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

Reading Notes: Asia Part A

The Monkey King

There once was an ape born of magic out of a rock. An egg fell from a rock and inside was a stone ape. This ape became known as Sun Wu Kung. Sun Wu Kung after many years came to live with the other apes. One day the apes declared whoever can walk through the waterfall unharmed shall be the king. Sun Wu Kung agreed and then jumped through the waterfall unharmed. When he jumped back through he told them of all the wonders on the other side of the waterfall. They begged him to take them with him through, so he did. Years of him being king drew on and he eventually wept realizing he would eventually die. One of the wiser apes told him that only a Buddha and a Saint transcends death. So Sun Wu Kung set out to find a saint to teach him how to escape death. He traveled for many years before finding a saint that was able to teach him. He sat down with the master and learned how to be a man with many other things. Then when he was ready the master asked him what he wanted to learn and proceeded to name off a list. At every thing on the list Sun Wu Kung said he did not want to learn until the master pretended to be angry and struck him 3 times. To this he realized it was code for see him later at night for the real truth. At night he went to the master and passed the test the master gave him and started learning about how to become immortal. He also learned about magic. One day the master’s pupils wanted him to transform into a tree so he did. His master was displeased and sent him back home telling him that he should never reveal who taught him these things to anyone or she shall lose his soul. He agree and went away sadly. He taught the apes how to fight when he got home and acquired many weapons for them as well as a weapon for himself.

Bibliography: "The Ape Sun Wu Kung" in The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)

Monkey Chinese Zodiac by Thwangfsdesign