Week 15 EC: Growth Mindset; My New Mantra

A picture of my new personal mantra I stumbled upon on while researching for this post. 

I was drawn to this specific challenge because I feel words have power and impact, so I thought this would be a great way to head into finals week and the summer with a new perspective on life. While searching around, I found this cool mantra and graphic for it that I have as my background on my phone now. I really think it's important to be the best version of yourself, but you still have to be yourself, not what other people think of you. I am a perfectionist and I usually try to be best person for the task when available, but sometimes you lose yourself trying to be someone "perfect" instead of someone who is real and is doing their best. Hopefully I can be real and also very close to perfect in terms of recall for my finals next week. If you're reading this, good luck on your finals and I hope you find a new mantra as well.

(Growth Mindset Challenge #6)

Week 15 Extra Credit Reading: Kalevala, Part A

A depiction of Joukahainen from the Finnish epic poem Kalevala

The Kalevala is considered to be the national epic of Finland, which is a very cool cultural thing to be able to experience in this course. My friend Hannes is from Finland and I was able to talk to him about what little I know of the Kalevala from this reading and it was cool to see him speak abiut something that was commonplace to him and very foreign to me. In this section of the story, Joukahainen challenges Väinämöinen to a contest of wisdom and is defeated. With his singing, Väinämöinen causes Joukahainen to sink into a swamp. In order to save himself, Joukahainen promises his sister' s hand in marriage to Väinämöinen. Upon learning of the bargain, the sister Aino mourns her fate and finally drowns herself. Väinämöinen searches the sea for Aino and catches her (she has been transformed into a fish) on his fishing hook. However, he loses her again and sets out to woo the maiden of Pohjola, the daughter of the North Farm. Meanwhile, eager for revenge, Joukahainen watches out for Väinämöinen on the way to Pohjola and shoots Väinämöinen's horse from underneath him as he rides across a river. Väinämöinen falls into the water and floats out to sea. There an eagle rescues him and carries him to Pohjola's shores. The mistress of Pohjola, Louhi, tends Väinämöinen until he recovers. In order to be able to return home, Väinämöinen promises that Ilmarinen the smith will forge a Sampo for Pohjola. The maiden of Pohjola, Louhi's daughter, is promised to the smith in return for the Sampo.

Bibliography: Kalevala, transcribed and translated by Elias Lonnrot. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-unit-kalevala.html

Week 15 Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Crane), Part B

A depiction from the Brothers Grimm story of Snow White originating in Germany

This unit again features famous fairy tales in an earlier and often more raw form from the Brothers Grimm of folklore legend. This unit contains the story of The Six Swans, King Thrushbeard, The Three Spinsters, and Snow-White. In Snow-White, a queen sits sewing at an open window during a winter snowfall when she pricks her finger with her needle, causing three drops of red blood to drip onto the freshly fallen white snow on the black windowsill. Then, she says to herself, "How I wish that I had a daughter that had skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony." Some time later, the queen gives birth to a baby daughter whom she names Snow White, but the queen dies in childbirth a short while later. A year later, Snow White's father, the king, marries again. His new wife is very beautiful, but she is a vain and wicked woman. The new queen possesses a magic mirror, which she asks every morning, "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" The mirror always tells the queen that she is the fairest. The queen is always pleased with that, because the magic mirror never lies. But as Snow White grows up, she becomes more beautiful each day and even more beautiful than her stepmother. When the queen asks her mirror, it tells her that Snow White is the fairest. This gives the queen a great shock. She becomes envious, and from that moment on, her heart turns against Snow White, whom the queen grows to hate increasingly with time. Eventually, the angry queen orders a huntsman to take Snow White into the forest to be killed. As proof that Snow White is dead, the queen demands that he returns with her heart, which she will consume in order to become immortal. The huntsman succeeds in taking Snow White into the forest, but after raising his knife, he finds himself unable to kill her when Snow White finds out about her stepmother's plan, tearfully begging "Spare me this mockery of justice! I will run away into the forest and never come home again!". Eventually, the huntsman reluctantly agrees to spare Snow White and lets her go, bringing the queen the heart of a wild animal instead. After wandering through the forest for hours, Snow White discovers a tiny cottage belonging to a group of seven dwarfs. Since no one is at home, she eats some of the tiny meals, drinks some of their wine, and then tests all the beds. Finally, the last bed is comfortable enough for her and she falls asleep. When the dwarfs return home, they immediately become aware that there is a burglar in their house, because everything in their home is in disorder. Prowling about frantically, they head upstairs and discover the sleeping Snow White. She wakes up and explains to them what happened, and the dwarfs take pity on her and let her stay with them in exchange for housekeeping. They warn her to be careful when alone at home and to let no one in while they are working in the mountains. Meanwhile, the queen, believing that Snow White is dead, asks her mirror once again: "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" The mirror tells her that Snow White is still the fairest in the land. The queen is furious when she learns that Snow White is still alive because of the huntsman, and decides to kill the girl herself with three attempts. First, the queen appears at the dwarfs' cottage, disguised as an old peddler, and offers Snow White colorful, silky laced bodices as a present; the queen laces her up so tightly that Snow White faints, but the dwarfs return just in time, and Snow White revives when the dwarfs loosen the laces. Next, the queen dresses as a comb seller and convinces Snow White to take a beautiful comb as a present; she brushes Snow White's hair with the poisoned comb and the girl faints again, but she is again revived by the dwarfs when they remove the comb from her hair. Last, the queen, disguising herself as a poor woman, offers Snow White a poisoned apple; at first Snow White is hesitant to accept it, so the queen cuts the apple in half, eating the white (harmless) half and giving the red poisoned half to Snow White; the girl eagerly takes a bite and falls down dead, causing the Queen to triumph. This time, the dwarfs are unable to revive Snow White. Assuming that she died, they place her in a glass casket. Three days later, a prince stumbles upon Snow White lying in her glass coffin during a hunting trip. After hearing her story from the seven dwarfs, the Prince is allowed to take Snow White to her proper resting place. Suddenly, while Snow White is being transported by the prince, one of his servants trips and loses his balance. This causes the piece of poisoned apple to dislodge from Snow White's throat, reviving her – It turns out that the princess was not deceased, but in a coma-like state (In the first edition, Snow White is carried to the palace without mishap. But later, a servant, frustrated by the inconvenience caused by the prince's fawning over her, picks up her body and hits her, and it is this that dislodges the apple.) Instantly, the prince is overjoyed that Snow White magically revived herself, declaring his love for her; immediately, he proposes to her, and Snow White agrees to marry him. Snow White and the prince invite everyone to come to their wedding party, including Snow White's stepmother. Meanwhile, the queen, still believing that Snow White is dead, again asks her magic mirror who is the fairest in the land. The mirror says that the Prince's bride is the fairest. Not knowing that the Prince's bride is her stepdaughter, the queen arrives at the wedding to investigate and is shocked to find that the bride is Snow White. She is frozen with rage and fear, but when she is about to start a pandemonium, the prince, who recognizes her as a threat to his kingdom, orders for her to wear a pair of red-hot iron slippers and dance in them until she drops dead for the attempted murder of Snow White, so that the wedding will peacefully continue.

