Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins, Part B

Bibliography: Twenty-Two Goblins, translated by Arthur W. Ryder

Caption: The King of the Fairy's

Link: http://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Twenty-Two-Goblins/Arthur-W-Ryder/9781625588869

Notes: 

Something I didn't catch/mention in the notes for part A is that the story mentions how the king never wavered in his task. The story hinges on his continuing to answer and get the goblin again and again, and instead of tiring, the king keeps on without discouragement. 

This type of storytelling uses a lot of metaphoric/descriptive character naming. Hariswami means Lion/One of the names of Vishnu + male hindu religious teacher. Many of the lady names were Beautiful, Moonlight, or something along those lines. There was also a name of Clean-Cloth...? Very interesting. 

Also, it was the luck of the draw whether the story the goblin told ended in death or happily ever after. There really wasn't any in-between.

Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins, Part A

Bibliography: Twenty-Two Goblins, translated by Arthur W. Ryder

Caption: A Book of Riddles

Link: https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/twenty-two-goblins/used/

Notes: 

This book is riddled with tales for a brave king. Each story comes with an ending and a choice. The king must speak regardless, however, for if he knows yet does not speak, his head will explode. How about that?

A story based upon this one would most certainly require a decision to be made on the part of the reader/listener. It doesn't have to involve a monk and a king or even a goblin. The story would just require some thinking. 

Week 5 Story: Sam, Charlie, the Navy, and the Camel

Bibliography: Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang. Link

Authors Note: Arabian Nights is a story about a story about a story which eventually comes back to the original story. The girl, Scheherazade, facing death decides to spin a tale so interesting and clever that when time is up the Sultan cannot help but let her live to continue the next day. For this post I took Scheherazade's concept of recursion and made a story that models that type of storytelling.

The camel story included is based upon a true story my daddy told me about one of his many adventures in the United States Navy.

Caption: Grandpa telling a story

Link: https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/grandpa-grandson.html

Finally, the day had come where Sam's oldest grandson, Charlie, was old enough to listen to a story. Sam had often prepared and dreamed for the day when he could sit Charlie on his lap with a nice Dr. Pepper on the table and spin a tale to win the affection of his grandson for all time. At the prompting of the child's small voice saying, "Tell a story grandpa?" he was ready to spring into a world so enamoring that Charlie would never want to get off his lap. 

"Alright, Charlie, come on up here and get comfortable. There you go, take your shoes off and get comfy. Our story begins on a Navy ship. This is the kind of ship with men and women dressed in white with the white caps. One of the days out to sea, everything was working properly, a rare occasion you see, and the crew in charge of the large electrical room had nothing to do. The food on the ship was rationed well, so they could not go eat. There was no entertainment at the time, either, so they were in a pickle."

"Wait," said Charlie, "How are the people in a pickle? Pickles are not big enough for people to be in.."

"Ah, you are correct, Charlie. This pickle is a metaphor. It means that they needed to find something to do. To get themselves out of the boredom 'pickle', Johnson, the leader of the crew remembered a story he had heard on the ship's last tour to the Middle East."

"What kind of story, Johnson? Only if it isn't another war story," said Petty Officer Burnt. 

"No no no, it isn't like that at all. Just listen. There was once a Liberty where the ship had an awful smell, and all the crewmen unnecessary to fix the problem were made to land. There was nothing to do in this city but to sit in this little cantina in the middle of the desert and look out at all the dirt. Presently one of the party spotted a camel, and for lack of anything better to do and as camel's are not normal to see in The States, the seamen fixed their eyes on this animal. At first, it didn't do much. It just chewed and swallowed, chewed and swallowed, and the company soon forgot they were watching it. This was, however, until one of the Petty Officers presently started laughing uncontrollably!"

"What in the world are you laughing at, Petty Officer? Speak up man!" the oldest in the party said. 

"It's just, that camel! I was watching it, and a man passed by. When the man came upon the camel, the beast slobbered all over his head! The man was surprised and taken aback, and he walked away with his hair drenched. He was not happy at all!" said the Petty Officer. 

                          

Caption: The Spitting Image

Link: http://wanderingtheworldphotography.com/spitting-image-facts-about-camels/

At this account, the crew fixed their eyes on the camel once more. Presently, a lady with a burka came passing by and AGAIN the camel spit on her even worse than he did the man! OH this company had the best time watching the camel spit on unknowing passersby. The Petty Officer who first saw the sight said to himself when the day was over, "This will be a great story to tell my kids someday."

