Reading Evaluation

I really enjoyed the fables. Fables have always been my favorite, and that remains true even after this class.

I felt like I had to spend a lot of time commenting on other people's blogs, but I do understand that feedback is important.

I would recommend that students just stick to the schedule, and maybe do the extra credit to stay ahead.

Reflections Week 15

I am probably the most proud of all of the stories that I was able to read. I really enjoyed reading them, and I feel like they gave me a new perspective of sorts. I also don't feel like I would have ever had read them without the help of this class.

Week 14 Review

Punctuation Personalities 

Source: Announcements 

Week 14: Famous Last Words

I really enjoyed my reading for this week! I love fables, I always have. This week let me take advantage of that, so I got to read some more fables! I was able to finish both parts of my reading for this week with no problem, again because of how much I love fables. It is always easier to read whenever you enjoy what you are reading! The thing I remember best about the reading was a fable about a fox and sour grapes! I have heard this fable so many times, yet it always makes me laugh! There is no reason to be sour just because you cannot have something that you want. I am happy with the reading diary that I chose.

My best writing this week probably came from another class. I am currently writing my capstone, and while it is a lot of work, I am really enjoying the research. I am writing about how the high costs of tuition and fees are eroding the American Dream, and stratifying our society. I am also exploring other options to our current tertiary education system, because I think that ours could be drastically improved! I am really enjoying the research because this is something that I am so passionate about. Like I said above, it is so much easier to do something whenever you are passionate about it. My research for my capstone paper does not feel so much like research as it does reading that I am enjoying doing regardless of the fact that I have to write a paper on it. While I am enjoying the research, I am really ready to be done with it. It is due this Thursday! I included the image below because that is how I feel trying to come up with 25 pages worth of "words".

Words

Source: Youtube 

Tech Tip: Sidebar Box

Reading Diary Week 14: Fables of La Fontaine

Fables of La Fontaine by Jean de La Fontaine

Rats hatch a plan to outsmart the cat, but none of the rats will actually carry it out. They are all too afraid. Turtle makes joke about bird, the bird picks the turtle up, flies high in the air, drops the turtle. A kite swoops down and catches a meal of flesh and fish.


I did not really enjoy the stories in this section, I don't plan to use any for my storytelling on Thursday. Which is why I did not take many notes.

The Cock, Cat, and Mouse

Source: UnTextbook

Reading Diary Week 14: Fables of La Fontaine

Fables of La Fontaine by Jean de La Fontaine

Donkey tricks everyone into think that he is a lion just because he is wearing lion skin. Man figures out, is not afraid. Frog tries to inflate himself to the size of an ox fails and blows himself up. Fox tries to get some grapes, fails, and decides he did not want the grapes anyway because he says that they are sour. Hen lays golden eggs, farmer gets greedy, wants all of the egg. Kills the hen, surprise surprise it is not full of gold.

The Hare and the Tortoise 

Source: UnTextbook

Storytelling Week 13: Marko the Miser

Author's Note: The Miser is about a man, Marko the Rich, who will go to great lengths to not pay back his copek. This story is about why he is so cheap, and how that made him rich. 

~~~

There was once a very poor man named Marko. Marko had never had much. He was born into to a poor family which had perpetuated itself due to the lack of social mobility, support programs and wealth inequality. However, Marko was a very hard worker and one day desired to be at the top of the social ladder. Marko saved everything he had, and did not spend any money unnecessarily in case one day an opportunity for investment presented itself. 

One day, an opportunity did present itself, and Marko jumped at it. A man came up to him, offering him incredible wealth if he could complete this one task for him. The man wanted Marko to safely deliver a package in a town nearby. The road to that town was a favorite place for bandits, and the strange man and Marko both knew this. However, the potential wealth was enough to motivate Marko to attempt to deliver the package. 

So the next day, Marko awoke after a long nights rest, eager to make the journey. He got the package, it was small and very heavy, and set out down the road on foot. Time passed rather uneventfully, as Marko did not run into anyone. About halfway through his journey his luck ran out. A man in all black jumped out from behind a rock with a sword in hand. The man demanded that Marko drop the package and all other of his belongings. Marko had worked too hard to lose like this. In one swift move, Marko threw the package at the man, hitting him in the head and knocking him unconscious. Marko grabbed the sword and package, and began to run to the next town. He made it safely there since he was armed, and delivered the package. 

On the way back he took a different road to make sue that he did not run into the same bandit. Since he was now carrying a sword, bandits did not attempt to rob him as there would be easier prey coming along the road later. Marko made it home with no problems, and delivered the news to the strange man. The man seemed surprised that he had made it, however did give him the large reward he had promised. Marko then used his economic and financial intuition to invest the money and move his way up the social ladder to become Marko the Rich. 

What I imagine Marko to look like

Source: Wikimedia

Bibliography: This story is based off of The Miser from Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).

Reading Diary Week 13 Continued: Russian Folktales

Russian Folktales by Ralston

Cossack cuts off a woman's arm, because she is a witch. He then proves who the witch is by finding a woman missing an arm. Cossack is rewarded. Father-in-law is strangling his daughter-in-laws, one of the daughters finally outsmarts him, gets his money. Man has a drink with his dead friend, three hundred years pass by, he then comes out and his bride is gone, everything has changed. God saves a man from two corpses that are fighting over him.

Monte Rio

Source: Flickr

Reading Diary Week 13: Russian Folktales

Russian Folktales by Ralston

Dead mother is taking care of child in the middle of the night. Upon discovery, she kills the baby and flees. Marko the Rich will not pay back his copek to the poor man, goes to crazy lengths to do so. Do not dishonor Mother Friday or she will put things in your eyes so that you cannot see. Flow of one river is faster than the others because of the determination of that brother to find his missing sisters. 

St. Basil's Cathedral

Source: Flickr

Storytelling Week 12

Author's Note: This story I have written is based on the fable below. The fable below just does not elaborate enough on such a promising story. 

The Faithful House-dog

A Man that's gen'rous all at once

May dupe a novice or a dunce;

But to no purpose are the snares

He for the knowing ones prepares.

When late at night a felon tried

To bribe a Dog with food, he cried,

"What ho! Do you attempt to stop

The mouth of him that guards the shop?

You're mightily mistaken, sir,

For this strange kindness is a spur

To make me double all my din,

Lest such a scoundrel should come in."

