Week 7, Reading Diary B, Tibetan Folk Tales,Reading Diary

  Squash found on huffingtonpost.com
Tibetan Folk Tales: The Golden Squash

• One day the first old man found in his garden a little, crippled bird. He took it and cared for it, felt sorry for it, healed it and fed it every day.
• He soon returned bearing a seed in his mouth which he gave to the old man, saying, "You plant this seed--it's a very fine squash seed, the very finest in the world, and be sure you tend it well."
• here grew on the vine just one squash, but it was monstrous big. 
• His old neighbor, went home, very envious, and thought he would think up a plan so that he would be rich too. He got his bow and arrow and slipped out into the garden and waited until he saw a little bird light on a tree. Then he deliberately shot, breaking its leg.
• It sprouted and grew and grew until finally when winter came he had to have five or six men help him carry his squash into the house
• He could hardly wait until he could get his knife and cut the skin, but he had no more than broken it when it popped wide open and out jumped a fierce old man, who said he was sent by the king of the lower regions to weigh him. He grabbed him by the back of the neck and set him on the scale which he carried and said, "You are far too light and no use at all," and at once took him out and cut off his head.
  
  So much for the sin of covetousness.  
  I found this story intriguing because it is short, simple but very vivid with relatable objects such as birds and food (squash). But also because it seems to bring up the idea from reading diary a that I chose to work with for writing/retelling a story of covetousness. The first guy acts from kindness and gets a reward he did not expect, the second guy acts from greed and get killed. I think that Nathan in my stories will be having his wife be a person who warns him of doom with parables but it will be his wife to whom is ultimately the evil one that is greedy and pushes Nathan to do the dirty work for her. I would like for Melusina to be an immortal somehow, the River Deity reincarnate or something. Nathan is merely a means to an end for her. Nathan really is a seeker and is a good person, but blindly does not see what is in front of him. His doom.

Week 7, Reading Diary A,Tibetan Folk Tales, Reading Diary

Tibetan Folk Tales

Tibet, Plateau of: yaks grazing in desert area of the Plateau of Tibet
 www.britannica.com

I chose to read the Tibetan unit because I do not know much about their folklore. I would like to work my character Nathan into more stories. I think I may be able to bring him in to retell the story Covetousness. In Nathan's first story he is on his way to find his treasure, the emerald tablets, but this story of Covetousness could come before or after Nathan being at the Vatican. I could use his wife Melusina to tell the parable as a warning to his greed.

Tibetan Folk Tales: Covetousness

Now the moral is, "First, people shouldn't be greedy when there is plenty for all (the fox wanted all the meat to eat for a year and tried to ruin the bow and got killed). Second, you mustn't do what you aren't fitted for (the elephant tried to do what the rabbit was doing and got killed). Then the four men begrudged the three and the three begrudged the four, so they all died.

Week 6, Storytelling, Myth-Folklore Unit: Brer Rabbit, The Story of the Deluge

(illustration by A. B. Frost)

Brer Rabbit: Plantation Proverbs

Mole don't see w'at his naber doin'.

I loved this Proverb, especially because in their neck of the woods, all the Brer animals knows what everybody else is doing.

Brer Rabbit: The Story of the Deluge

Brer Owl, the oldest and wisest of owls in a long line of wizen old owls in the Brer, decided to tell the story that was always  told to the new hatchlings while their parents left the nest for the dinner hunt. It is good to know where you come from, knowing your roots help make you a wise old owl.

"ONE time —one time, way back yander, way back yander 'fo' enny un us wuz bomed, de animils en de creeturs sorter 'lecshuneer roun' 'mong deyselves, twel at las' dey 'greed fer ter have a 'sembly..."

The syncopation in the ancient owls raspsy southern drawl had an effect that was perfect at putting
baby owls to sleep. But while their tiny little eyes, all eight of them, were open and focused, their grandpa told the most amazing stories of the animals before the flood came and changed it all.

And of course the most important animal at the town gathering around was the owl. They are most wise and help to hear the other animals quarrels and complaints. Being the most observant and saying very little, they always were in the know. The animals had all congregated together in a town meeting to take care of their gripes and concerns when an elephant stepped on a crawfish. There was a Lion who was a mighty king, and camels too. Someday they would get to see such  amazing creatures when the circus comes to town, like it does every spring. Except the unicorns, they don't get to come and  play anymore.