Bibliography: Lucy and Walter Crane's Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-unit-brothers-grimm-crane.html 

Week 15 Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Crane), Part A

A depiction of Aschenputtel from the Brothers Grimm story of the same name.

This unit again features famous fairy tales in an earlier and often more raw form from the Brothers Grimm of folklore legend. This unit contains the story of The Fisherman and his Wife, Aschenputtel (known as Cinderella in English), and The Robber Bridegroom. In Aschenputtel, the German version of Cinderella, a plague rips through a village, and a wealthy gentleman’s wife is moments from death. With her last breath she tells her daughter to remain good and kind, and God will protect her. The child visits her mother’s grave every day for a year, then her father remarries another woman. The stepmother has two daughters who are beautiful but cruel and wicked. The stepsisters steal the girl’s nice clothes and jewellery, making her wear rags. They make her do all the chores in the kitchen, naming her Aschenputtel, or Ashfool. She works every day from dawn to dusk, while the other girls mock her constantly, and make more messes for her to clean. Despite this, the girl stays good and kind, returning to her mother’s grave to cry and pray. One day, the gentleman goes to visit a fair, promising to bring back lovely gifts. The eldest asks for dresses, the younger for pearls and diamonds. Aschenputtel only asks for the first twig to knock his hat off on the way. He leaves and returns, giving the gifts to the girls. Aschenputtel plants the twig over her mother’s grave, and waters it three times a day. It grows into a hazel tree, and she prays under it three times a day. A white bird begins to visit her, listening to her prayers, and passing down whatever she asks for. The king is planning a three-day festival, and invites all the maidens of the land so the prince may choose one of them for his wife. The two stepsisters are invited, but Aschenputtel, despite begging them to let her come with them, is not allowed because she has no nice clothes to wear. The girl asks again, and the stepmother throws a dish of lentils in the ashes. She says if the girl can pick up the lentils in less than two hours, she can go. The girl sings a chant, and a flock of doves fly down to help her accomplish this task in less than an hour. The stepmother then throws down twice as many lentils, but the girl cleans these up as well. The stepmother decides she cannot spoil her own daughters’ chances, and leads her husband and daughters away, leaving Aschenputtel behind, crying. Aschenputtel asks the hazel tree for clothes of silver and gold, and the bird drops down a gold and silver dress and silk shoes. She goes to the feast, and the prince dances with her most of all. Sunset arrives, and Aschenputtel asks to leave. The prince escorts her home, but she escapes into a pigeon coop, hiding. The father is already home, and the prince asks him to chop down the pigeon coop, but the girl has already escaped. On the second day of the festival, Aschenputtel appears even lovelier than before, and the prince dances with her the whole day. This time, she escapes by climbing a pear tree. The father is called to chop down the tree and begins to wonder if it is his daughter, but again she is gone. The third day arrives, and the girl is grander than ever, with slippers of gold. The prince smears the entire stairway in an attempt to keep the girl, but Aschenputtel runs away, only a golden slipper sticking in the pitch. The prince announces he will marry the woman whose foot fits that slipper. The prince arrives at the gentleman’s home, and tries the slipper on the eldest stepsister, who cuts off her toes in order to force her foot to fit. The prince and eldest stepsister ride off, but two doves tell the prince that her foot is dripping with blood. He is horrified, and returns to try the shoe on the other stepsister. She has cut off part of her heel, and again the prince is fooled. The doves tell the prince again of the blood, and the prince returns again to ask about any other girl. The gentleman says there is a kitchenmaid, but does not mention she is his own daughter. Aschenputtel is called, washes herself, and the slipper fits. The prince recognises her as the stranger, and the two are married. During the wedding, the two stepsisters are Aschenputtel’s bridesmaids, trying to win back her favor. Doves fly down again, however, and gouge out both stepsisters’ eyes as a punishment they will endure for the rest of this life.

Bibliography: Lucy and Walter Crane's Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-unit-brothers-grimm-crane.html

Week 14 Story: Rumpelstiltskin

A depiction of the Brothers Grimm character Rumpelstiltskin from the famous story

One day in a far off kingdom tucked away in a forest, a miller who was working diligently for the king and his kingdom was graced with the presence of the king himself! In an effort to impress the monarch of his land, the miller nonchalantly and falsely bragged that his daughter could spin straw into gold, thinking nothing would come of it. The king, a wealthy and greedy man, ordered the miller's daughter to be taken to his stores of straw and spin them into gold before the morning had come or else he would cut her head off. The daughter tried her hardest all night, but alas, did not have special abilities and could not do the impossible. Right as she was about to give up, a scrawny and harrowing-looking man appeared and told the daughter that he was able to do what she seeks for a deal. The daughter, relieved and thankful, gave him her necklace. The man spun all of the straw into gold in minutes and then left with her necklace.

The king arrived and saw the amazing rumor was true, and the very next night brought her to a bigger room with more straw, seeking to increase his wealth. The same thing happened yet again. The daughter tried very hard to do what the man did, but could not. The man appeared with minutes to spare again, ready to make a deal. The daughter gave him her ring, and the same result occurred. The king was astounded and brought her his largest store of straw in the kingdom with a new deal. If she could spin the straw into gold, he would marry her, and if not, she would be killed. The man again appeared in the dwindling hours of the night to make a deal. The daughter had nothing of value to offer until the man asked for her first-born son. After contemplating, she agreed. The king saw the gold in the morning and married the miller's daughter.

About a year later, the man appeared when the now queen gave birth to a son, demanding payment on his deal. She, however, realized she was the queen of the entire kingdom with an army at its disposal and wealth to live handily forever. She and the king ordered the guards to arrest and imprison the man who dared to try to steal the king's first-born son and heir. The man was arrested and never heard from again, and the king and queen lived happily ever after. 

Author's Note: I decided to take the original story of Rumpelstiltskin and an unusual twist to a story that many people know well. I had always wondered what would have happened if the miller's daughter just told Rumpelstiltskin no and didn't give him her first-born. She marries the king who can imprison the man forever and likely be safe! That idea was the foundation and inspiration for the story.