"That was a nice story Johnson, thanks for the recount," said another Petty Officer. 

"Your welcome, it was based off a true story my buddy Sam told me."

At this, Charlie looked at his grandpa and asked, "Were you the officer who saw the camel, grandpa?"

"Ha, I was son, and it is actually your mom's favorite story from my days in the Navy." said Sam. He thought to himself that telling this story to Charlie was worth the wait. 

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part A

Bibliography: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Notes: 

Disclaimer - My part A goes from the start of the sweet little book to the poppy field/mouse queen help.

Caption: "Poppies will stop them, and their little dog too."

Link: http://www.masamor-luxuryvillarentals.com/spring-poppy-tour-early-may-poppy-tour-for-private-party-2/

Dorothy is younger in this story. She can't be more than 12 years old unlike the beautiful movie. She still meets the scarecrow, the tin man, and the lion, and they still want a brain, a heart, and some courage respectively. However, in the book, Baum explains why the scarecrow and the tin man are wanting a heart and a brain, and the tin man's story is so sad. I won't say it, however, because the book is an easy read if you ever cared to look at it (Link above in bibliography).

When they head into the poppy's, Dorothy and the Lion along with Toto fall asleep. Now, instead of Glenda the good witch helping, there is a monarch mouse that the tin man saved from a cat, and she has her subjects help them pull the Lion out of the poppies. It is a good read, and I enjoyed this half much.

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part B

Bibliography: Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang. Link

Notes: 

I can tell while reading this story that the Disney movie certainly came from it. Though, like every movie, there had to be some characters and events left out and some made up for some reason. I could still picture the movie quite well. 

Knowing the movie before the book is backwards than what Hollywood has done. However, if you were to write a book based on a movie, then you could add your own stories to cushion the plot. This would be a lovely way to write a story, I do believe.

Caption: Mutual Creation

Link: http://www.booksincommon.org/featuring-the-film-how-book-adaptations-get-patrons-reading/

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part A

Bibliography: Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang. Link

Notes:

Caption: Infinite Recursion
Link: https://giphy.com/gifs/recursion-kNhC5VxNjPbvq

The big idea of this section is inception. The story is a story which tells a story which tells a story and then sometimes tells another story. All the stories have a happy ending, because Scheherazade is hoping her sultan will spare her life and giver her a happy ending as well. She addresses her stories to him, and her story hero's address the ones who wish to kill them in their storytelling. It is recursive (relating to or involving a program or routine of which a part requires the application of the whole, so that its explicit interpretation requires in general many successive executions) with the main part being successive executions. Scheherazade's story will "return", if you will, until she comes back to her own story and it completes itself with a hopeful happy ending.


This type of storytelling is interesting, well thought out, and strategic in such a way that you must continue to listen. If I were to base a story off of Arabian Nights, I would just make a whole new story to put other stories inside of.

Caption: ReCATsion
Link: https://giphy.com/gifs/cat-infinity-XkDyB1jCZMxUs/download

Comment Wall

Link to Storybook:

Toto's Adventures in Oz


Caption: Love it
Link: http://www.retroplanet.com/PROD/32817.html

Week 3 Story: The Tragedy of Cupid and Psyche

Author's Note:

Cupid and Psyche is a love story based upon Cupid, Venus's son, the arrow wielding god of love, and Psyche a mere mortal with beauty that rivaled even Venus's fair form. When the towns and villages begin worshiping Psyche instead of Venus, Venus is enraged and orders her son to make her fall in love with someone awful. Little does she know, that when Psyche's parents leaves her on a cliff to surely die in matrimony, Cupid brings her to live with him, though, he only comes to her in the dark of night. One night, Psyche saw her love and hurt him with hot wax (accidentally).When Venus heard of this, she was enraged and put Psyche through a series of tasks to hopefully kill her. When she didn't die, Cupid swooped her up, bid her to finish her last task, and made everything right by marrying her in front of all the gods. Everything worked out for the hero and heroine. But what would have happened if Psyche had been scythed in the river Styx, if Cupid had been so ill that he never got up to save his love, or if Venus would have never given her the tasks, but immediately carried out her sentence? Read on.

