Week 6: Essay- What makes a hero?

I think the concept of a "hero" has been present in every civilization. Accordingly, I think that every person or civilization has its own way of defining what make a hero heroic. Is it super strength? Or is it the ability to overcome incredible obstacles? There are a lot of things that I think going into making a hero, but I think that most fundamental trait that a hero must possess is selflessness. In my opinion, a hero becomes more than just a really powerful being whenever he or she begins to make sacrifices for those around them. In fact, I think that this trait is more important than super strength or any other power. This self-sacrifice, when coupled with super powers, is what creates "superheroes."

            

For example, Superman is arguably the greatest superhero of all time, or at least the most recognizable. We all know his powers: flying, super strength, having bullets bounce off of him, shooting lasers from his eyes, etc. But what good do these powers do if he uses them selfishly? If he gets really selfish, then he becomes not a superhero, but a super-villain. Even if he's kind of neutral, then he still isn't really a hero. Therefore, it is unfailing commitment to do good, and to protect the lives of those around him that make him heroic. His super powers only make him more equipped to do those things.

Superman, source: flickr

           

On the other hand though, I read about the The Monkey King, Sun Wu Kung this week. He was certainly powerful. He called himself the "Great Saint who is Heaven's Equal" and got away with it. However, I would never in a million describe this King as heroic. All of the decisions he makes are selfish. He cares very little about anyone other than himself. He uses his considerable power for his own gain. So, judging by my criteria, the Monkey King is most definitely not a hero. Though he clearly has the potential to be an awesome superhero. I guess to sum up points, I would say that heroism has nothing to do with strength or power, and it has everything to do with self-sacrifice.

Week 6: Storytelling- The Ape King's Diary

Dear Diary,

            I have been more insulted in my incredible life than yesterday. While I was at the table dining, I was told by that my position of Stablemaster was no office at all. It doesn't even carry any rank! Can you believe that? How could the Jade Emperor, the supposed Lord of the Heavens, give me such a lowly job? I am Sun Wu Kung. I am the Ape King. I am the Venerable Sun! How dare he?!

            Do these heavenly officials not know who I am? Do they not know that I can travel eighteen thousand miles in one turn of my cloud somersaults? Do they not know that I have discovered the way to eternal life? I have travelled to the Nether World, and I have erased my name from the book of life. Therefore, I have no need to fear Death the Ancient anymore! Do they not know that I have mastered the art of transformation? With just one of my hairs I can summon thousands of myself, and who else can work such magic? Do they not know that I was victorious in battle against the Devil King? Who else can wield Riyu Jingu Bang, my magical staff taken from the Dragon-King and Dragon-Queen? No one can! There are none who are strong enough! On  my mountain, I am a father. I am a King. I am practically... no, I am a god on my mountain! The evening star was right to advise them to show me mercy. For, there are none among them who could defeat me. Not even the Buddha in all his wisdom and power could overcome me!

            Blessed be my family! They showed me a proper reception today. My loyal prepared a glorious banquet in my honor. If only those in the Heavens were so wise. I especially liked those two devil-kings. Their horns were impressive, but there words were even more so. "The Great Saint who is Heaven's Equal" they called me. A more fitting name has never been given! Mark my words, there will be a day when the Lord of the Heavens, and all of his officials, and all the world will bow in wonder at my greatness! I promise you that I, Sun Wu Kung, the Venerable Sun, the Ape King will see to it that this day comes soon. In fact, it is already on the horizon. They will send the whole host after me. They will try, but they will fail, for I am the Great Saint who is Heaven's Equal!

Sun Wu Kung depicted by Yoshitoshi, source: Wikipedia

Author's Note-

I based this fake diary entry off of The Great Saint, a story about the famous Monkey King, Sun Wu Kung. He is extremely powerful, and he knows it. So I thought it would be interesting to explore his anger about being belittled by the Heavenly hosts. Obviously, he is super arrogant, so he doesn't handle it well!

Bibliography-

"The Great Saint"

"The Ape Sun Wu Kung" in The Chinese Fairy Book

Edited by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens

1921

Week 6: Reading Diary- The Monkey King

These are my thoughts on The Monkey King- Sun Wu Kung...

Handsome King of Apes:

This story already seems allegorical. Is Sun Wu Kung the stone ape that is hatched out of the magic egg in the story? Also, it seems kind of weird that the gods would be afraid of the stone ape, because they are gods after all. This island seems pretty cool though. Maybe it is a Chinese version of the garden of Eden?

The Great Sea:

So Sun Wu Kung is the Ape King. The Monkey King is not just a nickname, he really is a monkey, at least in the story. The Ape King leaves his perfect island, so that he can go to the realm of the mortals and find the secrets to immortality from the Buddhas or the blessed spirits. He seems to look down on the human pursuits of honor and wealth.

Sun Wu Kung Gets His Name:

He finds a wood-chopper in the mountains that leads him to a divine teacher in the "mountain of the heart." I wonder why the writer included the wood-chopper? The teacher then gives him his name and instructs him in cleaning, working the fields and other menial tasks. When he begins to teach truth, Sun Wu King dances for joy.

