If you are looking to comment on a storytelling post, I am done for the semester...I have an A!!!! I have a couple of papers to write soon, so, if you need to comment on a blog post just to get your points, you could pick any of the individual stories on my Project Page.
Thanks!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Portfolio Index Page
Based on Ovid's story Deucalion and Pyrrha, this is a story about one of the rocks that didn't quite make the transition into a human.
(Deucalion & Pyrrha Repopulate the Earth. Source: Wikipedia Commons)
This story was inspired by one line in the story of Famine in Ovid's Metamorphosis III. “Famine” is a myth about how Ceres decides to torment men with hunger for cutting down her oak tree. In the second paragraph of this story, it is said that "fate does not allow Famine and Ceres to meet." In the myth, Ceres contacts a mountain spirit to contact Famine for her since they are not allowed to be near each other.
(The Three Fates. Source: Wikipedia)
This story was inspired by a proverb from the Plantation Proverbs story that is in the Br'er Rabbit I unit. I had a lot of fun writing this story.
(A Slave Cabin in Barbour County Near Eufaula. Source: Library of Congress)
This story was inspired by the story of Patussorssuaq, Who Killed His Uncle from the Eskimo Folk Tales unit. This story is a little "I boiled your bunny" but I had a blast writing it.
Saint Benedict Curing an Obsessed Etching after L. Carracci. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
This story was inspired by the story The First War from the Apache Tales Unit. This story turned into a voodoo journey before I knew it but, I believe, turned out pretty good.
Affaire de Bizoton 1864. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
This is my Portfolio Index for Mythology-Folklore, Spring 2015.
Week 13, Reading Diary B: Grimm (Librivox)
Grimm (Librivox)
Jorinda and Jorindel
This story is about an old fairy that lived in a castle in the middle of the woods. When a man came near her castle, he would freeze until she came and set him lose. If a woman came near her castle, she would turn them into a nightingale and keep them in a birdcage in her house. One time a couple had gotten lost in the woods and of course, they got too close to the castle. So the man was let go and the girl was captured. After awhile he had a dream about a flower that would disenchant what the witch had done. After hunting for it for days, he finally found it and marched right into the fairy's door. He wasn't sure how he was going to find his love then he saw the fairy running away with a bird. He caught her and turned the bird back into his love. After they ran the fairy off, they changed all of the other birds.
The Fox and The Horse
This story is about a horse that was getting old. His owner told him to leave until he was stronger than a lion. The horse wandered around and finally met a fox. The horse told the fox what had happened and so the fox had a plan to help him. He told the horse to lie down and pretend he was dead. The fox left and found the lion that lived nearby. The fox told him about the dead horse and so the lion followed him. He told the lion that he needed to drag him back to his cave to eat him there and the lion agreed. The fox "tied the lion up" to the horse so the lion could drag him back to the cave, but he actually tied the lions feet up and tied him to the horse for the horse to drag back to his owner. After dragging the lion back to his owner, the owner let him back in and kept him fed for the rest of his life.
Jorinda and Jorindel
This story is about an old fairy that lived in a castle in the middle of the woods. When a man came near her castle, he would freeze until she came and set him lose. If a woman came near her castle, she would turn them into a nightingale and keep them in a birdcage in her house. One time a couple had gotten lost in the woods and of course, they got too close to the castle. So the man was let go and the girl was captured. After awhile he had a dream about a flower that would disenchant what the witch had done. After hunting for it for days, he finally found it and marched right into the fairy's door. He wasn't sure how he was going to find his love then he saw the fairy running away with a bird. He caught her and turned the bird back into his love. After they ran the fairy off, they changed all of the other birds.
The Fox and The Horse
This story is about a horse that was getting old. His owner told him to leave until he was stronger than a lion. The horse wandered around and finally met a fox. The horse told the fox what had happened and so the fox had a plan to help him. He told the horse to lie down and pretend he was dead. The fox left and found the lion that lived nearby. The fox told him about the dead horse and so the lion followed him. He told the lion that he needed to drag him back to his cave to eat him there and the lion agreed. The fox "tied the lion up" to the horse so the lion could drag him back to the cave, but he actually tied the lions feet up and tied him to the horse for the horse to drag back to his owner. After dragging the lion back to his owner, the owner let him back in and kept him fed for the rest of his life.
Old Horses with a Dog in a Stable by George Morland. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Week 13, Reading Diary A: Grimm (Libravox)
Grimm (Librivox)
The Frog Prince
This story was awesome. I have heard the stories of princesses kissing frogs to find a prince, so maybe this story is where it originally came from. The princess was tossing her gold ball by a spring and it fell in. The frog told her he could get it for her, but she would have to let him live with her and he would be her love. After the frog pulled the ball out, she got so excited that she left without saying anything else to the frog. The frog later showed up at the door and the princess was so grossed out that she shut the door in his face. Her father told her that she was not going to break her word, so they let the frog in. After three days he turned into a handsome prince.
The Mouse, The Bird, and The Sausage
This story is just weird. It's about a mouse, a bird, and a sausage that worked together to keep their household going and food on the table. They each had a job and one day the bird met some other birds that made fun of him and told him that he was a fool. The bird talked the others into switching jobs. The sausage ended up being eaten by a dog. The mouse ended up being boiled. And, the bird ended up drowned in the well.
