Years 1-2 Homework

For this lesson's homework, please use the following format.

Name
House
Date

Here, you will write a short essay, about a paragraph or so in length, and will describe where Mermaids live, how they generally look, and one myth you already know.


Homework will be due on November 7th, and once you post it here I will edit the points you earned.

Name: Ryder Anderson
House: Slytherin
Date: November 7, 2013

Merpeople are human-like beasts that live in underwater colonies across the world. The Merpeople look to be a hybrid between a human and a sea-creature, with the torso of a human connected to a long fin-like tail. They are highly intelligent, and have developed their own language, though while above water it sounds more like screeching than words. They have also been known to raise a variety of sea-creatures such as the Grindylow and the Hippocampus for domestic purposes.

There are several sub-species of merpeople that appear to be dependent on location. The Selkies, located in Scotland waters, and the Merrows of Ireland are incredibly similar. This is likely a result of the cold water that they inhabit They tend to have a harsh, unattractive appearance. Their coloring can vary, but is typically abnormal in comparison to humans; for example, a Selkie may have grayish skin or green hair. Unlike the Selkies and Merrows, the warm-water merpeople known as Sirens are legendary for their beauty. It is said that they would sit on rocks and lure sailors to their death. These merpeople are more similar to the mermaid one might read about in stories or fairy tales.

While merpeople are intelligent, and have created music, language and organized underground societies, they are not considered a being, but a beast. The merpeople were offered being status by wizards, but like the Centaurs, chose collectively as a race to deny the title. While not at war with wizards by any means, the relationship between merpeople and wizards is rough.

Name: Alyssa McLennen
House: Slytherin
Date: 11-7-2013

Merpeople are an sapient, or human-like, beast species that has the appearance of a human-fish hybrid (though under no circumstances are they to be considered half-breeds). The first merpeople originated in Greece and were known as sirens. Due to their warm-water climate, Sirens are naturally beautiful. At the present they can be found in various locations around the world, and also in various subspecies. Some known subspecies and their locations are the Selkies of Scotland and the Merrows of Ireland. These subspecies live in cold-water climates, and as a result have a much less attractive appearance often consisting of abnormal coloration such as green hair or yellow eyes.

Merpeople have had a rough relationship with wizards throughout the duration of their existence. In the 1600s, Chief Elfrida Clagg would not grant the merpeople "being" status because they didn't comply with her criteria that beings should be able to "speak the language." Although Merpeople are intelligent and have created their own language, Mermish, Clagg excluded it because it can only be understood while underwater (above water, it sounds like screeching.)

In 1811, under Minister Stump, Merpeople were allowed "being" status. Soon after, the Merpeople (along with their allies, the Centaurs) denied "being" status due to their objection to the fact that dark creatures such as hags and vampires were also considered "beings." Both the Merpeople and the Centaurs objected to sharing status with such evil creatures, and have had a continuously strenuous relationship with wizards ever since.

While little is known about the Merpeople and their ways, we are able to assume, from what we do know, that they function very similarly to humans in everyday life. Merpeople are known to live in organized underwater communities similar to our towns, some containing very sophisticated dwellings. They are also known to domesticate aquatic animals such as the Hippocampus, Grindylow and Lobalug (which is used as a weapon.) They also spend time creating jewlery, weapons and art sculptures.

((( OOC: I have a permission to post it later due to my absence. )))

Name: Evam Williams
House: Ravenclaw
Date: November 9th

Merpeople are half-human underwater species. Looking at different merpeople pictures I noticed that their representation varies greatly. I'm not sure if it is the result of artists' interpretation, incredibly fast evolutionary process, or just the fact that there are different types of merpeople.

As for myths, I only remember Greek character Odysseus who managed to listen to sweet sirens' singing and survive. Although those sirens looked completely different from what merpeople look (they had feathers, for example), some merpeople are called sirens. I found this really strange.

Most muggles are familiar with merpeople because of the "Little Mermaid" cartoon by Disney studios. This one is good, I have to admit.

Drawing: