Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman), Part B

Today I finished the reading for the second unit of the Brothers Grimm stories. I again focused on one specific story to takes notes, but I went ahead and read all of the stories. I chose the one that I thought would interest me the most to write a story.

• I read the Lazy Heinz story and was a bit confused by it
• I decided to take notes over it because it was unlike anything else that I had read
• Fat Heinz was a lazy man that did not take a liking to tending to his goat
• He would begrudgingly take his goat to the field every day
• Heinz thought of his work as some of the most difficult on the earth
• He desperately wanted to sleep on the job and not pay attention to his "work"
• I like how Heinz is in fact actually that lazy
• He constantly thinks of ways to not do his "job", which is taking a goat to a field
• Somehow Heinz comes up with the genius idea to fix all of his problems
• I do not think I will ever understand his decision, but he believes that it would be best to marry "Fat Trina"
• I think this is definitely a harsh name to give your wife, but Heinz sees no problem with it
• He only cares about getting out of his work
• Heinz estimates that his wife will take out the goat to the pasture everyday
• However, his wife is somehow just as lazy as him
• I found this detail to be quite comical and it added some development to the story
• They decide to trade two goats for a beehive
• This is somehow a fair trade, but I do not quite buy that logic
• Their laziness continues to be fed because now they do not have to get out of bed
• Their surprising ambition drives them to want a child
• With this child they planned on making it tend to geese all day
• It is most likely a good thing that these two lazy people did in fact not have a child

This story was entertaining and very unique. I had a few good laughs while reading this, and I think it would be funny to retell.

(Another photo of the two Grimm brothers. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D. L. Ashliman. Source:UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman), Part A

So, this is the final week for reading and taking notes for me. I decided to read the fairytales that I was somewhat familiar with as a child. I took notes over the one that I thought would be the best for retelling.

• The story of the wolf and the children reminds me of Red Riding Hood
• I knew that the warnings of the mother would be of waste
• The wolf continuously comes back to the house to try and fool the children
• The children were smart but they were again only children
• The ploys of the wolf to enter the home were constantly delayed
• The children made the mistake of telling the wolf why he was not their mother
• In typical fashion the wolf kept returning until he had masked all of his wolf like qualities
• I expected the mother to return to a house with no children
• Surprisingly, one child was still left
• I found it a bit odd that the goat was able to retrieve all of her children from the wolf's stomach
• You would think that the wolf would have woken up during the cutting of his stomach
• I thought it was clever that they filled the wolf's stomach with rocks
• I thought it would be to just fool the wolf into thinking that he was full from eating the children
• Instead, he ended up drowning in the water as he bent down for a drink
• I did not expect the story to end in such a manner
• I think there were hints of darkness in the story
• When the kids were recovered I expected them to just go home and not try to kill the wolf
• I guess in the end the wolf got what was coming to him

I think there are a few details that I would change if I retold this story. I was not exactly thrilled with the idea of the wolf eating the children and then the goat recovering them. I also thought it was a bit odd to kill the wolf in the end. I would probably make my story a bit more realistic in that sense.

(The two brothers Grimm. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales translated by D. L. Ashliman. Source:UnTextbook

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part B

I finished the second half of the reading today. The unit followed up withs some great stories once again. I took notes on a couple of the stories that I liked. I hope to incorporate them somehow into the story for this week.

• Sir Lancelot and his adventures took him many places 
• He encountered fortune and misfortune throughout his journey
• He was a great warrior that was compelled to help those in need of during battle
• The nun brings up a great point to Lancelot after his defeat in the tournament
• Lancelot was stuck with his earthly desires in the world
• He had come to the aid of those clad in black armor
• They were the manifestation of earthly sin and lust
• Lancelot learns of his vain and desire for glory
• The nun makes it a point to enlighten Lancelot of his earthly desires and boasting
• She tells him that he must begin to let go of such desires if he wishes to continue on his quest
• She basically tells him that he is the most sinful of all earthly knights
• Lancelot learns of his son Galahad and has great love for him
• He ultimately returns to his old self when he renews his love for the Queen
• The death of Arthur ends in such a sad manner
• It was difficult to see such a mighty warrior and king fall in battle
• I was a bit confused about this desire to return to the lake as his final resting place
• He commanded Sir Bedivere to throw Excalibur into the lake 
• I am assuming he did not want another to come upon such a powerful sword
• The ending of Queen Guenevere was also saddening
• She lived her life as nun and even turned away Lancelot as he came to see her
• Sir Lancelot ended up withering away as he came to terms with the death of Arthur and his beloved Guenevere

