Week 7- Reading Diary :African Stories from Lang's Fairy Books

Motikatika - It is funny how the tables have turned in this story. She was very difficult to please. Being picky about everything he brought her. So when he fell thirsty he did the exact same thing. Only that she was confronted with a ogre. As a mother how could she trade in her baby’s life so that she may save her own. But again her child is a magician and knows of her promise to the ogre. I found that quite funny.

   Motikatika (cont.) - I think Motikatia is an evil baby. How could he collect babies. My thoughts right now is – what happens to all these babies now? But it was also a smart strategy in preventing the ogre from eating him and confusing him. It is sad that in the end the father gets eaten based on the fact that he was the one that sent the mother in the first place.

   Jackal and Spring - The jackal in this story is rather clever. He managed to trick both the rabbit and the hare into giving them a treat. However he underestimated the least powerful being the tortoise but in fact he was the only one he could not trick. Goes to show to never underestimate even the smallest among us.

Adventures of a Jackal & Adventures of a Jackal (cont.) - The jackel here is very cunning. Why he would make tight shoes for the panther I don’t know. But the fact that he was not apologetic for it means he done it on purpose. So I could understand why the panther wants revenge. He is very qualified in being deceitful that he is always one step ahead of the Panther. But the old mans advice is very clever in helping him distinguish the traitor jackel from the rest. The way he tied all the jacels tails was a even cleverer move making it impossible for the panther to know whose who.

 Adventures of a Jackal (end) - Finally, there was someone who was more cunning than the jackel. And got revenge for all that he wronged. The hedgehog was much smarter than the jackel in that he recognized the difference between the sheep and the greyhound.

  Adventures of Jackal's Eldest Son - I really enjoyed reading this story. It is another example of how cunning the jackel is. Now that the heyena was killed by the lion because of how he said he would divide the prey. The jackel said that he would divide it in a way that pleased the lion. Which in reality means that if the hayena is taken out of the equation it means that the jackel can wear the clock by day and by night.

 Adventures of Jackal's Eldest Son (cont.) - The jackel is a very ungrateful creature. His fathers friend actually did him a favour by telling him where the butter was. Instead he makes the hedgehog steal and then scares him away so that he may have it all. But again the hedgehog came out on top. By crushing him. 

Adventures of Younger Son of Jackal - I don’t quite understand why the jackel being so kind in his offer would not equally share with the sheep. The youngest jackel was not supposed to be like his father and brother. Its funny how due to the jackels fear of the greyhound he shared evenly. Obviously he would not want to end up like his father.

Hassebu &Hassebu (cont.) - When reading this story I had a feeling that Hassebu’s companions was going to play him and become greedy. But Hassebu was a very smart young man. It reminds me of the quranic story of yusuf being left in the well by his brothers, leaving him for dead. The king of snakes was a very humble man as he still helped Hassebu knowing that it was because of him he was going to die. In return Hassebu became very learnt and great physician like his father was.

The Heart of a Monkey - I thought this story was very hilarious in the way that the monkey convinced the shark to turn back around to get his heart although he had his heart the whole time. What a clever monkey.

 The Heart of a Monkey: The Washerman's Donkey & The Heart of a Monkey: The Washerman's Donkey (cont.) -What a clever donkey. She managed to escape the hare and the lions set up. I thought it was quite weird how a donkey and a lion could be married. Very creative. It is quite sad that the lion still wants the same donkey for dinner, whilst she is still recovering. The donkey was rather stupid in the story thinking that he was trying to kiss you. So she goes to the lion again resulting in her death. I think it was a smart concept as to why she came a second time being that she had no heart.

Makoma & Makoma (cont.) - This story reminds me of Hercules but the African version. As Hercules completed the hardest and darkest of obstacles and always remained successful. As Hercules kept souvenirs of all twelve tasks that he had completed, Makoma did the same by placing them in a bag. I think he was sort of like a bully as he felt the need to prove he was the greatest instead of leaving them to do what they did best. Although he kept them as friends in the end.

