Week 14, Reading Diary, Reading Diary B, Myth-Folklore Unit: Italian Popular Tales

Myth-Folklore Unit: Italian Popular Tales

The Fair Angiola

www.etsy.com

This is such a neat story. The gist is that a woman who was stupid enough to steal from a witch got caught and promised her unborn child to the witch! The girl goes to live with the witch who raises her. The witch keeps the girl locked in the tower. This is the story known to us all as Rapunzel. I am currently learning a great deal about the medieval times and it is interesting to me how this girl gets locked in this tower by a woman called a witch. I am glad that it does have a happy ending though it is sad that the witch is most likely just a country woman who was unmarried or barren and loses what she cherished most, the young girl. The maiden to me represents teen angst and the strange ideas of love during this time to rescue a damsel, or a strange girl you find in the woods. These stories are so old, there are many kings in the land, so this is most interesting to me.

Week 13, Reading Diary, Reading Diary B, Myth-Folklore Unit: Dante's Inferno

Myth-Folklore Unit: Dante's Inferno

(illustration by di Fruosino)

I did not really find a particular story that jumped out at me. It was fun to understand a lot of the references in the stories. I think I am also feeling ripped off that though the people are mentioned that are in all the different circle of hell, he does not give enough description of the people and how their punishment is appropriate for their crimes. I am shocked at where he places certain people. It is obvious to me that Dante clearly hates the Romans that he places in the worst hell where Satan is. I think most of the other people mentioned in the story are really kinda funny. Like Nimrod whose language is foreign to all. Fall of the Tower of Babel/Atlantis....

Overall I enjoyed reading the parts of Inferno here. I will most likely continue to read more of it later, outside of this class.

Week 12, Reading Diary B, Myth-Folklore Unit: Alice in Wonderland

Myth-Folklore Unit: Alice in Wonderland

boingboing.net

CHAPTER VII. A Mad Tea-Party

'Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.

Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. 'I don't see any wine,' she remarked.

'There isn't any,' said the March Hare.

'Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it,' said Alice angrily.

'It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being invited,' said the March Hare.

I think we should have to change this up a bit. But I like how the March Hare (Ostara) is full of witty quips. I think we will keep this going! The mad hatter also asks Alice to solve a riddle...this must be something we will keep too. It should be Melusina who has to solve the riddle.

Week 11, Reading Diary, Reading Diary B, King Arthur

Myth-Folklore Unit: King Arthur

HOW SIR GALAHAD FOUND THE GRAAL

Therewith he kneeled down before the table and made his prayers, and while he was praying, his soul suddenly left the body and was carried by angels up into heaven, which the two Knights right well beheld. Also they saw come from heaven a hand, but no body behind it, and it came unto the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and bare them back to heaven. And since then no man has dared to say that he has seen the Holy Graal.

This is the coolest thing that I found in this half of the unit. I love that a hand just pops out of nowhere and takes the Vessel and the spear and disappears. I feel some fairy magic about to happen! 

www.tarotteachings.com

Week 9, Reading Diary, Reading Diary B, Myth-Folklore Unit: California and the Old Southwest

Myth-Folklore Unit: California and the Old Southwest

 Mount Shasta California

Origin of the Sierra Nevadas and Coast Range Yokuts (near Fresno, Cal.)

Then Hawk and Crow took the mud from Duck's beak, and began making the mountains.
They began at the place now known as Ta-hi-cha-pa Pass, and Hawk ade the east range. Crow made the west one. They pushed the mud down hard into the water and then piled it high. They worked toward the north. At last Hawk and Crow met at Mount Shasta. Then their work was done. But when they looked at their mountains, Crow's range was much larger than Hawk's.

What I like the most about this story is how the Hawk and the Crow work hard and then head up to chill at Mount Shasta. Squee! I would do the same. I want a cabin on that mountain so bad I can't even stand it. I have not been to Yosemite yet. I think it is hilarious that they are saying that these birds built these mountains. These are huge mountains in mountain ranges. Some of the most beautiful places on the earth too. I wonder if they equate the birds with the winged messengers, our friends the Nefilim. That would make a lot of sense if magical creatures were building the mountains, because these tiny little birds don't exactly explain this well.

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 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, 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 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

Week 3, Reading Diary B, Ovid's Metamorphoses,Reading Diary

Perseus and Medusa

www.gutenberg.org

 Neptune raping Medusa in Minerva's Temple

 "They say that Neptune, lord of the seas, violated her in the temple of Minerva. Jupiter’s daughter turned away, and hid her chaste eyes behind her aegis. So that it might not go unpunished, she changed the Gorgon’s hair to foul snakes. And now, to terrify her enemies, numbing them with fear, the goddess wears the snakes, that she created, as a breastplate.’"

My goodness there is so much raping of the poor unwilling human virgins  or any female, and then angry jealous goddesses punishing the rape victims for being a victim to add insult to injury. It would appear that it is detrimental to be born beautiful. You are not even safe from the Gods and Goddesses, in fact it puts a bulls eye on your back. Medusa got a rough deal. Just like Callisto. Just like a lot of women who were punished for being victims. In so many ways I see the parallels with modern times. The more that times change, the more they stay the same. I wonder if we just keep being stuck in the old archetype roles and retelling the same old story, just with an updated look or language. At least for the sake of mythology and folklore I think this is the case.

Ovid is telling the story of Perseus and Medusa in a strange point of view. Perseus is the archetype hero and he of course is known for his heroic deeds and so Andromeda's family is asking about the Medusa head that he drags around everywhere turning things into stone,like Atlas into Mount Atlas.

Week 2, Reading Diary B, Noah: The Tower of Babel,Reading Diary

Noah: The Tower of Babel

en.wikipedia.org Tower of Babel

The enterprise was neither more nor less than rebellion against God, and there were three sorts of rebels among the builders. The first party spoke, "Let us ascend into the heavens and wage warfare with Him;" the second party spoke, "Let us ascend into the heavens, set up our idols, and pay worship unto them there;" and the third party spoke, "Let us ascend into the heavens, and ruin them with our bows and spears."

This is interesting to me that at this point the people believe that God dwells in a physical place that can be reached by humans and that God could be hurt by humans.

 I chose this story because this story has always seemed strange to me. How all the different languages came about. I do not know much about linguistics but I doubt that they believe this bit of mythology either. I think that the story is very old and has some misunderstood aspects. I understand this story more as a cosmogony to answer how many languages and cultures were made, but this is not really what happened.

I think about the most amazing megalithic buildings that exist all over our planet and the tales of Atlantis a time of great technology. I believe that perhaps the time of Noah corresponds to the timeline of Atlantis-the deluge. I think the story of the tower of babel may predate the deluge.

Many, many years were passed in building the tower. It reached so great a height that it took a year to mount to the top.

Holy cow that is a tall building. Nope, I do not believe that they have or will find this place archeologically. I think it sank to the bottom of the ocean.

They never slackened in their work, and from their dizzy height they constantly shot arrows toward heaven, which, returning, were seen to be covered with blood. They were thus fortified in their delusion, and they cried, "We have slain all who are in heaven."

Are you kidding me? Shooting arrows into the sky? Were they actually killing each other while building this thing? What could possibly motivate a large cultural civilization to undertake this type of physically demanding feat of building this massive building to start a war with God. Would it not beg to ponder that maybe it was a rocket ship they built to launch into the sky? If you remember the stories in the Bhagavad Gita it sounds like some of their stories of the wars in heaven with gods.

To every nation a peculiar language was assigned, Hebrew being reserved for Israel--the language made use of by God at the creation of the world.

And the beginning the word was god. things that make you go, Hmmm.