~~~

Spudz and his owner Ryan had the best relationship. They did everything together, spending every moment they could together. Spudz absolutely adored Ryan, and would do anything for him. So whenever Ryan asked that Spudz do a favor for him, it was without hesitation that Spudz said, "Yes". Spudz could also talk, which made communicating this need that Ryan had to him much easier. Ryan then explained that he had stolen a large sum of money from someone very wealthy, and that people would be coming after him very soon. Ryan needed Spudz to help him guard the money whenever he wasn't home. Spudz knew that theft was wrong, but his loyalty overrode his morals, so he happily agreed.



Ryan then led Spudz to a small shack on the back of their property where he had hidden the money. A large wall surrounded the shack, and the wall had a gate. Ryan instructed Spudz to stand by the gate, and not allow anyone through until he returned. Apparently Ryan had another heist to do. Ryan also used the motivation of higher quality dog food to motivate Spudz, like he needed more motivation.



Spudz had been by the gate, standing at alert for several hours when the sun began to set. As it did, naturally, Spudz began to be able to have trouble seeing far. He also began to grow very tired, and very hungry. However, his determination for guarding the cash overrode these feelings of fatigue. Suddenly, he began to hear some footsteps. They were very far away, however drawing much closer. Spudz perked up, and began to prepare himself for either Ryan, or a confrontation. Since the shack was so far out of the way, this was the only reason that anyone would be approaching.



Suddenly a figure emerged into his field of vision. It, in fact, was not Ryan but rather some grungy looking man. The man approached the shack quickly, seemingly knowing what was in it. Spudz began to yell at the man, warning him that he should turn away or Spudz would be forced to attack. The man stopped, staring at Spudz. He then reached into his backpack and pulled out the most delicious looking turkey leg that Spudz had ever seen. "How could he have known that turkey legs are my weakness??", Spudz thought to himself. The man began to brandish the turkey leg, holding it out in front of him as protection and deterrent from being attacked. This tactic was working, because Spudz was incredibly conflicted. He was starving. And turkey legs were his favorite. He really, really wanted that turkey leg. He had to make a decision because the man was getting close.



Suddenly, in one quick move, Spudz jumped towards the man, biting his forearm that was holding the turkey leg. The man yelled in shock and pain, dropping the turkey leg, and turning and running. Spudz chased him for a bit, then turned back to the shack. He knew the man would not bother him again anytime soon, so he returned to the shack to his prize. The turkey leg was awaiting him upon his return. It was one of the most satisfying meals that Spudz had ever eaten, because of how delicious the turkey leg was, and he knew that he had done his job and Ryan would be proud upon his return. 

 

Dog that is ride or die like the dog in the story

Source: Wikimedia

Bibliography: This story is based off of a story from Aesop's Fables by Sir Roger L'Estrange, written in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries and. 

Reading Diary Week 12 Continued: Aesop's Fables

Aesop's Fables by Sir Roger L'Estrange

Sheep tricks both a lamb and wolf. Wolf dresses up like a Shepard, is very crafty but eventually caught. Whenever he is caught, he is punished. A pack of dogs is undone by their own hunger and greed. Dog does not trust the felon who has food, he instead guards and does not fall for his tricks. An old weasel that does not have the energy to chase mice any longer instead uses tricks to catch them. Hawk feels bad and tries to repent for his sins. Gnat is afraid that it's weight is fatiguing the ox, however the ox did not even realize that the gnat was there. Fly thinks that the wind that is kicking up dust is actually him. Cautious frog saves the reckless one.

Wolves

Source: UnTextbook

Reading Diary Week 12: Aesop's Fables

Aesop's Fables by Sir Roger L'Estrange

Venus turns woman into cat so that she can marry a man. Peacock is jealous of nightingale because it can sing, expresses jealousy to Philomela. The man and the goose that lays golden eggs. Socrates builds a small house. Quaker displays hypocrisy by striking a dog. Apples make apes go wild and lose their composure. Fox really wants grapes, but the grapes that he wants are too high. So, the fox decides that the grapes were sour anyway. Lions can talk to people but cannot make sculptures. Ass thinks that people are kneeling to him, but they are actually kneeling to the relics on it's back.

Jupiter and the Monkey by Osius

Source: UnTextbook

Storytelling Week 11: Punch Punches Judy

Author's Note: This story is based off of the following nursery rhyme. 

