What readings did you like best?
I think it might be easier for me to tell you out of the sections that I read which ones I liked the least because I basically like them all! I did readings starting in week two and ending in week 11, and out of all of those the ones I disliked were 22 Goblins, it was far too long and repetitive, and the riddles weren't good. I also disliked some of the stories and elements of the Eskimo Folk tales Unit, the same things kep happening over and over again and every story involved the same things- seals, whales, ghosts, cannibal, wrongful killings. I also thought the Native American Hero Tales unit could have been better labeled as something else, I didn't find what many of the characters did to make them worthy of being called heroes.
* What reading diary strategies were most effective for you?
It was most effective for me to try to sum up the plot in a sentence or two and then type down my analysis of the story. I also tried to let my min run free in the moment and I would try to write down storytelling ideas immediately after I read the originals. This was super beneficial because I could come back the next day and pick one of the retelling ideas I had already thought of.
* What did you think of the overall balance between reading - writing - commenting in the class assignments?
I thought the balance was spot on. I liked that we got a mixture of all three throughout the week and that there were also bonus point option for all three each week as well. I will say I did often find the 150 word comments to be a little hard to do in a good way.
* As you look back from the end of the semester, what advice about the reading do you have for students who will be getting started next semester?
I would advise them to take the time each week to read part one and part two of their selected story unit. I did this each week, and although it was a little time consuming, I learned so much more about the culture that the stories came from. Also, reading and documenting your thoughts on both parts gave me so many more options to choose from when it came to retelling a story. Another bonus- I often found the perfect story each time that I was super eager to retell.. this made writing the 500-1000 word story a breeze!
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Course Reflections
I have thoroughly enjoyed taking this course over the last semester. I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up, I just knew that the course title sounded interesting and I had some friends tell me they really enjoyed it. Well starting with our first mythology and folklore readings in the second week, and upon rewriting my own story tale I knew I was going to gain so much from this course.
I think I am most proud of my work on my storybook. This was basically a semester long project where I created a storybook site and then filled it with a few story retellings that had a common theme. I started off very worried about not being able to pick a good topic or to make things flow, but then my mother suggested a storybook about garden creatures. I started playing with the idea and my professor for this course, Laura, loved it as well. Now as I am doing my last round of final revisions for the whole storybook, I am so proud of this project. I plan to leave it online for forever. And, I will be showing my family the next time I go home, I know they will be super proud too!
Some other things from this course that I will take away with me are a strengthened intellectual curiosity for the cultures and history of other places and people groups. Simpler than that, another thing I will take with me is all of the nursery rhymes and short stories that I learned. I hope to be able to share lots of these with my own kiddos and with my friends kiddos one day. I also learned over the past couple of weeks how to plan out your work time and then I got better at sticking with my schedule and getting my work done early. I also think that I have made some good friends in this course and that I got to know more of the OU student body. One of the things I will remember most though is my teacher, Laura. We didn't physically interact with her in a classroom setting, but I was always so excited to get an email back from her because I could tell she was a kind soul that genuinely wanted us to have fun and learn a lot in this course.
So, thank you Laura Gibbs! You rock and this class was a million times better because of your passion for the subject matter and your constant encouragement and guidance.
I think I am most proud of my work on my storybook. This was basically a semester long project where I created a storybook site and then filled it with a few story retellings that had a common theme. I started off very worried about not being able to pick a good topic or to make things flow, but then my mother suggested a storybook about garden creatures. I started playing with the idea and my professor for this course, Laura, loved it as well. Now as I am doing my last round of final revisions for the whole storybook, I am so proud of this project. I plan to leave it online for forever. And, I will be showing my family the next time I go home, I know they will be super proud too!
Some other things from this course that I will take away with me are a strengthened intellectual curiosity for the cultures and history of other places and people groups. Simpler than that, another thing I will take with me is all of the nursery rhymes and short stories that I learned. I hope to be able to share lots of these with my own kiddos and with my friends kiddos one day. I also learned over the past couple of weeks how to plan out your work time and then I got better at sticking with my schedule and getting my work done early. I also think that I have made some good friends in this course and that I got to know more of the OU student body. One of the things I will remember most though is my teacher, Laura. We didn't physically interact with her in a classroom setting, but I was always so excited to get an email back from her because I could tell she was a kind soul that genuinely wanted us to have fun and learn a lot in this course.
So, thank you Laura Gibbs! You rock and this class was a million times better because of your passion for the subject matter and your constant encouragement and guidance.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Week 11 Storytelling: "Therapy for Gold-tree"
"Miss Gold-Tree, the doctor will see you now," said the receptionist.
Gold-tree got up from her seat in the waiting room and walked toward the receptionist who was holding the door open for her. Gold-tree was a beautiful woman of about 35; she walked through the threshold with poise and grace, but also with what appeared to be a huge worry on her shoulders.
"Okay you'll be in the third room on the left, go inside, lie down on the sofa, and the doctor will be with you shortly," the receptionist said.
Once inside the room, Gold-tree began to feel antsy. This was her first time visiting a therapist, and she wasn't quite sure what she was going to say. Maybe she could bring up how her mother tried to kill her... twice, or that she was a sister wife, or maybe the fact that she lay dead for 6 months when all someone had to do was pull the thorn out of her finger to revive her. Yeahhh, she had a lot to get off her chest. This poor doctor, she thought. Just as she was thinking about the poor guy that would have to listen to her ramble for hours, the therapist walked in.
"Hi there, I'm Dr. Mahon," the Dr. said as he shook Gold-tree's hand and took a seat in a large, comfy chair across from her.
"Well, let's just go ahead and jump right in why don't we. Why don't you tell me what has brought you here today... and start from the very beginning. Think of this as if you're telling me the story of your life and I'm just hear to listen until you're totally done. Then, and only then, can we begin to analyze these things and how you feel. Does that sound good?" said Dr. Mahon.
Gold-tree nodded "yes."
"Perfect then you may begin," said Dr. Mahon.
"When I was little my mother, her name was Silver-tree, and I used to go out to the well behind our castle and chat with the trout that swam in it. One day when I was about 15 my mother asked the trout if she was the most beautiful woman alive, and he said "No." She asked who else could be more beautiful and he pointed his fin at me... I blushed, but my mother's face grew angry and she pulled me back to our castle. I guess you could say things were pretty weird from that day forward.
Late that night my father came into my room and told me to get up and pack my things. He said it was time for me to go off and marry the prince of another country who had been courting me. This was so sudden, and I was reluctant to go. That's when my father told me the real reason why I had to leave... my mother wanted me dead.
He said when we came back from the well earlier that day, all my mother could do was scream at her mirror and say how she had to kill me and eat my heart and liver to become the prettiest woman in all the land. He heard this and knew she meant business, so he arranged for the prince to take me away that night.
In my new castle with my husband I lived happily and I felt safe from my mother's grasp. After all, my father had told my mother I died so she shouldn't even be concerned with me anymore. That is until one day, years later, I got this feeling that she was on her way. Then my dad sent me a letter to warn me that she had taken the boat and was sailing to see me. I was right, and so I had my servants lock me up in the castle tower.
Unfortunately, my husband was on a hunting trip that same day. My mother arrived and pleaded to see me, but I wasn't having it. Eventually she asked just for me to stick my finger out the keyhole so she could kiss it. Well, sure enough she jabbed a poison-covered thorn into my finger and I died... right there on the spot.
My husband mourned my death and laid my body to rest on a bed in the tower, he locked the door and kept the key on him always. He remarried soon after. On another of his hunting trips one day, his new wife unlocked my door and saw me lying there. She saw the thorn and pulled it out and I immediately filled with life. I know, how ridiculous that that's all it took... what an idiot husband I have. When he came back he decided he would have both of us as wives instead of the other one going away.
Well after this time my mother again visited the trout in the well to reassure herself she was the most beautiful. The trout told her I was still the most beautiful and that I was alive. So naturally, that woman hopped on the ship and sailed over again to try and end my life. I could feel that she was coming again, but this time I had the support of my sister wife, so we hatched a plan to kill her before she killed me.
When my mom arrived we met her outside the castle gates. She offered me a drink... just like we knew she would. But, as is customary, the person who provides the drink must take a drink of it first before sharing. When my mother pretended to tip the glass back, my sister wife tapped the glass so that the liquid actually went down her throat. She immediately died and my life was spared.
I have since moved my father in with us... but as you can assume he isn't too happy about my husband having another wife," said Gold-tree.
"I see... and how does all of that make you feel?" asked Dr. Mahon.
Author's Note: For this retelling I thought the storytelling style of a therapy session would be the perfect choice. The main character, Gold-tree, as you can see went through a lot and so I figured her sharing those rough experiences with a therapist would be a good way to convey the story. I didn't change many aspects from the original, basically the only thing I changed was how and by who it was told. Because of this I wont summarize the original for you now; all you need to know is above. I may have left out some minor parts of the story but I covered all the big things, and I was totally out of room to write anymore even if I had wanted to. That brings me to this, I would have liked to have more of a conversation between the therapist and Gold-tree in the end but I just didn't have room so I thought it was okay to end it how I did. The line of "how does that make you feel" is kindve ironic considering how much Gold-tree just told him so I thought it was somewhat of a comical ending. I chose the image to show what a therapy session like this might look like.
Bibliography: "Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree" from Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).
Gold-tree got up from her seat in the waiting room and walked toward the receptionist who was holding the door open for her. Gold-tree was a beautiful woman of about 35; she walked through the threshold with poise and grace, but also with what appeared to be a huge worry on her shoulders.
"Okay you'll be in the third room on the left, go inside, lie down on the sofa, and the doctor will be with you shortly," the receptionist said.
Once inside the room, Gold-tree began to feel antsy. This was her first time visiting a therapist, and she wasn't quite sure what she was going to say. Maybe she could bring up how her mother tried to kill her... twice, or that she was a sister wife, or maybe the fact that she lay dead for 6 months when all someone had to do was pull the thorn out of her finger to revive her. Yeahhh, she had a lot to get off her chest. This poor doctor, she thought. Just as she was thinking about the poor guy that would have to listen to her ramble for hours, the therapist walked in.
 |
| Gold-tree on the couch for her therapy session |
"Well, let's just go ahead and jump right in why don't we. Why don't you tell me what has brought you here today... and start from the very beginning. Think of this as if you're telling me the story of your life and I'm just hear to listen until you're totally done. Then, and only then, can we begin to analyze these things and how you feel. Does that sound good?" said Dr. Mahon.
Gold-tree nodded "yes."
"Perfect then you may begin," said Dr. Mahon.
"When I was little my mother, her name was Silver-tree, and I used to go out to the well behind our castle and chat with the trout that swam in it. One day when I was about 15 my mother asked the trout if she was the most beautiful woman alive, and he said "No." She asked who else could be more beautiful and he pointed his fin at me... I blushed, but my mother's face grew angry and she pulled me back to our castle. I guess you could say things were pretty weird from that day forward.
Late that night my father came into my room and told me to get up and pack my things. He said it was time for me to go off and marry the prince of another country who had been courting me. This was so sudden, and I was reluctant to go. That's when my father told me the real reason why I had to leave... my mother wanted me dead.
He said when we came back from the well earlier that day, all my mother could do was scream at her mirror and say how she had to kill me and eat my heart and liver to become the prettiest woman in all the land. He heard this and knew she meant business, so he arranged for the prince to take me away that night.
In my new castle with my husband I lived happily and I felt safe from my mother's grasp. After all, my father had told my mother I died so she shouldn't even be concerned with me anymore. That is until one day, years later, I got this feeling that she was on her way. Then my dad sent me a letter to warn me that she had taken the boat and was sailing to see me. I was right, and so I had my servants lock me up in the castle tower.
Unfortunately, my husband was on a hunting trip that same day. My mother arrived and pleaded to see me, but I wasn't having it. Eventually she asked just for me to stick my finger out the keyhole so she could kiss it. Well, sure enough she jabbed a poison-covered thorn into my finger and I died... right there on the spot.
My husband mourned my death and laid my body to rest on a bed in the tower, he locked the door and kept the key on him always. He remarried soon after. On another of his hunting trips one day, his new wife unlocked my door and saw me lying there. She saw the thorn and pulled it out and I immediately filled with life. I know, how ridiculous that that's all it took... what an idiot husband I have. When he came back he decided he would have both of us as wives instead of the other one going away.
Well after this time my mother again visited the trout in the well to reassure herself she was the most beautiful. The trout told her I was still the most beautiful and that I was alive. So naturally, that woman hopped on the ship and sailed over again to try and end my life. I could feel that she was coming again, but this time I had the support of my sister wife, so we hatched a plan to kill her before she killed me.
When my mom arrived we met her outside the castle gates. She offered me a drink... just like we knew she would. But, as is customary, the person who provides the drink must take a drink of it first before sharing. When my mother pretended to tip the glass back, my sister wife tapped the glass so that the liquid actually went down her throat. She immediately died and my life was spared.