Makoma (end) - The giant – sakatrina was so huge that even with Makomas hardest hit he felt very little. This was not like Makomas other challenges. They both were equally as strong therefore they became gods. I thought this was a very Greek myth like story.

Source: African tales

Week 6: Essay - ASSESS THE READING UNIT

This week I chose to read Japanese Mythology unit. Before this class I was not familiar with reading mythology. I more so enjoyed watching mythology based stories. Reading it is somewhat different. As mentioned in my previous blog post, I am not in any way familiar with Japanese mythology. So I thought it would be worth trying something different and new.I thought that this unit was quite interesting. I really enjoy reading units that consist of a collection of short stories as this one did. I think it helps keep focus and it does not drag on.

My favorite story in this unit was Uraschimataro and the Turtle. The reason for this is because it seemed the most like a fairy tale as he went to an enchanted world under the ocean. A world that he had never seen before. 

When reading this story, I hoped that it would go back and forth in informing the readers of the emotions his parents were going through when he didn't return home. I couldn't imagine being gone for as long as he was then coming back to a place that was no longer familiar.

I also very much enjoyed reading the cat and the elopement. As mentioned in my reading diary it really reminded me of Romeo and Juliet. As both cats were under different ownership which came in the way of their love. My least favorite was the sparrow with the slit tongue. It really didn't interest me at all. The only downside of this unit is that: When reading it you are not given a sense of what each chapter is about (as shown in some of the other reading units). So whether or not you will find interest in it you won’t know until you actually get through one of the stories.

Overall, I think this was a very interesting unit to read. I think it was an easy and fun read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys mythology or reading as a whole.

                                                                                                                                                                

Link: Japanese Fairy tale (Lang)
(Image above showing Uraschimataro and the turtle) 

week 6: Story telling - Revenge for My Mother

My mother and I have always been close. As a young tanuki she had taught me everything it takes to be a man – the values, the morals, and the difference between good and evil. So upon being inflicted with what I am about to reveal to you next. I could no longer see the world in the eyes she had taught me to see it in. My mother was a fox, I took after my father as he too was a tanuki. Although she was different in appearance we shared the same kind of heart. The same could not be said for my father and I.

Our habitat was being destroyed by the human hunters. All that we knew – places, and both close and far friends of our kind were all killed. Our lifestyle now become survival of the fittest. In which case my family were the fittest. We were the only living three left in the entire forest.

Living was becoming harder and as each day went on, our source of food was becoming scarcer. Thankfully we were given the gift of magic. Allowing us to change our form. I in particular inherited this gift from my mother. As each day, she would spend time with me teaching me new tricks. She always warned me “Son, you will need this one day. If ever there comes a time in which I nor you father will be here to protect and provide for you. You will need to have a few tricks up your sleeve”

I never quite understood the reason for her warning as we seemed to be managing fine. My parents always changed their form as humans so that they may go out into the market place and falsely trade with the human to get some food. Until one day, my father sold my mother out revealing the plan for her to escape after trading her for money. Causing her to be killed by the guy who bought her from my father.

From this day I knew my father could not be trusted. Truth of the matter is, if ever he felt that I was a becoming a burden also, he would not hesitate in getting rid of me too. I now understood why all those times my mother warned me and taught me the magic I knew. I know her intentions was for me to never use it against my father but rather our enemies. But little did she know my father was our enemy in disguise. So I knew I had to play him in his game.

One day we set out, as my parents did all those years ago. The plan was for me to change forms so we could get some food. Only this time I didn't. I kept my form but remained hidden but in view of all that was to come. Until, I saw the king with his soldiers trotting down the mountain. These were the same men that slayed all the inhabitants of the place we called home. I also saw my father walking up towards them. I wasn't quite sure as to why he was doing this. Putting himself in blatant view of the enemies. Until he yelled in such arrogance “You think you can manipulate me, I know you have disguised yourself into being a king, you shall fool me not!”. He reached out into his sack pulling out a dagger which was meant for me. Then it dawned on me……It was a set up. My father actually wanted rid of me as he did my mother but failed in his attempts. The soldier’s grabbed hold of his paws tied them with a chainsaw and threw him off the edge of the mountain into the freezing cold river. That was the last I knew of him. I was to remain alone. No mother or father. I was the last of my kind. What was my fate to be now?