The Master:

The master offers to teach Sun Wu Kung the way to the truth, but Sun Wu Kung refuses to learn all of them, because none of them offer a way to earn eternal life. While being rebuked, Sun Wu Kung realizes that he is supposed to visit the master late at night. Your notes say that Sun Wu Kung is a representation of the "monkey mind."

Learning the Art:

The master does end up teaching Sun Wu Kung the incantation that will lead him to eternal life. He also warns him that three troubles will befall him, and he has to overcome these if he wants live as long as the heavens. In order to prepare him, the master teaches him an incantation that allows him to shape-shift. He also learns to fly.

Sun Wu Kung Departs:

Sun Wu Kung gets kicked out  by the master after showing off for the other disciples. I'm sure this is supposed to teach the reader a lesson. Sun Wu Kung initially scoffed at the human pursuits of honor and wealth, but it seems like he has given into the notion of impressing those around him. The master threatens him with hell if he tells anyone of his teaching.

The Devil King:

Sun Wu Kung returns to his home island to find that a devil king has captured many of his children. He goes to confront the evil king, and he uses his new found magic power to defeat the king. He transforms one of his hairs into little apes who aid him in his fight. Maybe this was one of the three dangers he would have to overcome?

The Dragon King:

The Monkey King is turning into a General. He is teaching his people how to fight. However, he cannot find a weapon that suits himself. So, he goes to see the Dragon King, be he still cannot find a weapon that is heavy enough for him. For someone so learned, it seems that having a weapon is unnecessary.

The Dragon Queen:

The queen tells the king to show Sun Wu Kung some magical staff that was used to measure the depths of the ocean by some god. Sun Wu Kung is finally satisfied by this weapon, but then he demands a suit of armor. The Dragon King calls his brothers together, and they give Sun Wu Kung a suit of golden armor. The Monkey King is beginning to come across as a huge jerk. I bet he is humbled soon.

The Nether World:

He is dragged to the nether world in one of his dreams. There, he uses his power to erase his name and all the other apes' names from the book of life. Thus, they never died. However, all of these other powers are beginning to complain about him to the lord of the heavens. So i wonder what is going to happen with that

Lord of the Heavens:

Word of Sun Wu Kung's exploits reach the Jade Emperor, the lord of the heavens. However, nothing bad happens to him. Instead, he is rewarded with a position in the heavenly stables, where he excels. For how arrogant and "monkey-minded" he is, Sun Wu Kung always seems to do pretty well.

The Great Saint:

Naturally, Sun Wu Kung, who keeps calling himself the "Venerable Sun," feels that the stablemaster position is beneath him. So, he returns to his mountain. There two demon-kings tell him that he should be called the "Great Saint Who is Heaven's Equal." He agrees. This has the feel of Lucifer trying to call himself equal to God, before being cast out of heaven.

Notscha, Son of Li Dsing:

Hearing of Wu Kung's revolt, the Jade Emperor sends out other deities in order to capture him. However, Sun Wu Kung is too strong, so they decide to grant him his title. Again, it is the evening star who advises the Jade Emperor to this course of action. Why is such arrogance rewarded?

The Queen-Mother of the West:

This definitely has a biblical feel. Sun Wu Kung is ordered to watch over a peach orchard, but these peaches grant immortality. Sun Wu Kung eats all of them, so there are hardly any left when the Queen-Mother tries to prepare her banquet.

Laotzse:

He is so irresponsible and selfish. He ends up stealing a large amount of wine and pills from various deities' houses. He is a terrible hero, who has done nothing to help anyone except himself. He's definitely not a positive character. Maybe he'll get redeemed?

Guan Yin:

Sun Wu Kung defeats all of the heavenly host, seemingly, pretty easily. I thought it was interesting to note that the Lord of the Heavens was able to be frightened. These gods don't appear to be very god-like. Anyways, one champion is chosen to defeat Sun Wu Kung, and it is the Jade Emperor's grandson.

Yang Oerlang:

Yang Oerlang ans Sun Wu Kung have an epic battle. It's full of shape-shifting and what not, but this is the first time that we have ever seen Sun Wu Kung run. He has finally met his equal. So it seems at least. He's still an arrogant punk, trying to take over Yang Oerlang's own temple.

Buddha:

Sun Wu Kung is finally captured, but the gods have no way of executing him. They try to throw him in an oven, but even that doesn't work. So the Jade Emperor asks Buddha for help as a last resort. The Buddha comes not to fight him, but to "tame" him.

The Destiny of Sun Wu Kung:

The Buddha is finally a force that is more powerful than Sun Wu Kung. He ends up trapping him beneath a mountain, from which he is released after many hundred years. It says that he is polite and respectful from that time forward, but that is tough to believe.