The ending to the story is very saddening and hard to read. The mighty had fallen so much since the days of their beginnings. King Arthur and his death was so tragic. The death of his Queen was also saddening to see.

(King Arthur holding his crown. Source: UnTextbook)

Bibliography: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part A

I read the King Arthur for this week's reading. I decided to take notes over a couple of the stories that I really liked. I would not mind retelling either of these. I think that the unit has a lot of good stories to retell and recreate.

• The country was in a state of disarray after the death of the King
• The tale is similar as to how I remember it when I was a child
• I like that the old legend remains true in the original version
• Merlin and the lords gathered to devise a plan to find the true king
• It is still funny to think about all of the knights and men that tried to remove the sword from the stone
• I like the idea of a tournament being held to find the true king
• I did not remember the part bout Arthur going back to get his brother's sword
• I think this bit of information shows how genuine and kind he is
• When he returns he pulls the sword from the stone to give to his brother
• He does not even realize the feat he has just accomplished by doing so
• I think it shows just how kind and naive he is a boy
• He tries to help another but does not realize what he has accomplished
• I also like how many knights did not believe that such a boy was the true king
• The story of Excalibur was foreign to me
• I was under the impression that the sword Arthur pulled from the stone was Excalibur
• It was in interesting story, and I really enjoyed how the sword was a legend in its own right
• I also did not know that the scabbard would make Arthur immune to wounds
• It was really cool to read that for the first time

I really liked the King Arthur stories and units. I think the stories are so great, and they bring back a lot of childhood memories. I would like to retell them for my storytelling this week.

(A photo of the Boy's King Arthur cover. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Robin Hood, Part B

I continued to finish the reading of Robin Hood and his adventures today. I liked different bits of a few of the stories, so I took notes over what I liked. I think that I am going to create my own adventure. I might retell one of the adventures, but I will probably create my own account. I will also most likely not use the ballad format seen in the stories.

• Robin Hood prides himself as a great game hunter
• The encounter with the Bishop shows Robin Hood's true character
• He is clever enough to recognize that the Bishop is trying to make him appear before the King
• The terms for meeting the King would have not gone well
• The Bishop presents it as a privilege but Robin Hood knows he will be cast in a cell or killed
• Instead, Robin averts the situation and brings forth his men
• Robin shows how merry and fun he can be by letting the Bishop go free after drinking with him all night (he also took all of his money)
• The story of the bishop is very creative and possibly my favorite
• The irony and complete confusion is funny to see unfold
• I really liked seeing something like this
• I think that it fits my writing style
• I could recreate a version of my own that I think would be funny
• I love writing about heroes, and I think Robin Hood fits the description
• Throughout the stories he is very keen and cunning
• He enjoys messing with his enemies and then enjoying the fruits of a hard day of work
• I think Robin Hood has some elements of Sindbad to him
• He also has his own unique characteristics that make him exciting

I really enjoyed the Robin Hood Unit. I think I will try and craft my own adventure from all of these stories. I want to get creative with the writing, and I think this is a perfect opportunity.

(Another photo of Robin Hood in statue form. Source: flickr)

Bibliography:  Robin Hood Unit from The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Robin Hood, Part A

I read the Robin Hood unit for this weeks reading and storytelling. I am somewhat familiar with Robin Hood and his adventures. I decided to take notes on things that I found interesting throughout some of the stories. I might end up combing multiple elements from all the stories to create my own. I also might just retell one of the classic Robin Hood tales. I enjoyed the Ranger story the most.