I have since moved my father in with us... but as you can assume he isn't too happy about my husband having another wife," said Gold-tree.
"I see... and how does all of that make you feel?" asked Dr. Mahon.
Author's Note: For this retelling I thought the storytelling style of a therapy session would be the perfect choice. The main character, Gold-tree, as you can see went through a lot and so I figured her sharing those rough experiences with a therapist would be a good way to convey the story. I didn't change many aspects from the original, basically the only thing I changed was how and by who it was told. Because of this I wont summarize the original for you now; all you need to know is above. I may have left out some minor parts of the story but I covered all the big things, and I was totally out of room to write anymore even if I had wanted to. That brings me to this, I would have liked to have more of a conversation between the therapist and Gold-tree in the end but I just didn't have room so I thought it was okay to end it how I did. The line of "how does that make you feel" is kindve ironic considering how much Gold-tree just told him so I thought it was somewhat of a comical ending. I chose the image to show what a therapy session like this might look like.
Bibliography: "Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree" from Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).
Week 11 Reading Diary, Continued: Celtic Fairy Tales
Continued reading diary with highlights of Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).
King O'Toole and his Goose
The old King was no longer to hunt and fish and be outdoorsy like he so loved to do. This also meant the people didn't respect him as much. The kings old age required that he have something to fetch him his hunt and play game with, so he got a goose. Then eventually the goose aged as well and was no good. One day St. Kelvin came to his disguised as a boy and made a deal to made the goose young and new if King O'Toole gave him all the land under the goose. The deal was made and then St. Kelvin revealed himself to the King. The goose was eventually killed when he caught an eel instead of a trout.
The Shee An Gannon and the Gruagach Gaire
This was an extremely long story about a fairy of Gannon and the once laughing goblin. The fairy man wanted to win the kings daughter for marriage, but to do this he first had to find out why the goblin who used to always laugh loudly never laughs anymore. Should he fail his head would be put on a stake with the previous other 11 suitors who failed to solve the mystery. He went on a journey and become the cow herder of the goblin to find out why he no longer laughs. I couldn't tell you how it ended because it was so long and weaving that I couldn't bring myself to follow it consciously all the way through.
Beth Gellert
This was an incredibly sad story. The king had his favorite and best hunting dog, a great dane named Gellert. One day when he went outhunting Gellert didn't come so he didn't return with much game and he was angry. Gellert greated him happily at the gate but he was covered in blood, dripped from his mouth. The King though immediately to his baby so he went to check on him. Sure enough when he entered the room the baby was gone and the crib turned over. Without hesitation the King stabbed the dog. The the baby cried and he saw a dead wolfs body beside it. How sad.... he killed the dog who saved his babies life. And Gellert looked at him with such loving eyes. Now the dogs grave is in the castle yard and everyone must look at it when the pass by.
The Tale of Ivan
Ivan and his wife lived in a place with no work so he went off and became a farmer for a man and earned 3 pounds each year. At the end of a few years the man gave him advice instead of wages until finally Ivan wanted to go home to his wife. On the last day the bosses wife gave him a cake to give to his wife once they were happy again. On the way home he followed the advice and he was spared unlike his friends. When he got home he and his wife gave the king apurse of jewels they had been given. Then the king made him his servant. They then broke apart the cake and in it was all the wages from the years he worked. Honesty was the best policy for Ivan.
Andrew Coffey
This grandfather knew everyone and the land well so it was a surprise when one day he and his horse got lost in the woods. They came up a cabin in the woods and Andrew was sitting by the fire warming when a voice told him to tell him a story. He would not so a man who was thought to be dead jumped out from the cupboard. He ran and the man chased him. He climbed in a tree and four other men put the cupboard man on a stick on top of a fire to roast him. Andrew was put in charge of not letting him burn. He was thinking deeply when the cupboard man untied himself. Then Andrew ran again and ended back in the cabin. Again a voice told him to tell and story and this time he did- the story of that night from start to finish.
Brewery of Eggshells
A mom left her twin babies alone one day and as she returned she saw blue elves crossing the road. Her babies were fine when she got inside so all was well. Until, neither of them ever grew, then everyone including her husband suspected something was wrong. She went to the smart guy of the village and he told her to made a eggshell brew for the reaper and to stand at the door to listen to see if her babies talked about baby things of adult things. She did this and heard mature things so she knew they weren't her babies. She threw them in the river as instructed and they turned blue. The other elves saved them and she got her real babies back.
King O'Toole and his Goose
The old King was no longer to hunt and fish and be outdoorsy like he so loved to do. This also meant the people didn't respect him as much. The kings old age required that he have something to fetch him his hunt and play game with, so he got a goose. Then eventually the goose aged as well and was no good. One day St. Kelvin came to his disguised as a boy and made a deal to made the goose young and new if King O'Toole gave him all the land under the goose. The deal was made and then St. Kelvin revealed himself to the King. The goose was eventually killed when he caught an eel instead of a trout.
 |
| The King holding his goose |
The Shee An Gannon and the Gruagach Gaire
This was an extremely long story about a fairy of Gannon and the once laughing goblin. The fairy man wanted to win the kings daughter for marriage, but to do this he first had to find out why the goblin who used to always laugh loudly never laughs anymore. Should he fail his head would be put on a stake with the previous other 11 suitors who failed to solve the mystery. He went on a journey and become the cow herder of the goblin to find out why he no longer laughs. I couldn't tell you how it ended because it was so long and weaving that I couldn't bring myself to follow it consciously all the way through.
Beth Gellert
This was an incredibly sad story. The king had his favorite and best hunting dog, a great dane named Gellert. One day when he went outhunting Gellert didn't come so he didn't return with much game and he was angry. Gellert greated him happily at the gate but he was covered in blood, dripped from his mouth. The King though immediately to his baby so he went to check on him. Sure enough when he entered the room the baby was gone and the crib turned over. Without hesitation the King stabbed the dog. The the baby cried and he saw a dead wolfs body beside it. How sad.... he killed the dog who saved his babies life. And Gellert looked at him with such loving eyes. Now the dogs grave is in the castle yard and everyone must look at it when the pass by.
The Tale of Ivan
Ivan and his wife lived in a place with no work so he went off and became a farmer for a man and earned 3 pounds each year. At the end of a few years the man gave him advice instead of wages until finally Ivan wanted to go home to his wife. On the last day the bosses wife gave him a cake to give to his wife once they were happy again. On the way home he followed the advice and he was spared unlike his friends. When he got home he and his wife gave the king apurse of jewels they had been given. Then the king made him his servant. They then broke apart the cake and in it was all the wages from the years he worked. Honesty was the best policy for Ivan.
Andrew Coffey
This grandfather knew everyone and the land well so it was a surprise when one day he and his horse got lost in the woods. They came up a cabin in the woods and Andrew was sitting by the fire warming when a voice told him to tell him a story. He would not so a man who was thought to be dead jumped out from the cupboard. He ran and the man chased him. He climbed in a tree and four other men put the cupboard man on a stick on top of a fire to roast him. Andrew was put in charge of not letting him burn. He was thinking deeply when the cupboard man untied himself. Then Andrew ran again and ended back in the cabin. Again a voice told him to tell and story and this time he did- the story of that night from start to finish.
Brewery of Eggshells
A mom left her twin babies alone one day and as she returned she saw blue elves crossing the road. Her babies were fine when she got inside so all was well. Until, neither of them ever grew, then everyone including her husband suspected something was wrong. She went to the smart guy of the village and he told her to made a eggshell brew for the reaper and to stand at the door to listen to see if her babies talked about baby things of adult things. She did this and heard mature things so she knew they weren't her babies. She threw them in the river as instructed and they turned blue. The other elves saved them and she got her real babies back.
Week 11 Reading Diary: Celtic Fairy Tales
Reading diary covering "Celtic Fairy Tales" by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).
Connla and the Fairy Maiden
Connla was the son of the king, Conn. One days fairy appeared and everyone could hear her speaking but only COnnla could see her. She loved COnnla and wanted him to come away to her land with her. The king didn't want this so he got his Druid to cast a spell in the fairies direction and no longer could they see or hear her, but she tossed an apple to Connla. He ate only that for a month, the apple kept re-growing. After a month the fairy reappeared to see and hear and she enticed Connla to be even more in love with her. He jumped in her canoe at seas and took off with her to her land to love her and never be seen again.
The Field of Boliauns
A man named Tom was walking home beside a line of bushes when he heard a noise up ahead. When he came to it he saw a Leprechaun and a dark pitcher of liquid. He asked what it was and the Leprachuan said beer made of heath not malt like Tom guessed. Tom wanted to try it but the Leprachaun was rude so Tom snatched him up but spilt all the beer in the process. Then since he didn't get to try the beer he demanded that the Leprachaun take him to his gold. He took him to a field of boulians (ragweed plant) and to the one that the gold was buried under. Tom tied a red fabric around the one and went home to get a trowel. He told the Leprechaun not to move the red bow and to go away, he said okay. When Tom returned all of them had red bows on them now. Tom was defeated and empty handed.
The Horned Women
One night a rich woman was carding wool by the fire while her family and servants slept then there was a knock at the door. One horned woman witch entered and she had a horn on her head. She sat by the fire and carded wool as fast ad lightning. This happened 11 more times until 12 witched were carding, weaving, using the wheel, each one had a horn more than the last until the final one had 12 horns. They put a spell on the woman to make her still and not able to speak and they told her to make them a cake. She went to the well and got water for the cake. The well told her to say something when she returned, she did this and the witched fled. While they were gone she took care of their spells to prevent them from coming back. The witche made a cake while she was gone, of the families blood, and she fed that to the sleeping people. She did other things and when the witched returned
The Shepherd of Myddvai
He always took his sheep to a lake and one day three beautiful maidens came out around him and danced and sang. He gave one the bread he had but she said it was too hard and went into the water. The next day he gave her softer bread but she said too soft. The third day he gave her bread from the lakes edge and she said shed marry him. They got married and she took cows/oxen from the lake with her to their home. They had three sons. The shepherd unfortunately tapped the lake bride three times too hard and she ended their marriage. She returned to the lake with her animals and they left a trail on the ground. She only came out once to give her sons the healing gifts and they became doctors.
The Sprightly Tailor
A king hired the tailor to stich him an outfit for a large bonus, but the catch was that he had to do it in a church at night time that was supposedly haunted. No one had even gone there at night and stayed. The tailor was sprightly and agreed to this. When he was sitting on a grave stone stitching inside the church the floor shook and huge ghostly head appeared saying "Do you not see this head of mine" and the tailor said "I see it but I sew this." This happened multiple times until finally the ghosts whole body was almost out of the ground and then the tailor finished with long stitches and ran out. The ghost was fully out of the floor now and was chasing him. The tailor made it safely into the castle and the ghost was mad. The tailor got his nice bonus from the king.
Munachar and Manachar
These two Muna and Mana went out and picked raspberries each day, but just as they picked them Mana ate all of them. Muna was mad and wanted to end this by hanging Mana but to do this he needed a gad, which needed a rod, witch needed a flag, which needed water, which needed a deer, etc, etc. Until finally he got the end and was able to use a sieve to give someone water and they gave him what he needed so he could go through the chain and give each what they requested until finally he got him gad to hang Mana. But by them he discovered that Mana had burst from eating all the berries. What a tiring story, even to just read.
Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree
Silver tree was jealous of her daughters beauty, gold tree so she set out to eat her heart and liver. The trout in the well outside their castle kept telling silver that gold was prettier and so he caused all these problems. The dad wanted to keep Gold safe so he married her to a prince in another place. The mom sailed there and pricked her finger with poison. She laid dead until lock and key until the princes second wife pulled out the prick. Then the mother, Silver returned again but with a drink of poison. She had to drink first bc it was a custom so the second wife tapped it and it really went down Silver's throat and killed her. Then the prince lived forever with both of his wives. I liked this story. I also liked how the end ended with "So I left them" instead of "they lived happily ever after."
Connla and the Fairy Maiden
Connla was the son of the king, Conn. One days fairy appeared and everyone could hear her speaking but only COnnla could see her. She loved COnnla and wanted him to come away to her land with her. The king didn't want this so he got his Druid to cast a spell in the fairies direction and no longer could they see or hear her, but she tossed an apple to Connla. He ate only that for a month, the apple kept re-growing. After a month the fairy reappeared to see and hear and she enticed Connla to be even more in love with her. He jumped in her canoe at seas and took off with her to her land to love her and never be seen again.
The Field of Boliauns
A man named Tom was walking home beside a line of bushes when he heard a noise up ahead. When he came to it he saw a Leprechaun and a dark pitcher of liquid. He asked what it was and the Leprachuan said beer made of heath not malt like Tom guessed. Tom wanted to try it but the Leprachaun was rude so Tom snatched him up but spilt all the beer in the process. Then since he didn't get to try the beer he demanded that the Leprachaun take him to his gold. He took him to a field of boulians (ragweed plant) and to the one that the gold was buried under. Tom tied a red fabric around the one and went home to get a trowel. He told the Leprechaun not to move the red bow and to go away, he said okay. When Tom returned all of them had red bows on them now. Tom was defeated and empty handed.
