The Fair Angiola: I find it interesting that in many fairy tales, the antagonist always asks for a fist born child in exchange for something they will give (i.e., a pardon or a magical gift). I was very surprised to discover that Angiola is the same character that I have grown up knowing as Rapunzel. I was impressed that this story had a far happier ending in which the witch is forgiving and allows Angiola to marry the prince.
Italian Tales
Sire Fiorante, Magician: I found this story to be incredibly strange. I guess love won out in the end, but it had to go through a very strange route to get there. I was not expecting drugging someone with opium to have ever been a part of a fairy tale!
The Man, the Serpent, and the Fox: This story reminded me of the song from wicked that goes as, "no good deed goes unpunished." It is sad to think that some people truly believe that there is no point to doing good things for others. I love the ended in that the fox used his trickery to save the man by placing the greedy snake into his original bonds.
The Language of Animals: I think that it is interesting that the teach chose to teach to boy the language of animals versus normal courses that are thought of when you think of school. It could be fun to write a back story on how the teacher herself came to know the language of animals.
The Cock That Wished to Become Pope: Well this was a sad and morbid ending to the unit. I could not find much of a moral lesson or interesting plot line to this tale, which made it almost even more interesting to read. This is the sort of story in which you can let your imagination run wild with why a cock wanted to be a pope, what the witch had to do with anything, and why the sexton would eat something that he had a conversation with!
Showing posts with label Reading Diary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading Diary. Show all posts
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Reading Diary for Week 12: Welsh Fairy Book (Thomas)
Welsh Fairy Book
The Red Dragon: I found it very interesting to have a peak into Merlin's childhood and discover that even there, he was a master of magic and quick with his tongue. I have always been curious about why the Welsh display a Red Dragon as their emblem on their flag, but have never taken the time to look it up. So, it was entertaining to read about it's origins from a mythological stand point.
March's Ears: I thought that it was funny in the introduction that King March had all the physical possessions that man defines as wealth and what constitutes happiness, and yet he was still troubled by his physical features that kept him from true happiness. I also really liked that the secret in the story was given personification that tormented the barber. I very much enjoyed that for once, no one actually died in this myth even though the threat was certainly there!
Bala Lake: I thought that it was interesting that the harper was sparred from the destruction of the palace with all of its people. I think that it would be interesting to give the harper a back story for why he was in the palace and why the bird chose to save him. Maybe the king heard of the man's talents when he was a young boy and had been forced to be the king's personal performer ever since.
Owen Goes a-Wooing: This was a very interesting story that sort of reminded me of Narnia in that the time Owen spent in this strange underwater land went much faster than time above the lakes surface. It is a very imaginative story!
The Bride form the Red Lake: So the ridiculous ending to this story made me laugh. Imagining the wife with clay on her chest dramatically and hysterically running into the lake is a very humerus image! I wish that I knew more about the significance of why her father said that she could not be hit by her husband with clay.
Hu Gadarn: This was a very interesting tale of how Whales came under the protection of Britain. The story was a little hard to follow and not as easy to understand the flow the author had created.
The Red Dragon: I found it very interesting to have a peak into Merlin's childhood and discover that even there, he was a master of magic and quick with his tongue. I have always been curious about why the Welsh display a Red Dragon as their emblem on their flag, but have never taken the time to look it up. So, it was entertaining to read about it's origins from a mythological stand point.
March's Ears: I thought that it was funny in the introduction that King March had all the physical possessions that man defines as wealth and what constitutes happiness, and yet he was still troubled by his physical features that kept him from true happiness. I also really liked that the secret in the story was given personification that tormented the barber. I very much enjoyed that for once, no one actually died in this myth even though the threat was certainly there!
Bala Lake: I thought that it was interesting that the harper was sparred from the destruction of the palace with all of its people. I think that it would be interesting to give the harper a back story for why he was in the palace and why the bird chose to save him. Maybe the king heard of the man's talents when he was a young boy and had been forced to be the king's personal performer ever since.
Owen Goes a-Wooing: This was a very interesting story that sort of reminded me of Narnia in that the time Owen spent in this strange underwater land went much faster than time above the lakes surface. It is a very imaginative story!
The Bride form the Red Lake: So the ridiculous ending to this story made me laugh. Imagining the wife with clay on her chest dramatically and hysterically running into the lake is a very humerus image! I wish that I knew more about the significance of why her father said that she could not be hit by her husband with clay.
Hu Gadarn: This was a very interesting tale of how Whales came under the protection of Britain. The story was a little hard to follow and not as easy to understand the flow the author had created.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Reading Diary for Week 11: Celtic Tales
Celtic Tales
Beth Gellert: This was an incredibly sad tale of the love a dog can have for his master. It is also a tale of man's weakness of jumping to conclusions and mistrust. The prince was so quick to ignore all that he had been through with Gellert and place blame out of fear and need for an answer.
Andrew Coffey: I could not really figure out the moral lesson behind this story if there was one. It was a bit twisted and awkward to follow. I think Andrew had drempt it all, but we were not given a back story as to why he would dream about this man that everyone thought was dead. Maybe I could write a preface to this story so that it given more reasoning behind what happened.
Brewery of Eggshells: Again I had a little trouble understanding why the goblins switched out their twins for the woman in the stories twins because of a lack of background knowledge. I could create a story about the goblins being angry at the wife and her husband for some misdeed and using that as a reason for exchanging the children.
Beth Gellert: This was an incredibly sad tale of the love a dog can have for his master. It is also a tale of man's weakness of jumping to conclusions and mistrust. The prince was so quick to ignore all that he had been through with Gellert and place blame out of fear and need for an answer.
