Reading Notes: The Brothers Grimm (Ashliman), Extra Credit

This week, I read from Dan Ashliman's adaptation of The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales. I loved the reading, as it introduced me to original (or closer to original) versions of some of my favorite fairy tales, while also presenting new tales that I had not heard of before this week.

In previous posts, I have written about Rumpelstiltskin and The Peasant and the Devil, both stories from this unit. After reading posts from other people I class however, I have been thinking about another story from the unit, called The Little Lamb and the Little Fish, and I felt compelled to share my thoughts on the story.

A Brother and Sister Playing Together

The Little Lamb and the Little Fish
In this story, a brother and sister are very close, and love playing in their fields together, especially near the pond. Their mother is dead, and they have a stepmother who is unkind and bitter. She is said to know the ways of witchcraft, and one day turns the girl into a lamb, and the boy into a fish. Both were sad about their transformations, but lived their lives that way for some time.
One day, the stepmother was hosting special guests, and commanded her cook to kill the little lamb as their meal. The cook had captured the girl in her lamb form, and was preparing to kill her while the fish looked on from the gutter. Suddenly, the girl cried out to her brother, the fish. The cook, suspecting that the lamb was a person bewitch by the evil stepmother, cooked another meal instead, and delivered the lamb and fish to the wet nurse. The nurse blessed the animals, returning them to their human form. She then took them to live in a hut in the woods, freed from their stepmother forever.

After reading a classmates' project about a wicked stepmother, I have many frustrations and questions about this story. Where is the children's father?? Why didn't anyone notice that two children had gone missing? When the children were returned to their human form, why wasn't their stepmother brought to justice??

If I were to rewrite this story, I certainly couldn't ignore these plot holes, and would work to better develop a storyline that accounts for my questions.

Reading Notes: The Brothers Grimm (Ashliman), Part B

Today, I finished my reading in our European unit with a few more stories from Dan Ashliman's adaptation of the Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales. Unlike yesterday's reading, this section featured many more unfamiliar stories, at least by their titles. However, in reading The Hare and the Hedgehog and The Peasant and the Devil, I found they mirrored tales like The Tortoise and the Hare and Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens. 

Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens 

The Peasant and the Devil
In this story, a peasant comes across a devil as he is working the fields. The peasant suspects that the devil holds great riches, and seeks to make a deal with him. The devil wants "fruits of the earth" and promises the peasant his treasures in exchange for half of the growth of the field for two years.
In the first year, the peasant plants turnips, giving the devil only the top leafy half. The devil is angry that he has been outsmarted, and demands the bottom half of the crop in the next year. Thus, the peasant plants wheat, leaving the devil only roots. Ultimately, the peasant inherits the devil's treasure, and the devil is thwarted.

In Tops and Bottoms, the peasant is represented by a poor by clever hare, and the devil by a lazy bear. The bear agrees to let the hare have a portion of his crops, but only if the hare and his family do all of the work of planting and harvesting. In the first harvest, the hare plants carrots, giving the bear the tops. This trickery goes on until the bear is poor and hungry and the rabbit has stockpiled enough food that his family can survive.

If I were to rewrite the story of The Peasant and the Devil, I would love to put an animal twist on it like the one above, or possible make it a more realistic tale of human dishonesty.

Reading Notes: The Brothers Grimm (Ashliman), Part A

Once again, we are reading from the European unit in Myth and Folklore. This week, I have chosen to read Dan Ashliman's adaptation of the Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales. I enjoyed reading from this unit, as it includes fairy tales that are both familiar and new to me.

A Statue of the Grimm Brothers

Rumpelstiltskin
In this story, a thoughtless miller brags to the king that his daughter can spin gold out of straw. The kind requests the opportunity to see the girl's skills in action, and locks her in a room in his castle, with instructions to spin all night. The girl immediately begins to cry, because she cannot spin straw into gold, and will be killed if she fails the king's task. Eventually, a little man enters through the locked door, and offers to spin the straw into gold, so the girl offers her necklace in return.
The next night, the king locks the girl away again, this time with the expectation to spin more straw into gold. Th small man again comes to the girl's rescue, this time in exchange for her ring. On the third night, the king has left more straw than other before, but the miller's daughter has nothing left to offer the small man in return for his spinning the straw into gold. Thus, the little man suggests that the girl give up her first child as payment. The girl, with nothing else left to do, agrees.
A year later, the girl has had the king's child, and the mysterious man has returned to claim his payment. When the girl is obviously distraught at the idea of giving up her baby, the small man agrees that she can keep the child, but only if she can guess his name in the next few days.
The girl, who is now queen, sends messengers across the kingdom to learn his name. It takes the entirety of the three days to discover the man's identity, but eventually, the queen identifies him as Rumpelstiltskin.

