Reading Notes: Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort, Part B

The Turtle and the Man

I was a little surprised that a turtle was the trickster this time; it was a nice surprise, though. I wasn't expecting him to die in the ending. The moral of the story could be used and applied to a story of my own-- I could have a trickster who constantly cheats people, but ends up cheating himself somehow.

The Rabbit and the Antelope

This story would be a good inspiration since the lesson is to not take advantage of others. It would be easy to incorporate this theme into one of my own.

The Leopard and the Crocodile

This was a clever story! It'd be fun to come up with a way that a character would trick others and turn them against each other.

Baby Antelope. Source.

Bibliography. Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort by Richard Edward Dennett (1898).

Reading Notes: Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort, Part A

The Vanishing Wife

I thought this story would have a happy ending, but I guess not. I think there is a lot of material that could be expanded on-- like why his brother didn't like him or how he ended up living poorly. I'm also intrigued by his wife and wonder if she is a personification of wealth. I could write about his feelings or come up with more background for him.

The Jealous Wife

This was very dark, but it was a pretty good read. I'd like to write from the younger's wife perspective because the whole ordeal must have been frightening for her. It would be challenging to describe her feelings and what she thought the whole time.

The Wicked Husband

Actually, this was much darker. I would like to write from the view of the prince and how he chooses to deal with the husband or the character that finds the wife.

Canoe. Source.

Bibliography. Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort by Richard Edward Dennett (1898).

Wikipedia Trails: From Tanuki to UNESCO

1. Tanuki. I had never heard of this animal-- it's known as the Japanese raccoon dog and is well known in Japanese folklore. Like the fox, it is known to be mischievous but also absentminded at times. When the word is translated, people often say "badger" or "raccoon". However, that is incorrect. While it does look like those animals, it is not related.

Tanuki. Source.

2. Okinawa. Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture in Japan. Seventy-five percent of US installation are located there. There are a few languages that are foreign to the Japanese civilians there.

3. Ryukyuan Language. These languages are considered to be part of Japanese dialect, but they are not intelligible with Japanese. These languages are considered to be endangered. There is large diversity between these languages.

4. UNESCO. UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its mission is to promote international collaboration in order to bring peace. They also address social and ethical issues. It has 195 member states.

Reading Notes: The Crimson Fairy Book, Part B

Schippeitaro

This story can be written from two perspectives; one could be about the main character and how he tries to prove himself. It could be about his struggle in the forest and how he rescues the girl. Another alternative is from the girl's perspective; I can go in depth with her feelings of fear and hopelessness when she discovers that she will be eaten.

The Crab and the Monkey

This story inspires other stories of revenge, so if I can come up with someone betraying or deceiving another person, I could write about how the other character gets back at them.

How the Wicked Tanuki was Punished

Stories like these always make me wonder why the parents bring harm to each other or their children. It would be good to expand on the son's feelings and get more into his perspective since there is not much known about him aside from his actions.

Tanuki. Source. 

Bibliography. The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.

Reading Notes: The Crimson Fairy Book, Part A

The Stonecutter

This story did not go in the direction I expected. It would be a good theme to use, though. I could write a story about someone who becomes too greedy and yearns for too much, but when they get everything they wanted, they realized that they were actually happy with what they had in the first place. I don't have an exact plot right now, but the moral would be that you shouldn't take anything for granted.

The Maiden with the Wooden Helmet

I liked this story a lot and I'd like to use the maiden as a main character; however, I could not get any meaning from the story. I would like to be able to figure out how to incorporate her beauty into a story, though.

The Heroin Maiden. Source.

Bibliography. The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.

Week 5 Storytelling: Two Sides of the Same Coin

[ xviii. the moon. ]

( the sun and moon are one in the same. )

i. to the brightest sun,

you've always been the best, haven't you?
your heart always full of gold, your mind full of wonders.
there's brilliance in those eyes that no man could ever take away.

