Reading Notes: Hans Christian Andersen

Bibliography:

Hans Christian Andersen  - Story source: Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by H. P. Paull (1872).

The Mermaid

After finishing the second half of these fairytales the theme that stood out to me was tragic love. As I mentioned with the tin soldier he died and formed a small tin heart after losing his love. In the Little Mermaid the girl loves her prince so much but in the end he doesn't choose her. She still refuses to kill him, even to save her own life. 

I am going to write my story about a tragic love story incorporating both of these story themes. 

Read Notes: Hans Christian Andersen- Part A

Bibliography:

Hans Christian Andersen-- Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by H. P. Paull (1872)

Little Toy Soldier

I chose to read the fairytales. While I was already familiar with most of these stories I love them so much that I could not resist revisiting them. 

The story of the Little Tin Soldier was the most interesting to me. I just loved how the little toy maintained his love and composer throughout the whole story and eventually melted down into a heart. 

I think I would like to base part of my story around this little man hanging on to dignity and love for his girl. My story will be a fairytale, full of whimsy and unrealistic endings.  

Reading Notes: Inferno- Part B

Bibliography:

Inferno - Story source: Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002)

Harpy

As I already mentioned, I love Donte's Inferno. 

The theme that I want to use is the journey. It kind of reminds me of Alice falling down the rabbit hole and meeting a bunch of strange creatures. I love that so many creatures and people appear in this story. I think planning a story around someone traveling around with guide who continuously meets new and exciting people. 

Reading Notes: Inferno- Part A

Bibliography:

Inferno- Story source: Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).

Donte's Inferno by Gustave Doré

Donte's Inferno has also been one of my favorite poems and when I saw it on the reading list I knew this was the story I had to read this week. 

I love the language of this reading. It's all very big and poetic. I wish it would be something I could duplicate but I'm not sure that I could. 

The rings of hell are something that have always intrigued me. I would like to write my own story and incorporate the different levels in my own manner. Perhaps just someone traveling the earth and meeting all the different characters. 

Famous Last Words: I Barely Made It.

This week has been incredibly challenging for me. It is not that I have a lot of outside class work, because this is actually the only class I'm taking this semester, but that my full-time job and full-time life almost beat me this week.

I get easily frustrated when I cannot finish all the assignments in the time frame I want and so this week when I couldn't even complete the first portion of the reading I was stressed. Reading of any form is my relax time and missing it, especially when it's a subject I enjoy like this one, is hard on me.

My job has been over the top this week. I work in dispatch and have a partner that works on the opposite end of the week from me. Great coworker, but sadly, he was sick. When you dispatch buddy is sick, you get called up to bat so to speak. So, on top of my already long work schedule, I worked extra days. I have a wonderful family and needed to celebrate a birthday this week, that involved a lot of coordinating from me. My reading just fell through the cracks. I lose sight of the fact I can easily make up the points later by turning assignments such as the one I'm currently typing. I stress about the now.

After the stressful week I had, my reading assignments were the highlight of my day. I read some really amazing storybooks for the project feedback assignment. A favorite of mine was "Not to Touch the Earth" by Jenna. It was a really excellent story and reading it was such a joy. It was an escape from my stressful days. All of the storybooks I read were great, but this one really stood out to me. I think for these last couple of weeks I need to make a more concerted effort to get my readings done in my down time instead of just trying to squeeze them in during my work days.

Reading is Good for the Soul

Storytelling: Loyal and True

"DAD!" 

Levi heard his son call from upstairs. He raced up the stairs to find out what was scaring his little boy. 

"What's wrong? Why are you yelling?" He asked his little man. 

"Something is in my room." The child told his father, "Please get it out."

Levi began searching the room looking for anything that might have scared his child but he could not find anything in the room. 

The next morning Levi was up early to go hunting. He called his two dogs, Gellie and Hobbes, so that they could get on the road. 

"Gellie! Let's go." He called for the dog. Hobbes was already in the truck and Levi was anxious to get on the road. 

He stomped inside to find his dog, "Gellie!" He yelled when he saw his dog lying by his son's bed, "It's time to go. Get up!"

Gellie just laid there and growled a little. No matter what Levi did or said he couldn't get Gellie to leave his son's bedside. 

"Fine, just stay here. You weird dog."

Normally Gellie was his favorite. He was already for the hunt and raring to go. He loved being outdoors and was his best hound. Levi couldn't believe he didn't want to go this morning, and he never growled, "What is wrong with that dog?" Levi thought to himself. 

After a long day of hunting Levi came home to a terrifying scene. 

"Why is the door unlocked?" Levi thought to himself as he pushed it open to reveal a devastating picture. 

His entire house had been turned upside down. Pictures were broken on the floor, knickknacks were either missing or broken, furniture had been overturned and many pieces were missing legs or now had rips in them. 

Levi raced up the stairs to check on his wife and son. 

When he reached the landing he noticed something on the floor, "Was that blood?" Levi asked himself in terror. 

He raced into his son's room to find his wife tied to the rocking chair. 

"Levi!" She exclaimed, "Oh God, it was horrible. The came in so quickly and I couldn't stop them." 

"Where is Ryan? Why is there blood everywhere?"

"Gellie!" she panted, "Gellie saved him. The men were trying to take him and he fought them off." 

"Dad?" Ryan cried as he opened the closet door, where he was hiding. "Dad, Gellie is really hurt. He fought them and the hit him a lot." 

Levi checked over his wife and child for injuries and finally exhaled. He ran around the house looking for his god dog. 