Journey to the West (Synopsis):

Everything up to this point has only been a minor introduction to the characters. In the rest of the story, it seems like Sun Wu Kong plays a pretty minor role. However, it is said that he attains buddhahood at the end of his journey. I still don't like him very much.

Journey to the West (conclusion):

Through all the travels it seems like Sun Wu Kung redeemed himself. He appeared to actually make sacrifices and think about other more than himself, which would finally make him heroic, in my opinion. Lucky for him, he was given many second chances.

Week 5: Storytelling- Raja Rasulu, the Chaupur Master

            "Poor Raja Rasulu," thought Raja Sarkap, " he has no idea that I am about to take everything he own, even his head! Little does he know that Chaupur, this game of chance is no game of luck for me! My rat, Dhol Raja, along with my enchanted dice will insure my victory."

    

       Raja Rasulu came in, and he sat himself down to play. "Well Raja Sarkap, what will our stakes be?"

            Feeling extremely confident, Raja Sarkap replied, "On the first game, I bet my kingdom. On the second game, I wage the wealth of the whole world. On the last game, however, I offer my own head as a prize! What would you bet Raja, as a counter to these?"

            "We play for high stakes indeed. On my side, I offer my armor for the first game, my faithful steed for the second, and, of course, my own head for the third. Do you agree to my terms?"

            "Yes of course! I'll even allow you to make the first move. You can even my own dice."

            Raja Sarkap struggled to contain his smile, as Raja Rasulu took the dice from his hand. He knew that there was no way for Rasulu to beat him, so long as his own dice were used. "That arrogant, would be king is no match for me," he thought savagely. As the first game was coming to a close, his faithful rat scurried across the board, upsetting the pieces. So Raja Sarkap won the first game, claiming Raja Rasulu's brilliant armor as his own.

            "Would you like to continue, my friend?"

            "Do not think that one loss will deter me, dear king. I am Raja Rasulu and I am not so easily beaten! Come, give us the dice, the next game is upon us!"

            Tragically, the second game went just the same as the first. Raja Sarkap ordered his men to take away Raja Rasulu's horse, Bhaunr Iraqi. As it was being escorted out, the horse began to whinny at its master. "What in the world is going on," thought Raja Sarkap? "It appears that Raja Rasulu understands the groans of his horse."

            "Remove that horse immediately! He interferes with our game!"

            Looking supremely confident, despite the loss of his faithful companion, Raja Rasulu addressed Raja Sarkap. "Let us continue. Only this time, I request that we use my own dice."

            Not wanting to look the fool, Raja Sarkap agreed. He was growing nervous. Why would Raja Rasulu be so confident? So he ordered that the women of his court to come in and attempt to distract his opponent. It was to no avail, with his own dice, Raja Rasulu won that game handily.

            "Where is my rat?! My destruction seems imminent, and my greatest advantage is nowhere to be seen," thought Raja Sarkap, his eyes revealing the terror in his heart.

            In reality, Raja Rasulu had released a kitten to keep watch on the cheating rat. With his new advantages, Raja Rasulu quickly won back his armor, his horse, and then won all that Raja Sarkap had wagered.

            Realizing that he had lost his head in these games, Raja Sarkap begged for mercy, "Please great Raja, have it in your heart to show me mercy. I vow to never play for another man's head, so long as my head is still attached to its body!"

            "I shall grant your request. However, you must pledge your daughter to me. In twelve years, I shall return for her hand in marriage."

            And so, Raja Sarkap was defeated at his own game by Raja Rasulu. It was the greatest game of Chaupur ever played!

(Ancient Game of Chaupur, Source: Wikipedia)

Author's Note-

This story is based of the legends of Raja Rasulu, specifically Raja Rasulu: How He Played Chaupur with King Sarkap. It recouts the story of how the hero, Rasulu, plays a game of chance with the evil king, Sarkap. Rasulu overcomes Sarkap's cheating, and wins the evil king's head. He show him mercy, however, in return for his daughter. I tried to tell this story from the viewpoint of Sarkap. What would be going through his head, as he started to lose for the first time?

Bibliography-

Tales of the Punjab

Flora Annie Steel, with illustrations by J. Lockwood Kipling

1894

Week 5: Reading Diary- Raja Rasulu

My thoughts on the stories of Raja Rasulu....

The King and His Two Queens:

This is a pretty interesting back story. One of the king's queens had a son, Prince Puran, and the other was barren. So the one without a child plotted to kill the king's son, but instead he was rescued by the gods. I wonder if divine intervention will be a theme for all the stories? Also, the Prince becomes a priest, and pays back his aunt in kind.

How Raja Rasulu was Born:

So this son promised to Queen Lona is prophesied to be a great man, but they king and queen are forbidden to ook on him for twelve years, because it would kill him. He tries visit before the twelve years are up, so his parents spurn hum.

How Raja Rasulu's Friends Forsook Him:

When Rasulu leaves his father's city with his friends, the carpenter and the goldsmith, they are attacked at night by two snakes. The carpenter kills the smaller of the two, and Rasulu kills the scarier of the two. His friends leave him out of fear of the monsters. Desertion seems to be a theme of his life.