PUNCH and Judy

Fought for a pie;

Punch gave Judy

A sad blow on the eye.

~~~

Punch and Judy were the best of friends. They did everything together. Since they were the same age, they had all of the same classes. They studied together, and got along famously. Their families even lived by one another, so they spent their time away from school together. They would go on adventures together all of the time, and hung out at each others houses all of the time. Because of this, both of their parents were fond of the other child, and treated them as their own.

After one particularly exhausting adventure, Punch and Judy were nearly starved. They felt they could hardly make it back to their houses for they were so hungry. On their way back, the most delicious smell reached their nose. It smelled of apples, and baked sweet bread. "Surely they could not be so lucky, surely it could not be an apple pie", they thought to themselves. For each knew how much the other loved apple pie. It was their absolute favorite, the only food they would quarrel over. Apple pie was the only thing that caused strife in their relationship, and the only thing that could make them not get along. As much as they wanted one of their mothers to be making apple pie, they also knew of the impending conflict if their mother was. It always was like this, for their uncontrollable love for apple pie made them violent. 

As they topped the nearest hill, they saw it. There it was sitting on Judy's mothers windowsill, the most beautiful apple pie they had ever seen, still steaming from being pulled out of the oven. They both stared in awe. As the surprise began to wear off, they both began to think about how much they wanted the apple pie entirely for themselves. They slowly looked at each other, and then began to fight, pulling hair, biting each other, rolling all over the ground. If Punch and Judy's parents only knew what their apple pie did to their children they would surely never make it. For hours it seemed like they rolled around on the hill, both giving the fight their all, for they each wanted the pie so badly. After some time, they finally got some separation, and Punch landed quite the blow on Judy's eye. 

After landing the essential finishing blow, he stood up and looked at Judy. She was just laying on the ground, sobbing, but Punch did not care. He quickly turned and ran back to the pie, his reward for punching Judy. As he began to eat the entire pie in one sitting, letting the apple and sweet baked crust dribble down his face, he felt no remorse for Judy. The pie was so good that it made him savage, losing all sympathy and feelings that separate man from beast. 

What a punch looks like coming at you

Source: Wikimedia

Bibliography: This story is based off of a poem out of The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang which can be found here. 

Reading Diary Week 11 Continued: Nursery Rhymes: Tales

Nursery Rhymes: Tales out of The Nursery Rhyme Book

Rhyme about buying big pigs and fat hogs. Three men in a tub of different professions. Jack and Jill rhyme. Rhyme about spices. Boy is in a barn laying down hay whenever an owl comes in and scares the boy away. Dog is running to Dover. Farmer has a rat. Willy boy is mowing a pasture. Whenever Hannah is alone, she goes to town on bones. Husband and wife get divorce due to financial problems.

A boy with a candle

Source: UnTextbook

Reading Diary Week 11: Nursery Rhymes: Tales

Nursery Rhymes: Tales out of The Nursery Rhyme Book

Crooked man has everything that is crooked. Cat, mouse, house. Lion and unicorn fight, everyone gives them bread. Punch and Judy fight for pie, punch punches Judy. Ironically. Watches and Turnips with horses. Kitchen door with the answer being sunshine. Long legs, crooked thighs (tongs). Peter will never go right, because he follows his nose, and his nose is crooked to the left. Charm and lullaby for making cow give up her milk. Another charm for making the hiccups go away. Jack and Jill the two blackbirds.

The Crooked Man 

Source: UnTextbook

Week 10 Reading Diary Continued: American Indian Fairy Tales

American Indian Fairy Tales from American Indian Fairy Tales

Lagoo is still the one telling the stories. The mouse used to be huge, and Lagoo is going to tell the story of how. Man used to not have fire, ate everything raw. Mostly fruits and veggies. Boy shoots tons of birds so that he can wear their feathers. Sun ruins the boys new coat by tanning the birds hides. Boy vows revenge. His plan is to lasso the run with his sisters hair. Mouse nibbles away the lasso, the sun burns him down. This is why he is so small today. Girl seeks out happy land, a place without worry or care. Mother wants this girl to get married, girl does not want to. Instead of marrying the hunter, she marries a fairy in the grove.

An Indian from How the Summer Came

Source: UnTextbook

Week 10 Reading Diary: American Indian Fairy Tales

American Indian Fairy Tales from American Indian Fairy Tales

Lagoo is the one telling the stories. The north wind story. Picky Oweenee has a hard time finding a husband. She has a problem with every man that courts her. She chose to marry a man that had a heart of gold and would take care of her even though he was ugly and poor. Oesso has curse on him that gets put on Oweenee, making her old and feeble and him young and strong. All of the sisters and their wives are turned into birds for mocking Oesso. Oesso shoots a bird with a bow which you are not supposed to do, apparently.

The north wind

Source: UnTextbook

Storytelling Week 9: The Gars Revenge

Author's Note: This story is a continuation of Grandmother River's Trick, where the river causes it's banks to overflow, trapping the gars that were eating all of the fish that she liked in a pool that was not connected to the river. I am going to write about how the gars get their revenge. 

~~~

Finally! It was done. Grandmother River had never felt better. She had saved all of the small fish that she liked, and gotten rid of the nasty gars that had been feeding on them. She and all of the little fish rejoiced! Finally they could relax.