• The stories are told in a ballad format
• I am not sure how easy this would be to recreate in my own story
• I like the commitment to the format and the way the author is able to describe the adventures
• Robin Hood is a showman and that is a point of storytelling
• I really like how he displays his skills with confidence and assurance
• The banter between Robin and his opponents is hilarious
• I like how neither Robin nor Little John back down from each other
• It seems Robin met a true match and a true friend that day
• The rhyming and singing pattern of the story can sometimes make it difficult to understand
• I do appreciate the element that this adds to the stories
• The combat goes back and forth between Robin and Forester
• I really like how Robin enjoys the competition of another competent fighter
• Robin Hood shows great resolve during combat as he never concedes when he is down
• I like how Robin values friendship and brotherhood so much 
• He offers competent fellows a place among Robin and his archers
• I think it is respectable and also makes Robin Hood a more likable character when he includes others

I think that after reading all of these different stories I will most likely create my own. I do no plan on recreating the ballad format, and I think I can get creative with a new adventure that Robin Hood and his friends embark upon. 

(A man dressed as Robin Hood. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography:  Robin Hood Unit from The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child. Source: UnTextBook

Reading Notes: Native American Hero Tales, Part B

I finished the reading for this week and took notes over the first two stories. I found that these stories were again very unique, and I have not read many things that are similar to these stories. This was definitely a cool week of reading.

• The two boys of the man were raised by themselves for a short period of time
• I like the fact that a reunion does take place
• The boys are discovered by their truthful father and he raises them
• The red woman was very brutal, and I was not expecting the mother to be murdered like she was
• It seems that death is an integral part of some of these stories
• It is presented in a way where you can still contact your loved ones even after they pass
• The boys constantly disobey their father
• However, they destroy many terrible creatures and things during their disobedience
• Their father always warns them of another bad thing in the world once they return
• It seems that he almost wants them to disobey, so they can rid the world of another terror
• In the end, nothing terrible actually comes to they boys
• The Wemicus character is very evil for a father-in-law
• It seems that he never wants his daughter to marry anyone
• I like the fact that Wemicus is constantly fooled by his new son-in-law and cannot seem to trick him into his death
• The story ends with the origin of the pike being explained, so I thought that was interesting
• I did not expect the story to end in that matter
• I thought Wemicus would eventually die due to the amount of people he had killed

(An image of a pike similar to Wemicus. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Native American Hero Tales, Part A

I read the Hero Tales unit for this week's reading assignment. I really liked the first story in the unit. I took notes over that story because I thought it has a lot of potential for a retelling later in the week. I will probably reread it for some more inspiration.

(A photo of an eagle like the man from the story. Source: Maxpixel)

• The story starts with the conflict already being present
• The unnatural uncle is known for killing his nephews when they are four
• It does a good job of leading you to the problem early on
• I think the reputation of the unnatural uncle is built up and helps foreshadow the events very well
• I would like to possibly tell the story from the uncle's perspective
• I think this would be a very cool way to present the story
• Maybe the uncle has some insane motive for doing what he does
• I could develop this story line and create something new
• I also think that I could change the ways that unnatural uncle tries to kill his nephew
• I think the way that the nephew handles the whole situation is crucial to the story
• He assures his parents that he will always make it back
• He also outsmarts his uncle every time and constantly makes a point to frustrate his uncle
• I do like the constant reminder from uncle's wife that misfortune will come to him
• She constantly tells him to stop his actions because they will be his demise
• The ending is definitely unique
• I would probably only retell a portion of the story

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Mississippi Valley/Great Lakes, Part B

I finished the reading for the second unit. I enjoyed the stories, and I like the fact that each one can stand alone by itself. I have definitely noticed that the storytelling style is different from a lot of the other units we have had in this class. I took notes over a couple of my favorite stories from this unit, and I hope I will be able to craft a great story. My favorite story is the tale of how deer used to be man eaters.