( in the darkness,
your eyes grow dim. )

when night falls, your smile follows it.
the heart of gold everyone speaks of has been long shattered;
it is only when you are alone that you allow it to continue breaking and breaking.
it's okay to be sad sometimes. with light, comes darkness.

ii. to the warmest sun,

you've always been the kindest, haven't you?
your arms open to the whole world, your hands offered to those who need it.
there's a sweet vulnerability that lies within you.

( in the darkness,
your heart grows cold and ruthless. )

when night falls, the facade disappears.
your kindness is genuine, but you tire of the constant selflessness;
your patience wears thin and the smiles become more forced.
you must take care of yourself, too. do not let others suffer, but do not let yourself suffer.

iii. to the rising sun,

you've always been the strongest, haven't you?
your chin held up high, your shoulders never low.
there's a courage in your veins that seeps throughout your body.

( in the darkness,
you crash and burn. )

when night falls, so do you.
your bones and shoulders ache from all the burdens that rest on them.
you must learn that sometimes,
it is okay to fall. you'll get back up one day.

iv. to the setting sun,

you've always been the most worthy, haven't you?
your promises never broken, your loyalties never doubted.
there's an unbreakable bond in your friendships.

( in the darkness,
you wonder when everyone will leave you. )

when night falls, the guilt seeps in.
sometimes, everything and everyone is too much.
you find yourself suffocating in the midst of it all, but you know they need you, so you stay.
you must allow yourself to breathe. 

v. to the darkest moon,

you've always been the loneliest, haven't you?
your features darkening when no one is around, your tears falling endlessly in the late hours.
there's a bitterness that lingers on the tip of your tongue.

( in the darkness,
you hide your face in shame, little moon. )

when night falls, every flaw comes out.
you've yet to learn that your weaknesses are only human; 
you've yet to realize that people find beauty in both the sun and the moon.
one day, you'll learn that people will love you regardless of your flaws and insecurities.

Sun and Moon by Michael Quinn. Source.

Author's Note: This story is based off "What Caused the Shadows on the Moon". The moon and sun were personified siblings that were beautiful and bright. However, as they grew, the moon often ventured off on his own. He eventually lost his sense of honor and duty; his adventures led him to see grotesque sights, so when he returned, he was impressed by his sister's beauty. He went to his mother and demanded to marry her; his mother denied his request and when his sister found out, she was so angry that she threw hot ash on his face. The ash left streaks on his face and made him pale, so he only showed his face at night. 

It was difficult finding inspiration from this; I ended up combining the moon and sun as one character. I didn't use their personalities from the original story, though. The sun represents the good qualities of a person, while the moon represents their hidden insecurities. I wanted to show how since the sun is always bright and out when everyone else is, a person would only show their good side. However, when the moon is out, everyone is usually sleeping, so that's when the flaws and insecurities come out. I wanted to tie into the original story by explaining that the moon was ugly in the original story, but in my story, the moon believed itself to be "ugly" and that's why it only came out at night.

Bibliography. "What Caused the Shadows on the Moon" by Mrs. K. U. Rafy.

Reading Notes: Khasi Folktales, Part B

What caused the Shadows on the Moon

Writing personifications of the sun and moon would be really fun and challenging. I could make a story up about how the moon is more introverted than the sun and keeps to itself, or I could make up another plot about how the moon brings shame to itself, explaining why it only comes out when everyone is sleeping.

Finding inspiration from this unit was very difficult. I enjoyed the stories, but I could not figure out how I could rework these themes into one of my own. However, I do have some ideas from the first half of the unit I plan to use.

Moon. Source. 

Bibliography. "Folktales of the Khasis" by Mrs. K. U. Rafy.

Reading Notes: Khasi Folktales, Part A

U Biskurom

I could write from the perspective of U Biskurom and talk about how mankind treated him. His perspective could show the development of both mankind and himself; they start out kind, but end up losing that kindness later on.

The Stag and the Snail

When I read this, I imagined an arrogant character that never stopped bragging about his strength. There could be a story about a character who lacks humility and is strong, while there is a character who is weak in comparison, but faster. They prove that strength is not the only value that defines someone and proves the strong character wrong in a duel.