Bibliography: Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales by Dan Ashliman. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/myth-folklore-unit-brothers-grimm.html

Week 14 Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman), Part A

An image of an illustrated book of the many stories popularized by the Brothers Grimm

The Brothers Grimm are an iconic piece of almost everyone's childhood, even still today, and many may be unaware of many stories that are actually by the Brothers Grimm, such as Little Red Cap (Riding Hood) and Rumpelstiltskin. In this unit, many stories, including those two previously mentioned are covered in depth. In The Wolf and Seven Kids, a mother goat has seven kids. She goes to the forest, and warns the kids to keep an eye out for the wolf, who can be recognized by his black feet and rough voice.The wolf comes knocking and disguises his feet and voice. The kids all scramble to hide, but he finds and gobbles up all but the youngest. Mama goat returns and is distraught to only find the youngest at home. They locate the wolf snoozing, and suspect that the other kids are still alive in his belly. The wolf is sleeping so deeply they cut open his belly, and out leap the kids, all safe and sound. They stitch stones into the wolf's belly, and he drowns when he goes to take a drink in the well. In Rumpelstiltskin, a miller, who happens to be talking to the king, brags that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king has her brought to the castle, and tells her that she'll be killed if she doesn't fulfill this task. She weeps until a little man appears, and agrees to spin for her if she'll give him her necklace. Et voilà! A room full of gold. The same thing happens again, with an even larger room full of straw. This time the little man agrees to take her ring as payment. The third time, the king says she will become his wife if she succeeds. And this time, the little man wants their first-born child. The maiden agrees—what is she gonna do, just die?—and the king marries her. When she gives birth to a child, the little man reappears and reminds her of their bargain. She tries to offer him the kingdom's riches instead, but he prefers a living being. Finally, after she cries a whole lot, he agrees to give her a chance to get out of the bargain by guessing his name in three days. So she spends the next few days guessing every ridiculous name she can think of, while also sending out servants to search far and wide for clues. Finally, on the third day, a messenger gets back to her and says that on a mountain at the edge of the forest, he saw a little man hopping around and chanting a rhyme that contained his name. The queen slyly guesses a few incorrect names before asking whether it's Rumpelstiltskin. The little man is so furious that he tears himself in two.

Bibliography: Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales by Dan Ashliman. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/myth-folklore-unit-brothers-grimm.html

Week 13 Story: Long Live King Arthur?

A painting of a scene from the famous King Arthur stories of British legend

One fine morning, a little boy by the name of Arthur headed out from his home in Brighton and went to school, as it was in walking distance and his parents both work full-time jobs. Arthur was an interesting and whimsical kid that was really into magic, dragons, mythology and legends, which of course meant that he was bullied by his peers for essentially knowing himself and his identity and interests. After a particularly rough day of being picked on by Ralph and his gang of insufferable peons that bombarded him with insults, Arthur decided to take an alternate route home to avoid the trouble that was surely to be caused if he walked near Ralph and his friends.

On his clever walk home, Arthur stumbled into an abandoned construction site, the ultimate playground for someone like Arthur. After hanging out for a while, Arthur noticed a large metal pole stuck into the ground, seemingly off to the side for no reason. As Arthur approached, he heard a man's voice holler "Who goes there?!" Arthur almost ran instinctively, but decided to face this foe. The man looked to be about 70, and scuttled over to speak with him. The old man explained that only a true king of power and might could pull it out of the ground, showing Arthur that he couldn't do it. Arthur walked over and he easily pulled it out (as it was barely sticking in the ground at all).

The old man erupted and began singing praises to Arthur and his might, which Arthur took to heart and really started to believe about himself. For the rest of his young adult life, Arthur easily tolerated and dismissed is bullies because the opinions of the common people could not be taken seriously. After all, what did commoners know about the life of a king?

Author's Note: I thought it would be funny and interesting to set the premise of the beginning of "King Arthur" in a modern context, and also if Arthur was just some gullible child. I also thought it would be interesting if Merlin was just some ordinary guy that maybe just didn't know what was going on and liked to prank some kid because nothing of consequence really happens, but really ended up giving Arthur some confidence to be himself. 

Bibliography: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-king-arthur.html

Week 13 Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part B

A medieval depiction of King Arthur from British legend

After Sir Bagdemagus fails, Galahad wins a miraculous white shield marked with a red cross. The white knight who defends the shield tells Galahad its history — it comes from the days of Joseph of Aramathy and has healing powers — then the white knight vanishes. Galahad's squire, who has heard all this, asks that he may follow wherever Galahad goes. When Galahad hints that he must ride alone, the squire asks to be knighted. Galahad grants it.

Now Galahad is directed to a churchyard where a ghost howls, weakening men and driving them mad. Galahad lifts the lid of the haunted coffin, drives out a fiend, and orders the body removed from holy ground. A good man explains the allegory in the event: the body signifies the foulness of the world, corrupt with the hatred of fathers and sons — one of the reasons Christ was born of a Virgin.

Galahad and his former squire, now Sir Melias, ride together until the road forks. A magic sign says that the left fork can lead to proof of prowess, the right to proof of knightly bearing and personal virtue as well. Melias takes the left. He finds a crown on a throne in a meadow and takes it with him. A knight comes against him and nearly kills him. Galahad arrives to beat the knight and also a second knight, then takes Melias back to an abbey, where he is eventually healed. Galahad learns that in taking the left fork — the road to prowess — Melias acted with pride; in taking the crown he acted with covetousness. The two knights Galahad overcame signify Galahad's triumph over these two sins. No man with such sins in him can achieve the Grail Quest.

Soon after, while Galahad is praying in a chapel, a voice sends him to break the cruel customs of the Maidens' Castle, and he goes. For seven years the castle has been held by seven brothers who murder knights and constrain maidens. Galahad drives the brothers off (he never kills except when God wishes), and Sir Gawain, Sir Gareth, and Sir Ywain slay them. The castle, it turns out, signifies the good souls imprisoned before the Incarnation; the seven knights are the deadly sins; and Galahad is a figure of Christ. Galahad was right, Gawain learns, to let the seven flee. He and his companions are wrong in needlessly murdering. Gawain accepts this but refuses any penance, believing the pains he suffers in battle are penance enough.

Galahad, meanwhile, encounters Launcelot and Percival, who do not know him because he is disguised. He unhorses them both, and when a hermit reveals his identity he rides away from them and out of sight. Launcelot, leaving Percival to seek adventures on his own, comes to a mysterious chapel and soon falls asleep on his shield at the gate. Half-sleeping, half-waking, he sees a sick knight healed by the Grail. Launcelot tries to come fully awake but cannot stir.

The healed knight takes Launcelot's horse, helmet, and sword, and after he is gone a voice tells Launcelot he is harder than stone, more bitter than wood, and more naked than the leaf of the fig tree. He walks to a hermitage and learns what all this means. He has won renown for love of Guinevere, not for love of God; he has fought for right and wrong with equal spirit and all for personal glory or love. The time has come when he must recognize God's kingship whether he likes it or not. Launcelot laments his sins and prays that he may become a better man.

Bibliography: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-king-arthur.html

Week 13 Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part A

A depiction of the legendary King Arthur from English mythos

When the king of England, Uther Pendragon, dies, he leaves no heir, and it is proclaimed that the next rightful king will be whoever can pull out a mysterious sword that has been driven into a rock. The Wart and Kay travel to London, where a tournament is being held so that the finest knights will have the opportunity to try to remove the sword. While running an errand for Kay, the Wart removes the sword from the stone, and he is declared the next king of England.

