Week 11 Story

Unlikely Partners

The sun beat down on the desert floor scorching all the inhabitants that lie on it. One such critter was the snake named Earl that had always found himself a nice rock up high to lie on. He enjoyed sun bathing and wanted to lay there and soak up as much of the suns rays as he could. One day while he was sun bathing an annoying hawk came by and about landed right on top of him. Before the hawk got close enough Earl called out to the hawk saying, “Halt go away. This is my rock.” The hawk got ever closer and closer. Eventually after many more screeches from Earl the hawk could see him. The hawk hovered above him and yelled down to him, “Move or be trampled over. This is the perfect place for a nest so that I might start my family.” Earl was quite flustered and yelled back, “Get your own rock, this one is mine!! I have never moved, nor will I ever move for anyone.” The hawk became most flustered and said, “If you will not move willingly I will force you to move.” “I would advise against it for I am a formidable enemy to make.” exclaimed Earl. The hawk ignored his warning and dove to attack Earl and they battled for quite sometime. The hawk pecking with his beak and grabbing with his talons. Earl winding himself tighter and tighter around the hawk until the hawk could barely move. The hawk then decided to take a dive from the cliff. He refused to allow Earl to win. When he got closer to the ground the hawk yelled, “Now we both shall lose the rock. Lessen your grip or we shall both die.” Earl admired the hawk for the drive it had to keep fighting till the end, giving no ground. Earl smiled and loosened his grip and the pair landed smoothly on the ground just barely making it thanks to the hawk’s wings. The pair stared at each other in an awkward silence before Earl said, “I think there is enough room up there for the both of us. I like your style partner how about we become friends.” The hawk looked at him confused and said, “Sure I don’t see why not. My name is Patricia.” Thus the two flew back up to the top of the mountain and had a long fruitful friendship that spanned generations.

Author’s Note: I based this story off the combined stories of “The Buffalo and the Grizzly”, and “Coyote and the Snake”. In “The Buffalo and the Grizzly” a Grizzly and Buffalo fight at a spring until they eventually become friends. In “Coyote and the Snake” the Coyote is walking through the desert in a straight path and a snake is in his way. The coyote tells him to move but the Snake refuses and so the Coyote tells the Snake he will just walk right over him. The Snake threatens him that he will die if he does. The Coyote does it anyway and the Snake bites him resulting in his death. I decided to make it a happy ending where two animals meet fight and decide to be friends for life. They both wanted the hill but compromise saved each of their lives.

Bibliography: Myths and Legends of the Great Plains byKatharine Berry Judson

Short Toed Snake Eagle Ashish by Ashish Tripurwar

Reading Notes: Great Plains Part B

Price of Truth

There was a Coyote that always walked in a straight line across the prairie. He heard someone call out to him telling him to stop. He looked around seeing no one kept on walking. He then heard someone say for him to walk around. Again the Coyote was perplexed seeing no one. He walked a bit further until the Coyote saw the snake. The Snake would not move and said walk around again. To this the Coyote said I do not want to walk around you. Then the Coyote told the Snake to get out of his way. The Snake said he had never thought to move for anyone let alone the Coyote. The Coyote said he would still run over him. The Snake then threatened to kill him if he walked over. The Coyote laughed it off saying that the Snake couldn’t possibly kill him. So he walked over him and the Snake bit him. The Coyote mocked the snake telling him that he isn’t dead yet. The Snake held his tongue knowing what was to come. The Coyote traveled on until he came to a creek for some water. He drank from the creek seeing his reflection in the water thinking to himself that he was quite fat. He then walked on until he was quite tired. He then lay down and went to sleep never to wake up again. The Snake’s words held true.

