Week 2 Story

Once upon a time in the land of Greenville there lived a single father with his five sons. The father loved the sons more than anything in the world. Everything he could do to better their lives he would. One day the father got a bonus at work and asked his sons what they would want from the store. Four of the sons picked expensive and flashy gifts, but one of the sons picked but a single pear. The father was shocked that his son with everything to choose would choose but a single pear. He inquired from the boy why he didn’t want a gift similar to his brothers and the son simply said that he had all that he wanted. He wanted just eat a pear. The father smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair and set out to the store to pick up what he needed. The man went through the store picking up everything that the boys wanted. When it came to the pear, he could not find it anywhere because it was alas out of season. Sadly, the man went on his way home. He was so sad that he couldn’t get such a simple gift for his son.

As he was walking home, he spotted a pear tree on the side of the road that was full of pears. It was planted in front of an old abandoned mansion. He thought it was odd that pears would still grow being out of season. Nonetheless the man walked up and picked a couple of them for his son. Immediately after he picked the third pear a loud screech came from inside the house and a woman in white rushed out and grabbed hold of the man. She said that since he took the pear he had to pay with his life. He said they were but for his son and that he would give them back. She said that since they had been picked there was no way to put them back and that he would have to pay. The father excepted the price for what he done but asked that he might return to his sons and say his final goodbye.

When the man got home, he hugged each of his sons and said how he loved them so much. He said that he had to go somewhere and would not be back. The sons wept dearly and as the father left the house. The son who requested the pear followed his father out the door to the house that the father picked the pears from. The woman came out of the house and said that she was pleased he had returned just as he said he would and that he was now hers. She mentioned how if he had not picked the pears, he would be free to go but alas that was no longer an option. Upon hearing this the son ran out in front of his father crying and shaking said that it was because of him. The pears were for him so he should be the one sacrificed. Seeing the love, the boy had for his father brought tears to her eyes. Something she had not felt for a long time and hung her head and said go, be free from this place and this fate. The man looked upon this woman with pity and sadness for she was a beautiful woman that should not have to live here alone. He asked her if she would like to return with them. She looked up at the man and nodded her head, color returning to her body and face. She was becoming human again. Hand in hand the man, woman and child all walked home together.

Authors Note:

I decided to go with father and sons to do the opposite of how it actually was in the story. I also decided to make it a ghost woman instead of a basilisk to give it more of a human element, than a beast. The ending I decided to go with to show an acceptance of others even when you feel wronged by them. The father even though he was maltreated and was about to give up his life to this woman was kind enough to take her in. 

Bibliography: Fairy Tale Beauty: And the Basilisk by Josef Baudis 

 

Ghost Woman by Pxhere

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Basilisk by Josef Baudis

Plot: Mother goes to store to buy things for the house and is asked to buy roses for daughter. On her way she stumbles upon a palace garden and takes three roses. As payment the mother must give up her daughter. There is a plot twist at the end when the daughter is asked by the basilisk to cut off its head. When she does this he has her do it again and again. Eventually he springs forth into a beautiful youth and says he must marry her. So what was considered this scary vile thing turns into a man that will marry her. 

Characters: Mother, Daughter, Basilisk.

Setting: Palace 

Basilisk by Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch  

Week 2 Reading Overview

I picked these units because I believe they will be the most interesting for me. I am looking forward to the Persian section because it is something completely new with werewolves! I am also looking forward to the European Unit because it has several stories I will probably end up reading that I have always known about but never really delved into. I am really interested to read more into the Russian folklore since I am familiar with a few of them! 

My Schedule

CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4.

Week 3: Noah

Week 4: Aesop (Winter)

MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6.

Week 5: Persian

Week 6: Ancient Egypt

ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. 

Week 7: Monkey King

Week 9: Jamaica 

NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11.

Week 10: Apache

Week 11: Great Plains

BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13.

Week 12: Robin Hood

Week 13: Faerie Queene

EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15.