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| Leprechaun and his pitcher of beer |
One night a rich woman was carding wool by the fire while her family and servants slept then there was a knock at the door. One horned woman witch entered and she had a horn on her head. She sat by the fire and carded wool as fast ad lightning. This happened 11 more times until 12 witched were carding, weaving, using the wheel, each one had a horn more than the last until the final one had 12 horns. They put a spell on the woman to make her still and not able to speak and they told her to make them a cake. She went to the well and got water for the cake. The well told her to say something when she returned, she did this and the witched fled. While they were gone she took care of their spells to prevent them from coming back. The witche made a cake while she was gone, of the families blood, and she fed that to the sleeping people. She did other things and when the witched returned
The Shepherd of Myddvai
He always took his sheep to a lake and one day three beautiful maidens came out around him and danced and sang. He gave one the bread he had but she said it was too hard and went into the water. The next day he gave her softer bread but she said too soft. The third day he gave her bread from the lakes edge and she said shed marry him. They got married and she took cows/oxen from the lake with her to their home. They had three sons. The shepherd unfortunately tapped the lake bride three times too hard and she ended their marriage. She returned to the lake with her animals and they left a trail on the ground. She only came out once to give her sons the healing gifts and they became doctors.
The Sprightly Tailor
A king hired the tailor to stich him an outfit for a large bonus, but the catch was that he had to do it in a church at night time that was supposedly haunted. No one had even gone there at night and stayed. The tailor was sprightly and agreed to this. When he was sitting on a grave stone stitching inside the church the floor shook and huge ghostly head appeared saying "Do you not see this head of mine" and the tailor said "I see it but I sew this." This happened multiple times until finally the ghosts whole body was almost out of the ground and then the tailor finished with long stitches and ran out. The ghost was fully out of the floor now and was chasing him. The tailor made it safely into the castle and the ghost was mad. The tailor got his nice bonus from the king.
Munachar and Manachar
These two Muna and Mana went out and picked raspberries each day, but just as they picked them Mana ate all of them. Muna was mad and wanted to end this by hanging Mana but to do this he needed a gad, which needed a rod, witch needed a flag, which needed water, which needed a deer, etc, etc. Until finally he got the end and was able to use a sieve to give someone water and they gave him what he needed so he could go through the chain and give each what they requested until finally he got him gad to hang Mana. But by them he discovered that Mana had burst from eating all the berries. What a tiring story, even to just read.
Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree
Silver tree was jealous of her daughters beauty, gold tree so she set out to eat her heart and liver. The trout in the well outside their castle kept telling silver that gold was prettier and so he caused all these problems. The dad wanted to keep Gold safe so he married her to a prince in another place. The mom sailed there and pricked her finger with poison. She laid dead until lock and key until the princes second wife pulled out the prick. Then the mother, Silver returned again but with a drink of poison. She had to drink first bc it was a custom so the second wife tapped it and it really went down Silver's throat and killed her. Then the prince lived forever with both of his wives. I liked this story. I also liked how the end ended with "So I left them" instead of "they lived happily ever after."
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Week 10 Storytelling: An Indian Love Story
"Wait, daddy, before you tuck us in could you tell us about how you and mommy met?" asked the daughter.
"Hmmmm that's an interesting bedtime request... let me see if your mom wants to join in for this one, hold on just a second," said the father.
The dad left the room to go and get the mom. Just as he was leaving the little brother came running into the sister's room.
"Did I hear that dad is going to tell us a story?! Count me in!" said the little brother as he jumped onto his sister's bed.
The two of them got comfy and sat up in bed to wait for their parents to come back. The dad along with the mom entered back into the room and sat down at the end of the bed.
"Okay, now that we're all here, you said you wanted to hear about how me and your mom fell in love?" asked the dad.
"Yes!" exclaimed both the kids.
"Well alrighty then, I'll start and your mom will chime in if I start to mess it up," said the dad.
"Your mother and her sister were the daughters of a very powerful, rich Indian chief. They were beautiful young ladies, and it was about the time that they were of an age to marry that I first saw your mom. You see, I was the sun up in the sky, and my sister, your aunt, was the stars in the sky. We would look down on all the people each day, and one day I happened to see your mother. I saw her standing outside of their families tipi, and a crowd of suitors surrounded her and her sister. However, no matter how many men would ask for their hands in marriage, both your mother and her sister rejected them. I was pretty perplexed, especially when so many of the suitors came bringing jewels, riches, and animals. That's when my sister and I decided we would go down and visit earth and see what these two girls were about.
To visit Earth, my sister and I had to take on human forms. So during the night we set up a raggedy old tipi for ourselves and I become a boy, a poor dirty boy, while my sister took the form of my very elderly grandmother. When daylight came a crowd of people gathered around our tipi and I could hear them whispering while I laid inside on my pallet; I had a bum leg so I couldn't ever leave that pallet. I heard something about an upcoming competition to win the chiefs daughters, and I told my sister/grandmother to enter me in the competition.
Four days later the competition happened. It was an arrow shooting contest and we each got two shots to hit a certain eagle perched high up in a tree. My sister/grandmother made me a bow and arrow and pulled the door open on our tipi, from laying on my pallet I shot and hit the eagle... I had won the competition. The chief saw me win but I guess he didn't want to give his daughters to a dirty, sick boy so he declared that there would be another competition and that the next time the winner would for sure win his daughters.
The next competition was to go up to a mountain pond and set two traps to catch fish, the man who caught a fish would win. I, of course, couldn't make the trek up the mountain so I had my sister/grandmother make me cages and we set them outside our tipi on dry land. The next morning when we awoke my sister/grandmother checked the traps and both of mine were full of fish. When the other men came down from the mountain none of them had caught any fish so I was the winner... again.
This time the chief sent his daughters to me, but on the way your mother's sister went into the tipi of the Raven family and she married one of their sons. Your mother on the other hand came to my tipi and she became my wife. I was sick and my sister/grandmother told her I was going to die soon so she should go sleep in her father's tipi every night but come and take care of me during the day. She did this for three days and never complained.
On the fourth night my sister and I decided it was time for us to transform back into our true forms. So, that night our cruddy tipi became brand new and exquisite, my elderly sister turned into a young beautiful sister and I turned into a handsome, healthy young man. When morning came the village was shocked. Your mother came back to take care of me as usual, but was confused at what she saw. My sister greeted her at the door and assured her that I, the now handsome man, was her husband. She came in and sat beside me and she was glad.
I had the mark of the sun on the back of my hand, and my sister had the mark of a star. I wanted your mother to officially be a part of our family so I dipped her hand into a pot of gold dust and stars covered the back of her hand. Now that I could walk your mother and I got officially married and she fell even more in love with me," said the father as he held the mother's hand.
"Awwwwwww" said the children in unison.
"Yes it is pretty 'awwwww' I would say. Your mother has always had a heart of gold and I love her for that," said the father. And then the parents kissed.
"Ewww get a room," said the daughter.
The mom and dad got up, tucked the kids in, turned off the lights and closed the door "Goooooodniiiiight," said mom and dad.
Author's Note: The Originals story was called "Dirty Boy." In the story the sun and the star of the sky looked upon a village with 2 beautiful girls of the chief who rejected all their suitors. The sun and star went down to earth to see what the two women were about/if the sun could marry them. They made themselves a poor persons hut and the sun became a dirty, sick boy, the stars his old grandmother. The chief had two competitions for his daughters suitor and dirty boy won them both. Finally the chief gave the daughters to him. The eldest disobeyed and married a raven man. The youngest tended to the dirty boy for three days, then on the fourth day the sun and star took on their true form and made a beautiful home, become young and healthy and handsome. The bride was pleased and they lived happily. He gave her stars on her body like they had. As you can see I didn't change many of the original stories elements, I just changed by whom the story was told. I also thought I would try to make it more of a love story and I picked the dad as the story teller because he would know the most since he was the "dirty boy." I also added in some dialogue to make it flow better and to make it easier to picture the story setting of a bedtime love story.
Bibliography: "The Dirty-Boy" from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Web source
"Hmmmm that's an interesting bedtime request... let me see if your mom wants to join in for this one, hold on just a second," said the father.
The dad left the room to go and get the mom. Just as he was leaving the little brother came running into the sister's room.
"Did I hear that dad is going to tell us a story?! Count me in!" said the little brother as he jumped onto his sister's bed.
The two of them got comfy and sat up in bed to wait for their parents to come back. The dad along with the mom entered back into the room and sat down at the end of the bed.
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| Siblings ready for story time |
"Yes!" exclaimed both the kids.
"Well alrighty then, I'll start and your mom will chime in if I start to mess it up," said the dad.
"Your mother and her sister were the daughters of a very powerful, rich Indian chief. They were beautiful young ladies, and it was about the time that they were of an age to marry that I first saw your mom. You see, I was the sun up in the sky, and my sister, your aunt, was the stars in the sky. We would look down on all the people each day, and one day I happened to see your mother. I saw her standing outside of their families tipi, and a crowd of suitors surrounded her and her sister. However, no matter how many men would ask for their hands in marriage, both your mother and her sister rejected them. I was pretty perplexed, especially when so many of the suitors came bringing jewels, riches, and animals. That's when my sister and I decided we would go down and visit earth and see what these two girls were about.
To visit Earth, my sister and I had to take on human forms. So during the night we set up a raggedy old tipi for ourselves and I become a boy, a poor dirty boy, while my sister took the form of my very elderly grandmother. When daylight came a crowd of people gathered around our tipi and I could hear them whispering while I laid inside on my pallet; I had a bum leg so I couldn't ever leave that pallet. I heard something about an upcoming competition to win the chiefs daughters, and I told my sister/grandmother to enter me in the competition.
Four days later the competition happened. It was an arrow shooting contest and we each got two shots to hit a certain eagle perched high up in a tree. My sister/grandmother made me a bow and arrow and pulled the door open on our tipi, from laying on my pallet I shot and hit the eagle... I had won the competition. The chief saw me win but I guess he didn't want to give his daughters to a dirty, sick boy so he declared that there would be another competition and that the next time the winner would for sure win his daughters.
The next competition was to go up to a mountain pond and set two traps to catch fish, the man who caught a fish would win. I, of course, couldn't make the trek up the mountain so I had my sister/grandmother make me cages and we set them outside our tipi on dry land. The next morning when we awoke my sister/grandmother checked the traps and both of mine were full of fish. When the other men came down from the mountain none of them had caught any fish so I was the winner... again.
This time the chief sent his daughters to me, but on the way your mother's sister went into the tipi of the Raven family and she married one of their sons. Your mother on the other hand came to my tipi and she became my wife. I was sick and my sister/grandmother told her I was going to die soon so she should go sleep in her father's tipi every night but come and take care of me during the day. She did this for three days and never complained.
On the fourth night my sister and I decided it was time for us to transform back into our true forms. So, that night our cruddy tipi became brand new and exquisite, my elderly sister turned into a young beautiful sister and I turned into a handsome, healthy young man. When morning came the village was shocked. Your mother came back to take care of me as usual, but was confused at what she saw. My sister greeted her at the door and assured her that I, the now handsome man, was her husband. She came in and sat beside me and she was glad.
I had the mark of the sun on the back of my hand, and my sister had the mark of a star. I wanted your mother to officially be a part of our family so I dipped her hand into a pot of gold dust and stars covered the back of her hand. Now that I could walk your mother and I got officially married and she fell even more in love with me," said the father as he held the mother's hand.
"Awwwwwww" said the children in unison.
"Yes it is pretty 'awwwww' I would say. Your mother has always had a heart of gold and I love her for that," said the father. And then the parents kissed.
"Ewww get a room," said the daughter.
The mom and dad got up, tucked the kids in, turned off the lights and closed the door "Goooooodniiiiight," said mom and dad.
Author's Note: The Originals story was called "Dirty Boy." In the story the sun and the star of the sky looked upon a village with 2 beautiful girls of the chief who rejected all their suitors. The sun and star went down to earth to see what the two women were about/if the sun could marry them. They made themselves a poor persons hut and the sun became a dirty, sick boy, the stars his old grandmother. The chief had two competitions for his daughters suitor and dirty boy won them both. Finally the chief gave the daughters to him. The eldest disobeyed and married a raven man. The youngest tended to the dirty boy for three days, then on the fourth day the sun and star took on their true form and made a beautiful home, become young and healthy and handsome. The bride was pleased and they lived happily. He gave her stars on her body like they had. As you can see I didn't change many of the original stories elements, I just changed by whom the story was told. I also thought I would try to make it more of a love story and I picked the dad as the story teller because he would know the most since he was the "dirty boy." I also added in some dialogue to make it flow better and to make it easier to picture the story setting of a bedtime love story.