How He Killed the Giants:

Rasulu comes to a city that is being terrorized by giants. They ask for tribute, just like the Minotaur in Ovid. Of course Rasulu volunteers to go in place of a woman's son, and then he kills all the giants, who are terrified of him. How did they know about him?

How he became a Jogi:

So, he goes to the palace of a beautiful queen and pledges himself a student of a Jogi. He entices the the queen to come out through his singing, and she falls in love with him for his beauty. The, when he leaves, she kills herself. He must've been pretty attractive!

The Dice and the Cricket:

On his way to another city, Rasulu talks with a headless corpse, who warns him about the evil king there. He tells Rasulu to fashion dice out of bones. Then, along the way Rasulu rescues a cricket from a fire, and the cricket pledges to help him at some point. He's got some magical allies!

The Maidens Test Rasulu:

He is tested by the King's daughters. They ask him to separate seed from sand, so Rasulu calls in his favor from the cricket, who takes care of the task in one night. Before all of this, Rasulu promises to marry the youngest of the daughters.

Rasulu Swings the Maidens:

The number 70 must have some significance. There are 70 daughter, 70 drums, and 70 gongs. Anyways, Rasulu overcomes the second task of the maidens, swinging them all at once, and then he destroys the king's drums and gongs. The king then prepares to ride out and meet him.

The Dog and the Cat:

Scared of Rasulu, Raja Sarkap attempts to poison him, but it ultimately results in the killing of his dog. Later, Rasulu sees a mother cat unable to rest, so he asks what is wrong. She says that her kittens are about to be baked in a kiln, so Rasulu saves them. The mother then gives him one of her kittens, saying that it will help him later. Rasulu's kindness always earns him favors that seem to save his life.

How He Played Chaupu with King Sarkap:

Rasulu forgets about his two advantages, his kitten and his dice, for the first two games, so he loses. However, he eventually wins the king's kingdom, the wealth of the whole world, and the king's head. He spares the king's life in return for his daughter's hand in marriage. He returns twelve years later to marry her. This mirrors his own upbringing in a way.

The Hunter (Swynnerton):

Rasulu travels to a forest in hopes of finding a renowned hunter, Mirshikari. The hunter was expecting him, and he asked to be Rasulu's disciple. Rasulu agree, giving him three conditions, but Mirshikari quickly breaks the first condition, which is that he was not supposed to tell anyone he met Rasulu.

The Hunter (cont.):

Naturally, the hunter breaks Rasulu's second condition. He sets up to hunt with his lute on the south side of the forest, where a buck and a doe reside, which he is not supposed to kill. This is the third condition that I'm sure he will break.

The Hunter (cont. again):

The hunter's disobedience leads to a of death. He kills the buck, and then is stung by a viper, which kills him. Then he kills the viper. Then the doe kills herself on her husband's horns. Lastly, a jackal kills itself by trying to break the hunter's bow. All the while, Rasulu is watching from the trees as the tragedy unfolds.

The Hunter (end):

When Rasulu tries to return the hunter's things to his widow, she accuses him of killing her husband. However, Rasulu proves himself innocent at the trial, and eventually erects a tomb for the hunter. For how powerful Rasulu is, it seems like he could have very easily prevented the deaths. He doesn't seem very heroic.

The Swans (Swynnerton):

This is kind of a weird story, because it's not really about Rasulu. It's about a two crows seeking shelter from a storm. Two swans allow them to stay in their home, but in the morning, the crow accuses the swan of stealing his wife. When it goes to the king, he decides that the crow is in the right. Also, talking animals is the norm for these stories.

The Swans (cont.):

The animals in this story seem to be smarter than the humans, except for Rasulu. Rasulu encounters a jackal, who tells him many stories, and eventually exposes the crow's treachery. Rasulu then kills the crow as punishment for his fraud.

Raja Rasulu and Raja Bhoj (Swynnerton):

Rasulu was enjoying the company of Raja Bhoj, but when he asked to leave, the king bid him stay for awhile longer. He then asks Rasulu to tell him the five most cursed things in the world,w hich Rasulu does. Then the whole company runs into a band of dangerous women, who threaten them.

Raja Rasulu and Raja Bhoj (cont.):

Rasulu escapes the dangerous woman, and he and his company go on their way. One thing that I have noticed about these stories is that the characters often speak in verse. It almost seems like any argument is more convincing in verse.

Raja Rasulu and Raja Bhoj (end):

Rasulu is very clever in his verse. He improves another king's poetry, showcasing his own wisdom. He is greatly admired for his strength, but it also seems that he is extremely wise. I wonder which of the two is more commendable?

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Week 4: Essay-

(Punctuation Symbol, source: New Punctuation Mark)

Name: The Sarcastrophe

Usage: This new punctuation mark has been a long time coming. It would be used to designate whenever someone is attempting to be sarcastic or facetious. It would be implemented in the same way as quotation marks. The symbol would "bookend" whatever statement was made, indicating that it was intended to be sarcastic. It could also be used in conjunction with quotation marks to indicate that a character in a story is speaking sarcastically. This punctuation serves to replicate the change in speaking tone that occurs whenever someone is being sarcastic.