The Traveling Musicians
This story is very cute. It is about a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster that run away from home separately and ended up all together on their way to the city to create a band. They come up on a house that had a bunch of robbers in it. The animals tried to scare them and succeeded in running them out of the house. They liked it so they stayed. One of the robbers returned when it was dark and on accident, they scared him away. They swore the house was haunted and never returned. The animals ended up staying there together. I think I might write something similar to this for my story. I still have the second half to check out first though.
The Frog Prince
This story was awesome. I have heard the stories of princesses kissing frogs to find a prince, so maybe this story is where it originally came from. The princess was tossing her gold ball by a spring and it fell in. The frog told her he could get it for her, but she would have to let him live with her and he would be her love. After the frog pulled the ball out, she got so excited that she left without saying anything else to the frog. The frog later showed up at the door and the princess was so grossed out that she shut the door in his face. Her father told her that she was not going to break her word, so they let the frog in. After three days he turned into a handsome prince.
The Mouse, The Bird, and The Sausage
This story is just weird. It's about a mouse, a bird, and a sausage that worked together to keep their household going and food on the table. They each had a job and one day the bird met some other birds that made fun of him and told him that he was a fool. The bird talked the others into switching jobs. The sausage ended up being eaten by a dog. The mouse ended up being boiled. And, the bird ended up drowned in the well.
The Traveling Musicians
This story is very cute. It is about a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster that run away from home separately and ended up all together on their way to the city to create a band. They come up on a house that had a bunch of robbers in it. The animals tried to scare them and succeeded in running them out of the house. They liked it so they stayed. One of the robbers returned when it was dark and on accident, they scared him away. They swore the house was haunted and never returned. The animals ended up staying there together. I think I might write something similar to this for my story. I still have the second half to check out first though.
Statue in Breman, Germany. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Week 12, Storytelling:
My name is Oifa and I am an air-demon. My home is a cave where I live in total darkness. I have no shape nor do I make a sound; I cannot communicate with anyone and I have been alone for the last nine hundred years. I have lost everything and the spider is my only friend. I used to be a human with a husband, stepchildren, a family, and a home but I ruined that for myself through jealousy.
My sister, Ove, and King Lir had a good marriage and four beautiful children together. Ove died after having the last one. My father felt sad for Lir and so he offered me to him as a sort of “replacement” wife. At first I loved my stepchildren and was very proud to be raising them for my sister. But, after so long of Lir waking and laying with the kids, who slept at our feet, every morning, I could not stand it anymore. We needed some privacy, but Lir would not hear any of it, so as the days wore on, the more jealous I became. I tried to have them killed. I am not proud of it, but I did. When I was refused this favor, I did the only thing I knew to do. I put a spell on them to turn them into white swans. I left them their voices and that was my undoing. Their father found them and told him what I had done. Lir told my father and he punished me to this form forever.
So, that is how I came to be who I am. A demon with no purpose but ruin. I hide out in this cave for years at a time. I have magic, but I cannot even help myself, only hurt others. What I would give to be able to talk to someone, or to be able to touch anything, to feel the grass under my feet, to smell the flowers blooming in the Spring, to feel a lover’s touch. Over the years no one has come near my cave. I used to go wander the towns that were near by, but every time I caused some sort of unintentional doom. I have noticed a young man that is herding his sheep come by every now and then. I have just now worked up the nerve to try to contact him. Sometimes when he is taking a break near the entrance of my cave, I walk up behind him, but all he notices is the brief wind I make as I try to speak to him. I hope one day soon he hears me.
Waitomo Cave Entrance by James Shook. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Author’s Note: My story is based off of the short story The Fate of the Children of Lir from the Celtic Fairy Tales II Unit. Oifa, who was the second wife of King Lir, was said to be made into an air-demon as punishment for turning his children into swans. I wondered what happened to her after her part in the story was done. The word/associations of feathers, east, spider, divination, darkness, and Thoth all come from the pagan attributes of the Air element. I figured since air was specifically said, that it probably refers to the four elements from witchcraft, which is Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
Bibliography: More Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, 1895
Monday, April 6, 2015
Week 12, Extra Reading Diary: Jewish Fairy Tales - First Half
Jewish Fairy Tales
The Water Babe
This is the biblical story of Moses. The Princess of Egypt found Moses as a baby in a basket in the Nile river. She brought him home and he grew up in the palace with the Pharaoh, the Queen, and the Princess. The magicians said he was dangerous and not to be trusted and everyone laughed at them. When Moses was three, they had a birthday party for him. He pulled the Pharaoh's crown off and was playing with it. One of the magicians said he was evil again, so they put Moses to a "trial". The put fire and jewels in front of him. If he grabbed the jewels he was evil and would be put to death. If he grabbed the fire, he was just a foolish child. The magician that said he was NOT evil gave the princess a staff that would grant her wishes, so she wished for Moses to grab the coal. She wanted the staff to protect him, but he would not give it to her because he said Moses would have it later. When Moses left Egypt, he married that magician's daughter and the staff became his.