Andrew Coffey: I could not really figure out the moral lesson behind this story if there was one. It was a bit twisted and awkward to follow. I think Andrew had drempt it all, but we were not given a back story as to why he would dream about this man that everyone thought was dead. Maybe I could write a preface to this story so that it given more reasoning behind what happened.
Brewery of Eggshells: Again I had a little trouble understanding why the goblins switched out their twins for the woman in the stories twins because of a lack of background knowledge. I could create a story about the goblins being angry at the wife and her husband for some misdeed and using that as a reason for exchanging the children.
Reading Diary for Week 11: Celtic Tales
Celtic Tales
Beth Gellert: This was an incredibly sad tale of the love a dog can have for his master. It is also a tale of man's weakness of jumping to conclusions and mistrust. The prince was so quick to ignore all that he had been through with Gellert and place blame out of fear and need for an answer.
Andrew Coffey: I could not really figure out the moral lesson behind this story if there was one. It was a bit twisted and awkward to follow. I think Andrew had drempt it all, but we were not given a back story as to why he would dream about this man that everyone thought was dead. Maybe I could write a preface to this story so that it given more reasoning behind what happened.
Brewery of Eggshells: Again I had a little trouble understanding why the goblins switched out their twins for the woman in the stories twins because of a lack of background knowledge. I could create a story about the goblins being angry at the wife and her husband for some misdeed and using that as a reason for exchanging the children.
Beth Gellert: This was an incredibly sad tale of the love a dog can have for his master. It is also a tale of man's weakness of jumping to conclusions and mistrust. The prince was so quick to ignore all that he had been through with Gellert and place blame out of fear and need for an answer.
Andrew Coffey: I could not really figure out the moral lesson behind this story if there was one. It was a bit twisted and awkward to follow. I think Andrew had drempt it all, but we were not given a back story as to why he would dream about this man that everyone thought was dead. Maybe I could write a preface to this story so that it given more reasoning behind what happened.
Brewery of Eggshells: Again I had a little trouble understanding why the goblins switched out their twins for the woman in the stories twins because of a lack of background knowledge. I could create a story about the goblins being angry at the wife and her husband for some misdeed and using that as a reason for exchanging the children.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Reading Diary Week 10: Great Plains
Wakanda, or Water God: I had a bit of trouble finding the moral lesson behind this story. It was a little difficult to read because of all of the "they say" phrases. I thought that it was interesting that the family would rather risk their child's life to have them back home than allow the child to live in the river without them. It could be interesting to retell this story from the child's prospective.
The Spirit Land: This story sounded a lot like the biblical story of creation only this version used the crow as the vessel for how the earth came to be.
Coyote and Snake: This is another classic case of pride and it's consequences. If the coyote had heeded the snakes warning and stepped two feet lateral to the snake, he would not had suffered. I do not like the ending of this story though. Yes, the coyote learned a lesson, but he did not live long enough to grow from it.
Ictinike and the Turtle: The very end of this story made me giggle. Ictinike was not mad that the turtle meat was gone, but rather that he did not remember having eating it although he assumed that had to have been the case!
The Spirit Land: This story sounded a lot like the biblical story of creation only this version used the crow as the vessel for how the earth came to be.
Coyote and Snake: This is another classic case of pride and it's consequences. If the coyote had heeded the snakes warning and stepped two feet lateral to the snake, he would not had suffered. I do not like the ending of this story though. Yes, the coyote learned a lesson, but he did not live long enough to grow from it.
Ictinike and the Turtle: The very end of this story made me giggle. Ictinike was not mad that the turtle meat was gone, but rather that he did not remember having eating it although he assumed that had to have been the case!
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Reading Diary for Week 9: Tejas Legands
Tejas Legands
The Plant That Grows in Trees: I thought that this was a very cute explanation of how the mistletoe became a plant that thrived in the trees where only the birds could enjoy its berries. It is very nice symbiotic relationship that allows both species to thrive.
Why the Woodpecker Pecks: This was a very strange story that made me think of drug addicts and the power a substance can have over ones life. Because that substance has such a hold on you, more important things in your life may slip away. Even when you quit, you will spend your entire live searching for what you once had.
A Tribe that Left Its Shoes: Sometimes even when everything seems to be going well and happy in your life, a fresh start is forced upon you. What you once knew is gone forever or for now and life forces you to chose a new path. It is also occasionally needed to burn down the bridges to your previous lifestyle to avoid the pain that comes with thinking of its destruction. But, with grief and sorrow comes new life and new experiences. These experiences may lead you to something new or lead you back home when the time is right.
The Cloud That Was Lost: I really liked that personification this story gives to the clouds. It makes me think of a lazy cat. The ending of the story was a little morbid for my taste. The author had given the cloud such an innocent animalistic character that ended up being consumed by flowers lusting after the clouds color.
Grandmother's River Trick: I again really liked the personification given to the characters in the stories. It made me think of the river person and the tree spirits from the movie Narnia. I was able to imagine each the river and the cloud as females holding both the shapes of women and of water.
How Sickness Entered the World: Ignorance, fear, and distrust caused the two young Indians to not recognize that the snake who came up to them contained the important message they were supposed to receive. And because no one was willing the take the blame for the snake, it was passed from door to door giving birth to a new sickness each time man tried to punish another.
When the Rainbow was Torn: I did not really like the idea that the cactus saw something that it wanted and then took it from the unwilling rainbow. I think that it would be nice to change this story around into the rainbow giving some of its color away rather than having it stolen.
