Week 15 Reading Notes: Adam and Eve Part A

Bibliography: Genesis, Link .
Caption: Adam and Eve. Link.

Reading Notes: I remember learning the story about Adam and Eve in Sunday School when I was young. My church always used the King James version of the bible, so this was familiar enough to me as is. I think that the creation story is really interesting and I like that Eve is made from part of Adam. I think it creates a cool bond between the two characters. I very clearly remember learning about the Fall in sunday school and I thought it was interesting to revisit it for my reading this week. I  like the character of the snake and think that it would be interesting to write a story from his point of view. Perhaps including the backstory of the snake or the part where he is told his mission would be an interesting addition to the story. I don't particularly like the Punishment stories as much, because I think that there was too much punishment for Eve's action and I think that Adam shouldn't necessarily have been held accountable.

Week 14 Reading Notes: Grimm LibriVox Part A

Bibliography: LibriVox, Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, Link.
Caption: Rapunzel's Tower.Link.

Reading Notes: I liked the Frog Prince story quite a bit. I knew of The Princess and the Frog, but didn't know that it was one of the Grimm Brothers' stories. I think it's a little interesting that it turns out so well for the Princess though, because she was rude and didn't want to keep her word. She only did so because her father commanded her to. Usually, the Grimm Brothers punish the people who should be punished and only reward those who have done kind things. I think it's interesting that the princess gets to marry the prince and he is beautiful and whisks her away. I like the story of Rapunzel a lot, though I didn't realize that Rapunzel was just the daughter of two common people. I thought she was the daughter of a king and a queen and had noble birthright. I think that the evil enchantress is an interesting character and is particularly conniving which I think is an interesting character trait that really fits her well, especially when she tricks the prince into thinking that she is Rapunzel. I didn't particularly like the stories following Rapunzel at all, I didn't think they were as interesting by any means and didn't feel like the rest of the Grimm Brothers' stories. 

Week 14 Reading Notes: Crane's Brothers Grimm Part B

Bibliography: Lucy Crane, Household Stories by Brothers Grimm, Link.
Caption: Snow White. Link.

Reading Notes:
I didn't like the six swans story either. I just didn't think it was very interesting and as intriguing as some of the other stories that the Grimm Brothers have written, so I don't think I'll write about this story. King Thrushbeard's story is pretty awesome. I like that his daughter was being rude and complaining and he punished her the way he did. I like that all (or a lot) of the Grimm Brothers stories are about children being punished for being a certain way and that they always learn a lesson from the story. I think it's funny that the King's daughter has to live with a beggar husband now that she complained too much and pushed away too many suitors. I particularly liked reading the story of Snow White, because though I have seen the Disney adaption of the story, I had not heard the original story and it's been a while since I've actually seen the movie. I thought that it was interesting how the evil queen came to kill her twice before deciding on the apple. I also expected more to the characters of the dwarves since they are such a big part of the Disney movie. I wish that they would have been expanded upon more so than they were.

Week 14 Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm Crane Part A

Reading Notes:
I didn't particularly like the story about the fisherman and his wife; I didn't think it was super interesting or compelling for the most part. I did like the Aschenputtel story, though. I think it's interesting to read the story as it originally was written instead of the typical Disney adaption of the story that everyone has come to know. I think it's interesting that there is no fairy godmother in the original story and that Aschenputtel instead actually grows a tree from her tears and it is the source of the magic in her life. I also thought it was interesting and disturbing that the step sisters actually cut their feet in order to fit into the shoes. I also didn't realize that there were 3 balls and that the prince was conniving for the last one and that's how he actually finally met Aschenputtel. I think that's interesting and wish that this would've been included in the Disney adaption of the story. I like the ending of the robber bridegroom story. I like that the bad guys get whats coming to them, I think that this is fitting.

Caption: Aschenputtel. Link.

Bibliography: Lucy Crane, Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm, Link.

Week 13 Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm Hunt Part A

Bibliography: Margaret Hunt, Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, Link.
Caption: An illustration of Hansel and Gretel. Link

Reading Notes: I didn't realize that in the story of Hansel and Gretel, their parents were trying to be rid of the children and had left them in the woods to die on their own. That is pretty heartless and definitely changes my outlook on the story. Hansel was very clever to use stones that would shine in the moonlight though. What a horrible mother to keep sending them into the woods to die! It's too bad about the birds, because Hansel was clever to leave a path. My heart goes out to the dad who loves the children but must be faithful to his wife and go along with what she says. I think Hansel is a really interesting character because he is so smart and cunning. It's very clever of him to trick the witch into thinking that he isn't getting any fatter. I think that it's interesting though that the final trick that saves the kids is done so by Gretel. All along, Hansel is the smarter of the two but ultimately Gretel saves them and I think that's great. I really like this story and think that it would be interesting to write a story based off of the characters of Hansel and Gretel. 

Week 13 Reading Notes: Ashliman Part B

Bibliography: D. L. Ashliman, The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales, Link.
Caption: An illustration of the cat and the fox fable, Link.