How could the dog have known? Such good instincts. His hound had always had good instincts. 

Levi finally found Gellie out in the backyard badly beaten and bloodied. 

"Come on, boy, let's get you to the hospital." Levi tried to console the dog. 

While Levi carried the hound to the car he worried, Gellie was in bad shape. How would he ever deal with losing this precious dog. He had saved his wife and child, he owed this dog everything. 

When they reached the animal hospital he carried Gellie inside, "Please, please save my dog. He rescued my family today, and I just don't know what I would do without him."

The family sat in the waiting room anxiously while the vet checked over the dog. 

"He is going to need a lot of stitches and even more love and care, but after some recovery Gellie will be good as new." The vet told Levi and the family. 

"Thank you, thank you." Levi said, "That dog will get the best care any dog has ever received."

The family took Gellie home and began to pick up the pieces of their lives. Gellie continued to recover and eventually returned to the wonderful hunting hound he was before the break in. Levi was always grateful to the wonderful dog and never questioned his instincts again. 

Hunting Hound

Author's Note:

I wrote this story based of the Celtic Tales by Joseph Jacobs in particular I wrote it about Beth Gellert. In this story a king goes hunting and cannot find his favorite hunting hound. When he returns he find blood leading up to his baby son's crib and cannot find the sun. He immediately assumes the dog has killed his baby and stabs the dog with his spear. He then discovers the child hidden and a wolf caracas beside him. The hound had stayed behind to protect the child. When he realizes this it is too late for the dog and he dies. I really hated that the dog died in this story for protecting the child, so I wanted to change it and make a much happier ending.  

Reading Notes: Celtic Tales-Part A and B

Bibliography:
Celtic Tales- by Joseph Jacobs

Hunting Jackals by Samuel Howitt

Beth Gellert- this is the story that stuck with me most from these readings. This story was incredibly sad and as someone who loves dogs the chance to rewrite this story with a much happier ending really intrigues me. I also recently just acquired a new puppy so I think I could draw some inspiration from that as well. 

I would like to incorporate the feel and flow of these tales.  They are whimsical and read similar to nursery rhymes. 

Story Telling: Sisters

Author's Note:

This story is very loosely based on the English Tales-English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, published in 1890, and the story about the sisters, Binnorie. I really enjoyed the tale of the scorned sister and exacting revenge because the pretty one stole her man. While the younger sister did nothing but be pretty, I just find sister jealousy interesting. 

The Beautiful Sister

"O yonder sits my father, the king,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And yonder sits my mother, the queen;

By the bonny milldams o' Binnorie.

And yonder stands my brother Hugh,

Binnorie, O Binnone;

And by him my William, false and true;

By the bonny milldams o' Binnorie.

And there sits my sister who drowned me

By the bonny milldams o' Binnorie."

"Bonnie! Bonnie where are you?" Allie yelled up the stairs at her sister. "You will never guess what happened to me today!"

Bonnie came rushing down the stairs, "What?" she asked, her cheeks were flushed and she looked as pretty as ever. 

Bonnie and Allie had always been close. They were best friends as well as sisters. While Allie was lovely, her younger sister Bonnie was the angelic one. She had pretty, soft blonde hair; big blue eyes, and rosy cheeks. 

"I met the perfect boy in class in today. His name is William and he's just so amazing." Allie gushed to her sister. "We have a date Friday night. I cannot wait for you to meet him."

"Oh! Tell me more!" Bonnie exclaimed, "What does he look like?"

"Well, he has pretty green eyes...." their voices trailed off as they went upstairs to their room for more girl talk. 

.....

Friday night finally arrived and William knocked on the door of the big brownstone house. 

"I'm here to pick up Allie" he said when Bonnie opened the door.

"Come in, come in! She will be down shortly." Bonnie said excitedly. "Tell me more about yourself as we wait for her."

As William and Bonnie talked Allie finished getting ready and made her way down the stairs. She smiled to herself when she saw them engrossed in conversation on the couch. She loved that her sister and boyfriend were hitting it off. It was so important to her. 

William and Allie had a wonderful date and soon became inseparable. The best part for Allie was that he also loved inviting her sister along on their adventures. 

Soon you couldn't find them without each other. The three were always hanging out and Allie could not have been more happy until one day, four months later William wanted to talk. 

"Allie, I need to tell you something." William began, "you know I like you, and I think you're great; but I have fallen in love with Bonnie." he stammered. 

"You WHAT?!" Allie asked in disbelief. 

"I have fallen in love with Bonnie." he said, while staring at the floor. 

"Does she know?" Allie asked. 

"I haven't said anything to her yet." he responded. 

"Leave." Allie demanded. "Do not contact either one of us ever again."

"I have to tell her, Allie, I love her." he pleaded. 

"I said leave and never contact us again." she said.

William finally left and Allie ran up the stairs, flung herself on the bed and began to cry. 

This is where Bonnie found her later that day.  "What's wrong?" Bonnie asked, "I thought we were going to the movies with William tonight. You better get ready." 

"We broke up." Allie told her, "He likes someone else." 

"Who?!" Bonnie exclaimed. "How could he do this to us?"

"Us? How could he do this to me, you mean." Allie stated as she narrowed her eyes at her sister.

"Right, how could he do this to you?" Bonnie corrected herself. 

"I don't know, I..." Allie cut off as Bonnie's phone began to ring. "Answer it." 

"Umm, no, we are talking" Bonnie stammered, "I'll call them back."

"Answer it."

"Allie, please, I don't know why he's calling me." Bonnie begged. 

"He loves you. He told me. That's why we broke up." 

"Allie, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"Just leave me alone. I hate you. I hate you both. You've always been prettier and you practically threw yourself at him. You came on all our dates." She yelled in anger at her sister. "JUST GET OUT OF MY ROOM. I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN."

"Allie, please don't do this. You're my best friend and my sister. I would never do this to you on purpose. Please." Bonnie pleaded. 

"Get. Out." 

Bonnie turned and left the room, form that moment forward their relationship was never the same. Allie moved out of the brownstone for college and Bonnie graduated high school a year later and moved to New York to pursue her dreams. Sadly, the sisters were never close again, Allie could never forget losing William. She thought he was the one, and her sister stole that from her. 

Reading Notes: English Tales-Part B

Bibliography:

English Tales- English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, published in 1890.

Gingerbread Man

While I was again familiar with most of the themes the story I enjoyed most was the Johnny Cake story because it reminded me of the gingerbread man. The story of the gingerbread man was one of my favorite tales growing up as a child. I am a sucker for nostalgia so I am hoping to use this theme with the themes from the sisters story I mentioned in my first reading notes post. I doubt I actually use a gingerbread man or Johnny Cake but something similar.  

Reading Notes: English Tales-Part A

Bibliography:

English Tales: English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, published in 1890

Fighting Sisters

For my reading notes this week it was one story that really stood out to me. While I enjoyed all of them, most of them are very similar to famous tales or stories we have read for this class already. 

I really liked the story of the fighting sisters, Binnorie. I'm not sure why this story is the one that stood out to me, but I think writing a spin off this particular story would be great fun. Scorned sister because the prettier sister got the man. I'm sure this premise of many movies and many novels but I think I will really enjoy writing a story about this particular tale.

Storytelling: A Boy Has No Father

Author's Note:

I wanted to write this story of a little boy who has an absent father to represent Hiawatha from, "The Song of Hiawatha", an epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that was published in 1855. While I didn't want to recount the adventures of Hiawatha word for word, I did want to capture his spirit in my story of a little boy who lives with his grandmother because his Father doesn't want to care for him and his mother has passed away. 

"By the shores of Gitche Gumee,By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,

Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.

Dark behind it rose the forest,

Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,

Rose the firs with cones upon them;

Bright before it beat the water,

Beat the clear and sunny water,

Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water."

The Song of Hiawatha

"Okay, little one, time to sleep. We can finish the rest of the story tomorrow." Naomi said to her grandson. 

"But, Granny, this story is my favorite. Can't we read just a little more?" Henry whined at his grandmother. 

"Hiawatha can wait, your sleep cannot, my little man." she smiled at him. 

Henry settle further down into the bed, "Do you think I am like Hiawatha?" 

"Full of adventure and hard to keep track of? Absolutely, my little Indian. Now sleep." Naomi said. 

Little Henry had lived with his grandmother for as long as he could remember. His mother had died of a broken heart when he was just a baby and his "father" has never had much use for the boy. So it was, Naomi took the child in and attempted to raise him as much joy and adventure she possibly could. At the age of ten now, Henry was so hard to keep track of around the town. Perhaps she had raised him with too much adventure? Is that possible for a little boy?

Henry woke ready to face the day. 

"GRANNY!" he screamed down the stairs, "I am going off to the pond." 

"Wait, wait, have you eaten?" Naomi called to him, "I'm making pancakes."

"I'll just shove them in my pocket! I have to go! The fish are waiting." Henry said as he stuffed his breakfast into his fishing backpack. 

Henry set off through the trees to get to his favorite fishing spot. Along the way he stopped to climb several trees. As he scurried up the branches, he often would stop and pretend to be shooting arrows at the ground below. He was hunting, just like Hiawatha. 

"Some day" Henry thought to himself, "I'm going to grow up and become a great man just like Hiawatha." He leapt from the tree and took off running. He was the fastest boy in town, all the boys were jealous because he could run faster, climb higher, and catch more fish than any of them. 

Henry had no fear and would often do things, like jump from the highest branches, that terrified his grandmother. He also had no fear when it came to his opinions and expressing them. 

It is because of this, that after he had been fishing and caught his dinner, he walked westward to town so that he could get an ice cream float from the diner. 

"I have the fastest son in the county." He over heard a man say, "He catches the most fish and can out climb any boy in town." 

"What's his name?" the diner owner asked, "Cause the only kid I know around here like that is Henry." 

"HENRY! That's his name. That's my boy." the strange man replied. 

Henry overheard this conversation and it greatly angered him. He knew his father had abandoned him and left him with his grandmother as a baby. Everyone around town talked about it and how sorry they felt for old Naomi. 

"Excuse me" Henry said to the man, "I don't know who you think you are, but my name is Henry and you have no right to be bragging about me." 

"Henry!" the man cried, "I'm you father, aren't you excited to see me?" 

"I have no father. I will thank you not to talk about me like you know me." Henry scowled at the man. 

Henry grabbed his ice cream float and took off to his home. 

By the time he arrived his grandmother had already heard of his encounter at the diner and she could not be more proud of him. 

"Hello, Henry, how many did you catch for dinner today?" she asked him.

"Ten, I thought we could have some with breakfast tomorrow too." He smiled at her. 

"I do hope you left some for everyone else!" She laughed. "Go wash up, it will be ready when you get back down stairs."

They sat down to dinner and Naomi listened to all his big adventures from the day. She worried so much about this little boy, but he clearly could manage to take care of himself. He really was something special. 