Reading Notes: Hans Christian Andersen, Part A

Tonight, I finished my first reading from our European unit, Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales and Stories. While section B was entirely The Little Mermaid, Part A was five different stories: The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor's New Suit, The Brave Tin Soldier, The Wicked Prince, and The Little Match-Seller. Much like The Little Mermaid, the themes of this stories were fairly dark. In my opinion, only The Princess and the Pea ended on a light-hearted note.

Hans Christian Andersen 

Overall, I enjoyed reading his stories, and can appreciate that at one point in history, children's stories and fairy tales were not what we would consider child-friendly by today's standards. Whichever of Andersen's tales I adapt this week, I feel that it is important to maintain his dark tones.

The Emperor's New Suit
In this story, a prideful emperor commissions new clothes from traveling merchants. The merchants claim that their products hold great power, such that stupid people cannot see them. In reality, the clothes do not exist. However, the merchants had spread the news of their fabrics so well that everyone played along with their lie, refusing to admit that they cannot see the clothes. Eventually, the emperor walks in a parade, entirely nude, because the entire kingdom pretends that they can see the beautiful garment, too scared to be revealed as stupid. It is not until a child points out the emperor's impropriety that the plot of the merchants is revealed.

Reading Notes: Hans Christian Andersen, Part B

This week, we are reading from the European unit, and I was immediately attracted to the option to read Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales, adapted from his Fairy Tales and Stories. I have always heard that his original Little Mermaid is nothing like the Disney version with which I grew up, and was eager to discover those differences for myself. As such, I made the unconventional choice to read Part B of the unit first, which included the entirety of The Little Mermaid. Tomorrow, I will start again at the beginning and read Part A.

The Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen, Denmark

While Andersen's Mermaid certainly has darker themes than Disney's retelling, the hype surrounding the story had me expecting something particularly heinous. While I would argue that the fairy tale is not the most suitable for children, the story is not a miserable as I had anticipated. If I were to write my own story from the original Little Mermaid, I would definitely work to create something dark, yet meaningful and moving.

The Little Mermaid
The little mermaid is a princess, the youngest of the widowed king's daughters. She has been raised primarily by her grandmother, and spends her days tending to her garden and waiting her turn to travel to the surface. On her fifteenth birthday, the little mermaid is finally allowed to journey above the waves, and witnesses a shipwreck that results in her meeting the prince. The mermaid saves him from drowning, delivers him to shore, and then returns home, only to dream of how she might see him again. The mermaid's grandmother tells her that she may obtain a human's afterlife, but only if the prince loves her completely and shares a part of his human soul. The princess eventually visits the sea witch, who promises to grant the mermaid human legs, so that she may visit the prince in his world. In exchange for these legs, the mermaid agrees to a lifetime of pain in her feet, and allows the witch to cut out her tongue as payment.
As a human, the princess is cherished by the prince, but he does not love her romantically. This poses a significant problem - if the prince marries another, the little mermaid will be turned to sea foam immediately. After years of considering the mermaid his closest friend, the prince meets a bride. The mermaid's sisters attempt to rescue the mermaid from her fate, trading their hair for a knife from the sea witch. With this knife, the little mermaid is to kill the prince, thus sparing her own life. Instead, the mermaid tosses the knife back into the sea. For her kindness as a human, the mermaid is transformed into a daughter of the air, where she must serve another 300 years before entering the kingdom of heaven.

Reading Notes: The Brothers Grimm (Crane), Part A

For an extra credit reading this week, I have chosen selections from The Brothers Grimm, from Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Lucy Crane and illustrated by Walter Crane. I chose this unit in hopes of finding new twists on familiar stories, and was not disappointed. Within Part A, I found an adaptation of Cinderella called Ashenputtel, and a story reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel called the Robber Bridegroom.

The Bride leads her rescuer home through the woods.

The Robber Bridegroom
In this story, a maiden's father has promised her to a suitor, but the young woman has some doubts about her potential husband. Despite all of his attempts to win her heart, the woman simply does not trust him, and doubts that his feelings for her are true. Eventually, the suitor insists that his bride come visit his home, and leaves a trail of ashes in the woods so she may find her way. As the bride travels to meet her groom, she drops peas and lentils along her path.