• I really liked the description of each predator and its prey
• The story of the wolf shedding its skin to catch the deer was cool
• I also like the confidence of the fish 
• The Fish Hawk was still able to best the fish and track down his food
• The confidence of the second deer to best the human was surprising
• The deer was witness to the wit and power of the human hunter
• I like how the story ends with deer accepting the loss and settling to eat twigs and grass
• The story of the hare and the lynx was also similar 
• It seemed that the hare was determined to find its way back home
• The lynx constantly stalked the hare and made it afraid of its presence
• I really liked the constant riddle-like conversations the two had
• The lynx was just playing with its food the whole time
• The hare was finally confident enough to run without regard for the lynx
• The lynx quietly stalked the hare and devoured it in the end

I really liked the small stories in this unit. I think it is cool to see how the origins of some animals are presented. There are lots of riddles and conversations that occur between animals in these stories. This is something that I found particularly unique about this unit.

(A photo of a deer like the one from the story. Source: Pixaby)

Bibliography: Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes by Katharine Berry Judson. Source: UnTextbook 

Reading Notes: Mississippi Valley/Great Lakes, Part A

This week I chose to read the Mississippi Valle/Great Lakes unit. I am fairly familiar with some of the Choctaw stories because I took Choctaw 1-3 as my foreign language. I really enjoyed learning about some of the stories from my professor, so I decided to pick this unit. I took notes over a couple of the stories from part A. I might write my story over this reading for next week instead of this week.

• The Earth Maker had a lot of cool details and analogies
• I would like to look into the different story details implemented
• I thought the tortoise was an interesting creation
• Tortoise made war and did not destroy the evil as instructed
• The advice of the grandmother is very notable
• She explains to hare that we cannot all live forever
• It was a painful realization for hare
• Death is a part of our lives and we cannot escape it
• The Creator story was really cool
• I like how the Creator is similar to many different creation stories
• He taught man how to surive
• The earth was created with water first and land later
• The crawfish created the lands by bringing mud
• The animals were foolish to ridicule man
• Creator taught man to hunt and cook
• I like the connection that the animals and man have during council
• The animals would give advice because they were much wiser

(A photo of a hare similar to the Earth Maker story. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes by Katharine Berry Judson. Source: UnTextbook 

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales, Part B

I read the second half of the Japanese Fairy Tale Unit today. I specifically wanted to focus in on one of the stories. So, I took notes over The Goblin of Adachigahara story from the unit. I really enjoyed this story.

• The story is very good at creating an eerie atmosphere
• You can tell from the beginning that the hut belongs to the cannibal goblin
• The description of the hut and its inhabitant creates an uneasy feeling
• I really liked the thoughts of the traveler being included
• The author does a good job of giving the reader the emotions of the traveler
• I was hoping to see the traveler doze off as he stayed in the hut
• I thought it was funny how the goblin made such a point to not wander to the back side of the room
• This only invoked curiosity for the traveler
• The room of bones was filled with this ominous and revolting presence
• I appreciated the amount of detail put into that scene
• The emphasis on the traveler's religion was interesting
• That seems to be a light theme of the story
• I liked how the goblin transformed during the escape scene
• This ensured that the true nature of the beast came to light
• I would like to expand on this story
• I think there could be an altered ending or a continuation of the story
• It was pleasing to see that the rumors of the old goblin woman were actually true
• I could write a story about people confronting the goblin once and for all
• That would have a very climatic ending

(A photo of an old goblin woman. Source: Max Pixel)

Bibliography: The Adventures of Kintaro, The Golden Boy from Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales, Part A

This week I chose to read the Japanese Fairy Tales Unit. I really liked The Adventures of Kintaro, The Golden Boy story. That is what I chose to take notes over today. There is a lot of cool elements to this story that I hope to bring out in my retelling.

• Kintaro is like a child of the forest
• He has befriended many different animals and they watch over him
• Kintaro and the animals have quite a bit of dialogue
• It seems that the animals are his best friends
• I am surprised at how strong Kintaro truly is
• He is just a boy, but he is able to achieve incredible feats of strength
• Kintaro completely uprooted a tree to create a bridge across the river
• Kintaro was soon found by a general in the army
• He had seen what strength Kintaro possessed and brought him to the capital
• It was a bit sad to see Kintaro leaving his mother and friends in the forest
• The story did a good job in capturing the emotion of the moment
• Kintaro was trained to be the head of the Four Braves
• This was a testament to his strength and ability as a child
• I think I could even make my own story about Kintaro

After reading this story, I feel like there are a lot of possibilities. I could retell the upbringing of Kintaro. I could also create my own story about his adventures. The story ends with Kintaro beheading a monster in a cave. I could create a story from this and make it a great adventure that Kintaro embarks upon. I will try to brainstorm about this for the next couple of days.