Caption on the Picture

Link: http://obvil.paris-sorbonne.fr/corpus/mythographie/bulfinch_age-of-fable_1855_images/bulfinch_age-of-fable_1855_122.png

"Finally, you have come into my presence to face the fate you wove in your bosom," Venus explained vehemently, "To me you prostrate yourself, to your mother-in-law by the most illegitimate of natures. Did you think I would welcome you at the thought of your bravery? No. Yet, now you are here, I will make an example out of you yet. Take these many beans which I am mixing, and sort them before nightfall. If not, you will be at the mercy of my hand."

Psyche tried and tried to sort the heap. Hour after hour passed, and still she had half the stack left. Time was closing in on her! She went faster and faster, still no progress had been made by the time Venus waltzed through the door with her wedding feast gown after a night of fanfare. Psyche did not speak. Perhaps if she stayed so still, the lady would go to sleep and bother her no more for the night. Alas, it could not be so for our star-crossed fair friend. "Ah," Venus said with an edge in her eyes, "I see that you did not take me as serious as I'd thought. Pain will be your companion tonight. You, my unfortunate slave!" With this, a tingle started down Psyche's back, rushing towards her toes. In an instant her body was inflamed with spikes of fire. "Help! Help oh Venus, stop the pain! If only I could have done what you asked, but try and try I could not! Please!" But her cries were unheard. And Venus slumbered, pleased with herself for her triumph.

When the morning came, Psyche's pain ceased. She rested for what seemed like minutes, when in reality it actually was just minutes. Venus came storming in, ready to give Psyche the next impossible task. "Psyche, today before the sun sets, you are to gather the gold from the wool of the sheep by the water. Remember your night, lest you come back empty handed." So Psyche went to the waters edge, but Venus neglected to tell her the nature of the beasts. They were angry in the sun, and the sun was shining full. She approached the smallest she could find, and wham it prodded her with its sharp horn. She leaped back, favoring her thigh, for that is where the creature hit. She came back empty handed and the second night with Venus was the same. A number of days, Venus gave Psyche these tasks, yet no one would help her, and the number of nights she spent in agonizing pain.

Caption: The gold wool Psyche wishes she could have gotten.

Link: http://www.colourstreams.com.au/store/merino-wool-tops-new-gold-823.html

Through all this, Cupid longed for Psyche, but he was too weak to move to her. The injury to his shoulder was not healing, and ambrosia had been stayed from him by his mother. She did not want him to heal and so be let to go to his love. Had Venus seen his condition and his pain, surely she would have relented. Yet her anger towards Psyche has taken her eyes from Cupid. In his last breath, he wished for a servant of Venus to write this letter to his wife:

Dear Psyche,

My love, I am no more. You will doubtless be subject to my mother's wrath, and I can only believe it is my fault. Should you have married an old mortal man with no love, that life should have favored you more. Yet, since it is not so, I give you this arrow. Perhaps, if you should take it and prick my mother with its tip, she may grow less in anger with you and let you to the mortal world again. Try my love. You were the best of all the women.

Cupid

The servant brought this letter in secret to Psyche on the worst of the nights. Exhausted, Psyche took the letter and read it aloud. She was heartbroken and struck that her husband lay dying all this time and she was never able to touch him, to be with him. She took the arrow with a newfound strength and attempted to thrust it into Venus's heart, yet Venus caught her at the last moment, plunging it into Psyche's heart. Psyche was no more. And thus, both lovers were for naught, and there was no happy ending to be found.

"Cupid and Psyche" by Apuleius and retold by Tony Kline : Link

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

Tech Tip for the week: Canvas for mobile

I have had the Canvas app for a year now, and it has helped so much with due dates, homework, reading deadlines, and syllabus questions. On the go, I can bring up the app and do homework even when my computer is dead.

Caption: Canvas Theme

Link: http://www.lindenwood.edu/academics/support-resources/information-technology/it-applications/canvas/

I still think I like D2L better, but Canvas is growing on me. It helps with time management in a different way than I thought it would.

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche - Part B

Caption: Psyche in the Underworld by Paul Alfred de Curzon

Link: https://nefchronicles.wordpress.com/2015/02/05/cupid-and-psyche-love-and-transformation/

Notes:

So, Cupid and Psyche's offspring is a girl. In my last notes, I guessed it was going to be a boy. Just for future reference. 

This half of the story had more action. There was an unhappily married woman scorned, an illegitimate husband who was indisposed, a maiden whose wish was to die or have her husband, and a stolen lady who escaped on a donkey, guess what, to go marry her husband.

The story was a love story of sorts. I can see the Cinderella and Snow White themes trickled in every once in a while. Also, it was a happily ever after ending. Cupid married Psyche, and someone mentioned to her that it would be forever. The captured maiden and the donkey, Lucius got away, and everything turned out the best way that it could have. 