"What are you lil goobers doin' up?" scolded the Mother Owl playfully.

"Pappy wus tellin us da story mudder. He telled da story bout how'd the waters got biggun deep nah washed up da lands and animilis gone. On counts a da elephants caint watch they steppin' so good." chirped the little baby owl with sleepy little eyes. Then his little eyes shut tight and he fell fast asleep dreaming of all the animals that his grandpa brought to life in his vivid imagination. 

The tired and satiated proud Father Owl looks lovingly upon his tiny Brer Owl brood and closes his eyes, knowing that soon he too will be the grandpa owl passing on the family stories, keeping the past alive.

Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit  leahstps.wordpress.com

Author's Note: I have several reasons why I chose this unit this week. First of which is because I loved the Disney movie Song of the South when I was very young. Of course due to some it's offensive content, it has not been popular available in a long time.  So I thought as an educated  adult I would like to re-examine the story and view it not from the eyes of an innocent child that loved everything Disney animated. 
I had to add the Brer Owl as my character to tell my story. It is extremely hard to write in the style chosen by the original author.

 I find that I am intrigued at the ability to write words as they would sound in broken English with a distinctly thick Southern Plantation era accent. It is not often as a student that we get the opportunity to use such creative license to butcher up our language and things work out okay. That being said, I would like to try this,  and smiled as I watched my spell check do backflips. I always found it cool to read an author who had a style that they used that would set them apart in their writings, but my teachers always said I needed to know the rules before I could break them, become famous and then I could do it my way. This is cool though, because it captures a historical time in our country. The words used here bring such a visual, of course helped along if you have ever been to the south, or watched the Disney version, or read the books etc. 

Bibliography: This story is part of the Brer Rabbit unit. Story source: Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris (1881).

Week 6, Reading Diary A,Week 6, Storytelling, Myth-Folklore Unit: Brer Rabbit,Reading Diary

Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit  leahstps.wordpress.com

Myth-Folklore Unit: Brer Rabbit

I have several reasons why I chose this unit this week. First of which is because I loved the Disney movie Song of the South when I was very young. Of course due to it's unflattering content, it has not been popular available in a long time.  So I thought as an educated  adult I would like to re-examine the story and view it not from the eyes of an innocent child that loved everything Disney animated. Also because I am not familiar with much of the Asian and African stuff. So I tried to do the Anansi stuff, which I recognized as something from my childhood also, but it was when it was a children's theatre who acted a lot of this stuff out with animals and props. I tried to read it and found that I might still need thee props to understand it. The words were too hard for me to really grasp. I found this unit easier to understand. I still had to read it out loud to get the effects, and it makes me chuckle...

The Calamus Root

This link will take you to the story I just sampled and pasted here...

Bimeby, one day, atter Brer Fox bin doin' all dat he could fer ter ketch Brer Rabbit, en Brer Rabbit bein' doin' all he could fer ter keep 'im fum it, Brer Fox say to hisse'f dat he'd put up a game on Brer Rabbit, en he ain't mo'n got de wuds out'n his mouf twel Brer Rabbit came a lopin' up de big road, lookin' des ez plump, en ez fat, en ez sassy ez a Moggin hoss in a barley-patch.