Bibliography: Myths and Legends of the Great Plains byKatharine Berry Judson

Coyote and Rattlesnake by Alan Schmierer 

Reading Notes: Great Plains Part A

Unlikely Friendship

This is a story about a Buffalo Bull and a Grizzly Bear. The Grizzly Bear came to the stream like he always had done. When he got there he saw a Buffalo Bull. The Buffalo Bull was very lean and muscular with his head bowed. The Grizzly Bear got closer to him and in an instant jumped upon him. He seized the Buffalo’s hair that was on his head and turned him around and around. All the while the Grizzly saying that he came there quite often and each time he came there somebody would tell him that the Buffalo Bull wants to fight him. He kept spinning him and spinning him until at last he hit the Buffalo Bull on the nose with his open paw. The Buffalo Bull was confused and asked why he was doing this and that he had never threatened to fight him ever. He also inquired as to who it was that said he had wanted to fight the Grizzly Bear. The Grizzly wouldn’t hear any of it and seized him by the tail and continue to spin him around and around. The Buffalo was in great pain and thought that he must attack him. The Grizzly somehow heard his thought and came back and seized the Buffalo again. This time the Buffalo stepped back getting room. He threw himself on the ground nd rolled until he had gotten himself enough room. He then stood and charged at the Grizzly. He caught the Grizzly with his horns and launched him into the air. He then ran at him trying to gore him with his horns. He did this until the Grizzly fell over the cliff. The Grizzly eventually climbed the cliff and rejoined the Buffalo at the top and asked the Buffalo if he would like to be friends, for they were so much alike.

Bibliography: Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson

Grizzly Bears Attacking Buffalo by George Catlin

Week 10 Story

Price of Fitting In

There once lived a man named Timothy in a faraway land that knew not what it was like to have a wife. He wanted a wife for as long as he could remember. He wanted to grow old with a woman raising their children together. He also wanted very much so to be included in his friend group when his friends went over with their wives to Mark’s house. Mark’s house was where all the cool and interesting get togethers happened, at least that was what he was told. One day he was walking along the street when an old women bumped into him on the sidewalk.

“I am so sorry young man. I must not have been looking where I was going” the old lady said.

“It is no trouble” said Timothy as he turned to continue walking.

The lady grabbed his hand and pulled his face down to hers so she might inspect his face.

“You have a very interesting soul. You should marry my daughter she is about the same age as you” said the old lady.

“Thank you, but no thank you” said Timothy as he turned to walk away quickly.

Then out of the corner of his eye he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen sitting on the bench. She waved to him to come sit down next to her. He dumbly walked over and started to have a conversation with her. This just so happened to be the old lady’s daughter. Soon after a while they were married and living together. Timothy was finally invited to Mark’s house to one of his get togethers. He showed up with his wife but for some reason he couldn’t remember going home with her. He also couldn’t find her anywhere at their house. Eventually he figured she must still be at Mark’s house so he went back to see her. He found her strolling out of Mark’s house covered in blood.

“What happened? Are you okay? Why are you covered in blood?”

“Mark forced himself on me so did the other men at the party. Apparently it is not a very friendly party, and your friends wanted to bite off a bit more than they could chew. I’m surprised anyone shows up to these parties at all. Mark is apparently the head of a cult and suckers people into bringing their wives as a sacrifice to join. I am no sacrifice do you hear me?” she said quite firmly.

“Well where are they? What did you do with them?”

“I cut the important bits off of each of them so they will not forget what they did for as long as they live. I come from a land far from here that consumes man flesh to become one with the gods. I left that to start a new life. Who knew that I would use my skills again?”

“I am so sorry for what you had to go through. Let’s go to the hospital to get you checked out then let’s go home!” Timothy said.

“Fine, fine as long as we can be home for dinner.”

The couple turned and headed off into the distance with the sun at their back as it dipped below the earth.

Author’s Notes: This is a combination of a story about a man who wanted a wife so he could be part of a group that got to see the wizard. He gets a wife only to have her taken from him. He challenges the wizard and gets her back. In my story the man does want to go to the get togethers with his friends. His wife is taken but she cuts her way out. The second story is about the wife who lies that gets her villages women killed. She goes back to her own people and they believe that she is treated harshly so they attack her husband’s village. Her husband’s village retaliates and attacks back and then kills her. In my story the women is from a faraway land and is married off by her grandmother. I however left out the part about her lying and instead of a slaughter happening to those that didn’t deserve it I decided to turn it around on Timothy’s friends.