King Arthur, as the Wart is now called, trying to hold on to his power. Of the men rebelling against Arthur, his most notable enemy is King Lot of Orkney. As the war rages on in England, Lot’s sons, Gawaine, Gaheris, Gareth, and Agravaine, compete for the affections of their mother, the beautiful but cruel Morgause. By a twist of fate, Morgause is also Arthur’s half-sister, though he does not know it. Three knights from Arthur’s court arrive at Orkney, and unaware that their king is at war with Lot, they proceed to bumble around the countryside. Although Gawaine, Gaheris, and Gareth are all decent at heart, they and their brother, Agravaine, are happiest when they are listening to stories about their proud heritage and dreaming about wars and bloody revenge.

In England, Arthur begins to plan how he will rule when the battles are finally over. With Merlyn’s guidance, he decides to use his own power and that of his fellow knights to fight for people who cannot defend themselves. Arthur creates an order of knights to fight for good, called the Knights of the Round Table. Then, with the help of two French kings, Bors and Ban, Arthur defeats Lot’s army at the battle of Bedegraine. With her four children, Morgause travels to Arthur’s court, supposedly to reconcile Arthur with Lot. While at the court, she uses magic to seduce Arthur. Arthur is not aware that Morgause is his half-sister, but the incest is still a great sin, and by sleeping with her, Arthur ultimately brings about his own destruction.

Bibliography: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-king-arthur.html

Week 12 Story: Beowolf

A depiction of the wolf that Beowolf becomes to fight his enemies.

The legend of Beowolf had traveled far and wide throughout the world, and finally King Hrothgar, having no other option to save his subjects, enlisted the services of that legend himself. After many days and nights, Beowolf and his men arrived at the sacred mead hall of King Hrothgar himself, and stayed in for a night to observe the kingdom. After a fun night of drinking enjoying the company of one another, the King finally had to ask how Beowolf had achieved all of his legendary feats, being just a mere human. Beowolf laughed and decided it would be easier to show when the time came.

Almost at that instant, the terror that had been destroying the town had reappeared, somehow sensing a worthy foe had appeared. It ripped through the town, killing and maiming everyone in his path. Beowolf looked back at the king and gave him a sly smile, almost as if saying "Watch this!". Beowolf took a running start and leaped into the air, instantly transforming in a large wolf approximately 7 feet tall on his hindlegs and 350 pounds of pure muscle. The wolf leapt at the dragon-like terror, affectionately called Grendel by the Nords, and instantly bit into its neck while it was distracted and gnawing on a fellow Nord. The monster screeched with all of its might, and tried to wrestle out of the strong jaw of the wolf, but was unable to. Grendel, after a few more minutes of thrashing about, became still. The trained observer would see that the wolf got a little bit larger and a little bit stronger, almost absorbing the strength and likeness of Grendel itself.

The town had been saved, for the time being, and the people watched as the terrifyingly powerful wolf slowly became a man once again over the course of 30 seconds or so. Beowolf slowly approached the wavering King and his royal advisors and spoke, almost in a whisper, "Drinks on me."

Author's Note: I started with the notion that Beowulf looked like the word "wolf" was in his name, and then just kind of ran with the story from there. It was also strange for me to try to understand how a man like Beowulf could destroy Grendel and his mother with ease without really doing anything other than fighting them with his bare hands, which does not seem feasible to me. Therefore, I decided if he had a superhuman power to turn into a wolf, it would make a little more sense. 

Bibliography: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs (prose adaptation in modern English). http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-beowulf.html

Week 12 Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part B

A depiction of the heroic Beowulf standing in the Great Mead Hall.

In this second half of Beowulf, Beowulf fights him unarmed, proving himself stronger than the demon, who is terrified. As Grendel struggles to escape, Beowulf tears the monster’s arm off. Mortally wounded, Grendel slinks back into the swamp to die. The severed arm is hung high in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory.

Overjoyed, Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and treasure at a feast in his honor. Songs are sung in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasts late into the night. But another threat is approaching. Grendel’s mother, a swamp-hag who lives in a desolate lake, comes to Heorot seeking revenge for her son’s death. She murders Aeschere, one of Hrothgar’s most trusted advisers, before slinking away. To avenge Aeschere’s death, the company travels to the murky swamp, where Beowulf dives into the water and fights Grendel’s mother in her underwater lair. He kills her with a sword forged for a giant, then, finding Grendel’s corpse, decapitates it and brings the head as a prize to Hrothgar. The Danish countryside is now purged of its treacherous monsters.

The Danes are again overjoyed, and Beowulf’s fame spreads across the kingdom. Beowulf departs after a sorrowful goodbye to Hrothgar, who has treated him like a son. He returns to Geatland, where he and his men are reunited with their king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf recounts his adventures in Denmark. Beowulf then hands over most of his treasure to Hygelac, who, in turn, rewards him.

In time, Hygelac is killed in a war against the Shylfings, and, after Hygelac’s son dies, Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats. He rules wisely for fifty years, bringing prosperity to Geatland. When Beowulf is an old man, however, a thief disturbs a barrow, or mound, where a great dragon lies guarding a horde of treasure. Enraged, the dragon emerges from the barrow and begins unleashing fiery destruction upon the Geats. Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter. The Geats fear that their enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is dead. According to Beowulf’s wishes, they burn their departed king’s body on a huge funeral pyre and then bury him with a massive treasure in a barrow overlooking the sea.

Bibliography: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs (prose adaptation in modern English). http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-beowulf.html

Week 12 Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part A

A depiction of Beowulf slaying the monstrous Grendel.

Beowulf is likely one of the most well-known and most influential pieces of literature in the world, and is especially important in the ancient canon of British and Celtic stories. It is one of the few surviving pieces of great literature from the Middle Ages. It is taught in many high school English classes around the United States, and the world, presumably. 

To open and preface this story: King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, enjoys a prosperous and successful reign. He builds a great mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors can gather to drink, receive gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by the scops, or bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot angers Grendel, a horrible demon who lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger, and death at the hands of Grendel. Eventually, however, a young Geatish warrior named Beowulf hears of Hrothgar’s plight. Inspired by the challenge, Beowulf sails to Denmark with a small company of men, determined to defeat Grendel.

Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow, accepts Beowulf’s offer to fight Grendel and holds a feast in the hero’s honor. During the feast, an envious Dane named Unferth taunts Beowulf and accuses him of being unworthy of his reputation. Beowulf responds with a boastful description of some of his past accomplishments. His confidence cheers the Danish warriors, and the feast lasts merrily into the night.

Bibliography: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs (prose adaptation in modern English). http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-beowulf.html

Week 11 Story: The Boy Who Became a Sheep and That's It

A photograph of the Navajo churro, the sheep that the Navajo tribe believe to be sacred.