She smiled as she thought of his bright future. The beautiful wife he would have and they fun he would have raising a boy of his own. 

"Granny, can we read now?" Henry begged, "Can we please read Hiawatha?"

"Of course, little one" Naimo said, 

"And thus sailed my HiawathaDown the rushing Taquamenaw,

Sailed through all its bends and windings,

Sailed through all its deeps and shallows,

While his friend, the strong man, Kwasind,

Swam the deeps, the shallows waded."

Henry fell asleep that night and dreamed of becoming a brave, big man who had many adventures. He dreamed of sailing on the great rivers and hunting the bison. He dreamed of climbing the tallest mountain. He dreamed of being just like Hiawatha. 

 

Remington Hiawatha

Reading Notes: The Song of Hiawatha-Part A

Bibliography:

The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Hiawatha's Departure 

As a child I had a cassette tape that played the song of Hiawatha and I remember listening to it endlessly and loving the way it sounded more like a song than a poem.  After reading it again for this course I was struck with the same sense, this poem flows and reads beautifully. I wish I could write a story to reflect that but sadly, I'm horrible at poems. 

I want to portray the family aspect of Hiawatha. I love his interactions with Nokomis as a child. I also love that he faces off with his absent father. I have one of those myself, so I can relate to his feelings and may attempt to incorporate that into my story. 

What I really intend to do is use the beauty of the language and descriptions to write my own story. 

Storytelling: The Roaming Bison

Author's Note:

Apache stories from Jicarilla Apache of New Mexico, collected and translated by P. E. Goddard. I took my inspiration from my story from the use of animals and adventure in the Apache stories. I really liked the use of the coyote and the bison but also enjoyed the tricks and bravery of 

Naiyenesgani. I just wanted my story to combine my favorites parts of these tales. I hope you enjoy! 

Brison the Bison

"Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam"

"BRISON, SHUT UP!" Connor the coyote yelled. "We have been traveling for days and I am sick of hearing you sing that stupid song. You're a BISON, not a buffalo. It doesn't matter that you're roaming. The song isn't about you." 

"You're just jealous there isn't a song about you roaming the country." Brison responded. "Besides, we have been wondering around with these magical arrows and I'm just getting a little bored."

Brison and Connor had been wondering the country for weeks now because Brison had a gift. He was magic. He could "see" people and need and would make something that would help them through whatever troubles they were having. This time is was a tribe in the wasteland fighting a big chief. Brison was convinced they needed these magic arrows he had made out the ancient oak and his fur to defeat the big chief. So, off he and his best friend went to find the Keanow tribe. 

While Connor thought Brison's antics were a little crazy at times, things always worked out the way he saw them in his vision. 

There was that time Brison insisted he had to travel North to where it was cold to save a tribe form freezing in the winter. Connor always traveled with his friend partly because he worried but also because he loved seeing the amazing things his friend could accomplish. When they traveled north and reached the tribe Brison handed them part of his fur and it immediately began to multiply as it was passed from person to person. The tribe had been unable to hunt for food and fur because the winter had come very early that year. Connor was in awe of his wonderful friend and he loved their travels together. 

Along their way to wasteland they friends became bored and would often play pranks on one another. Connor would often hide in various places and jump out to scare Brison when he was supposed to be hunting for their dinner. One time, Brison used his gift to make rocks look like meat and Connor tried to a big bite and was sadly disappointed when it wasn't the juicy steak he hoped he was having for dinner. 

Finally, they arrived in the wasteland and found the Keanow tribe. They were a poor beaten down people because the bad chief. It was time for them to rise up and fight for their freedom so the bad chief could not take their food any longer. 

"People, my name is Brison and I have traveled with my friend Connor to help you fight the bad chief." Brison began, "I have made these arrows from the old tree and my magical fur. Whenever they are used, they will fly true and strike down your enemies. Please use them wisely as they will only work once and then they will be gone." 

A boy named Naga came forward, he was the best hunter in the tribe, "I will take the arrows. I know where to find the bad chief." 

Naga, Brison, and Connor set off to find the bad chief in the wasteland. Once he was found the cave where the bad chief and his men where staying, Brison told Naga, "If you can sneak up to the mouth of the cave and fire the arrow it will find the chief."

Naga began to climb down into to the mouth of the cave when he reach the cave floor just at the opening he let the arrow fly. 

The people of the Keanow tribe rejoiced and threw a great feast. Brison and Connor were happy to have helped another tribe. They could not wait for their next adventure. 

Reading Notes: Apache-Part B

Bibliography: 

Jicarilla Apache of New Mexico, collected and translated by P. E. Goddard

American Bison

My favorite part of reading these stories has been the adventure aspect and the use of the buffalo. Several of the stories revolved around the buffalo and it makes me want to write a story an adventurous bison out to help people. 

I say out to help people because that seems to happen a lot in these Apache stories. They are either warring with someone or trying to help them. I prefer the hero aspect. I also like the use of all the animals in these stories as well. Similar to the Chinese tales I read previously. 

My story inspiration will for sure be the bison and his adventures. I will incorporate some fun other animals and people (from the stories) to meet while he roams. 

Reading Notes: Apache-Part A

Bibliography

Jicarilla Apache of New Mexico, collected and translated by P. E. Goddard

Hoop Dance

While these stories were probably the most difficult for me to read I did find them interesting. 

I liked that the hero of the story was helpful but also a trickster. He was just a hero, he was also fun. 

The use of hoops and the number four was a common theme in the stories. I would like to do more research on why four is such an important number to Apache stories. The hoops appear to be for playing but they are featured prominently. 