Why the Dog's Ears Flop: This was such a sad way to explain the floppy ears of the common domestic dog! The story also contained a good lesson about knowing who your true friends are. Sometimes putting your guard down around those who are familiar isn't always the best decision!
The Plant That Grows in Trees: I thought that this was a very cute explanation of how the mistletoe became a plant that thrived in the trees where only the birds could enjoy its berries. It is very nice symbiotic relationship that allows both species to thrive.
Why the Woodpecker Pecks: This was a very strange story that made me think of drug addicts and the power a substance can have over ones life. Because that substance has such a hold on you, more important things in your life may slip away. Even when you quit, you will spend your entire live searching for what you once had.
A Tribe that Left Its Shoes: Sometimes even when everything seems to be going well and happy in your life, a fresh start is forced upon you. What you once knew is gone forever or for now and life forces you to chose a new path. It is also occasionally needed to burn down the bridges to your previous lifestyle to avoid the pain that comes with thinking of its destruction. But, with grief and sorrow comes new life and new experiences. These experiences may lead you to something new or lead you back home when the time is right.
The Cloud That Was Lost: I really liked that personification this story gives to the clouds. It makes me think of a lazy cat. The ending of the story was a little morbid for my taste. The author had given the cloud such an innocent animalistic character that ended up being consumed by flowers lusting after the clouds color.
Grandmother's River Trick: I again really liked the personification given to the characters in the stories. It made me think of the river person and the tree spirits from the movie Narnia. I was able to imagine each the river and the cloud as females holding both the shapes of women and of water.
How Sickness Entered the World: Ignorance, fear, and distrust caused the two young Indians to not recognize that the snake who came up to them contained the important message they were supposed to receive. And because no one was willing the take the blame for the snake, it was passed from door to door giving birth to a new sickness each time man tried to punish another.
When the Rainbow was Torn: I did not really like the idea that the cactus saw something that it wanted and then took it from the unwilling rainbow. I think that it would be nice to change this story around into the rainbow giving some of its color away rather than having it stolen.
Why the Dog's Ears Flop: This was such a sad way to explain the floppy ears of the common domestic dog! The story also contained a good lesson about knowing who your true friends are. Sometimes putting your guard down around those who are familiar isn't always the best decision!
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Reading Diary Assessment Post
Overall, I think that these reading diary posts have been far more beneficial to my learning style than what was in place in this class beforehand in the form of quizzes. I believe that classes like this one that are so reading intensive benefit people in different ways. What you get out of a story may not be the same lesson that I learn from it. That makes the reading diary a lot more relaxes of an assignment. It makes me concentrate more on what the story is telling me rather than what information bits I think that I should memorize in order to do well on your quiz and then forgetting about the rest of the information. When I write my diary posts, I try to concentrate on the specific aspects of the stories that stick out to me such as what the more lesson was or how I felt after reading a particular story. I think that this gives more a better idea of the writing style of each particular country. Another thing that I like to do while reading, it start to visualize what I would change about the story in order to transform it into my own storytelling post. When I come up with a good idea, I add it to my reading diary so that the next day when I write the storytelling post, I do not forget what I wanted to write about. When I make my notes I based the reading writing order on the length of the story. If I think that it is going to be something long, then I will write my comments while I read. If it is short, than I prefer to read the entire story and then use my diary to express my reflections. I honestly could have done a bit better of a job of this the past couple of weeks, but I had five exams within ten days, so I got a little distracted from putting my whole effort into this course.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Reading Diary Week 7: Congo
The Antelope and the Leopard: In a very twisted and grotesque way, the antelope used the leopards emotions to intellectually out due him. The antelope knew that she was inferior to the leopard in a test against strength, but that she would win a the test against wits.
The Turtle and the Man: When kindness is met with greed, the one who uses trickery to fulfill his greed will fail. This story is an excellent representation of karma.
The Gazelle and the Leopard: This story is starting to give me the impression that the Congo isn't exactly the safest place. It seems like many of their stories involve murder as the main form of revenge.
The Fight between Two Fetishes: It was interesting to discover how the people of the Congo explain how something came to be. A wish from one man made a physical being disappear forever from one place purely because it caused him a moment of irritation.
The Turtle and the Man: When kindness is met with greed, the one who uses trickery to fulfill his greed will fail. This story is an excellent representation of karma.
The Gazelle and the Leopard: This story is starting to give me the impression that the Congo isn't exactly the safest place. It seems like many of their stories involve murder as the main form of revenge.
The Fight between Two Fetishes: It was interesting to discover how the people of the Congo explain how something came to be. A wish from one man made a physical being disappear forever from one place purely because it caused him a moment of irritation.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Week 6 Reading Diary: Filipino Popular Tales
Filipino Tales
The Iguana and the Turtle: The iguana was so envious of what the turtle had or was going through that he feel prey to the turtles simple trickery.
The Greedy Crow: You should be happy with what you have and not lust after what you do not. For if you do, you risk losing what you had. I could tell this tale in the form of toddlers playing with toys.
The Hummingbird and the Carabao: I love the trickery that can be played on those who hold too much pride. The hummingbird was clever and attacked the carabao's pride in such a perfect way.
The Hawk and the Coiling: This story was very similar to the Hummingbird and the Carabao in that trickery was used for the underdog to be victorious in a challenge by being the one who was more clever. However, in this particular story, the underdog also faced a little harm showing that once should be be too prideful after a win.
