I have been using DuckDuckGo since the beginning of the semester. I started doing research about internet browsing, and I thought that DuckDuckGo sounded to good to be true. I understand why Google wants my data, and they might not being using it for anything bad, but it still feels weird to me. I like my privacy.
After using DDG for a couple months now, I can safely say I will never go back. It feels so much better to use, and for the most part I feel like I get better search results. It's so nice not being bombarded with annoying ads.
Somehow I managed to go this whole time without knowing about bangs, and now I feel really dumb. That is such an awesome feature that I will use all the time now.
The only complaint I have about DuckDuckGo is the image search. It isn't anything serious because I don't really search for images all that much, but I do for this class. The image search function works fine, but for finding free to use images Google is still my go to. I don't know how to narrow DDG searches down to only non-copyright images, but I'm sure there is a way. That's my only gripe and it's not even a gripe. For the most part I get most of my images from Unsplash now anyways. They have some great high-quality photos that are all free to use.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Week 15 Story
Spongebob and his snail Gary were very poor. One day during the winter Gary grew deathly ill and passed away. Spongebob was devastated. He asked his friends to help him dig a grave, but none of them could becasue they were too busy. He asked his boss Mr. Krabs, but he said he could only help him for money. Spongebob was devastated and needed to bury his beloved pet. He decided he had to take matters into his own hands and bury Gary himself.
So he got a shovel and started digging a hole. Once he had dug a good bit his shovel hit something hard. He uncovered it and it was a treasure chest filled with gold. He took it home with him, and bought enough food to have a feast for himself. After he was good and full he went back to Mr. Krabs to ask for his help with the grave.
When he got there Mr. Krabs said "I thought I already told you if you don't have any money I'm not helping you."
This time though Spongebob did have money. He gave Mr. Krabs a gold coin. Mr. Krabs agreed to help bury his precious snail. After the funeral Spongebob invited Mr. Krabs to his house. Mr. Krabs asked Spongebob how he got the money. He asked if he robbed Squidward. Spongebob told him that he found a treasure chest when he was digging a grave.
Mr. Krabs was incredibly jealous. He went home to his daughter Pearl and devised a plan. He had her make him a ghost costume, and she fastened it on him so it wouldn't slip or fall off. Then in the dead of night he went to Spongebob's house.
He knocked on the window, and Spongebob asked who's there. Mr. Krabs told him he was a ghost and he was going to haunt him unless he handed over the treasure he had found. Spongbob thought about it, and becasue he used to be poor he decided he would be fine without the treasure. He gave it all to Mr. Krabs.
Mr. Krabs returned home and had Pearl take off his costume. But when she tried to take it off she couldn't. The adhesive she had used was permanent. Mr. Krabs was stuck like this.
Author's Note:
The story I read was the Russian short story The Treasure. In the story a man's wife dies and no one will help him bury her. He goes to the pope, but he turns him down because he doesn't have money. He digs the grave himself and finds a pot full of ducats. He enlists the help of the pope, and the pope grows envious when he finds out about the ducats. He kills a goat and has his wife sew it on him. He tells the man he is the devil and he hands the ducats over to him. When he returns home the wife cannot get the goat hide off him.
I changed it to Spongebob to make it a little less dark, but everything else is more or less true to the original.
Bibliography:
Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).
So he got a shovel and started digging a hole. Once he had dug a good bit his shovel hit something hard. He uncovered it and it was a treasure chest filled with gold. He took it home with him, and bought enough food to have a feast for himself. After he was good and full he went back to Mr. Krabs to ask for his help with the grave.
When he got there Mr. Krabs said "I thought I already told you if you don't have any money I'm not helping you."
This time though Spongebob did have money. He gave Mr. Krabs a gold coin. Mr. Krabs agreed to help bury his precious snail. After the funeral Spongebob invited Mr. Krabs to his house. Mr. Krabs asked Spongebob how he got the money. He asked if he robbed Squidward. Spongebob told him that he found a treasure chest when he was digging a grave.
Mr. Krabs was incredibly jealous. He went home to his daughter Pearl and devised a plan. He had her make him a ghost costume, and she fastened it on him so it wouldn't slip or fall off. Then in the dead of night he went to Spongebob's house.
He knocked on the window, and Spongebob asked who's there. Mr. Krabs told him he was a ghost and he was going to haunt him unless he handed over the treasure he had found. Spongbob thought about it, and becasue he used to be poor he decided he would be fine without the treasure. He gave it all to Mr. Krabs.
Mr. Krabs returned home and had Pearl take off his costume. But when she tried to take it off she couldn't. The adhesive she had used was permanent. Mr. Krabs was stuck like this.
Author's Note:
The story I read was the Russian short story The Treasure. In the story a man's wife dies and no one will help him bury her. He goes to the pope, but he turns him down because he doesn't have money. He digs the grave himself and finds a pot full of ducats. He enlists the help of the pope, and the pope grows envious when he finds out about the ducats. He kills a goat and has his wife sew it on him. He tells the man he is the devil and he hands the ducats over to him. When he returns home the wife cannot get the goat hide off him.
I changed it to Spongebob to make it a little less dark, but everything else is more or less true to the original.
Bibliography:
Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Russia Reading Notes Part B
One night a man rode into a village and asked a man if he could stay in his cottage. The man told him to come in if he didn't fear death. The people inside the cottage were all crying, and the man asked why. The master of the house told him that in the village at night a witch comes around and causes death. She picks a house and the next morning everyone inside is dead. Tonight she is visiting their house. That night everyone went to sleep except for the traveling man. The witch put her arm in the cottage, and the man cut it off with his sword. The witch fled. The man hid the arm under his cloak. The next morning the man told the master that he can show him death if he wants. They gather everyone and go around looking for her, but they can't find her. They go home and they see that the house masters daughter is missing an arm. They drown the witch.
A man had three sons. When he was about to die he told his sons wives to watch over his body for one night each. He ordered that no cross was put on him. The first night the man sat up in his coffin and asked the first wife if she was there. Terrified, she told him she was. He asked again and she told him the same thing. He asked one more time and then he strangled her. He did the same thing with the second wife. The third wife was smarter. She waited for him to ask her the third time and as he lunged at her she put a cross on him. He died and when she looked in the coffin there was tons of money.
A man had three sons. When he was about to die he told his sons wives to watch over his body for one night each. He ordered that no cross was put on him. The first night the man sat up in his coffin and asked the first wife if she was there. Terrified, she told him she was. He asked again and she told him the same thing. He asked one more time and then he strangled her. He did the same thing with the second wife. The third wife was smarter. She waited for him to ask her the third time and as he lunged at her she put a cross on him. He died and when she looked in the coffin there was tons of money.
A warlock
Bibliography:
Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).
Reading Notes Russia Part A
A husband and wife lived in a village, and all of their neighbors envied them. The mother had a baby, but she died during birth. The father didn't know how to take care of the baby so he hired an old woman. During the day the baby wouldn't eat and he would cry nonstop. However, at night the baby was silent. The old woman decided to stay up one night to see what was happening. At midnight someone opened the door and went to the babies cradle. She told the father about this and he decides to see for himself. The next night the figure comes in again and when it gets to the cradle then shine a light on it. It's the dead mother. She immediately leaves silently. They go up to the cradle and the baby is dead.
