These are my thoughts on Dante's Inferno...
Dante and Virgil:
I wonder if this forest is a metaphor for some kind of depression that Dante was facing while he was writing? I also like that this story is being written from Dante's perspective. The reader can very easily put himself in Dante's shoes. It will almost feel as if Virgil is guiding us on our own personal journey through Hell.
The Gate of Hell and Charon:
Dante is certainly critical of those that are indecisive. Those angels and humans that did not choose good or evil seem to have gotten a pretty rough punishment. It almost seems like Dante is saying that is is preferable to evil over neutral. These people are envious of every other fate that they could have gotten. That is pretty strong.
Limbo:
I had never caught the reference to Christ before. The one marked with a sign of victory that came and saved some prominent biblical figures from the torture of limbo. It definitely seems like it would be horrible luck to not have ever even had the chance to be baptized, and so be saved through Christ.
Poets and Philosophers, Heroes and Heroines:
I like that Dante pays his respects to all of the great literary and philosophical masters that came before him. Even if he doesn't allow them into Heaven, he shows them a great deal of respect by naming them and keeping them out of Hell in its true sense.
Paolo and Francesca:
Dante keeps referring to love as the reason for these sinners torment in Hell. However, I think that it would more appropriately be called lust. Love is good. Therefore, love must have been perverted in some way for it to have damned them. Their love was for each other, and not for God. That is the problem.
Cerberus and Plutus:
I really like that you see all of the things that influenced Dante while he was writing this. I have already seen some references to Greek mythology, but I really noticed the extent of them when I read about Cerberus. I wonder if Dante will continue to use aspects of Greek mythology in his description of Hell?
Fortune and Phlegyas:
All of Dante's descriptions of Hell are even more disturbing and haunting when one considers the idea of eternity. The true torture in all of these punishments is knowing that there is absolutely no escape from it. I can't imagine the hopelessness of an eternal punishment.
The Fallen Angels:
I think it is very telling that Virgil has to continually tell Dante to hold out hope. Even for one who isn't damned like Dante, Hell steals a person's hope. Also, I just realized that Dante is not being guided by one of the Christian saints. He's being lead by a pagan historian.This seems a little weird to me.
The Furies and the Heretics:
It is really interesting to me that even the Fallen Angels and the Furies who guard the city of Dis have no real authority there. Even in their own capitol city in the depths of Hell, they still are at the mercy of God and his servants. This is a great way of showing how control is an illusion, because no matter what, God is in control.
The Minotaur and the Centaurs:
Dante continues to intertwine the ancient Greek myths with his vision of Hell. It is interesting that some of these mythical creatures, like the Minotaur or the Centaurs, are not being punished. Instead, they are dishing out or enforcing the punishments.
The Harpies and Capaneus:
These violent sinners have their own place in Hell. There are special places for those who murdered other, and those who murdered themselves and those who murdered the people of God. The way Dante has them arranged, it seems like he might think that suicide is worse than murder. But maybe I am reading it wrong?
The Old Man of Crete and Geryon:
I'm sure that Dante's readers would understand all of the references that he is making. I, on the other hand, would not have recognized that his description of the old man of Crete was a reference to Daniel's dream in the Bible.
Descending on Geryon's Back:
Dante referenced Phaethon and Icarus, and I recognize these two characters from some of my previous reading. Understanding all of these references certainly adds to the depth of the storytelling.
Jason and the Demons:
The notes talk about Dante placing one of his contemporaries in this circle of Hell. I wonder how that man responded when he saw that Dante had put him Hell. Covered in excrement no less! I wonder if this is a playful joke among friends? Or if it is more malicious?
Caiaphas:
It is an interesting symbol that Caiaphas, the high priest that convinced the Pharisees to execute Jesus, would be crucified. Though, he is not crucified on a cross. Instead, he is on the ground. Also, there is no hope for him ever being free of the stakes that hold him down. Unlike Jesus, whose time on the cross was only temporary.
Ulysses and Diomede:
Every time Dante asks Virgil a question, or he begs to ask those being tormented a question, Virgil encourages him. I wonder why that is? Maybe, if Dante learns what is was that damned these people, then he will be able to show others how to avoid their fate?
The Giants:
Dante's description of Nimrod is really interesting. Nimrod was the one who built the Tower of Babel, and in doing so, he caused God to make many different languages. Thus, I find it really fitting that Nimrod is completely incapable of communicating with anyone, because he understands no languages.
Ugolino:
Some of the the people that Dante meets in Hell are still pridefully opposed to God, and bitter in their punishment. Others, like Count Ugolino, seem desperate for pity of any kind. They are completely broken, and have no hope for themselves.
Satan:
Dante's description of Satan is truly horrifying. He went from being one of God's favorites, to being the most evil thing in all of creation. Also, I think it is interesting to note that Dante's journey through Hell began on Good Friday, and that it ends of Easter.
Showing posts with label Reading Diary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading Diary. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Week 13: Reading Diary- Brothers Grimm (Ashliman)
These are my thoughts about the tales of the Brothers Grimm (Ashliman)...
Cat and Mouse in Partnership:
This story just confirms all of my feelings towards cats. You just can't trust them. It is also a good lesson on choosing friends. Sometimes people just can't change who they are, no matter what they say or what you hope.
The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids:
This might the oldest story about stranger danger that has ever been told. I like that the kids in the story were not completely foolish. They thwarted the wolf twice, but the third time they were just too naive to understand that he was tricking them. I was also glad that he got his just rewards.
The Seven Ravens:
These stories are completely ridiculous. But that is okay, because children's stories should always have a heavy dose of the imaginary in my opinion. I also like that the little girl was committed enough to cut off her own finger. That's a pretty intense choice to make for a little girl.
Little Red Cap:
I wonder if these stories are supposed to teach children some kind of valuable lesson. Like maybe the wolf is supposed to represent the evil men that can pray on women when they get off the path. Or maybe they are just supposed to amusing stories, but I definitely think that they are supposed to teach lessons.