Once in his home, the bride is met only by a bird, who warns her of the dangers that await her there. As the bride explores the home, she stumbles upon an old woman, who tells her that her "groom" is a member of a band of cannibals, who will force the old woman to cook up the bride for dinner. The old woman hides the bride, who watches as another younger lady is killed, cooked, and eaten by the band of robbers, who the old woman drugs into a deep sleep, allowing herself and the bride to escape.

The bride and the old woman find their way home along the path of peas and lentils. Later, at the wedding, the bride reveals the crimes of her groom, who is captured and killed by the bride's family.

Along with being generally disturbing, I found this story to have several major plot holes. First, why isn't the bride's community concerned with the number of young women that has gone missing? How did the old lady come to work for the band of robbers? Why should the bride burst her? If the bride knew of their crimes, why did she wait until the wedding to reveal the true nature of her groom? If I were to rewrite this story, I would aim to answer some of these questions, while maintaining the dramatic nature of the original.

Reading Notes: Nursery Rhymes, Part B

Today, I am completing my reading of our British and Celtic unit for Mythology and Folklore. For this week's reading, I have chosen selections from The Nursery Rhyme Book  by Andrew Lang, with illustrations from L. Leslie Brooke. As I wrote on Wednesday, nursery rhymes are going to prove rather challenging for this week's storytelling assignment. Nonetheless, I am excited to accept that challenge, and am eager to see how I can redevelop and interpret these classic rhymes.

Jack and Jill

Part B, while mostly similar to Part A in length and style, contrasts significantly in content. As I previously mentioned, I was surprised by how dark some of the nursery rhymes in Part A were, as they feature themes like death and abuse. In Part B, however, I truly enjoyed the section of rhymes entitled Love and Matrimony. There were familiar rhymes like Jack and Jill and Georgie Porgie within this section, but they were accompanied by surprising new stories like Sylvia and Simon and Jack Sprat. Furthermore, I found it interesting that many of these rhymes referred to food as an important part of the relationship between the two characters. From Part B, I primarily learned that the nature of nursery rhymes, while humorous, is also concerned with the lives and needs of the rhymes' audience.

Jack Sprat
This short rhyme (five lines) tells us Jack could eat no fat, and his wife could eat no lean, so together they could always lick their plates clean. As a basis for a relationship, complementary eating habits seem silly, but so do many of these rhymes.

There was a Little Man
In this somewhat longer rhyme, a little man asks a little maid to marry him, to which she replies "But what shall we have for to eat?" this rhyme signifies the importance of provision in a marriage. If I choose to write a more romantic or loving nursery rhyme, the concerns of the audience, such as where their food will come from, must be considered.

Reading Notes: Nursery Rhymes, Part A

This week, I went in a different direction with my reading choices. We are still working out of our British Isles unit in Myth and Folklore, and I was intrigued by the option to read nursery rhymes. I ultimately opted for selections from The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang, with illustrations from L. Leslie Brooke. While I was familiar with a handful of the rhymes, and ultimately enjoyed the reading, I quickly realized that I had unwittingly stumbled across a challenge for this week. I am most comfortable with writing short, episodic prose, but these rhymes are typically very short, humorous, and of course, rhythmic. I have some doubts about my ability to write in this style, but am excited to test myself with this week's storytelling.

Traditional Punch and Judy Puppets

What I found most fascinating about Part A was how many of the rhymes have dark themes, such as Babes in the Wood, Punch and Judy, and Solomon Grundy. As I write, I want to capture that essence of the rhymes, emphasizing a light tone while exploring a heavier idea.

Babes in the Wood
This rhyme tells the story of two children who were kidnapped and left in the woods to die. It relays their fear and tears over their fate, and even describes how their corpses were treated by the woodland animals. I struggle to think that such content was once considered suitable for children, and would like to learn more about the nature of this story. Was it meant as a warning to children, or as some sort of social commentary?

Punch and Judy
This is a very short rhyme, only four lines, and tells of Punch giving his wife, Judy, a black eye over a pie. Typically, Punch and Judy puppet shows include depictions of violence, yet are considered humorous. Again, I cannot help but question if this is truly child-friendly content.

Solomon Grundy
Another short rhyme, Solomon Grundy tells how Solomon was born, married, and died over the course of a week. I can't seem to derive any deeper message or commentary from this one, although I have heard previous references to it in popular culture.

Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part B

Today I finished reading Beowulf, which came from Stafford Riggs' The Story of Beowulf, which is a modern prose adaptation of the classic epic. I greatly appreciated Riggs' adaptation of the work, but realized that I had forgotten much of the story since reading it in high school. As I read the conclusion of Beowulf, I was frustrated with the direction of the plot, and might explore changes to that plot as I write this week.

Throughout Part B, I found myself annoyed with the last four sections of reading (The Arrival of the Dragon, Preparing for Battle, Battle with the Dragon, and The End of Beowulf), which described Beowulf's life after his defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother. Overall, I felt that the story continued for too long after its climax, and that ultimately, Beowulf's death did not feature the drama or honor that I felt it deserved. If I choose to rewrite this portion of Beowulf, I intend to write his death such that it better fits with my perspective of the epic.

A dragon was Beowulf's ultimate cause death. 

The Arrival of the Dragon, Preparing for Battle, Battle with the Dragon, and The End of Beowulf
In The Arrival of the Dragon, many years have passed since Beowulf conquered Grendel and his mother. Beowulf has become king of Geatsland, which is thriving under his reign. Beowulf has had some adventures in the meantime, but as he is approaching the last season of his life, he is feeling somewhat bored. During a banquet in his great hall, a peasant suddenly arrives to report that he has found a terrifying dragon, which guards a great treasure.

Beowulf decides that he and his closest men will attack the dragon, claiming the treasure for their own. The find the dragon in its lair in the woods, and Beowulf insists upon fighting alone. Despite fighting valiantly, Beowulf is quickly injured by the dragon, at which point his best friend, Wiglaf, steps in to kill the beast. However, it is too late for Beowulf, who dies and is given a traditional Norse funeral.

My issue with this conclusion is that it is given far less plot development than Beowulf's battle against Grendel and the monster's mother. If Beowulf could conquer them both, why was he unable to kill a dragon? I love that he was given a highly ceremonial funeral, which celebrates his bravery and strength, but I think the circumstances of his death were not true to his characterization up to that point. If I reimagine the conclusion of Beowulf's story, he will likely die peacefully after a long and successful reign as king.

Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part A

I am so excited to be reading Beowulf this week! I loved studying the epic in my high school literature classes, but have had very little exposure to the story since then. For Myth and Folklore, we are reading from Stafford Riggs' The Story of Beowulf, which is a modern prose adaptation of the epic. In reading Part A, I have already identified several aspects of Beowulf that I would like to further explore and retell in this week's writing.

In Part A, I especially enjoyed reading The Young Beowulf, as I think the excerpt does a wonderful job of characterizing Beowulf, and allowing readers to predict his actions and reactions throughout the rest of the story. As I write my own story this week, I want to further develop The Young Beowulf, adding detail to his internal narrative, and highlighting more of his passions and motivations.

Beowulf

The Young Beowulf

From the time Beowulf was small, his potential as a great warrior was obvious. He was quickly sent to live with his uncle, the King Hygelac, who helped him to develop his strength. As a teen, though, Beowulf was frustrated. He knew that he was strong and powerful, but was given few opportunities to test his strength. He was ridiculed by many of his peers, and just wanted an opportunity to prove himself. Eventually, he was challenged to a swimming race, in which he spent five nights conquering the sea's icy waters. His success in that race contributed to better treatment, but still, he wanted more. 

Eventually, Beowulf earned a seat at the King's table, and was heralded as a great warrior, despite never having faced war. This caused other lords to murmur against him, claiming that the King's nepotism was the only reason for Beowulf's position of favor. An old sage defended Beowulf, claiming that his future was written in the stars. Beowulf did not hear this conversation, however, and continue to sit dreaming of bigger, more fierce battles. 

I love that this story sheds doubt on Beowulf, allowing readers to wonder what comes next for him, and if he can truly prove himself. I would like to try retelling this portion of the epic in first person, in order to better capture Beowulf's thoughts and feelings. 

Reading Notes: Myths of the Cherokee, Part B

So far this week, I have enjoyed reading from our Native American Stories unit. Specifically, I am reading Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney, which I chose due to my interest in Cherokee culture - a result of growing up in Oklahoma. In my reading, I have been exposed to both old and new stories, many of which have great potential for reinterpretation for this week's writing assignments.