(Tanuki photo by Laszlo)

Bibliography:The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1903).
 Link: Japanese fairy tale (Lang)

Authors Note: This unit was very interesting. As I am not familiar with Japanese mythology. It was actually different to what I had anticipated it to be. This story was about a fox and a tunika who were married and had a son together. Their home was destroyed and there was no food. They were able to change forms using magic. On their second trip to get food the father exposed the mother as not being dead to the buyer and that she would attempt to escape, as she was one extra mouth to feed. Leading to her death. I decided to tell the story in the eyes of the son wanting to avenge his mother.

Week 6: Reading Diary- Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang)

The Two Frogs :I think it is so awesome, that you have two small frogs on a  journey to discover their native land. Could you imagine the size of these towns in comparison to the size of the frogs?, and how long it must have taken them to get from one side to another. I too don’t blame them for wanting to become bigger. It is a funny little story. As due to the positioning of their eyes they failed to see the difference in the two lands.

The Stonecutter: I think this story is the reality of being a human being. As humans, nothing is ever enough for us. We always tend to want more than what we have. Instead of being grateful for the things we do have and actually seeing them as a blessing. And in this case it led the man to be a stone.

The Maiden with the Wooden Helmet: Hatschihime was a very wise girl. In the sense that she clung on to her mothers words tightly in order to look after herself.  When the young boy fell for her and wanted to marry her. She could have made the easy decision into accepting him, thus ending her worldly worries. Allowing her to be cared for by him. But instead of causing problems in the young boys household she refused to marry him as his parent didn't want her for him. To my understanding this was a very selfless act on her behalf.

   The Envious Neighbor The neighbor in this story is a cunning person, and was not genuine in his request. Out of kindness of the owners of the dog (whom they cared for dearly) lent the neighbor a part of their family (the dog), in hopes that he too may find riches. Instead the opposite happened and his anger led him into killing the dog. This goes to show who you can trust and that not everyone has a pure heart as you may do.

  The Sparrow with the Slit Tongue: So far in all the stories that I have read. No matter what the cultural mythology women in most cases a portrayed as being evil.As the wife in this story is found to be. I wonder where that idea originated from. As the wife here is jealous of the sparrow due to the fact that her husband showed affection to something other than her. I think in general women do not like sharing the attention of their loved one. 

The Cat's Elopement: I enjoy how these Japanese tales use animals to portray the feelings of human beings. Whilst reading this, I almost forgot that it was two cats I was reading about. This is an example of a pair of two star crossed lovers that cannot be together due to their different owners. Sort of like the Montague's and the Capulet's in Romeo and Juliet.

 Schippeitaro: I think it is so scary and medieval that people would dress up a woman for a cause/sacrifice, and in turn feed her the mountains or rivers. This Is your typical story of the warrior saving the damsel in distress.

The Crab and the Monkey: Here the monkey took the crabs kindness for weakness. She allowed him to eat her kakis but instead the monkey became greedy. She was smart in making him do summersaults but in her attempts in preserving herself something to eat, led to her death - So he thought. In the end the crab had the last laugh.

  The Magic Kettle: Imagine a kettle turned into a tanuki. It reminds me of Aladdin and the genie in the lamp. At least the man was kind enough to share some of his wealth with the original finder of the kettle.

  How the Wicked Tanuki was Punished: The first thought that comes to mind when reading this is the German holocaust when the Jews were hunted. In this case the animals of the forest are being hunted. In order to survive the fate of being killed these animals were given the power of magic and intellect to ensure their survival as did the fox and the Tanuki. I don’t really know what a tanuki looks like. But they are quite the interesting family. I think their strategy in finding food here was quite smart. If I were in their position, why not both become humans and steel some food instead of trading and putting the other at risk. Luckily the tunika was very clever and escaped. I think it is very sad that the fox was actually loyal in aiding their survival whilst the tunika just wanted to lessen the burden by getting rid of his wife. This story is a good example of karma – what goes around comes around.