Little did the small fish and  realize, the gars were plotting their revenge, for they were not far away. The pool they were trapped in was just over a bank from the river, which they felt surely they could get back from. They were debating how to get back. Some suggested that they should attempt leaping over, however if they did not make it, this would surely spell death for them, for they would be stuck out of the water. Some others suggested that they try to burrow their way straight through, but this was a just a dumb idea. Finally, a viable suggestion came up. It was spring, surely the spring rains would cause their little pool to flood, allowing them just to swim back into the river. The gars all agreed that this was the most sensible solution. They just hoped that they would not starve before this rain came. 

After several days of waiting, it finally began to rain. The gars rejoiced! Surely this rain would give them their freedom back. Meanwhile, Grandmother River began to worry, for she too had thought about this. If it rained, and caused the pool to flood, there was nothing she could to keep the gars out. She worried, and told all of the small fish to hide. They began to panic, for they too realized what could happen if it began to rain heavily. 

The rain drummed on for several hours, and the gars pool had nearly tripled in size. This would surely be enough to make it back. The gars began to peek over the edge of their pool, and they could see that they were nearly up the bank. They just needed a little more rain! Shortly after this, the rain stopped. The gars were left with a choice. Jump over the bank and risk death, or attempt to wait for more rain and risk starvation. The gars opted to jump, and after lining up at the back of the pool, they got to full speed and easily leapt over the bank, landing safely in the river. Grandmother River began to weep, for she knew that there was nothing she could do to save the little fish that she liked so much. The gars feasted that day, and order was returned to the river. 

Gars feasting

Source: UnTextbook

Bibliography: This story is a continuation of a story written by Tejas Indians, published in the book When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and other Indian Legends. 

Week 9 Reading Diary Continued: Tejas Legends

Tejas Legends stories from Tejas Indians

Humming bird drinks dew because he made a bet with a crane that he could swim across the lake faster than he, and lost. Purple sage is in the desert because a woman fell in love with a star, had a witch turn her into a bush, and then the star fell on her, giving her the ashy appearance. Sickness did not exist in the world until two Indians killed a messenger from the Great Spirit. The rainbow got heavy with water, fell onto a cactus, the cactus thorns caught it, and kept the colors, that is why the cactus flower has so many colors. Dogs ears are floppy because they are ashamed of letting the wolves steal their meat. 

Humming bird from Why Humming Birds only Drink Dew

Source: UnTextbook

Week 9 Reading Diary: Tejas Legends

Tejas Legends stories from Tejas Indians

Storm god created the islands in the gulf of mexico. Comes in the shape of hurricanes. He built the islands to protect the birds from the indians of the north, so that they would have a sanctuary. Mistletoe grows on trees because the thunder bird felt sorry for it. Woodpeckers have short tails because a fish bit off the end of it. Flowers that have soft colors got them from a cloud that wandered away and got lost from the other clouds, and settled down on the ground. River saves the small fish by flooding itself and trapping the gars that ate the small fish in pools that were not connected to the river.

Storm God from When the Storm God Rides

Source: UnTextbook

Reading Options

I have chosen the following readings.

Tejas Legends for week 9

I chose this because it is legends about Texas which I think would be really interesting because I have spent so much time in Texas.

American Indian Fairy Tales for week 10

I have chosen this because it really sounds interesting.

A photo of a tribe of Indians

Source: Wikimedia

Blog Ideas

I would like to add better color contrast to my blog because I really don't have any, and that is what I liked in all of the blogs that I saw.

Cassie's 
Austin's
Macey's

Time Management

The second half of my semester is going to get pretty crazy! In addition to this class picking up, I am beginning to write my capstone paper (30 pages) which I am really not excited about. I intend to keep up with this class like I have the first part of my semester, trying to do an assignment each week night, and then completing all the weekend stuff on Sunday night after I get off of work. I am going to try to work on my capstone paper for an hour a day every day after spring break until it is complete so that I do not leave it until the last day of the semester.

Meme representative of my semester thus far

Source: UnTextbook

Week 7 Reading Diary Continued: Nigerian Folk Stories

Nigerian Folk Stories by Elphinstone Dayrell

Mother and son are lighting and thunder, Kind banishes them to the sky where the son still causes havoc. Ama, for no reason at all, starts a war between two brothers, is found out, then flogged. Then law is passed for no pet cocks. Never find a hippo on land because the turtle was able to figure out his name, and so the hippo and his wives were ashamed. Dogs cannot be trusted with messages and dead people are buried because the dog ate the bones of the dead people. King marries hi daughter and Adit.

Bush Cow Mask

Source: UnTextbook

Week 7 Reading Diary: Nigerian Folk Stories

Nigerian Folk Stories by Elphinstone Dayrell

Witch kills rival towns king by seducing him and then cutting off his head. King was a bad person, so witch is revered. Bats go do not come out during the daytime because one bat tricked a friend into boiling himself, so he had to hide from the whole town and kind who were coming for him. Fish cannot come onto land because he kept having sex with the leopards wife, betraying the leopard. So the kind banished the fish to the water. Ants and worms get into a fight, ants win by landslide. So, Kind banishes worms to the ground for the rest of existence. Hawks kill chickens to repay unpaid dowry. Water forced sun and moon into sky.