The Singing Bone:
As an older brother, this is definitely not my favorite story. I also don't like that the younger brother didn't get justice, until after he had already been killed. It just seems wrong for that to happen in a fairy tell like this.
The Elves:
This is a nice story. It's always good to see the nice people win. Especially, when they are so gracious and thankful for the help that they receive. Maybe there is some secret key to success hidden in this story.
Herr Korbes:
This is some horrible luck. I guess he must have been an extremely wicked man like the story suggests. I wonder if all those animals and things went to his house with the attention of doing him in? Or maybe it was just some divinely delivered justice.
Old Sultan:
This story shows us that appearance is way more important than reality. The old dog appeared to be useful, even though he wasn't, and he was rewarded for it. Then, he and the cat appeared to be intimidating and dangerous, even though they weren't, and they beat the wolf and boar because of it.
Rumpelstiltskin:
This is a great little story. It is definitely a story that shows the dangers of greed. The king almost lost his first-born by making the girl make a deal with Rumpelstiltskin. Then Rumpelstiltskin gets himself in trouble by making that deal with the girl. I've read it before, but I still really enjoy it!
Cat and Mouse in Partnership:
This story just confirms all of my feelings towards cats. You just can't trust them. It is also a good lesson on choosing friends. Sometimes people just can't change who they are, no matter what they say or what you hope.
The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids:
This might the oldest story about stranger danger that has ever been told. I like that the kids in the story were not completely foolish. They thwarted the wolf twice, but the third time they were just too naive to understand that he was tricking them. I was also glad that he got his just rewards.
The Seven Ravens:
These stories are completely ridiculous. But that is okay, because children's stories should always have a heavy dose of the imaginary in my opinion. I also like that the little girl was committed enough to cut off her own finger. That's a pretty intense choice to make for a little girl.
Little Red Cap:
I wonder if these stories are supposed to teach children some kind of valuable lesson. Like maybe the wolf is supposed to represent the evil men that can pray on women when they get off the path. Or maybe they are just supposed to amusing stories, but I definitely think that they are supposed to teach lessons.
The Singing Bone:
As an older brother, this is definitely not my favorite story. I also don't like that the younger brother didn't get justice, until after he had already been killed. It just seems wrong for that to happen in a fairy tell like this.
The Elves:
This is a nice story. It's always good to see the nice people win. Especially, when they are so gracious and thankful for the help that they receive. Maybe there is some secret key to success hidden in this story.
Herr Korbes:
This is some horrible luck. I guess he must have been an extremely wicked man like the story suggests. I wonder if all those animals and things went to his house with the attention of doing him in? Or maybe it was just some divinely delivered justice.
Old Sultan:
This story shows us that appearance is way more important than reality. The old dog appeared to be useful, even though he wasn't, and he was rewarded for it. Then, he and the cat appeared to be intimidating and dangerous, even though they weren't, and they beat the wolf and boar because of it.
Rumpelstiltskin:
This is a great little story. It is definitely a story that shows the dangers of greed. The king almost lost his first-born by making the girl make a deal with Rumpelstiltskin. Then Rumpelstiltskin gets himself in trouble by making that deal with the girl. I've read it before, but I still really enjoy it!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Week 12: Reading Diary- Ballads of Robin Hood
These are my thoughts on the Ballads of Robin Hood...
Progress to Nottingham:
I like these ballads. They have a sing-song vibe that makes them really enjoyable to read. It took me a little while to get used to it, but after getting the hang of it, I like it a lot. This Robin Hood is kind of a cold-blooded killer. He kills fifteen men, just because they failed to pay up on a bet. Seems pretty brutal to me.
Little John:
This is such a great way to become friends haha! In my experience, guys are certainly capable of becoming close friends after a fight. I would guess that, especially in that time period, fighting creates a certain level of respect between two men that might spark a close friendship. This is also a great story for my storytelling.
The Butcher:
Robin is a lovable rogue. He certainly enjoys himself at other peoples' expense. I wonder how most of the people of his time would have viewed him? Do they see him as the hero we do? Or is he just a harmless trickster? Hopefully, we will find out.
The Ranger:
I'm beginning to see a sign of Robin Hood gaining followers through combat. He earns a man's respect in a fight, and then the man joins Robin's band of outlaws. It also seems like deserting society has a certain appeal in Robin's time, and I think it still does today.
The Bold Pedlar:
Again, it seems that Robin Hood does not meet anyone without fighting them first. It seems like a fitting initiation into his boy's club. It also seems like no one ever actually wins these encounters. They end in a draw and eventually a meal.
The Shepherd:
I think I finally understand why Robin Hood is always so eager to fight anyone he comes across. He must be super bored, living in the woods all alone. I'm sure that he didn't get to see other people too often, so any time he saw one, he would be eager to test himself against. It also seems like he always loses, even to a lowly shepherd.
Robin Hood's Delight:
Well this time it was a three on three fight. Robin, Little John, and a new character, Will Scarlock, fight three of the kings men. The trend continues, and they fight to more or less a draw, and then go on and become friends. When is Robin going to become the hero that we expect him to be?
The Pedlars:
I think that these stories would be even more entertaining if we heard them sung as they would have been in the proper time period. These things are pretty much the television of that day and age. It would be a real treat to get to hear them now and again.
Allen a Dale:
This is Robin Hood, the matchmaker haha. This is also the first time that we have had any mention of a woman in the stories so far. I bet Robin and his band of outlaws would be incredibly eager to doing anything that would involve a woman. Living in the forest with all men would probably get pretty lonely after awhile haha.
Rescuing Three Squires:
Robin Hood is finally beginning to look more like the hero that we would expect him to be. In the last two stories, he has reunited a couple and saved three squires. He is beginning to enact the justice outside the law that we have come to love about him. Everyone loves a vigilante. He's the medieval Batman haha!
Progress to Nottingham:
I like these ballads. They have a sing-song vibe that makes them really enjoyable to read. It took me a little while to get used to it, but after getting the hang of it, I like it a lot. This Robin Hood is kind of a cold-blooded killer. He kills fifteen men, just because they failed to pay up on a bet. Seems pretty brutal to me.