The Giant of the Flood
There was a Giant that wanted on Noah's ark before the flood. He said he would bring Noah a Unicorn if he would save him too. Noah said he was a devil and didn't want to save him, but told him if he brought a Unicorn he would save him if he would be his servant. The Unicorn was so big that he had to be tied to the boat and was allowed to swim. As the Unicorn floated past the Giant, he jumped on the Unicorn and told Noah that he would eat all the food that was meant for the Unicorn. The Phoenix was a good bird on the boat, so Noah told him he would never die. The Lion got a fever. The Giant was boasting that no mortals would be able to be the master of him, but Noah told him that the mortals would outlive him. Noah and the Giant went around the world planting food. They planted a grape vine and the Giant gave four offerings: a lamb, a lion, a pig, and a monkey so that when man drank the wine of grapes, there were four levels of acting for his drinking...like a lamb, a lion, a pig, or a monkey.
The Water Babe
This is the biblical story of Moses. The Princess of Egypt found Moses as a baby in a basket in the Nile river. She brought him home and he grew up in the palace with the Pharaoh, the Queen, and the Princess. The magicians said he was dangerous and not to be trusted and everyone laughed at them. When Moses was three, they had a birthday party for him. He pulled the Pharaoh's crown off and was playing with it. One of the magicians said he was evil again, so they put Moses to a "trial". The put fire and jewels in front of him. If he grabbed the jewels he was evil and would be put to death. If he grabbed the fire, he was just a foolish child. The magician that said he was NOT evil gave the princess a staff that would grant her wishes, so she wished for Moses to grab the coal. She wanted the staff to protect him, but he would not give it to her because he said Moses would have it later. When Moses left Egypt, he married that magician's daughter and the staff became his.
The Giant of the Flood
There was a Giant that wanted on Noah's ark before the flood. He said he would bring Noah a Unicorn if he would save him too. Noah said he was a devil and didn't want to save him, but told him if he brought a Unicorn he would save him if he would be his servant. The Unicorn was so big that he had to be tied to the boat and was allowed to swim. As the Unicorn floated past the Giant, he jumped on the Unicorn and told Noah that he would eat all the food that was meant for the Unicorn. The Phoenix was a good bird on the boat, so Noah told him he would never die. The Lion got a fever. The Giant was boasting that no mortals would be able to be the master of him, but Noah told him that the mortals would outlive him. Noah and the Giant went around the world planting food. They planted a grape vine and the Giant gave four offerings: a lamb, a lion, a pig, and a monkey so that when man drank the wine of grapes, there were four levels of acting for his drinking...like a lamb, a lion, a pig, or a monkey.
Grapevine in Tuscany. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Week 12, Reading Diary B: Celtic Fairy Tales II
Celtic Fairy Tales II
Elidore
This story is about a boy that was supposed to become a cleric one day. He was a lazy child that didn't want to learn. After remembering the Bible verse "Spare the rod and spoil the child," the rod was used whenever he forgot his letters. The more he was hit, the less he learned. At some point, he couldn't take it anymore and wandered around until he found the mouth of a cave. Pigmies (elves or fairies) show up and take him to their land where he can play forever. The King appoints him to take care of his son. He started missing his mother, so he asked if he could visit her. He went back and forth for some time. His mother thought that the balls they played with in the other world were gold, so the boy brought one to his mother. But, before he could show her, he tripped and the elves grabbed the ball and ran off. When it came time for him to go back with the elves, he could not find the entrance to their world.
The Ridere of Riddles
A king had two sons by two different women. When the current wife realized that her son was not first in line to be king, she decided to poison the king's first son. The queen's own son heard what she was trying to do and warned his half brother. The oldest put some of the poison in a bottle and he and his younger brother left. They wondered about the poison, so they ended up giving it to their two horses. Both fell dead. The ravens were picking from the carcass' and they ended up dying also. They took the ravens to the next town and had them made into pies. Not long after that, robbers stole their pies and then they died also. They stole all the gold from the robbers and went to see the Knight of Riddles. If you could pose a riddle that he could not solve, you were able to wed his daughters. The story takes a weird turn and has giants and people getting married...it was a really good story until that point...
Elidore
This story is about a boy that was supposed to become a cleric one day. He was a lazy child that didn't want to learn. After remembering the Bible verse "Spare the rod and spoil the child," the rod was used whenever he forgot his letters. The more he was hit, the less he learned. At some point, he couldn't take it anymore and wandered around until he found the mouth of a cave. Pigmies (elves or fairies) show up and take him to their land where he can play forever. The King appoints him to take care of his son. He started missing his mother, so he asked if he could visit her. He went back and forth for some time. His mother thought that the balls they played with in the other world were gold, so the boy brought one to his mother. But, before he could show her, he tripped and the elves grabbed the ball and ran off. When it came time for him to go back with the elves, he could not find the entrance to their world.