Unlike most of the stories we have read previously, these do not all have a happy ending with a beautiful wife and the animals are not good. In so many of the stories read earlier in the class the animals have been mostly wise and helpful. In the Apache stories, they are killing humans and causing problems. It was a nice change of pace. 

Week 8: Growth Mindset

This class plays on a lot of my strengths but also several my weakness and I use this course to work on improving all skills.

I have always been a perfectionist when it came to school and work, but this class has really pushed me outside of my comfort zone into a more creative mindset. It has tested a lot of writing boundaries for me and even made me uncomfortable at times. I am a technical perfectionist and being allowed to write in such a free manner has been difficult for me but given me a great chance to grow in my writings.

Trying new things is something else I have struggled with because I prefer to stick with things I know. This course has opened up my reading and writing to new stories and ideas that I wasn't sure I would enjoy.

Due to the fact I work full time I have really had to focus on doing work at the last minute in this class which is something I always struggled with in my earlier years of college. Thankfully, I have grown over the years and continue to learn to improve my time management.

I am really looking forward to reading new challenges and further developing my ability to write in a more free form and creative way. I hope to challenge myself further by pushing my knowledge of mythology and lore and reading stories that I have never learned of before this class.

Just Try!

Week 8 Reflections

The readings and writings for class have expanded my creativity further than I ever imagined. I have never fancied myself a creative writer, I always preferred strictly research writing (probably why I love history) but this class has inspired the courage to explore the other side of writing.

I really love the stories I have been choosing to read and plan to continue my expansion in mythology in folklore. I am already very familiar with classical mythology but I have greatly enjoyed learning about new tales. It is my hope to continue reading stores that are not familiar to me so that I can learn more about my passions. My favorite story so far is Cupid and Psyche, it is such a romantic tale of tragic love.

It was hard for me to imagine a time where I would enjoy writing stories but this class had made me enjoy this style of writing. There is a constant enjoyment in seeing what new angle I can take on an old tale. I would like to continue to pursue this new creative side and come up with more fantastical stories.

I hope I have been doing a good job giving feedback but mostly I just love seeing how amazing the other classmates are in their writings. Every story is so unique in it's own way and I enjoy reading everyone's work. I would like to be better at giving specific feedback. Sometimes I am so caught up in the fun of the story that I gloss over the things that probably need some attention.

Creative Writing

Story: The Lucky Fox

Author's Note:

I wrote this story based on several aspects of Chinese Fairy Tails-source:mThe Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921). I really enjoyed several themes from these tales and decided to incorporate them into one story about a clever fox. Fortune, Luck, Happiness and the use of animals are the points I opted to use in my own story. 

The Clever Fox

Story:

I woke up today and decided, "Fernley", I thought to myself, "today you must go out and find your luck." 

See, it had been so long since anything good happened to me. I was a talking fox, yet there was nothing for me! I lived in a hovel in the ground constantly running from hunters who think my pelt would be worth a lot of money because I can talk. There was no money left in my family, it had all spent while running and now I was poor and alone. 

So it was, I left my hovel and began walking. I climbed over mountains and swam rivers, I stopped at little villages along the way and worked a bit for food and shelter. I was forced to run many times from men who would try to take my skin but in all these adventures I did not find my luck. 

One morning I was walking along in the forest and ran into a very frightening animal, the panther. He was large and scary and I tried to run, but he caught me. 

"I heard you singing to yourself and knew I had to talk to you" the panther said to me. "I thought I was the only animal left who could talk and I was so excited to speak to you."

"YOU CAN TALK?!" I yelled, what great luck, another animal who could talk. I was so excited. 

"Yes, I can talk. I am so happy to meet you. What are you doing running around the forrest. It is very dangerous for talking animals." the panther said to me. 

"I am in search of my luck and fortune. My family was forced into hiding and lost their money." I told him. 

"The same thing has happened to me, would you mind if I accompanied you in your search for luck and fortune?" he asked. 

"That would be wonderful" I told him. 

So off we went in our quest. We crossed over the great mountain and when we made it to the other side we found a small town. 

In this town there were animals everywhere and they were all walking like humans, working, and carrying on conversations. 

We were not the last of the talking animals! There was much celebration when we arrived in the village and a great parade was arranged for they celebrated every new comer to the village. They all had traversed through great trials to arrive in safety, they understood the struggle of getting to safety. 

At the feast that evening I looked down the table and spotted the most lovely pair of brown eyes I had every seen. She was beautiful. I went over to speak with her, "Hello, I am Fernley."

"My name is Yùnqì. I am so happy you made it to our village."

I had always dreamed my luck and fortune would come with money and fame but instead it came with beautiful eyes and a new place to call home. All my dreams were fulfilled and my fortune changed from that day forward. 

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales-Part B

Bibliography:

Chinese Fairy Tales Story sources:The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).

                                                                     The Lucky Fox

The main themes continued in these stories as the previous half. Luck, Fortune, and misfortune are themes that are very prevalent in the Chinese fairy tales. 

I really like the use of animals, especially the foxes. I want to write my story about a magical fox searching for luck. 

Magic and sorcerers were another main character in the stories and I think using magic in my story will also be fun. 

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales-Part A

Bibliography: 

Chinese Fairy Tales- The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)

                                           The Seven Lucky Gods by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

The theme that struck me the most in this series of stories was their use of luck and fortune. It is clearly a big part of Chinese tales, and because of that it seems necessary to use it in my own story. 