Little John:
This is such a great way to become friends haha! In my experience, guys are certainly capable of becoming close friends after a fight. I would guess that, especially in that time period, fighting creates a certain level of respect between two men that might spark a close friendship. This is also a great story for my storytelling.
The Butcher:
Robin is a lovable rogue. He certainly enjoys himself at other peoples' expense. I wonder how most of the people of his time would have viewed him? Do they see him as the hero we do? Or is he just a harmless trickster? Hopefully, we will find out.
The Ranger:
I'm beginning to see a sign of Robin Hood gaining followers through combat. He earns a man's respect in a fight, and then the man joins Robin's band of outlaws. It also seems like deserting society has a certain appeal in Robin's time, and I think it still does today.
The Bold Pedlar:
Again, it seems that Robin Hood does not meet anyone without fighting them first. It seems like a fitting initiation into his boy's club. It also seems like no one ever actually wins these encounters. They end in a draw and eventually a meal.
The Shepherd:
I think I finally understand why Robin Hood is always so eager to fight anyone he comes across. He must be super bored, living in the woods all alone. I'm sure that he didn't get to see other people too often, so any time he saw one, he would be eager to test himself against. It also seems like he always loses, even to a lowly shepherd.
Robin Hood's Delight:
Well this time it was a three on three fight. Robin, Little John, and a new character, Will Scarlock, fight three of the kings men. The trend continues, and they fight to more or less a draw, and then go on and become friends. When is Robin going to become the hero that we expect him to be?
The Pedlars:
I think that these stories would be even more entertaining if we heard them sung as they would have been in the proper time period. These things are pretty much the television of that day and age. It would be a real treat to get to hear them now and again.
Allen a Dale:
This is Robin Hood, the matchmaker haha. This is also the first time that we have had any mention of a woman in the stories so far. I bet Robin and his band of outlaws would be incredibly eager to doing anything that would involve a woman. Living in the forest with all men would probably get pretty lonely after awhile haha.
Rescuing Three Squires:
Robin Hood is finally beginning to look more like the hero that we would expect him to be. In the last two stories, he has reunited a couple and saved three squires. He is beginning to enact the justice outside the law that we have come to love about him. Everyone loves a vigilante. He's the medieval Batman haha!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Week 11: Reading Diary- King Arthur
My thoughts on the stories of King Arthur and his Round-table of Knights...
The Drawing of the Sword:
This is probably the most recognizable story about King Arthur. Pulling the sword out of the stone is one of the defining moments of his myth. It also carries a lot of religious implications. It almost as if he was divinely chosen to be the king of England.
The Questing Beast:
This is not a story that I'm familiar with, though I enjoyed it. I do think it interesting that the author uses the phrase, "by and by." It always seems like writers just skip over so much when they use a phrase like that. Oh well haha.
The Sword Excalibur:
Excalibur is an absolutely crucial part of Arthur's character. Every ancient hero has to have some mythical weapon or ability that sets them above all other men. Hercules had his god-like strenght and Arthur has Excalibur.
The Round Table:
There is not much discussion of King Arthur without a reference to his Round Table. A King, or any leader, is only as good as those that follow him, so Arthur's retinue of Knights is what really makes him a king. It is his heroic deeds and virtue that compel men to submit to him, not that he pulled a sword out of a stone.
The Passing of Merlin:
It seems that in these old stories, women are always causing problems. I'm sure this is a reflection of the thoughts of the time period in which these stories were written. This is really tragic for Arthur. Losing a trusted adviser, especially one as wise as Merlin, is never good.
Morgan Le Fay:
Women are causing problems again haha. Morgan Le Fay is one of my least favorite characters in the Arthurian myth. She isn't brave or strong. She is just deceitful and clever. It is too bad that a hero like Arthur is eventually undone by a women like her. It would be better if her were beaten fair and square in combat.
The Quest of the Holy Grail:
I wonder if Arthur's knight's quest for the Holy Grail had more significance in its time period, when belief in that sort of mythical, religious object was more common? Either way, the Holy Grail still makes for a good story, even in today's time. Indiana Jones, for example.
The King's Pilgrimage:
Dreams are powerful devices in storytelling, so it makes sense that the dream depicted in this segment would be really powerful, and actually end up taking the dreamer's life. I'm glad that Arthur went alone. I think that we learn the most about ourselves in the quiet sanctity of our own minds.
The Coming of the Holy Grail:
I like what Lancelot said. I think it is better to die pursuing something worthwhile, than to die in safety and comfort. So, it makes sense to me that all of Arthur's knights would want to pursue the Grail, because it is definitely worth pursuing.
The Drawing of the Sword:
This is probably the most recognizable story about King Arthur. Pulling the sword out of the stone is one of the defining moments of his myth. It also carries a lot of religious implications. It almost as if he was divinely chosen to be the king of England.
The Questing Beast:
This is not a story that I'm familiar with, though I enjoyed it. I do think it interesting that the author uses the phrase, "by and by." It always seems like writers just skip over so much when they use a phrase like that. Oh well haha.
The Sword Excalibur:
Excalibur is an absolutely crucial part of Arthur's character. Every ancient hero has to have some mythical weapon or ability that sets them above all other men. Hercules had his god-like strenght and Arthur has Excalibur.
The Round Table:
There is not much discussion of King Arthur without a reference to his Round Table. A King, or any leader, is only as good as those that follow him, so Arthur's retinue of Knights is what really makes him a king. It is his heroic deeds and virtue that compel men to submit to him, not that he pulled a sword out of a stone.
The Passing of Merlin:
It seems that in these old stories, women are always causing problems. I'm sure this is a reflection of the thoughts of the time period in which these stories were written. This is really tragic for Arthur. Losing a trusted adviser, especially one as wise as Merlin, is never good.
Morgan Le Fay:
Women are causing problems again haha. Morgan Le Fay is one of my least favorite characters in the Arthurian myth. She isn't brave or strong. She is just deceitful and clever. It is too bad that a hero like Arthur is eventually undone by a women like her. It would be better if her were beaten fair and square in combat.