The Lost Necklace: This was just a story that I found to be a very cute and creative way of explaining why hens and chicks are always scratching at the ground.
The Story of Our Fingers: This story was also quite fun to read. I think that it's funny that the thumb is what helps us hold on the items, which makes it easier to steal. I also think that it's funny that the pointer finger was the first to object and "point" out the immorality of the thumbs suggestions since it is our pointer finger that we use to place blame on others.
The Iguana and the Turtle: The iguana was so envious of what the turtle had or was going through that he feel prey to the turtles simple trickery.
The Greedy Crow: You should be happy with what you have and not lust after what you do not. For if you do, you risk losing what you had. I could tell this tale in the form of toddlers playing with toys.
The Hummingbird and the Carabao: I love the trickery that can be played on those who hold too much pride. The hummingbird was clever and attacked the carabao's pride in such a perfect way.
The Hawk and the Coiling: This story was very similar to the Hummingbird and the Carabao in that trickery was used for the underdog to be victorious in a challenge by being the one who was more clever. However, in this particular story, the underdog also faced a little harm showing that once should be be too prideful after a win.
The Lost Necklace: This was just a story that I found to be a very cute and creative way of explaining why hens and chicks are always scratching at the ground.
The Story of Our Fingers: This story was also quite fun to read. I think that it's funny that the thumb is what helps us hold on the items, which makes it easier to steal. I also think that it's funny that the pointer finger was the first to object and "point" out the immorality of the thumbs suggestions since it is our pointer finger that we use to place blame on others.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Reading Diary Week 5: Turkish Fairy Tales
Turkish Fairy Tales
Fear: It's interesting that this boy is so determined to find what many of us face on a daily basis. He seeks something that is solid in form and not an emotional state, which is why he cannot discover it. I found it funny that the one thing that did scare him was only a slight moment of shock as a pigeon flew out at him.
The Fish-Peri: It made me think of a college student trying to figure out what their skill sets were and how they could apply them to a particular future job. The progression of the story, however, made it to where it could be difficult to formulate a storytelling project from it. It is interesting that in most fairy tales there is always some sort of task(s) that the protagonist must accomplish.
Patience-Stone and Patience Knife: The Persians certainly like to tie "forty day" or "forty nights" into their stories, which is interesting. I could maybe use this story for the storytelling assignment and have the young girl tell it from her point of view. This story certainly had a much nicer ending than I had anticipated.
The Imp of the Well: The poor woodcutter has an absolutely awful wife who did nothing but bring him misery. It's funny how she ended up being the one to help the woodcutter in the end even though she was not there in physical form. The idea of her alone was enough to scare off the Imp!
The Soothsayer: A man and his wife were living a comfortable life until the woman saw what she did not have and envy took hold of her. She threatened to leave her husband if he did not obtain the profession that would give her the life of the woman that she saw. I could make this into a modern day story.
Fear: It's interesting that this boy is so determined to find what many of us face on a daily basis. He seeks something that is solid in form and not an emotional state, which is why he cannot discover it. I found it funny that the one thing that did scare him was only a slight moment of shock as a pigeon flew out at him.
The Fish-Peri: It made me think of a college student trying to figure out what their skill sets were and how they could apply them to a particular future job. The progression of the story, however, made it to where it could be difficult to formulate a storytelling project from it. It is interesting that in most fairy tales there is always some sort of task(s) that the protagonist must accomplish.
Patience-Stone and Patience Knife: The Persians certainly like to tie "forty day" or "forty nights" into their stories, which is interesting. I could maybe use this story for the storytelling assignment and have the young girl tell it from her point of view. This story certainly had a much nicer ending than I had anticipated.
The Imp of the Well: The poor woodcutter has an absolutely awful wife who did nothing but bring him misery. It's funny how she ended up being the one to help the woodcutter in the end even though she was not there in physical form. The idea of her alone was enough to scare off the Imp!
The Soothsayer: A man and his wife were living a comfortable life until the woman saw what she did not have and envy took hold of her. She threatened to leave her husband if he did not obtain the profession that would give her the life of the woman that she saw. I could make this into a modern day story.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Week 4: Arabian Nights
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 1: It's funny how easily the human race falls prey to greed. Even in the midst of fear, Aladdin heard the word treasure and instantly became interested in what his "uncle" had to say. The uncle was both the tempted and the tempter in this story. In this version of Aladdin, he rubs the ring to expel the genie versus the lamp.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 2: Aladdin is freed from the cave via wish granted from one of the genies and goes home to his mother. It was his mother that rubbed the lamp to expel that genie. Aladdin falls in the love with the Sultan's daughter. It is Aladdin's mother who goes to the Sultan to ask for his daughters hand in marriage to her simple son. I love that the Sultan was so pleased by the mother's gift for the princess's hand and that he was was not immediately appalled at the idea.
*Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 3: The vizir's son and the princess divorce and Aladdin's mother returns to remind the sultan of his promise. He tells her that he requires a gift of far more value for his daughter's hand. Aladdin met this demand and married the princess. This is the part of the story where the vizir begins to question whether or not magic is involved.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 4: Uh-oh. Big-bad bad guy discovers Aladdin's fortunes and is not so okay with that idea. The sly magician was very cunning to offer new lamps for old ones in order to obtain the magical lamp. With it's power, he sent the palace and princess to a deserted area in Africa.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 5: "'Alas!' she said 'I am the innocent cause of our sorrows.'"Aladdin discovers the fate of his lamp and the magician's desire to steal his wife. Aladdin must finally rely on his own wits to save them versus magic.