Bibliography: "The Dirty-Boy" from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Web source
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Week 10 Reading Diary, Continued: Native American Hero Tales
Reading diary continued for the Native American Hero Tales unit. Story source: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929).
Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away
This was a really weird story. In the beginning a witch killed a woman and took her two babies out of her stomach throwing one in the river and one behind the curtain in the tipi. The father found the one in the house and raised him, then the two of them got the other one from the river. The boys became rebellious but also heroes; their father kept warning them of dangerous things that existed that they should avoid but each time the disobeyed and found the thing or person and killed it or destroyed it. I found myself saying how many more times will this happen... how many more times will this dad tell them not to do something knowing they will do it. Then, I didn't see much of a point to this story; especially because in the end no death or harm ever actually came to the boys and instead they lived happily forever as heroes. This story had some very weird things happen.
The Son-in-Law Tests
The title of this story definitely gives away what it was about. A father kept killing all of his daughters husbands by tricking them into doing tasks or they lost in competitions and were killed. All he killed except for one who kept beating him at the tasks or outsmarting him. They probably did around 10 different things, all very concisely told but again I was annoyed at how many there were. Finally the father-in law was killed out on the ocean by the son in law calling up the waves. Some weird aspects were in this story as well, the son had to pick and eat lice from the fathers head, etc.
The Jealous Father
Another story involving someone getting left somewhere while the other person paddled away in the canoe. Also another story where people transform between birds and people, it sounds like native Americans really have a strong connection with nature and especially birds. A man had two wives and one gave him a son. But this son fooled around with the fathers other wife so the father left him stranded on an island. A walrus rescued him and took him to the main land. The father sent lightning and other things to harm him but his mother sent the walrus and things to help him. He eventually made it back and he caught the forest on fire and made the sea boil. He burned up his father and saved his mothers. Then they decided to become birds, the son became a whiskey jack.
Dirty-Boy
The sun and the star of the sky looked upon a village with 2 beautiful girls of the chief who rejected all their suitors. The sun and star decided to go down to earth and see what the two women were about/if the sun could marry them. They made themselves a poor persons hut and the sun became a dirty, sick boy, the stars his old grandmother. The chief had two competitions for his daughters suitor and dirty boy won them both. Finally the chief gave the daughters to him. The eldest disobeyed and married a raven man. The youngest tended to the dirty boy for three days, then on the fourth day the sun and star took on their true form and made a beautiful home, become young and healthy and handsome. The bride was pleased and they lived happily. He gave her stars on her body like they had.
Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away
This was a really weird story. In the beginning a witch killed a woman and took her two babies out of her stomach throwing one in the river and one behind the curtain in the tipi. The father found the one in the house and raised him, then the two of them got the other one from the river. The boys became rebellious but also heroes; their father kept warning them of dangerous things that existed that they should avoid but each time the disobeyed and found the thing or person and killed it or destroyed it. I found myself saying how many more times will this happen... how many more times will this dad tell them not to do something knowing they will do it. Then, I didn't see much of a point to this story; especially because in the end no death or harm ever actually came to the boys and instead they lived happily forever as heroes. This story had some very weird things happen.
The Son-in-Law Tests
The title of this story definitely gives away what it was about. A father kept killing all of his daughters husbands by tricking them into doing tasks or they lost in competitions and were killed. All he killed except for one who kept beating him at the tasks or outsmarting him. They probably did around 10 different things, all very concisely told but again I was annoyed at how many there were. Finally the father-in law was killed out on the ocean by the son in law calling up the waves. Some weird aspects were in this story as well, the son had to pick and eat lice from the fathers head, etc.
The Jealous Father
Another story involving someone getting left somewhere while the other person paddled away in the canoe. Also another story where people transform between birds and people, it sounds like native Americans really have a strong connection with nature and especially birds. A man had two wives and one gave him a son. But this son fooled around with the fathers other wife so the father left him stranded on an island. A walrus rescued him and took him to the main land. The father sent lightning and other things to harm him but his mother sent the walrus and things to help him. He eventually made it back and he caught the forest on fire and made the sea boil. He burned up his father and saved his mothers. Then they decided to become birds, the son became a whiskey jack.
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| Whiskey Jack |
The sun and the star of the sky looked upon a village with 2 beautiful girls of the chief who rejected all their suitors. The sun and star decided to go down to earth and see what the two women were about/if the sun could marry them. They made themselves a poor persons hut and the sun became a dirty, sick boy, the stars his old grandmother. The chief had two competitions for his daughters suitor and dirty boy won them both. Finally the chief gave the daughters to him. The eldest disobeyed and married a raven man. The youngest tended to the dirty boy for three days, then on the fourth day the sun and star took on their true form and made a beautiful home, become young and healthy and handsome. The bride was pleased and they lived happily. He gave her stars on her body like they had.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Week 10 Reading Diary: Native American Hero Tales
This reading diary will cover stories from the Native American Hero Tales unit. Story source: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929).
The Jealous Uncle
This was a pretty long story, three pages in length to be exact, but I enjoyed it. In this story the uncle who they called Unnatural Uncle would kill his nephews shortly after birth, his wife made a deal with the mother to say that the next was a girl to protect the baby boy from death. They did this until his teens but eventually uncle figured it out. Then uncle made four attempts at taking the nephews life but was unsuccessful at each. On the fourth he put him in a box out to sea, he washed up to Eagle land and the chief there married him to his daughter. He missed his family so he put on the eagle skin and flew home. The uncle was mistreating his parents so the nephew dropped him into the ocean knowing he couldn't swim. He then went to his parents and flew them with him to his new adopted land. I was glad that the uncle didn't win and that the nephew came back for his parents.
Bluejay and His Companions
A bluejay and his four companions would go out seal hunting and would share with Grouse, a quail, only the bad fatless parts of the seal. He never complained but instead made a big black seal out of wood and set it into the sea. The next day the men caught it and it pulled them far out to sea for a day and a half. When it stopped they realized it was Grouse's doing. They then paddled back towards land and came upon 3 or 4 villages of people. But each of these villages challenged them to some kind of task or battle and each time they won so they were free to leave and carry on. They finally made it back home with one less man and from then on they gave Grouse the biggest, fattest seal.
Dug-From-Ground
This story wasn't as entertaining or as easy to follow as the other two. From what I gathered from it, a daughter dug op plants from the ground and her mother warned her not to dig up any with two stocks. But she did it and then a baby followed her home and became her son. The grandmother raised him and the mother refused to look at him, she went out each day a picked acorns. He followed her and picked some and killed a deer and then she called him her son. He then left home and went to a village, he completed several tasks and won all of them and lots of money. After years of being away he went back for his mother and grandmother and picked up their house to move to where he had been.
The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle
Giant animals once ruled the earth and they killed humans. There was one human however that decided he was going to end the lives of the giant elk and giant eagle. He used the skin of a lizard and the burrowing of a beaver to kill the elk, but not before the elk created the mountains of the world. Then he took the antlers and killed the great eagle mother and father and her stunted the growth and power of the three baby eagles. A old bat helped him down from the eagles nest and in return he gave the bat the eagle feathers. She kept losing them so he gave her no more and she accepted this fate.
The Jealous Uncle
This was a pretty long story, three pages in length to be exact, but I enjoyed it. In this story the uncle who they called Unnatural Uncle would kill his nephews shortly after birth, his wife made a deal with the mother to say that the next was a girl to protect the baby boy from death. They did this until his teens but eventually uncle figured it out. Then uncle made four attempts at taking the nephews life but was unsuccessful at each. On the fourth he put him in a box out to sea, he washed up to Eagle land and the chief there married him to his daughter. He missed his family so he put on the eagle skin and flew home. The uncle was mistreating his parents so the nephew dropped him into the ocean knowing he couldn't swim. He then went to his parents and flew them with him to his new adopted land. I was glad that the uncle didn't win and that the nephew came back for his parents.
Bluejay and His Companions
A bluejay and his four companions would go out seal hunting and would share with Grouse, a quail, only the bad fatless parts of the seal. He never complained but instead made a big black seal out of wood and set it into the sea. The next day the men caught it and it pulled them far out to sea for a day and a half. When it stopped they realized it was Grouse's doing. They then paddled back towards land and came upon 3 or 4 villages of people. But each of these villages challenged them to some kind of task or battle and each time they won so they were free to leave and carry on. They finally made it back home with one less man and from then on they gave Grouse the biggest, fattest seal.
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| Grouse the bird |
This story wasn't as entertaining or as easy to follow as the other two. From what I gathered from it, a daughter dug op plants from the ground and her mother warned her not to dig up any with two stocks. But she did it and then a baby followed her home and became her son. The grandmother raised him and the mother refused to look at him, she went out each day a picked acorns. He followed her and picked some and killed a deer and then she called him her son. He then left home and went to a village, he completed several tasks and won all of them and lots of money. After years of being away he went back for his mother and grandmother and picked up their house to move to where he had been.
The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle
Giant animals once ruled the earth and they killed humans. There was one human however that decided he was going to end the lives of the giant elk and giant eagle. He used the skin of a lizard and the burrowing of a beaver to kill the elk, but not before the elk created the mountains of the world. Then he took the antlers and killed the great eagle mother and father and her stunted the growth and power of the three baby eagles. A old bat helped him down from the eagles nest and in return he gave the bat the eagle feathers. She kept losing them so he gave her no more and she accepted this fate.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Week 9 Storytelling: Ikuloo, the Maker of Light
A preschool class from the Inuit Eskimo tribe of Alaska took a field trip to help them learn about the creation of the earth. Where did they go to learn this crucial information? To none other than a cemetery.
They got off the school bus and made their way to the center of the cemetery when a gigantic grave stone stood hovering far higher than all the others. Around this stone monument were park benches; seems weird to have benches around a grave right?
Well the kiddos took their seats and the teacher went up to the grave stone to read the plaque that covered the entire front of it. She read it out loud and it went a little something like this....
"Here lies the first man to ever die on earth.... Ikuloo Naqauoni. Ikuloo was a great man and the reason that there is light on earth. Mankind owes much to Ikuloo for his great sacrifice that he made for all of us.
When earth was created we lacked light, there was only night and darkness and not even a moon in the sky. Also when earth was created we lived to be so old that our bodies had no use anymore, but still we would not die. Because we lived for forever, the Earth became overpopulated. This darkness and overpopulation made conditions grow terrible for life on earth, and so there was a great flood. The flood knocked down numbers quite a bit but still there were too many of us.
We all knew that to get light there must be death... but none of us wanted to admit it, that is everyone except for Ikuloo. Ikuloo was the first man to die, he was only 212 years old. (Those were infantile years compared to how long most lived during this time period.) When Ikuloo had taken his last breath, daylight washed over the Earth for the first time.
That is when the elders of the village called a meeting to contemplate life or light, and they agreed that we must continue to have death to have light. And so it became.
To Ikuloo may you rest in peace and continue to light our days and nights with the many other who have since followed your lead," read the teacher.
When the teacher finished reading the plaque she turned to the kids to explain it just a little bit more.
"Ikuloo was the first man to die and so his death brought about light for the first time. Now all men and women on earth will eventually die in their old age, unlike how we used to live for forever. The coolest part is that now when we die, our souls float up to the sky to become a part of the moon, the sun, and all the stars," said the teacher
"And thanks to this day light and light during the night, we are able to hunt, and fish, and travel, and we aren't limited to eating on the earth like our ancestors were. We have a lot to thank Ikuloo for, for if he hadn't been the first brave enough to die then who knows if the earth would have ever recovered from overpopulation or gained daylight, moonlight and starlight," said the teacher.
"Okay now everybody grab your partner and back on the bus we go" said the teacher.
Author's Note: The original story was an interesting version of the creation story of the world and of mankind. In this tale there was no God... rather the earth and all of its contents and inhibitants rather fell into place. In the beginning people only had nighttime, and the earth was over populated with people because they lived to extremely old ages. Two elderly women agreed that they would trade the death of man in order to have daylight... and this became life. The first man died and there was light; then it said when all men die they become bright things in the sky like the stars, moon, and sun. I was lost in the beginning with choosing a storytelling style and then the randomizer showed me one called "Historical Marker Storytelling." I used this style by making the first guys death a historical marker in time and a physical marker on earth. Then I thought it would be cool to have people visiting it to read it and young kids seemed like the perfect audience for this partial creation story. I'm happy with how it turned out and with the little changes I made to the plot.
Bibliography: "The Coming of Men, A Long, Long While Ago" found in Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).
They got off the school bus and made their way to the center of the cemetery when a gigantic grave stone stood hovering far higher than all the others. Around this stone monument were park benches; seems weird to have benches around a grave right?
Well the kiddos took their seats and the teacher went up to the grave stone to read the plaque that covered the entire front of it. She read it out loud and it went a little something like this....