Bibliography: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen  

Eskimo Massacre Site by Universal History Archive

Reading Notes: Eskimo Part B

Lying Wife

This story is one about a wife who lied. Navaranapaluk came from a tribe that ate men. She later married a man from another tribe. One day she decided to go to her own people with mittens on her feet instead of boots. She did this so they would feel pity on her and hate her husband’s people. Her people felt exactly the way she thought they would. The decided to attack her husband’s tribe. When they got to her husband’s village they found no men there, only the wives. They still attacked killing all the women they could find. They ended up killing all but three. One women hid against meat, the other hid in skin, the last hid in the store shed. Once they had killed all they saw they put all of their bodies on pikes and stuck them upright into the ground for all to see. When the men came home they were outraged and set to making war on the enemy. The three women who were left alive helped them vigorously until they had nothing but bone showing in their fingers. When the men came to the next village they hid amoungst the rocks. One of the old women from the village had a dream that told her the avengers must be near. After she dreamed this the dog on the roof barked alarming those in the village. They rushed out of the house but the enemies moved in and killed them shooting every man down with arrows. They men then chose for themselves wives out of those that were before them. Navaranapaluk was then grabbed by two men who took her out onto the ice. She asked the whole way who it would be out of the two men to be her husband. The men laughed and then cut both her arms off leaving her to blead to death for her lie.

Bibliography: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen

Illustration from Eskimo Folk-Tales by Eskimo Artists

Reading Notes: Eskimo Part A

Isigaligarssik Challenge

This story is about a man who had no wife. He wanted to be like the other men who had the opportunity to go out and hear the wizard. To be able to hear the wizard one needed to be married. Since Isigaligarssik was unmarried he had to stay with the old widow and her young daughter. On one occasion when the men are gone listening to the wizard the widow whispers to Isigaligarssik that her daughter wants to marry him. He agrees to marry her and before the men return they are married. They are happy for him. The next time the wizard called he went to see him and brought his wife. The wizard then took his wife from him telling him he no longer had a wife. From then on he lived without a wife going to every calling from the wizard to be told to go home. Eventually he went in to the wizard and was stabbed by him. He ran home and placed a dress of his wife on the wound and it healed. He then challenged the wizard to a shooting match with bows and arrows. He became small so the wizard would miss him. He then told him to go home for he could not shoot. When the wizard arrived at home Isigaligarssik shot his bow and killed him.

Bibliography: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen  

Eskimo Massacre Site by Universal History Archive

Week 9 Story

Heartbroken Man

There once was a man named Jason that lived in a small village. He was a very wise and powerful man that gave the people of his village powerful blessings. Eventually the people of the village grew jealous of his wondrous gift that he had and came to imprison him so they could get blessings whenever they wanted. The man heard of this and decided to leave the village and take his son through the forest in search of a better village, one that would appreciate what he did for them. While the man was out on a walk through the forest when he came across his son, a lion, a goose, and an ox that were in a net hanging from the tree.

Jason thought to himself, “I need to rescue my son the others I will leave in the tree, they are of no use to me.”

When he told his son that he would be up to get him the other animals pleaded to him asking him to please save them and that he would be richly rewarded. The lion said that he would be his protector and would make sure no harm ever befell him. The goose promised him golden eggs and the ox promised him to work for him in his field for as long as he needed. Jason agreed and went up the tree and cut everyone down and they all made their way to the next village. When Jason made himself at home in the new village he started blessing the people of this village. He too was blessed by the deeds which the animals did for him. They all kept their promise and he was made quite wealthy. One day the king saw him as a threat and wanted him gone but couldn’t figure out a way to capture the man. Jason’s son decided that he too wanted to be wealthy and told the king he would let him in the house to capture his father. When the King heard this he was quite pleased.

So, in the dead of night the king came for him and was let in by Jason’s son. As the guards that were with the king piled into the house they were met with a most ferocious foe. The lion jumped upon them and in a few short moments had killed all but the king. Jason woke up and jumped out of bed to see what the matter was. He saw the king lying on the floor with the lion on top growling.

