As you have learned the stories that make up a nation's mythology share several characteristics: They are set in the past, often in remote or exciting places and times. They are filled with remarkable, strange, or exaggerated characters. They feature incredible, heroic, impressive, magical, or mysterious events and their consequences. They convey a positive message about a nation or its people. After reading Holmes' "Old Ironsides," consider it as a story that helped create an American mythology. Then answer the following question in the form of a paragraph. Your paragraph should consist of at least five sentences. How does Holmes incorporate one of the above characteristics into "Old Ironsides"? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text in your response.