I personally really enjoyed the story of the Panther and the little girls because it reminded me of Red Riding hood and it would be fun to further play with that story. 

I also liked the story of the dad leaving his girls in the wilderness, they killed the fox and wolf to become people of great wealth. There is a lot of unique attributes to these stories that will allow for a great creative story. 

Story: The Trials of Press

Press leapt out of bed the minute his alarm went off. Today was the day, he could feel it. He was finally going to talk to Hannah and ask her out. "Hannah" he sighed, as he tried to get his hair to fall into place. 

She was the prettiest girl in school and the most popular. Press had had a crush on her since sixth grade and now that he was a senior it was time to talk to her. 

"This is it, I'm going to ask her out today." Press said to his best friend Emma as they walked to school. 

"Do you really think that is a good idea? She hasn't acknowledged you in six years." Emma tried to talk me out of my plan.  

Before first period I saw her, she looked so beautiful in her cheer uniform. "Um, excuse me, Hannah?" I stumbled over my words, "Would you want to go out with me sometime?"

"You're asking me out? You? What was your name again?" Hannah asked.

"Umm, it's um, Press, we have been going to school together since sixth grade." I replied.

"Oh, right, you're that guy who is always hanging around that bookworm girl. What was her name again?" 

"Emma? She's just a friend." I said.

"Hmm right, I'm pretty sure she likes you, but if you really want to go out with me, I need some things from you." Hannah stated. "First, I really hate french, and I have a paper due tomorrow. Write it for me."

"Yes, okay, anything. I'll bring it to you before first period tomorrow." I told her. 

 Later that afternoon I was having lunch with Emma as usual and writing Hannah's French paper. 

"You know if she really liked you, she wouldn't make you write her paper. She would have just said yes." Emma told me. 

"She just really hates French, it's okay. I'll write it and then she will say yes" I told her. 

......

I met Hannah before first period the next day and gave her the paper. "So, does this mean we can go out?" I asked.

"Well, I have to babysit my little brother tomorrow night and I really want to go to Ty's party. Maybe you could do that for me so I could go out?" Hannah blinked her big green eyes at me.

"Oh sure, I can watch your little brother." I told her. 

"Thank you! It really means a lot to me. Ty is the most popular guy in school and how would it look if I weren't at his party?" 

......

"I can't believe you are going to this!" Emma screamed at me on our walk home from school, "Can't you see she is just using you? There are plenty of girls who would love to go out with you just because you're you?" 

"It's okay, Emma, she needs to be at that party. It would look really bad if she weren't there." I tried to appease her. 

"Fine, but when you're done doing her chores and realize she doesn't really like you, I may just not be here to pick up the pieces." Emma called as she turned to go home. 

"She doesn't know what she is talking about." I thought to myself. 

......

The weekend was finally over and I just knew Hannah was going to say yes today. Watching her brother had been awful. He was a pretty terrible little kid, but I had done it and she couldn't say no now. 

"Hey Hannah, how's it going?" I approached her. "Would you like to go to the football game with me this Friday?" 

"Oh shoot, I would but I promised my Dad I would wash my car. Maybe if someone washed it for me I would be free this Friday." Hannah pouted at me. 

"I could wash it tonight. Emma and I were supposed to go to a book reading, but I can reschedule." I beamed at her. 

"Oh would you? Thank you!" Hannah smiled. 

At lunch I told Emma I would have to reschedule going to the book reading with her. 

"I can't believe you," Emma scowled at me, "She is using you. She isn't going to go out with you." 

"You don't know that Ems." I tried to calm her down.

"I do know that and I'm not going to watch another second. Don't come crying to me when she still won't go out with you." Emma ran off.

......

I was exhausted as I approached Hannah the next morning. I had spent hours cleaning her car and making sure everything was perfect and then I had to stay up all night to complete my own homework. 

"Hey Hannah, so we on for Friday?" I asked her.

"Oh Press, I'm sorry, Ty asked me out for Friday this morning. You understand, right? He's the most popular guy in school." Hannah smiled at me, "Maybe we can go out next week. In fact, I have another French paper due next Tuesday, maybe you could come over and write it for me? We could hangout then."

"Yeah, no, I can't believe I thought you actually liked me. You're just using me." I said. I turned to go find Ems. I owed her a huge apology. 

"Ems, hey Ems", I yelled when I saw her across the hall. 

She looked up at me, smirked, and turned to Zach and smiled up at him. Then I noticed they were holding hands. 

What had I done? Emma had warned me she wouldn't be here when I figured out that Hannah was using me and I didn't believe her. Now she was gone. I didn't even know she liked Zach, I thought she just liked me. How could I have been so stupid? 

Trials Of Yamato by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Author's Note:

This story was inspired by the Trials of Yamato in Japanese Mythology, story source:Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917). In the story Yamato is married to a beautiful princess, but he is fickle and leaves her to find a siren. The siren then puts him through a series of trials before he can be with her. Once he completes them all his lovely wife is dead and he can no longer be with her. I opted to put this story in a more modern setting and have Press lose his best friend instead of the wife dying. 

Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology-Part B

Bibliography: 

Japanese Mythology  Story source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917).

                                                                  Trials of Hercules

The theme that stood out to me in these stories was how hard Yamato tried to work to win the love of the fair goddess. It reminded me a lot of the trials of Hercules. It also stood out that after everything he worked for he lost what he loved most. 

Love seems to be one of the biggest themes in these tales as with most tales, but these stories were very soft, gentle, and sweet. 

Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology-Part A

Bibliography: 

Japanese Mythology:  Story source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917).