"Here lies the first man to ever die on earth.... Ikuloo Naqauoni. Ikuloo was a great man and the reason that there is light on earth. Mankind owes much to Ikuloo for his great sacrifice that he made for all of us.
When earth was created we lacked light, there was only night and darkness and not even a moon in the sky. Also when earth was created we lived to be so old that our bodies had no use anymore, but still we would not die. Because we lived for forever, the Earth became overpopulated. This darkness and overpopulation made conditions grow terrible for life on earth, and so there was a great flood. The flood knocked down numbers quite a bit but still there were too many of us.
We all knew that to get light there must be death... but none of us wanted to admit it, that is everyone except for Ikuloo. Ikuloo was the first man to die, he was only 212 years old. (Those were infantile years compared to how long most lived during this time period.) When Ikuloo had taken his last breath, daylight washed over the Earth for the first time.
That is when the elders of the village called a meeting to contemplate life or light, and they agreed that we must continue to have death to have light. And so it became.
To Ikuloo may you rest in peace and continue to light our days and nights with the many other who have since followed your lead," read the teacher.
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| The large grave stone/monument for Ikuloo Naguani |
When the teacher finished reading the plaque she turned to the kids to explain it just a little bit more.
"Ikuloo was the first man to die and so his death brought about light for the first time. Now all men and women on earth will eventually die in their old age, unlike how we used to live for forever. The coolest part is that now when we die, our souls float up to the sky to become a part of the moon, the sun, and all the stars," said the teacher
"And thanks to this day light and light during the night, we are able to hunt, and fish, and travel, and we aren't limited to eating on the earth like our ancestors were. We have a lot to thank Ikuloo for, for if he hadn't been the first brave enough to die then who knows if the earth would have ever recovered from overpopulation or gained daylight, moonlight and starlight," said the teacher.
"Okay now everybody grab your partner and back on the bus we go" said the teacher.
Author's Note: The original story was an interesting version of the creation story of the world and of mankind. In this tale there was no God... rather the earth and all of its contents and inhibitants rather fell into place. In the beginning people only had nighttime, and the earth was over populated with people because they lived to extremely old ages. Two elderly women agreed that they would trade the death of man in order to have daylight... and this became life. The first man died and there was light; then it said when all men die they become bright things in the sky like the stars, moon, and sun. I was lost in the beginning with choosing a storytelling style and then the randomizer showed me one called "Historical Marker Storytelling." I used this style by making the first guys death a historical marker in time and a physical marker on earth. Then I thought it would be cool to have people visiting it to read it and young kids seemed like the perfect audience for this partial creation story. I'm happy with how it turned out and with the little changes I made to the plot.
Bibliography: "The Coming of Men, A Long, Long While Ago" found in Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).
Week 9 Reading Diary, Continued: Eskimo Folk Tales
Continued reading diary covering the Eskimo Folk Tales unit. Story source: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).
Papik, Who Killed His Wife's Brother
Papik went out seal huntin everyday with his brother in law, who always caught a seal when he never did. He got jealous and killed the brother in law. When the grandmother found out she threatened revenge and then allowed herself to get swallowed by the ocean. She came back as a bear and dismembered his body. Now this is a lesson not to kill for no reason or a monster will come back to get you like this.
Pâtussorssuaq, Who Killed His Uncle
Another story about men wrongfully killing another man and then getting killed by a ghostly creature. Again like in the last story the ghost came back as a bear and destroyed the body/ate it. Lots of common themes- fishing, seals, ice, ghosts, bears, eskimo kisses, karma, revenge.
The Wife Who Lied
The wife from the cannibal tribe went for a visit back home and had mittens on her hands to make them think her new husbands tribe had harmed her. This caused a back and forth war and her husbands tribe killed her for her lie.
The Eagle and the Whale
A group of brothers gave their two sisters off to live with an eagle and a whale. The eventually grew homesick and missed their sisters so they got them back by killing both of them.
Atdlarneq, The Great Glutton
Atdlarneq was a great and greedy fisherman, he came upon a cottage in a cape and three women outside of it. They received him well but were waiting for their master. He arrived and made atdlarneq eat until he was about to explode. Then he never traveled there again.
Ángángŭjuk
This boy^ disappeared from his home one day. The father wanted to immediately kill the mother for his death/disappearance but instead called a wizard to help find him. The found him in a mountain hut with people and the wizard cast them all asleep so they could go in and retrieve him. They never let him out of their sight again.
Âtârssuaq
A man taught his son^ how to swim really well for long distances underwater from the time he was just a baby. The father was killed and the son defended himself and his mother by killing all the people coming after them in canoes thanks to his swimming ability.
Tungujuluk and Saunikoq
One man had a son and the other did not so his jealousy caused him to take the form of a bear and try to kill the son. The dad stabbed him instead and then went to take the form of a walrus and let the other man harpoon him. But they both survived and the first man felt shame so he left and never returned.
Papik, Who Killed His Wife's Brother
Papik went out seal huntin everyday with his brother in law, who always caught a seal when he never did. He got jealous and killed the brother in law. When the grandmother found out she threatened revenge and then allowed herself to get swallowed by the ocean. She came back as a bear and dismembered his body. Now this is a lesson not to kill for no reason or a monster will come back to get you like this.
Pâtussorssuaq, Who Killed His Uncle
Another story about men wrongfully killing another man and then getting killed by a ghostly creature. Again like in the last story the ghost came back as a bear and destroyed the body/ate it. Lots of common themes- fishing, seals, ice, ghosts, bears, eskimo kisses, karma, revenge.
The Wife Who Lied
The wife from the cannibal tribe went for a visit back home and had mittens on her hands to make them think her new husbands tribe had harmed her. This caused a back and forth war and her husbands tribe killed her for her lie.
The Eagle and the Whale
A group of brothers gave their two sisters off to live with an eagle and a whale. The eventually grew homesick and missed their sisters so they got them back by killing both of them.
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| Umiak boat going whaling |
Atdlarneq, The Great Glutton
Atdlarneq was a great and greedy fisherman, he came upon a cottage in a cape and three women outside of it. They received him well but were waiting for their master. He arrived and made atdlarneq eat until he was about to explode. Then he never traveled there again.
Ángángŭjuk
This boy^ disappeared from his home one day. The father wanted to immediately kill the mother for his death/disappearance but instead called a wizard to help find him. The found him in a mountain hut with people and the wizard cast them all asleep so they could go in and retrieve him. They never let him out of their sight again.
Âtârssuaq
A man taught his son^ how to swim really well for long distances underwater from the time he was just a baby. The father was killed and the son defended himself and his mother by killing all the people coming after them in canoes thanks to his swimming ability.
Tungujuluk and Saunikoq
One man had a son and the other did not so his jealousy caused him to take the form of a bear and try to kill the son. The dad stabbed him instead and then went to take the form of a walrus and let the other man harpoon him. But they both survived and the first man felt shame so he left and never returned.
Week 9 Reading Diary: Eskimo Folk Tales
This reading diary will cover stories from the Eskimo Folk Tales unit. Story source: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).
The Coming of Men, A Long, Long While Ago
This story told an interesting version of the creation story of the world and of mankind. In this tale there is no God... rather the earth and all of its contents and inhibitants rather fell into place just as they are now. In the beginning people only had nighttime, and the earth was over populated with people because they lived to old age. Then they agreed to trade the death of man in order to have daylight. The first man died and there was light; now when all men die they become bright things in the sky lights stars, moon, sun.
Nukúnguasik, who Escaped from the Tupilak
This was quite a confusing story... I read it twice and I still really have no idea what it was about. All I know is Tupilak's are some creature made by man and the one in this story was eating his creators body. And also Nukú killed the creator by startling him but besides that I no nothing.. which is basically also what the story ends by saying.
The Woman Who Had a Bear as a Foster-Son
A polar bear cub became the foster son of a lonely woman. When he was small he played with the kids of the town. when he was larger he played with the grown men, and when he was huge he went out hunting with men. The foster mom made him a collar as a mark to protect him from being hunted. One day a man from the north set out to kill the unkillable bear and instead the bear killed him. The foster mom wept and sent the bear away to hopefully be safe with his own family.
Qalagánguasê, Who Passed to the Land of Ghosts
A young boy, Qala, lost all of his family members to deaths. He was a lame boy and the lower part of his body didn't work. All of his family members came back as ghosts to entertain him while the people of his village left him to go hunting. One time his mother and fathers ghosts came and they told him they could take him away to a better place. Then he became a ghost like the others and no one in the village ever saw him away. This could be an interesting story to retell... Maybe from someone else perspective.
Isigâligârssik
The town wizard would only let married men see the spirits performance, so Isig found a young girl who wanted to marry him. He went to the spirit thing but the wizard cast him out. He kept trying to get back in and eventually the wizard stabbed him, but luckily he fit into his baby outfit and it healed him to survive. He then shot the wizard with a tiny bow and arrow and he died. This Isig lived happily ever after with his wife.
The Insects that Wooed a Wifeless Man
The man was wifeless because he slept all night and day and was hopeless. Then one day when he finally awoke, far later than all the other men, he went out in his canoe. He rescued a man whos canoe had been turned over and this man granted him a wife and a cure for his sleeping as long as he never spoke of that day/how he got those things. HE went on the wake early each day and catch seals, and he got a wife but she was nosy. He told her how he caught the seals each day and he lost the gifts he had been granted. He left through winter, his canoe rotted, his wife left him. This could also be a good story to retell.
Makíte
Again another story I didn't really understand at all. I think the cultural barrier between things like items used in our daily life, and thing in nature is so intense that I just don't know what the heck is going on. All i know is Makite was a sucky fisherman and left his wife to go up the mountain to a better life but came across these houses with people living alone and there was a fight and a wave of water and then they all died? Still not really sure, these stories aren't very entertaining to me since I don't even understand them.
Atungait, Who Went A-Wandering
This story was pretty weird. Atungait had a wife and killed a seal but went off to find a strong woman to knead the seal skin for him. He found one by playing football? and then they traveled on together up a mountain with their sled dogs. Along the way they came across groups of people with bodily deformations or they were cannibals and they stole things from them. Atungait returned home to see his wife kissing another man, he killed her but not him because he was honest about it. Then he married the strong woman.
The Giant Dog
A man owned a giant savage dog who would bring in whales and narwhales.... but one day it killed and ate a man so they had to move away to their own land. The dog was trained and the master ould ride it if they wanted. They dog would disappear very now and then and bring its master back a human leg of an inland dweller. The dog would snatch people from their houses and that is why the are all now still scared of dogs. Another man came one day with three dogs to kill the big one but instead it crushed all three of them.
The Coming of Men, A Long, Long While Ago
This story told an interesting version of the creation story of the world and of mankind. In this tale there is no God... rather the earth and all of its contents and inhibitants rather fell into place just as they are now. In the beginning people only had nighttime, and the earth was over populated with people because they lived to old age. Then they agreed to trade the death of man in order to have daylight. The first man died and there was light; now when all men die they become bright things in the sky lights stars, moon, sun.
Nukúnguasik, who Escaped from the Tupilak
This was quite a confusing story... I read it twice and I still really have no idea what it was about. All I know is Tupilak's are some creature made by man and the one in this story was eating his creators body. And also Nukú killed the creator by startling him but besides that I no nothing.. which is basically also what the story ends by saying.
The Woman Who Had a Bear as a Foster-Son
A polar bear cub became the foster son of a lonely woman. When he was small he played with the kids of the town. when he was larger he played with the grown men, and when he was huge he went out hunting with men. The foster mom made him a collar as a mark to protect him from being hunted. One day a man from the north set out to kill the unkillable bear and instead the bear killed him. The foster mom wept and sent the bear away to hopefully be safe with his own family.
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| The polar bear son |
Qalagánguasê, Who Passed to the Land of Ghosts
A young boy, Qala, lost all of his family members to deaths. He was a lame boy and the lower part of his body didn't work. All of his family members came back as ghosts to entertain him while the people of his village left him to go hunting. One time his mother and fathers ghosts came and they told him they could take him away to a better place. Then he became a ghost like the others and no one in the village ever saw him away. This could be an interesting story to retell... Maybe from someone else perspective.
Isigâligârssik
The town wizard would only let married men see the spirits performance, so Isig found a young girl who wanted to marry him. He went to the spirit thing but the wizard cast him out. He kept trying to get back in and eventually the wizard stabbed him, but luckily he fit into his baby outfit and it healed him to survive. He then shot the wizard with a tiny bow and arrow and he died. This Isig lived happily ever after with his wife.
The Insects that Wooed a Wifeless Man
The man was wifeless because he slept all night and day and was hopeless. Then one day when he finally awoke, far later than all the other men, he went out in his canoe. He rescued a man whos canoe had been turned over and this man granted him a wife and a cure for his sleeping as long as he never spoke of that day/how he got those things. HE went on the wake early each day and catch seals, and he got a wife but she was nosy. He told her how he caught the seals each day and he lost the gifts he had been granted. He left through winter, his canoe rotted, his wife left him. This could also be a good story to retell.