Jason asked the king, “What are you doing in my house? Who let you in here?”

Sputtering the man said, “It was your son he let us all in to take you. We promised him many riches for doing so.”

Jason looked at the man, then at his son and said, “Leave while I allow it, both of you.”

Though Jason had all the blessings and wealth he was never to be happy again. He had lost everything that truly mattered to him, his son.

Author’s Note: I decided to combine two stories. I combined a story about Anansi in which he gives out wisdom to the people only for them to begrudge him. He decides to take all the wisdom back and hide it from them. In the process of hiding it his son tells him a better way to climb the tree so that he might hide it. He decides he doesn’t have all the wisdom and decides to get rid of his plan. I incorporated the son but changed him from being good to being evil. I also made it to where it was blessings instead of wisdom. The other story I mixed in was the story called the Ungrateful Man which is about a hunter who finds several different things in a whole. He saves them and all of them bestow him with a gift for his deed. All except the man who ends up lying to the king telling him that it was hunter who stole from him. After being imprisoned he cures the king’s son using one of the gifts he received. In my story I decided to incorporate him saving a few animals that would bless him, but made his son the ungrateful man in my story.

Bibliography: West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair 

Disappointment by Unknown  

Week 9 Reading Notes: West Africa Part B

The Ungrateful Man

A man was out walking one day and crossed paths with a hole. In the hole was a serpent, rat, leopard and a man. They all begged him for their release but he thought to themselves none of them were good but the man. The serpent bit men and killed them, the rat was of no use to anyone, and the leopard stole his cattle and ate them. But each of these enticed him with things. They each promised to do him a good dead. The serpent gave him a powerful antidote to snake venom. He told him to apply the blood of a traitor to it to make it active. The leopard showed his appreciation by killing many animals for him and supplying him with food for a while. The rat went off and fetched him many valuable things such as gold and ivory. The ungrateful man that was taken from the pit went to the king and blamed the hunter for being the one who stole the king’s belongings. He did this so that he could get half of what was stolen when it was returned. The hunter was thrown in prison and was scheduled to be beheaded. The king’s son was bitten by a snake and was on the verge of death. He told the king of the serum he had that would cure his son and what he needed. He also told him how he had gotten it and all that had happened. He needed the blood of a traitor and the Majesty pointed to the wicked man who had accused the hunter. The king was grateful for all the hunter did and gave him much honours for him to take home with him.

Bibliography: West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair

The Hunter and The Serpent by Cecilia Sinclair

Week 9 Reading Notes: West Africa Part A

Anansi

Anansi is a creature of both mischief and good. The first story shows the mischief by him tricking Nyankupon into the deal he made. He then tricked the bees followed by the snake and spider. Each of the creatures listened to him and he tricked them into doing what he wanted. He told the bees that Nyankupon and he had a bet if the bees could all fit in the jar. The bees said they could fit in the jar and rushed in and he closed the cap sending them to Nyankupon. The snake he tied to a stick by saying that he made a bet with Nyankupon if the snake was as long as the stick. Once he got the snake tied to the stick he sent the snake up. The tiger on the other hand he tricked him by sewing one of his eyes shut and saying that he saw wondrous things. The tiger heard him and said he also wanted to see wondrous things and asked that Anansi sew his eyes shut. Thus he tricked him and led him up to Nyankupon. In the second story however he Anansi possessed all wisdom and people would come to him asking him things. Eventually one of the scorned him and he decided to hide all the wisdom from them. So he placed all of the wisdom he had given out into the pot and hung it around his neck. He walked into the woods and started climbing one of the trees in order to put the pot high up in the tree. His son happened to follow him out of the village and into the forest. As his father tried to climb the tree and couldn’t for the pot was in the way he suggested that Anansi put the pot on his back so he could climb freely. Anansi pleased with his sons wisdom said that since he had wisdom greater than his that Anansi’s wisdom was insufficient. He broke the pot letting the wisdom go out into all the world.
Bibliography: West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair 