An old couple lived in poverty. One winter the wife died in the winter. Everyone was poor so no one would help him dig a grave for his wife. Even the pope wouldn't help because he didn't have money. The old man decides to do it himself. While he is digging he finds a pot full of gold. He returns in the hope and gives him gold to bury his wife. The old man invited the pope to his home, and the pope asked him how he got the money. He thinks that he robbed someone. The man tells him how he found it. The pope is greedy and devises a plan to steal the money. He kills a goat and has the wife sew the skin on him. He goes to the man's house at night. He knocks on the window and tells the man he's the devil. He tells him to give him the gold. The man obliges. The pope goes back home and tells his wife to cut the skin off, but she can't. The goat skin had merged with the man.
An old couple lived in poverty. One winter the wife died in the winter. Everyone was poor so no one would help him dig a grave for his wife. Even the pope wouldn't help because he didn't have money. The old man decides to do it himself. While he is digging he finds a pot full of gold. He returns in the hope and gives him gold to bury his wife. The old man invited the pope to his home, and the pope asked him how he got the money. He thinks that he robbed someone. The man tells him how he found it. The pope is greedy and devises a plan to steal the money. He kills a goat and has the wife sew the skin on him. He goes to the man's house at night. He knocks on the window and tells the man he's the devil. He tells him to give him the gold. The man obliges. The pope goes back home and tells his wife to cut the skin off, but she can't. The goat skin had merged with the man.
The devil the man was impersonating. Source
Bibliography:
Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Week 14 Story Lab
This week for my story lab assignment I watched the TED Talks: Copyright is Brain Damage by Nina Paley and A New Theory of Human Intelligence by Scott Barry Kaufman
I thought what Scott Kaufman had to say was right on the nose. I think our society puts far too much emphasis on predictors and predictive measurements as a way to gauge intelligence. Kids are told they are either gifted or not when they are young and that shapes their whole learning experience.
I thought he had an awesome story to tell. It was hilarious how he was clever enough to get in to Carnegie Melon in a department that didn't care about SAT score. That just goes to show you how true the point he's trying to make is. He beat the system. He didn't cheat it. I hope we can keep working to implement some of the new ways of measuring intelligence that he discussed.
Copyright is brain damage. What a title. I really enjoyed what Nina had to speak about. I am not a creator so I can't even imagine what its like dealing with copyright on that end, but just as a consumer copyright is already frustrating enough.
I liked how she explained how copyright often isn't even doing anything to help the person whose work is being protected. I hate how much business and profits have ruined our world. People should absolutely make money off of their work, but copyright law has become increasingly predatory.
I hadn't heard about copylefting before this video, but now that it has been brought to my attention I think that it is pretty cool. I hope the movement has had good luck with trying to subvert copyright. I hope they have not been sued to death or worse.
I thought what Scott Kaufman had to say was right on the nose. I think our society puts far too much emphasis on predictors and predictive measurements as a way to gauge intelligence. Kids are told they are either gifted or not when they are young and that shapes their whole learning experience.
I thought he had an awesome story to tell. It was hilarious how he was clever enough to get in to Carnegie Melon in a department that didn't care about SAT score. That just goes to show you how true the point he's trying to make is. He beat the system. He didn't cheat it. I hope we can keep working to implement some of the new ways of measuring intelligence that he discussed.
Copyright is brain damage. What a title. I really enjoyed what Nina had to speak about. I am not a creator so I can't even imagine what its like dealing with copyright on that end, but just as a consumer copyright is already frustrating enough.
I liked how she explained how copyright often isn't even doing anything to help the person whose work is being protected. I hate how much business and profits have ruined our world. People should absolutely make money off of their work, but copyright law has become increasingly predatory.
I hadn't heard about copylefting before this video, but now that it has been brought to my attention I think that it is pretty cool. I hope the movement has had good luck with trying to subvert copyright. I hope they have not been sued to death or worse.
Reading Notes Dante's Inferno Part B
At the top of the broken gully, the infamy of Crete, the Minotaur, conceived on Pasiphaë, in the wooden cow, lay stretched out. When he saw Dante and the guide he gnashed at himself. The guide said, "Perhaps you think we are someone else. We are just passing through to see the punishments."
The Minotaur became enraged. Virgil told Dante, "Run to the passage while he is in a fury. It is time for your descent."
They made their way downwards. In the first ring they saw centaurs racing one behind another. WHen the centaurs saw them they stood still. Three elected leaders came up and asked why they were there. The guide responded that they will talk to Chiron. Chiron noticed that Dante is alive. The guide explained the situation. Chiron turned to Nessuss and said, "Turn and guide them. If another crew meets you then keep them off."
They followed their new guide along the crimson boiling. He said "These are tyrants who indulged in blood, and rapine. Here they lament their offenses, done without mercy."
As they kept walking the blood grew shallower and shallower. In the second ring the harpies made their nest. They had broad wings, and human necks and faces, clawed feet, and large feathered bellies. They made mournful cries in that strange wood.
They left the third ring and the guide told Dante, "'Follow me. Be careful not to place your feet on the burning sand. Always keep back close to the wood."
They reached a stopping point and the guide said, "There is a deserted island in the middle of the sea, named Crete, under whose king Saturn, the world was pure. Their course falls from rock to rock into this valley. They form Acheron, Styx and Phlegethon. They go down to where there is no further fall and form Cocytus. You will see what kind of lake that is, so I will not describe it to you here."
Bibliography
Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).
The Minotaur became enraged. Virgil told Dante, "Run to the passage while he is in a fury. It is time for your descent."
They made their way downwards. In the first ring they saw centaurs racing one behind another. WHen the centaurs saw them they stood still. Three elected leaders came up and asked why they were there. The guide responded that they will talk to Chiron. Chiron noticed that Dante is alive. The guide explained the situation. Chiron turned to Nessuss and said, "Turn and guide them. If another crew meets you then keep them off."
They followed their new guide along the crimson boiling. He said "These are tyrants who indulged in blood, and rapine. Here they lament their offenses, done without mercy."
As they kept walking the blood grew shallower and shallower. In the second ring the harpies made their nest. They had broad wings, and human necks and faces, clawed feet, and large feathered bellies. They made mournful cries in that strange wood.
They left the third ring and the guide told Dante, "'Follow me. Be careful not to place your feet on the burning sand. Always keep back close to the wood."
They reached a stopping point and the guide said, "There is a deserted island in the middle of the sea, named Crete, under whose king Saturn, the world was pure. Their course falls from rock to rock into this valley. They form Acheron, Styx and Phlegethon. They go down to where there is no further fall and form Cocytus. You will see what kind of lake that is, so I will not describe it to you here."
A Racing Centaur
Bibliography
Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).
Reading Notes Dante's Inferno Part A
Dante found himself in the middle of a dark wood. It was very harsh and frightening. He couldn't quite say how he got there. He was almost in a sleep-like state. He was fearful. When he was returning from the depths someone appeared. Dante cried out "Have pity on me!"
The figure replied, "I am not a man, but I once was. I was a poet. Why do you not climb the delightful mountain that is the cause of all joy?"
Dante answered, "Are you Virgil? Save me from here."
Virgil responded, "You must go another road if you wish to escape this savage place. No man can cross her path."
Finally Virgil said, "I think its best if you follow me. I will guide and lead you through here."
There were words on the gate to hell that Dante couldn't understand. Virgil told him it, "Here, all uncertainty must be left behind; all cowardice must be dead. We have come to the place where I told you that you would see the sad people who have lost the good of the intellect."
Sighs, complaints, and groans filled the air. Dante asked Virgil who was doing all the crying and what race they were. Virgil responded, "This is the miserable mode in which those exist who lived without praise, without blame. Heaven drove them out to maintain its beauty, and deep Hell does not accept them lest the evil have glory over them."