Reading Notes: I like the characters of the cat and the fox, how the fox is extremely narcissistic and gets caught by the dogs whereas the cat is able to escape the dogs with its one trick. I feel like a very common theme in the Grimm's brothers stories is an evil mother. In Aschenputtel, the step-mother is evil and mean. In the story of the children being turned into the fish and the lamb, the mother is again evil and enjoys hurting the kids. This is a very common character and I think would be interesting to use in my story. The Mount Simeli story is very interesting and feels a lot different than other Grimm brothers stories. They usually include kids and some sort of lesson. The Mount Simeli story teaches to not steal, but I think it's interesting that it doesn't actually include any children. I think that the duration of life story was very interesting and would be a good story to write about. It would be interesting to write a story about a man's life and how he is passing through each of these different stages of his life, through the years of man and donkey and dog and monkey. I did not like the story about Death and his messengers, so I do not think I will write a story about this.

Week 13 Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm Reading A

Caption: Rumpelstiltskin illustration from the original story. Link.
Bibliography: D. L. Ashliman, The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales.

Reading Notes: I really like the play and the banter between the cat and the mouse in the first story. I think it keeps things light and fun which I really appreciate. I really liked the story too about the wolf who ate the children but the children were saved by the mother and the wolf drowned in the river. I think it is an interesting story and reminds me of Red Riding Hood in a way, which I like. It would be fun to write a story with these characters in a different way somehow. I like the deceitful wolf and I like the strong-willed mother. I don't particularly like the story about the seven ravens as much because I don't think it had a very strong ending. It's interesting that the Little Red Cap story is so similar to the one where the wolf eats the seven children. The wolf in both cases is very deceitful and is ultimately killed by filling his stomach with stones. I really like the character of the wolf and think I will use him in my story somehow.

Week 10 Reading Notes: Eskimo Folk Tales Part B

Something that I really like with native american stories is how they personify certain animals and certain features, like the wind and the weather and what not. This is something I hope to keep in my story. I particularly loved this quote: "when any man killed his fellow without good cause, a monster would come and strike him dead with fear, and leave no part whole in all his body". I plan on using this somehow in my story. I think that perhaps I'll write about a world in which the justice system is based on this instead of the normal punishment we usually equate with crimes. I think it's really interesting. Ok yeah I really like this theme they have of punishment befalling people who harm others. Another quote I really liked: "Thus punishment falls upon the man who kills."Yeah, I definitely want to write a story about someone who harms someone and the punishment is more along the lines of the punishment in the Inuit stories. It seems a little crazy that all of their stories are relevant to people getting the punishment that they deserve, but I also admittedly like it a bit and plan on using it in my story as well.





Bibliography: Knud Rasmussen, Eskimo Folk-Tales, http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-unit-eskimo-folk-tales.html .

Caption: An Inuit Woman. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit .

Week 9 Reading Notes B: California and Old Southwest

Caption: The Sierra Nevadas. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sierra_Nevada-terabass.jpg .

Reading Notes: California and Old Southwest

I particularly liked the story regarding the creation of the Sierra Nevadas by the animals and the personification of the animals. I like that the story is written with no humans and only with animals as the main characters. I also like the personification of things that are not usually personified, like the wind and the clouds. I think that it adds an interesting piece to the story because this is something that isn't normally seen in other stories from other peoples. I think it would be interesting to take this creation story but apply it to a different area, or a different people. I could apply this creation story to the whole world, or to a different region. I think I like applying the creation story to the whole world and personifying the different creatures and to the wind, earth, fire, and water. 

Bibliography: Katharine Barry Judson, Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-california-and-old.html . 

Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology Part B

Caption: A Japanese dragon. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_dragon .

Bibliography: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend, E.W. & F. Champney. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/japan-izanagi-and-izanami.html .

Reading Notes: I don't really like the portrayal of women in these stories; it seems that their main task is to be a loyal and devoted wife. It doesn't seem that the men are expected to exhibit this same loyalty to their women, as evidenced by Yamato's desire for the siren. I like the siren in this story, I think her demanding tasks are kind of hilarious. Yamato is a great warrior and he shows no fear, really. I think the sacred sword sounds really interesting; I could write about how it became known as the sacred sword or write about some of its' endeavors. I've always really loved dragons so I think it would be an interesting topic to write about the dragon that he encounters. I like the devotion of his loving wife; she is willing to sacrifice her life so willingly regardless of his past infidelities. 

Reading Notes: Twenty-two Goblins Part A

Reading Notes: I really like this style of writing where it's a story and a riddle all in one. The king seems to be pretty intelligent as well, this is quite evident in his reasoning through the dead man being at blame for his own death. The king seems to understand the stories that the goblin is telling and I think his answers are correct so I find it strange that the goblin just runs away after the king answers him every time. I think that this story telling technique could be really interesting to explore. I think it would be fun to write a riddle like a story and have the readers try and solve it at the end.