The Quest of the Holy Grail:
I wonder if Arthur's knight's quest for the Holy Grail had more significance in its time period, when belief in that sort of mythical, religious object was more common? Either way, the Holy Grail still makes for a good story, even in today's time. Indiana Jones, for example.
The King's Pilgrimage:
Dreams are powerful devices in storytelling, so it makes sense that the dream depicted in this segment would be really powerful, and actually end up taking the dreamer's life. I'm glad that Arthur went alone. I think that we learn the most about ourselves in the quiet sanctity of our own minds.
The Coming of the Holy Grail:
I like what Lancelot said. I think it is better to die pursuing something worthwhile, than to die in safety and comfort. So, it makes sense to me that all of Arthur's knights would want to pursue the Grail, because it is definitely worth pursuing.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Week 10: Reading Diary- Sioux Stories
These are my thoughts on the Sioux Legends...
The Rabbit and the Grouse Girls:
So the rabbit is still a trickster, even in Sioux legend. So is this the Sioux version of a "don't talk to strangers" type story? The grouse girls should definitely know better than to trust that tricky rabbit!
The Rabbit and the Bear:
This is kind of like an origin story. It explains why bears are so few and far between, and rabbits are practically everywhere. It's really too bad for the bear chief, because all he wanted to do was help the rabbit make his flint arrows, but he ended up being chopped in half! I'd probably run away too if I'd done what the rabbit did.
The Story of the Lost Wife:
It's kind of a cool concept that nature always takes care of us, or at least I think that would be what the Sioux people would believe. I also think it's interesting that the coyotes are the servants of the wolf tribe, because they are certainly the lowliest of the animals there.
The Simpleton's Wisdom:
You can learn about a society from the way that they honor and mourn their dead. This story gives a glimpse into what it would be like to experience a death in a Sioux tribe. I like that their conclusion in the end is that it is better to live for the living than to die for the dead.
A Little Brave and the Medicine Woman:
I like Brave. He's got a good sense of humor. I think this story gives us a sense of the superstitions of the Sioux people. Even the older, wiser, men had a little bit of fear about the Medicine Woman's grave.
The Boy and the Turtles:
I wonder why the boy earns the name, "Sees holy?" It doesn't seem like he really did anything special. He just saw a group of men swimming in a lake while he was hunting for turtles. Maybe there is some kind of significance to his discovery that I don't understand?
The Hermit, or The Gift of Corn:
I still don't know what the thing was that kept waking up the hermit. Maybe it was a raccoon or something like that? I think I would be pretty terrified living out in the middle of nowhere, completely alone like that hermit.
The Mysterious Butte:
More superstitions! I would be be terrified if I was one of those warriors who had to crawl through tiny openings to get to each chamber. I'm super claustrophobic haha. Anyways, it would be super useful to have cave paintings that predicted the future.
The Wonderful Turtle:
So I'm definitely picturing this wise turtle like the turtle in Kung Fu Panda. That's what comes to mind when I think of a wise turtle that is able to settle disputes and reconcile enemies. Anyways, the poor turtle gets left behind, so it seems that all does not go well for him.
The Pemmican Man and Unktomi:
That selfish spider was his own undoing. If he hadn't kept pursuing the fat man, even after he and his children had gotten much to eat, then he would probably be alive. Anyways, this shows that fat man's ingenuity got him out of danger. So, I'm going to guess that cleverness is a desirable quality.
Unktomi, the Two Widows, and the Red Plums:
Temptation always seems to bear the color red haha. Anyways, Unktomi is a total jerk. He isn't one of the trickster types that just messes with people for fun. He killed two babies just for the hell of it. That seems pretty messed up to me. He takes advantage of people's hospitality.
Unktomi and the Arrowheads:
So these Lakota and Unktomi (spiders) have a sort of symbiotic relationship in this story. The Unktomi make flint arrowheads for the tribe, and in return all they want is to be left alone. Seems like a pretty good deal if you ask me.
Iktomi and the Ducks:
Pride always goes before the fall, and Iktomi is extremely arrogant and cocky. He never thinks that anyone is as clever as he is, and he laughs when simpletons get caught it his traps. Therefore, it is ironic that he gets his foot caught in a tree and loses his duck feast.
Iktomi's Blanket:
I like that these stories fit together. It allows us to get a more complete picture of Iktomi. We learn just how selfish and foolish he really is, even if he thinks he is clever. Trying to reclaim an offering to a god would unmistakably be a bad idea.
Iktomi and the Muskrat:
This story is a good lesson on hospitality and generosity. If Iktomi had offered to share his fish with the Muskrat, then he wouldn't have lost all of it. I wonder if Iktomi actually learned his lesson, or if he will still be just as selfish as always?
Iktomi and the Coyote:
This coyote is not as inept as the Loony Toon's Wily Coyote. He tricks Iktomi into thinking that he has died. However, his pride almost gets him thrown into a fire. But he does teach Iktomi a valuable lesson: don't just assume something is dead.
Iktomi and the Turtle:
The Turtle gets his revenge haha. Iktomi tried to take advantage of him, and use him for a free meal. However, Iktomi ends up just getting himself drowned. I'm sure from all of these stories, that it would be clear to Sioux children that they ought to avoid spiders at all costs.
The War Like Seven:
So the fish and the turtle turn out to be some real warriors! They defeat a whole village, including that trickster, Iktomi. Once again, ingenuity often beats raw strength. Ont eh whole, I really enjoyed these stories.
The Rabbit and the Grouse Girls:
So the rabbit is still a trickster, even in Sioux legend. So is this the Sioux version of a "don't talk to strangers" type story? The grouse girls should definitely know better than to trust that tricky rabbit!
The Rabbit and the Bear:
This is kind of like an origin story. It explains why bears are so few and far between, and rabbits are practically everywhere. It's really too bad for the bear chief, because all he wanted to do was help the rabbit make his flint arrows, but he ended up being chopped in half! I'd probably run away too if I'd done what the rabbit did.
The Story of the Lost Wife:
It's kind of a cool concept that nature always takes care of us, or at least I think that would be what the Sioux people would believe. I also think it's interesting that the coyotes are the servants of the wolf tribe, because they are certainly the lowliest of the animals there.
