Week 2 Reading Diary, extra: Aesop (Winter)

Reading Notes from Section A in Aesop (Winter)

Wikipedia - Crow

Aesop (Winter): Page 1

•  It seems that this reading includes many short, sweet, and standalone tales. 
• The kid now knows better than to wonder alone, and the wolf should eat his meals as soon as he find them.

Aesop (Winter): Page 2

• Poor fox, the fox is supposed to be the tricky and clever one who outsmarts other animals.  I was rooting for the fox in this story. Interesting choice to let the fox get outsmarted. 
• Many children's tales have morals embedded in them, the the Boy and the Filberts in no exception.

Aesop (Winter): Page 3

•  The goat presents an interesting way to teach us not to be too prideful and stubborn. 
• The Plane Tree has been one of my favorites so far.  People tend to take things for granted, the trees should all complain at us until we all learn our lessons :)

Aesop (Winter): Page 4

•  These are clearly children's stories.   The writing style for children's stories is very different.  The vocabulary is simpler, and the morals are very obvious, sometimes painfully so.  I should not be judging the stories equally to stories that I normally read, I have to keep my audience in mind. 
• I liked the Travelers Purse story, it's really cute.

Aesop (Winter): Page 5

•  Don't judge your size by your shadow.

Aesop (Winter): Page 6

•  Some of these stories, such as The Ass Carrying the Image don't seem very interesting to me.  They are very short and obvious.  I am OK with the simple style of writing, but unless there is something clever about the story, it won't catch my attention. 
• Neither goat wants to yield, but if both goats were to yield and neither take the path, they would run into the same problem.  Just something amusing to think about.

Aesop (Winter): Page 7

•  Different animals have different traits and characteristics.  This story includes some interesting ways letting animals tell morals.  I would not expect a Boar to teach us about being prepared.
• I enjoy tales such as The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox, where the fox outsmarts the other animals.

Aesop (Winter): Page 8

• The same animals seem to appear over and over again in fables. 
• "Take what you can get when you can get it" is an interesting moral to teach kids. In my opinion, "Do not depend on the promises of those whose interest it is to deceive you." is the more fitting of the two morals.

Aesop (Winter): Page 9

•  Many of these stories have a common theme.  There are different animals playing out different stories, but the morals are still the same: don't trust those who benefit from deceiving you.This moral was not specifically listed at the end of "The Wolf and the Ass," but that's what I got out of it.

Aesop (Winter): Page 10

• I will not be choosing a collection of short stories for my readings anymore.  Although I may have enjoyed these stories as children, they are definitely not written for adults, so I have a hard time getting into them.  
• It is important to be mindful of your audience.  Although these stories are written for children which is fine, I do need to make sure I truly understand my audience before writing my own stories.

Week 2 Review

I have successfully finished week 2.  This has been the most fast paced class that I have had so far.  The busy part of the semester hasn't hit yet, so I will enjoy it while it last.

While looking of the current week's class announcement,  I found a quote that made me think.

Chinese Proverb

Unfortunately, I believe that a lot of people take this to mean that we should not plant trees.  If we don't see benefit 100, 50, even 20 years, then many people will not put in the time and effort. If everybody was willing to put efforts into projects that help people 100 years from now, then we will be benefiting from the people who put in the work 100 years ago, the people working to help us.  An interesting thing to end the week thinking about.

On a less serious note, isn't the Caps Lockness Monster adorable! Awwwww

Learning Challenge: Find a favorite time meme - Week 2

Laura Gibbs - Procrastination Flowchart

I saw this image an immediately had to laugh!  Short, sweet, simple.  There is only one path, doing something right now is never an option for procrastination.  This gave me an idea for a flow chart which I might try to create myself, many different forking paths that all lead to the same result, procrastination.  People can find a million reasons to push something off.  The real challenge, is making the time to do something right now.  Time is important, and although I do value my time, not all of my action show this. 