Advantage: I believe that each and every one of us is sarcastic every now and then. I know that I am sarcastic all the time. I've also been in situations where I have been unable to accurately portray my sarcasm over text or in writing. This inhibits by ability to communicate, because I always have to be conscious of whether someone would be able to tell if I was being sarcastic. This new punctuation mark, the "sarcastrophe," would effectively eliminate any of the ambiguity about sarcasm over text messages or in writing. Clearly it would not be used in most kinds of scholarly writing, instead it would be used more colloquially. The only downside I foresee is that definitely showing when you are being sarcastic could potentially take part of the fun of being sarcastic away. Sometimes someone not realizing you are being sarcastic is the funniest part about whatever you said. Regardless, I believe this punctuation mark is a necessary addition to our existing list of punctuation.

Examples:

¤Wow man, you're the best basketball player I've ever seen.¤

¤I honestly dream about being you one day when I grow up.¤

¤That's the best idea I've ever heard!¤

¤You've been watching Netflix all day? It must have been extremely productive.¤ 

Week 4: Storytelling- Sinbad's Final Charge

            "Sinbad, you've been summoned by the Caliph."

            "What could he possibly want with me? He has never asked for me in this manner before," Sinbad thought to himself nervously. Still it was his duty, so he would do whatever the Caliph asked of him.

            Putting on his nicest clothes, he followed the servant who had summoned him to the chamber of the Caliph. It's grandeur was intimidating. Gems glittered and gold shone from the decadent lamps that lined the sides of the Caliph's meeting hall. A beautifully embroidered rug led to the platform where the Caliph himself sat. The platform was raised four feet off the ground, and the Caliph sat upon a golden throne, a fabulous gift from a King across the sea years ago. Now Sinbad had been here once before, but it was no less awe-inspiring than the first time beheld it.

            Saluting as was customary, Sinbad addressed the Caliph, "Your majesty, I am your humble and willing servant. I will do anything and everything that you ask. Give me my task and it will be done as best I can."

            Laughing, the Caliph stood up from his throne and gave his charge to Sinbad. "Sinbad, my friend you are too formal," his voice booming from his place of power. "I ask little more than you have already done. I would send you as my emissary to the King of Serendib. I would answer his message in kind, and would be most pleased if you would bear my gifts to him."

            As flashbacks of his horrible experiences raced through his mind, he struggled to find the words to respond to the task before him. "I would do all that you ask sire, but please, I pray, ask me not to do this. I have taken a vow to never leave Bagdad again. My voyages upon the open sea have nearly been the death of me no less than six times!" Sinbad then told the Caliph of all his voyages, and his near escapes from certain death.

            Sinbad paid close attention to the Caliph as he recounted his story. "Surely my stories will win his favor, and he will let this task pass from me. Though my heart still longs for the sea, my body and mind know better. It would be better if I never were to sail again. He must allow me to remain here with my health, my family and my fortune!"

            Sinbad would not get his wish. The King was not laughing anymore, seeing that his authority was being challenged.

            "Though your stories trouble me greatly, I do not see any great danger in the task before you. The seventh voyage of Sinbad the sailor will be his greatest. My honor and dignity demand that you do this for me!"

            "Of course your majesty, I will obey all that you command " Sinbad said with his eyes downcast.

            The Caliph, upon getting his way, brightened again. "Gods be with you Sinbad! May the sea bring you quickly there and back again! The last voyage of Sinbad the sailor!"

            As Sinbad left the Caliph's meeting room, he thought to himself, "I certainly pray that this is not the last voyage of Sinbad. I don't know how much luck that poor sailor has left. Who knows if he will return safely home to his family. To the sea once more, and for the last time, I go..."

(The Caravan of Sinbad's Seventh Voyage, Source: Wikipedia)

Author's Note-

This story is a re-telling of Sinbad being ordered to go on his Seventh and Last Voyage. He is charged by his ruler to take a gift to another King. At this point, Sinbad has sworn to never sail again, so he is dismayed at the thought of going on another voyage, so I wanted to imagine what would be going through his mind during his meeting with the Caliph.

Bibliography-

Sinbad: Seventh and Last Voyage

The Arabian Nights' Entertainments

Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford

1898

Week 4: Reading Diary- Sinbad

These are my thoughts on The Voyages of Sinbad....

First Voyage:

First of all, this storytelling style is much different than my other units. I like that Sinbad is telling his story firsthand, by telling to poor man also named Sinbad, because you get to see his emotion and reactions to his situations. Then, it is really bad luck that he mistook a whale for an island and was left by his friends, but it is great luck that he drifted to another inhabited island.