The Simpleton's Wisdom:
You can learn about a society from the way that they honor and mourn their dead. This story gives a glimpse into what it would be like to experience a death in a Sioux tribe. I like that their conclusion in the end is that it is better to live for the living than to die for the dead.
A Little Brave and the Medicine Woman:
I like Brave. He's got a good sense of humor. I think this story gives us a sense of the superstitions of the Sioux people. Even the older, wiser, men had a little bit of fear about the Medicine Woman's grave.
The Boy and the Turtles:
I wonder why the boy earns the name, "Sees holy?" It doesn't seem like he really did anything special. He just saw a group of men swimming in a lake while he was hunting for turtles. Maybe there is some kind of significance to his discovery that I don't understand?
The Hermit, or The Gift of Corn:
I still don't know what the thing was that kept waking up the hermit. Maybe it was a raccoon or something like that? I think I would be pretty terrified living out in the middle of nowhere, completely alone like that hermit.
The Mysterious Butte:
More superstitions! I would be be terrified if I was one of those warriors who had to crawl through tiny openings to get to each chamber. I'm super claustrophobic haha. Anyways, it would be super useful to have cave paintings that predicted the future.
The Wonderful Turtle:
So I'm definitely picturing this wise turtle like the turtle in Kung Fu Panda. That's what comes to mind when I think of a wise turtle that is able to settle disputes and reconcile enemies. Anyways, the poor turtle gets left behind, so it seems that all does not go well for him.
The Pemmican Man and Unktomi:
That selfish spider was his own undoing. If he hadn't kept pursuing the fat man, even after he and his children had gotten much to eat, then he would probably be alive. Anyways, this shows that fat man's ingenuity got him out of danger. So, I'm going to guess that cleverness is a desirable quality.
Unktomi, the Two Widows, and the Red Plums:
Temptation always seems to bear the color red haha. Anyways, Unktomi is a total jerk. He isn't one of the trickster types that just messes with people for fun. He killed two babies just for the hell of it. That seems pretty messed up to me. He takes advantage of people's hospitality.
Unktomi and the Arrowheads:
So these Lakota and Unktomi (spiders) have a sort of symbiotic relationship in this story. The Unktomi make flint arrowheads for the tribe, and in return all they want is to be left alone. Seems like a pretty good deal if you ask me.
Iktomi and the Ducks:
Pride always goes before the fall, and Iktomi is extremely arrogant and cocky. He never thinks that anyone is as clever as he is, and he laughs when simpletons get caught it his traps. Therefore, it is ironic that he gets his foot caught in a tree and loses his duck feast.
Iktomi's Blanket:
I like that these stories fit together. It allows us to get a more complete picture of Iktomi. We learn just how selfish and foolish he really is, even if he thinks he is clever. Trying to reclaim an offering to a god would unmistakably be a bad idea.
Iktomi and the Muskrat:
This story is a good lesson on hospitality and generosity. If Iktomi had offered to share his fish with the Muskrat, then he wouldn't have lost all of it. I wonder if Iktomi actually learned his lesson, or if he will still be just as selfish as always?
Iktomi and the Coyote:
This coyote is not as inept as the Loony Toon's Wily Coyote. He tricks Iktomi into thinking that he has died. However, his pride almost gets him thrown into a fire. But he does teach Iktomi a valuable lesson: don't just assume something is dead.
Iktomi and the Turtle:
The Turtle gets his revenge haha. Iktomi tried to take advantage of him, and use him for a free meal. However, Iktomi ends up just getting himself drowned. I'm sure from all of these stories, that it would be clear to Sioux children that they ought to avoid spiders at all costs.
The War Like Seven:
So the fish and the turtle turn out to be some real warriors! They defeat a whole village, including that trickster, Iktomi. Once again, ingenuity often beats raw strength. Ont eh whole, I really enjoyed these stories.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Week 9: Reading Diary- Native American Hero Tales
Native American Hero Tales...
The Jealous Uncle:
So this story is from the Kodiak people. I wonder what lesson is to be learned here. It definitely doesn't seem like a story about how to become a man, because the boy was raised as a girl. Maybe they think that girls are the craftier and more ingenious gender?
The Jealous Uncle (Cont.):
What is it about this boy that makes him so confident that Unnatural Uncle will not be able to kill him? Regardless, he is very good at escaping those dangerous situations he's left to die in. He also continues going back to his Uncle's, even though he knows that he might be killed. So he's pretty brave.
The Jealous Uncle (End):
The young boy heroically avenges his brothers by drowning his evil Uncle. However, he did this by magically turning into an eagle. So, it seems the Kodiak, as you would expect, have a reverence for the natural world. The boy heroically rescues his town and his parents from his evil Uncle.
Bluejay and his Companions:
Bluejay kind of set up himself and his friends for failure. He selfishly never gave Grouse any of the good seal meat, so Grouse played a trick on them. However, maybe Bluejay will learn his lesson by the time that they get back to the hills of Quinault.
Bluejay and his Companions (Cont.):
The group goes through some intense trials on there way to return home. They use their smarts and craftiness to win the contests set before them. It seems that the Quinault people valued ingenuity very highly. Also, they learn their lesson and begin giving Grouse the best pieces of meat.
Dug-From-Ground:
It seems like a lot of civilizations have a virgin birth story. In this one, the boy is born after a girl digs up a root. He becomes super strong, but she doesn't claim him until he accomplishes some crazy tasks. He almost seems like some sort of demi-god.
Dug-From-Ground (Cont.):
This demi-god or whatever he is ends up proving himself to his brothers by playing games and completing other tasks. We never learn who his father was though. I wonder what lessons are supposed to be learned from this story. Or maybe it is just for entertainment?
The Attack on Giant Elk:
This is an Apache story about massive animals that terrorized humans before the gods intervened. The gods sent a man to kill the Giant Elk and the Giant Eagle. He grows into a man in only four days. Then he uses other animals' help to slay the Elk. This would be a good story for Storytelling.