The Ridere of Riddles
A king had two sons by two different women. When the current wife realized that her son was not first in line to be king, she decided to poison the king's first son. The queen's own son heard what she was trying to do and warned his half brother. The oldest put some of the poison in a bottle and he and his younger brother left. They wondered about the poison, so they ended up giving it to their two horses. Both fell dead. The ravens were picking from the carcass' and they ended up dying also. They took the ravens to the next town and had them made into pies. Not long after that, robbers stole their pies and then they died also. They stole all the gold from the robbers and went to see the Knight of Riddles. If you could pose a riddle that he could not solve, you were able to wed his daughters. The story takes a weird turn and has giants and people getting married...it was a really good story until that point...
Drawing by John Bauer. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Week 12, Reading Diary A: Celtic Fairy Tales II
Celtic Fair Tales II
The Fate of the Children of Lir
This story is about the children of King Lir (duh). King Lir marries Ove, who is the eldest child of Oilell. They have four kids and then Ove dies. King Lir then marries Ove's sister, Oifa. Oifa is awesome at first, but then she started becoming jealous of Lir's children. Oifa took the four children on a journey to kill them. She asks someone else to kill the children, but they refuse. Oifa then tells the children to go into the Lake of Oaks to take a bath. As soon as they were in the lake, Oifa put a spell on them to make them 4 swans. She told them that they would stay that way until Lairgnen and Deoch wed. When she returns, King Lir figures out that she has done something with the kids. He goes to the lake and speaks to the swans and they tell him what has happened. For Oifa's punishment, she is turned into what she thinks is the worst shape on the earth, an air-demon. She flew away. I was wondering what happened to her when she left, so I think I may write a story on that little detail. Long story short, they finally become human again and then die. The end.
Dream of Owen O'Mulready
This is a short story about a man who couldn't dream named Owen. He was working one day and told his master that he had never had a dream before. The master then told him to go home and clean out his fireplace and sleep in there and he was sure to dream. His wife, Margaret, slept with him in the chimney. Not long after, there was a knock at the door. There was a letter from the master that was to go to America. He ran from place to place and everyone he met knew who he was. He finally got to the ocean and could go no more. A crane told him to get on her back and she would take him across. Half way over she got tired and told him to get off. He refused! There was a thrasher above them and so he asked the thrasher to let him hang on his flail so he could give the crane a rest. The crane took off and left him hanging there. Luckily a ship came by soon and was trying to get him into the ship. He dropped his shoe to see if the ship was under him so he could fall down and all of a sudden his wife yelled because she had just been hit in the head with a shoe. When he woke up, he was climbing the chimney and was half-way up. He decided he didn't ever want to have another dream.
The Fate of the Children of Lir
This story is about the children of King Lir (duh). King Lir marries Ove, who is the eldest child of Oilell. They have four kids and then Ove dies. King Lir then marries Ove's sister, Oifa. Oifa is awesome at first, but then she started becoming jealous of Lir's children. Oifa took the four children on a journey to kill them. She asks someone else to kill the children, but they refuse. Oifa then tells the children to go into the Lake of Oaks to take a bath. As soon as they were in the lake, Oifa put a spell on them to make them 4 swans. She told them that they would stay that way until Lairgnen and Deoch wed. When she returns, King Lir figures out that she has done something with the kids. He goes to the lake and speaks to the swans and they tell him what has happened. For Oifa's punishment, she is turned into what she thinks is the worst shape on the earth, an air-demon. She flew away. I was wondering what happened to her when she left, so I think I may write a story on that little detail. Long story short, they finally become human again and then die. The end.
Dream of Owen O'Mulready
This is a short story about a man who couldn't dream named Owen. He was working one day and told his master that he had never had a dream before. The master then told him to go home and clean out his fireplace and sleep in there and he was sure to dream. His wife, Margaret, slept with him in the chimney. Not long after, there was a knock at the door. There was a letter from the master that was to go to America. He ran from place to place and everyone he met knew who he was. He finally got to the ocean and could go no more. A crane told him to get on her back and she would take him across. Half way over she got tired and told him to get off. He refused! There was a thrasher above them and so he asked the thrasher to let him hang on his flail so he could give the crane a rest. The crane took off and left him hanging there. Luckily a ship came by soon and was trying to get him into the ship. He dropped his shoe to see if the ship was under him so he could fall down and all of a sudden his wife yelled because she had just been hit in the head with a shoe. When he woke up, he was climbing the chimney and was half-way up. He decided he didn't ever want to have another dream.
From the UN-Textbook.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Week 11, Extra Reading Diary: West Africa (First Half)
West Africa
Thunder and Anansi
This story is about a man named Anansi who had a wife and children. There was a great famine in their land and as Anansi was looking out to sea, he saw a palm tree on an island. He was so hungry that he tried to figure out a way to get to it. There was an old boat that was near by so he went to the island and climbed the tree. When he threw the nuts down to the boat they went straight into the water. When he got down from the tree and jumped in the water after the nuts, he was all of a sudden in front of a cottage. The guy in the cottage told him he could have a pot that would "create" food when asked. Anasi was selfish and hid it from his family while they started. His son, Kweku Tsin, found out his secret and told his mom and family about it. To make Anansi suffer, they took the pot to town and tried to feed everyone. The pot melted from trying to produce so much food. Anansi went back to get another pot and the man gave him a stick. The stick then proceeded to beat the snot out of him. The end. I'm not really sure what Thunder had to do with this story though...