Makíte
Again another story I didn't really understand at all. I think the cultural barrier between things like items used in our daily life, and thing in nature is so intense that I just don't know what the heck is going on. All i know is Makite was a sucky fisherman and left his wife to go up the mountain to a better life but came across these houses with people living alone and there was a fight and a wave of water and then they all died? Still not really sure, these stories aren't very entertaining to me since I don't even understand them.
Atungait, Who Went A-Wandering
This story was pretty weird. Atungait had a wife and killed a seal but went off to find a strong woman to knead the seal skin for him. He found one by playing football? and then they traveled on together up a mountain with their sled dogs. Along the way they came across groups of people with bodily deformations or they were cannibals and they stole things from them. Atungait returned home to see his wife kissing another man, he killed her but not him because he was honest about it. Then he married the strong woman.
The Giant Dog
A man owned a giant savage dog who would bring in whales and narwhales.... but one day it killed and ate a man so they had to move away to their own land. The dog was trained and the master ould ride it if they wanted. They dog would disappear very now and then and bring its master back a human leg of an inland dweller. The dog would snatch people from their houses and that is why the are all now still scared of dogs. Another man came one day with three dogs to kill the big one but instead it crushed all three of them.
Monday, March 7, 2016
Future Reading Selections
My task now is to explore the UnTextbook for this class and to select the stories I would like to read for the next two weeks. The next section is the Native American unit and we will pick two sub units of it to read for weeks 9 and 10, which are the two weeks following spring break. It's hard to believe we are already at the week before spring break and making these final reading choices.
For week 9 I will read the unit called "Inuit (Eskimo) Folk Tales." The title of this unit caught my attention and then I read the summary of it and I knew I wanted to read all the stories. I don't know much about the life of Eskimos but I think it would be really interesting to see what things are popular in their culture and to see some history in these stories. The stories seem like they cover a wide variety of topics so I don't think I'll be at all bored with this unit.
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| Image on the intro area for the Inuit (Eskimo) Unit. (I'm interested to see what this creature is) |
Blog Feature Ideas
For this assignment I looked at a few other blogs and selected three whose layout and features I really liked. I analyzed these three blogs the select a few things that I might want to change on my blog. The links to the three blogs and what I liked about each of them are listed below.
http://mcrelyea.blogspot.com/
I like how the stories and the navigation side bar were together in one large lighter purple block. I also like that her blog didn't have navigation tabs at the top, like mine does, and instead just on the side. It was all so easy to read because of the font styles and colors.
http://3043.mythfolklore.net/randommf.html
I really like how this blog takes up much more of the page with the writing column instead of leaving a lot of empty space on the sides. My blog's writing area is pretty skinny right now and I should look into expanding it to make better use of my blog.
http://3043.mythfolklore.net/randommf.html
One unique feature of this blog is the quote of the day located at the top of the sidebar. I think this would be interesting to include on my blog because it would give the reader something new to see everyday. It would also be cool if I got to pick it as it would be a reflection of my interests.
http://mcrelyea.blogspot.com/
I like how the stories and the navigation side bar were together in one large lighter purple block. I also like that her blog didn't have navigation tabs at the top, like mine does, and instead just on the side. It was all so easy to read because of the font styles and colors.
http://3043.mythfolklore.net/randommf.html
I really like how this blog takes up much more of the page with the writing column instead of leaving a lot of empty space on the sides. My blog's writing area is pretty skinny right now and I should look into expanding it to make better use of my blog.
http://3043.mythfolklore.net/randommf.html
One unique feature of this blog is the quote of the day located at the top of the sidebar. I think this would be interesting to include on my blog because it would give the reader something new to see everyday. It would also be cool if I got to pick it as it would be a reflection of my interests.
Time Strategies
In the beginning of the semester I chose to start my work for this class on Sundays, also working on Monday and then finishing up the next Saturday. I have found that pretty much every week since the beginning that this time allotment has not actually worked for me. I usually start the week's work on Tuesday evening, doing both reading diaries and the storytelling post. I also try to do the project feedback and the extra blog comments on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then that just leaves me the work on my storybook project and the blog comments, which I normally knock out Friday afternoon or I'll wait until Sunday to do it.
So my official start date should change to Tuesday- doing 2 hours, Wednesday- 2 hours, Friday OR Sunday- 2 hours.
As for how I handle my time for other classes.... I feel that I've done a really good job of working ahead and working hard all week so that I can enjoy my weekends. There truly is way more going on the spring than the fall so I like to be able to put away the books and homework and go hangout outside, go to sporting events, go to date parties, and do philanthropy events.
Knowing that after spring break things will get even crazier, I will have to be sure to finish my Netflix shows over spring break so that I'm not tempted to watch them during the rest of the semester. I also think it will be increasingly important that I get enough sleep so I can finish the semester strong.
So my official start date should change to Tuesday- doing 2 hours, Wednesday- 2 hours, Friday OR Sunday- 2 hours.
As for how I handle my time for other classes.... I feel that I've done a really good job of working ahead and working hard all week so that I can enjoy my weekends. There truly is way more going on the spring than the fall so I like to be able to put away the books and homework and go hangout outside, go to sporting events, go to date parties, and do philanthropy events.
Knowing that after spring break things will get even crazier, I will have to be sure to finish my Netflix shows over spring break so that I'm not tempted to watch them during the rest of the semester. I also think it will be increasingly important that I get enough sleep so I can finish the semester strong.
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| How I feel when I spend time planning/focusing on time management |
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Week 7 Storytelling: The Kettle in the Woods
In the forests of Japan there live many animals of all kinds. One of the animals that is native only to this area is called a Tanuki. Tanukis look rather cute upon first glance, almost like a little fox mixed with a bear cub. But, Tanukis are sneaky and mischievous little tricksters who have no respect for humans. They often steal shiny items from the people who pitch
tents for the night in their woods.
One of the items most frequently stolen by Tanukis is tea kettles. The campers in the forest will make a fire for the night and will set a tea kettle over it to have hot water ready in the morning to make their coffee. Little do they know, the whistling of the kettle and then its metal glimmering in the moonlight make it most desirable to the Tanukis.
One night three young Tanuki brothers entered into a campsite, there was a tea kettle over the fire that the three wanted to steal. They played a round of rock paper scissors and the youngest of the three lost so he had to be the one to retrieve the kettle.
He crept between the tents and when he was at the fire's edge he saw how difficult the task would be for a little guy like him. He took a step back to get a running start, then he ran and leapt over the fire to knock the kettle off its holder. The kettle fell down, hot water splashing out and the metal clanging as it hit the ground. The little Tanuki had used his head to hit it off so he was a little delirious.
The other two Tanuki brothers knew they had caused too much noise and that the people would soon wake up and come out after them... so they took off into the woods. The little one shook off his deliriousness and then dumped the rest of the water out of the kettle.
He wanted to carry it back home for his family's stockpile of shiny things they had stolen, so he got inside the kettle and turned it over. His body fit inside and only his feet stuck out the bottom. Because of this he couldn't see anything. However he could hear the people rustling around in their tents, then he heard one of them unzip; a person was probably onto him now.
The Tanuki started running towards the woods, with the kettle on his back and his feet going wherever they could, but the person was now chasing him and the kettle. He ducked and weaved and jumped over some branches. He was sure he had lost the person since he no longer heard him.
He sat down behind a tree and slipped the kettle off his body, he was panting to catch his breath.
Then, out of no where, the human reached around the tree and grabbed the Tanuki in one hand and the kettle in the other.
He said "You silly animal. You awaked me from my sleep and put me through quite the chase. If you wanted this kettle so badly, all you had to do was ask... We wizards are quite good at granting wishes, you know?" The wizard said
"Well now I suppose I'll grant you what you wish... forevermore you and that kettle shall never part, that is because you will become one part" the wizard said followed by an evil laugh. Then he pulled out his wand, made a few flicks of his wrist, and cast a spell to literally turn the Tanuki into half Tanuki/half kettle.
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| Tanuki tea kettle |
"And finally, I command you to never return home to your family but to instead go find other humans to share your gift with. You shall dance for the people of the land and you will be their enjoyment like once the tea kettle was yours" ended the wizard. Then the wizard vanished back to his campsite, and the Tanuki took off towards a village in the forest.
Author's Note: The original story comes from Japanese fairy tales and was called "The Magic Kettle." In this story a man comes home to find a mysterious kettle, he puts it on the stove but it turns into half Tanuki. He is scared so he gave it to another man who then built a traveling show around the dancing Tanuki/kettle. He became very rich and then gave the Tanuki back to the first man so he could become rich as well. I enjoyed this story so I decided to retell it; in my retelling I made it an origin story. The original story left a lot to be wondered about how the half Tanuki/ketlle appeared in the mans house in the first place so that is what I made up for this story. In this way my story is the lead in to the original story and I think it answers a lot of questions for the readers. I chose the image from the original story because it accurately depicted what a half Tanuki/half kettle animal would look like.
Bibliography: "The Magic Kettle" from the Japanese Fairy Tales unit. Story source: The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1903).
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Week 7 Reading Diary Continued: Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang)
Continued from Japanese Fairy Tales unit. Story source: The Violet Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1901).
Schippeitaro
Young boys had to go off into the world to prove themselves so this one boy went into a forest to find some great task to conquer. He got lost and slept at nigh in the forest chapel, big cats woke him at midnight talking of Schippeitaro. The next day he found a village and a girl crying because the next day she would be eater by the forest spirit. He decided that was his task and he ask of Schippeitaro- the kings large dog. He begged to borrow the dog and put him in the place of the girl the next day in a box in the chapel. The cats returned and the largest one, the spirit opened it to eat the girl but instead the dog bit him. The boy cut off his head and killed other cats as well. Now all the girls are safe and they celebrate the boy and dog.
The Crab and the Monkey
The crab had a nice hole for a home and there was some rice outside of it. She was bringing it inside when a monkey appeared and asked for a trade- some rice for a kaki kernel. The crab agreed. Later the monkey came by again and the crab gave him permission to climb in her kaki tree if he dropped her some fruit. He dropped the bad ones so she tricked him into doing a somersault which dropped the good ones from his pockets. Seeing he had been tricked he pummeled the crab almost to death. But her friends saved her and made a revenge plan. When the monkey came to apologize they hurt him and eventually killed him. The crab lived happily under the kaki until she died.
The Magic Kettle
A kettle appeared in a mans house and when he filled it with water and sat it on the hot stove in morfed into a cute creature called a tanuki. He was scared and didn't want it so he sold it to a tradesman. He too discoved it was tanuki and was given advice to show it to people for a price once he got the tanukis consent. So he did this and the tanuki would appear from the kettle on command and dance for/with people. Once he had made a fortune he still wasn't happy so he returned the kettle with a 100 gold pieces to the original owner. They both lived a happy, great, well respected life. This would be a fun story to retell, maybe as a how did the tanuki first come to be.
How the Wicked Tanuki was Punished
Only a father tanuki and his son and his fox wife still lived in the forest but they were starving. The planned for the father to play dead while the mother changed to a human and sold him for food. He escaped later and they ate happily, but again they ran out. So they switched roles and the mother played dead while the father sold her. But he was greedy and didn't want to share with her so he told the buyer to really kill her. He got back to his son but now also didn't want to share with him. He survived on his own but sought to avenge his mom. He said he knew magic better than his father so he bet the father wouldn't recognize him if he changed shapes. Instead he hid and watched as the father accused the real king of being his son. His guards threw him into the river and he died. The son was happy and lived on in the forest.
The Slaying of the Tanuki
A man in the forest was tricked by the Tanuki a few to many times so he wanted to kill the Tanuki. He captured him and bound him in his house. But his kind wife freed him and the Tanuki instead cooked her up into a feast instead of him being the meal. He used his magic to take her shape and clothes and then when the man returned he ate the food which was his wife. The Tanuki changed back to itself and told the man what happened then ran away. The man wanted to avenge her so a hare helped him. He set him on fire but that wasn't enough so he took him out fishing a drowned him. Finally the wife was avenged and the man and hare lived happily together.
Uraschimataro and the Turtle
Ura was a daring fisherman and one day caught a turtle in his nets, he brought it aboard but it begged to be freed. Ura put it back and it said it owed him. Later on another voyage his ship was destroyed and he was almost killed but the same turtle came to his rescue. Instead of taking him straight home they went underwater for three days to find a palace. In the palace Ura met a woman who loved him from what the turtle told her. Ura stayed to live with her and she granted him to never die or age. Eventually he longed for his parents so she unwillingly let him go back only to return if he did not open the little chest she gave him. When he got back it had been 300 years and his parents had both passed away. He unconsciously opened the box and instantly became old, almost like a zombie. He waited for the turtle to come take him back but he never arrived and Ura die.