The Attack on Giant Elk (Cont.):
This is kind of an origin story. We learn why bats don't have feathers and why other birds have feathers that look like an eagle's. It is clear from all these stories that all tribes of Native Americans have an incredible respect and reverence for nature and all its animals. I expect this theme of mankind's place in nature to continue.
Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away:
Native Americans really seem to enjoy stories involving children and miraculous circumstances. The kids are always the ones that seem to the heroic things, not the adults. What does this say about Crow culture? Are children especially revered? And is there a reason?
Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away (Cont.):
This father is a horrible parent. He keeps scolding his kids, but they just keep doing whatever he tells them not to do. I guess everything works out though, because they end up getting asked by the Thunder-Bird to kill some evil otter. Then they get to live in peace.
The Son-In-Law Tests:
There is also a theme of sons having to obey their fathers and uncles, even if it means putting themselves in mortal peril. This is one of those stories. This is also another example of an origin story. Wemicus is eventually turned into a pike after his son-in-law outsmarts him in all of his tests.
The Jealous Father:
Again, we have a story about a father attempting to kill one of his sons. I wonder why these stories had so much appeal with the Native America tribes? In this one though, the mother is trying to directly intervene and save her sons life.
The Jealous Father (Cont.):
Ingenuity looks like one of the most desirable or heroic traits that a man could possess. Almost all of these stories are about out-smarting someone, not overcoming them with brute force. I guess this makes sense, because a lot of what the Native Americans hunted would be physically superior to them.
Dirt-Boy:
I wonder if contests like this were commonplace among the Native Americans. It would make sense that the chief would marry off his daughters to the strongest and most skilled men. However, it definitely sucks for the daughters, because they have no choice in the matter.
Dirty Boy (Cont.):
It was kind of like a beauty and the beast story. Sun and Star regain their true forms when the youngest daughter had proven herself worthy. There are definitely some lessons to be learned from this story. Telling this story from the perspective of the youngest daughter might make a good story.
The Jealous Uncle:
So this story is from the Kodiak people. I wonder what lesson is to be learned here. It definitely doesn't seem like a story about how to become a man, because the boy was raised as a girl. Maybe they think that girls are the craftier and more ingenious gender?
The Jealous Uncle (Cont.):
What is it about this boy that makes him so confident that Unnatural Uncle will not be able to kill him? Regardless, he is very good at escaping those dangerous situations he's left to die in. He also continues going back to his Uncle's, even though he knows that he might be killed. So he's pretty brave.
The Jealous Uncle (End):
The young boy heroically avenges his brothers by drowning his evil Uncle. However, he did this by magically turning into an eagle. So, it seems the Kodiak, as you would expect, have a reverence for the natural world. The boy heroically rescues his town and his parents from his evil Uncle.
Bluejay and his Companions:
Bluejay kind of set up himself and his friends for failure. He selfishly never gave Grouse any of the good seal meat, so Grouse played a trick on them. However, maybe Bluejay will learn his lesson by the time that they get back to the hills of Quinault.
Bluejay and his Companions (Cont.):
The group goes through some intense trials on there way to return home. They use their smarts and craftiness to win the contests set before them. It seems that the Quinault people valued ingenuity very highly. Also, they learn their lesson and begin giving Grouse the best pieces of meat.
Dug-From-Ground:
It seems like a lot of civilizations have a virgin birth story. In this one, the boy is born after a girl digs up a root. He becomes super strong, but she doesn't claim him until he accomplishes some crazy tasks. He almost seems like some sort of demi-god.
Dug-From-Ground (Cont.):
This demi-god or whatever he is ends up proving himself to his brothers by playing games and completing other tasks. We never learn who his father was though. I wonder what lessons are supposed to be learned from this story. Or maybe it is just for entertainment?
The Attack on Giant Elk:
This is an Apache story about massive animals that terrorized humans before the gods intervened. The gods sent a man to kill the Giant Elk and the Giant Eagle. He grows into a man in only four days. Then he uses other animals' help to slay the Elk. This would be a good story for Storytelling.
The Attack on Giant Elk (Cont.):
This is kind of an origin story. We learn why bats don't have feathers and why other birds have feathers that look like an eagle's. It is clear from all these stories that all tribes of Native Americans have an incredible respect and reverence for nature and all its animals. I expect this theme of mankind's place in nature to continue.
Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away:
Native Americans really seem to enjoy stories involving children and miraculous circumstances. The kids are always the ones that seem to the heroic things, not the adults. What does this say about Crow culture? Are children especially revered? And is there a reason?
Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away (Cont.):
This father is a horrible parent. He keeps scolding his kids, but they just keep doing whatever he tells them not to do. I guess everything works out though, because they end up getting asked by the Thunder-Bird to kill some evil otter. Then they get to live in peace.
The Son-In-Law Tests:
There is also a theme of sons having to obey their fathers and uncles, even if it means putting themselves in mortal peril. This is one of those stories. This is also another example of an origin story. Wemicus is eventually turned into a pike after his son-in-law outsmarts him in all of his tests.
The Jealous Father:
Again, we have a story about a father attempting to kill one of his sons. I wonder why these stories had so much appeal with the Native America tribes? In this one though, the mother is trying to directly intervene and save her sons life.
The Jealous Father (Cont.):
Ingenuity looks like one of the most desirable or heroic traits that a man could possess. Almost all of these stories are about out-smarting someone, not overcoming them with brute force. I guess this makes sense, because a lot of what the Native Americans hunted would be physically superior to them.
Dirt-Boy:
I wonder if contests like this were commonplace among the Native Americans. It would make sense that the chief would marry off his daughters to the strongest and most skilled men. However, it definitely sucks for the daughters, because they have no choice in the matter.
Dirty Boy (Cont.):
It was kind of like a beauty and the beast story. Sun and Star regain their true forms when the youngest daughter had proven herself worthy. There are definitely some lessons to be learned from this story. Telling this story from the perspective of the youngest daughter might make a good story.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Week 7: Reading Diary- Brer Rabbit
These are my thought on the African tales of Brer Rabbit...