(A statue of the Golden Boy, Kintaro. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: The Adventures of Kintaro, The Golden Boy from Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part B

I continued my readings today with the Monkey King Unit. I think that the second half of the unit presents a lot of more intense conflict and resolution. I was really excited to dive into the stories and find out what becomes of the Monkey King and his people.

• As I suspected Sun Wu Kung was called to the heavens
• It seems that Sun is letting his guard down too much
• He assumes that he is indestructible and not bound to the rules of life
• Sun definitely proved himself to be an equal to the heavens
• I did not suspect Sun to better the warriors of the heavens, but it did not surprise me
• Sun becomes very ignorant and complacent once he has achieved heavenly status
• He does not take into account the effects his actions have on others
• I think this is a very important character flaw
• Sun's inability to see what is best for others constantly causes issues
• Sun Wu Kung loses control of his desires and emotions
• Sun wages war on the heavens and does not seem to have a reason for doing so
• It seems that Sun's only amusement in life is besting others
• Sun constantly searches for a new challenge and is never satisfied with what he has
• This is another character flaw that is vital to the development of the story
• I really like the fact that Sun constantly causes conflict
• Sun's inability to law low is what makes the stories engaging
• It really seemed that Sun's defeat was of his own ignorance
• He became tame once Buddha arrived and humbled him
• I think Sun could have achieved so much if he had just realized his impolite manner

Overall, I really enjoyed reading about Sun and his adventures. I think I will probably retell one of his adventures or great battles. There was a lot that took place in this unit, so I definitely have a lot of options with this week's story.

(A cool photo of an ice sculpture of the Monkey King. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: "The Ape Sun Wu Kung" from The Chinese Fairy Book by R. Wilhelm and translation by Frederick H. Martens. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part A

This week I read the the unit of The Monkey King "Sun Wu Kung". The Monkey King is a very popular hero in Chinese culture. The Monkey King is so popular that he even makes appearances in various video games. I really liked reading about the legend of the Monkey King. I had always heard of him, but I never knew the actual origin story. I have been looking forward to reading this unit for a few weeks.

• Born of a magic egg on a mountain top
• He possessed the magic of the earth and the heavens
• He was the stone ape before becoming the King of the Apes
• The Monkey King was a very curious individual
• He was always pondering thought and considering the deeper meanings to life
• The Monkey King attains his name Sun Wu Kung from his master, the "Discerner"
• It seems that Sun is always over-eager to obtain answers
• Sun is always curious and seeks the truth, but at times he can become very eager
• Sun Wu Kung was always after the blessing of immortality
• He was so clever that he was able to obtain the means to immortality
• The gifts and abilities that Sun Wu Kung possess and learn are something of imagination
• I really like the emphasis that is placed on Sun's drive to obtain immortality
• I also like the pure talent that Sun possesses
• It seems that Sun's ability to understand the unordinary is what makes him so special
• Sun is very brave and courageous when it comes to saving his people
• His ability to transform himself by using a single piece of hair is remarkable
• I like the fact that the story constantly progresses to new events
• The story of the Dragon King is particularly interesting and shows the true might of Sun Wu Kong
• The venture to the Nether World sets up the second part of the reading

I am really excited for the second part of the reading. I think Sun's actions in the Nether World could be a cause for possible conflict in the future. It seems that the story continues to foreshadow events that will take place in the heavens. I am very excited to see what becomes of Sun Wu Kung once he is confronted by the Gods. There is a lot of originality in this story, and I want to give an accurate retelling.