Wow, I am so amazed at the ability to write words as they would sound in broken English with a distinctly  thick Southern Plantation era accent. It is not often as a student that we get the opportunity to use such creative license to butcher up our language and things work out okay. That being said, I would like to try this,  and I will smile and watch my spell check do backflips. I always found it cool to read an author who had a style that they used that would set them apart in their writings, but my teachers always said I needed to know the rules before I could break them, become famous and then I could do it my way. This is cool though, because it captures a historical time in our country. The words used here bring such a visual, of course helped along if you have ever been to the south, or watched the Disney version, or read the books etc. 
All prior knowledge aside, the anthropomorphic characters remind me of the old cat and mouse routine aka Tom and Jerry. Another of my childhood favorites. The inner child in me still does, but the adult me is humored by the adult male friendship that is actually happening. These cartoons and stories share with us the  inner workings, psychologically speaking, of two grown men. 
This reminds me of my own personal experience when I was in my twenties. I worked at the Center for the New Age in Sedona at the time. Best job ever, for many reasons. One of which was the people I worked with. All women, they were so kind and brought donuts and were uplifting etc. One day I was leaving work and had stopped by to pick up my ex-husband from his place of work. He worked at a yummy  joint called Moondog's Pizza where the staff was all male. I sat like a fly on the wall waiting for Mick to be done and ride home with me. Watching the most appalling display of men smacking each other, calling each other names, just brutal. They were best friends. If my ladies acted like that to me, things would quickly end badly. If his guys had acted like my lady friends it would also take a strange turn. 
This story strikes me as such powerful imagery and subtle psychology of the times. The struggle for the alpha-male position in a group of animals. They are all part of the local community that enjoys the banter that men enjoy. If something actually did happen to one of the characters it would be sad, they would miss them, the sheer sport of the bantering. The counter psychology of telling Brer Fox not to throw him in the sticker bush, roast him or other horrible things instead is another example of using reverse psychology.

Brer Rabbit: Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure

Bimeby, one day wiles he wuz gwine 'long de road, old Brer Wolf come up wid 'im. W'en dey done howdyin' en axin' atter one nudder's fambly connexshun, Brer Wolf, he 'low, he did, dat der wuz sump'n wrong wid Brer Fox, en Brer Fox, he 'low'd der wern't, en he went on en laugh en make great terdo kaze Brer Wolf look like he spishun sump'n.
The animals who would otherwise be natural predators like a rabbit, bear, fox, buzzard,turtle and a wolf are exchanging pleasantries and inquiring on each others families. Quaint. I think this is a clever use of the pack to have a pecking order, yet familial ties. The little country community comes complete. Except the part where the rabbit cooks the wolf.

Week 6, Extra Reading Diary,Stories from Congo

www.e-architect.co.uk

Congo School

Myth-Folklore Unit: Stories from Congo

I read this half unit as my extra reading stories this week, reading list a. I was reluctant at first because I am not really into stories about animals or tribal thing often. I was pleasantly surprised by reading this unit how much I found that I related to these stories. I like this unit, except how much I am tired of reading names of things that are strange.  I am so over it. It is hard for me to visualize a person or animal or whatever when it bears a name that is so unusual, and then it's a disaster when all the names are unusual. I cannot keep the characters straight. It took me a really long time to read through the Brer Rabbit stuff, and I was super thankful to read these stories that I did not have to read, then read outloud and then re-read in a strange accent. I am very over that too. I tried to write in the thick accent and it was too hard for me to do. I lost patience, but I will use the skill in the future in small tidbits to accentuate a verbal exchange in a story. Probably more of an accent I am accustomed to, like Spanish, or west coast surfer, or new age hippy. Yes that just happened.

I am seeing a pattern throughout the whole unit that was all about marriage. Some were told from the male perspective and some from the female point of view. The villains were also inverse of each other. The stories were a lot like the actual fairytales with real fairies that play tricks. Maybe they share common origin or they could just be a result of rural folklore. Best yet, it could be based on the actual truth in the stories, magic. This is by far the best answer.

Week 6, Reading Diary B,Week 6, Storytelling, Myth-Folklore Unit: Brer Rabbit,Reading Diary

Brer Rabbit: Plantation Proverbs

Mole don't see w'at his naber doin'.
I loved this Proverb, especially because in their neck of the woods, all the Brer animals knows what everybody is doing.

Hog dunner w'ich part un 'im'll season de turnip salad.

No truer words.

Brer Rabbit: The Story of the Deluge

Dey bo'd inter de groun' en kep' on bo'in twel dey onloost de fountains er de yeth; en de waters squirt out, en riz higher en higher twel de hills wuz kivvered, en de creeturs wuz all drownded; en all bekaze dey let on 'mong deyselves dat dey wuz bigger dan de Crawfishes.

How cute is it that the elephants caused the deluge on accounts that they drowned everyone because they stepped on the crawfish when the little community was gathered around for a town meeting to hear the complaints of all the creatures.  It is cute that they mention a lot of African animals that are not found in America as a part of the carry over from their homeland. Interesting to me though that they mention the unicorn. Makes me wonder if this they heard in stories from the Catholic/Christians.