The Tolchini, a clan of the Navajo, lived at Wind Mountains. They moved west after the young brother kept bring back food and pine boughs without rhyme or reason and the other brothers questioned his own sanity. After moving, since they had only been eating seed and grass to survive, the eldest brothers suggested that they go hunting to find food for themselves to be able to thrive and prosper instead scavenging for grass. They suggested that the youngest brother stay behind while they continued onward. After five days of no communication from his brothers, the youngest one set out on his own to find them. He camped at various caves and survived off of the land until he came across a large group of crows, that eventually morphed into Crow People that began speaking to the youngest brother in harsh whispers that terrified him. After overcoming the initial shock, he began listening to the voices and they told him about what had occurred with his brothers. They had become lost and killed 12 deer in their journey and they began telling the young brother where to go to find his family. After much walking and following their guidance, he found his brothers and told them of what the Crow People had told him. The details of their trip so closely matched the brother's retelling, that they realized that the brother had been very blessed and not gone crazy. In that moment, four ancient Gods appeared in the form of sheep and turned the young brother into a sheep much like them; however, the young brother felt no different, his form had merely just been altered. In a flash, the gods disappeared and the young brother was left in his form, a symbol of the sacred gods in Navajo culture, but no different from any other sheep. 

Author's Note: I started with the traditional Navajo story of the young boy who became a God in the form of a sheep after rescuing his brothers. I had a funny thought while reading this story that was essentially just "What if nothing else happened?" He would just be a sheep without godly powers or knowledge that improve the lives of people.

Bibliography: Judson's "Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest." http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-unit-california-and-old.html

Reading Notes: Native American Stories; California and the Southwest, Part B

An ancient Native American symbol of the Coyote, a revered animal and god in many tribes.

Coyote is a major mythological figure for most Native American tribes, especially those west of the Mississippi. Like real coyotes, mythological coyotes are usually notable for their crafty intelligence, stealth, and voracious appetite. However, American Indian coyote characters vary widely from tribe to tribe. In some Native American coyote myths, Coyote is a revered culture hero who creates, teaches, and helps humans; in others, he is a sort of antihero who demonstrates the dangers of negative behaviors like greed, recklessness, and arrogance; in still others, he is a comic trickster character, whose lack of wisdom gets him into trouble while his cleverness gets him back out. In some Native coyote stories, he is even some sort of combination of all three at once. Among the Pueblo tribes, the coyote was believed to have hunting medicine. Zuni hunters kept stone effigies of coyotes as one of their six hunting fetishes, associating coyotes with the west and the color blue. Coyotes are also used as clan animals in some Native American cultures. Tribes with Coyote Clans include the Cahuilla tribe, the Mohave, the Hopi (whose Coyote Clan is called Isngyam or Ish-wungwa), the Zuni (whose Coyote Clan name is Suski-kwe,) and other Pueblo tribes of New Mexico. Some tribes, such as the Pomo, also had a Coyote Dance among their tribal dance traditions. In some of these Native American stories, the Coyote interacts with other animals, demonstrating his key and defining characteristics in various ways that also serve to explain how things came to be, like the color of quail feathers. 

Bibliography: Judson's "Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest." http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-unit-california-and-old.html

Reading Notes: Native American Stories; California and Old Southwest, Part A

A newspaper clipping about the story book in which these great stories are housed.

For countless generations Native communities throughout North America have told stories about their worlds. in a time before written forms of communication, the storyteller used both collective memory and individual inspiration to fulfill one of several possible goals. Perhaps it might be to amuse or to instruct or to imagine. Some stories could only be told at certain times of the year. Others could not be told to all members of a village or encampment. But regardless of their purpose or their content, the stories mattered. They reflected values; they imparted lessons. They told how a place, an animal, a people came to be. As with the fables or songs or chants or ballads of different groups around the world, American Indian stories offered much in time to a wider audience curious to learn more about Native history and heritage. These stories, which include the ancient and the revered Coyote as their God and sacred animal, talk about creation of the earth from dust, the creation of man from the feathers of birds by the Coyote and becoming what is the known as the form of man, in addition to the story of Coyote as the main trickster, a classic trope used to portray the cunning of the coyote. Most of these source stories are from the Navajo in the Southwest and provide insight into their culture, what they value, how they live their lives, and what things these people held dear to them in harsh times.

Bibliography: Judson's "Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest." http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-unit-california-and-old.html

Week 10 Story: The Logical Pacifist Hiawatha

A movie poster for the 1913 film adaptation of the Native American legend Hiawatha.

On one fateful day, Nokomis, Hiawatha's grandmother, looked up from the ground pointed in the direction of the western sky and told her grandson some troubling news. There was an evil magician named Pearl-Feather who has been hoarding large sums of food and money, while also using his evil magic to spread disease amongst the population. Additionally, this Pearl-Feather had killed Hiawatha's grandfather. Hiawatha took on Nokomis' request and agreed to stop Pearl-Feather once and for all. 

Hiawatha began trekking toward the direction of Pearl-Feather's lair, and after two days of walking, he came upon a large home in the middle of a lake with pitch black water. Upon approaching the shore, fiery snakes leapt out of the water, guarding the only walkway to his home in the middle of the lake. After being unable to come up with a way past them without fighting them, he realized something strange... How were these snakes on fire, but also in water? And at that exact moment, the snakes suddenly were extinguished, and left, almost as if they were also confused by their existence. 

After walking a while, Hiawatha approached the door of the dreaded Pearl-Feather and gave it a quick knock. There was no response. Hiawatha turned to leave, and just before he left the vicinity of the house, he felt an evil presence and Pearl-Feather appeared from thin air. Hiawatha began trying to settle the incident peacefully. He explained to Pearl-Feather that his powers and wealth and riches could be used to improve the lives of others and work toward a communal good. Pearl-Feather was very hesitant, as he enjoyed doing evil things, but did realize that he was quite lonely out here on this lake and he really could change the trajectory of his life in the best way possible. Hiawatha and Pearl-Feather walked back to the village together. Upon arriving at the village, Pearl-Feather apologized and gave away his wealth to build up the community, and began using his magic to improve crop yields and vanquish disease. Perhaps violence is not always the answer after all.

Author's Note: In this version of Hiawatha story, I added an unconventional twist, given that the protagonist is often forced to use violence as a means to achieve his goals and do what he considers best for the ultimate and communal good. I focused on the retelling of his encounter with Pearl-Feather, an evil magician that hoards wealth and spreads disease, because I am the most familiar with this particular story in the realm of Hiawatha stories.

Bibliography: The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Published in 1855. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-song-of-hiawatha.html

Reading Notes: Native American Stories; Hiawatha, Part B

A depiction of the great Native American story hero, Hiawtha.

Hiawatha is one of the most influential Native American stories because of its renowned status in the literature and mythological community. In the reading, Nokomis looks toward the western sky and tells Hiawatha that a magician named Pearl-Feather lives in that direction. Pearl-Feather is evil because he hoards all kinds of food and wealth, and keeping a bunch of stuff for yourself isn't encouraged in their tight-knit village. Pearl-Feather has been sending famine and disease to Hiawatha's people, and this magician apparently killed Nokomis' father. Nokomis would like Hiawatha to go defeat Pearl-Feather, but he is guarded by fire serpents that swim in black water. When he comes near Pearl-Feather's hideout, Hiawatha runs into the fiery serpents. They tell him to head home and call it a day, but he responds by killing them all with arrows. All the animals that live in the area cheer Hiawatha on because they're sick of the evil Pearl-Feather making their lives horrible. Hiawatha fires a single arrow at Pearl-Feather's wigwam and calls him to come outside. After tricking Pearl-Feather and shooting him with three arrows, Hiawatha divides his riches and wealth amongst his people and creates communal wealth, which Pearl-Feather did not seek to do. This represents the lifestyle of Native American communities and how they value the collective good over individual wealth, which is something all cultures can learn from.