Tit for Tat
In this story, there is yet another (or the same) famine going on. Anansi's son, Kweku Tsin, had found a spot where there was ample animals to kill. He would go there and kill an animal and then sell it, which meant he was making a lot of money. His father got jealous and decided to find out where all the animals were. His father found them and killed them all and then tried to take them into town to sell them. His son figured out what he was up to, and rigged up a "god" that he put in his father's path and basically conned him out of all of the meat he was going to sell. The son ended up with all the meat and was able to sell it and became rich. After the famine was over, the son had a big feast and told the story about his dad and the "god" and embarrassed the snot out of his dad :)
Thunder and Anansi
This story is about a man named Anansi who had a wife and children. There was a great famine in their land and as Anansi was looking out to sea, he saw a palm tree on an island. He was so hungry that he tried to figure out a way to get to it. There was an old boat that was near by so he went to the island and climbed the tree. When he threw the nuts down to the boat they went straight into the water. When he got down from the tree and jumped in the water after the nuts, he was all of a sudden in front of a cottage. The guy in the cottage told him he could have a pot that would "create" food when asked. Anasi was selfish and hid it from his family while they started. His son, Kweku Tsin, found out his secret and told his mom and family about it. To make Anansi suffer, they took the pot to town and tried to feed everyone. The pot melted from trying to produce so much food. Anansi went back to get another pot and the man gave him a stick. The stick then proceeded to beat the snot out of him. The end. I'm not really sure what Thunder had to do with this story though...
Palm Tree at Buffalo Beach, Whitianga. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Tit for Tat
In this story, there is yet another (or the same) famine going on. Anansi's son, Kweku Tsin, had found a spot where there was ample animals to kill. He would go there and kill an animal and then sell it, which meant he was making a lot of money. His father got jealous and decided to find out where all the animals were. His father found them and killed them all and then tried to take them into town to sell them. His son figured out what he was up to, and rigged up a "god" that he put in his father's path and basically conned him out of all of the meat he was going to sell. The son ended up with all the meat and was able to sell it and became rich. After the famine was over, the son had a big feast and told the story about his dad and the "god" and embarrassed the snot out of his dad :)
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Week 11, Reading Diary A: Celtic Fairy Tales I
Celtic Fairy Tales I
The Field of Boliauns
This story is about a man named Tom that saw a Leprechaun one day. The Leprechaun has a pitcher of beer and Tom wants to try it out. The Leprechaun was not very nice and was kind of being a bi*ch about it, so Tom got pissed and snatched him up, spilling the pitcher of beer in the process. That really made Tom mad, so he told the Leprechaun that he would kill him if he did not show him where his gold was. The Leprechaun told him it was under a specific boliaun in a field full of boliauns. Tom didn't have anything to dig with, so he put a red garter on the boliaun and went to get a shovel. He told the Leprechaun not to touch the garter, which he didn't. When Tom came back though, all the boliauns in the field had an identical red garter.
The Field of Boliauns
This story is about a man named Tom that saw a Leprechaun one day. The Leprechaun has a pitcher of beer and Tom wants to try it out. The Leprechaun was not very nice and was kind of being a bi*ch about it, so Tom got pissed and snatched him up, spilling the pitcher of beer in the process. That really made Tom mad, so he told the Leprechaun that he would kill him if he did not show him where his gold was. The Leprechaun told him it was under a specific boliaun in a field full of boliauns. Tom didn't have anything to dig with, so he put a red garter on the boliaun and went to get a shovel. He told the Leprechaun not to touch the garter, which he didn't. When Tom came back though, all the boliauns in the field had an identical red garter.
Leprechaun engraving. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
This story was also an interesting one and sounded vaguely similar to Snow White. There once was a king whose wife was named Silver-tree and whose daughter was named Gold-tree. Silver-tree would ask the trout in the well who the most beautiful queen in the world was and he would always answer Gold-tree. As you can imagine, Silver-tree tried to kill her daughter three different times. The third time was not the charm, though, since she ended up dying of poisoning.
Week 11, Reading Diary B: Celtic Fairy Tales I
Celtic Fairy Tales I
This weeks reading has been very interesting!
King O'Toole and His Goose
This story is about a King that loved to hunt. As he grew older, he was unable to keep up his hunting, but got a goose to keep him company and to do some hunting for him. The goose would swim over the lake and catch fish for the King on Friday's. After time, the goose grew old too. Along comes St. Kavin, and he tells the King that he will make his goose young again if he gives St. Kavin the land that the goose flies over. Not long after that the goose was hunting for fish and accidentally grabbed an eel that killed her, although it wouldn't eat her since she had been blessed.
The Tale of Ivan
This story is about a man named Ivan who goes to work for a farmer away from his home. The farmer said he would tell Ivan a piece of advice instead of his wages. This happened for three years straight.
The advice given was:
1. Never leave the old road for the sake of a new one
2. Never lodge where an old man is married to a young woman
3. Honesty is the best policy
After three years, the farmer gave Ivan a cake and told him to break it as soon as they were at their happiest. Long story short, the advice saved Ivan's hide two times and the last time it lead to him getting a job as a servant of the King. After he and his wife opened the cake, the three years wages was in the middle.