Then Dante asked what makes them groan so deeply. Virgil answered, "They have no hope of death, and their darkened life is so mean that they are envious of every other fate."
Dante looked back and saw a quickly moving banner. There was a line of people behind it. Then he looked onwards to the bank of the river, and he saw people. He asked Virgil who they were. Virgil told him he will know when they get to Acheron.
Bibliography
Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).
The figure replied, "I am not a man, but I once was. I was a poet. Why do you not climb the delightful mountain that is the cause of all joy?"
Dante answered, "Are you Virgil? Save me from here."
Virgil responded, "You must go another road if you wish to escape this savage place. No man can cross her path."
Finally Virgil said, "I think its best if you follow me. I will guide and lead you through here."
There were words on the gate to hell that Dante couldn't understand. Virgil told him it, "Here, all uncertainty must be left behind; all cowardice must be dead. We have come to the place where I told you that you would see the sad people who have lost the good of the intellect."
Sighs, complaints, and groans filled the air. Dante asked Virgil who was doing all the crying and what race they were. Virgil responded, "This is the miserable mode in which those exist who lived without praise, without blame. Heaven drove them out to maintain its beauty, and deep Hell does not accept them lest the evil have glory over them."
Then Dante asked what makes them groan so deeply. Virgil answered, "They have no hope of death, and their darkened life is so mean that they are envious of every other fate."
Dante looked back and saw a quickly moving banner. There was a line of people behind it. Then he looked onwards to the bank of the river, and he saw people. He asked Virgil who they were. Virgil told him he will know when they get to Acheron.
Spooky forest from Unsplash
Bibliography
Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Extra Credit Reading Beowulf Pt B
Beowulf lay still on the couch. A fog was creeping up outside. After some time there was a rustling in the trees. A deep grunt of a pig could be heard. The fog parted and a shadow loomed. Grendel stood at the entrance of the keep while Beowulf and the Earls slept soundly. He began to try and get the door open.
Grendel cast a spell to make those who were sleeping sleep even harder. Eventually Grendel got through the door of the keep. Beowulf came out of his dream spell and he saw Grendel. After Grendel devoured Hondscio he tuned his eyes to Beowulf. Beowulf, who was stung with loathing, leaped from the bed.
They fought silently in the fog filled hall. Beowulf gained the upper hand and flew at Grendel. He twisted Grendel's arm, and Grendel fell to the floor. Grendel oozed a slimy sap that smelled like vinegar and sickened Beowulf. Beowulf called on the strength of the Gods and he ripped off Grendel's arm.
Then the spell wore off on the rest of the Earls. Grendel ran out the door into the fog. The next morning men hoisted Grendel's arm from the ceiling. Men came from all around to view this trophy.
The king and queen thanked Beowulf. They had a feast that lasted for days. A messenger came and interrupted the celebration. He told them that Lord Aescher was dead. He said that he was murdered by some new fiend. Grendel's arm was missing.
Wealhtheow told Beowulf "this must be the work of Grendel's mother. Your work here is not done."
Beowulf told his men to come because they have a new monster to fight. Black Unferth stepped forward and told Beowulf that he was sorry for ever doubting him. He gave Beowulf his magic sword.
Bibliography
The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs, with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).
Grendel cast a spell to make those who were sleeping sleep even harder. Eventually Grendel got through the door of the keep. Beowulf came out of his dream spell and he saw Grendel. After Grendel devoured Hondscio he tuned his eyes to Beowulf. Beowulf, who was stung with loathing, leaped from the bed.
They fought silently in the fog filled hall. Beowulf gained the upper hand and flew at Grendel. He twisted Grendel's arm, and Grendel fell to the floor. Grendel oozed a slimy sap that smelled like vinegar and sickened Beowulf. Beowulf called on the strength of the Gods and he ripped off Grendel's arm.
Then the spell wore off on the rest of the Earls. Grendel ran out the door into the fog. The next morning men hoisted Grendel's arm from the ceiling. Men came from all around to view this trophy.
The king and queen thanked Beowulf. They had a feast that lasted for days. A messenger came and interrupted the celebration. He told them that Lord Aescher was dead. He said that he was murdered by some new fiend. Grendel's arm was missing.
Wealhtheow told Beowulf "this must be the work of Grendel's mother. Your work here is not done."
Beowulf told his men to come because they have a new monster to fight. Black Unferth stepped forward and told Beowulf that he was sorry for ever doubting him. He gave Beowulf his magic sword.
Photo by Ricardo Cruz on Unsplash
Bibliography
The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs, with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Reading Notes Looking Glass Part B
Alice's first thought was that she must have been dreaming about the Lion and the Unicorn and those queer Anglo-Saxon Messengers. At this moment her thoughts were interrupted by a loud shouting of
'Ahoy! Ahoy! Check!' and a Knight dressed in crimson armor came
galloping down upon her, brandishing a great club. Just as he reached
her, the horse stopped suddenly: 'You're my prisoner!' the Knight cried,
as he tumbled off his horse.
Then the white knight shows up and he says the same thing and tries to take Alice as his prisoner. They began banging away at each other with such fury that Alice got behind a tree to be out of the way of the blows.
Alice asks the knight about his body. The Knight looked surprised at the question. :What does it matter where my body happens to be?" he said. "My mind goes on working all the same. In fact, the more head downwards I am, the more I keep inventing new things."
Alice has a golden crown on her head. She was not surprised at finding the Red Queen and the White Queen sitting by her. She would have liked very much to ask them how they came there, but she feared it would not be quite civil. However, there would be no harm, she thought, in asking if the game was over
Bibliography
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871).
Then the white knight shows up and he says the same thing and tries to take Alice as his prisoner. They began banging away at each other with such fury that Alice got behind a tree to be out of the way of the blows.
Alice asks the knight about his body. The Knight looked surprised at the question. :What does it matter where my body happens to be?" he said. "My mind goes on working all the same. In fact, the more head downwards I am, the more I keep inventing new things."
Alice has a golden crown on her head. She was not surprised at finding the Red Queen and the White Queen sitting by her. She would have liked very much to ask them how they came there, but she feared it would not be quite civil. However, there would be no harm, she thought, in asking if the game was over
The White Knight. Source
Bibliography
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871).
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Reading Notes Looking Glass Part A
The glass was beginning to melt away like a mist. Alice was through the glass and had jumped lightly down into the looking glass room. There was a fire in the fireplace. The pictures on the wall seemed to be alive.
Alice heard the Red King and Red Queen go past. A white pawn began screaming at the table behind Alice. The White Queen screamed "Oh my! My precious child!" Alice picked up the queen and set her on the table next to the pawn. Next Alice picked the king up more slowly and gently than she did the queen. She dusted all the ash off of him too.
The king takes out a notebook and begins writing a memo. Alice took his pencil and wrote "THE WHITE KNIGHT IS SLIDING DOWN THE POKER. HE BALANCES VERY BADLY" in his notebook.
There was a book lying near Alice on the table, and while she sat watching the White King she turned over the leaves to find some part that she could read. She told herself "it's all in some language I don't know. She realized she had to hold the book to a mirror because she was in the loking glass world. It was a poem about the Jabberwocky.
Alice realized she needed to hurry. She thought to herself "if I don't make haste I shall have to go back through the Looking-glass before I've seen what the rest of the house is like! Let's have a look at the garden first!" She was out of the room in a moment, and ran down stairs.
She wandered on until she came across two little fat men. One of them had "DUM"embroidered on his collar, and the other "DEE." Alice asks them what the best way to get out of the woods is. Alice didn't want to hurt either of the boys feelings so she shook both of their hands at the same time.