Week 14: Russian

Week 15: Inferno

Werewolf art full moon by Freeart123

Possible Time Strategies

 After reading several articles I learned a decent amount about perfecting study habits. When I read the article How to Beat Procrastination, I learned so much about managing a serious problem I have been dealing with. I for as long as I have been in college have been one that waits to the last minute to do things. I usually tell myself I will have enough time, and that I only need this or that amount of time. Usually what happens is that by the time the assignment is due I actually needed much more time then I had given myself. This article talks about breaking it into steps and having rewards after the first one to incentivise finishing it. It also talks about visualizing how great it will feel when the thing you are working on is completed! I definitely need to try this! The next article I read was The Important Habit of Just Starting. This article opened my eyes about how getting used to just starting something makes it easier the next time you go to do it. In my case with school just starting that project early and completing it without the burden of stress would make me feel amazing. The next time I would not procrastinate because I would know just how amazing it felt just to start and get finished with the work!

Work by Creative Commons Zero

  

New Technology

I have to say that a lot of the stuff that we are using in this course are new to me. I am unfamiliar with blogging, and most of the other things listed on the technologies. I do however understand that if I go to canvas and click on modules I can access a lot of the information I need to do the assignments. I am actually enjoying learning about blogging and the different ways one can go about making a website and using it! I would have to say that this is a totally new experience to me seeing as to how I so rarely take online classes, and even those have never included blogging or website design. I am looking forward to learning how to blog and create a website for myself. I also kind of want to learn how to work graphics creation to make memes! :)

Technology by TheDigitalArtist

Upcoming Assignments

I would have to say that I am intrigued by several of the assignments that we are to do this semester. Since I am a big fan of reading different stories I am really looking forward to the weekly readings that we are to do! I am also interested to read what others post on some of the readings that I read, so I will enjoy looking at those! I also am really looking forward to the project that we are to do. Looking at all the past semesters projects gives me a lot of different ideas about how I would like to do mine! I think that if I can figure out how to work blogger I can be quite successful when it comes to making a pretty cool project! I have to say this is the first class that I have done that is like this. I have always used computers throughout my education but never to this degree. I sort of feel like it is partially a computer class at times. Though I can't really complain since I love learning how to work this blog website! 

Hero by Mohamed Hassan

My Thoughts on Growth Mindset

    I think a lot of the views that Carol Dweck deduced from her experiment and thoughts on people to be correct. I also believe that under pressure people grow or they look for an avenue out through easier means and accept their failure. I also believe that people naturally don't want to run into difficulty in their life. Humans are like water they want to take the easiest path. I believe however that those individuals who seek out the pain and pressure are the ones who grow the most into something truly remarkable. They have increased their capacity to work and endure so much so that they have allowed themselves to continually grow! I believe that she was spot on when she talked about test scores and its affect on children. Children want awards now, that is their incentive to work. I also found her thoughts on "yet" to be fascinating. I believe that everyone's brain is wired differently and so children should be evaluated on the process they take to get to answers. This is how growth happens. I believe the growth mindset she is talking about is worth further research and definite implementation in school systems! Growth happens through discomfort. Being comfortable kills work ethic and produces laziness. 

    Looking at the Growth Mindset Challenges would be worth participating in. I personally would take part in reading more about mindsets, exploring what genius is and how I can possibly obtain it, and lastly focus on feedback. I believe in the saying, "acquire what you admire". Which to me means become what you view as something worthy. I would like to explore great mindsets held by those successful so that I might acquire a way of thinking that would allow me to better myself. The next thing I would like to challenge myself to do for personal growth is to explore genius. Ask myself can I possibly obtain it and if so how? Lastly I would challenge myself to focusing on feedback of those around me. I believe this way I will be able to grow from things that I myself might not see. Those around me may see something that I could improve on and I should allow myself to be open to that change. 