Week 5, Thoughts about Comments

I am excited by such great comments left by my classmates. I value their opinions greatly because they are my audience, and because they are also working on the same assignments so they are aware of the objectives and focus, and are probably interesting in the same types of things that I am. I see the evidence of this in reading other people's introductions and storytelling blogs. Some of us are non-traditional students that are doing our best to keep the ships sailing, and others are just amazing young people that are going to be changing the world we live in. I am glad to get a chance to rub elbows with all of them!

The most impact I have gotten from the comments are the ones that I overlook in editing. It's a bittersweet feeling because I am horrible at punctuation, so I am glad that someone points out my flaws, as well as a tad embarrassed for lacking the skill that is vital in life and college level writing. I am also truly awful at technology. I am young enough that I have had access to computers since high school, but old enough that I learned to type on a typewriter. So technology advice like, using commas to separate the labels was super helpful! (Thank you Whitney for that many weeks ago, as it had already become unmanageable)

I will do my best to help others with good helpful feedback.

Week 5, Review

Thursday, September 24

This little snipit that Laura has posted today has caught my attention. I see myselft in this image. The little girl in me is so excited to be reading so many great stories, especially in this class. I love to read. I love the gorgeous fall weather we have been having. It is my favorite time of the year. I can also identify in a real way of sitting with books piled up around me, with all of my focus being on pages between the binders, completely detached from life that is happening all around me. This semester is full of wonderful classes, heavenly beyond compare. However, I have never had so much homework in my life. I am so greatful that this class has some flexibility to it. I enjoy it all the more for it. Today I have backed up my blog, checked my declarations and reviewed announcements.

Today is Thursday of WEEK 5.

Week 5, Tech Tip, LOLCat at Cheezburger, I sings you The songs of my peoplz....

I sings you The songs of my peoplz....

Week 5, Curation

This week while doing my daily check in with Ellie's World Blog on Crystalinks, I ran across a most interesting file that Ellie had posted. This is mind blowing, and honestly so inspiring to write about in a story. Possibly with my new character for this class, Nathan the Seeker.

1,200-Year-Old Telephone, Amazing Invention of the Ancient Chimu Civilization

Right: A communication device created more than 1,000 years ago by the Chimu people of Peru (Travis Rathbone/Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian) Background: Chan Chan, Peru (David Holt/CC BY-SA)

This week in my Roman Religions class we were covering the topic of the Sibylline books and the Oracle of Delphi because of how important the study of omens and auguries were to many aspects of Roman life. The main books have been lost of course, except bit and pieces here and there, as well as later works that may be credited to the Sybil to give the prophesies  authority, like the books in the Bible often are. There is a particular prophecy in my class this week that mentioned how the lunar eclipse had an effect on a war because of how the omen was seen. One side saw it as defeat, the other side saw it as science and nothing to fear. The non fearful side won the battle, surprise. It also made me remember reading about how we are going to experience an ausipicious, or maybe inauspicious event this week. How cool would it be to inclule something like this in a story? 

2014-2015: A Tetrad of Four Blood Moons, all on Jewish Feast Days and in the Shemitah Year a once in a two millennial event!

To watch the video go to  http://shadowandsubstance.com/

The other way cool thing I ran across this week while looking for images for my story on the Emerald Tablets. I got caught up in the imagery of magical boxes. As with most puzzles, it is not always what you would expect to find. I remembered the magic word puzzles, and found some on Pintrest this week. I love that tool. I try to spend a few minutes everyday checking it out, been doing that for years.

Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas Latin Palindromic Word Square

Week 5, Extra Reading diary,Myth-Folklore Unit: Welsh Fairy Tales (Emerson)

Myth-Folklore Unit: Welsh Fairy Tales (Emerson)

"FAIRY QUEEN MEDBH OF THE SIDHE" celticanamcara.blogspot.com
The Fairy of the Dell (cont.)

"...and you shall be known to the poorest of the poor as Madame Dorothy."
And the woman did as she was told, and she became renowned for her medical skill, especially in childbirth, for her salve eased the pains, and her waters brought milk. By-and-by, she got known all over the island, and rich people came to her from afar, and she always made the rich pay, and the poor were treated free."