The Calamus Root:
Well, the dialect definitely makes this a chore to read. However, reading it out loud makes it a lot easier. I always wondered where the "Brer" came from in Brer rabbit, but it seems, based on the dialect, that it is a truncation of brother. I do find it interesting that Brer Rabbit outsmarted Brer Fox. Usually, the fox is the most cunning creature, but not this time!
The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story:
So the Fox does outsmart the rabbit this time! I wonder what the lesson in this story is? It seems like Brer Rabbit should have kept on going after he got ignored, but instead he gets offended. He eventually turns to hitting the Tar-Baby and that is his undoing. It's interesting that this is the most famous of all the Brer Rabbit stories.
Why Mr. Possum Loves Peace:
I kind of like that the Possum got called by the Raccoon for being a coward. the explanation we get is a little interesting though. Brer Possum is good in any fight that doesn't involve tickling. It is the tickling that causes him to play dead, which is a likely story!
How Mr. Rabbit was too Sharp for Mr. Fox:
So this is the story with the famous brier patch. Brer Rabbit manages to trick Brer Fox into throwing him into the brier patch, where he is able to escape. Naturally, he still can't keep his mouth shut, so he calls back to Brer Fox. Cleverness is looking like the most desirable trait based on these stories.
Mr. Fox is Outdone by Mr. Buzzard:
Reading the dialect is getting easier. I kind of like it actually, because it adds a little more character to the story. It feels like I'm reading an original, not a translation. Brer Fox seems like he gets outsmarted by everyone haha. Even the Buzzard is smarter than he is.
Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure:
Brer Wolf does a good job of setting up Brer Rabbit, but Brer Fox ends up ruining it. Brer Rabbit gets him to holler out, proving that he's not dead. I also like the little saying that Brer Rabbit has. Like "Too many friends spoils dinner." You can tell that these stories are meant to teach lessons, as well as entertainment.
Mr. Fox Tackles Old Man Tarrypin:
So from the notes, it sounds like the turtle has been a key character in many fables. The turtle always finds a way to get back to the water. Mr. Fox, though, can't do anything haha. He always ends up losing whatever he wants.
The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf:
So Brer Rabbit kills Brer Wolf by pouring scalding water on him. That seems pretty brutal for a story like this. Brer Rabbit's children are even laughing at Brer Wolf, because they know what is about to happen. I guess different cultures have different expectations for children's stories.
The Calamus Root:
Well, the dialect definitely makes this a chore to read. However, reading it out loud makes it a lot easier. I always wondered where the "Brer" came from in Brer rabbit, but it seems, based on the dialect, that it is a truncation of brother. I do find it interesting that Brer Rabbit outsmarted Brer Fox. Usually, the fox is the most cunning creature, but not this time!
The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story:
So the Fox does outsmart the rabbit this time! I wonder what the lesson in this story is? It seems like Brer Rabbit should have kept on going after he got ignored, but instead he gets offended. He eventually turns to hitting the Tar-Baby and that is his undoing. It's interesting that this is the most famous of all the Brer Rabbit stories.
Why Mr. Possum Loves Peace:
I kind of like that the Possum got called by the Raccoon for being a coward. the explanation we get is a little interesting though. Brer Possum is good in any fight that doesn't involve tickling. It is the tickling that causes him to play dead, which is a likely story!
How Mr. Rabbit was too Sharp for Mr. Fox:
So this is the story with the famous brier patch. Brer Rabbit manages to trick Brer Fox into throwing him into the brier patch, where he is able to escape. Naturally, he still can't keep his mouth shut, so he calls back to Brer Fox. Cleverness is looking like the most desirable trait based on these stories.
Mr. Fox is Outdone by Mr. Buzzard:
Reading the dialect is getting easier. I kind of like it actually, because it adds a little more character to the story. It feels like I'm reading an original, not a translation. Brer Fox seems like he gets outsmarted by everyone haha. Even the Buzzard is smarter than he is.
Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure:
Brer Wolf does a good job of setting up Brer Rabbit, but Brer Fox ends up ruining it. Brer Rabbit gets him to holler out, proving that he's not dead. I also like the little saying that Brer Rabbit has. Like "Too many friends spoils dinner." You can tell that these stories are meant to teach lessons, as well as entertainment.
Mr. Fox Tackles Old Man Tarrypin:
So from the notes, it sounds like the turtle has been a key character in many fables. The turtle always finds a way to get back to the water. Mr. Fox, though, can't do anything haha. He always ends up losing whatever he wants.
The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf:
So Brer Rabbit kills Brer Wolf by pouring scalding water on him. That seems pretty brutal for a story like this. Brer Rabbit's children are even laughing at Brer Wolf, because they know what is about to happen. I guess different cultures have different expectations for children's stories.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
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?
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?
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
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.
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.
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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!
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 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!
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.
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.
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!
Monday, August 25, 2014
Week 2: Reading Diary- Ovid I
Here are some of my thoughts on the first section of Ovid's Metamorphoses...
Deucalion and Pyrrha:
I think the most interesting part about this story for me, as a Christian, is its resemblance to the Abrahamic story of Noah and the flood. Both stories depict an angry god, or gods in this case, disappointed in humanity enough to wipe it off the face of the earth with a flood. Luckily for humanity though, a honorable and just man and woman survive the disaster to recreate the human race. Deucalion and Pyrrha, children of the Titans, are the equivalent of Adam and Eve in Greek Mythology.
Lo:
From what I've learned about Zeus in all of my past reading of Greek myth, his inability to control his lust always causes problems. This story is no different. If he hadn't raped Lo, then he wouldn't have had to change her into a cow to spare her from Juno's wrath. Then he wouldn't have had to send Mercury to kill Argus. The only positive, if it can be called one, is that Argus' death led to Juno's creation of the peacock. It all ends with Lo returning to her normal form, but it was a pretty big hassle for everyone involved!