Arabian Nights: Aladdin 6: No happily ever after just yet! The magician had a vengeful and even more wicked brother. The magician disguises himself as a holy woman, but is outed by the genie of the lamp upon Aladdin's wish for a roc's egg. NOW it's happily ever after time.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 2: Aladdin is freed from the cave via wish granted from one of the genies and goes home to his mother. It was his mother that rubbed the lamp to expel that genie. Aladdin falls in the love with the Sultan's daughter. It is Aladdin's mother who goes to the Sultan to ask for his daughters hand in marriage to her simple son. I love that the Sultan was so pleased by the mother's gift for the princess's hand and that he was was not immediately appalled at the idea.
*Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 3: The vizir's son and the princess divorce and Aladdin's mother returns to remind the sultan of his promise. He tells her that he requires a gift of far more value for his daughter's hand. Aladdin met this demand and married the princess. This is the part of the story where the vizir begins to question whether or not magic is involved.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 4: Uh-oh. Big-bad bad guy discovers Aladdin's fortunes and is not so okay with that idea. The sly magician was very cunning to offer new lamps for old ones in order to obtain the magical lamp. With it's power, he sent the palace and princess to a deserted area in Africa.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 5: "'Alas!' she said 'I am the innocent cause of our sorrows.'"Aladdin discovers the fate of his lamp and the magician's desire to steal his wife. Aladdin must finally rely on his own wits to save them versus magic.
Arabian Nights: Aladdin 6: No happily ever after just yet! The magician had a vengeful and even more wicked brother. The magician disguises himself as a holy woman, but is outed by the genie of the lamp upon Aladdin's wish for a roc's egg. NOW it's happily ever after time.
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| (Aladdin in the Garden: Wikipedia) |
Monday, September 1, 2014
Week 3 Reading Diary: Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)
Ovid's Metamorphoses
Deucalion and Pyrrha: Jupiter (Zeus) and Neptune (Poseidon) cause a flood that turns all land to sea. Deucalion and Pyrrha survived the flood and Jupiter saw their innocence and had Neptune calm the floods. Deucalion is saddened when he discovers that he and his wife are the only two humans left and he then questions her loyalty to him by asking her what she would have done had she been the only one saved from the floods. The first part of this story reminded me of Noah, but now it's starting to sound more like Adam and Eve. When the goddess told them to throw the bones of their mother behind them, they believe those bones to refer to the stones of the earth. I really like that parallel. When the threw the rocks behind them, they turned into people. "So the toughness of our race, our ability to endure hard labour, and the proof we give of the source from which we are sprung." This would make a great storytelling post by using a son visiting his grandparents and complaining about having to work hard on their farm. The Grandmother can tell this story to her grandson.
Lo: Lo was a woman of beauty enough to catch the eye of Jupiter. She ran from him and he caught and raped her. Juno, Jupiter's wife looked for him and when she found him, he had just turned Lo into a cow to hide her identity. Since Jupiter is known for being unfaithful, Juno had an idea that the cow was a really a woman. So Juno asked for the cow as a gift. Lo flees to her family for help upon learning of her new form. In the end, she returns to her natural form.
Phaethon and the Sun: Phaethon was son of the Sun, although he was not claimed. He had to ask him mother forcefully if he truly was the son of the Sun. Phaethon goes to the Sun gods temple to seek him and is welcomed by his father. Phaethon asks for his father's chariot - uh oh. His father warns of the dangers of riding the chariot.
Phaethon's Ride: Phaethon let his quest to be high and mighty cloud his judgement. As I had assumed the task of controlling the horses was too much for him and he dropped the reins from fear. Classic example of a child not heading a parents warning and having to learn a life lesson themselves (although it's a but more complicated in this case!). The earth caught fire as a result and Earth was confused by why she was being punished.
The Death of Phaethon: I love the way the author wrote this phrase, "...his right hand threw it from eye-level at the charioteer, removing him, at the same moment, from the chariot and from life, extinguishing fire with fierce fire." Phaethon's sisters spent so much time grieving over him that they turned to trees. Sometimes when a life is ended, we must learn how to move on so that we are not forever stuck in our grief. The Sun god mourns his loss and blames Jupiter.
Callisto: Go figure that Jupiter against allows his lust to control him and falls in love with and rapes the nymph, Callisto. Jupiter had impregnated her and she was shunned by the goddess, Diana for her lack of purity. Instead of placing the blame on Jupiter, Juno punishes Callisto by turning her into a bear. Jupiter made Callisto and her son, Arcas into constellations, "the Great and Little Bear."
Semele: Again, Jupiter could not stay faithful, and sought companionship with another women, whom he again impregnated. Juno believes that she will be frowned upon by others if she does not punish Semele for baring Jupiter's child. Semele ended up punishing herself for wishing for something that was too great for her to handle in the midst of greed.
Echo: Echo lost her ability to speak normally because she used to be the one who kept Venus occupied while the other nymphs ran off after a time with Jupiter. When Juno became aware of this, she took Echo's ability to speak normally away and can now only repeat the last words of someone else. The way the author played on Narcissus's words and Echo's repeating phrases was fun to read.
Narcissus: Narcissus become thirsty and, "While he desires to quench his thirst, a different thirst is created." Narcissus discovers himself and is disheartened when that love he seeks cannot be obtained. Echo is sad for Narcissus's pain mirroring the same feelings someone in modern day has when the one they love does not want them and they only wish that person happiness. Narcissus turns into a flower.