The Slaying of the Tanuki: Maybe the tanuki hates the peasant as his father disguised himself into a peasant upon selling out his mother to the buyer. Actually the tanuki here is actually a very evil creature. Here when the Tanuki assume the peasants wifes form it reminds me of the little red riding hood and the wolf when he dressed up like her grandmother in hopes that he may trick her, as are the tanukis intentions here. I don’t get why the tanuki would even consider trusting the hare after hurting him in the first place.

  Uraschimataro and the Turtle: Here I could understand Uraschimataros parents being so anxious in letting him set sail as he was their one and only. Luckily, his good deed in setting the turtle free repaid him as when his boat was swallowed by the sea. That same turtle came to rescue him. Imagine finding a whole new world under the sea. Although he was rewarded with good, it is almost as if he sold his soul to the devil. As he was gone for so long that when he finally got to return home his parents were dead. Imagine the state his parents were in after all that time thinking their son was taken by the sea.

                                               (Tanuki photo by Laszlo)

Link: Japanese Tale (Lang)

Week 5 : Essay

My thoughts on this week’s reading: At first when I chose this reading unit I thought I was in for the Disney fairy tale of Aladdin as that is the information provided in the weekly reading units table. But obviously I was wrong. To be honest I am actually quite happy that it was not a re write of the Disney version as it would not have been that interesting in terms of catching my attention.

Instead this unit kept the concept of the genie but in a much different light in comparison to the Disney story. One thing that really caught my attention was the way in which the unit is a collection of different story tellers telling a story and each chapter in the story is the narration of the person telling the story in the previous story that you read. So it was really a story inside a story. Which was a very smart choice in terms of captivating the readers.

Another thing that I also thoroughly enjoyed about this unit as I have mentioned above, was that yes there was still the concept of the genie. But each time we were introduced to the genie it was in a different story, and in a different sitting other than the lamp in the original Disney story. I think my choice was a very good one in terms of how it fits in with my blog so far, as I also chose a Middle Eastern unit in the week before. Therefore giving my blog a uniform feel.

I think the information provided in this unit is very clear cut and it does help paint a picture of each chapter before you go on to reading the chapter. Which in my case, sparked a greater interest into wanting to read the detailed story.


(Scheherazade)

Link: Arabian Nights

Week 5: Story telling - The 10 Year Curse

 

Let me - Aladdin, tell you a story. A Story about a man named Jerusalem and his two brothers Edward and Alexander. Jerusalem was a man in the business of trade as were his brothers Edward and Alexander. These young men all have one thing in common. They all suffered the loss of a loved one – the loss of their beloved father. Their father had lift them with a large sum of money, in which they were to use so that they may establish a life for themselves. Jerusalem was the youngest of the three but also the smartest as he let his money turn into more money, whilst Alexander and Edward sold their individual business so that they may travel Arabia.

Minutes turned into hours, hours into days, and days into months. Until one month, Alexander appeared at Jerusalem’s front door looking as if he had gone through the wars of the world. “What is the matter dear brother?” asked Jerusalem in concern.

“I have lost it all and have failed in my worldly ventures” expressed Alexander “I haven’t a sequin of what father has left us. Whatever shall I do?”

 

(sequins minted by Suleiman I)

 

“Well first of all you need to come inside and we need to get you comfortable and fed. I could hardly recognize you” said Jerusalem “I shall give you half of my earnings so that you may start over here with me”

And so Jerusalem did just that and gave his brother half his earnings so that he may get back on his feet. Many weeks later Edward also appeared at Jerusalem’s door complaining of the same misfortune as did Alexander. Jerusalem being the good hearted person that he was offered him half his earnings to split with his brother.