Calabar Nigeria 

Source: UnTextbook

Week 6 Storytelling: The Stones and the Ring

Author's Note: This story is a continuation of the story titled Three Brother's of Fortune, which is about three brothers who all are gifted items that have supernatural powers. Suan, the brother who eventually ends up with a wife when the other brothers do not, has two stones which will reunite what is of similar kind. Suan uses this to restore his wife together again, and will use them in the story that follows.

~~~

After Suan and his wife had been happy together for many years, Suan still had the stones that he had used to restore life to his wife. Their life had been hard since bringing his wife back to life, for they were very poor. Suan worked very hard each day, as did his wife to provide for themselves, but they were both struggling to makes ends meet. The only hope that Suan had was his stones. If he could find a way to profit off of their usefulness, surely he and his wife would be happy for he was sure that the potential for a large profit margin was there. He had hung onto them, but they really had not been much use. He had used them on occasion, for very minor things such as fixing broken pots, and repairing other things around the house. But, it seemed that their defining moment had already happened. 

Suan spent many years thinking on this, pondering on what to do with them, even considering selling them. He could make a lot of money off of them, money that he could use to buy him and his wife a new house or more livestock. But just as he got to seriously considering this, the opportunity to use them again presented itself! The head of his village had been recently married to a gorgeous woman, and had given her a beautiful ring. However, the ring had already been broken! The stone had been separated from the ring, and no jeweler within one hundred kilometers had been successful in repairing it. Suan saw this as an opportunity to both earn favor with the head of the village, and prove the usefulness of his stones!

So Suan brought his stones to the head of the village, and offered his services. The head of the village was very suspicious at first, but then eventually submitted for there was nothing to lose. To his amazement, Suan fixed the ring right in front of him! The head of the village was amazed, and began to send out letters, telling all the surrounding villages about these wondrous stones and their powers. 

Suan soon had a huge clientele, who would bring him items each week to have him repair them. He earned a living for himself and his wife through this, and again the stones secured his livelihood. He and his wife were both happy and wealthy, with their future secured. 

Stones

Source: Pixabay

Bibliography: This story is based on The Three Brother's of Fortune out of Filipino Tales written by Dean Fansler, published in 1921.

Week 6 Reading Diary: Filipino Popular Tales Continued

Filipino Tales by Dean Fansler

Iguana and turtle are friends, iguana tricks turtle into taking his place several times. Sherrif wonders why people are laughing outside of his house at night. Do not be greedy, crow loses his meat whenever trying to chase a small bird that he cannot catch. Hummingbird tricks water buffalo into thinking that he can drink more water than him. God makes the ants bite not as poisonous as snake as punishment for disobedience. God makes two jewels in the sky. The reason hens peck at the ground is searching for the cows necklace that the other hens lost. The ocean is salty because of the broken salt blocks.

Land crab from "Why the Mosquitos Hum"

Source: UnTextbook

Week 6 Reading Diary: Filipino Popular Tales

Filipino Tales by Dean Fansler

Monkey tricks man into getting bees to attack him, and wearing a boa constrictor as a belt. Suan unites the women who has been split into three and makes her his wife moving forward. Chonguita transforms into a women after Don Juan throws her into a wall, which does not make sense. Chochinango marries the kings daughter after being tested by god and passing. God tested his character, and gave him rewards each time he passed. He ended up needed all of the rewards in order to convince the kings daughter to marry him. Man is turned into a monkey in punishment, has to find lover. He does after five centuries, then marries her. Brothers select right place to trade, all make good fortunes. Dragon flies trick monkeys into hitting themselves on the head, beating them in a battle.

Carabao in the Philippines

Source: UnTextbook

Week 5 Reading Diary Continued: Jataka Tales

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbit

Greedy mother steals all of the gooses feathers, they turn white if plucked against gooses will. The monkey uproot all of the trees in an attempt to make sure they have enough water. Wolf outsmarts man and does not fall for his tricks. Figures out that he is actually alive. Wolf tries to kill an elephant for the lion, is unsuccessful, and dies. It is what the lion predicted. Man says mice ate another mans plow, this man then says that birds carried off his boy. Both were lying, and got their things back. Story about an elephant and dog becoming friends, playing and eating with each other.

A goose from the story The Golden Goose

Source: UnTextbook

Week 5 Reading Diary: Jataka Tales

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbit

Monkey is tricked into riding on crocodiles back, tricks the croc into taking him back to his tree. The croc then tries to catch him again by cutting off his path to the fruit, but the monkey does not fall for his tricks. Turtle tricks men into throwing him back into the lake instead of smashing him. Quail are able to lift the net of the fowler until they begin to quarrel, at which point they are taken in and sold. King of the Banyan deer sacrifices his life for another deer mother, and the kind ends up granting both their life, and the life of every deer. Odd story about white elephant and carpenters, ends up being sold to a king. Pig eats good food, and cows are filled with envy until the pig is slaughtered, then they are content with their wheat. Very-thoughtful fish tricks the fisherman into thinking that his net has broken in order to save his two friends.

The monkey and the Crocodile

Source: UnTextbook

Tech Tip Website

https://sites.google.com/site/macsmythologystorybook/

Storytelling Week 4: The not so Lean Cat

Author's Note: In Bidpai's story, the lean cat meets the fat cat, who hears his story about how he got so fat. The fat cat has been stealing scraps from the king’s table. The lean cat develops a huge interest in this, and seeks out food from the king’s table. This fable goes into how the lean cat's master did not want the lean cat to go to the kings palace, for surely the lean cat would get caught. And the king had just issued a decree that if he caught a cat stealing food from his table that he would make sure that the cat got hung.

In the original story, he gets caught stealing food from the king's table. I thought this was no fun, and am going to rewrite the ending of the story on how the lean cat actually got away. I wanted to try to create a story where the cat got rewarded by his master for bring food home, and give a happy ending. This is the original image from Bidpai's story that I have included, because I thought it did a really good job of helping me imagine what the lean cat would look like.