It would be interesting to tell this story in a way where nothing turned out right. I believe that will be my goal with the writing assignment.

"Cupid and Psyche" by Apuleius and retold by Tony Kline : Link

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part A

"Cupid and Psyche" by Apuleius and retold by Tony Kline : Link

Caption: Psyche and the Night Crawler

Link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/323414816961625883/?lp=true

Notes: 

The story starts to rise with a trip to the Oracle. This brings the story to a place where the foreshadowing is very explicit. You know early on that Psyche is not going to have a very nice fate, and still I, at least, found myself rooting for her in her innocence. 

If there was to be a moral in this first half of the story, I would pin it on "Actions taken due to jealousy easily backfire." Not only did Psyche's sisters meet a fatal end due to their cruelty, but Venus's request that Cupid have Psyche marry someone despicable caused Cupid to fall in love with Psyche himself. I'm sure the next reading will disclose the fact that Venus will not be very happy to hear this news. 

I would want this story to continue with their son, a demi-god and hopefully not a fire-breathing town destroyer. He would be an interesting addition to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. He could have wings like his dad and a touch that would melt any heart. It sounds a little sappy, I think, for me to write well. However, I'm sure Riordan could figure it out. 

Feedback Strategies: Week 3

Be a Mirror: Link By Gravity Goldberg

"Once we have gained important information about a student reader, we can give feedback that shows students what they are doing and the results of that work." 

This quote is the gist of the "Be a Mirror" article. The point is to give feedback in a way that is void of judgement but full of what the receiver is doing correctly and the process in which they are doing it. The part about taking yourself out of the feedback is interesting as well. 

Criticizing Praise: Link By Valerie Strauss

I think I am often culprit of "patting" people on the head when I try to encourage them. Even though it may be full of good intention, I understand how praise can be taken as patronizing by the receiver. She does mention Dweck and how it can also be harmful to praise the effort put into a task as it can be taken as an indication that the receiver is incompetent. I would say that if a person giving me feedback had only something to say about my effort, I would not appreciate it.

Caption: Be aware

Link: https://www.unk.com/blog/dangers-of-excessive-praise/

Topic Brainstorm: The Many Adventures of Toto from Kansas to Oz

Caption: "Bark." Translation - I'm going on an adventure

Link: http://fixnation.org/2011/05/toto-wizard-of-oz-fixnation-hollywood-forever/

Characteristics of Toto from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

"Toto played all day long, and Dorothy played with him, and loved him dearly."  page 13. 

                  1. Toto likes to have a good time.

"The Witch gave Dorothy a friendly little nod, whirled around on her left heel three times, and straightway disappeared, much to the surprise of little Toto, who barked after her loudly enough when she was gone, because he had been afraid even to growl while she stood by." page 29.

                  2. Toto is afraid of the Good Witch of the North (Glenda).

"Toto ran over to the trees and began to bark at the birds sitting there." page 31.

                  3. Toto can talk to the animals that cannot speak to humans/scarecrows/witches.

"And Toto looked up into her face with his little black eyes and wagged his tail to show he knew what she meant." page 32.

                  4. Toto can understand how Dorothy feels/what she means by words.

"These sounds made the little girl's heart beat fast, for she did not know what made them; but Toto knew, and he walked close to Dorothy's side, and did not even bark in return." page 65.

                  5. Toto knows when something is wrong and when it is not. He is aware.

"Little Toto, now that he had an enemy to face, ran barking toward the Lion, and the great beast had opened his mouth to bite the dog, when Dorothy, fearing Toto would be killed, and heedless of danger, rushed forward and slapped the Lion upon his nose as hard as she could..." page 66. 

                   6. Toto is brave, and he is not afraid to protect himself and his lady.

"Toto did not really care whether he was in Kansas or the Land of Oz so long as Dorothy was with him; but he knew the little girl was unhappy, and that made him unhappy too." page 152.

                   7. Toto loves Dorothy above anyone in the whole world. He would follow her                                   anywhere.

Caption: "I'll hold your hand if you insist."

Link: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/toto-the-wizard-of-oz

Story One: How Toto felt about Kansas and the farm.

This story begins with he and Dorothy's time on the farm. Toto's best friends: the chick and the mouse, are introduced here as well. Here we get an insight on why Toto loves Dorothy the most out of any human.