Caption: A photo of Arthur W. Ryder. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arthur_W._Ryder.png .
Bibliography: Twenty-two Goblins, Arthur W. Ryder, http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/goblins-snakes-poison.html .

Reading Notes: Sinbad Part A

Reading Notes:Right off the bat, I relate to Sinbad in being bad at taking care of money. He spends it like I do. I also like how this story is told in first person, I like the amount of information and insight that the first person storytelling allows for. I like Sinbad's longing for adventure and his aversion to staying still in the same place for too long, this is also something that I feel I can relate to. I really like the amount of detail in the story, it's something that I think really benefits this story and makes it interesting. Regardless of what I write about, I think that preserving the amount of detail in this story is important.


Bibliography: The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, Andrew Lang. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/sindbad-first-voyage.html .
Caption: An illustration from the stories of Sinbad. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sinbad_1.jpg .

Reading Notes: Life of Buddha

Caption: Siddhartha Buddha meditating. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddha2.jpg . 

Reading Notes: Buddha is a very intelligent, understanding being. I find it interesting that he wants to live in solitude. Chandaka is right, Buddha is loved and young and has family, it seems strange that he should choose to leave all this behind and live on his own. "I can no longer live in a world that is but a dream."-I really, really like this quote. I think I'll somehow incorporate it into my story. I think it's particularly interesting that Buddha had no troubles leaving everyone and everything behind, yet he is seriously mourned by those that love him and no one wants him to leave. I also really like Buddha's musings in "Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha"; I think that it's interesting that his musings follow this thought process and leads from thing through many.

Bibliography: Andre Ferdinand Herold, Life of Buddha, http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/life-of-buddha-siddhartha-leaves.html .

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey Part B

Caption: A sculpture of Odysseus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Head_Odysseus_MAR_Sperlonga.jpg
Bibliography: Homer's The Odyssey. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/odyssey-ghosts-of-erebus.html .


Reading Notes: I didn't particularly like Part B as much as Part A; I think I'll write about part A. I don't particularly like the part with the ghosts of old friends showing up. I think it's kind of strange and doesn't add a whole lot to the story. I think that there isn't as much that could be expanded upon with the story of the ghosts. I guess I could write about it from the ghosts' point of view? Or I could write about their experiences prior to them coming back to talk to Odysseus. I could maybe write about their deaths, but most of them are already covered in other stories so this doesn't seem super interesting to me. I do like the part of the story with the sirens; I think it's intriguing and I think it would be particularly cool to write about this from the sirens' point of view. I think it could make a good story to write from the sirens' point of view about how they draw the men in and why they do it.

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey Part A

Caption: Polyphemus being stabbed in the eye. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_von_dem_blühenden_Tal

Bibliography: Homer, The Odyssey, http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/odyssey-land-of-cyclopes.html . 

Reading Notes: When I read this story in high school, I particularly loved the part regarding Polyphemus. I always thought he was an interesting character. I think it would be interesting to write about Polyphemus. Maybe I'll write a diary post that is written in first-person in regards to Polyphemus and his daily life before Odysseus and his crew came ashore his island. I've also always loved Circe; I liked the idea of a witch and thought that she really could have been more powerful than Homer made her out to be. I really like her connection with the wild animals. I always thought it was powerful and really intriguing. I think that Polyphemus and Circe could both be interesting characters to expand on; they both live fairly lonely lives on their islands and I think that the approach of a diary entry for one of them would be an interesting approach to write about.

Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad Part B

Caption: Achilles in the Iliad. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wrath_of_Achilles2.jpg

I think that Hector is being rational when he says he doesn't fear men, but he does fear Zeus. I feel for Achilles; his pain and sadness seem very fitting and I can understand why he is so upset over the death of his friend and why he blames himself. Achilles is a very trusting man; he's brave and smart to put his trust in the gods. I think it'd be scary running to battle without any arms. 

Apollo does seem mischievous. All the other gods seem to have a purpose in mind when interfering in the lives of mortals. I would be mad if I were Achilles too. I like Achilles a lot; I think he could be an interesting main character for my story. 

It does seem a little too much to me that Achilles attached Hector to his chariot and dragged him behind. I think that Achilles made the right decision to give Hector's body back to his father. 

Bibliography: Homer's the Iliad. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/iliad-rousing-of-achilles.html.

Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad Part A

Nine years is a long time to try to break through the city's walls to no avail; this could be an interesting point of writing. I could explore some of what happened in those nine long years. Also, the princes seem to be very loyal to be away for that long.

I agree with Achilles; Agamemnon seems to be very selfish and unconcerned for the wellbeing of those fighting for the king of Sparta. Achilles seems very wise after speaking with Athena. He appears to be handling Agamemnon's selfishness quite well.

It seems funny to me that the gods and goddesses all have favorite humans for their own reasons, and help them.

Bibliography: Homer's The Iliad.http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/iliad-hector-and-andromache.html.
Caption: A scene from The Iliad. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_story_of_the_Iliad_(1911)_(14596485307).jpg.