This weeks reading has been very interesting!
King O'Toole and His Goose
This story is about a King that loved to hunt. As he grew older, he was unable to keep up his hunting, but got a goose to keep him company and to do some hunting for him. The goose would swim over the lake and catch fish for the King on Friday's. After time, the goose grew old too. Along comes St. Kavin, and he tells the King that he will make his goose young again if he gives St. Kavin the land that the goose flies over. Not long after that the goose was hunting for fish and accidentally grabbed an eel that killed her, although it wouldn't eat her since she had been blessed.
The Tale of Ivan
This story is about a man named Ivan who goes to work for a farmer away from his home. The farmer said he would tell Ivan a piece of advice instead of his wages. This happened for three years straight.
The advice given was:
1. Never leave the old road for the sake of a new one
2. Never lodge where an old man is married to a young woman
3. Honesty is the best policy
15 Signs He or She May Be A Golddigger by Jiposhy.com. Source: Flikr
Week 11, Storytelling: Foolish George
There once was a boy named George that lived on a farm with his mother and father. He was an only child and his father was a drunk. Some days his father would wander around in the woods behind the farm and George would follow him to make sure that he did not hurt himself. One day his father broke his ankle in a hole but he wasn’t strong enough to support him so he could walk back to the house. His father told him to run back to the farm and get a hand saw. When he came back, his father pointed to a thick limb and had him cut it down. There was a V-shape at the top that worked perfectly as a crutch. After some extra pruning, his father and George made their way back to the house.
Years later, George was just an old homeless man living under a bridge in London. Everyday he would go beg on the streets for money, food, or whatever anyone was willing to give. The only possession he had was the walking stick that his father had used when he was a boy and had kept for the rest of his life. George always took the stick with him no matter where he went because it was his only possession.
One day while George was on the corner begging, a man in a suit was walking by and stopped in front of him
“Where did you get that stick?”, the man asked excitedly.
“I’ve had this since I was a boy, I didn’t steal it sir!”, George answered defensively.
“I’m sorry, I did not mean to offend you”, the man started, “but was only interested in where you cut your stick from.”
George thought about whether or not to answer the man and he figured what harm could come from telling him. “I cut it for my father when I was a child at our old homestead, but it has long been sold and tore down.”
“That is okay. Can you remember how to get to the property and the tree?” the man asked, still visibly excited.
“Yes, I can. Why do you want to know?”
“Because I, dear sir, am going to make both of us very rich!”
The man immediately grabbed George by the arm and began to drag him down the street with him. As they walked, George learned that the man’s name was Gwydion, an old and powerful sorcerer and that had been looking for the tree for a very long time. George did not believe him at first since he looked like a man in his 30’s and was wearing a business suit. Gwydion took George to the passenger side of a very expensive car and helped him inside. They took off immediately with George giving directions.
When they arrived at the property, Gwydion went to the trunk and pulled out two shovels. He carried them and followed George as he instructed George to lead him to the tree. When they arrived, Gwydion asked if George would help him dig. George figured what did he have to lose.
They soon came to a flat rock and Gwydion seemed to be about to bust out of his skin.
“What has got you so excited, boy?” asked George.
“Like I said, old man, I have been searching for this tree for a very long time, longer than you have been alive. Will you come with me?” Gwydion asked as he pulled back the rock and exposed a staircase.
When George peered into the hole, he was scared. More scared than he had ever been, but Gwydion had assured him that it was perfectly safe and that he would soon have more money than he knew what to do with. George had never had money and had even less the older he got. He was starting to get excited himself and soon he was about to bust out of his skin with excitement also.
As they descended the stairs, the first thing they saw was a bell. George leaned over, getting close since it was dark.
“DO NOT touch that if you know what is good for you.” Gwydion half yelled. “Just whatever you do, do not. Touch. That. Bell.”
As they ventured further into the cave, they came to an open cavern. The floor was covered in rows and rows of sleeping warriors, their hands folded over their chests. In the middle of the room was a round table, all of the men there were bent over the table and sleeping themselves. But at the head of the table was a man who seemed to defy description. He was tall, even sitting down, you could tell that. He had a very handsome face and was adorned in jewelry and a crown.
“That, is King Arthur.” Gwydion pointed and whispered to George.
“THE King Arthur?” George asked. He could not believe what he was seeing. This was a myth that mothers and fathers told their boys when they were little, not a real living man.
“They are asleep, and I assure you they are real, but they are not mortal.” Gwydion said.
“They have been placed here by Arthur himself to come back when they are needed most. The bell is what will wake them, so no matter what, again, do NOT touch the bell on the way out.”
At that moment George noticed the big pile of gold at the back of the cavern. They both grabbed their fill and were headed out when George decided he wanted to meet King Arthur and wanted to see what it would look like if all of those warriors stood up at once. As they were leaving, he reached over and rang the bell as loud as he could.
Gwydion turned around and yelled “FOOL! You have doomed yourself now.”
