Week 9: Essay - Assesses Reading Unit.

For this week’s reading unit I decided to read Native American heroes tales unit. Overall, I thought that this was a really good reading unit and I enjoyed reading about the different American Mythology. Being someone that prefers realistic story lines, I felt that this unit had a lot of that as well as the little imagination and adventure where needed.  The stories in this unit were a lot different to the ones I read in previous weeks. As the class progresses I have come to know that each genre or culture have different ways of telling mythical stories. Therefore, reading a diversity of stories from different parts of the world has definitely been an eye opener. One thing that I thought was really helpful reading this unit, was the fact that it didn’t have too many stories but rather a few stories that were short and sweet.

In this week’s story telling assignment I decided to write about my favorite story in the unit – Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away. This story stood out to me the most as I liked the fact that the twin boys weren’t dead and that they went on to grow up in two completely different places. But in the end they found each other and were reunited as a family. I also enjoyed the fact that whenever they were warned by their father not to do something. They would still go and do it but made sure they conquered every obstacle. To me this story showed their brotherhood and closeness and it reminded me a lot of my childhood growing up with my brothers and sisters.

I also enjoyed reading about the jealous uncle. I felt that this story reminded me a lot of the time of Moses and the Pharaoh. When the pharaoh wanted rid of all the boys that were born in Egypt but Moses being the only one to survive.
My least favorite was The Son-In-Law-Tests. I can’t really pinpoint why I did not enjoy this story. But it was definitely the least appealing. I didn’t quite understand the concept as to why the father did not want his daughter to be happily married. Overall, I thought that this was a very enjoyable reading unit.


                                        

                                                       (Grouse. One of the characters in the Bluejay and his companions story)

Link: Native American Hero Tales Unit

Week 9: Story Telling - Thrown-behind-the-curtain and Thrown-into-the-river

Once upon a time in a land far far away, there lived a man named Kowasa. Kowasa lived with his wife who at the time was pregnant with twin boys. In the land they lived there lived an evil witch. This witch hated anyone that was happier than her, so she took away their gift. 

One day when Kowasa went away to work she paid a visit to his wife and knocked her down then ripping open her belly and took out the twins. She threw one behind the curtain and the other she threw in the river.Kowasa came home that evening tired after a long days work.

 “Honey I’m home. I am starving could you fry this fish that I caught from the river?” asked Kowasa. But he got no reply. He then walked over to his wife that appeared as if she was just sitting there smiling but in fact she was dead.

Many weeks had passed and Kowasa came home to a lonely house and ate dinner on his own, until one day he heard a voice “May I eat with you?” said the voice. Kowasa looked around and heard that it was coming from behind the curtain.

 “Reveal yourself” Kowasa called. And there stood his son and they ate dinner together. His son explained what had happened and so Kowasa called him Thrown-behind-the-curtain.

Thrown-behind-the-curtain often visited the river where he played with a young boy of the same age. One day Kowasa came looking for his son and saw that he was playing with a boy. When Thrown-behind-the-curtain came home that evening Kowasa had asked him who that boy was and if he would like to stay with them. But Thrown-behind-the-curtain had told his father that he did not like to play with others as he lived in the river. “Bring him home one day” said Kowasa.

“He will not come out to play if he sees you” replied Thrown-behind-the-curtain.

“I shall hide” said Kowasa.

And so the next day he set off to play with the boy. When the boy saw that he was being watched he climbed the wall where Kowasa sat and tried to bite him with his otter appearing sharp teeth. But before he could do it Kowasa had broken off his teeth and they took the boy home.

Later that evening when they sat for dinner the boy had explained what had happened to him and so Kowasa knew that it was his other son and decided to name him Thrown-into-the-river. The two boys grew up to be brave conquering all the most dangerous obstacles and eventually killing the witch that cast a spell on their mother which caused her to sleep for many years. Their mother had awoken from the spell and they lived happily ever after.

                                           

                                                             (Crow horsemen, photo by E. Curtis)

Author’s Note: I decided to retell the story of the Lodge-boy and thrown-away. I enjoyed reading this story the most. I kept the plot of the story the same but I changed up the names of the characters.  The original story is about two boys that were thrown away by an evil witch before birth. When their father found them to be alive, he took them both into care and they went on to go through dangerous adventures which the father had told them not to. But each time they went they would come back victorious. In the end their mother is bought back from the dead and so the story ends.

Link : Lodge-boy and Thrown-away

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). 

Week 9: Reading Dairy - Native American Heroes Tales unit

The Jealous Uncle & The Jealous uncle (Continu) – This story about unnatural and the boys reminds me of Moses and the pharaoh because this uncle killed all his male nephews as the pharaoh had ordered to the people of his land. I think it is sad that the uncle still wanted to kill his nephew knowing that he bought him back some wood. I also think it is quite stupid of the boy to trust his uncle knowing that he killed his brother before him. I think it is pretty awesome that he stumbled upon the eagle people and their ability to turn into eagles and humans. I am glad he got revenge for his parents after the cruelty of his uncle.

Bluejay and His Companions – I think that Bluejay is a very bad a selfish friend – poor Grouse. I think that there are a lot of cunning characters in this book. I think Bluejay had a good set of companions they were victorious in every challenge they had to face. Bluejay even lied to his companions about having tamanous to give to them. In the end they learnt their lesson giving grouse the fattest seal.

Dug- From- Ground – this is a classic example of doing the things we aren’t supposed to. What is it that they say “curiosity killed the cat.” I think that it is sad that his mother will not look at him. When thy boy grew up he grew up to be a very fine and strong young man.

The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle & (contin) – This story reminds me of some of the Greek myths. I think that is creative that jonayaiyin and the animals can communicate. And why is it that all the animals wants the Elk dead also? I like how they used the ploughing of the Elk to portray how the mountains today were formed. It was kind of jonayaiyin not killing the eaglets but he killed the mother which is quite sad. It was quite unfair for the bat to lose her feathers after she helped Jonayaiyin.

         (Elk. Source : The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle By Jicarilla Apache, 1929)

Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away – How could red woman be so evil in killing a woman and taking out her babies. I am glad to know that the two twin boys are alive. The fact that one of the twin boys lives in the springs and has sharp teeth like otters show that he had adapted to his living conditions, sort of like the jungle book or the boy that grew up with the wolves. I was glad to read that the mother was bought back to life. Thrown in the springs and Thrown-behind the curtain are to brave boys, as children they always do what their father tells them not to. I guess the boys grew up to be heroes.

The Son-in-Law Tests – This was a really loyal wife as she made sure to protect her husband from Wemicus because he had killed all her other husbands. I didn't really enjoy this story.

The Jealous Father – Aioswe is a crazy character I think by actually thinking that his son was intimate with one of his wives just because he had seen some marks on her. Aioswe’s son is very selfish as Walrus is just trying to help him but in order for the son to reach his goal he is lying to him about everything in fear that he may be deserted. As a result Walrus died because Aioswe sent lightening to strike him. He was actually very clever making the witches that were sent to kill him to kill each other. He got revenge on his father and he and his mother lived happily ever after. I think this is one of the nicest stories so far in this unit.

Dirty Boy – I like the concept of sun and star coming down to earth and pretending to be humans. I also like the fact the grandmother (star) was rooting for her grandson as he was the one that shot the eagle not wolf. Even though dirty-boy/ Sun was sick and not good looking the younger sister still went and agreed to marry him and in return she got a handsome prince.

Source :Native American Heroes Tales Unit

Bibliography : Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929).