Showing posts with label Week 9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Week 9. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

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! 


"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. 


Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Reading Notes: Apache-Part B

Bibliography: 




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. 

Monday, October 17, 2016

Reading Notes: Apache-Part A

Bibliography




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.