I read this half unit and loved it, I am sucked into the unit now. I unfortunately must read the rest at another time due to time restriction of other class projects at hand. I loved reading about how the Bretoons and the Welsh have traced their heritage back to the great city of Troy. I would imagine that this may be a left over story from the Romans when they were in the area of France, Spain and England. None the less, very interesting. I am particularly drawn to the stories of the fairies of the European nature more than other cultures. I honestly believe that the Fay are in my family tree. 

I have highlighted the main point that I found in this unit that set me to inspiration. The Fairy Queen cast out demons and broke a contract between an evil witch and the devil?! That is what I did not expect out of the stories. Usually magical contracts cannot be revoked. Usually fairy tales do not have a happy ending. This one is different for sure. Not only did the Queen help the witch, but turned her into a loving person in the community that helps and heals people. This is my favorite part of all.

All of the rest of the stories about people finding money is cool too. Several times in my life I have found money and when I really needed it badly too. The universe works in mysterious ways. Hubris will kill the good intentions everytime. That is the moral there. Be kind, be thankful, do not boast of your luck, and also make sure to help others less fortunate. In good stories or otherwise, this is sage advice.

Week 5, Reading Diary B,Holy Land: The Deaths of Moses and Aaron,Reading Diary

Moses and Aaron bibleencyclopedia.com

Holy Land: The Deaths of Moses and Aaron

"On entering, they were much surprised to see a handsome couch to which was attached an inscription stating that it was intended for the use of the person whose stature it would fit. The bedstead was tried in succession by all of the party, and when Harûn came to lie there, it exactly suited him."

It seems strange to me that the death of Moses brother Aaron was predestined and so magic laden. But I bet this is part of the cosmogeny to explain how things happen in retrospect. It reminds me a bit of Cinderella's  story with the fancy shoe fitting perfectly. It is interesting how much Moses and Aaron had interactions with Angels and with Allah. The story is so personal to them/for them. It reminds me in a way of the Sleeping Beauty story with the poisoned apple that finished off Moses.

 "...who was the Angel of Death in disguise, offered him an apple. Mûsa, having accepted and smelt at it, expired immediately."

Also after reading this unit I had to ask myself some questions that I do not have answers to. I thought I remembered from the Bible that Moses was a Hebrew and his mother had cast him into the river in a basket and was found by Pharoh's daughter or whoever, and was raised as an Egyptian. When he found his Hebrew slave mother, he asked Pharoh to set his people free. He kills an Epytian slave master and he leaves Egypt with some Hebrew Slaves and sets off for the promised land. I remember tha Aaron is the Highest Priest that wears the breastplate (possibly the Umim and Thumim) and that he did the magic snake bit with his staff in front of Pharoh, who's magicians also knew how to do. But I do not remember how it is at all possible that Aaron can be Mose's brother. Is Aaron his Egyptian brother? Is he a Hebrew slave that is a High Priest? I must figure this out. I also find it interesting that in the Biblical reference, Moses does not make it to the Promised Land, dies before the people get there after wandering around for 40 years. But in this story of the Holy Land, Moses was promised by Allah he could live long and choose his time of death. Also this is sorta sneaky and shady of Allah(God) to trick both of these brothers into death. Just sayin.

Week 5, Reading Diary A, Folk-lore of the Holy Land, Reading Diary

www.quranicpath.com

This story is part of the Holy Land Folklore unit. Story source:Folk-lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish by J. E. Hanauer (1907).

Moslem Cosmogony (cont.)

Then, in order that the angel might have something to stand on, Allah created a great rock of green emerald which He commanded to roll in beneath his feet and support them.

Thus, as I have explained, the world rests upon the shoulders of an angel, and the angel upon a great emerald rock, and the rock upon the horns or shoulders of a bull, and the bull upon the back of a great whale, and the whale or dragon swims in a great sea which is upborne by air, which is surrounded by darkness. The heavenly bodies shine at certain seasons through the darkness, but what there is beyond the darkness Allah knows!