Bibliography
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871).
Alice heard the Red King and Red Queen go past. A white pawn began screaming at the table behind Alice. The White Queen screamed "Oh my! My precious child!" Alice picked up the queen and set her on the table next to the pawn. Next Alice picked the king up more slowly and gently than she did the queen. She dusted all the ash off of him too.
The king takes out a notebook and begins writing a memo. Alice took his pencil and wrote "THE WHITE KNIGHT IS SLIDING DOWN THE POKER. HE BALANCES VERY BADLY" in his notebook.
There was a book lying near Alice on the table, and while she sat watching the White King she turned over the leaves to find some part that she could read. She told herself "it's all in some language I don't know. She realized she had to hold the book to a mirror because she was in the loking glass world. It was a poem about the Jabberwocky.
Alice realized she needed to hurry. She thought to herself "if I don't make haste I shall have to go back through the Looking-glass before I've seen what the rest of the house is like! Let's have a look at the garden first!" She was out of the room in a moment, and ran down stairs.
She wandered on until she came across two little fat men. One of them had "DUM"embroidered on his collar, and the other "DEE." Alice asks them what the best way to get out of the woods is. Alice didn't want to hurt either of the boys feelings so she shook both of their hands at the same time.
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Source
Bibliography
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871).
Friday, November 8, 2019
Story Lab
This week for the story lab assignment I watched the two TED talk videos. I thought the videos were really insightful and thought-provoking.
The first woman was a great storyteller and orator. I think I could listen to her talk for hours on end. I thought she did a great job at making her speech funny at times to. I had never given much thought to the characters I know. I grew up in the western world so it was something I never had to worry about. I thought it was particularly funny when she brought up how badly she wanted to try ginger beer.
The second video was also super informative. I thought it was really cool how she was a psychology professor at OU. It was surprising to hear how much people consumer Harry Potter, but it made sense. I was surprised how attached people felt to fictional characters, but I also wasn't that surprised. Bridge to Terrabithia is still the most emotionally scarring I have ever seen. That death hit me harder than any other fictional death. I didn't know kids could die at that point in my life.
The first woman was a great storyteller and orator. I think I could listen to her talk for hours on end. I thought she did a great job at making her speech funny at times to. I had never given much thought to the characters I know. I grew up in the western world so it was something I never had to worry about. I thought it was particularly funny when she brought up how badly she wanted to try ginger beer.
The second video was also super informative. I thought it was really cool how she was a psychology professor at OU. It was surprising to hear how much people consumer Harry Potter, but it made sense. I was surprised how attached people felt to fictional characters, but I also wasn't that surprised. Bridge to Terrabithia is still the most emotionally scarring I have ever seen. That death hit me harder than any other fictional death. I didn't know kids could die at that point in my life.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Reading Notes King Arthur Part B
Galahad comes across two knights. He asked the knights what brought them there. The knights replied that there is a shield that no one can put on his neck without it killing him in three days. They hear mass and then a monk leads them to an altar with a shield behind it. The monk said "this shield can be hung around no knights neck unless he be the worthiest knight in the world."
King Bagdemagus bared the shield even though he knew he wasn't worthy. He told Galahad to wait there to see what happens to him. Bagdemagus rode two miles before he ran into a strange knight who injured him with a spear. The knight took the shield and gave it to his squire. He told his squire to give the shield to Sir Galahad.
The squire asks Bagdemagus if he is wounded. Bagdemagus said he is and that he will "hardly escape from death." The squire brought him to a monastery and treated his wounds. Then the squire went to Galahad and told him that he is the one who has to bare the shied. Galahad bares the shield and they head out to the White Knight.
Galahad returns to the monks. They have him investigate a tomb that is making strange noises. Galahad opens the tomb and smoke comes out. A foul figure appears and told Galahad that he sees so many angels around him that he won't dare to touch him. The monks and Galahad removed a body from the tomb because it wasn't a true christian.
The sick knight arose and saw Lancelot at his feet with his eyes shut. "I marvel greatly at this sleeping Knight," he said to his squire, "that he had no power to wake when the Holy Vessel was brought hither."
Bibliography:
King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).
King Bagdemagus bared the shield even though he knew he wasn't worthy. He told Galahad to wait there to see what happens to him. Bagdemagus rode two miles before he ran into a strange knight who injured him with a spear. The knight took the shield and gave it to his squire. He told his squire to give the shield to Sir Galahad.
The squire asks Bagdemagus if he is wounded. Bagdemagus said he is and that he will "hardly escape from death." The squire brought him to a monastery and treated his wounds. Then the squire went to Galahad and told him that he is the one who has to bare the shied. Galahad bares the shield and they head out to the White Knight.
Galahad returns to the monks. They have him investigate a tomb that is making strange noises. Galahad opens the tomb and smoke comes out. A foul figure appears and told Galahad that he sees so many angels around him that he won't dare to touch him. The monks and Galahad removed a body from the tomb because it wasn't a true christian.
The sick knight arose and saw Lancelot at his feet with his eyes shut. "I marvel greatly at this sleeping Knight," he said to his squire, "that he had no power to wake when the Holy Vessel was brought hither."
The Shield from Wikipedia
Bibliography:
King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).
Reading Notes King Arthur Part A
King Uther died and there was no king. Every knight in the kingdom wanted the crown for himself. The country was in bad shape without a king. Merlin and counsel decided all the lords and gentlemen should meet in London on Christmas Day. There was a sword in a stone. "Whoso pulleth out this sword is by right of birth the king of England" was written on the stone.
No one could pull the sword from the stone. Two knights were chosen to keep guard over the sword. The counsel decided that on New Years Day a tournament should be held. Any knight who wanted could try to remove the sword.
Sir Ector brought his son Kay and his foster son Arthur. Kay asked Arthur to return home and grab his sword because he forgot it. Arthur goes to get it, but the door is locked. Arthur doesn't know what to do so he decides he will grab the stone in the courtyard and give it to his brother. He grabbed the handle of the sword and drew it out easily. He delivered it to Kay.
Kay told his father he was now the rightful king becasue he had the sword in his possession. Ector made Kay swear where he got the sword from, and Kay told him his brother brought it to him. Ector then tells Arthur that he is the rightful king. He tells Arthur to put the sword back so there can be a witness this time. Kay and Ector try to remove the sword, but they cannot. Arthur tries and removes the sword as easily as he did the first time.
Ector and Kay kneel. Arthur asks "Why do you, my father and brother, kneel to me?"
Ector tells Arthur that he is not really his father. Ector told Arthur "You are the son of Uther Pendragon, and you were brought to me when you were born by Merlin himself, who promised that when the time came I should know from whom you sprang."
Bibliography:
King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).
No one could pull the sword from the stone. Two knights were chosen to keep guard over the sword. The counsel decided that on New Years Day a tournament should be held. Any knight who wanted could try to remove the sword.
Sir Ector brought his son Kay and his foster son Arthur. Kay asked Arthur to return home and grab his sword because he forgot it. Arthur goes to get it, but the door is locked. Arthur doesn't know what to do so he decides he will grab the stone in the courtyard and give it to his brother. He grabbed the handle of the sword and drew it out easily. He delivered it to Kay.
Kay told his father he was now the rightful king becasue he had the sword in his possession. Ector made Kay swear where he got the sword from, and Kay told him his brother brought it to him. Ector then tells Arthur that he is the rightful king. He tells Arthur to put the sword back so there can be a witness this time. Kay and Ector try to remove the sword, but they cannot. Arthur tries and removes the sword as easily as he did the first time.