Duel. Source.

Bibliography. "Folktales of the Khasis" by Mrs. K. U. Rafy.

Feedback Focus: New Techniques

I found that reading out loud was most useful, followed by the copy-and-delete, then the timer. Reading out loud is what I always do when I proofread since it makes it easier for me to catch any grammatical errors or typos. I like the copy-and-delete method because it really allows you to focus on small chunks at a time and provide more thorough feedback, rather than having more general feedback about the whole story. The timer didn't really help me, though. It doesn't help me focus and having a time limit makes me feel a bit rushed. I think I will consider using the copy-and-delete, since it isn't as overwhelming and provide better feedback. I will definitely be continuing reading out loud.

Reading Out Loud. Source.

Wikipedia Trails: From Chimera to Argonauts

1. Chimera. A chimera is a creature in mythology. It is a mix of a lion, a snake, and a goat, although now, it is a general term for any creature that has parts from other creatures. The chimera is not a sign of good luck; it represents disaster.

2. Cerberus. Cerberus is a well-known symbol. It is a three-headed dog that resides and guards the Underworld. It guards the Underworld because the dead attempt to leave. It is also related to Heracles; Heracles went through a series of tasks and one of them was capturing this creature.

3. Heracles. Heracles is a demi-god. When he was a child, Hera attempted to kill him by sending a snake into his crib, but failed because he ended up killing the snake. He was well-known for his strength.

4. Argonauts. Argonauts represents a large group of heroes. There is not an exact list of all the heroes, but there were approximately eighty-five. They were helping Jason find the Golden Fleece and sailed on a ship called Argo.

The Argo by Constantine Volankis. Source.

Storytelling Week 4: Wolf Among Us

[ xiii. death. ]

( neither of you will have a happily ever after. )

i.

when she is young, she learns what purpose she serves. she is to be a wife, a mother, and a caretaker-- nothing more, nothing less. she will grow up to be elegant, graceful, and calm. she will learn to remain at her husband's side. she will learn to be loyal regardless of the circumstances.

realization does not hit her at first. when she hears of this news, her ignorance allows her to brush it off. she owns her life; no one else-- not her mother, not her father, and not her husband.

when she marries, she will choose who she wants. she will love who she wants.

no one else can take hold of her future.

ii. 

the day she learns of her engagement, fury rushes through her veins. she is no fool; she knew this was coming. she was too ignorant back then, believing she could choose her own path. there was no escape from this future.

she knew that.

still, she can't help the flood of emotions that fills her-- the anger, the bewilderment, the despair. the mere thought of being a meek wife to someone she didn't care for baffled her.

"you would give your daughter up just like that? you would give your daughter to a man she knows little of?"

the grim expression that settles on her parents' faces does not shock her. she braces herself for their harsh words; she knows she will not win this battle, but that will not silence her protests.

"you act as if we have put little thought into this." her father responds, his tone deadpan. "you'll be in good hands."

"but this is not your choice." she retorts, nearly choking on her words. "this is not your decision to make. i have every right to choose who to wed."

the silence in the room feels suffocating. her heart races wildly, but she does not falter to the disapproving stares.

her father finally speaks.

"this is your duty. fulfill it."

and just like that, she knows she has lost.

iii.

"an underground chamber?" disbelief laces her words. "you first expect me to marry this man, then you expect me to spend my life underground?"

"it's a safety precaution." her mother explains, her tone casual. "this is for your safety, as well."

"against what?"

her mother pauses and she doesn't miss that flicker of hesitance that adorns her visage. she wishes her daughter happiness, but she does not know if she can find it in this life. to live underground is to live in solitude-- to know that her daughter will bear that is too much for a mother's heart.

that is not the only thing that brings worry.

"a prophet said that your future husband will be killed by a wolf."

at first, the daughter almost laughs in shock. the idea is so ridiculous-- this whole thing is too ridiculous for her.

"--a wolf?" she repeats, "a wolf will kill my husband? if that ever did happen, you realize that it would kill me too, don't you?"