Bibliography: The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Published in 1855. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-song-of-hiawatha.html

Reading Notes: Native American Stories; Hiawatha, Part A

A depiction of the title character of the story of Hiawatha

The reading begins talking about Mudjekeewis, who is Hiawatha's father and a demigod in his own right. Mudjekeewis engages in a tough battle with Mishe-Mokwa, who is the Great Bear of the Mountains. After defeating and killing Mishe-Mokwa, Mudjekeewis becomes the Father of the Four Winds in his own right. His son, who is named Wabun and also the great East Wind, later falls in love with a maiden, whom he turns into the Morning Star, also known as Wabun-Annung. The North Wind, Kabibonokka, later attacks Shingebis, "the diver." Shingebis repels the North Wind by burning firewood and then wrestling and defeating him. Lastly, the South Wind, Shawondasee, falls in love with a dandelion, mistaking it for a golden-haired maiden. The reading goes on to describe Hiawatha's birth and early childhood, including the tales of adventuring, especially fishing, in which Hiawatha slays the ancient water God Mishe-Nahma, the king of all fishes. The story also covers Hiawatha's fasting and relationship with his demigod and Father of the Four Winds, Mudjekeewis, who is a distant and irresponsible parent to Hiawatha.

Bibliography: The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Published in 1855. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-song-of-hiawatha.html

Week 9 Story: The Monkey King Reigns

A depiction of the Monkey King from Chinese legend, Sun Wu Kung

The Handsome Monkey King, known simply as Sun Wu Kung to many, had been a huge disruption to the status quo of Heaven. Since his birth from a stone from the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, to his coronation for leading a group of monkeys upstream to the source of their river, which was near a great waterfall and cave they now reside, to his very reluctant appointment to a job in Heaven after gaining several magical and powerful artifacts that have established him as one of the greatest and most feared beings in existence. After being "promoted" to keeper of the Garden of Peaches, Sun Wu Kung, in a fiery rage, decided to plot and destroy those in Heaven who belittled and opposed him. After wreaking havoc in Heaven and defeating many celestial generals, deities, and dragon kings, it became time for someone to step in. The Buddha himself appeared before Sun Wu Kung and made a wager; if Sun Wu Kung could escape from his palm, he would not imprison him and, in fact, make him a Buddha himself and have him ascend. Sun Wu Kung vehemently agreed, and the wager was on. After many weeks of wandering and running, he had approached five large white pillars unlike anything he had ever seen in his life. Believing he had escaped Buddha and found the end of Heaven itself, he began to carve his name into a pillar. Upon further reflection and inspection, Sun Wu Kung, by sheer luck, began inspecting his own hand before finishing engraving his own name. He realized that these pillar must the edge of the Buddha's finger and quickly jumped between the pillars, falling into a void of pure darkness... 

And like that, he had caught and held open once again in the familiar air of Heaven. The Buddha had caught Sun Wu Kung after he had escaped his hand. Always a being of his word, Buddha opened the mind of Sun Wu Kung and gave him the ability to ascend into a powerful Buddha in his own right, co-ruling Heaven as Heaven's Equal, finally. 

Author's Note: In this version of this portion of the story of Sun Wu Kung, our protagonist is faced with his greatest challenge: trying to escape Buddha himself. In the original version of the myth, Sun Wu Kung cannot escape the palm of Buddha and is then enclosed and imprisoned in his fist for 500 years as punishment for wreaking havoc in heaven after being disrespected. In this version, Sun Wu Kung is successful and contributes to a sense of an unstoppable force in media, like Michael Myers from the Halloween horror franchise, which I think is an interesting idea to ponder in life. 

Bibliography: Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-monkey-king-sun-wu.html

Reading Notes: Asia, The Monkey King, Part B

A depiction of Sun Wu Kung, The Monkey King, from Chinese Legend

In this portion of the story, the Havoc in Heaven, Sun Wu Kung is given a job in Heaven by the Jade Emperor as a means to appease the disruptive Monkey King and make him more manageable. The job, however, is the Protector of the Horses, the lowest job in Heaven. To spite the Emperor, he sets the horses free and declares himself The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal. The Gods are forced to recognize his status, however the Emperor "allows" him to guard the Heavenly Peach Garden. Sun Wu Kung is left out of an important feast with every other major god and goddess, and after finding out about it, eats the Peaches of Immortality, Laozi's pills of longevity, and drinks the Jade Emperor's royal wine before he heads back to his kingdom to plot his revenge. Later, The Monkey King defeats the Heavenly Army of 100,000, the 28 constellation, 4 heavenly kings, and Nezha, as well as proving the equal of the Heavenly Generals. After a group effort of the greatest and most powerful deities in existence, Sun Wu Kung is captured. He escapes and resists all attempts to be murdered and executed by these Heavenly beings. After all of this, Sun Wu Kung smugly challenges Buddha himself and tries to escape his palm, and leaves a marking on one of five pillars after thinking he has escaped. It is shown only to be the edge of Buddha's hand, and he encloses Sun Wu Kung in his palm for losing the wager, and leaves him trapped for 500 years. 

Bibliography: Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-monkey-king-sun-wu.html

Reading Notes: Asia, The Monkey King, Part A

A depiction of Sun Wu Kung, the monkey king of Chinese legend.

At the top of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, there rested a magic rock. It eventually forms a magic womb, and a stone egg is formed from it. Wind blowing on the egg causes it to take shape into a monkey after tumbling around, and has the ability to crawl and walk. The monkey has beams of light shooting out of his eyes, and it startles the Jade Emperor in his palace. He sends agents to check on the disturbance, but after feeding the monkey, his eyes stop glowing. The monkey then befriends various animals and other monkeys and becomes beloved. After bathing in a stream, the monkey and his friends head up to find the source of the water and find a waterfall. They declare that whoever can do that will be king, and the stone monkey does this and wins, becoming their king. He begins going by the name Sun Wu Kung, or the Handsome Monkey King, and has the monkeys relocate to the cave near the waterfall to live together. Sun Wu Kung establishes himself as a demon king and searches for various weapons, like the Ruyi Jingu Bang, which is a large staff that weighs many tons, but he wields and conceals as the size of a needle behind his ear. After conquering other dragon kings and lords,  he obtains a golden chainmail shirt and a phoenix feather cap. After gaining this immense power, he befriends the Bull, Roc, Lion, and many other Demon Kings to add to his influence and power. He even overpowers death and erases his name from the Book of Life and Death. 