Ector and Kay kneel. Arthur asks "Why do you, my father and brother, kneel to me?"
Ector tells Arthur that he is not really his father. Ector told Arthur "You are the son of Uther Pendragon, and you were brought to me when you were born by Merlin himself, who promised that when the time came I should know from whom you sprang."
The sword in the stone from Pixabay
Bibliography:
King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Extra Credit Reading Beowulf: Part A
Long ago in the north of what is now known as Europe there was a kingdom called Geatsland. Its ruler was a man named Hygelac. The men who lived in Geatsland were famous for their bravery. The Geats were a warlike nation. Hygelac and his warriors were fighting in battles for most of the year.
The caves along the coasts of Geatsland were inhabited by evil monsters. Huge serpents devoured fishermen when they could catch them by surprise. The forests were filled with loathsome beasts. It was not safe to travel in them after dark. However, the monsters of the sea and the forest kept to themselves. They rarely left their lairs.
Beowulf was Hygelac's nephew. He was the son of the king's sister. When he was young Beowulf went to live with his uncle to learn the arts of war and how to handle ships. As the years passed he became more sullen in his strength. His companions dubbed him "the silent." When he reached his manhood and was admitted to the king's circle a feast was thrown for him. At the feast Beowulf sat in gloomy silence. His strength was great, but he had nothing to use it on. He longed for adventure.
Hygelac signaled and all the voices in the hall died down. He told everyone that someone had come a long way to sing a wondrous song for them. That person is the Wanderer. The Wanderer came forward with his harp. He sat down on a stool, threw back his cloak, and struck the strings of the harp. His voice was like the crying of birds, but there was a sweetness to it. He sang about a monster that had terrorized a neighboring kingdom. The monster was part bird part animal, and it was called Grendel.
Bibliography
The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs, with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).
The caves along the coasts of Geatsland were inhabited by evil monsters. Huge serpents devoured fishermen when they could catch them by surprise. The forests were filled with loathsome beasts. It was not safe to travel in them after dark. However, the monsters of the sea and the forest kept to themselves. They rarely left their lairs.
Beowulf was Hygelac's nephew. He was the son of the king's sister. When he was young Beowulf went to live with his uncle to learn the arts of war and how to handle ships. As the years passed he became more sullen in his strength. His companions dubbed him "the silent." When he reached his manhood and was admitted to the king's circle a feast was thrown for him. At the feast Beowulf sat in gloomy silence. His strength was great, but he had nothing to use it on. He longed for adventure.
Hygelac signaled and all the voices in the hall died down. He told everyone that someone had come a long way to sing a wondrous song for them. That person is the Wanderer. The Wanderer came forward with his harp. He sat down on a stool, threw back his cloak, and struck the strings of the harp. His voice was like the crying of birds, but there was a sweetness to it. He sang about a monster that had terrorized a neighboring kingdom. The monster was part bird part animal, and it was called Grendel.
Bibliography
The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs, with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Reading Notes B: Cherokee
The Possum and the Terrapin went out together to hunt persimmons and
found a tree full of ripe fruit. The Possum climbed it and was throwing
down the persimmons to the Terrapin when a wolf came up and began to
snap. The Possum waited his chance, and at last managed to throw down a large one. It lodged in the wolf's throat as he jumped up at it and choked him to death.
After a while he came to a house and was invited to have some gruel. He sat down beside the jar and dipped up the gruel with one of the wolf's ears as a spoon. Soon the news went around, that the Terrapin had killed the Wolf and was using his ears for spoons. The wolves came together and took Terrapin prisoner. They agreed to boil Terrapin in a pot.
They brought in a pot, but the Terrapin only laughed at it and said that if they put him into that thing he would kick it all to pieces. They said they would burn him in the fire, but the Terrapin laughed again and said he would put it out.
Then they decided to throw him into the deepest hole in the river and drown him. The Terrapin begged and prayed them not to do that, but they paid no attention, and dragged him over to the river and threw him in. That was just what the Terrapin had been waiting for all the time, and he dived under the water and came up on the other side and got away.
Once the animals challenged the birds to a great ballplay, and the birds accepted. The captain of the animals was the Bear, who was so strong and heavy that he could pull down anyone who got in his way. The birds had the Eagle for their captain.
Bibliography
Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).
After a while he came to a house and was invited to have some gruel. He sat down beside the jar and dipped up the gruel with one of the wolf's ears as a spoon. Soon the news went around, that the Terrapin had killed the Wolf and was using his ears for spoons. The wolves came together and took Terrapin prisoner. They agreed to boil Terrapin in a pot.
They brought in a pot, but the Terrapin only laughed at it and said that if they put him into that thing he would kick it all to pieces. They said they would burn him in the fire, but the Terrapin laughed again and said he would put it out.
Then they decided to throw him into the deepest hole in the river and drown him. The Terrapin begged and prayed them not to do that, but they paid no attention, and dragged him over to the river and threw him in. That was just what the Terrapin had been waiting for all the time, and he dived under the water and came up on the other side and got away.
Once the animals challenged the birds to a great ballplay, and the birds accepted. The captain of the animals was the Bear, who was so strong and heavy that he could pull down anyone who got in his way. The birds had the Eagle for their captain.
Bibliography
Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Read Notes Part A Cherokee
The Earth is a great island floating in a sea. It is suspended at the four cardinal points by a cord hanging down from the sky vault.
When all was water the animals were above. One day they wondered what was below the water, so the son of the Beaver, Water Beetle, volunteered to go down and check. He couldn't find a firm place so it kept diving down deeper and deeper. It got to the bottom of the sea, and it came back up with mud. The mud began to spread until it became the land we call the Earth.
The land was fastened to the sky, but no one remembers who did it. At first the Earth was very soft and wet. Birds were sent out to see if the land was dry. At last it was time. They sent out the great buzzard. He flew all over the Earth, but it was still soft. He came to the land we now know as Cherokee Country. He was extremely tired. His wings flapped and wherever they struck the earth there was a valley, and where they turned up again there was a mountain. Cherokee country remains full of mountains to this day.
When the earth was dry and the animals came down, it was still dark, so they got the sun and set it in a track to go every day. There is another world under this, and it is like ours in everything except that the seasons are different. The streams that come down from the mountains are the trails by which we reach this underworld, and the springs at their heads are the doorways by which we enter
When the animals and plants were first made they were told to watch and keep awake for seven nights.
Bibliography
Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).
When all was water the animals were above. One day they wondered what was below the water, so the son of the Beaver, Water Beetle, volunteered to go down and check. He couldn't find a firm place so it kept diving down deeper and deeper. It got to the bottom of the sea, and it came back up with mud. The mud began to spread until it became the land we call the Earth.
The land was fastened to the sky, but no one remembers who did it. At first the Earth was very soft and wet. Birds were sent out to see if the land was dry. At last it was time. They sent out the great buzzard. He flew all over the Earth, but it was still soft. He came to the land we now know as Cherokee Country. He was extremely tired. His wings flapped and wherever they struck the earth there was a valley, and where they turned up again there was a mountain. Cherokee country remains full of mountains to this day.
When the earth was dry and the animals came down, it was still dark, so they got the sun and set it in a track to go every day. There is another world under this, and it is like ours in everything except that the seasons are different. The streams that come down from the mountains are the trails by which we reach this underworld, and the springs at their heads are the doorways by which we enter
When the animals and plants were first made they were told to watch and keep awake for seven nights.
Bibliography
Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).