"of course. that is why you will live underground."

iv.

the wedding day approaches.

she feels sick. she feels wrong. 

something is wrong, she thinks, but she doesn't know what. there's something inside that gives a feeling of unease. no matter how much she attempts to calm herself, nothing works. it's not just the anxiety of marriage, there's something more to it-- something indescribable.

it's overwhelming and it bothers her that she can't name it.

she can't identify it; she can't make it go away. it feels as if something is stirring inside her, clawing its way out.

a shaky inhale and clenched fists-- she shuts her eyes and finds what little comfort she is able to seek.

everything will be okay. this feeling will pass.

v. 

she is married now. her family has left and now it is just her and her husband underground.

that terrible feeling still resides within her. despite its presence, a forced smile finds its way to her lips and she holds her chin up high. if this is what her life is to be, then she will do the best to live it well. even if it means living in solitude. even if it means finding wariness in some foolish story about a wolf.

the train of thought is lost when she feels his hand on her waist, his touch gentle and cautious.

his timid smile provides no reassurance. her heart beats faster and the sickening feeling overwhelms every sense in her body; she struggles to hang on, but the darkness takes hold of her.

everything goes black.

vi.

when she wakes, all she sees is red. confusion fills a hazy mind as eyes take in the horrible sights. red covers the floor, the walls, and her hands--

her hands.

panic settles in with realization. crimson-stained hands tremble violently when she sees the body of her husband before her and she can't help the choked sob that escapes.

it was her all along. she was the wolf.

Gray Wolf. Source.

Author's Note: The story is based off "The Story of the Wolf-Bride." A prophet tells a father that his son will be torn to shreds by a wolf. In order to avoid this, the father builds an underground chamber and raises his son there. His son eventually gets married. However, when he places his hand on his wife's waist, she turns into the wolf and kills him. She turns back after, but she has no idea what happened. I wanted to write from the wife's perspective and go into further detail about how she felt about the whole ordeal.

Bibliography. "The Story of the Wolf-Bride" from Persian Tales translated by D.L.R Lorimer and E.O Lorimer.

Reading Notes: Persian Tales, Part B

The Story of the Wolf-Bride

I like this quote: "Whatever is willed by fate, that verily comes to pass". It has a similar theme to one of my other stories, however. I did enjoy the story and I could write from the perspective of the wife; she had no idea that she would turn into a wolf, nor did she really comprehend what happened. I think writing the shock she went through would be entertaining.

The Apparition of the Prophet Khizr

I liked that the husband did so much in order for his wife to have a good life. It would be a good story to talk about the sacrifices we make for the sake of others. In this case, his situation happened to work out perfectly, so I could write out how despite the sacrifice made, everything turns out to work out for the best.

Khizr. Source.

Again, I liked the stories but couldn't seem to find any inspiration to write anything based off of them.

Bibliography: Persian Tales by David Lorimer and Emily Lorimer.

Reading Notes: Persian Tales, Part A

The Boy Who Became a Bulbul

The story was interesting and left me with a lot of questions. Why would the father and son willingly agree to a bet that would end up killing one of them? Why did the father sabotage his son and why did the step-mother even think of that bet? It would be intriguing to explore more about the father and possibly develop a reason why he agreed to the bet.

Brown-eared Bulbul. Source.

The Wolf-Aunt

This story reminded me of Little Red Riding Hood. There can be a story in the aunt's perspective. It could describe her emotions and the deceit she plans whenever she talks to her brother. It would be interesting to be able to portray her feelings throughout the story.

I didn't manage to get any ideas from the rest of the stories, but I think with the current ideas I have as of now, I will be able to write a story.

Bibliography: Persian Tales by David Lorimer and Emily Lorimer.

Wikipedia Trail: From Leto to Helios

1. Leto. Leto is the mother of Artemis and Apollo. Her relationship with Zeus caused Hera to be jealous-- as a result, she was not able to go on many lands. However, she found an island named Kos where she gave birth. She is the goddess of motherhood. 