Anansi by Gerald McDermott

Week 8 Progress

Looking Back

I would say I am moderately okay with the progress I have made so far. I feel as though I can make vast improvements on what I do to be more efficient and to come up with better story ideas. I do have a weekly routine now, but it took me a while to come up with it. I will start the routine next week doing all the notes one day and the story the next. I will then work on the project on Friday and Saturday submitting it on Sunday. I think I enjoy the readings the most but for assignments I would say the story. I like writing stories and would like to get better at it. I love reading and want to improve at putting my ideas on to paper. I have not used any of the extra credit options yet but will do so this week and the next. I will try to do one a weak to get my points up and finish the class faster. I think for the blog and website things are coming along smoothly. I am not really a tech genius, so it takes me a while to figure it all out. I am trying my best to make it look as cool as possible. I am currently trying to find a way to attach a link box on the introduction page that takes people to a playlist to listen to while they read my stories.

Looking Forward

I want to be more efficient and get things turned in well before they are due. I want to spend more time brainstorming ideas for stories to come up with good ones. I want to avoid doing things last minute. I live a very busy life, but I would like to be able to schedule time to do things for this class. I want to try to come at stories from a different angle each time other than simply retelling the story. I want to be able to find a way to have a moving background on my website and blog. I want to make it look interesting and eye catching. I don’t know if the websites I am using allow for that though. 

 

Motivation by Freepick

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

I think a lot people have been very kind through out my posts commenting on the good things about my stories and about me. They also have been very constructive. On a couple of posts that I did I had pretty poor grammar and someone else was kind enough to let me know what I should change to fix that. They also gave me interesting ideas for the stories I wrote after by asking me what if this happened questions. The most useful comments are the ones that fix my poor grammar and sentence structure. It has always been something I have struggled with and help pointing out my mistakes is always nice. I think the comments I give back are more about praise and what if questions than anything else. I think I have found feedback that would allow the next story by the person to be a little bit better. I think I learn the most about story writing by reading other student’s stories. The students in this class are so talented and write such interesting stories. It has made me change the way I write stories and become more creative. I am not so sure that I am becoming familiar with the person behind the story. I need to change my blog to make it more friendly for those commenting. I believe I should go through and comment on the comments I receive. This way they will feel valued on my blog and I will continue to get constructive feedback. I would like to change the structure of the week to where I do all the readings on one day and then write the story the next day to have all the information fresh. I think I would like to leave the introduction the same but change the comment wall to look more interesting.

 

A Making Reflection

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Looking back I have to say that the reading and writing assignments are working out great for me. I had a bit of a learning curve at the beginning but got over it quickly. It does seem now to take me longer to think about which story I want to take notes on focusing on how I will incorporate it into my final story. As the class has gone on I would say it takes me longer to choose and the stories take longer to write. I think this is because I am focusing really hard at writing a better story than the last one. I am happy with how my blog and website project are looking. I have never been big into blogging before but after doing it for a bit I have to say it is really nice. The project is coming along smoothly at the moment. I am just finishing writing my first story because I want it to look really good and read smoothly. So far my story is progressing along I have just been picky of everything that touches the page. I think working on the story posts has helped me in preparing me through story writing. Each week I think my story posts get better or more creative. I have tried to get away from retelling and look at a different angle from which to write. This also comes from reading so many other peoples stories who seem to be leagues ahead of my own in creativity and imagination. I would say that my favorite reading so far was probably of the Illiad. Mainly because I love the sort of mythology and never got around to really reading anything from it. I wouldn’t say the reading notes are incredibly helpful only because I feel as though they bind me to a certain way of writing. I want to be more creative and when I get bombarded with notes I took I feel as though I have to incorporate them into the story which kind of takes away from a different spin I can give the story. I think they are helpful if you can’t remember a story a specific story or want to do a retelling but anything more original it seems to hurt you a bit. I have discovered that I should read a story completely formulate what seems to be most central to the stories theme and characters then  write notes on that. This way I can think of an idea about the story I will write without being held back by what is in the original story.