Today, I enjoyed reading a Cherokee legend called The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird. In this story, reminiscent of the Tortoise and the Hare, the Crane and the Hummingbird are racing to win the love of a beautiful woman. The ending upset me; I might like to reimagine the story in a new and more pleasant way.

The Crane

The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird
Both birds were in love with the same beautiful woman. The woman wanted to be with the Hummingbird, as he was fast and beautiful, and the Crane was ugly and slow. Nonetheless, the Crane was determined to win the woman's hand, and continued to pursue her. Ultimately, the woman decided to challenge the two birds; the winner would be her partner. She chose to make them race, trusting that the speedy Hummingbird could easily win. Little did she know, the Crane could fly much longer without resting.

The birds begin flying around the world in a race. The Hummingbird is beating the Crane easily, and stops to rest for the night. The Crane keeps flying, and passes the Hummingbird before midnight. The Hummingbird awakens and overtakes the Crane again, but the cycle continues until the Crane is well in the lead. When the Crane wins, however, the woman refuses to marry him, preferring loneliness to the Crane's lack of beauty.

My issue with this story is that the woman's choice was entirely unfair to the Crane. He worked hard to gain her favor, followed her instructions, and was successful. Still, she would not marry him. Ultimately, I am uncomfortable with the story ending with a lack of justice. If I were to rewrite the story, I would either change the heart of the woman so that she loves the Crane in the end, or I would curse her for breaking her agreement for shallow and selfish reasons.

Reading Notes: Myths of the Cherokee, Part A

This week, our reading unit for Myth and Folklore is Native American Stories. Having lived all of my life in Oklahoma, I am familiar with many myths and legends of the Cherokee people. I decided to read the Myths of the Cherokee unit, written by James Mooney, this week, to refresh my current knowledge, and potentially learn more Cherokee legends with which I was previously unfamiliar.

In today's reading, I was drawn to one particular story, called The Moon and the Thunders. In one portion of the legend, readers learn how the moon got its spots. I was displeased with the direction the original story took, and am interested in rewriting it this week.

The Moon

The Moon and the Thunders

This legend begins by describing the Sun and Moon as brother and sister. The Sun is a maiden that lives in the east, while the Moon, her brother, resides in the west. The Sun is being courted by a mysterious suitor, who comes to visit her once a month. The suitor only visits in the dark, so the Sun has never seen his face, and does not even know his name. The Sun decides that she will discover her suitor's identity by secretly smearing ashes on his face, and looking for them again the next day. 

The Sun succeeds in her plan, and is shocked the next evening to see ashen spots on the face of her brother, the Moon. The Moon is ashamed that his sister has learned the truth, and begins avoiding her by staying far behind her, and remaining only a thin ribbon when he is forced to come close. 

I had several hangups with this story, especially the implication that the Moon was hitting on his sister! I will need to do more research to learn if such intermarriage is common in Cherokee tradition, in which case, the Moon's romantic interest in his sibling would make more sense. Regardless, if I rewrite the story, I will probably change the relationship between the Sun and the Moon so that their romance is more traditional, and may even allow them to find happiness, in place of an uncomfortable situation. 

Reading Notes: Ozaki, Part A

This week, I am reading a collection of Japanese Fairy Tales compiled by Yei Theodora Ozaki. These traditional fairy tales have been retold in English in Ozaki's book of the same name.

In today's reading, one story stuck out to me, called My Lord Bag of Rice. It is the story of a fierce warrior who saves an underwater kingdom by killing a giant scorpion. Several aspects of the story have rich potential for reimagining, and would be an excellent option for my writing this week.

A Simple Bag of Rice

My Lord Bag of Rice
The story begins with a traveling warrior. He comes to a bridge covered by a sleeping dragon. Instead of running away, or waking the dragon for battle, the warrior simply walks over the dragon to get to the other side. He has made it several paces from the bridge when he hears a voice call out to him. The dragon has transformed into a king! The king explains that he was seeking a brave man to kill the centipede that is terrorizing his kingdom. The warrior accepts this challenge, and travels with the king to his underwater palace, where they await midnight and the arrival of the centipede. The warrior kills the centipede with only three arrows. He is named a hero, and given a myriad of gifts by the king, including a bag of rice that never empties.