At that moment George turned back to face the cavern and found himself face to face with the great King. George didn’t have a moment to get a word out. He was grabbed by the throat and dragged back to the cavern. King Arthur laid him down next to a warrior and touched him on the head. George fell into a deep sleep along with the other warriors only to be awoken when they were needed most.
When they arrived at the property, Gwydion went to the trunk and pulled out two shovels. He carried them and followed George as he instructed George to lead him to the tree. When they arrived, Gwydion asked if George would help him dig. George figured what did he have to lose.
They soon came to a flat rock and Gwydion seemed to be about to bust out of his skin.
“What has got you so excited, boy?” asked George.
“Like I said, old man, I have been searching for this tree for a very long time, longer than you have been alive. Will you come with me?” Gwydion asked as he pulled back the rock and exposed a staircase.
When George peered into the hole, he was scared. More scared than he had ever been, but Gwydion had assured him that it was perfectly safe and that he would soon have more money than he knew what to do with. George had never had money and had even less the older he got. He was starting to get excited himself and soon he was about to bust out of his skin with excitement also.
As they descended the stairs, the first thing they saw was a bell. George leaned over, getting close since it was dark.
“DO NOT touch that if you know what is good for you.” Gwydion half yelled. “Just whatever you do, do not. Touch. That. Bell.”
As they ventured further into the cave, they came to an open cavern. The floor was covered in rows and rows of sleeping warriors, their hands folded over their chests. In the middle of the room was a round table, all of the men there were bent over the table and sleeping themselves. But at the head of the table was a man who seemed to defy description. He was tall, even sitting down, you could tell that. He had a very handsome face and was adorned in jewelry and a crown.
“That, is King Arthur.” Gwydion pointed and whispered to George.
“THE King Arthur?” George asked. He could not believe what he was seeing. This was a myth that mothers and fathers told their boys when they were little, not a real living man.
“They are asleep, and I assure you they are real, but they are not mortal.” Gwydion said.
“They have been placed here by Arthur himself to come back when they are needed most. The bell is what will wake them, so no matter what, again, do NOT touch the bell on the way out.”
At that moment George noticed the big pile of gold at the back of the cavern. They both grabbed their fill and were headed out when George decided he wanted to meet King Arthur and wanted to see what it would look like if all of those warriors stood up at once. As they were leaving, he reached over and rang the bell as loud as he could.
Gwydion turned around and yelled “FOOL! You have doomed yourself now.”
At that moment George turned back to face the cavern and found himself face to face with the great King. George didn’t have a moment to get a word out. He was grabbed by the throat and dragged back to the cavern. King Arthur laid him down next to a warrior and touched him on the head. George fell into a deep sleep along with the other warriors only to be awoken when they were needed most.
(King Arthur, Pyle. Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Authors Notes: This story is based on the story of Arthur in the Cave in the Welsch (Thomas) Unit. I originally wrote this story during the second week of class. I, obviously, had not figured out how exactly everything worked, so I wrote a story based on my extra reading of that week, which was Ovid's Metamorphosis I. My reading this week was the first Celtic Fairy Tales.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Week 10, Extra Reading Diary: Brothers Grimm (Hunt) (Second Half)
Brothers Grimm Hunt, Second Half
This story was so awesome. I haven't heard of this retold anywhere before so it was exciting to read a Grimm story without any kind of preconceived notions. This story is about a man who is good at nothing but fighting in wars. His brothers are douches and won't help him out when the war is over. He ends up meeting the devil and is told that if he can wear a bearskin for 7 years without taking a bath or combing his hair he would have a good life and the coat he had during those 7 years would always have money in it. The man then helps an old guy who has 3 daughters. Of course the older ones don't want anything to do with him cause he's filthy and hasn't taken a bath in 5 years, but the youngest one agrees to marry him for helping her father. After 2 more years, he is able to take a bath and is awesome looking and goes back to get his bride, but the 2 older sisters are fawning all over him and he then tells them, beotch please, you didn't want anything to do with me before, I'm here for your hot younger sister. And they live happily ever after.
A Desert Hedgehog by Max Korostischeveski. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
This story was also very cool since I had never heard anything about it either. This couple has a kid that is half hedgehog and half boy. The family gets tired of having him around because hes weird so the boy rides a rooster into the forest and hangs out in the trees all day watching his pigs. There are 2 kings that get lost in the forest. One's daughter is a beotch and she gets her comeuppances later after hedgehog boy pokes the crap out of her with his spikes. The other kings daughter isn't that crazy about him, but she does what she has to do. Somehow the hedgehog part of the boy is burned off (?) and he is now a handsome young man. So the 2nd king wins the game.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Week 10, Storytelling: Sticks and Bones
In a small metaphysical shop in the middle of the French Quarter, there is a woman standing outside her door. Her shop has been here for over forty years and is full of new things and of things older than she is. This is the first place visitors go on their witchery tours of New Orleans. She is known to her friends and customers as Miriam, but her true identity is much more...serious.