First Voyage (cont.):

I'm sure that ancient sailors would have led pretty interesting lives. They would be the ones to tell and listen to stories from across the world at the ports they come to, just like Sinbad. King Mihrage does a good job of looking after Sinbad, until his old companions show up. But was it all a mirage, like the King's name would suggest?

Second Voyage:

This guy has some horrible luck! After being abandoned again though, he finds a massive egg belonging to a massive bird, the roc. This bird carries him to a strange island full of diamonds and huge snakes. I wonder how he gets out of trouble this time?

Second Voyage (cont.):

So he ends up tying a piece of meat to his back, then an eagle grabs him and drops him in its eerie, where he is found by another group of merchants? And along the way he picks up some massive diamonds? Then on the return journey he sees the roc carry off a rhino and an elephant? These stories are ridiculous!

Third Voyage:

At least Sinbad doesn't get abandoned this time. Instead, he and his companions get marooned on an island full of red-haired dwarves, who steal their ship. Then, the find their way into the castle of a one-eyed, black monster, who roasts their captain on a spit before eating him.

Third Voyage (cont.):

Blinding the monster is, I would say, the first heroic thing Sinbad does. However, his bold plan to escape on rafts is undone when many other monsters appear and destroy them with large stones. Of course though, he makes it out alive, only to wash up on an island inhabited by a large snake.

Third Voyage (end):

These stories certainly all follow the same-ish pattern. Sinbad is again rescued by a boat that knows him previously, only thinking he was dead. Then he reveals himself to be alive. Also, I noticed that most of his stories have no survivors, other than himself, to verify his claims.

Fourth Voyage:

Same old, same old. Sinbad gets stuck on an island full of black cannibals, only to escape and be rescued. Again he is taken to the city of a king. There he makes the important men saddles, which they had never seen, and for which he is richly rewarded.

Fourth Voyage (cont.):

The community Sinbad has found has an extremely bizarre law: when one spouse dies, the other is buried with, even though they are alive. Unfortunately for Sinbad, his new found wife dies, and he is lowered into a pit with only seven loaves of break and a pitcher of water to comfort him.

Fourth Voyage (end):

In order to survive his confinement, Sinbad begins killing the living person who is lowered into the pit. Then he takes their bread and water in order to survive. Finally, after some time, he follows some animal through a crack in the rock out to the sea. Again, he is picked up by a passing ship and returned to his hometown.

Fifth Voyage:

There is certainly a recurring theme of Sinbad being discontent with the safe life at his home, which leads him on another voyage, but he always comes to regret his decision. I wonder what the deal is with the "old man" who is riding him like a horse?

Fifth Voyage (cont.):

Sinbad isn't your typical hero. He isn't remarkably strong or brave or any other stereotypical hero things. However he is very, very lucky, and a little bit cunning. He gets the old man drunk enough to release him, and then he earns his way back home by collecting coconuts from monkeys.

Sixth Voyage:

He never learns! But I finally realized what his heroic traits are: persistence and hopefulness. He never gives up on a situation, no matter how bad it looks. That's why he builds the raft that carries him through the mysterious river.

Sixth Voyage (cont.):

Another motif, Sinbad always seems to find himself in the favor of the king. This time, Sinbad finds himself, or so he claims, in the land of paradise that Adam was banished from. After some time there, he asks to leave and the king grants his request.

Sixth Voyage (end):

So the King of the Indies sends Sinbad as a messenger to his own King. Sinbad bears incredible gifts to his King, and the King asks him if this other King exaggerates his wealth. Sinbad then verifies the grandeur of that King's wealth and retires.

Seventh and Last Voyage:

After vowing to never leave, the Caliph orders Sinbad to return the favor of the King of the Indies. All goes well, until the return trip. Then Sinbad is taken by pirates and sold as a slave to a rich merchant, where he is ordered to kill an elephant.

Seventh and Last Voyage (cont.):

Tired of Sinbad killing their own, the elephants lead him to their burial ground, because they know that ivory is all that he was after. So, the merchant sets him free and allows him to return home. Finally, Sinbad is done with his voyages, and lives happily at home.

Week 3: Storytelling- Ease of reading

Who would have ever thought that all the punctuation and grammar rules that we all learned in lower school would actually be so important? Periods, commas, capitalization and spaces between letters make all the difference in the world. Yet, some of them are more important, or make it easier to read, than others. I read twelve jokes, and by far the most difficult ones to read were the ones without spaces between the words, but why is this?

Without the clear distinction between words, I had to work a lot harder to determine when certain words ended and other words began. This slowed me down considerably. Interestingly, capitalization made little difference so long as it was all lower-case or all upper-case. However, when upper-case letters were used to make the beginning of a sentence apparent, the difference was significant.

After spaces between words, the next most important piece of writing "technology" was definitely punctuation: periods and commas. These devices help give the reading a sense of flow and rhythm, providing natural stopping points and pauses that are essential for ease of reading. Again, however, these periods and commas offer little help without the blessed spaces between words that we all take for granted.