Phaethon and the Sun:
Deucalion and Pyrrha:
I think the most interesting part about this story for me, as a Christian, is its resemblance to the Abrahamic story of Noah and the flood. Both stories depict an angry god, or gods in this case, disappointed in humanity enough to wipe it off the face of the earth with a flood. Luckily for humanity though, a honorable and just man and woman survive the disaster to recreate the human race. Deucalion and Pyrrha, children of the Titans, are the equivalent of Adam and Eve in Greek Mythology.
(Illustration by Virgil Solis)
Lo:
From what I've learned about Zeus in all of my past reading of Greek myth, his inability to control his lust always causes problems. This story is no different. If he hadn't raped Lo, then he wouldn't have had to change her into a cow to spare her from Juno's wrath. Then he wouldn't have had to send Mercury to kill Argus. The only positive, if it can be called one, is that Argus' death led to Juno's creation of the peacock. It all ends with Lo returning to her normal form, but it was a pretty big hassle for everyone involved!
Phaethon and the Sun:
From
this part of Phaethon's story, all I get is that he is an arrogant little kid,
who doesn't know what he is getting himself into. He gets his feelings hurt
because people don't think his father is Apollo. For this, he asks to drive the
sun, and puts the whole world at risk. Why are the characters of Greek myth so
immature?
Just like Apollo predicted, Phaethon is
destroying heaven and earth with fire due to his inability to control the
chariot. It seems in all these stories that the innocent people suffer at the
hands of foolish gods and their children. Like every kid who has bitten off
more than they can chew, Phaethon just hopes his mistake isn't his last.
This story just gets more and more tragic. Now
Apollo has to watch helpless as Jupiter kills his son with a lightning bolt. I
didn't really understand the importance of Phaethon's sisters transformation
into poplar trees or Cycnus' transformation into a swan, but I do understand
Apollo's guilt and shame for what he let his son do and the consequences
of granting his son's absurd request. It
still seems like all of these problems could have been so easily avoided.
(Painting by Gustave Moreau)
Once again Zeus' lust causes major problems for
other people. Rape seems to be a pretty
common theme in Greek mythology I suppose. Callisto did nothing wrong and she gets kicked out of Diana's hunting club and Juno turns her into a bear! Later her son, Arcas, is turned into a bear by Jupiter, and they both are
placed in the sky as the constellations Uras Major and Ursa Minor:
The Great Bear and the Little Bear.
Semele:
Jupiter really needs to learn to control himself! Honestly, if I was was Juno, I would have given up on him by now, but I guess he is the most powerful of all the gods. The only good news in this story is that only one innocent person died: Semele, destroyed by the god she loved. Also, the god Bacchus was born, which isn't all bad.
Echo:
The character of Jupiter is really intriguing to me, this story especially. In past stories, he has always gotten innocent people in trouble through his infidelity, but this time it seems that he takes pity on Tiresias, after Juno took his sight. Also, it would have been miserable to be Echo. Never being able to initiate would be awful!
Narcissus:
It is kind of hard for me to feel bad for Narcissus. How you could you pity someone so arrogant and full of themselves? One interesting thing I noticed is that, since Narcissus dies in his youth, he does not live long enough to see time tarnish his beauty... a blessing and a curse.
Pyramus and Thisbe:
It is almost identical to Romeo and Juliet. The tragedy of the star-crossed lovers is obviously a common theme of ancient times. It seems to me that these types of tragedies are so easlly prevented, and therefore all the more tragic.
Mars and Venus:
Wow that really sucks for Vulcan! He catches his wife, Venus, cheating on him with Mars, and on of the other god dares to say that he would like to be caught in the same situation. I would be beyond pissed off!
Perseus and Andromeda:
Perseus has got to be one of the more well known Greek heroes, because his story was made into a movie, even if it was a little campy. He was a great hero, slaying Medusa and turning Atlas into a mountain is awesome, but to saving his future wife, Andromeda, from a sea monster is a pretty good story to be told at a wedding!
Perseus and Medusa:
I guess telling the story of how Perseus slayed Medusa was the best one for the wedding! Using his shield as a mirror was a brilliant move, and it is why Perseus is remembered as such a great hero. Also, it seems like the worst thing that could happen to a woman of that age was to be born beautiful. Then a god would violate you and you would suffer much harm from it.
Semele:
Jupiter really needs to learn to control himself! Honestly, if I was was Juno, I would have given up on him by now, but I guess he is the most powerful of all the gods. The only good news in this story is that only one innocent person died: Semele, destroyed by the god she loved. Also, the god Bacchus was born, which isn't all bad.
Echo:
The character of Jupiter is really intriguing to me, this story especially. In past stories, he has always gotten innocent people in trouble through his infidelity, but this time it seems that he takes pity on Tiresias, after Juno took his sight. Also, it would have been miserable to be Echo. Never being able to initiate would be awful!
Narcissus:
It is kind of hard for me to feel bad for Narcissus. How you could you pity someone so arrogant and full of themselves? One interesting thing I noticed is that, since Narcissus dies in his youth, he does not live long enough to see time tarnish his beauty... a blessing and a curse.
(Echo and Narcissus, Painting by John William Waterhouse)
Pyramus and Thisbe:
It is almost identical to Romeo and Juliet. The tragedy of the star-crossed lovers is obviously a common theme of ancient times. It seems to me that these types of tragedies are so easlly prevented, and therefore all the more tragic.
Mars and Venus:
Wow that really sucks for Vulcan! He catches his wife, Venus, cheating on him with Mars, and on of the other god dares to say that he would like to be caught in the same situation. I would be beyond pissed off!
Perseus and Andromeda:
Perseus has got to be one of the more well known Greek heroes, because his story was made into a movie, even if it was a little campy. He was a great hero, slaying Medusa and turning Atlas into a mountain is awesome, but to saving his future wife, Andromeda, from a sea monster is a pretty good story to be told at a wedding!
(Painting by Piero di Cosimo)
Perseus and Medusa:
I guess telling the story of how Perseus slayed Medusa was the best one for the wedding! Using his shield as a mirror was a brilliant move, and it is why Perseus is remembered as such a great hero. Also, it seems like the worst thing that could happen to a woman of that age was to be born beautiful. Then a god would violate you and you would suffer much harm from it.
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