Reading Notes: Blackfeet Indian Stories, Part B

Bobcat and Birch Tree

The story did not go the way I expected; I thought the bobcat was going to kill the man. I thought he was going to get some punishment of sorts for tricking the prairie dogs. A story from their perspective would be interesting; I'd like to know why they weren't cautious of him or how they managed to do the trick with the fire.

The Red-Eyed Duck

I'm glad the old man got punished this time, though it was not an extreme punishment. I think it would be really interesting to have a story involving red eyes-- maybe a curse or something. I can try to figure out something that resembles the man's trick.

Kut-O-Yis, The Blood Boy

I am really curious about the son-in-law's character development. Why did he turn so selfish and mean? Was he tired of helping others? The story was really entertaining and I'm perplexed by the birth of the hero. "Blood Boy" sounds really intriguing and I think it'd be cool to be able to take that title and turn it into a story.

Prairie Dog. Source.

Bibliography. "Blackfeet Indian Stories" by Grinnell.

Tech Tip: 8Tracks

8tracks is full of music mixes-- so basically kind of like YouTube playlists-- just on another site. However, this one is more open to more topics. You can search pretty much anything (e.g. instrumentals, study music, chill, etc.). Lots of people upload their playlists on the site, so it's a nice way of finding music! If you're in certain fandoms, you can also search those. People make playlists for certain characters, too.

So if you like Dr. Who, there's definitely Dr. Who fanmixes. Some might be specifically for Rose or Ten, or maybe both of them together. Game of Thrones? Those are there too.

First thing is first: now, you have to register to listen to fanmixes, unfortunately :(.

1. Register here.
2. On the homepage, search for anything! If I'm cramming for a terrible test, I might want nice music to help me focus, so I'll search up "study" and "chill"
Here are some results:

As you can tell, those playlists are pretty popular, so hopefully, they're good. There are tons more, actually.

You can just click on the picture and the play button will show up, and there you go!

Happy listening :).

Wikipedia Trails: From Octavia to Nero

1. Octavia. Octavia was the sibling of Augustus, a Roman Emperor. She was seen in a positive light due to her loyalty and admired by many. Her second husband eventually committed suicide, so she was the only one who took care of their children. She had five children-- three with her first husband, two with her second husband.

2. Augustus. Augustus was the first Roman Emperor. He accomplished a lot: bringing peace to his people, reformed taxation, rebuilt the city, and much more. Although it is said that he died of natural causes, there are some people who believe his wife poisoned him, though it has never been confirmed.

3. Livia. Livia was both Augustus's wife and adviser. She was seen as faithful and dignified, although she was later seen as one who craved power. She is often seen in popular culture with lots of variation in her personality.

4. Nero. Nero was also a Roman Emperor. While Augustus was seen in a good way, people thought Nero to be corrupt. It is also possible that he started a war. Some sources view him positively while others view him negatively. 

The Fire of Rome by Hubert Robert. Source.

Reading Notes: Blackfeet Indian Stories, Part A

The Wolf Dog

Once again, I'm always baffled whenever family members or loved ones kill each other without a second thought. For this story, I think it'd be cool if I wrote about a wife who never cared for her husband and never loved him. She only married him for her own benefit and when he tries to teach her a lesson, she tries to kill him. It'd be a modern twist.

The Camp of Ghosts

I was hoping this story would have a happy ending. That, or I thought the wife would disappear because he would open his eyes. I could write a story about how the wife wants to come back, but she knows her husband would open his eyes and lose her all over again, which would bring more pain to him. 

How the Thunder Pipe Came

I love the personification of Thunder, but I wonder why he would steal women. I could go into detail about this in a story and possibly provide a reason/motive for this behavior. 

The Theft from the Sun

I liked this story! This is why you never steal from people. I think I could change the characters up but still keep the theme of the story. I do like the personification of the sun, but I'm not sure what someone could steal from the sun in a realistic story.

The Great Sun by wolf-minori. Source.

Bibliography. "Blackfeet Indian Stories" by Grinnell.