After the tour joins her, Miriam scuttles around her shop as the new group shifts about looking at things, picking them up, turning them over in their hands. She stops and talks to everyone that is there. Usually, people only buy one or two things, just to say they bought something at a ‘real Voodoo store in New ‘awlins’, but sometimes she had special visitors show up. Today, that person was in this group and she was a powerful one. The girl wasn’t aware of her full potential, but Miriam could see it right away. As the girl went from shelf to shelf, running her hands over some stones, she stopped in front of a set of bones. She stood there and cocked her head like she was trying to make sense of them. Miriam walked up behind her and stood for a minute and watched. Miriam stepped beside her and touched her arm.
“Those are bones for throwing,” she said softly.
“What is that?” the woman said as she turned her head slightly and looked at Miriam out of the corner of eye.
“It’s a way of telling the future, like tea leaf reading, tarot, or palm reading. What is your name, honey?” Miriam asked.
“Lucy,” she returned with a smile. There was something about this old lady she liked, she thought.
“Well, Lucy, you ought to pick out a pair and maybe I can show you how to work them.”
“Oh, no, I can’t,” she said as she flipped over the bag to look at the price. “Yeah, I can’t,” she sighed as she placed them back on the shelf. “I’ve overspent on this trip already. These aren’t that much, I know, but I just can’t.”
Miriam looked around and turned back to Lucy. “Can you come back later, by yourself?”
“Uh...yes, ma’am. Probably so, why?” Lucy asked timidly.
“Well, you just come back by around nine and we will talk then,” Miriam said as she gave her a little wink.
“Oh, I better get going! it looks like the tour is leaving me,” Lucy said as she started walking towards the door. “I will see you later!” she called behind her as she waved goodbye.
At nine o’clock, the bell over the door rang as Lucy walked in. She looked around at the shop she had visited earlier during the day. It had a whole different feel at night. Candles were lit and there was a thicker incense smell than before, too. She breathed deeply and closed her eyes. As she was exhaling, Miriam walked out from the back of the store.
“Hello, Lucy. I’m so glad you came back,” Miriam said as she walked up to Lucy and grabbed both of her hands.
“Me too,” Lucy said as Miriam gave her hands a squeeze.
“Well, let’s just cut right to the chase shall we. I don’t know if you know it or not, but you are one powerful little girl,” Miriam said as she walked towards the back of the store.
Lucy stopped in mid-step. “What are you talking about? This,” she gestured around the room referencing Voodoo in general. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“No, I’m not, and I don’t think we have time to ease you into this. Things are a little more...dire than I realized earlier today,” Miriam spat as she grabbed Lucy by the arm and started pulling her to the back room.
The room was small with a little table centered in front of the fireplace. There were small altars all around the room, each one designated for a different deity or ancestor. Miriam gestured at one of the seats.
“Sit down, please. We need to get started,” Miriam said as she sat down and grabbed a bag from underneath her chair. It was the bag that Lucy had been looking at earlier.
“Wow, well, this escalated quickly,” Lucy laughed a little to herself.
“Yes, well, like I said, we don’t have much time to waste. My time has grown…short,” Miriam said as she poured the bones out on the table.
“First off, my name is Miriam. I am a priestess of Voodoo, as you probably already know, but I have another purpose,” Miriam said and looked at Lucy. She wasn’t sure if the child was ready for what she was fixin’ to lay on her, but she didn’t have a choice. “What I really am is death, not like what you think of as death, but that is my role.”
Lucy sat back in her chair and stared at Miriam. This is a dream, she thought, a really bad freaked out dream. Did she get some bad weed from that guy last night or what? But the more she sat processing what Miriam just said, the more right it felt. Why it felt right, she wasn’t sure, but she trusted her gut and it had never steered her wrong before.
“OK,” Lucy said. She inhaled and exhaled loudly. “What does that mean?”
Miriam was taken aback at how well Lucy just took that little bit of information. Maybe she was more capable than she originally thought, which would make the transition much easier.
“Well, that means that every night, I sit down at this table and the outcome decides the fate of the souls on this earth. Have you heard the saying ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones’...? Well, in this case, it’s ‘Sticks and bones’ but the words will hurt you.”
Lucy and Miriam leaned in close over the table and began discussing what would come next. As Miriam grabbed the bones and threw them down on the table, the candlelight touched her smile.
Lucy and Miriam leaned in close over the table and began discussing what would come next. As Miriam grabbed the bones and threw them down on the table, the candlelight touched her smile.
Affaire de Bizoton 1864. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Author's Note: This story is inspired by the tale The First War that is included in the Apache Tales unit. When I read the first paragraph of the story, it mentioned how the Raven was in charge of divining whether people would live or die by throwing a stick and then the stone pestle I thought it would be an interesting and fun twist to the idea of the ‘stick and stone’ to write something that fit in with the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." As I was typing this saying, trying to develop the story in my head, I thought about an old voodoo witch sitting at a table in a dark room throwing bones for divination, so that seemed to be the way this story ended up going. As I was writing the story, it took on a life of its own. Lucy wasn’t even a main character until I had gotten through about a quarter of the dialog. I then had to go back and work Lucy into the first couple of paragraphs to help tie everything together. The name of the main character is the name of a real Voodoo priestess.
Bibliography: Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911) New York: Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol. VIII.
Bibliography: Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911) New York: Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol. VIII.
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