Keep Moving Forward by Steve Worsethandetroit 

Introduction: A Bit About Me

    About Me

    Hello all! This is my last year at OU and I am glad to be finishing up with this class! My major is Russian Language and Literature from The University of Oklahoma. I would have to say the coolest thing about this major is that I got to meet so many interesting people and learned a lot about other cultures. Before getting into the program I did not know much about the world but after taking so many courses and studying abroad I got to see people from all walks of life! I also learned another language, which while challenging has really rewarding! From learning Russian I sought to meet others that were able to speak it or learning to speak it and just by happenstance met my fiancé! Who knew Russian would do so much for me?

     

Me in front of the Winter Palace

    I love to read and many of the books I read or either science fiction or fantasy. Something about other worldly possibilities filling my head with dreams seems to sate a childlike curiosity in me. Because of such a curiosity I am taking this class! I have taken other courses like this before such as a Mythology course at my last college but I wanted to see what knew things that could be offered by this course! I would say that I have a few favorite book series such as Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan, Dresden Files by Jim butcher, and The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind! I have reread each of these series multiple times, and each time feels like the first!

    Lastly I guess I would like to talk a little about where I see my future headed. I plan on going to nursing school in the spring to become a RN. After which I will move somewhere up north where the weather isn’t so hot and settle down. I have always known I wanted to go into the medical field just never really knew where I fit in. After doing a bit of research and talking to others I decided that nursing was the best of all possibilities. They get the most patient exposure and get to give the most hands on care, which is what I want.

Malta; Photo by Me

Story Book Favorites

My Story Book Favorites

Hades' Iliad 

I selected this story because it was the first one to pop up and also the first one that stood out to me. The title alone grabbed my attention and peaked my interest. Hades had always been a character in Greek Mythology I found to be fascinating yet hardly talked about. I loved the structure of the blog that brings me from chapter to chapter seamlessly. The author also did a really good job at the art work he put in the background which went along with the theme of the story. The story itself was gripping and pulled me in from the beginning. It also made me think of Hades in a different light. Instead of the villain he was a king retelling a story. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read! 

John Martin, Fallen Angels in Hell, from Wikipedia Commons

Stories of Merlin

This story caught my eye because of my fascination with all things wizardry. Upon opening the page I was blown away by the wonderful pictures and web design. I started reading and kind of felt as though the author was pulling from so many different sources of inspiration! She had the British Mythology thrown in with biblical references. Another was when she thought Merlin needed to be baptized due having the gift. One of these was when Morvryn thought she conceived mysteriously. She did not know who the father was. I also like how the author kept the introduction brief and to the point on Merlin's beginning instead of going on a whole other path. 

Merlin (Don Crosby) by Douglas Baulch 

The Brave Hedgehog

The last story I read was The Brave Hedgehog. I selected this story out of curiosity asking myself why a hedgehog. Upon opening the page I was brought to a home screen of sorts that had a beautiful soundtrack I could listen to while reading the little intro. When I went to the official reading I was kind of shocked that I did not know all these things about hedgehogs....They are some weird creatures that do very weird things such as mating with siblings and eating their children. After the authors introduction I began to read the comments he made regarding Aesop's fables and the story about little Egan. I also enjoyed the soundtracks that he put at the bottom. I found myself clicking on them listening to them as I read the story. They all went along with the story so well. 

Little Hedgehog in a Big City Mr. Pokee

Week 1: My Favorite Place

Saint Petersburg Russia

I have lived many places in my life but non compare to Saint Petersburg Russia. Though I was there for but a year I have memories from there that will last a lifetime! I was lucky enough abroad in Saint Petersburg my Junior year of college. I met wonderful people and saw many wonderful sights. 

(The Hermitage: Photo by Ninara)

This is the Hermitage which is one of the worlds largest museums. It houses multiple pieces of art and history. I spent countless hours walking through this building awestruck at the beauty that resided within. 

(The Winter Palace: GoodFreePhotos)

This is a picture of the Hermitage at night also known as the Winter Palace which housed Russian Royalty. Walking around Saint Petersburg at night is simply breathtaking which gives viewers a new perspective on the city.  I spent much of my nights wandering around the city taking in the many wonders that were to beheld.

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