First of all, I spent last week being blown away by the boxes of magical things, and the Emerald Tablets of Thoth as well from Egyptian myth. It was a surprise to me right away in this unit to find another reference to such things. Granted, the emerald rock that Allah makes is a little different, or is it? I enjoyed this units readings, though I am now looking at the Patriarch Abraham a bit differently. 

Week 1, Introduction

St. Louis Missouri

Greetings and Salutations!
My name is LaDawn Beckman and I am excited to be taking this mythology and folklore class. I have always wanted to know more about the subjects but it never worked out that I could take a class in it. My fall classes are going to be super interesting albeit a lot of work, but it will all be worth it. My summer is drawing to a close as I write this, and fall classes have not technically opened yet. I took two courses at OU this summer, Native American Philosophy and History of Heaven and Hell. Both were really great classes, but I do not feel I got much of a summer break. I did have a few weeks off in June, and my husband, my daughter and I got to take a quick trip to St. Louis Missouri. It was a load of fun. None of us had ever been there before. My husband took the photo above right before we went into the famous arch and museums. So much American history has taken place in that city, it was fascinating to learn so much about the country I live in, and to share it with my teenage daughter.

Camp Verde Arizona mhcwillows.com

Montezuma's Castle www.travelux.com

I am from Camp Verde Arizona, a tiny little town North of Phoenix and South of Flagstaff. It became a town after being a military fort back in the days of the Cowboys and Indians. When it was a fort in the Wild West back in the 1800's they named it Camp Verde because the valley was green and lush, people died of malaria then because of it. Now it is more like shades of brown because of the changing weather patterns and also the dwindling water tables of rivers and lakes due to modernization. Camp Verde is also where you will find the state parks of Montezuma's Castle and Montezuma's Well. Interesting historical Native American sites to visit.


I am starting my second year here at the University of Oklahoma. I am a Religious Studies major with a minor in history. I graduated from Oklahoma City Community College where I got an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology and almost had an Associates of Applied Science in Business Management but I am one class short of that degree because I didn't want to take finance. I found out that I really don't like business, or accounting. I decided to follow my passions. I am hoping to finish my Bachelors degree here at OU and then start working on my Masters here at OU in the Library Science path.

I love to read, write, travel, garden, bake all kinds of foods, and lounge around in my pajamas. My friends and family live all over the United States, and I am lucky enough to have a sister who lives here in Norman and goes to OU, and is also in this class. Considering we are 15 years apart in age, this is a rather different experience for us! I hope we all have a great semester and have fun learning new things. I look forward to reading all the interesting things that people will be posting!

Week 3, Storybook Styles

For my storybook styles I am thinking for my number one choice would be narrated, third-person story-teller in a frame-style where I get to create the characters. I really want to do a modern version of the old tales, sorta like the television series Once Upon A Time, that use the same characters per se, but with a plot twist set in modern times. I think it would be interesting to use many characters in a town that are all from mythology, but a single thread that weaves all the stories together, like, the Goddesses are all related and are married to mortals, so they have a Mortal's Wive's club. They all meet at the enchanted country club and secretly run the show.

community.ew.com

For my number two choice, I was thinking about telling the story of Melusina in a frame-style that is set in the mystical island of Avalon, where over periods of time she meets different people. Because of the mysts, time works differently. The island is a resort for the magically inclined, whether or not the people are immortal, time works differently there. Who knows who could wind up finding their way into the mystical myst....Merlin, James Dean, who knows.

vuenick.deviantart.com

For my number three choice, I was thinking of telling the story of Melusina kind of like the television series from my childhood, Bewitched. Again using the frame-style so I have complete control of the characters and what they can get into for fun. I loved the mother-in-law on the show, Endora the witch, and her witch doctor and silly forgetful aunt, twin sister that would love to cause trouble, too much fun! And the mortal husband, and half mortal children, the nosy neighbors. I think it would be too much fun to re-spin Melusina the River Goddess into the stay at home mom married to a mortal of today. I think that every Saturday she has to go get a pedicure, to explain the disappearances.

www.beautylaunchpad.com

My choice number four would be to try to write a more historical attempt at trying to write about Melusina meeting Raymond, and talk about how their bloodline is connected to the blood royal and how the family tree is connected to supernatural and pagan and Christian deities. I leave this choice for last because it really may cause some of the readers in this class to be uncomfortable with the ideas that I would suggest of Mary being related to Melusina.

okmer.deviantart.com

Overall, I am looking forward to making a fun story that will be fun to write, and fun to read. I like the ideas of taking a bit of inspiration of an old myth and resurrecting it into a modern tale that we can relate to. I like the frame-style of telling things so I can have freedoms that are more restrictive when using a retelling of the story style. I like to use as many parallels a to characters and ideas so that the reader can see the comparisons, but try to also let it be able to stand on its own.