Wikipedia Trails: From Aegis to Perseus

1. Aegis. Aegis is a shield that both Athena and Zeus carry, although it is more often see with Athena. However, while commonly seen as a shield, it can also be portrayed as the head of a Gorgon or animal skin. The word is associated with protection.

2. Gorgon. Gorgon means "dreadful" although it can resemble the sound of growling. They were known for their gaze because it turned people to stone, so it they were placed on objects as protection. They are also associated with Athena.

3. Medusa. Medusa means "guardian"; I had not expected this, but it does make sense, considering her ability. Athena places Medusa's head on her shield. She is the daughter of Gorgon.

Medusa by Alicechan. Source.

4. Perseus. Perseus beheaded Medusa and gave her head to Athena. He was known to kill monsters and rescued Andromeda from one. He was related to Heracles in a strange way-- he was his half-brother as well as his great grandfather.

Reading Notes: Tales of North American Indians, Part B

Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away

The story got dark so quickly; I was actually a little shocked. I am very confused on how the mother came back and I wonder how the father felt the whole time, so I think it would be good to write about his feelings when he discovered the death of his wife. Not only that, but he must have been stressed because his sons never listened to him.

The Jealous Father

This was also dark. I felt bad for Walrus and I want to know why the son acted so horribly, so maybe there can be a story about why or how he acted in such a manner.

Robin. Source. 

Bibliography: "Tales of the North American Indians" by Stith Thompson (1929).

Reading Notes: Tales of North American Indians, Part A

The Jealous Uncle

I'm always thrown off by the stories where family members kill each other (or at least try to). In this story, it does not go into much detail behind the uncle's motives, so I could write about that. I could also write from the boy's perspective and run through his thoughts whenever he is trying to survive.

Bluejay and his Companions

I would like to go more in-depth with how the characters treated Grouse; it mentions that they do not give him good food, but I would like to know more about the way they talk to him and such. I could make up a few scenarios that lead to Grouse coming up with their punishment.

Dug From Ground

I thought it was so strange that the mother never took care of him or acknowledged him until he was grown up and did certain tasks. I'd like to write about her thoughts and maybe go into detail about whether she cared for him or was apathetic as he grew up.

Blue Jay. Source.

Bibliography: "Tales of the North American Indians" by Stith Thompson (1929).

Wikipedia Trails: From Hades to Ariadne

1. Hades. Hades is the god of the underworld and abducted Persephone. He was not necessarily portrayed as evil, but came off as stern or cold instead. His priority was making sure no one left the underworld and was apathetic towards most of his subjects, though there were some exceptions.

2. Tartarus. Tartarus is a place in the underworld. It is where people received divine punishment and where souls were judged. Tartarus only served as a prison to those who could possibly harm the gods of Olympus. The place is referred to in popular culture, such as book series or video games.

3. Minos. Minos is one of three judges of the underworld. He is the son of Zeus and Europa, though he was adopted by Asterion. His name is said to mean "king".

4. Ariadne. She is the son of Minos and associated with mazes and labyrinths. In some versions, she is married to Dionysus, though there is a debate on whether she is a mortal or a goddess. She is known for helping Theseus.

Ariadne in Naxos. Source. 

Wikipedia Trails: From Harmonia to Satyrs

1. Harmonia. I have never heard of her before! She is the goddess of harmony and discord; I find that fascinating because I thought those were polar opposites. While there is some other account that she has different parents, it is most commonly acknowledged that she is the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite.

2. Europa. Europa was kidnapped by Zeus; however, he was not in his normal form, but rather in the form of a bull. She was collecting flowers with her sisters and happened to see him. She decided to get on the bull, following Zeus's plan, which led to him dashing off and taking her away from her family.

Jupiter and Europa. Source.

3. Nymph. Nmyphs are female deities connected to nature. They are not considered immortal and can give birth to immortal children; they do not die from old age or sickness. However, they can still be killed. They are known for dancing and singing.

4. Satyrs. Satyrs are males associated with Dionysus. They love dancing and wine; they often play the pipes. They also dance with nymphs.