Menelaus Holding the Body of Patroclus by Diana Mantuana

I chose this image because it depicts the battle that was taking place around the dead body of Patroclus. I thought it fit best in my notes from the Illiad section, and since that is my favorite story so far I thought why not.

Looking forward I want to actually complete both the reading sections and note sections together so that I can get a clear picture of the story or stories and be able to make a really good story out of both sections. Lately I have been writing a story with sprinkled in bits from both sections. I want to link both reading sections through a strong story that includes a lot from both the sections.

Week 7 Story

The Close of an Age

As my life draws to a close and I look back at it now I think that I am thankful for all the things that have happened. I have learned about true friendship and what it means to have a home with a family. In my younger years I sought for the secrets of life and the answer to immortality. I found that and in so doing also obtained a stain on my character known as pride. I was so proud and arrogant in my younger years. I did whatever I saw fit for I was blessed with untold powers that I acquired through the teachings of my master. I know now if I only but put my talents to good use my life wouldn’t have taken the turn it did. I did many things I should say I regret now. All of those things lead me to be sealed in water, earth, metal, and fire. I was there for so long that I had to come to grips with what I had done and who I should become to be a better person. I was blessed and gifted so much to just squander it on my personal endeavors. When I was released I was able to put my talents and gifts to good use in helping the Monk of the Yangtze-kiang. I also had a circlet placed around my throat to control my behavior which in the past gave me so much trouble. It is never used however because I have reformed myself. I have decided however that my time should have an end just as it has a beginning. Though I once desired to live forever after many millennia I think it is time for me to pass on. To leave this world behind and move on to the next beginning. That is why I have decided to write this book, this being the last page, to tell of my life story and finally have an ending. Who would have thought I would walk with death to the gates of the next life as an old friend. I who had been so afraid to stare upon his face but a few centuries ago. To the apes living on our mountain I say goodbye and thank you for all you have done for me, welcoming me home every time I returned. This is my final goodbye for I shall not see you again in this life. Farewell.

Authors Notes: I decided that I wanted to have an ending to the life of Sun Wu Kung who was a stone ape that found immortality. I wanted him to feel after all the years he lived that he was finally done with this life. Sun Wu Kung was very mischievous in his life that lead him to many problems and many adversaries. He eventually was sealed up until being let out much, much later. I think he would reflect on his life and think about doing things differently. He would change the way he had been acting and become like his old master was, mild mannered and wise.

Bibliography: “The Ape Sun Wu Kung” in The Chinese FairyBook, ed. By R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens

A Modern Journey to the West by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Reading Notes: Asia Part B

Mighty Sun Wu Kung

Heaven eventually heard of Sun Wu Kung and the Lord of the Heavens sent of him so that he could charge him. The others in heaven wanted him to be punished for his previous actions but one The Evening Star stepped forward on his behalf. Sun Wu Kung when presented with command to come to heaven was overjoyed and wanted for a while to go to heaven. He agree and went with The Evening Star up to heaven where he was appointed with a job over the stables. He worked hard at his charge and the stables prospered. He asked his friends if his job had a title or if he was high ranking. They told him that he was not and that he was a subordinate. He was angered and ranted about his position there. He was so angered he returned to earth to his apes where he was told he had been gone for ten years. When the Lord of Heaven found out he sent people to capture him. Sun Wu Kung was to strong and defeated all of them. The Evening Star was sent to get him and succeeded by telling him that he was now to have the rank of Great Saint Who Is Heaven’s Equal. Sun Wu Kung was bestowed with a palace in which to live and was treated with respect. He was later charged with protecting the trees of the Queen-Mother of the West which gave many benefits when one eats of their fruit. Eventually he left when he heard of a banquet going on. On his way there he stopped by the God of Light’s abode, he ate and drank his food and he also ate his pills of life. He eventually decided to head back to the mountain where he was a king lest he be killed for his mischief. All of heaven came after him and he fought them all on for a whole day till sundown.

Bibliography: "The Ape Sun Wu Kung" in The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Fredrick H. Martens

Sun Wu Kung