Leto and her children. Source.

2. Artemis. Artemis is often seen with a bow and arrow. She is the goddess of hunting, wilderness, and much more. She is also associated with deer. Her twin is Apollo.

3. Alpheus. Alpheus was a river god. In some stories, he fell in love with Artemis. In others, he fell in love with Arethusa. However, both women had no interest in him and fled. 

4. Helios. Helios is associated with the sun and is often compared to Apollo, despite the fact that they are two different figures. He granted a wish to his son; his son wished to drive the chariot and ignored his father's warnings. In the end, his son lost control and the chariot and the earth was set aflame.

Week 3 Storytelling: Soldier On

[ xi. strength. ]

( it is easy to be brave when there is no danger. )

i. false sanctuary

he grows up where solace hardly exists. it leaves itself in fragments, hiding in the crevices of one’s mind.

he grows up in times of war; he is too young and too innocent. he is naive and happy despite everything that happens around him.

he understands that there is fighting and violence, but he does not understand the extent, nor what it truly means. he doesn't understand that fighting means bloodshed; he doesn't understand when they tell him that his father won't return from the war. his brows narrow and curiosity fills bright eyes when they tell him the news.

his mother's tears never fall. the words remain stuck in her throat and one day,

she knows he will understand.

( she doesn't know whether it's a curse or blessing to know that he is still a child of naivety and not one that knows the reality of war. )

ii. ignorant courage

when he is older, he learns more about war. he learns of the pain, the grief, the sorrow-- he learns what war really is. he learns where his family has gone and why they are gone.

he learns that he has lost them.

sooner or later, he will have to fight. he is not afraid, he says.

there's a weak smile that crosses his lips as his fingers drum against the worn table. he's thought about this a lot-- to grow up with war means there is no escape from this harsh reality. his older brother listens intently to his every word and there's this fear that fills a dreadful heart; he has known the experience of war.

this is not something he wants his little brother to go through, even though he knows there is nothing he can do to prevent it.

"i want to fight." he announces, his words laced with determination.

he sees the flicker of horror that appears on his sibling's face and his smile grows, but sadness accompanies it.

"i'll be okay. i promise."

his brother does not speak for what feels like years. he stares and stares, searching for that little boy that used to be as bright as the sun. he doesn't want to care for promises; it means nothing in this world.

still, he hopes that it is not broken. they have lost too much family already. he will not lose his little brother.

( oh little one,

even ares wishes to spare you from this violence. )

iii. amidst the chaos

when he first runs into the battlefield, his heartbeat rings violently in his ears. the adrenaline rushes throughout his body and he feels as if his heart might burst from his chest.

he remembers his ignorance of war; he believed he had grown out of it, but when eyes scan the battlefield, there is only chaos that greets his sights. it makes him realize how frightened he is. it makes him realize how light his words seemed back then.

he realizes how foolish he was, but now, even with the fear that clutches onto him, he finds resolve. no matter how dangerous it may be, no matter how horrific it may be, he will fight. he will find strength in himself, in his brother, and his comrades.

he reminds himself to keep his promise. he will be okay. he will survive. 

he will go home.

( survive, soldier. )

War by hunterkiller. Source.

Author's Note: The original story is titled "The Sheep and the Pig". The shepherd picks up the pig, which results in the pig making loud noises. The sheep find this amusing and ask why the pig reacts in such a way; when they get picked up by the shepherd, they don't act in such an embarrassing way. The pig tells them that the shepherd only wants their wool, but when it comes to itself, he wants bacon. The last line of the story is "It is easy to be brave when there is no danger". Originally, it was supposed to be a story with an adult telling a child how difficult it is to be courageous, but then I thought of a child who knew very little of war. As they grew up, they were determined to fight in the war without any hesitation because they weren't truly in danger yet. I used the strength arcana because even at the end, despite his fear, he learned to be strong and fight for what he cared about.

Bibliography. "The Sheep and the Pig" from Aesop for Children by Milo Winter.