~~~

As the fat cat turned away, the lean cat was not to be discouraged. He could smell the food in front of him, more food than he had ever seen in his life. He had heard the king's decree, that any cat caught stealing food from his table would be hung. But, desperation prevailed, and the lean cat could not turn away from such delicious smells. 

As he approached the dining hall, he remained in the shadows. He knew how risky this was, and wanted to make sure that he would not get caught. He also wanted to make sure he got the most food possible. As he scanned the table, trying to decide what he wanted, he spied an entire roasted chicken. He knew it was ambitious, to escape with an entire chicken, but once he had laid his eyes on it, he could not turn away. That could feed him and his master for a week! He decided that that is what he would try to take. 

The cat watched the servants carefully, trying to monitor their movements, and decide when the best time to strike would be. The king had not yet been seated, but that would be soon so the cat knew his time was running out. As soon as the servant in front of him exited the room, the cat bounced on top of the table. He had it! The chicken was in his mouth. As he was about to jump down, he heard shouting behind him. He had been seen! Quickly, motivated by the fear of death, he jumped down and scurried away to where the servants could not find him. 

The Lean Cat

Source: UnTextbook

He had done it! He had the chicken and was outside of the gates. As he made his way home, he could not stop thinking about how excited his master would be when he delivered an entire chicken to her. Upon arriving at his doorstep, he bounded inside to see his masters face light up. "Wonderful" she exclaimed, both excited for the food and that her cat had returned to her, for she thought that surely her cat would be killed. 

After this successful run, the lean cat was no longer the lean cat, he joined the other cats and became quite fat. He was an expert at stealing food from the masters table, and did it on a regular basis. His master was more than taken care of, and both had never been happier. 

Bibliography: This story is based on Bidpai's story The Lean Cat and the Fat Cat, written by Bidpai and published by Maude Barrows in 1908. Link

Week 4 Reading Diary Continued: Bidpai

Fables of Bidpai by Bidpai

Fox tricks hare and wolf into a trap. Bird tricks a man into killing a snake because the snake at his babies. Man his whip envy which is actually a snake. Snake then bites and kills him. A fox tricks an adder to crawl back into a bag instead of biting anyone. Tortoise is holding onto stick with his mouth between two geese, people make fun of him, he opens his mouth to retort and dies from the fall. Old crane carries fish to another pond, but actually eats them. Crab strangles the crane upon learning this. Lean cat dies whenever he tries to eat from the kings table. Crow forgets how to walk when trying to learn how to walk like a partridge.

An image from the Tortoise and the Geese

Source: UnTextbook

Week 4 Reading Diary: Bidpai

Fables of Bidpai by Bidpai

Nightingale reveals pot of gold to man who rescues him. King is trying to drink out of a stream, falcon knocks cup out of his hand twice, so the kind kills the falcon. Dead dragon at the top of the stream, poisoned entire stream, falcon was saving him. Man does what stone tells him to do, is made kind of the city. Man envies to be a raven and have someone feed him. Merchant holds a boy hostage in exchange for the iron that the friend stole from him. It is better to have a wise enemy than a foolish friend, as the bear kills the man. Prince is crowned king after living as a hermit. Ape tries to split wood, gets it's tail caught. Man makes a trap for a fox, actually catches a leopard, which then kills him.

Maharaja of Indore

Source: UnTextbook

Storybook Brainstorming: Possible Styles

I have decided to Dante's Inferno, with a modern twist that Professor Gibbs suggested! I am going to include modern celebrities. I think this is such a fun idea, and one that would allow me to get really creative. I am already thinking of ideas to work with!

I will rewrite this Poets and Philosophers section, because this is a section where Dante uses famous people from his time period. So, this would allow me to change it and add characters of my own.

Paola and Francesca is another section that involves someone famous from his time period. I may rewrite this section completely, or I may do a modern spin on it by making the same story, but about modern people, like Kanye and Kim or something. I think this could be really fun!

Dante's guide rebuffs Malacoda and his friends

Source: Wikipedia

Some different style strategies I am thinking about are below.

Script - I could actually do this, while substituting the different characters for new, modern ones. I could write it like a play that tells the original story, but using my new characters and adding some new dialogue, in addition to some new props. 

Tabloid Gossip and Scandal -  While this one could be more difficult, I do think it has some potential. I could tell the story from a third person perspective, looking at all the characters from the view point of a paparazzi or something. I will have to give this more thought, but this is an idea that I think I could run with. 

Divine Observer - This could be really fun since my story is about the different layers of hell. I could pick a god, and tell the story from that god's point of view. This would allow me to get really creative about how they perceived different things, and would let me include some of the god's personality in addition to the personalities of the new characters that I made up. 