All of these writing devices are tools that we all, at least until we try to read without them, take for granted. So how did the originators of written language go so long without something as basic as spaces between words. How could a language as sophisticated as Latin have been read without punctuation? Obviously they didn't know any better, but still, you would think that they would've come up with these devices so much sooner.

(Example of Ancient Latin, Wikipedia)

            thiswasanextremelyinterestingandhelpfulwaytorecognizetheimportanceandusefullnessofpunctuationlikethesayinggoesyouneverknowhowgoodyouhaveituntilitsgone

Maybe next week, I'll come up with my own type of punctuation!

Week 3: Storytelling- Icarus' Undoing

            Icarus looked out into the distance, watching a red sun set upon the blue water. The horizon seemed so close, so attainable, and yet, so impossibly far away. He had grown up on the island. It was the only thing he'd ever known. His father never told him why they could never leave, just that they couldn't. His heart longed for new and distant places, but his mind knew he would never see that for which his heart longed. Still, he was young, and the hope in his heart would not be diminished so easily. In the midst of his pitiful thoughts, a pair of small birds happened to fly into view. Chirping cheerfully, the birds rode the wind, free of the heavy thoughts that disturbed Icarus' unhappy mind.

            "If only I were a bird! With such wings I could fly from this wretched place. Woe to me that the gods would curse me with legs, chained to this cruel island by such a cruel twist of fate. May the gods grant me wings, that I may escape this prison!"

            Icarus called out to the sea and the sky, knowing that no one was listening to his cries. He was drawn from despair by the call of his father.

            "Icarus! Come quick, my son! I have something to show you. Something that will bring joy to your heart and smile to your lips!"

            Icarus raced home, struggling to contain his excitement. He slowed down as he approached the shop door from which his father had called to him. Drawing a slow breath, he crossed the threshold. What his eyes beheld was nothing short of divine.

            "By the gods," he exclaimed, "what sort of inventions are these, father?"

            "Wings, my son. The hard land and the deep sea are closed to us, but the skies are our freedom. What do you think?"

            Icarus knew his father was skilled, but these wings, of beeswax, reeds and feathers were nothing short of an answered prayer. He fingered them in his excitement. Too forcefully in the eyes of his father.

            "Careful son! Our means of escape are too delicate for such treatment. Now I must tell you, and you must listen, to what I have to say. Let me warn you! Avoid the heavens and the sea, lest your wings be unmade. Take a middle road, my son, and all will be well. Do you understand?"

            Icarus was barely paying attention, so great was his excitement. "Of course, father. You certainly know best."

            Early the next morning, Icarus woke his father eagerly, ready to fly away from the only place he'd ever known. As his father fitted the wings on him, he noticed a nervousness in his father's movements and in his words. So potent was his enthusiasm, that this thought left him quickly.

            "Before leave son, you must remember what I told you yesterday. Follow me!"

            Icarus watched his father flap his wings, and soar like a bird. "Soon I shall be free of my enslavement to this ground," he thought to himself joyfully. Then with a few flaps of his own, he watched the ground drop from beneath him.

            In a matter of minutes, the father and son had left their island beyond the horizon. With the island out of sight and out of mind, the joy rushing in Icarus' veins overcame his father's advise. He longed to touch the sky, so he daringly raced towards the heavens.

            The approaching sun turned his joy into utter horror. The wax was melting! His wings were falling apart! He suddenly felt himself plummeting towards the sea. As the sea rushed to meet him, Icarus longed for his island home, that he had just that morning cursed with his departure.

            "Forgive me father, my freedom was too much for me! I ought to have accepted what the gods had in store for me, and left the flying to the birds! May the world learn from my folly!"

            No one, not even his father, heard his screams. His father, though he searched tirelessly, would not find the son he looked for. And so Daedalus would curse his inventions. What should have brought him so much joy, left him in despair. If only he had never made them, his poor son Icarus would still be by his side.

(The Flight of Icarus, Jacob Peter Gowy)

Author's Note:

I have heard this story of Daedalus and Icarus many times, but I have never heard from the perspective of Icarus. Daedalus invents wings so that he and his son can escape the island of Crete. Icarus flies too close to he sun, and his wings are ruined. So he falls to his death, leaving his father to mourn. It such a tragic story, but I wanted to put myself in Icarus' place. If I had the ability to fly away from the island I was exiled to, I would be impossibly excited. Who can fault this young boy from trying to touch the sky? Sure he should have listened to his father, but who hasn't disobeyed their parents? Poor Icarus pays the ultimate price for his disobedience.

Bibliography:

Daedalus and Icarus

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Translated by Tony Kline

2000

Week 3: Reading Diary- Ovid III

These are my thoughts on the third section of Ovid's Metamorphoses...

Daedalus and Icarus:

This story certainly has a message it is trying to convey: Avoid extremes! I'm sure Daedalus felt absolutely terrible about his son's death, but surely his inventions were not to blame? How often has youth lead to an arrogant rise, followed by a swift fall? It seems that Icarus never learned from Phaethon.