As I read, I had several doubts about the story. First, I initially mistrusted the king. It seemed that he was trying to trick the warrior, especially once he was lured into the underwater palace. Then, the description of the centipede's death seemed rather thin to me. It was no major battle scene, but the shooting of a few arrows. If I were to rewrite this story, I would further develop the king's character (although he would ultimately be trustworthy). I would also add more exciting details to the battle between the warrior and the centipede. Perhaps, the story could also benefit from a more modern retelling.

Reading Notes: Brer Rabbit, Part B

This week, I am continuing to read from the Myth and Folklore unit on Africa, and have chosen to explore Joel Chandler Harris's Brer Rabbit.  In these stories, Brer Rabbit and other creatures like Brer Fox and Brer Bear cause mischief in the American South.

Brer Rabbit

In today's readings, two stories stuck out to me for their humor. The first, Brer Rabbit: Old Mr. Rabbit, He's a Good Fisherman, is an ironic account of how Brer Rabbit found himself at the bottom of a well. In the second, Brer Rabbit: Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again, Brer Rabbit's schemes result in no good crops, and a laughable fear of heights.

Brer Rabbit: Old Mr. Rabbit, He's a Good Fisherman
In this tale, Brer Rabbit is trying to avoid working a field when he decides to take a nap in a well bucket. Of course, when Mr. Rabbit jumps into the bucket, his weight carries him to the bottom of a well. Alone, cold, and terrified of falling into the water, Brer Rabbit has a stroke of good fortune. Mr. Fox had followed him to the well, and was convinced that Brer Rabbit went into the well to hide his riches. Brer Rabbit tricks the fox into jumping into the other well bucket, at which point Mr. Rabbit is lifted to the top, and freed. He then leaves Brer Fox alone at the bottom, after telling him that the angry owners of the well are on their way.

Like I said above, I love this story for its irony and humor. I think the dialogue between Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit could become even funnier if given a modern update, especially if Brer Rabbit further tricked Brer Fox into believing that there were, in fact, treasures at the bottom of the well.

Brer Rabbit: Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again
Brer Rabbit and Brer Buzzard decide to work a crop together, and divide everything they grow. It turns out, however, that they grow nothing. Thus, they devise a plan to cross the river and find a gold mine. Brer Rabbit is concerned with how he will cross the river, when Mr. Buzzard assures him that he may ride across on the Buzzard's wings. Halfway across the river, the alight on a high tree branch, and Brer Rabbit begins to panic. He assures Brer Buzzard that he knows of a gold mine on their side of the river, and relieved, they return home.

Once again, I would love to build on this story via updated dialogue. I would also enjoy exploring what could happen if Brer Rabbit slipped from the Buzzard's back, and found himself in the river. Perhaps he would not go seeking gold again...

Reading Notes: Brer Rabbit, Part A

For the current unit, my Myth and Folklore class had the option to choose between Asian and African units for our reading. This week, I have chose to focus on the African unit, specifically African Tales in the Americas: Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit, a series of folktales, recounts the stories of Brer Rabbit and other anthropomorphic animals in the American South. Written in the original dialect, our reading is taken from Joel Chandler Harris's book Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings. 

Joel Chandler Harris's book

From today's readings, I liked one story in particular. In the classic Brer Rabbit: The Wonderful Tar Baby, Brer Rabbit is tricked by Brer Fox, with a unique device of the fox's own creation. 

Brer Rabbit: The Wonderful Tar Baby

In this story, Brer Fox devises a plan to trap Brer Rabbit. Mr. Fox's motivations for trapping Brer Rabbit are never explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit are casual enemies. Brer Fox forms a baby out of tar, and places the tar baby at the edge of the road. Brer Rabbit stumbles upon the tar baby while Brer Fox watches from nearby. Mr. Rabbit begins to argue with the baby, frustrated that it did not return his greeting. Ultimately, Brer Rabbit strikes the tar baby, becoming terribly stuck. Eventually, Brer Fox reveals himself as the baby's creator. However, the story does not end with a clear resolution or explanation of how Brer Rabbit became unstuck. 

If I were to create a new iteration of the story, I would better explain why Brer Fox was conspiring against Brer Rabbit, and the results of his plan. What is the nature of the feud between Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit? Is it natural to their species, or do they have troubled pasts? What happened after Brer Fox revealed himself? 

I would also like to explore the idea of the tar baby's becoming animated, and serving as its own character in the story. How might the baby feel about being a tool for revenge? Do his or her sympathies lie with Brer Rabbit, or with Brer Fox?