One day the boys set off together after numerous days of trying to convince Jerusalem to shut up shop and join them in another worldly venture. But joint this time. They sailed across the red sea until they came to a shore for shelter. There she was, the most beautiful creature any of the boys had ever seen, and so Jerusalem fell in love with her and decided to marry her hastily.  She was young, with big dark eyes, hair flowing to her ankles, indeed she was a rare being and so they fell in love. As time went on Edward and alexander grew jealous of Jerusalem’s love for his wife Athia. So they decided to plot against him. Athia heard their plan against her loving husband as they wanted to murder him and take all of his wealth making it their own. So she hurried back and informed her husband of this scheme and promised that she will avenge him by turning them into dogs for ten years.

However what Jerusalem didn’t know was that his wife Athia was not any mortal human being, she was in fact a fairy that was sent by the Egyptian gods to protect Jerusalem and once her task was complete she was to disappear forever. And so she did just that and Jerusalem was never to see her again.

 

Authors note: I read this story, thinking that this unit was going to be just about Aladdin. However I was wrong. This unit is very vast in the number of stories told in it. So instead of collectively trying to compress all the stories into one. I decided to stick to one of the other stories being told by the old man and the two dogs to the genie. I kept most of the story in its original plot but changed up the character names.

 

 Link: Arabian NIghts

 

 

Week 5: Reading dairy- Arabian nights unit

Scheherazade: My thoughts here are that, how could someone call for the execution of their loved one because they had been deceiving you for many years. Yes it is hurtful and sad as this is someone you have entrusted your life and given you heart to. Nonetheless it does not make it okay. I guess that how things were done in the Arab worlds at the time. And as result of this bitter event it led the sultan to order every other bride that he married thereafter to be killed. I think Scheherazade is a very brave woman chancing her life in the event that maybe her actions would lead to saving her country whilst knowing the fate of the sultan previous wives.

Merchant and the genius: I think it was very clever of Scheherazade that she tricked the sultan by making her sister tell the story of the merchant and the genie thus making him more curious to here more and more of the story and in return sparing her life for an extra day. But I think as each day goes by he is going to grow to love her.

The story of the first old man and of the Hind: The jealousy of women through many of the stories I have read is quite astonishing. The mere fact that people practiced magic so freely at anything that they may have wanted or displeased them is quite crazy. Could you imagine turning someone into a cow or a calf because you disliked that? Throughout many of these stories the men are portrayed as the victim whilst the women are the villains and the root of all evil. Although the stewards’ daughter offered to return his adopted son to the old man but in return turned the old man’s wife into a hind which was considered to be the lesser evil instead of killing her.

The second man, and of the two black dogs: I think it’s quite funny that the merchants’ life is being spared as a result of these men telling stories to the genie. Its crazy how he travels with two dogs and that the dogs are actually his brothers. Was it a curse that maybe turned them this way? I think their brotherhood is really powerful in the sense that he gave his brothers all knowing that they too had the same but failed at their enterprise so he shared his wealth to set him up again. But the same brotherhood didn’t exist for the two dogs as they were jealous of his wife and prosperity so they resorted into plotting him which I think is quite sad, but luckily his wife wasn’t human but a fairy. Thus the fairy avenged him by turning them into a dogs for ten years. Thankfully these three old men saved the merchants life.

The fisherman: Scheherazades sister is a very clever girl as even when the story of the three old men was finished she went on to telling the story of the fisherman. Which worked in saving her sister life. These stories are interesting as they all involve a genie but in different lights. But in the stories so far he is angry and wants to kill anyone that find him for different reasons of course. It was very clever of the fisherman to trick him into going back into the vase as he would have killed him if he did not.

The Greek king and the physician Douban: Before reading this I thought that maybe he was going to make a herbal remedy but instead a form of sports which the English play today so often was used as a remedy by this physician to cure the Greek king then.

The Parrot and the ogress: The parrot here is almost like a nanny cam. I think

by having the parrot it is a more interesting way of snooping in marriage. Maybe it was stupid of the wife to do things in front of the parrot knowing how smart it was.