Schippeitaro
Young boys had to go off into the world to prove themselves so this one boy went into a forest to find some great task to conquer. He got lost and slept at nigh in the forest chapel, big cats woke him at midnight talking of Schippeitaro. The next day he found a village and a girl crying because the next day she would be eater by the forest spirit. He decided that was his task and he ask of Schippeitaro- the kings large dog. He begged to borrow the dog and put him in the place of the girl the next day in a box in the chapel. The cats returned and the largest one, the spirit opened it to eat the girl but instead the dog bit him. The boy cut off his head and killed other cats as well. Now all the girls are safe and they celebrate the boy and dog.
The Crab and the Monkey
The crab had a nice hole for a home and there was some rice outside of it. She was bringing it inside when a monkey appeared and asked for a trade- some rice for a kaki kernel. The crab agreed. Later the monkey came by again and the crab gave him permission to climb in her kaki tree if he dropped her some fruit. He dropped the bad ones so she tricked him into doing a somersault which dropped the good ones from his pockets. Seeing he had been tricked he pummeled the crab almost to death. But her friends saved her and made a revenge plan. When the monkey came to apologize they hurt him and eventually killed him. The crab lived happily under the kaki until she died.
The Magic Kettle
A kettle appeared in a mans house and when he filled it with water and sat it on the hot stove in morfed into a cute creature called a tanuki. He was scared and didn't want it so he sold it to a tradesman. He too discoved it was tanuki and was given advice to show it to people for a price once he got the tanukis consent. So he did this and the tanuki would appear from the kettle on command and dance for/with people. Once he had made a fortune he still wasn't happy so he returned the kettle with a 100 gold pieces to the original owner. They both lived a happy, great, well respected life. This would be a fun story to retell, maybe as a how did the tanuki first come to be.
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| The kettle tanuki |
How the Wicked Tanuki was Punished
Only a father tanuki and his son and his fox wife still lived in the forest but they were starving. The planned for the father to play dead while the mother changed to a human and sold him for food. He escaped later and they ate happily, but again they ran out. So they switched roles and the mother played dead while the father sold her. But he was greedy and didn't want to share with her so he told the buyer to really kill her. He got back to his son but now also didn't want to share with him. He survived on his own but sought to avenge his mom. He said he knew magic better than his father so he bet the father wouldn't recognize him if he changed shapes. Instead he hid and watched as the father accused the real king of being his son. His guards threw him into the river and he died. The son was happy and lived on in the forest.
The Slaying of the Tanuki
A man in the forest was tricked by the Tanuki a few to many times so he wanted to kill the Tanuki. He captured him and bound him in his house. But his kind wife freed him and the Tanuki instead cooked her up into a feast instead of him being the meal. He used his magic to take her shape and clothes and then when the man returned he ate the food which was his wife. The Tanuki changed back to itself and told the man what happened then ran away. The man wanted to avenge her so a hare helped him. He set him on fire but that wasn't enough so he took him out fishing a drowned him. Finally the wife was avenged and the man and hare lived happily together.
Uraschimataro and the Turtle
Ura was a daring fisherman and one day caught a turtle in his nets, he brought it aboard but it begged to be freed. Ura put it back and it said it owed him. Later on another voyage his ship was destroyed and he was almost killed but the same turtle came to his rescue. Instead of taking him straight home they went underwater for three days to find a palace. In the palace Ura met a woman who loved him from what the turtle told her. Ura stayed to live with her and she granted him to never die or age. Eventually he longed for his parents so she unwillingly let him go back only to return if he did not open the little chest she gave him. When he got back it had been 300 years and his parents had both passed away. He unconsciously opened the box and instantly became old, almost like a zombie. He waited for the turtle to come take him back but he never arrived and Ura die.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Week 7 Reading Diary: Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang)
This reading diary will focus on the Japanese Fairy Tales unit. Story source: The Violet Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1901).
The Two Frogs
Two frogs from two different cities in Japan wanted to explore each others cities. They both set out on the road and the met in the middle and became friends. They stood up on their hind legs together to see if the other city was worth visiting but they forgot their eyes were on the back of their head. SO when they thought they were looking at the other city they were really looking at their own. Seeing it was no better they both turned around for home.
The Stonecutter
A stonecutter finally heard the voice of the mountain spirit who granted wishes. He was unhappy with his life and wished to have a nice bed, the wished to be a prince, then the sun, then the clouds, then the rock mountain, and finally again he wished to be a man. Each time he was unhappy and saw something better and more powerful he wanted to be until finally he realized that his job as a stone cutter man was the best and fine for him.
The Maiden with the Wooden Helmet
A young girl was so beautiful that the mother and father wanted to protect her from men so they told her to wear a wooden helmet. They were a hardworking family and so when the father then mother died the daughter went on to work to support herself. She was brought in to care after a mans sick wife and then one day the son caught a glimpse of the maidens beauty. He asked to marry her to his families displeasure and eventually she said yes. The helmet was stuck to her head before the wedding so she was married in it, later on it burst off into pieces. They lived happily ever after.
The Envious Neighbor
A mans dog lead him to treasure in his yard. The neighbor was envious and borrowed the dog, when he only dug up bones he killed him. The sad owners had a dream of the dog telling them to cut down a tree for mortar, they did this and it turned to gold pieces. The envious neighbor again borrowed the mortar but for him it created stinky berries, he burned them. Then the dog told the owners to collect the ashes and spread them on cherry trees in front of the king, they did this and he gave them rich gifts. The envious neighbor tried to do the same with the remaining ashes but they got in the kings eye. He bound and punished him and when he was released from prison his village would have him no longer.
The Sparrow with the Slit Tongue
A man saved a sparrow from a mean bird and let it live in a cage in his home, he loved it but his wife was quarrelsome and hated it. When he left on a trip she chased it around the house and at last slit its tongue. It was fearful and sad and flew away to the forest. When the man returned he was determined to find his bird friend so he searched many days. Finally he came to a house in the woods and a woman brought him inside. It was the sparrow turned into a woman. They ate and she served him & sent his away with a chest. He opened it at home and it was jewels. The wife was mad he didn't choose the bigger one so she found the house and chose the bigger one. When she got it home she opened it to find snakes which bit her and then she died.
The Cat's Elopement
Two cats fell in love but their owners wouldn't sell one to the other so they ran off to be together. They were in a park when a dog was about to attack Gon the male and the female Kona cried out for help. A man saved him and took him to the princess where he lived happily. He killed a snake for her and then one day he rescued the female from a mean cat in the park. The two went to the princess and she accepted the girl and treated them well. They had kittens and she got married and had babies and they were all friends.
The Two Frogs
Two frogs from two different cities in Japan wanted to explore each others cities. They both set out on the road and the met in the middle and became friends. They stood up on their hind legs together to see if the other city was worth visiting but they forgot their eyes were on the back of their head. SO when they thought they were looking at the other city they were really looking at their own. Seeing it was no better they both turned around for home.
The Stonecutter
A stonecutter finally heard the voice of the mountain spirit who granted wishes. He was unhappy with his life and wished to have a nice bed, the wished to be a prince, then the sun, then the clouds, then the rock mountain, and finally again he wished to be a man. Each time he was unhappy and saw something better and more powerful he wanted to be until finally he realized that his job as a stone cutter man was the best and fine for him.
The Maiden with the Wooden Helmet
A young girl was so beautiful that the mother and father wanted to protect her from men so they told her to wear a wooden helmet. They were a hardworking family and so when the father then mother died the daughter went on to work to support herself. She was brought in to care after a mans sick wife and then one day the son caught a glimpse of the maidens beauty. He asked to marry her to his families displeasure and eventually she said yes. The helmet was stuck to her head before the wedding so she was married in it, later on it burst off into pieces. They lived happily ever after.
The Envious Neighbor
A mans dog lead him to treasure in his yard. The neighbor was envious and borrowed the dog, when he only dug up bones he killed him. The sad owners had a dream of the dog telling them to cut down a tree for mortar, they did this and it turned to gold pieces. The envious neighbor again borrowed the mortar but for him it created stinky berries, he burned them. Then the dog told the owners to collect the ashes and spread them on cherry trees in front of the king, they did this and he gave them rich gifts. The envious neighbor tried to do the same with the remaining ashes but they got in the kings eye. He bound and punished him and when he was released from prison his village would have him no longer.
The Sparrow with the Slit Tongue
A man saved a sparrow from a mean bird and let it live in a cage in his home, he loved it but his wife was quarrelsome and hated it. When he left on a trip she chased it around the house and at last slit its tongue. It was fearful and sad and flew away to the forest. When the man returned he was determined to find his bird friend so he searched many days. Finally he came to a house in the woods and a woman brought him inside. It was the sparrow turned into a woman. They ate and she served him & sent his away with a chest. He opened it at home and it was jewels. The wife was mad he didn't choose the bigger one so she found the house and chose the bigger one. When she got it home she opened it to find snakes which bit her and then she died.
The Cat's Elopement
Two cats fell in love but their owners wouldn't sell one to the other so they ran off to be together. They were in a park when a dog was about to attack Gon the male and the female Kona cried out for help. A man saved him and took him to the princess where he lived happily. He killed a snake for her and then one day he rescued the female from a mean cat in the park. The two went to the princess and she accepted the girl and treated them well. They had kittens and she got married and had babies and they were all friends.
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| The cats at the woman's feet |
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Storytelling Week 6: An Ants Life
"Grandpa, why are you always carrying that big box on your head?" asked Timmy, the tiniest ant in the family.
"My dear boy... this box is the burden I bear because I was once too nice" said Bob, the grandfather ant.
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| Bob forever carrying the box over his head. |
"What do you mean grandpa, how can someone ever be too nice?" asked Timmy.
"You see, we should all strive to be kind, but not so kind that we become naïve. That's what happened to me. I was too kind to the wrong person and he took advantage of it. Now this box has become a part of me!" said Bob.
"Hmmmmm, who were you too nice to grandpa?" said Timmy.
"It all started one day when I was outside the grocery store. I was sitting on a bench in the parking lot and this spider walked by me and he had this box on his head. He asked me if I would hold it for him while he went in to shop."
"I knew that spider pretty well, he was always getting into trouble and causing problems for himself and his family because of his greed."
"So naturally I said no I would not. But then he asked again and he promised he would return immediately after he was done to reclaim the box from me. Being the kind-natured ant that I am, I agreed to it."
"I waited there for an hour or so, and then an hour or so more, and then night came and he still hadn't returned. Finally my arms were weak so I tried to put the box down."
"But no matter how hard I tried the box stayed put on top of my head. I even took my hands off of it, look I'll do it now.... It just stays up there all on its own."
"Wow grandpa that's weird" said Timmy.
"Tell me about it. But you wanna know what's even weirder..." said Bob.
"Ya!" Exclaimed Timmy.
"What's in the box and how it came to be enchanted." said Bob.
"Oooooh tell me grandpa!" said Timmy.
"The spider that I was telling you about, his name was Anansi. The story around town is that when he was trying to grow his crops he went to the kings magical jester for help. He had seen previously that his son got the jester to water his crops for him and Anansi wanted the same thing."
"The jester had told the son to pick up two small sticks and tap him on the bum. When he did this the jester brought down rain from the sky."
"When the son told his father of how he got the water the father decided he could get even more from the jester by using two huge sticks to tap him."
"He got to the jester and the jester made him the same promise of water, but when Anansi tapped him with the sticks the blows hit the jester so hard the fell to the ground and died."
"Then he didn't want to be guilty for killing the kings jester so he tricked his son into thinking he killed him. The son didn't fall for his dads trick and said "That's fine, the king wanted him dead, theres a reward for him."
"Hearing this the greedy Anansi backtracked and claimed he killed him and deserved the reward. Then he picked the jester up and carried him to the kingdom to get his prize... or so he thought."
"When he arrived the king was livid because he loved that jester of his. Instead of a reward the king put the jester in this box and enchanted it so that it could never, ever be put down."
"So that fateful day when I thought I was being nice, I brought the curse upon myself."
"Now I a tiny ant, will carry this large bundle on my head until the day I die, hopefully breaking the curse."
"Wow grandpa. I knew there was a reason I didn't like spiders" said Timmy.
Author's Note: This story comes from "Ants and Their Bundles." This retelling still has all of the same plot elements except I told it from the perspective of the ant who got tricked instead of from Anansi's perspective. I also added in the character of the grandson so the ant would have someone to tell the story to. I decided to do it like this because when I read the original story I felt bad for the ant, and I thought he probably wasn't too happy about the situation either. I chose the picture because it gives the reader a visual of what I was trying to describe in my writing. I added in the part at the end about the grandpa dying with the box because I thought I wonder if he will try to hand it off to someone else or if not and he dies with it I bet the curse will be broken.
Bibliography: "Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles As Big As Themselves" from West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with drawings by Cecilia Sinclair (1917).
Week 6 Reading Diary Continued: West African Folktales
The second half of the reading diary is also from West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with drawings by Cecilia Sinclair (1917).