Reading Notes: Tales of a Parrot, Part B

To review, this week I have been reading the Middle Eastern Myth Tutinameh, or Tales of a Parrot. In these stories, a creative parrot is the pet of a merchant and his wife. When the merchant takes leave on an extended business trip, the wife becomes enamored with a stranger, and makes a plan to cheat on her husband. Thus, the parrot takes it upon himself to prevent the act of adultery, and begins to tell the wife many stories, which distract her from leaving home to be with her lover.

A Parrot Prepares to Tell a Story

In today's readings, I am focusing on an aspect that is common to all of the stories, along with the eventual conclusion of the series. First, I will discuss the woman's seeming obedience to the parrot. Then, I will recount my thoughts on the events of her husband's homecoming. 

Khojisteh and the Parrot

Each night when darkness falls, Khojisteh (the wife) prepares herself to visit her lover, but stops at the cage of the parrot. She seems to be asking the parrot's permission to leave and commit adultery against her husband. On the surface, the parrot seems supportive, encouraging the woman to make herself happy. Yet, he is a trickster, always telling stories that keep Khojisteh awake until dawn, preventing her from going to the man.

Khojisteh, while sometimes expressing her frustration with the parrot, never became outright angry with him. What would have happened if she had shown her anger? What if the parrot had not been allowed to continue tricking Khojisteh? 

A Husband's Return

Eventually, Khojisteh's husband, Miemun, returns from his travels. He asks what has happened to the parrot's companion. the sharuk bird. At this point, the parrot reveals all of the events that have transpired since the man has been gone, especially Khojisteh's attempted adultery. Miemun becomes angry at his trying wife, and kills her immediately. 

What I found most shocking about this reading was how quick Miemun was to believe the parrot, without evening questioning his wife. He killed Khojisteh so quickly, but I think their original passion demands more details as to how Khojisteh's death came about. 

Reading Notes: Tales of a Parrot, Part A

This week, I was most interested in reading Tutinameh, or Tales of a Parrot. In the original myth, a wise parrot belongs to a rich and beautiful couple. The husband goes away for several weeks on business, at which point the wife begins to wander into the arms of another man. So, the parrot conspires to distract the wife from her adultery through stories. Notes on the introductory stories can be found below.

A Wise Parrot

In my initial readings, I was fascinated by two important origins in this myth. First, the relationship between the man, Miemun, and his wife, Khojisteh. Second, the origins of the parrot himself. Read on for my thoughts on how both may have come into being.

Miemun and Khojisteh
According to the original myth, Miemun was created by God himself. "His countenance was resplendent as the sun." His earthly father, who had prayed to God for the creation of Miemun, married him off to Khojisteh. It was said that Khojisteh had a "body as fair as the silver moon," making her a fitting partner for Miemun. The myth also explains that the pair was deeply in love, and practically inseparable.

When writing a story for this week, I could potentially tell how Miemun and Khojisteh originally met. Furthermore, I think seeds need to be planted to explain why Khojisteh, who is said to truly love her husband would eventually move to cheat on him.

Khojisteh and the Parrot
The parrot, after learning of Khojisteh's intentions to cheat on her husband, moved to prevent the adultery by distracting his mistress with stories. This came only after the parrot watched as Khojisteh murdered his companion, the sharuk bird, after the other bird instructed Khojisteh not to be unfaithful to her husband.

In my stories, I hope to write more background for the parrot's character. How did he come to know the stories the shares with Khojisteh? How did he feel as he witnessed Khojisteh's killing of the sharuk?

Reading Notes: Folklore of the Holy Land, Part B

This week, I have been continuing my reading of the Folklore of the Holy Land, from the book Folklore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian, and Jewish by J.E. Hanauear. I have enjoyed the unfamiliar interpretations of the Biblical stories I know well. Today's reading, while still featuring some Biblical characters, were more like fables than parables.

I enjoyed two stories in particular, neither of which seemed especially Biblical in nature, despite featuring Solomon (Suleyman) as a main character. The first, in which two pigeons are turned to stone by Solomon, seems to have important implications today. The second, which tells of a "destroyer plant," could be retold as a more explanatory legend than it was in the reading.

Two Stone Pigeons

Two Stone Pigeons 
In one of the stories, Solomon overhears the bragging of a male pigeon as it tells a female pigeon "I could kick [Solomon's buildings] down in a minute." Solomon rebukes the male pigeon, but forgives him when it become clear that the pigeon was only trying to impress his female companion. The pigeon flies away from Solomon, only to brag once again. Ultimately, Solomon turns both the pigeons to stone in his anger.