The Physicians revenge: the evil of these people. You have a man that has helped cure you but in return because you have the evil whispers of someone you resort into cutting of the hands of the one who has helped you.

The sultan and the fish: It is interesting how the sultans’ curiosity of the four different colored fishes led him to this other young king who I believe is a block from the waist down as a result of a curse. Maybe this will humble him.

The story of the young king of the black isle: Marriage and love was considered to be so sacred that some of these men would go to crazy extent even if they heard their wife was unfaithful or not happy with their husbands. However in this case the wife was evil and turned her husband- the young king into half marble, half man. It is interesting that each thing that is found in this island symbolizes different things that existed before his wife enchanted the place. Which was thereafter returned to it original state when the spell was lifted.

Aladdin and the wonderful lamp 1,& 2: This story is nothing like the Disney story as I had expected it to be. In the Disney version Aladdin finds a lamp not a ring and there is not magician that claims to be his uncle. He uses the wishes of the genie to help his mother as they were poor. The fact that he fell in love with the princess was something frightening for his mother instead of her being happy that her son found a bride.

 Aladdin and the wonderful lap 3, 4, & 5: is the bed the flying carpet? I think it was quite smart of the sultan to set such a high value on his daughter thinking that maybe Aladdin would not be able to offer her. This story is a good example of the saying money talks. I never thought that the story would have any connections in china. Even though this story was very different they all lived happily ever after.

Link: Arabian Nights

 

 

 

 

 

  

Week 4: Essay

This week I have chosen to write about wisdom again. The reason for this is because I really wanted to analyze the story of Moses and El-Khudr this week. As I think the topic “wisdom” fits perfectly with this story. Although I am sure one can find areas of wisdom that are also shown in the other stories in this unit (Holy Land Folklore Unit Reading Diary).

This one stood out to me the most as El-Khudr (the man whom Moses was told to accompany) was not a prophet, a messenger of God, or even a man of great status within the community. Instead he was amongst the villagers or the people of the city at the time of Moses. I think this is a great example of us not underestimating the powers of someone who is below us no matter what our status maybe. Even if we are someone of higher status as Moses was at the time in comparison to the man.

 Yes, one might argue that El-Khudrs actions cannot be portrayed as being wise or possessing wisdom of any sort. As all three of the events Moses witnessed with him were things that would be considered to be really bad. However in the end of the story we learn that it is not his action that we must focus on it is the bigger picture. The reason I say this is because if he had not done the things that he did a lot of bad would have come from it, so we are told in the story of Moses and El-Khudr. So one might go on to say that they were preventative actions in which he was given the authority or the command to do by the will of God.

In this story we see that Moses was clueless to something’s and that although Moses was a great man of his time he did not know it all.

(Allah written on the wall of a mosque)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy Land Folklore

week three: famous last words

Famous last words for this week: Well… I feel like this semester is going by real quick. I cannot believe that we are already on week three of this all and are now starting week fours work. I managed to work ahead this week. Lessening the work load for me this week as I have had such a hectic week. I have two quizzes which thankfully I managed to do great in. Work has been really slow, which I don’t really much enjoy slow days. As I am a very active and productive person and don’t enjoy hanging around much.

I have finally set myself a flow and a routine in terms of organizing my time. Yes I know its three weeks into the semester already but these things take time. I really wish I had more time as I did the week before allowing me to work ahead. Now I am pretty much caught up and I need to start on week fours work.

I think I am getting better each week in terms of my writing as I thought I did a terrible job in retelling my story in week two, however I think I did a much better job this week. I haven’t yet reached the word count so I am trying to think about what else I could write on here so that that I can hit three hundred. Two hundred and thirsty seven (ah come on I can do this). Oh I am really excited about the fall, I cannot wait for this place to start cooling down. My family in Seattle are sort of experiencing the drop in temperature already.

Oh looking at other peoples writing when commenting, it really makes me think wow! What great writers are in this class and if anyone is actually going to pursue this as a profession? Week four here I come!

Stay happy, by: Nite Owl II, date: 2009.Source: wikipedia.