Friday, October 25, 2019
Story Laboratory: Crash Course Mythology
First off I wanna say that I really enjoyed these videos. I started watching crash course when I was in European history in high school and I loved them. I've watched the for classes I take whenever they have them, but it never occurred to me that they would have one for mythology. I'm definitely going to be watching more of these on my own time!
I enjoyed how the host went into the nitty gritty of what a myth is. He came up with such a surgical definition for something so abstract. I like how the hosts approach to mythology is very similar to the one we take in the class - it isn't just Greek mythology. When I signed up for this class that's what I thought this class wold be over. I think it is really cool how in both the class and the videos the focus is on exposing people to myths they aren't familiar with.
I'm not good with theory - it usually just goes over my head, but I loved the video of him breaking down the theory of mythology. I'm not gonna pretend like I understand everything he said, but it was still a great video. I like the point about Plato equating myths with lies. Myths were a way for people to blame all of the evils of humanity on the gods. I had never thought about myths like this before.
Finally I really loved the hero video - it was my favorite of the three. I enjoyed learning about monomyths. I didn't know how structured and formulaic these myths are.
All in all I still love crash course videos. The rapid-fire delivery and neat animation are still as cool as they've ever been. I'm a huge fan of educational content that is actually entertaining.
I enjoyed how the host went into the nitty gritty of what a myth is. He came up with such a surgical definition for something so abstract. I like how the hosts approach to mythology is very similar to the one we take in the class - it isn't just Greek mythology. When I signed up for this class that's what I thought this class wold be over. I think it is really cool how in both the class and the videos the focus is on exposing people to myths they aren't familiar with.
I'm not good with theory - it usually just goes over my head, but I loved the video of him breaking down the theory of mythology. I'm not gonna pretend like I understand everything he said, but it was still a great video. I like the point about Plato equating myths with lies. Myths were a way for people to blame all of the evils of humanity on the gods. I had never thought about myths like this before.
Finally I really loved the hero video - it was my favorite of the three. I enjoyed learning about monomyths. I didn't know how structured and formulaic these myths are.
All in all I still love crash course videos. The rapid-fire delivery and neat animation are still as cool as they've ever been. I'm a huge fan of educational content that is actually entertaining.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Reading Notes B: Apache
An old woman gave her boy a present so he might become a medicine man. One day the woman said to the boy, "I am hungry. Do you have any food?"
The boy told her to come back tomorrow and she won't be hungry. The next day the son made a corral close to the river. He gathered men and they killed antelope. Then they did the same thing the next day. After that if the son whistled the antelope would come in to the corral. Eventually the woman said, "that is enough. My wrists ache."
The woman asked her son for the gift back, but he told her he already gave it to the supernatural. The woman cursed him. The son left and he came across a place called Sticks Swim Around. He set up his home there. People came after him, but they could not find him. Two years later men came to his home. They were at war with another tribe. They heard a voice that said, "you must be my people.
They replied, "yes we are."
Then he dropped them a buffalo with its head and back to them. They wanted to leave to attack the warring tribe, but the man said to go in a day becasue they aren't aware of their presence. He told the men, "you'll surround them at noon. Bring me the all black horse. The one with no white spots."
He continued, "If at any time you are in need, make smoke for me. My home is by Sheep Horn Mountain. If you want anything blow smoke towards that place."
The next day the people went in daylight and surrounded the other tribe at noon just like the man said. They saw the black horse with no white and kept it with them. They came by the mans home and the horse took off towards the lake.
Bibliography
Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911) = New York: Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol. VIII.
The boy told her to come back tomorrow and she won't be hungry. The next day the son made a corral close to the river. He gathered men and they killed antelope. Then they did the same thing the next day. After that if the son whistled the antelope would come in to the corral. Eventually the woman said, "that is enough. My wrists ache."
The woman asked her son for the gift back, but he told her he already gave it to the supernatural. The woman cursed him. The son left and he came across a place called Sticks Swim Around. He set up his home there. People came after him, but they could not find him. Two years later men came to his home. They were at war with another tribe. They heard a voice that said, "you must be my people.
They replied, "yes we are."
Then he dropped them a buffalo with its head and back to them. They wanted to leave to attack the warring tribe, but the man said to go in a day becasue they aren't aware of their presence. He told the men, "you'll surround them at noon. Bring me the all black horse. The one with no white spots."
He continued, "If at any time you are in need, make smoke for me. My home is by Sheep Horn Mountain. If you want anything blow smoke towards that place."
The next day the people went in daylight and surrounded the other tribe at noon just like the man said. They saw the black horse with no white and kept it with them. They came by the mans home and the horse took off towards the lake.
Bibliography
Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911) = New York: Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol. VIII.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Reading Notes Part A: Apache
In the beginning it began in the underworld. They made a mountain that kept on growing. Then reeds grew. When the reeds got to the top four girls twisted them so they stopped growing. A messenger goes up and discovers the twisted reeds. He tells the people what has happened. He goes back up and sees that there is much water. Then Beaver goes up and see that the water is receding. Beaver doesn't return so they send Badger up. So badger goes up and he see Beaver building a dam so people will have something to quench their thirst when they get up there. Finally the people use all four of the ladders they had to ascend, but they leave and old man and woman behind.
Raven divined to see if people would die. The old couple gave the people lice in their heads and their beds so they wouldn't be able to sleep.
Father tells four children to sit by the fire. He asks them "Why did you come to see me?"
The children responded "We want something to play with."
The father made them the hoop and pole game but tells them to not move to the north. Of course the children don't listen and they head to the north. Owl sees the children and says to quickly put them in the pot to cook. Owl's wife chops them up, puts them in a pot, pours water on them, and sets them over a fire to boil. However, the boys just sit at the bottom telling stories. Owl says "you are something bad. You are using supernatural powers."
The boys continue to tell stories and jump out of the pot again. Owl asks "why do you come here and practice magic?
He gives them the hoop and the pole back. The boys return to their father and he tells them "I told you so."
Bibliography
Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911) = New York: Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol. VIII.
Raven divined to see if people would die. The old couple gave the people lice in their heads and their beds so they wouldn't be able to sleep.
Father tells four children to sit by the fire. He asks them "Why did you come to see me?"
The children responded "We want something to play with."
The father made them the hoop and pole game but tells them to not move to the north. Of course the children don't listen and they head to the north. Owl sees the children and says to quickly put them in the pot to cook. Owl's wife chops them up, puts them in a pot, pours water on them, and sets them over a fire to boil. However, the boys just sit at the bottom telling stories. Owl says "you are something bad. You are using supernatural powers."
The boys continue to tell stories and jump out of the pot again. Owl asks "why do you come here and practice magic?
He gives them the hoop and the pole back. The boys return to their father and he tells them "I told you so."
Bibliography
Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911) = New York: Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol. VIII.
.jpg){kind=link}
Friday, October 18, 2019
Week 9 Story
Long ago in the far off mountains of the east there lived a man and his daughter. The man loved his daughter very much. He wanted to give his daughter a gift for her birthday, but they were very poor. However, he had the ingenious idea to make a sock monkey for her. He used the nicest sock they had. The daughter loved her gift, but as she grew old she played with it less and less. One day the man and his daughter packed up their belongings and moved, and the daughter left the sock monkey behind.
As time passed and the monkey sat on the floor collecting dust he began to be able to move his limbs. Over time he became able to crawl, walk, and eventually leap and perform impressive acrobatic feats. The monkey’s button eyes, which had been old and faded now gleamed gold.