Bibliography Information:

Source: Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, Illustrative of the Romance and Superstition of Various Countries (London: H. G. Bohn, 1850), pp. 480-82.

 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melusine

Extra Reading Diary, Myth-Folklore Unit: Persian Tales, Week 4

Myth-Folklore Unit: Persian Tales

scottgardener.deviantart.com

Persian Tales: The Wolf-Aunt

This was not one of my favorite units that I have read. It is the A side. I don't want to read the B side if it is like the A side. These stories did not make a lot of sense, they did not appeal to me. I love the way that they all started out with at one time there was no god, and then it launches right into the stories It really has the feel of Muslim pillar of Islam, that there is no god except Allah, Muhammad is a messenger of Allah.  I have a lot of respect for the beautiful religion of Islam. But these stories seemed harsh. The one story that I like the most is the story of The Wolf-Aunt. The notes on the story helped me to better understand what was happening as far as it is a custom to not like the fathers sister, that aunt was to be feared. So they villainized the lady whom was alone for whatever reason and create a sense of separation through a sense of fear and mistrust. I really like the sort of unspoken moral of the story; dude listen to your wife when she tells you something important even if it sounds completely absurd!

It is interesting to me to note, the theme of the Lycanthrope across many cultures. Because this one starts out like it is written after the timeline of Muhammad, it makes me wonder if it has an oral tradition that predates it, and if so, does it predate the Roman myths of the Lycanthrope (or even the She-Wolf that raised Romulus and Remis)? What is the connection across the various cultures. Is this also how we get the stories of Little Red Riding Hood? Is she an offshoot of more antiquated stories? There are lots of wolf stories. I wonder now if the wolf is more symbolic of a person or family crest.

Week 4, Reading Diary B, Ancient Egypt Unit, Reading Diary

secretofthevine.com

Egypt: The Book of Thoth: Part One

The book of Thoth is what caught my attention the most for this reading. Again with this unit the reference to a box or chest, this one has the mystical tablets of Thoth under magical spells in the river. In the Two Brothers stories a virgin of the pharaoh drops her emerald stone from her hair into the river, and his scribe ( Thoth? He is a scribe) divides the waters to retrieve the lost stone for her. Parting waters reminds me of Moses story of parting waters on the exodus of Egypt. What kind of magic or technology did these ancients have? Since this story predates the exodus, did the story get retold? Also, the tablets seem to be like the philosophers stone, making a person very powerful. I can see why it should be hidden. Reminds me too of the Nicolas Flamel books,  about the alchemical book of Abraham.

www.scs.illinois.edu

Week4, Reading Diary A, Myth-Folklore Unit: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories,Reading Diary

Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories

www.britannica.com

King of the Dead

"The lamentations of the goddesses were heard by Ra, and he sent down from heaven the god Anubis, who, with the assistance of Thoth and Horus, united the severed portions of the body of Osiris, which they wrapped in linen bandages. Thus had origin the mummy form of the god."This story is part of the Ancient Egypt unit. Story source:Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907).
This passage from the story King of the Dead struck me as interesting because in all the years of reading anything I can find on Egypt, I had not read about how the origin of the mummy came about. Everyone knows that the Egyptians have mummies, but did anyone know why? I did not. 