Pyramus and Thisbe: The more you cannot have something, the more you want it. The two lovers planned to meet in secret. Pyramus comes to the meeting spot at thinks that Thisbe is dead, so he kills himself from guilt and depression. Of course, Thisbe find Pyramus this way and kills herself out of love as well.
Mars and Venus: Venus and Mars were having an affair, so her husband - being the craftsman he is - devised a contraption that caught them in their unfaithful act. The husband. Vulcan puts the couple on display as punishment.
Perseus and Andromeda: Perseus turned Altas into Mount Atlas using Medusa's head after being refused hospitality. Perseus rescues Andromeda and demands her hand from her parents as reward.
Perseus and Medusa: Perseus is faced by a dangerous sea serpent, which he eventually defeats. He then frees and marries Andromeda. Perseus tells of how he defeated Medusa and how her head now adorns the shield belonging to Athena.
Deucalion and Pyrrha: Jupiter (Zeus) and Neptune (Poseidon) cause a flood that turns all land to sea. Deucalion and Pyrrha survived the flood and Jupiter saw their innocence and had Neptune calm the floods. Deucalion is saddened when he discovers that he and his wife are the only two humans left and he then questions her loyalty to him by asking her what she would have done had she been the only one saved from the floods. The first part of this story reminded me of Noah, but now it's starting to sound more like Adam and Eve. When the goddess told them to throw the bones of their mother behind them, they believe those bones to refer to the stones of the earth. I really like that parallel. When the threw the rocks behind them, they turned into people. "So the toughness of our race, our ability to endure hard labour, and the proof we give of the source from which we are sprung." This would make a great storytelling post by using a son visiting his grandparents and complaining about having to work hard on their farm. The Grandmother can tell this story to her grandson.
Lo: Lo was a woman of beauty enough to catch the eye of Jupiter. She ran from him and he caught and raped her. Juno, Jupiter's wife looked for him and when she found him, he had just turned Lo into a cow to hide her identity. Since Jupiter is known for being unfaithful, Juno had an idea that the cow was a really a woman. So Juno asked for the cow as a gift. Lo flees to her family for help upon learning of her new form. In the end, she returns to her natural form.
Phaethon and the Sun: Phaethon was son of the Sun, although he was not claimed. He had to ask him mother forcefully if he truly was the son of the Sun. Phaethon goes to the Sun gods temple to seek him and is welcomed by his father. Phaethon asks for his father's chariot - uh oh. His father warns of the dangers of riding the chariot.
Phaethon's Ride: Phaethon let his quest to be high and mighty cloud his judgement. As I had assumed the task of controlling the horses was too much for him and he dropped the reins from fear. Classic example of a child not heading a parents warning and having to learn a life lesson themselves (although it's a but more complicated in this case!). The earth caught fire as a result and Earth was confused by why she was being punished.
The Death of Phaethon: I love the way the author wrote this phrase, "...his right hand threw it from eye-level at the charioteer, removing him, at the same moment, from the chariot and from life, extinguishing fire with fierce fire." Phaethon's sisters spent so much time grieving over him that they turned to trees. Sometimes when a life is ended, we must learn how to move on so that we are not forever stuck in our grief. The Sun god mourns his loss and blames Jupiter.
Callisto: Go figure that Jupiter against allows his lust to control him and falls in love with and rapes the nymph, Callisto. Jupiter had impregnated her and she was shunned by the goddess, Diana for her lack of purity. Instead of placing the blame on Jupiter, Juno punishes Callisto by turning her into a bear. Jupiter made Callisto and her son, Arcas into constellations, "the Great and Little Bear."
Semele: Again, Jupiter could not stay faithful, and sought companionship with another women, whom he again impregnated. Juno believes that she will be frowned upon by others if she does not punish Semele for baring Jupiter's child. Semele ended up punishing herself for wishing for something that was too great for her to handle in the midst of greed.
Echo: Echo lost her ability to speak normally because she used to be the one who kept Venus occupied while the other nymphs ran off after a time with Jupiter. When Juno became aware of this, she took Echo's ability to speak normally away and can now only repeat the last words of someone else. The way the author played on Narcissus's words and Echo's repeating phrases was fun to read.
Narcissus: Narcissus become thirsty and, "While he desires to quench his thirst, a different thirst is created." Narcissus discovers himself and is disheartened when that love he seeks cannot be obtained. Echo is sad for Narcissus's pain mirroring the same feelings someone in modern day has when the one they love does not want them and they only wish that person happiness. Narcissus turns into a flower.
Pyramus and Thisbe: The more you cannot have something, the more you want it. The two lovers planned to meet in secret. Pyramus comes to the meeting spot at thinks that Thisbe is dead, so he kills himself from guilt and depression. Of course, Thisbe find Pyramus this way and kills herself out of love as well.
Mars and Venus: Venus and Mars were having an affair, so her husband - being the craftsman he is - devised a contraption that caught them in their unfaithful act. The husband. Vulcan puts the couple on display as punishment.
Perseus and Andromeda: Perseus turned Altas into Mount Atlas using Medusa's head after being refused hospitality. Perseus rescues Andromeda and demands her hand from her parents as reward.
Perseus and Medusa: Perseus is faced by a dangerous sea serpent, which he eventually defeats. He then frees and marries Andromeda. Perseus tells of how he defeated Medusa and how her head now adorns the shield belonging to Athena.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Reading Diary Week Two: Cupid and Pysche
Apuleius: The Captive Woman: Begins with Lucius speaking in first person. I found his line, "Even to an ass like me, she seemed a girl to cover," to be hilariously ironic. I was surprised at the robbers kindness towards the girl they kidnapped. They seemed to have no intention of harm towards her. I was even more surprised by the old woman's snappiness towards the young woman (although it was quite warranted from all her crying.)