Bibliography: Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-monkey-king-sun-wu.html

Week 8 Progress

A funny meme I found about progress, which is today's topic of blog post

This semester has been pretty difficult, now that I am getting into some tougher upper division science courses. Biochemistry and Physics have been uniquely tough, but very challenging in a good way. In terms of this class, I have had to be able to learn to be more creative in writing and improve aspects of my writing, which I have not done since AP Language and AP Literature at my high school, which has been tough, but very rewarding to grow in any area outside of my major. That is part of a well-rounded, liberal education that creates free-thinkers and world changers. My progress in this class has been good, and I have been able to keep pace with an A, but I think I will take some time over spring break to do some extra credit assignments to bump my grade so I have more time during the school year. Besides, I will be recovering from wisdom teeth surgery, so I'll nothing better to do! Moving forward, I would like to use the grace period less and give more time and priority to this class whenever possible. I am gunning for an A, and I would like to be able to maintain a 4.0 again this semester!

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

A cool feedback meme that I found on a blog this week.

Feedback is a really important component of creating a growth mindset in an individual. I think all of the comments on my stories and storybook project have been really beneficial for me in developing as a writer and as a reader, as well. I personally feel like my comments have been overall of decent quality. I always try to encourage first, and then suggest a way that they can improve. I really do feel like the introduction blog post comments have been great and so much fun to do, since we all do not physically meet, and it brings a sense of community to the class. Looking forward, I'd like to spend more time on my comments and give greater deliberation to what I am saying to each person. Being more thoughtful is something I could improve on. 

Week 8 Reading and Writing

I chose this image because reading the story of the tar baby in dialect was a fun experience for me, and it reminds me of my childhood because Splash Mountain in Disney World is themed after the Brer Rabbit stories. 

Overall, I have been really pleased with the course and its structure. The reading and writing assignments are engaging and fun, so it's not really a hassle to complete them at all. My blog website got some reorganization and a color scheme change, so hopefully that has spiced it up and easier and more enjoyable to read. My storybook project site feels exactly the way I want it to, with my story being based on the Divine Comedy, so I'm happy with that as well. I think my biggest writing accomplishment in this class has been writing my Brother Rabbit story because I got to change the ending, dialect used, and characterizations of people in order to craft a new story that bears a striking resemblance to the original, while being its own new thing. I still think that my favorite reading so far has been The Odyssey because of its classic status in literature and how it got me into reading mythology and folklore as a younger kid, and a big reason why I took this class! Looking forward, I would just like to continue to try to spend an adequate amount of time on the reading and writing so that I get the out of each assignment. 

Week 7 Story: Brother Rabbit

A Walt Disney Productions depiction of Brer Rabbit from their adapted cartoon series. 

One day at the estate of Mr. Brother Fox, a mischievous and malicious thought entered the catacombs of his mind. Though he was indeed a man of literature and finer things, Mr. Brother Fox was still a fox, an animal with animal needs. After pondering about how to execute his plan to ensnare Mr. Brother Rabbit, he began preparing. The plan was simple: create a life-like child made of tar and turpentine that resembled a very small child. Mr. Brother Fox began sculpting the child out of tar and turpentine, then dyed the skin and painted a greatly detailed face, which was easy for him with his arts background from his study abroad year at the Paris Conservatory. After completing his masterpiece, he laid it out near where Mr. Brother Rabbit would be often approaching. Mr. Brother Rabbit, a proud Yale graduate, came around the corner and quickly noticed the baby leaning against a rock. He called out many a time to greet the child and attempt to locate the parents, but he was finding the child's lack of initiative quite disturbing. After his frustrations grew greater, Mr. Brother Fox delivered the coup de grace. He roared in a child's voice "Yale is a second rate institution and Harvard is clearly superior in all facets." Mr. Brother Rabbit, unable to control his animalistic instincts, punched the baby and quickly became stuck. After struggling and getting more stuck, Mr. Brother Rabbit gave in and Mr. Brother Fox appeared. Trying to think on his feet and escape, Mr. Brother Rabbit began pleading not be thrown into the briar patch, as it would be the worst fate of them all. Mr. Brother Fox, possessing a minor in Biology, retorted that rabbits are actually very comfortable and at home in those particular areas of nature, and was mostly just confused by his pleadings. After allowing Mr. Brother Rabbit to get his affairs in order and visit with a lawyer to set up his estate and inheritance, Mr. Brother Fox hosted a grand party, with the main course being a delectable entree of rabbit. 

Author's Note: I began thinking about the nature of the story and how dialectical language predominates to engage readers that were mostly illiterate, and I thought it would be funny and interesting to experiment with characters that were well-read, literate, intelligent, and critical thinkers. From there, I just put a twist ending on the classic Tar Baby tale. 

Bibliography: Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-brer-rabbit.html

Reading Notes: Africa, Brer Rabbit, Part B

A depiction of Brer Rabbit in Uncle Remus Songs and Sayings 

The Brer Rabbit stories, originating from the collection of stories known as Uncle Remus Songs and Sayings in the late 19th century in the post-Civil War South in the United States, serve as an important development and resource in the African-American folklore in the United States post-slavery, as these people were separated from their ancestral cultures, values, and stories by the slave trade. Additionally, these stories, written by Harris, are written in dialect, which means every word is spelled phonetically. This is important because not many African-Americans, let alone people in general, were literate in this period, which allowed these stories to be accessible to the public. In Reading B, there are stories of Brer Fox trying to trick Brer Rabbit, a slight detour from the tricky rabbit trope he has used for so long, Old Man Terrypin fishing, Tarrypin talk, which is how the turtle character speaks in the context of the story. In one thrilling story, Brer Rabbit sneaks into Brer Fox's garden in hopes of stealing his goober peas, also known as peanuts at this time. Unfortunately, Brer Rabbit is caught in a trap and help upside in the air by a rope. He shutters at what Brer Fox will do to him, but quickly notices Brer Bear approaching, who is notoriously slow. Brer Rabbit convinces Brer Bear that he is there for a job as a scarecrow and that he makes a dollar an hour being in the trap, but he'll swap with Brer Bear if he wants to make some money. Brer Bear agrees and takes his place, while Brer Rabbit steals the peanuts and heads home. 

Bibliography: Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-brer-rabbit.html

Reading Notes: Africa, Brer Rabbit, Part A

A depiction of Brer Rabbit and the Tar-Baby from the famous folklore of the American South

The stories of Brer Rabbit and many other "Brer" animals originates from the stories of Uncle Remus written in the times of the American South in the 19th century. These tales are so ingrained into the fabric of American storytelling that they even serve as inspiration for the theming of the water rollercoaster at Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain ride. These stories often involve Brer Fox, a cunning character that is always trying to eat Brer Rabbit and trying to trick him. In one instance, Brer Fox makes a "tar baby" made of sticky turpentine and tar and dresses it in clothes and sets him out. Brer Rabbit, an amiable fellow tries to talk the baby and is angered and shocked by the lack of manners of the baby and punches him, only to be stuck. After more kicking and punching, Brer Rabbit only gets more stuck, and Brer Fox ponders how to dispose of him. After feigning pleading to not be put into the briar patch above all else, even getting skinned, roasted, and murdered, Brer Fox chucks him into the briar patch, where rabbits are at home, and Brer Rabbit escapes the tar baby. This is generally the most famous of the Uncle Remus stories. This similar premise of getting caught and pleading to not be punished in a certain way that is actually beneficial is repeated in the story with Brer Fox and Old Man Terrypin, a turtle character similar to a terrapin in name. After getting caught by Brer Fox, Old Man Terrypin convinces Brer Fox that being thrown into the water would be unbearable, but it actually would be the most helpful. This idea of a trickster and antagonist has influenced many cartoons, including Disney's own cartoon of Brer stories, as well as influences in Tom and Jerry. 