Growth Mindset Memes - Week 2

Source: Laura Gibbs, Proverb Laboratory

 After looking through some of the growth mindset memes, I found one that really stood out to me.  Using a pen on an assignment can be scary, people feel like they have to be perfect.  This is similar to the Fixed mindset, the feeling that we have to be perfect.  It's OK to erase things we want to change, to improve on our work, and to make mistakes.  If we don't have an eraser, we can even cross things out.  This is an outlook that can help me in class, when I need to edit blog posts, and it can help me in life, when I feel embarrassed about doing something wrong. 

Tech Tip: YouTube in Blogger

Adding a video to Blogger is really easy, but in reality, adding a YouTube video is easy if you have access to the HTML code.  YouTube videos all have an embed function, which you can insert into any HTML code, not just Blogger. I used HTML code to modify the video below and make it bigger that the standard Blogger embedded video.  Enjoy a cooking video!

Normal Size:

Enlarged Size:

Storybook Topic Ideas

After browsing through the previous storybooks and researching several topics, here is a list of ideas that stuck with me.

1. Possible Topic: Dragons
I have always loved dragons, and stories involving dragons.  I have several different ideas for how to form a storybook using dragons, and I already know basic lore about dragons.  Many different universes have different dragon lore, and different types of dragons. I would be interested to learn more about their origin, maybe look at some of the first recorded stories that mention dragons.  I would also like to learn more dragon lore, or a set of dragon lore I am not familiar with.
Research so far:
I looked over several of the resources about dragons.  This includes the book called "Dragons and Dragon Lore," by Ernest Ingersoll. Previously, five people have done storybooks over dragons.  I looked briefly at each one of them, to give me an idea of how Dragons inspired other people.

Pixabay, Public Domain

2. Possible Topic: Game
The type of game that lends itself best to storytelling is a role playing games.  This includes games such as Dungeons and Dragons.  A Game master creates a setting, a story, and problems.  The players each have a character, and they respond to different situations.  A while ago I read a retelling or Lord of the Rings as if it was a Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, it was called DM of the Rings.  The different players controlled the main characters in the story.  I think it would be neat to do a similar thing with a story I read in class (although I haven't decided on the story yet).  Ideally I would find a story with 3-8 important characters that work together during an adventure. I have only ever played games, and this topic would help me better understand how to create games. 
Research so far:
I was rereading the beginning of DM of the Rings.   I thought about what makes the retelling of the story interesting.  Since everybody knows the plot of the story and will not be surprised, what captivates people the second time?  The retelling adds in a lot of dialogue that was not in the original, including what players think of the other story characters.  I also briefly took a look at a storybook that focuses on games, player 1 vs maya.

3. Possible Topic: Arthurian legends 
The legend of kind Arthur has been told and retold many times over the years.  Medieval fantasy and magic has always appealed to me, and I already knew about this universe.  Writing stories in this time period would be easy for me, but on the other hand I would not be learning nearly as much as i would with a different topic.  I am torn, because it's a legend that I enjoy, but at the same time choosing something like African or Indian mythology would let me discover new tales that I am not familiar with.
Research so far:
Is it OK to say I've been researching this topic for a while?  I have read many stories on this topic, and I have also seen many movie interpretations on the legend. More recently, since the assignment came out, I looked over English Unit storybooks. I clicked on many of the links listed under King Arthur and read the descriptions.

Wikipedia: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

4. Possible Topic: African Mythology
All of the topics above appeal to me because they are topics I already know and am interested in.  African mythology on the other hand, is a topic I know almost nothing about.  It appeals to me because I would be learning something new, and I would get to explore a storytelling style and culture that I am ignorant of. 
Research so far:
I looked over the title listed under the African Unit in the Untextbook.  I looked mostly at the South African Folktale, and I even read the first story listed under the Unit A reading.  The Lost Message is a story that so far, focuses on an anteater, and Animal native to Africa. 

Week 2 Storytelling: The Crystal Lake

Wikimedia Commons: by Diego Delso

Author's Note: This story is based off of the table of Cupid and Psyche. The story is too long for me to summarize the whole tale, so instead I will summarize what is important to know for the story I have written. Psyche angers Venus, and Venus gives the girl impossible tasks to punish her. The tasks range from sorting a mountain of beans into piles (Venus and Psyche), to fetching a jar from the underworld (The Jar of Beauty). Psyche only manages to complete these trials by accepting help from animals. Below, I have written my own trial for Psyche to accomplish.