These stories are so much like traditional fairytales it is very easy to see where the ideas for them originated. 

I was also surprised by how similar the Japanese mythology was to Greek and Roman and mythology. It is cleared that the tales all borrowed from each other. 

I liked how Ninigi received three gifts from the gods, it reminded me of Sleeping Beauty. 

The theme that I find most intriguing is the family bond and the fairytale like elements that result in slaying dragons and happy ever after. 

                                                                   Goddess Uzume

Story: Reign, A New America

Author's Note: 

My story loosely ties aspects of Persian Tales translated from the Kermani and Bakhtiari dialects of the Persian language by David Lorimer and his wife Emily Lorimer into a new story of my own. I took elements from the story of "The Archer", the "Fayiz and the Peri Wife", and "The Story of the Baker and the Grateful Fish". The Persian Tales are full of whimsy and betrayal and my story is meant to reflect these two themes while being able to stand completely on it's own. 

                                                                         Apocalypse
 

"Please, you can't do this. I don't know where my husband is, I told you, he left us years ago." I screamed at the men pointing an exacter at my little girl. 

The truth was, I knew exactly where my husband was but I could not tell these men. They would kill him. After the war people like my husband become a "danger" to society. It wasn't that he was he was crazy or a killer, it was because he was different. The black sheep of the people, so to speak. To some people he was basically a God. He was special, he could think and see things differently than anyone else. It made him dangerous to the new government. They did not care for independent thinkers and had taken great strides to rid the collective of free thought. 

It began at an early age in Reign, the name of the new America, the government regulated the school and taught only the approved material. They used the exacter, a painful device that did not allow anyone to tell lies, and they injected the people with a serum that didn't allow us to feel things the way we should. Love, hurt, joy, and sorrow; they all felt different if you felt them at all. For my husband, it did not work. He experienced everything exactly the way a human should, and as such, he was dangerous. He was able to see the government for the horrible people they are and he was out to stop them. There was a group of others out there who were the same as him and I had to protect them. They were the only way were ever getting out of this hellish place. 

"I will ask you one more time, where is your husband?" The soldier asked as he held my daughter by her arm. "If you don't tell us this time, your little girl will after we exact it out of her."

"You can't, it could kill her." The exacter was a powerful weapon that could be potentially fatal to anyone. My girl had already been subjected to it four times in her little life. What the soldiers did not realize was, she had no idea where her daddy was so they would never be able to gain that truth from her. What they also didn't realize was, I had learned to resist it. While it was still painful, I had learned to keep my truths to myself. My husband stole one once and taught me so that if this day ever came I would be prepared. 

"Just remember, Kora, keep your mind closed and resist the pain. They will be unable to see your thoughts. You cannot tell them who or where I am, ever. If you do, it will be the end of our family and my life." my husband told me as we trained. We knew this day would come. What we didn't know is that they would bring my girl with them. She had been in school for two years, I had been unable to see her except on vey special days. I knew my husband was trying to lead a rebellion, but ever since he had taught me to free my thoughts and my emotions, I had longed for my child. 

"This is your last warning. Where is your husband?"

"I'll tell you. Please just don't hurt my child again." I couldn't resist any longer. Perhaps if it were just me, but not if they were going to kill her. I loved her, I wasn't supposed to but they knew, they knew I had learned to regain my emotions and they were using her against me.

"Please forgive me my love." I thought, "in order to save our child, I must betray you." and then I started talking. 

When I was finished telling them who my husband was and were he could be found they threw my child in front of me and left to find him. I quickly reached for my telephone, an old device that was once used to communicate with each another. Thankfully, this older technology still worked. I anxiously dialed his number and waited while the phone rang. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally heard his voice from the other side say "Hello?" I lost no time warning him "They are coming! They had Rose and I couldn't let them hurt her! You need to run!" 

"I am not going to run, it's time, I am ready to fight. I understand why you had to betray me. I will lead this army and we will rescue the collective." 

Five years later....

Reign would never go back to the way it used to be. My husband had defeated the government with the army of specials he had found. We were slowly returning to a people who had never been subjected to the serum or the exacter. Without the government to annually administer them our emotions had returned. We are able to work and think for ourselves. My husband and I gained land and the ability to grow our food and do as we please with our daughter by our side. 

Reading Notes: Persian Tales- Part B

                                                                          Betrayal

Bibliography: 

Persian Tales  translated from the Kermani and Bakhtiari dialects of the Persian language by David Lorimer and his wife Emily Lorimer. 

Betrayal:

The main theme I noticed in these stories was betrayal. The turtle and the fox, the baker and the woman with the children, the man and his wife: they all suffered more in life because of betrayal. I found these stories still whimsical and little hard to follow, but I like how they are a little more life like because betrayal and distrust are part of everyday life. I will spin story with this theme in mind. 

Reading Notes: Persian Tales-Part A

My first impression of these tales is whimsy. I find them all very odd and fun. Their story lines are all very different and honestly hard to follow at times.

I like the story about the boy with his bow. I think the fact that he won over a king and a country without knowing what he was doing is really funny and could easily be turned into another story.

I also like the story about the half man/brother. This story vaguely reminded me of "Game of Thrones" and I think writing a story about the black sheep of a family becoming a hero and heir would be very interesting.

                                                                        Black Sheep

Bibliography: 

Persian Tales translated from the Kermani and Bakhtiari dialects of the Persian language by David Lorimer and his wife Emily Lorimer.