Bibliography: Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-brer-rabbit.html

Reading Notes: Ancient Egyptian Myths, Part B

A depiction of the Egyptian god of the sun, Ra.

This segment of Egyptian mythology is one that I am actually familiar with and have spent some time reading before this class. Reading B covers the Tale of the Two Brothers, a classic. Anpu, who is the god Anubis, and his brother Bata live together, along with Anpu' wife. One day, the wife of Anpu attempts to seduce Bata, who remains strongly rejects her advances and is disgusted with her conduct. The wife then proceeds to tell Anpu that Bata tried to rape her and beat her up, which makes Anpu furious. Anpu tries to murder Bata, but he escapes before Anpu can finish the deed. Bata prays to Re-Harakhti, who puts a crocodile infested lake between them so that Anpu can calm down and hear Bata's side of the story. Bata explains his version of the events, and even cuts off his genitals and throws them into the lake, where a catfish swallows and consumes them. After seeing this, Anpu returns home and kills his wife. Bata heads to the Valley of the Cedars and hides his heart for Anpu to find to bring him back to life. After three years of searching, Anpu finds his heart and resurrects him in the form of a bull. After the bull is killed for food by another wife, she is impregnated by Bata as he takes the form of a tree. The child grows up to become the crown prince and ives with his brother in harmony. Another story recalls Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing, and the son of Pharaoh Ramses, whose name is Setna. Setna steals it from a tomb and a god who is upset with creates an illusion of a woman that convinces him to humiliate himself and murder his children. To appease the god, he finds the body of his wife and kids and lays them to rest, allowing them peace, and causing the events to end. This reflects the idea that knowledge, especially from the gods, is not meant for the people. 

Bibliography: Mackenzie's Egyptian Myth and Legend. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-ancient-egyptian.html

Reading Notes: Ancient Egyptian Myths, Part A

A depiction of ancient Egyptian paintings and hieroglyphs from mythos.

The mythology of ancient Egypt is one of the most iconic and influential groups of stories in the history of the world. Its effects on popular culture in America, among many other countries in the world, are very pronounced and noticeable even to this day. The story of creation, which involves Ra, the god of brightness, speaking the world into existence is reminiscent of other creation stories from various religions and mythos. Another story concerns Isis, the enchantress goddess, seeking the secret name of Ra, which gives him his power and is from his father Nu himself. Another involves the goddess of all, taking the form of the holy cow often, named Hathor and her issues with Ra ruling over men for so long. There is another story involving Anubis and how the day came to be, coming in 12 hour periods and ruling over the earth at various periods of time. Another great story involves Osiris, the god of the Underworld and Death, who is similar to Hades in Greek mythology, ushering in a new age from the Ra himself. 

Bibliography: Mackenzie's Egyptian Myth and Legend. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-ancient-egyptian.html

Week 5 Story: Aladdin and the Magician

An illustration of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from an Arabian Nights book

Now it had been many a day since Aladdin and the sultan's daughter had returned from Africa, having defeated the evil magician by tricking him into drinking a poisoned glass of wine, and the happy couple had ruled over their kingdom and lived very well in their palace. However, unbeknownst to Aladdin and the sultan's daughter, the evil magician had a brother who was supposedly even more wicked than the brother Aladdin had dealt with so long ago. This man was cunning, decisive, and cruel to the extreme. Knowing the secrets of the jinn from having practiced magic for so long, he knew the very thing that would be able to destroy Aladdin and his kingdom for having killed his brother. So, he dressed a divine, holy woman and entered the kingdom, arriving at the gates of the palace to meet with Aladdin in order to bestow a blessing from the Gods themselves. After being granted their audience with Aladdin and the sultan's daughter, the brother in disguise convinces the sultan's daughter to request a hanging roc's egg in the palace for protection and prosperity, and Aladdin, not wanting his darling love to be left unfulfilled, asks the jinn to grant his wish. At this request, the jinn begins yelling and cursing at Aladdin for such a dangerous and evil wish, as the roc is the jinn's master. Unable to listen to reason because of his immense anger, the jinn unleashes his full potential of magic into the kingdom, wiping its very existence out of the scope of this world and history, leaving only a well-polished oil lamp in the sands of the now barren desert.

Author's Note: I began with the part of Reading B of Arabian Nights where Aladdin and the sultan's daughter are together and living in prosperity, and the magician's brother returns Asia to destroy Aladdin with his wish. I changed some of the details so that the jinn's rage is too great and he is unable to see the deception from the magician's brother.

Bibliography: Scheherazade, Arabian Nights. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/myth-folklore-unit-arabian-nights.html

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part B

An illustration from the classic story of Aladdin from the Arabian Nights anthology

This specific story in the Arabian Nights reading is the basis for the Walt Disney adaptation of Aladdin, a classic and defining movie of my own childhood. Though not entirely based on the original story, it is very interesting to see the inspirations from the story itself. This story begins by introducing Aladdin, a lazy boy that lives with his mother in poverty. One day, a man appears claiming to be Aladdin's uncle and able to make him rich. His mother releases him to the man. Afterwards, the man, a magician, uses Aladdin to fetch an oil lamp in a cave, giving him a magic ring to protect him. After locating it, he refuses to hand the magician the lamp before he allows him to exit the cave, fearing that he will trap him in the cave. In a fit of rage, the magician seals Aladdin in the cave. After two full days, Aladdin accidentally rubs the ring and a jinn (genie) appears. Aladdin asks to be sent home, and the jinn complies with his wish. After cleaning the lamp, intending to sell it, an even more powerful jinn appears and grants their wish for food, at the hesitation of Aladdin's mother. After seeing the sultan's beautiful daughter, Aladdin uses the lamp jinn to conjure jewels and food and wealth to impress the sultan and win over the daughter, but his greedy vizier convinces the sultan to wait 3 months so his own son can compete. Aladdin loses the daughter, but uses the jinn to teleport him into the bed with the daughter on their wedding night and for a month until the couple divorce, allowing Aladdin to marry her. The magician hears of this and steals the lamp from the palace, transporting the palace and daughter to Africa. Aladdin uses the ring to get their, and the sultan's daughter poisons the magician, and they move the kingdom back. Later, the magician's even more wicked brother sneaks into the kingdom and tries to summon a roc for the sultan's daughter by convincing Aladdin to do so. This enrages the jinn, as the roc is his master, but realizes the trickery of the magician's brother and sparing Aladdin. The jinn grants prosperity to Aladdin and the sultan's daughter forever, and Aladdin eventually becomes the sultan himself.

Bibliography: Scheherazade, Arabian Nights. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/myth-folklore-unit-arabian-nights.html