Her Dream: The young woman begs forgiveness and explains that she was so upset because she was kidnapped on her wedding day. The poor young woman envisioned one of the robbers killing her finance as he looked for her.
Psyche's Beauty: Psyche, of course, was the most beautiful of the three sisters and was a princess. She was the most idealistic version of the perfect woman; beauty beyond compare (except maybe to Venus), a "virgin flower," and gazed upon by all. Venous, mother of Cupid, was obviously not a fan of being forgotten because of a new face. Venus begged her son to make Psyche fall desperately in love with a worthless man.
The Oracle of Apollo: Psyche's beauty surprisingly was only adored and not sought after by men wishing to make her their wife. Her father went to Apollo for an oracle reading of his daughter's future and was incredibly disturbed by what he heard. I had not been expected this twist in the story. The phrase "...living corpse was led," really created a powerful image of the situation.
The Magical Palace: "Now her desire to gaze on all these beautiful things led her to examine every object closely." This phrase makes me wonder if the story is alluding to needing to look closer at her own beauty. Psyche was in a beautiful home that the "voices" claimed to be hers, although she still did not know who her future husband was.
The Mysterious Husband: Psyche's new husband remained unknown to her even after making her his wife. I found it interesting that her husband was so determined to keep his identity hidden he was willing to fall prey to Psyche's pleasantly sly words.
The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters: It's funny that Psyche had not only been tormented by the envy of Venus, but now also by her own sisters who were just recently mourning for her. The tide can turn so quickly.
Psyche's Husband Warns Her: The same two sisters that were just mourning their youngest sisters death were not plotting her murder. Psyche's husband tempts her with the promise of a divine child if she agrees not to pursue knowing his face. Psyche, in ignorance, begged to see her sisters again.
Fears and Doubts: The sisters have not tried anything violent on their first visit back. The second day they remind Psyche of the oracle and it's words that she will marry a man that is horrid. The sisters try to scare her into discovering the face of her husband. The sisters convince Psyche to turn on a light while her husband is asleep just long enough to see him and then decapitate him. She now had to choose between Family and Love.
Psyche's Husband Revealed: "The rest of his body was smooth and gleaming, such that Venus had no regrets at having borne such a child." He must have been quite attractive for that statement to be true! Anther line that I really liked came from when Psyche pricked her finger with Cupids arrow and, "fell further in love with Love himself, so that now inflamed with desire for Desire, she leaned over Cupid." Venus wanted Cupids arrow to cause Psyche to fall in love with a worthless man, so it's interesting that it caused her to fall in love with Cupid himself. Cupid was displeased and hurt and threatened Psyche and her sisters.
Psyche's Despair: Psyche tried to kill herself because of her anguish at her husbands departure, which was a selfish thing for a pregnant woman to do. Psyche wound up at her sisters castle and recounted the story of discovering Cupid. Cupid had told Psyche when he left her that he would bed her sister. When Psyche told her sister this, instead of being horrified, the sister ran to the cliff and jumped with the failed expectation of being caught my Zaphyr. The other sisters story was the same.
Venus and the Goddess: Venus learns that Cupid is (was) seeing someone and that someone was Psyche. Obviously, she was very angry at this, which is funny since she was not one to talk about married life. I loved how Juno and Ceres got onto Venus for being so blindly angry at her son.
Psyche's Prayer: Ceres, Venus's aunt, finds Psyche tidying up her temple (although Psyche did not know whose it was). Ceres warns her of Venus's wrath.Ceres turned Psyche away from her safety choosing her loyalty to Venus. Juno, Venus's aunt, did the same.
Venus and Mercury: Psyche finally stopped thinking about who could save her and starting thinking about how she could save herself. Her solution was surrender. Venus goes to Mercury (messenger god) to tell announce a reward for Psyche's discovery. Psyche shows up to Venus' home.
Venus and Psyche: Venus wants to call Psyche's unborn child illegitimate because of her illegitimate wedding. Venus tortured Psyche. Then gave her a hard task, which ants helped her with.
Psyche's Next Task: Venus kept Psyche and Cupid separated. Psyche's next task was to get wool from golden sheep, which were very hot and crazed from the sun. Psyche waited till evening and then collected wool from the tree branches were it was stuck.
The Third Task: The most dangerous yet. Providence, Jupiter's eagle, assisted Psyche.
The Jar of Beauty: Venus sends Psyche to the underworld for yet another task of obtaining more beauty from Proserpine. Another helper given Psyche very complex instructions on how to get to the underworld and back without being stuck there. Once Psyche had come back to the mortal world, Envy started to creep its way into her and she decided to take a drop of "beauty" for herself.
The Sleep of the Dead: Wen she opened the jar, it was not beauty inside, but sleep. Cupid found her and "wiped away the sleep." Cupid goes to Jupiter for help against Venus, Jupiter only asks him for a woman of "outstanding beauty."
The Wedding Feast: Jupiter marries Cupid and Psyche even though he sees Cupid as a reckless and "hotheaded" boy. Jupiter also makes Psyche immortal.
Now we are back to the story with the old woman, young woman, and ass. Lucius gets hurt and the robbers want to toss him over a cliff.
The Escape: Lucius tries to muster the courage to escape. When he tries, the old woman tried to stop him. Then out of nowhere, the young woman frees Lucius and climbs onto his back to win her own freedom as well. The "..princess fled her captors, riding on an ass." Such a funny image to leave off with.