Minor Character as Storyteller - I could do another twist with this by telling the story from the point of view of one of the new characters that I brought into this story. Again, I think this would be a difficult style, but I also think it would be a lot of fun and something that I will consider. 

I am going to include the link to the different styles page, because I am not sold on any particular style yet, and will continue to brainstorm possible ideas.

Storytelling for Week 3: The Failed Heist

Authors Note: In Apuleius's story, the scene opens up to Lucius, who is a man turned into a donkey, in a bandit camp with a girl who got taken hostage by bandits from the night before. His story gives no details on how this came about. The bandits are all sad about their fallen friends, and lamenting about how the heist did not work out. So I felt like this gave me enough details to write a background story on how the heist happened. I knew from the few details in the story what I needed to include, and also what I needed to elaborate on. While I understand why Apuleius did not add this in his original fable, I thought that it would be fun to write and a good addition.

I chose the image because it had the donkey in it, who's perspective I wrote the story from. I thought it was a good image that helped to personify the donkey, and give the reader something to imagine as they read my story. In this image, he looks not willing to eat and work with the person, which is kind of how he is made out to be by the author.

~~~

As soon as the sun set, the bandits began to break camp and pack up their things. Lucius, the donkey, could feel the excitement in the air, for they knew that the potential for a huge payout was in front of them. He had seen them scouting the area for weeks, trying to find where the owners hide their valuables, and planning how the best way to approach would be. 

As they began to ride out, their large group of about twenty men grew silent, for stealth was absolutely necessary. Lucius was also a vital part, because they were going to use him to carry out the valuables. He really would've rather stayed at the camp, but he had no choice. As they approached the estate, they readied their weapons. They got to the back door of the house, and forced their way in. Lucius was wearing saddle bags on his back, so they brought him inside too. A few of the robbers immediately went upstairs to make sure that the guards were taken care of. The others began filling my saddle bags. 

Soon, a loud commotion from upstairs was heard. There was lots of yelling and then several guards came down. The robbers who had gone upstairs apparently had not done their job. Most of the robbers around Lucius immediately began to panic and drew their weapons. They engaged in battle with the guards while a few others began to explore other parts of the house in search of more loot. 

Screaming was soon heard as the robbers returned, one of them carrying a girl. "She tried to club me!" the robber yelled. Apparently she had been hiding and tried to strike the robber in order to defend her parents estate. He grabbed her because he could not bring himself to kill this girl. He threw her on the back of Lucius, in the process knocking off the saddle bags, and hit Lucius on the behind to make him move while more guards amassed in front of him. Soon he turned and ran, with a few others that survived the attack. The spoils had all be lost. It was an utter failure, all they had to show for the raid was a single girl. But, there was hope, for she had rich parents who would surely pay a ransom for her. 

Donkey from Apuleius's story

Source: UnTextbook

Bibliography: This story is based on Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche written by written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline. Link

Week 3 Reading Diary Continued: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche

Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche written by Apuleius. 

Bird tells Venus that Cupid has taken Psyche as a lover, Venus is furious. Psyche is meanwhile praying to the Gods that they will bring back Cupid. Psyche is captured and brought back to Venus. Venus tortures her, then gives a giant pile of different seeds for her to sort. Ants sort them for her. She captures wool as her second task. An eagle fills the phial for the third task.

She collects the phial of beauty, but is actually sleep which attacks her whenever she opens it. Cupid rescues her, and tells her to take the phial to his mother, and he will take care of the rest. They are married, and the story ends, returning again to the donkey. Robbers decide to kill the donkey, for it has only brought them bad luck.

The donkey escapes and rescues the girl. The end of the story.

Venus chides Cupid

Source: UnTextbook

Week 3 Reading Diary: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche

Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche written by Apuleius. 

Story opens with Lucius as a Donkey. Old woman at first consoles her, then turns on her when the girl suggests suicide, saying that she will not have her young men's profit go to waste. Girl describes her dream, how she was snatched on her wedding night from her lover, and how her lover was then killed in his search for her. This is the dream that awoke her. Old woman begins to tell an old wives tale to divert the gils attention from this. 

People stopped worshiping Venus because this girl was so beautiful. Upsets Venus, so she summons Cupid. Tells Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with wretched man. Psyche's fate is transported away to a different place. In a huge mansion that is all hers, with invisible servants and cooks, all taking care of her.

Her new husband comes at night, lays with her then leaves. Forbids her to speak to others. Psyche convinces him to allow her to see her sisters. Her sisters are envious, plan to destroy her. Sisters are keeping secret from parents, have figured out that Psyche does not know what her husband looks like. Sisters convince Psyche to reveal her husband, and give her a plan on how to do so. 

Her husband is beautiful, and she accidentally pricks herself with his arrows, falling even deeper into love with him. Cupid leaves her, her sisters both commit suicide. 

Cupid and Psyche 

Source: UnTextbook

Storybook Topics Brainstorm

Possible Topic - Alaskan Legends

My interest in this stemmed from the fact that I did not know that there were Alaskan legends! Alaska has always been a place that has intrigued me, I have even visited once. The natural beauty is just astonishing. I want to learn more about the state, and this project will give me an opportunity to do that!

Research so far - I have done little research as to what stories I particularly want to write, but have read some of the legends. Some of the ones that intrigue me are The Origin of the Tides, The Flood, and The First Woman.

A lake with some mountains in the background

Source: Pixabay

Possible Topic - Georgian Folktales

I really enjoy folktales, but have never read any that are centered around Africa. So that alone was enough to intrigue me. I look forward to exploring and reading each of the folktales in preparation for my storybook. 

Research so far - I have read some about Georgia to better familiarize myself with a country I know very little about. I also took a look at some of the individual folktales, and am intrigued by a few. Some that interest me are Teeth and No-Teeth, Two Losses, and The Father's Prophecy. 

Some lions in Georgia

Source: Free Stock Photos

Possible Topic - Aesop's Fables (English)

I have already read one of the sections on Aesop's fables and really enjoyed it. So, I am jumping at the opportunity to read more of them. This project will allow me to do just that.

Research so far - I am already pretty familiar with Aesop's Fables, so I do not think I will have to do as much research with this topic as the others. I have already taken a look at the list of fables though, and some that intrigue me are The Gods, Fables about People, and Birds.

Illustration to one of Aesop's fables

Source: Wikimedia

Possible Topic - Dante's Inferno

Dante's Inferno has always been a story that has intrigued me, but I have never actually sat down and read. It is such a classic tale I feel like I need to read, and this storybook project will give me the opportunity to do that. I have friend's that talk about it occasionally, and it has inspired a popular video game that I played whenever I was younger. So that will make it even more interesting for me to read.

Research so far - I am somewhat familiar with Dante's Inferno through pop-culture, but I read some online articles about it. All of the different levels of Hell look interesting, but in particular The Fallen Angels, Limbo, and Jason and the Demons intrigue me.

Image from Dante's Inferno

Source: Wikipedia

Storytelling Week 2: A Very Brave Mouse

A Very Brave Mouse

Against Cat sat a Council of Mice.

Every Mouse came out prompt with advice,

And a bell on Cat's throat

Would have met a round vote,

Had the bell-hanger not been so nice.