The Crystal Lake

Psyche was exhausted from her trails. She had collapsed onto her course straw bed and immediately fell into a dreamless slumber. Psyche slept soundly, until she woke the next morning, as the tip of the sun broke through the horizon, seeping light across the land. She quickly drank some water and ate a crust of bread to restore her strength, she knew Venus would summon her again soon.

Soon after the girl woke, a raven was sent to fetch Psyche. Psyche followed the raven into the magnificent chamber where Venus resided. The walls were covered in fine oil painting, the ceiling was gilded with gold, and the floors were crafted from the smoothest and purest marble. Venus herself sat at the far end of the room on a plush purple chair gilded with gold, radiating light and beauty. “You have bested the challenges so far, but I have another task for you today” said Venus. “Over the eastern hill you will find a pool of crystal clear water with magical properties. Use this bucket to fill my bath for me. Beware, I will know if you use any other kind of water. Now go!”

Although ferrying the water back and found from beyond the hill would take a lot of work, this task seemed feasible unlike all of the others. Psyche was wary of the task. She knew there was some impossible element of the challenge that she was missing, but as of yet, she was unsure what it was.

When Psyche walked to the other side of the hill, she did not find a pool, only a cliff. She looked down and saw nothing but clouds below. A drop of water hit Psyche where she stood. Psyche looked up, and law a beautiful lake of the clearest more pristine and crystal water she had ever seen. The lake was in the clouds, and water flowed from some of the higher clouds to lower clouds, sprays of mist emerged where the water danced downwards and shattered upon impacting the mirror smooth water located on the lower clouds. Light reflected against the crystal water, rainbow colors spilled out.

Psyche became downcast after seeing the sight. Although it was breathtaking, it was also out of her reach. Without wings she would never reach the clouds, and she would never be able to fetch the water. She looked over the cliff, at least it would be a quick end if she jumped. Before Psyche could do anything, a group of silkworms offered their help. The silkworms worked dutifully for many hours, spinning a rope of silk, so that Psyche could climb up and reach the lake. When the rope was done, a sparrow grabbed one end in his break, flew up, and fastened one end onto the cloud.

Psyche climbed up the rope and filled her bucket with the magical water. She then lowered herself and her bucket back onto the ground, carried the bucket over the hill, and carefully poured the water into a tub, careful not the spill a single drop. Fifteen times she returned to to the lake, and fifteen times she climbed the rope to fill her bucket. The sun was starting to set, and poor Psyche was warry. She poured her last bucket into the tub, filling it to the brink as the last of the daylight departed.
Venus swept into the chamber to inspect the work. “I see the animals helped you to reach the lake,” aid Venus. “Never mind, I will have another task for you tomorrow.” Tired, psyche returned to her bed, collapsed onto the hay and instantly fell into a dreamless sleep.

Bibliography: My story was inspired by Cupid and Psyche, Written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline.

Week 2 Reading Diary, continued: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche

Here is part 2 of my reading of Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche.

Cupid and Psyche by L. Prang & Co

Venus and the Goddesses

•  Not only does Psyche get punished for her transgression, but Cupid gets punished as well. 
• Yikes! Don't want to anger a Goddess.  Venus is very jealous, and her jealousy is not even justified.

Psyche's Prayer

•  This section of the story makes me wonder how Venus inspired such loyalty?  The story has not been painting her in the best light.  She is beautiful, but she is also jealous and wants to hurt a mostly innocent person in the story.  

Venus and Mercury

•  I find it interesting that Psyche considers seeking out Venus at the some time that Venus is getting desperate to find her. It thickens the plot and adds tension.
• A lot of the story has been predictable, but at this point I do not know what would happen first, Venus finds Psyche, or Psyche surrenders herself to Venus.

Venus and Psyche

• I feel really sorry for Psyche, and I have for most of this tale.  The author does a good job of making her seem kind and sweet and undeserving of these troubles. 
• I enjoy the fairytale style elements on this tale. The ants helping the girl is a nice touch.