(Daedalus and Icarus)

Philemon and Baucis:

I really like this pair! They choose to accept their lot in life and embrace it. They embrace their poverty with humility and generosity. It seems that a little bit of wealth leads to greed, but no wealth at all leads to happiness. Also, I thought it was interesting that the gods, Jupiter and Mercury (at this point), are content in this meager house.

Transformation of Philemon and Baucis:

This is a great little Greek love story. The poorest house in the neighborhood is spared from divine wrath by its generosity. It seems fitting that Philemon and Baucis, who were content with each other before the the gods' appearance, chose with their request to spend the rest of their lives together.

Ceres and Erysichthon:

This story is completely opposite to the previous one. Erysichthon was completely dismissive of the gods, cutting down Ceres' tree, and I'm sure his arrogance will lead to the suffering of many innocent people. This is how all the other myths have gone at least.

The Famine:

This guy gets a pretty terrible punishment for his crimes. I turn into a diva when I get hungry, so I can't imagine what it would be like to end up eating your own body because of your hunger. Also, I really liked the description of Famine. It was horrible! I am glad that Erysichthon's mistake only caused him harm, not innocents like in earlier stories.

Achelous:

This is a pretty interesting tribute to Hercules' strength. He dominated what appeared to be a bigger man that could shape-shift into a snake and a bull. In all of this though, the woman has absolutely no choice in her husband. Women, even the female gods, are at the mercy of their male counterparts.

The Shirt of Nessus:

Hercules definitely looks like he is on the losing end of this encounter. Sure, he kills the Centaur that would have stolen his bride, but it seems that his poisoned arrows are destined to be his own undoing. This is a pretty cruel twist of fate.

The Death of Hercules:

This sounds like a pretty brutal way to die. The description of the Hydra's poison is disgustingly detailed. Luckily for Hercules though, his father bails him out. The mortal part of him dies, but he is transformed into a god. It worked out for him after all.

(Stories from the Greek Tragedians)

Birth of Hercules:

I have no idea and will never have an idea of what childbirth is like, but it seems that Alcmena had a pretty rough time of it. Seven days is a long time to be in labor. Lucky for her, her hand-maiden Galanthis tricks the goddess of childbirth into allowing the birth to occur. This is a pretty weird origin story for the weasel too.

Orpheus and Eurydice:

This is a pretty tragic love story. I've heard it before, and I still feel like I need to yell at Orpheus not to turn around. He had worked so hard to raise his wife out of Hades, but his love for her drove him to look back, and her fate was sealed.

Ganymede and Hyacinthus:

The gods' lust gets innocent people in trouble over and over again. Jupiter abducts the Phyrgian, Ganymede, after transforming himself into an eagle. Then Hyacinthus is killed in a game of discus with Phoebus. It is terrible for these boys to have earned the love of such powerful gods.

Pygmalion:

Venus seems like a pretty just god in this story. She turn the Propoetides into wild bullocks for killing their guests as sacrifices instead of animals. Then she turns a Pygmalion's statue into a real girl, so that he can marry it. These are some weird stories!

(Pygmalion and the Statue, Regnault)

Myrrha and Cinyras:

This is interesting. In this case, it is a mortal that wants to commit sexual sin, not the gods. When the gods want to rape or sin, they do so without remorse. This girl, however, is torn apart by her desire to be with her father, even though it is incestuous and wrong.

Myrrha and the Nurse:

So instead of succumbing to the incestuous sin, Myrrha attempts to kill herself, only to be stopped by hr nurse. After a lot of questioning, the nurse understands Myrrha's shame, and begs her to be rid of the sinful desires.

Myrrha's Punishment:

So Myrrha tricks her father into sleeping with her during a festival of celibacy. That really sucks for Cinyras! Naturally in a story like this, Myrrha becomes pregnant and is forced to flee. She then prays to be deprived of life and death, so the gods turn her into a tree.

Venus and Adonis:

So the love-child of Myrrha and Cinyras is Adonis, a boy so beautiful that he catches the attention of Venus herself. There has to be some way that this goes horribly, horribly wrong. Probably by bears or lions, judging from Venus' warning.

Atlanta and Hippomenes:

So Venus is telling Adonis this story about a girl, Atlanta, who was beautiful and faster than any man alive. The gods tell her she ought to flee from marriage, so she proposes that any man to beat her in a footrace would win her, but to lose was to forfeit his life. So Hippomenes, descendant of Neptune, challenges her.

The Foot-Race:

With the help of Venus, Hippomenes wins the race and earns Atlanta's hand in marriage. However, he does thank or worship her after receiving her help, so she incites him to desecrate a temple. He and Atlanta are then turned into lions, and that is why Venus tells Adonis to fear lions.

(The Race, by Noel Halle)

The Death of Adonis:

Of course Adonis gets killed by a wild boar, and Venus is distraught. So like in many other stories, she preserves her memory of him in a flower. Also, I like the story-within-a-story-within-a-story concept. It's like inception!