The Death of Osiris

"He (Set) brought a shapely and decorated chest, which he had caused to be made according to the measurements of the king's body. All men praised it at the feast, admiring its beauty, and many desired greatly to possess it."This story is part of the Ancient Egypt unit. Story source:Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907).
After reading the passage in the King of the Dead it reminded me of the description of the ornate coffin that Osiris becomes entombed in.  Set being the archetype of the Trickster, plays a folly on his brother Osiris that he is jealous of and creates chaos for the god/goddess in The Death of Osiris. Both of these passages bring very visual images to mind for me of mummies and sarcophagi of gold and precious gems.
Strangely, also what caught my attention is the reference to a box, or chest that was greatly desired. I cannot help but to think of the image of the arc of the covenant. Besides the biblical arc, I do believe that the ancient Egyptians had access to some technology, so my mind went to some science fiction areas with references to boxes, chests, arcs, especially in the part of the story of the wax crocodile that was put into a box, then came to life. What may have been magic to some, may have been science or technology.  

Week 3, Storytelling Callie and the Case of the Cold Shoulder

en.wikipedia.org

Callisto

Callie and the Case of the Cold Shoulder

Callie was the star athlete of her track team, she was the fastest long distance runner, and had many trophies and scholarships to prove it. Her schools track team was number one in the district and all the girls were very proud of their achievements. Callie had worked very hard to be in amazing physical condition but she was also a natural born beauty. She was kind and was friendly to everyone, not in the least bit selfish or vain. Everyone liked her and looked up to her.

One day Callie was out for her normal morning jog around her upscale exclusive neighborhood running path when fate stepped in and changed this amazing young woman's life forever. In her neighborhood unbeknownst to Callie there was a man, who happened to be a senator of her state, who started to have an unhealthy obsession with this underage girl, Callie. He started watching her and stalking her. His obsession with this girl grew and grew. His beautiful young privileged wife found out and was so jealous and insecure about her husband taking an interest in a younger more beautiful woman that she began to plot her revenge....

Eventually one day the man became deranged in his thinking and followed her on her morning run and he raped her. He had no shame and went about his way. His wife had taken to spying on him, so she too knew what happened but did nothing but grow angrier at the object of his obsession. The young girl who was of course traumatized by the event, went home, showered and cried and said nothing about the event because she was embarrassed and ashamed.

The event was repressed in Callie's emotions and she mastered the art of denial and pushed it all aside. When she did start to notice the signs of pregnancy she ignored it and again did nothing at all about it, focusing only on her passion, her athletic skills. When several months had passed one day after a track meet and Callie's team was taking showers in the locker room when her team mates noticed that Callie was obviously showing signs of being several months pregnant. When they noticed, they went to the coach. The coach in all her anger and disgust at losing her star athlete threw Callie off the the track team, because it goes against school rules.

Callie's parents were called by the coach to discuss the situation. When they came to pick up Callie, they were so appalled that their child was at the center of a public scandal that they decided at once they would pull her from her school and send her off to a private school across the country, after they could deal with getting the pregnancy removed from public view and set up for adoption. Their cold-hearted reaction to the situation broke Callie's heart. They did not even yell at her, they just sent her away. And just like that, Callie lost her family, her friends, her passion that was her life, that was her stability, all gone.

Just when she thought it could not get any worse, the evil senator's wife contacted Callie's parents and told them lies about how Callie was having an affair with the senator....the scandal would continue to be a nightmare to keep quiet. How could anything ever go right for Callie again?

Author’s Note:  I chose this part of the story because it emotionally affects how I feel (and many others) about women who have been violated and victimized and how it has caused people to look at them differently. More often than not the victim suffers the penalty and pays the price, not the predator. I tried to keep the main plot of the story the same, just retold in a more modern setting.

Statistics show that one is six women have been or will be a victim of rape in their lifetime. This is truly heatbreaking. In the case of Callisto, she was a victim of Jupiter and his jealous wife, but also of losing her family and place in life that she was a part of. Now because of circumstances beyond her or human control she lost everything. No one was there for her when she needed support the most. It was the same story for the fictional character, treachery, betrayal and loss of support from people she most needed it from.

During the readings of this unit in particular it seemed like the gods and goddesses could get away with whatever selfish and horrible things they wanted and at very little consequence for themselves. This is why I chose for the villan of my story to be powerful person, like a senator, because it would be easy for a person of power and wealth to identify with a god who wields power over others with little personal consequence. However long ago this story of Callista was written, very little has changed in that we still face the same human issues. It's main fiber of truth still illustrates itself in globally woven tapestry that we continue to weave even now.

Bibliography:This story is part of the Ovid's Metamorphoses unit. Story source: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).