Are some scarier than others? What type of story do you think would go with each ogre? Where do you think each of the ogres pictured would live?
- Now that you've seen some pictures of ogres, do you have an idea of what they should look like? Or do you picture something different? What comes to mind when you hear the word “ogre"? Is it an image of Shrek? Or something much more hideous? Grab some art supplies and create your own unique version of the ogre that inhabits your mind. You can draw it, paint it, color it, build it, or sculpt it. It's up to you. Be as creative as you want to be! When you're finished, take a picture of your ogre and upload it to Facebook for all your Wonder Friends to see. We can't wait to see what your ogre looks like!
- Up for a challenge? Shrek is probably the most popular and least hideous ogre you're likely to find. His animated movies are some of the most popular of all time. Animators did a great job of bringing Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and all their friends to vibrant life in the movies. If you're curious about how they did it, jump online to read A Decade of Shrek Tech. You'll learn how animation technology evolved over the course of the series of movies to bring you the cinematic treats so many have come to treasure. Have fun learning more about the behind-the-scenes technology that brought to life the world's most famous ogre!
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Wonder Contributors
We’d like to thank:
haeden, Grayson, Tenzin, Madelyn and Bill
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!
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