His golden eyes shined so bright that even the God of the Universe noticed them and he sent two of his servants to investigate. They reported back to their king that it was just a harmless sock monkey having fun by himself. He presented no danger at this time.
The monkey continued to play by himself until one day he came across a pack of real monkeys. The monkeys were hesitant to hang out with the sock monkey, but once they saw that he could do anything that they could they became friends.
It was a particularly hot summer and the sock monkey and his friends were all cooling off by a secluded pond. One of the monkeys felt adventurous and did a cannonball into the pool. Another monkey had an idea and said, “Whoever can make the biggest splash will be king of us all.”
The sock monkeys turn came, and he mustered all his strength. He prayed to the gods that gave him life. When he jumped, right before he hit the water his sock body became as hard as stone. He produced a splash so giant that all the other monkeys were completely soaked. And from that time on he was known as the King of the Apes.
Author's Note:
I took the story of how Sun Wu Kung got his name and made it more absurd. I changed a monkey made of stone into a sock monkey. In the original story Sun Wu Kung jumped off a cliff into a waterfall and finds a heavenly cave. In my version he just makes a big splash.
Bibliography:
The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).
As time passed and the monkey sat on the floor collecting dust he began to be able to move his limbs. Over time he became able to crawl, walk, and eventually leap and perform impressive acrobatic feats. The monkey’s button eyes, which had been old and faded now gleamed gold.
His golden eyes shined so bright that even the God of the Universe noticed them and he sent two of his servants to investigate. They reported back to their king that it was just a harmless sock monkey having fun by himself. He presented no danger at this time.
The monkey continued to play by himself until one day he came across a pack of real monkeys. The monkeys were hesitant to hang out with the sock monkey, but once they saw that he could do anything that they could they became friends.
It was a particularly hot summer and the sock monkey and his friends were all cooling off by a secluded pond. One of the monkeys felt adventurous and did a cannonball into the pool. Another monkey had an idea and said, “Whoever can make the biggest splash will be king of us all.”
The sock monkeys turn came, and he mustered all his strength. He prayed to the gods that gave him life. When he jumped, right before he hit the water his sock body became as hard as stone. He produced a splash so giant that all the other monkeys were completely soaked. And from that time on he was known as the King of the Apes.
Author's Note:
I took the story of how Sun Wu Kung got his name and made it more absurd. I changed a monkey made of stone into a sock monkey. In the original story Sun Wu Kung jumped off a cliff into a waterfall and finds a heavenly cave. In my version he just makes a big splash.
Bibliography:
The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Reading Notes: The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung B
Hoping that a promotion and a rank amongst the gods will make him more manageable, the Jade Emperor invites the Monkey King to Heaven. The monkey believes he will receive an honorable place as one of the gods but is instead made the Protector of the Horses to watch over the stables, the lowest job in heaven. He rebels and proclaims himself The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal and sets the Cloud Horses free in vengeance.
The Heavens are forced to recognize his title; however, they again try to put him off as the guardian of the Heavenly Peach Garden. When he finds that he is excluded from a royal banquet that includes every other important god and goddess, his indignation turns to open defiance. He steals and consumes Xi Wangmu's Peaches of immortality, Laozi's pills of longevity, and the Jade Emperor's royal wine, then escapes back to his kingdom in preparation for his rebellion.
The Monkey King later single-handedly defeats the Army of Heaven's 100,000 celestial warriors, all 28 constellations, four heavenly kings, and Nezha, and proves himself equal to the best of Heaven's generals, Erlang Shen. Eventually, through the teamwork of Taoist and Buddhist forces, including the efforts from some of the greatest deities, and then finally by the Bodhisattva of mercy, Guanyin, Sun Wukong is captured.
After several failed attempts at execution, Sun Wukong is locked into Laozi's eight-way trigram Crucible to be distilled into an elixir (so that Laozi could regain his pills of longevity) by samadhi fires. After 49 days, however, when the cauldron is opened, the Monkey King jumps out, having survived by hiding in a corner in which there was no fire and is now able to recognize evil with huoyan-jīnjīng (lit. "golden-gaze fiery-eyes"), an eye condition that also gives him a weakness to smoke, and proceeds to destroy the crucible, following Heaven's remaining forces.
Bibliography:
The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Week 9 Part A: The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung
On a mountain, a monkey befriends various animals, and joins a group of other monkeys. After playing, the monkeys regularly bathe in a stream.
One day, they decide to seek the stream's source, and climb the mountain to a waterfall. They declare that whoever goes through the waterfall, finds the stream's source, and comes out again will become their king. The stone monkey volunteers and jumps into the waterfall.
He finds a large iron bridge over rushing water, across which is a cave. He persuades the other monkeys to jump in also, and they make it into their home. Sun Wu Kung then reminds them of their prior declaration, so they declare him their king. He takes the throne and calls himself Handsome Monkey King.
The Monkey King establishes himself as a powerful and influential demon. In search of a weapon, he travels to the oceans and acquires the Golden-banded staff, the stabilizer of the Four Seas and a treasure of the dragon-king of the Eastern Seas. The Monkey King is the only creature strong enough to wield the staff-like weapon. It can change its size, elongate, fly and attack opponents according to its master's will. It is very heavy. When not wielding the weapon, the Monkey King shrinks it down to the size of a sewing needle and tucks it behind his ear.
In addition to taking the magical staff, the Monkey King defeats the Dragon King's henchmen and forces him to hand over a golden chain mail shirt, a phoenix-feather cap, and cloud-walking boots. The cap was one of the treasures of the dragon kings. Traditionally it is depicted as a metal circlet with two striped feathers attached to the front. Upon his return to the mountain, he demonstrates the new weapon to his followers and draws the attention of other beastly powers, who seek to ally with him.
Bibliography:
The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).
One day, they decide to seek the stream's source, and climb the mountain to a waterfall. They declare that whoever goes through the waterfall, finds the stream's source, and comes out again will become their king. The stone monkey volunteers and jumps into the waterfall.
He finds a large iron bridge over rushing water, across which is a cave. He persuades the other monkeys to jump in also, and they make it into their home. Sun Wu Kung then reminds them of their prior declaration, so they declare him their king. He takes the throne and calls himself Handsome Monkey King.
The Monkey King establishes himself as a powerful and influential demon. In search of a weapon, he travels to the oceans and acquires the Golden-banded staff, the stabilizer of the Four Seas and a treasure of the dragon-king of the Eastern Seas. The Monkey King is the only creature strong enough to wield the staff-like weapon. It can change its size, elongate, fly and attack opponents according to its master's will. It is very heavy. When not wielding the weapon, the Monkey King shrinks it down to the size of a sewing needle and tucks it behind his ear.
In addition to taking the magical staff, the Monkey King defeats the Dragon King's henchmen and forces him to hand over a golden chain mail shirt, a phoenix-feather cap, and cloud-walking boots. The cap was one of the treasures of the dragon kings. Traditionally it is depicted as a metal circlet with two striped feathers attached to the front. Upon his return to the mountain, he demonstrates the new weapon to his followers and draws the attention of other beastly powers, who seek to ally with him.
Bibliography:
The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Week 8 Reading and Writing
Overall the reading and writing assignments are working well for me. So far I have had no trouble knocking out the readings and the notes. The readings are definitely the easiest part because I get to have story time as an assignment. So far none of the stories have been dis-interesting enough to where reading them felt like a chore.
I am as satisfied with my blog as I am going to be. I really appreciate well designed and creative things, but I am not good at executing the creative for myself. I think the minimalist layout I have going is just right for me.