The Moon and Stars
Anansi and his son were captured by a dragon and taken to his lair to wait with the other captives. A cock was supposed to be guarding them but he was distracted by picking up ride. The son threw a rope ladder to the gods and they hoisted everyone up to escape, the son fought off the dragon when he also tried to climb up. The gods were impressed and made him the sun, his dad the moon, and the others the stars. The son gave life/power to them all.
How the Tortoise Got Its Shell
The kings servant went out to fetch him some palm wine. He had to fight for it and winning he earned a pot of wine and the palm trees. He carried this back but when he returned the gate was locked and everyone was inside. He waited outside in the rain, it rained for two months straight so everyone stayed inside. He died from the pots weight on his back and it molded to him because of the mud... thus creating the turtle shell. I never see these stories turning out the way they do.
The Hunter and the Tortoise
A tortoise sang in the forest and the hunter was not content to visit her everyday so he took her to his home, but she would sing only for him. He spread her secret and was brought before the king. He said he would show them all her gift or he could be killed. So he bought her before the town but she didn't make a sound all day. At night they killed him and then she spoke. He had brought this on himself.
King Chameleon and the Animals
In a race to decide who would be made the king of the animals, the chameleon cheated and held onto the tail of the quick hare. The hare reached the winners seat first but the chameleon dropped off on the seat a second before he did. He became king but the animals didn't like this so they left the area. The chameleon now hides alone at the top of a tree calling for friends.
Elephant and Wren
This spider, Anansi is the greediest, most evil, terrible excuse for a father/husband I have ever seen. Again in another story he gets food, a whole elephant enough to fee his family. But instead he ties it up to hide for himself and tries to catch a tiny bird for the others to eat. He fails and when he goes back to get the elephant its gone too. Now because of his selfish stupidity everyone starves. This would be a good story to switch up and teach Anansi a lesson.
The Ungrateful Man
A hunter rescued a man, a tiger, a snake, and a rat from a hole that they had fallen into. They each repaid him except for the man who mooched off of him and wanted to ruin his god fortune. The king had his jewels stolen and the man blamed the hunter. When the hunter was about to be killed the kings son was bitten by a snake and the hunter used the anti venom given to him by the snake and mixed it with his traitors blood, who the king had killed, and was able to save the kings son.
Why Tigers Never Attack Men Unless They Are Provoked
A man and tiger became great friends and they visited and stayed at each others homes. Then later the man died and the tiger and his son went to pay their condolences to the mans son. On their way back home two other men shot the tiger but didn't kill him. To see if the tigers friend had anything to do with this the tiger played dead to test the man's son's reaction. He cried and the tiger promised never to hurt a man unless provoked.
Farmer Mybrow and the Fairies
A farmer started to plant crops in a field but fairies lived there and they were eager to help. He got a great crop going but then his wife begged him to know where to field was so she could go pick one item to eat. He told her not to answer the fairies questions when she was there but she didn't listen and she told them she wanted to pick a crop. Naturally the fairies jumped right in and helped her but they picked every single item making them useless because they were still green and ripe.
The Moon and Stars
Anansi and his son were captured by a dragon and taken to his lair to wait with the other captives. A cock was supposed to be guarding them but he was distracted by picking up ride. The son threw a rope ladder to the gods and they hoisted everyone up to escape, the son fought off the dragon when he also tried to climb up. The gods were impressed and made him the sun, his dad the moon, and the others the stars. The son gave life/power to them all.
How the Tortoise Got Its Shell
The kings servant went out to fetch him some palm wine. He had to fight for it and winning he earned a pot of wine and the palm trees. He carried this back but when he returned the gate was locked and everyone was inside. He waited outside in the rain, it rained for two months straight so everyone stayed inside. He died from the pots weight on his back and it molded to him because of the mud... thus creating the turtle shell. I never see these stories turning out the way they do.
The Hunter and the Tortoise
A tortoise sang in the forest and the hunter was not content to visit her everyday so he took her to his home, but she would sing only for him. He spread her secret and was brought before the king. He said he would show them all her gift or he could be killed. So he bought her before the town but she didn't make a sound all day. At night they killed him and then she spoke. He had brought this on himself.
King Chameleon and the Animals
In a race to decide who would be made the king of the animals, the chameleon cheated and held onto the tail of the quick hare. The hare reached the winners seat first but the chameleon dropped off on the seat a second before he did. He became king but the animals didn't like this so they left the area. The chameleon now hides alone at the top of a tree calling for friends.
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| A king with no subjects is no king at all |
Elephant and Wren
This spider, Anansi is the greediest, most evil, terrible excuse for a father/husband I have ever seen. Again in another story he gets food, a whole elephant enough to fee his family. But instead he ties it up to hide for himself and tries to catch a tiny bird for the others to eat. He fails and when he goes back to get the elephant its gone too. Now because of his selfish stupidity everyone starves. This would be a good story to switch up and teach Anansi a lesson.
The Ungrateful Man
A hunter rescued a man, a tiger, a snake, and a rat from a hole that they had fallen into. They each repaid him except for the man who mooched off of him and wanted to ruin his god fortune. The king had his jewels stolen and the man blamed the hunter. When the hunter was about to be killed the kings son was bitten by a snake and the hunter used the anti venom given to him by the snake and mixed it with his traitors blood, who the king had killed, and was able to save the kings son.
Why Tigers Never Attack Men Unless They Are Provoked
A man and tiger became great friends and they visited and stayed at each others homes. Then later the man died and the tiger and his son went to pay their condolences to the mans son. On their way back home two other men shot the tiger but didn't kill him. To see if the tigers friend had anything to do with this the tiger played dead to test the man's son's reaction. He cried and the tiger promised never to hurt a man unless provoked.
Farmer Mybrow and the Fairies
A farmer started to plant crops in a field but fairies lived there and they were eager to help. He got a great crop going but then his wife begged him to know where to field was so she could go pick one item to eat. He told her not to answer the fairies questions when she was there but she didn't listen and she told them she wanted to pick a crop. Naturally the fairies jumped right in and helped her but they picked every single item making them useless because they were still green and ripe.
Week 6 Reading Diary: West African Folktales
This week I read West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with drawings by Cecilia Sinclair (1917).
How We Got The Name "Spider Tales"
A very jealous spider made a deal with Nyankupon to have all of the future stories men tell be about him instead of about Nyankupon. To complete the transaction the spider had to fetch him a jar of bees, a boa constrictor, and a tiger. He got these three animals by tricking them and then Nyankupon declared all future stories to be Anansi stories, the spiders name is Anansi.
How Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race
In this story Ansansi is the giver of wisdom to men, but the men make him mad so he decides to take it all away and hide it where they cant reach it. He tries to hide it in a tree but has trouble because the pot of wisdom keep getting in his way. His son sees his struggle and says father wear it on your back instead, this made Anansi mad and he threw the pot down. It busted and spread all the wisdom across the world.
Anansi and Nothing
I definitely thought this story would be way more boring than it was- the title Anansi and Nothing turned me away. The end caught me off caught when it said when you ask children why they are crying they often say they are "crying for nothing" because Nothing is a king who was killed by Anansi in this story.
Thunder and Anansi
Anansi selfish characteristics really showed in this story. His family was starving so he went to a palm tree to get nuts but that failed and he ended up in the water at Thunders cottage. Thunder gave him a magic pot that made food. He ate and then hid it from his family while they starved. When they found out about it they made everyone in town food but the pot melted from overheating. Anansi went back to the cottage for another pot but instead got a stick that beat him. I think that is exactly what he deserved.
Why The Lizard Moves His Head Up and Down
Another story involving Anansi's evil ways. This time he wanted to win the kings three daughters by finding out their names. So he dropped fruit and got them to say their names, he then hired a lizard as his servant to say the names for him to the king. At this the king gave the lizard his daughters. Anansi wanted revenge and so he framed the lizard for killing the kings cock. THe king in turn gave him his three daughters. I could see this tory going differently; maybe the fruit Anansi drops is actually poison and the king hunts him down.
Tit for Tat
A battle between father and son for the last meat in the forest. Anansi tried to take away his sons hunting spot but the son got him back by being a god very angry at Anansi and demanding the meat. Later when the son was rich from all the meat he threw a banquet and at it he told the story of his fathers antics. He was ashamed and promised not to do anything like that again.
The Squirrel and The Spider
The squirrel sowed a grand farm, but he got there by the trees. Anansi found and and his family built a road to it and began to harvest it. The squirrel was mad but the law said the road creator was the owner meaning Anansi even though the squirrel planted it. Then a storm came and the spiders abandonded the crops. When they returned a crow was blocking them from the rain and he took off with the bundles that were now claimed as his. This is an example of karma.
Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles As Big As Themselves
The spider families crops weren't growing so the son got a jester to bring his rain by tapping him with small sticks. Anansi learned of this and brought two huge sticks, when he found the jester and tapped him he accidentally killed him. He put his body in a tree and the son knocked it down so Anansi blamed him. The son lied and said that killing him meant a reward so Anansi backtracked and claimed the murder. When he went to get a reward from the king he was doomed to carry the dead jester in a box on his head forever. Until one day he tricked an ant into carrying it on his head.
The Grinding-Stone that Ground Flour By Itself
Anansi's cousing found this stone and food by it and took only enough for himself and his family each day. Anansi say them getting plump and demanded to be taken to the place where the food came from. Again he put ashes in someones bag to make a trail, this time his cousins. He followed him and found the magic stone, instead of taking some he picked up the whole stone. Later he was tired and wanted to put it down but the stone wouldn't allow it. And that is why now we see lots of spiders always under rocks.
How We Got The Name "Spider Tales"
A very jealous spider made a deal with Nyankupon to have all of the future stories men tell be about him instead of about Nyankupon. To complete the transaction the spider had to fetch him a jar of bees, a boa constrictor, and a tiger. He got these three animals by tricking them and then Nyankupon declared all future stories to be Anansi stories, the spiders name is Anansi.
How Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race
In this story Ansansi is the giver of wisdom to men, but the men make him mad so he decides to take it all away and hide it where they cant reach it. He tries to hide it in a tree but has trouble because the pot of wisdom keep getting in his way. His son sees his struggle and says father wear it on your back instead, this made Anansi mad and he threw the pot down. It busted and spread all the wisdom across the world.
Anansi and Nothing
I definitely thought this story would be way more boring than it was- the title Anansi and Nothing turned me away. The end caught me off caught when it said when you ask children why they are crying they often say they are "crying for nothing" because Nothing is a king who was killed by Anansi in this story.
Thunder and Anansi
Anansi selfish characteristics really showed in this story. His family was starving so he went to a palm tree to get nuts but that failed and he ended up in the water at Thunders cottage. Thunder gave him a magic pot that made food. He ate and then hid it from his family while they starved. When they found out about it they made everyone in town food but the pot melted from overheating. Anansi went back to the cottage for another pot but instead got a stick that beat him. I think that is exactly what he deserved.
Why The Lizard Moves His Head Up and Down
Another story involving Anansi's evil ways. This time he wanted to win the kings three daughters by finding out their names. So he dropped fruit and got them to say their names, he then hired a lizard as his servant to say the names for him to the king. At this the king gave the lizard his daughters. Anansi wanted revenge and so he framed the lizard for killing the kings cock. THe king in turn gave him his three daughters. I could see this tory going differently; maybe the fruit Anansi drops is actually poison and the king hunts him down.
Tit for Tat
A battle between father and son for the last meat in the forest. Anansi tried to take away his sons hunting spot but the son got him back by being a god very angry at Anansi and demanding the meat. Later when the son was rich from all the meat he threw a banquet and at it he told the story of his fathers antics. He was ashamed and promised not to do anything like that again.
The Squirrel and The Spider
The squirrel sowed a grand farm, but he got there by the trees. Anansi found and and his family built a road to it and began to harvest it. The squirrel was mad but the law said the road creator was the owner meaning Anansi even though the squirrel planted it. Then a storm came and the spiders abandonded the crops. When they returned a crow was blocking them from the rain and he took off with the bundles that were now claimed as his. This is an example of karma.
Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles As Big As Themselves
The spider families crops weren't growing so the son got a jester to bring his rain by tapping him with small sticks. Anansi learned of this and brought two huge sticks, when he found the jester and tapped him he accidentally killed him. He put his body in a tree and the son knocked it down so Anansi blamed him. The son lied and said that killing him meant a reward so Anansi backtracked and claimed the murder. When he went to get a reward from the king he was doomed to carry the dead jester in a box on his head forever. Until one day he tricked an ant into carrying it on his head.
The Grinding-Stone that Ground Flour By Itself
Anansi's cousing found this stone and food by it and took only enough for himself and his family each day. Anansi say them getting plump and demanded to be taken to the place where the food came from. Again he put ashes in someones bag to make a trail, this time his cousins. He followed him and found the magic stone, instead of taking some he picked up the whole stone. Later he was tired and wanted to put it down but the stone wouldn't allow it. And that is why now we see lots of spiders always under rocks.
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| The magic grinding stones |
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