Feedback Focus

The Copy and Paste Method

This method is my favorite. While I find reading out loud helpful this is my preferred method of giving feedback. I used to help edit a friend mine's history papers and I really like the google documents option where you could highlight the portion you wanted to make a comment on and it would save it to the side without changing anything on the actual paper. This method is very similar to the copy and paste because it allows you to read and express your thoughts without really hindering the paper or project. For the feedback projects I believe this is the option I would use most often. 

Copy and Paste

Reading Out Loud

I like this option as well and would also use this on my own work and whenever I help edit others work. It is the best way to catch missed words, mis-worded phrases or just something that needs to be reworked in the project. While I like this method, it isn't always an option depending on where you do your homework and editing projects. I was usually in the library which made this difficult. Reading aloud gives you the chances to really focus on the reading. 

Timed Method

This one is probably my least favorite of the options because I feel like it doesn't give me the time to fully focus on the project I'm reading. I am an avid reader so staying focused is something I have ever struggled with when it comes to project feedback. I could see how this method would be beneficial to some. 

My favorite story from this section was Zoology 1114 by Bailey Farmer mostly because, I have been there. I remember the lore of walking under clock tower and I had a great love/hate relation with introduction to Zoology my first semester at OU. I think the author did a great job retelling the story of Adam and Eve in a very modern setting. 

Story: The Long Road Home

I had always been different but it had never bothered me. I saw things in a way no one else could see them. Once when I was four I decided to jump off my parent's roof and land on the trampoline. I broke my arm. It didn't hurt much and it didn't stop me from doing crazy things. "He just doesn't have a concept of fear", my Mom would say to people. I think it really bothered her that I was different.

Two weeks ago I decided I was going to move. I had been in the same place too long and craved an adventure. My family was not thrilled but since I was now twenty-three they really couldn't stop me. So, I booked my flight. I used the money I had saved up over the years doing odd technical jobs. I was different, but I was really skilled with computers and that made me quite a bit of money. Where was I going? Turkey. I wanted to go somewhere off the beaten path. Where maybe people would not notice that I was a strange.

I stepped off the plane in Turkey and immediately knew this was where I belonged. I felt the most overwhelming sense of being home. I gathered my luggage and made my way to a taxi so that I might be transported to a hotel where I would stay until I found a job and new place to live. It was in that moment I saw the most gorgeous girl I had ever seen. I went over to speak with her (one of the many benefits of feeling no fear, no hesitation in doing something completely stupid), "Hello, my name is Ryan and I would like to take you on a date tomorrow".

"Ryan, it is nice to meet you, but I must decline. You see my father is very strict and would not allow me to go on a date with a stranger." she replied.
"Perhaps if he got to know me?" Ryan countered.
"You may find him in Calliegh, at the chapel. There you may ask him."

The Chapel

So it was here that I began my journey. Calliegh was on the other side of the country and it would take a long while to arrive there as I had to drive. I went to rent a car and started on my way.

My travels across the country took me to many strange places. My car broke down on the side of the road and I encountered a man who claimed to be a wizard and attempted to help me. He wasn't much help, but at least he was funny.

I stopped at an old inn that was run by an old woman and her lovely daughter. They provided with great traveling snacks in exchange for doing a little handy work on their computers. They were in desperate need of an upgrade and I helped as best I could. The daughter was waiting anxiously for a man to come along and help make their lives better. I hoped it would happen for them.

At one point in my journey I rescued a crow from a terrible man who wanted to clip his wings. I showed up just in time to save him and gave the man a sound beating in the process.

Finally, after forty days of travel and delays I arrived in Calliegh. I searched for the chapel and upon finding entered and sat in the back row wondering what I should do now.

I was then approached by a man about fifty years of age with wise eyes, "My daughter told you were coming. I didn't believe her. But then, I do not have the 'sight' like my wife. She claimed you were only a little delayed but assured her she could still see you on your path to her."

"I am Ryan, and I have traveled very far to ask if I may take your daughter on a date. I do hope you will do me the honors of blessing me with her."

"Yes, yes, I believe you have earned it. My wife says your journey was long and hard with many bumps on the way. Yet you stayed true to heart and made your way to her. Go to her with my blessing."

I turned around and she was standing at the door. I walked to her, "I am Tirzah and I would be honored to go out with you. I cannot believe how far you have come just for me."

And so it was they began their relationship and after forty years together they are still so very happy.

Author's Note:

I wanted to write a comprehensive story that incorporated many different aspects of Turkish Fairy Tales from Ignacz Kunos. I chose the story of the boy searching for fear but being unable to find it because he was scared of nothing. I also used different character's from each story: the wizard, the crow, and the seer. I didn't use the specifics of each character but wanted them to have a showing. While forty days may seem like a long time to cross a country in a car, this was a significant number in all of the fairytales and I wanted to make sure I gave a nod to that fact. Also, every story ended with a "Happily Ever After", and a man getting a beautiful wife so I chose that as well. 

Reading Notes: Turkish Fairy Tales-Part 2

The Turkish fairytales are all very similar in theme.

They consist of someone being poor, working hard or gaining a skill, and then living happily ever after.

Happily every after usually comes with a beautiful wife and husband and also a lot of money.

They really strive to teach the value of honesty, hard work, and time. It instills that that is what it takes to be successful and have your dreams.

All of these are themes I could use in a story of my own. Incorporating the the fearless boy and a journey of hard work, until he reaches the end and realizes all his dreams.

I also like the use of wizards in the tales. It helps to add a more magical feel to the stories.

                                                                         The Wizard

Bibliography

Turkish Fairy Tales by Ignacz Kunos