I need to step up my writing for my project. I've had quite a bit of work in my other classes these past two weeks so unfortunately my project has been put on the back burner. I am having fun with what I have researched so far, but I need to finish the research for my other two stories so I can crank out the writings. I feel like my story posts are going great though. I have a good time writing them.
My biggest accomplishment has to be the story posts. There is something very fun about taking classic tales and adopting them to sillier, more elementary versions.
I haven't really even used my reading notes when making my story posts. I have written them while the story is still fresh in my mind so I haven't had to go back and look at anything. When I am reading the stories I will get ideas for how I could adapt them, and then once its time to write the story post I just go with one of my ideas.
My main note taking strategy hasn't changed; I always focus on the plot. However, I really enjoy taking note of beautiful sentences now. They don't contribute much to my reading posts, but I like being able to appreciate when someone has crafted something truly remarkable with words. It helps me become a better wordsmith myself.
I am as satisfied with my blog as I am going to be. I really appreciate well designed and creative things, but I am not good at executing the creative for myself. I think the minimalist layout I have going is just right for me.
I need to step up my writing for my project. I've had quite a bit of work in my other classes these past two weeks so unfortunately my project has been put on the back burner. I am having fun with what I have researched so far, but I need to finish the research for my other two stories so I can crank out the writings. I feel like my story posts are going great though. I have a good time writing them.
My biggest accomplishment has to be the story posts. There is something very fun about taking classic tales and adopting them to sillier, more elementary versions.
I haven't really even used my reading notes when making my story posts. I have written them while the story is still fresh in my mind so I haven't had to go back and look at anything. When I am reading the stories I will get ideas for how I could adapt them, and then once its time to write the story post I just go with one of my ideas.
My main note taking strategy hasn't changed; I always focus on the plot. However, I really enjoy taking note of beautiful sentences now. They don't contribute much to my reading posts, but I like being able to appreciate when someone has crafted something truly remarkable with words. It helps me become a better wordsmith myself.
Listen to Car Seat Headrest.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Week 7 Story
Once upon a time, before King Arthur was King Arthur, he was just a young knight. One day he was hunting in the woods when he came across a man, a woman, and a dazzling damsel. As he approached them he noticed that they were all weeping.
"Why are you crying? What is troubling you?" Arthur asked.
The man explained to Arthur that they were crying because all eight of his other daughters had been killed. He told Arthur about a great eight-headed dragon. This dragon was the most powerful beast in the land. He explained that every year the beast has come and taken one of his daughters from them. He is terrified of losing his last daughter.
The father explained that they had tried moving or hiding, but it was all in vain. The dragon was inevitable. Arthur saw the family's pain and asked if there was anything he could do to help. He offered his protection, but the father declined because he said it would be to no avail. No human or being could take on the dragon head on. It was too powerful.
However, Arthur was not one to give up. He deliberated and then he spoke too the man.
"I will defeat the dragon for you do not worry. No man or creature has ever been able to conquer me. However, when I return from battle I want your daughters hand in marriage. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
The man gladly obliged. He said he would do anything if it meant his daughter wouldn't be taken from this world. So Arthur set off to go defeat the dragon.
Arthur knew he would have to set a trap to best the beast. He gathered a herd of cattle, and he fetched several barrels of wine. He set them out as bait, and he waited. As he expected the dragon came and devoured the herd and drank all the wine. Then the dragon passed out.
Arthur cut off each of the dragons head, and then he cut the dragon into 1000 pieces. He returned to the family and married the daughter.
Author's Note:
I took the story of Susa-no-wo and the eight-forked serpent of Koshi. I adapted it to be in medieval times and our protagonist is King Arthur.
"Why are you crying? What is troubling you?" Arthur asked.
The man explained to Arthur that they were crying because all eight of his other daughters had been killed. He told Arthur about a great eight-headed dragon. This dragon was the most powerful beast in the land. He explained that every year the beast has come and taken one of his daughters from them. He is terrified of losing his last daughter.
The father explained that they had tried moving or hiding, but it was all in vain. The dragon was inevitable. Arthur saw the family's pain and asked if there was anything he could do to help. He offered his protection, but the father declined because he said it would be to no avail. No human or being could take on the dragon head on. It was too powerful.
However, Arthur was not one to give up. He deliberated and then he spoke too the man.
"I will defeat the dragon for you do not worry. No man or creature has ever been able to conquer me. However, when I return from battle I want your daughters hand in marriage. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
The man gladly obliged. He said he would do anything if it meant his daughter wouldn't be taken from this world. So Arthur set off to go defeat the dragon.
Arthur knew he would have to set a trap to best the beast. He gathered a herd of cattle, and he fetched several barrels of wine. He set them out as bait, and he waited. As he expected the dragon came and devoured the herd and drank all the wine. Then the dragon passed out.
Arthur cut off each of the dragons head, and then he cut the dragon into 1000 pieces. He returned to the family and married the daughter.
Author's Note:
I took the story of Susa-no-wo and the eight-forked serpent of Koshi. I adapted it to be in medieval times and our protagonist is King Arthur.
Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology Part B
One day Yamato begins to grow weary of his princess's devotion. He has no more battles to fight and is unsure if she needs him. Because of this he begins to yearn for the mysterious siren. He wanders to the Isle of Enoshima to try and find her.
He follows a haunting melody to get there. Eventually the melody leads him down the side of a jagged cliff. At the bottom he finds a grotto that glowed with an emerald light. He can still hear the haunting voice, and he begins to see shadows of celestial girls on the wall so he swims to the mouth of the cave. However, he begins to hesitate because he has been warned about grottoes before. They are often a trap that unsuspecting victims get lured into. He gives it some thought, and then he hears the voice again so he decides to keep following it.
Once he reaches the cave he comes across a monstrous dragon. Yamato was afraid of nothing so he pushed on past the dragon. As he ventures further in he comes to a grand entrance. The floor of the entrance was covered with gold sand and white pebbles.The gate of the entrance was made with diamond and encrusted with jade.
He enters and he encounters the siren he has been searching for. She is playing a melody on her lute. She tells Yamato that she is Benten, the Goddess of deathless love. There are lesser siren there swimming around and singing that haunting song. Yamato has come all this way to ask the siren for her love so he does. The siren says he can have her love, but it is not going to be easy. She tells him that if he wants love he has to defy death. She tells him he has sail to Horaizon and get the golden apple of immortal youth.
Bibliography:
Romance of Old Japan by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917).
He follows a haunting melody to get there. Eventually the melody leads him down the side of a jagged cliff. At the bottom he finds a grotto that glowed with an emerald light. He can still hear the haunting voice, and he begins to see shadows of celestial girls on the wall so he swims to the mouth of the cave. However, he begins to hesitate because he has been warned about grottoes before. They are often a trap that unsuspecting victims get lured into. He gives it some thought, and then he hears the voice again so he decides to keep following it.
Once he reaches the cave he comes across a monstrous dragon. Yamato was afraid of nothing so he pushed on past the dragon. As he ventures further in he comes to a grand entrance. The floor of the entrance was covered with gold sand and white pebbles.The gate of the entrance was made with diamond and encrusted with jade.
He enters and he encounters the siren he has been searching for. She is playing a melody on her lute. She tells Yamato that she is Benten, the Goddess of deathless love. There are lesser siren there swimming around and singing that haunting song. Yamato has come all this way to ask the siren for her love so he does. The siren says he can have her love, but it is not going to be easy. She tells him that if he wants love he has to defy death. She tells him he has sail to Horaizon and get the golden apple of immortal youth.
Bibliography:
Romance of Old Japan by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)