Such a story could be told many times over today. A weaker man takes credit for the works of a stronger man in order to impress a lady, only to have the stronger man become furious when he discovers the dishonesty. Perhaps I will explore this thread in my writing this week.

The Destroyer Plant

Destroyer Plant
When I first read of the plant called "El Kharrub," whose name means the destroyer, I immediately thought of ivy. The reading says that Solomon, who was a master green-thumb, discovered the plant, which told Solomon it had been sent to "destroy thy works." In the context of the previous story, in which the pigeons referred to Solomon's buildings, my interpretation was that it must be a plant that would pull down Solomon's architecture.

While the original story did not play out this way, I believe it could easily be rewritten to explain why ivy exists, why it climbs walls, and why it is ultimately destructive.

Reading Notes: Folklore of the Holy Land, Part A

This week, I have chosen to read a unit called Folklore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish. The stories are taken from a book of the same name, written by J.E. Hanauer. Thus far, this week's content fits nicely with my past readings for the class, especially Genesis and the Noah narrative from last week.

Today, I was especially drawn to the possibilities for two different stories within my readings, which are reflected in my notes below. For the first story, I took notes on Allah's great pen, and may explore its capabilities in the future. The second pertains to the unique differences between the Muslim account of Adam and Hawa, and the Christian Adam and Eve, and attempts to align those stories. 

Allah's Great Pen
The reading recount that before Allah created the world, he wrote the past, present, and future on a great tablet made of a giant pearl and rubies. He wrote on the tablet using an awesome pen. The legend claims that this pen was made of precious stones and was so long that one would have to travel 500 years to reach its tip. Its ink was made of light, and the pen began to write simply because Allah commanded it. When the tablet was completed, the pen dried out and was finished.

This week, I would like to create a story which plays on that pen. What would happen if the ink had dripped, creating a similar, but less powerful pen? Who might discover the pen; how might he or she use it?

Islamic Adam and Eve

Adam and Hawa
In much the same way as the Genesis account, Adam and Hawa (Eve) are dismissed from Paradise after being tempted by the serpent, with the aid of Iblis, Satan. However, in this case, the four characters are cast out separately, each from a different gate. As a result, Adam and Hawa are not reunited until 200 years after their fall.

The legend speaks of the sexual immorality of Adam and Hawa during their time apart. I would like to further explain this story, perhaps taking it in a different direction. What obstacles prevented Adam and Hawa from coming together sooner? How were those obstacles overcome?

Reading Notes: Noah, Part B

Unlike yesterday's reading, today's reading on Noah was taken entirely from Louis Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews. As such, it was all new material for me. While I was familiar with some of the stories from my personal reading of the Pentateuch, the Jewish legends offered interpretations to which I had never been exposed. I recommend reading portions 1-9 of section B to learn more.

This set of legends was more episodic in nature. While telling a chronological story, the progression of legends could skip only days or many years in between. Some legends recounted concise stories and portions of dialogue, while others were dry and historic in nature. Overall, two accounts stood out to me. The first, The Flood, offers a description of what it was like to care for the multitude of animals on the ark. Next, Nimrod describes the effects of Nimrod's favorite outfit, and how he came to possess it.

The Animals Entering Noah's Ark by Jacopo Bassano

The Flood
As I wrote yesterday, I am interested in learning more (or writing about) how Noah managed a large and diverse group of animals in an enclosed space for so long. This story gave some clarity to that idea, while also instilling in me further inspiration. It is said that Noah went to great efforts to make sure that the animals were well-fed, "feeding the day animals by day, and the night animals by night." He innovated in order to provide for them. He also asked a blessing up the urshana, an animal that was especially peaceful and patient. This supports my idea that Noah is, and must continue to be, characterized as kind and thoughtful.

Nimrod
Deviating from the common theme of this week's reading notes, the final story did not feature Noah, but one of his descendants. Nimrod was the great-grandson of Noah; Cush, the son of Ham, was Nimrod's father. In his resentment after being cursed, Ham stole from Noah the garments of skins that  had been given to Adam and Eve by God after they had eaten of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Ham passed down the garments, which eventually ended up in Nimrod's possession. The power of these garments resulted in Nimrod's being popular, so much that he led his people astray from God. I would love to flesh out the story of the garments - Did Nimrod struggle with their power, or did he always relish it? If the garments were so valuable, did anyone ever try to steal them?