~~~~

As the council concluded, suddenly a very small voice rose up from the back.

"I'll get the cat to wear the bell, for the cat and I are friends" said this small mouse "See, the cat doesn't eat me because I am so small, my meat is not even worth it."

The whole council stared in shock. The small mouse began to explain how he and the cat were actually friends, and regularly conversed. The council debated about how they could let such a small mouse take such a big responsibility. The debate went on for some time, but then the council decided that he was their best, and really only, option to getting the cat to wear the bell. So, after deciding this, they entrusted the bell to him. The mouse was excited to have an opportunity to prove himself. 

Picture from the fable "Belling the Cat"

Source: Wikipedia

After receiving the bell, the mouse had to think of a way to convince the cat to wear the bell. He knew that the cat would not wear it if it knew the mouse's original intentions, to make sure that all of the mice could hear the cat coming. So he had to think of a different way to reason with the cat, to convince the cat that there was another motive.

The mouse decided the best way to get the cat to wear the bell is if he could convince the cat that it was the cat was special, and such a good friend, that he had found this bell and thought the cat would love it. He would give it as a present to the cat, which he was sure the cat would love. 

Having the bell in his hand, he began to approach the cat like he always did. Cautiously, but not too worried because he would talk to the cat on a regular basis. The cat immediately noticed him approaching, and greeted him with excitement. As they conversed, the mouse explained how he had found the bell, and thought it was perfect for the cat.

At first, the cat was skeptical, but the longer the conversation went on, the more he imagined how pretty he would look with the bell. Eventually, the cat decided that he wanted the bell, and the mouse fixed it around his neck. Now, the cat could be heard walking around at all times day or night, and through this the little mouse had saved the lives of many mice. 

Bibliography: This story is based on a "Belling the Cat" from The Aesop for Children, written by Aesop, published in 2006. Link 

Week 2 Reading Diary: Aesops Fables - Wednesday Reading

Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs

Birds - "Do not trust flatterers", fox tricks crow into dropping his cheese. Peacock wants to sound like a nightingale, but is told to be content because he cannot be first in everything. Bird that does not join in either side of a fight cannot rejoice with either side when the fighting is over. 

Insects, Snakes, Crabs - Grasshopper does not prepare for winter, ends up starving because of this, and watching the ants feast. I am pretty sure I have watched a cartoon about this fable. Mother crab tells her baby crab to walk straight, but is not leading by example.

Frogs and Fish - "Self conceit may lead to self destruction", frog blows himself up by trying to swell himself up bigger and bigger. Fish jumping in a fisherman's net whenever he plays his bagpipes. 

Nature and Inanimate Objects - Man asks trees for wood only to use when chopping them down. "Kindness affects more than severity", wind and sun try to get man to take off his cloak to prove strength. 

Humans and Gods - "The gods help those who help themselves", a god tells a farmer to get himself out of the mud instead of praying.

Family and Friends - Man tries to bite off his own mothers ear because she encouraged theft. "Never trust a friend that deserts you at a pinch", man leaves another man to die to a bear. 

People Wise and Foolish - "Words may be deeds", trumpeter of army is killed for encouraging others to fight.

More Fables - Maids kill a rooster because it annoys them and wakes them up too early, but then they have trouble waking themselves up every morning. Fir tree looking down on a bramble as it gets chopped down. "Fate can meet as well as follow", lion waits in cave for deer to return so that he may eat the deer. 

A stork from the fable King Log and King's Stork

Source: UnTextbook