(A cosplay of The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: "The Ape Sun Wu Kung" from The Chinese Fairy Book by R. Wilhelm and translation by Frederick H. Martens. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Raja Rasalu, Part B

Today, I took notes over the second part of the reading for Raja Rasalu. I really liked the first story in the Part B reading, so I decided to take notes over these today. The interactions with the hunter and Raja are just the precursor to the events that unfold. I tried to take note of things that happened after the hunter failed to comply with Raja's conditions.

• Again, the poetry in this story is important.
• I really liked the exchange between the buck and doe in the south woods.
• The looming fate of the hunter is such an integral part of the story.
• I think I would like to include similar foreshadowing in the retelling.
• I like the dialogue of the doe as she ponders death after the buck dies.
• I think the dynamic between the buck, doe, and hunter is very interesting.
• There is a lot of self doubt and anguish associated with the dynamic.
• This would be something cool to manipulate or recreate in the retelling.
• Mirshikari is a very confident man and did not understand the weight of his actions.
• Raja Rasalu is very wise and knowledgable. 
• It seems that Raja associates himself with others as entertainment.
• He constantly uses riddles as a way of messing with mortal men.
• I think he is very clever and his cleverness is a reoccurring theme in each story.
• The king is unable to solve Raja's riddle and seeks confirmation of the hunter's death.
• There were many who doubted the death of Mirshikari. I believe this is a testament to his strength. This only reinforces the fact that Raja is so far beyond the strength of other men.
• The story ends by Raja alluding to another king.
• I could possibly transition into the next story.

I think that there is a lot of value in the first story. It spans across four different sections and includes much detail and thought. I can do a lot with this story. There is a lot of possibility for change. I could also focus on one specific section and retell it in my own fashion.

(This is a photo of deer in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary in India. This is how I imagined the deer in the story would look. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: Raja Rasalu from The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Raja Rasalu, Part A

This week I read the about the adventures of Raja Rasalu. He is known as the Hero of the Punjab. I really like to read and write about hero stories, so I decided to do another one this week. Raja has multiple stories and adventures. I decided to focus on a specific story for my notes. I am taking notes over Raja and his battle with the giants. This will most likely be the story that I choose to retell later this week. Again, I am using the bullet point notes format.

• Raja is perceived as charming to those that meet him.
• He faces similar challenges to that of other heroes in this course.
• Raja flows with confidence in himself.
• Raja does not fear for his life in this situation
• The people of the city had succumbed to the demands of the giants.
• There was not resistance formed to fight off the giants.
• Everyday the people of the city were fearful for their survival.
• The city took turns rationing their men as sacrifice.
• He does not doubt his ability to take on the giants in combat.
• Raja shows no mercy for his foes.
• He was born into the world as giant slayer.
• Raja confronts the giants with confidence and the knowledge that he will win.
• Raja slices off the hand of a giant with ease as a warning.
• The poem of Raja's return has some significance.
• I definitely need to include the poem in the retelling.
• I like how Raja is never challenged in his adventure.
• I could change his typical victory to something more fatal or drastic.

Overall, I think there are a lot of creative options for this week. I have really taken a liking to the stories about heroes and their many adventures. I will probably try to find a new way to get creative with this week's story and do something different.

(A photo of a sunset in Punjab, India. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: Raja Rasalu from Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sindbad, Part B

I read the second half of The Voyages of Sindbad. I decided to take notes again similar to how I did for Part A. I find that the concise bullet points help me with keeping the details and theme of the story true to its source.

• Sindbad is never settled with his life at home.
• Sindbad sets out for another adventure despite all of the past troubles.
• Each voyage does not waste time to jump into action.
• The roc reminded me of escaping the giants.
• Sindbad never manages to break the cycle of bad/good luck.
• The old man reminded me of Smeagol from Lord of the Rings.
• The constant new adventures add a lot of scenery and detail to the stories.
• Each adventure does not break the mold.
• The second half of the stories follow the same formula as the first.
• I like the final voyage and Sindbad's commitment to return home.
• He went against his vow to set out for the last voyage.
• His miraculous journeys finally came to an end at the culmination of his final return.