Her Dream: The young woman begs forgiveness and explains that she was so upset because she was kidnapped on her wedding day. The poor young woman envisioned one of the robbers killing her finance as he looked for her.
Psyche's Beauty: Psyche, of course, was the most beautiful of the three sisters and was a princess. She was the most idealistic version of the perfect woman; beauty beyond compare (except maybe to Venus), a "virgin flower," and gazed upon by all. Venous, mother of Cupid, was obviously not a fan of being forgotten because of a new face. Venus begged her son to make Psyche fall desperately in love with a worthless man.
The Oracle of Apollo: Psyche's beauty surprisingly was only adored and not sought after by men wishing to make her their wife. Her father went to Apollo for an oracle reading of his daughter's future and was incredibly disturbed by what he heard. I had not been expected this twist in the story. The phrase "...living corpse was led," really created a powerful image of the situation.
The Magical Palace: "Now her desire to gaze on all these beautiful things led her to examine every object closely." This phrase makes me wonder if the story is alluding to needing to look closer at her own beauty. Psyche was in a beautiful home that the "voices" claimed to be hers, although she still did not know who her future husband was.
The Mysterious Husband: Psyche's new husband remained unknown to her even after making her his wife. I found it interesting that her husband was so determined to keep his identity hidden he was willing to fall prey to Psyche's pleasantly sly words.
The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters: It's funny that Psyche had not only been tormented by the envy of Venus, but now also by her own sisters who were just recently mourning for her. The tide can turn so quickly.
Psyche's Husband Warns Her: The same two sisters that were just mourning their youngest sisters death were not plotting her murder. Psyche's husband tempts her with the promise of a divine child if she agrees not to pursue knowing his face. Psyche, in ignorance, begged to see her sisters again.
Fears and Doubts: The sisters have not tried anything violent on their first visit back. The second day they remind Psyche of the oracle and it's words that she will marry a man that is horrid. The sisters try to scare her into discovering the face of her husband. The sisters convince Psyche to turn on a light while her husband is asleep just long enough to see him and then decapitate him. She now had to choose between Family and Love.
Psyche's Husband Revealed: "The rest of his body was smooth and gleaming, such that Venus had no regrets at having borne such a child." He must have been quite attractive for that statement to be true! Anther line that I really liked came from when Psyche pricked her finger with Cupids arrow and, "fell further in love with Love himself, so that now inflamed with desire for Desire, she leaned over Cupid." Venus wanted Cupids arrow to cause Psyche to fall in love with a worthless man, so it's interesting that it caused her to fall in love with Cupid himself. Cupid was displeased and hurt and threatened Psyche and her sisters.
Psyche's Despair: Psyche tried to kill herself because of her anguish at her husbands departure, which was a selfish thing for a pregnant woman to do. Psyche wound up at her sisters castle and recounted the story of discovering Cupid. Cupid had told Psyche when he left her that he would bed her sister. When Psyche told her sister this, instead of being horrified, the sister ran to the cliff and jumped with the failed expectation of being caught my Zaphyr. The other sisters story was the same.
Venus and the Goddess: Venus learns that Cupid is (was) seeing someone and that someone was Psyche. Obviously, she was very angry at this, which is funny since she was not one to talk about married life. I loved how Juno and Ceres got onto Venus for being so blindly angry at her son.
Psyche's Prayer: Ceres, Venus's aunt, finds Psyche tidying up her temple (although Psyche did not know whose it was). Ceres warns her of Venus's wrath.Ceres turned Psyche away from her safety choosing her loyalty to Venus. Juno, Venus's aunt, did the same.
Venus and Mercury: Psyche finally stopped thinking about who could save her and starting thinking about how she could save herself. Her solution was surrender. Venus goes to Mercury (messenger god) to tell announce a reward for Psyche's discovery. Psyche shows up to Venus' home.
Venus and Psyche: Venus wants to call Psyche's unborn child illegitimate because of her illegitimate wedding. Venus tortured Psyche. Then gave her a hard task, which ants helped her with.
Psyche's Next Task: Venus kept Psyche and Cupid separated. Psyche's next task was to get wool from golden sheep, which were very hot and crazed from the sun. Psyche waited till evening and then collected wool from the tree branches were it was stuck.
The Third Task: The most dangerous yet. Providence, Jupiter's eagle, assisted Psyche.
The Jar of Beauty: Venus sends Psyche to the underworld for yet another task of obtaining more beauty from Proserpine. Another helper given Psyche very complex instructions on how to get to the underworld and back without being stuck there. Once Psyche had come back to the mortal world, Envy started to creep its way into her and she decided to take a drop of "beauty" for herself.
The Sleep of the Dead: Wen she opened the jar, it was not beauty inside, but sleep. Cupid found her and "wiped away the sleep." Cupid goes to Jupiter for help against Venus, Jupiter only asks him for a woman of "outstanding beauty."
The Wedding Feast: Jupiter marries Cupid and Psyche even though he sees Cupid as a reckless and "hotheaded" boy. Jupiter also makes Psyche immortal.
Now we are back to the story with the old woman, young woman, and ass. Lucius gets hurt and the robbers want to toss him over a cliff.
The Escape: Lucius tries to muster the courage to escape. When he tries, the old woman tried to stop him. Then out of nowhere, the young woman frees Lucius and climbs onto his back to win her own freedom as well. The "..princess fled her captors, riding on an ass." Such a funny image to leave off with.
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