Psyche's Next Task

•  I enjoyed the description of the two lovers who are under one room but in different rooms, not able to keep each other company. 
• Psyche did not get help from any of the Goddesses he appealed to, but people seem to be willing to help her out with her tasks.

The Third Task

•  Three is a very common number found in stories.  It's more interesting than describing a single task, but the reader also doesn't get bored with an endless list of tasks.  I may incorporate this number into some of my writing as well. 
• I've heard many lines very similar to this in rhymes "Off with you! Where are you going? See here! What are you doing? Beware! Be gone! You’ll die!" It is the warning that Psyche gets when trying to accomplish her third task

The Jar of Beauty

• Many heroes have had to travel down to to underworld.  Some classic examples of this are Odysseus, Hercules, Orpheus and Persephone. 
• The description of how to get to the underworld is very long.  It would be easier to read if it had been broken into more than one paragraph.

The Sleep of the Dead

•  This section could have used more detail.  Psyche opens the jar and sleeps, then immediately she gets saved.  Letter her sleep for longer or drawing out this section.  A problem immediately followed by a resolution seems really abrupt.

The Wedding Feast

• This is the end of the tale of the tale of Cupid and Psyche, and they couple finally get their happy ending. 
• At this point the reader has almost forgotten about the original story, but end ending ties back into the beginning.  The characters are once again the captured girl and the old women.  A full loop of a story, or reflecting back on the beginning can be a powerful writing tool.

The Escape

•  The girl escapes the robbers and old woman by riding away on an Ass.
• Both of the stories have a similar ending, the princess makes it through and finds her way to her husband.

Week 2 Reading Diary: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche

This week I chose Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche as my reading assignment.

The Reunion of Cupid and Psyche

The Captive Woman

• Sets up the tale, and introduced the character.
• A captured woman weeps uncontrollably, despite an old woman's best efforts.
• Not knowing why she cries creates mystery.

Her Dream

• The story tells us why the captured women is crying so hard, giving her some backstory.
• The story of the dream is a kind of story within a story told by the captured girl

Psyche's Beauty

• The second story within a story, told by the old women.
• This story has the classic fairytale beginning.
• A women so beautiful, people this she is Venus herself and abandon the goddesses temples and statues. This is foreshadowing. It is obvious that Venus will be displeased even before she shows up in the story.

The Oracle of Apollo

• Psyche did not chose to be beautiful, and might have lived a happier life if she was not. It is not fair of Venus to punish a girl for things outside of the girl's control \
• Many ancient tales include prophesies. Things destined to be, and beyond the people's control

The Magical Palace

•  Beautiful description of the house.  
• The voice adds an err of mystery, since we don't know where the voice came from.

The Mysterious Husband

• I've read stories like this before. A modern retelling of a husband or person who only ever visits at night and does not show his face.

The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters

• Once again, this section has very descriptive language.  It is used to describe the husbands of the older sisters. 
• The sisters jealousy is not justified, especially since Psyche shows them nothing but kindness.

Psyche's Husband Warns Her

• Here is a quote from the story, a warning to Psyche from her husband: "Don’t look at or listen to those evil women who, with their murderous hostility, their disregard of the bonds of blood, you should not call sisters, as they lean from the cliff-top like Sirens and make the rocks echo with that fatal singing."

Fears and Doubts

• It is sometime difficult to put my mind in the position of trusting character such as Psyche, when the author has made it so plain and obvious to the reader that the sisters are bitter and jealous.

Psyche's Husband Revealed

• My favorite sentence in this passage is "Then as her wounded heart beat with the tremor of such bliss, the lamp, in wicked treachery, or malicious jealousy..." It is a great description of the lamp. 

Psyche's Despair

•  At the end of this passage, I tried to think about why the writing would include this story as a story within a story, instead of a standalone.  Is Psyche's fear getting the best of her supposed to tell the captured girl not to let her fears run wild?  Both girls are in their own sort of prison, with people who mean the girls no harm. 
• The revenge was unexpected.  It seems uncharacteristic for kind sweet Psyche.