I think the second half of the reading had a lot of great stories. I really liked the fifth voyage and Sindbad's cleverness to escape the old man. As I mentioned earlier, it reminded me of Smeagol and Lord of The Rings. If I write about the latter voyages I think I will retell this one. I think that there is a lot I can do creatively with this story. I have a lot of inspiration and ideas for an escape like this from previous stories.

(A photo of Sindbad by Rene Bull. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: The Voyages of Sindbad from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sindbad, Part A

My reading for this week is the Voyages of Sindbad. I am interested in this unit because of its similarities to Homer's Odyssey. I really like the idea of a hero that goes on adventures, and that is why I was interested in this unit. I am condensing the notes again because I benefited the most from this method.

• Sindbad is a cunning man
• The detail and scenery is noted
• Sindbad traded his life of luxury for adventure
• Each voyage leads to a new adventure
• I like the ideas of fantasy included in the voyages
• There are many different elements I can work with
• The voyages can be changed in my retelling
• There is a constant feeling of adventure
• Sindbad encounters something new all of the time
• Each voyage begins with a great sense of excitement
• Sindbad quickly meets a new enemy/disaster every voyage
• There is never a moment of peace during the voyage
• Sindbad always makes his way back to a former acquaintance
• Each voyage ends in a safe return home

I really like each of the voyages of Sindbad. I think that there is a lot of material for me to work with this week. Since I recently retold a portion of Homer's Odyssey that is similar to voyage three, I will avoid retelling the part about the escape from the giants. I really like the fact that Sindbad constantly gives his riches back to the poor and needy. I think it creates a more likable character, and I want to include this in my retelling. I also think it would be fun to create a voyage where Sindbad does not return peacefully. We will see what Part B of the reading entails before I make up my mind.

(A photo of Sindbad from the 1947 film. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: The Voyages of Sindbad from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

The second half of the story really had all of the action. Part A ends with the buildup to the unveiling of Cupid and his identity and ends with the sister's deaths. Part B deals with the aftermath of all these terrible events. I am going to try a bullet list of notes to see if this works best for me.

• The dynamic between Cupid and his mother is unique.
• The rage of Venus is noted and important to the story.
• The state of Psyche is interesting. She is pleading for a second chance at life
• The struggle of the gods to find Psyche is interesting.
• Venus has an endless amount of hate for Psyche.
• Venus seems to fear the reality of aging and time.
• Psyche relies upon the help of other kind hearted people.
• I could possibly change the tasks Psyche performs.
• I could possibly change Venus's response to Psyche's performance.
• The exhaustive list to go and return from the underworld.
• Psyche's persistence to complete the impossible tasks.
• Psyche's curiosity and how it has failed her.
• The strong desire for Cupid to have his wife forever.

The ending of the story is a bit odd, and I will probably only retell sections about Cupid and Psyche. Overall, it was a very interesting story with a lot of options to consider in my retelling.

(A photo of many Cupid's represented as a baby. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche from The Golden Ass, written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline. Source: UnTextbook

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part A

This week, I decided to read Cupid and Psyche. I wanted to take a different approach to note taking this week. I felt like I was writing too much and was not being concise in my past reading notes. I want to try to really condense this week to only ideas and specific points of the story I want to write about.

I liked the perspective of the story. I might want to change this in my retelling as someone other than the donkey. I really enjoyed the over abundance of description by the girl. She did not hesitate to describe the luxuriousness of her wedding day. I think it would be funny to make Psyche a boy and have a complete reversal. It would change the dynamic of the story drastically. I believe that I want to focus more on the fairy tale aspect of this story. The first few sections are just a lead up to the story of Cupid and Psyche. I will probably not write about those. If I retell the story of Cupid and Psyche, I will probably focus on a couple of the reading sections. I want to condense them and make them into a possibly different story. I really liked the constant foreshadowing that Cupid provides Psyche. He continually warns Psyche of her sister's intentions. I would like to keep this in my writing if I can fit it all. The story takes a wicked turn and becomes very dark. I am not sure if I want to make my retelling as wicked.

(A photo of Cupid's Arrow in California. Source: Wikipedia Commons)

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche from The Golden Ass, written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline. Source: UnTextbook.