Story Two: Toto's thoughts about the cyclone and why he is so afraid of Glenda.

This story will go through the first thoughts about Oz from Toto's perspective. He was certainly unhappy about almost dying from falling out of the trap door and of course grateful for Dorothy for his rescue. Then, when they landed in Oz and an old lady that smelled more strange than he could attest to smelling before suddenly kisses Dorothy.. oh no not Dorothy! She'll never be the same again!

Story Three: The discovery of the Wizard of Oz - the not so great and powerful. Every time Toto and Dorothy ended up in the layer of the Wizard, he was shaken to the bone due to the ominous nature of the floating head. When they came the last time to the Wizard, and Toto, already scared, was frightened by the Lion enough to knock over the Wizard's hiding place, he felt very fortunate to have helped Dorothy solve a scary mystery. He had heard her say that this man would take them to Kansas, and to make her happy made him burst with pride.

Week 3 Story: Scamandrius Astyănax of Sarce

Authors Note: The Iliad is the story of the great war between Greece and its allies vs. Troy. A king had an exquisitely beautiful daughter, Helen, who all princes wished to marry. He declared that everyone must respect the prince whom Helen chose, and if anyone tried to steel her, all Greece must go to war to get her back for her husband. It seems like a personal problem for Helen's husband, yet when she was inevitably stolen by Paris of Troy, all of Greece and extras such as the brave and strong Achilles came to fight Troy to get her back. If you want to read more about Grecian War and some motives of why many people came to fight, visit the Ancient History Encyclopedia. The particular part of the Iliad I am basing my story off of is called "Hector and Andromache". Hector is the hero of Troy and Andromache is his wife. They have a beautiful, blonde, baby boy called Scamandrius, but since Hector is so beloved throughout the city, the citizens call his son "City King". Hector eventually dies in a hot and long-winded battle between he and Achilles, and so his son is left with only a mother. Then too, King Priam dies, and Scamandrius is left without a grandfather. This is the story of "City King" or Astyănax and his rise to fame under his fathers name.

Caption: Apollos Snake

Link: http://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2013/09/giant-anacondas-and-other-super-sized.html

Since the infamous battle between Troy and Greece over the fair Helen's hand, Troy had been lost. Those who escaped the battle fled far beyond the reaches of Greece to land which they called Sarce. It was here that they built their new lives.

Among the refugees were Andromache and her son, Scamandrius of Troy, or Astyănax, the City King, as the people called him. His father, Hector, was beloved by all of Troy for his heroic exhibitions in battle before his death and the fall of their city. Therefore, the people loved Scamandrius due to the legacy of his father.

The Trojan refugees lived in Sarce for a number of years. They grew in number until there were enough of them that the people decided they needed a new king. At this time, Andromache approached the few men remaining from Troy and said to them, "Men of Troy. The people of our new land have found it favorable to elect a king of Sarce. If you would have it be so, my son is of but twenty years and should be king. For he has the wit and the will of his father Hector, of which you valued so highly prior to his death by Achilles hand."

At this the present assembly was well pleased, for all loved Astyănax. However, due the growing yet small nature of Sarce, they needed a strong king, and Scamandrius had only lived in a time of peace. He had not yet been able to prove himself of strength. At this, a man named Taurus spoke, "There was once a tradition performed by Sparta. When a young man was next in line to be king, he was sent out into the forest with not even a shield to protect him. If he stayed and came back not only alive, but alive and unharmed, he was fit to be king."

The rest of the assembly agreed that this is what they would need from any young man wishing to lead, so Andromache went back to tell Scamandrius the news. "Scamandrius, do you yet love me as your mother?" she asked, "And do you yet heed my words? Have I not taken care of you these twenty years while you have had no father to lead us?".

"Yes mother, you have but been my mother and brought us here to live though our city had perished," replied Scamandrius. He loved Andromache dearly. "What is it that you would have me do?"

"My son, your bravery and legacy are being put to the test. The men of this city say you may be king, but only at the cost of your safety. You are to go to the wilderness, the forests beyond the valley, with nothing but a spear to defend yourself. There, stay well and come back within three days unscathed. Then you shall live up to your name of Astyănax, and the people will make you king for your bravery."

So, the next morning Scamandrius was off. The journey to the forest was grueling. The sun beat down, and outside of Sarce there was rarely a blade of grass to be seen. The path was all dessert. At a point, he came upon the edge of wilderness and sighed a great relief for now he would be out of the sun. It was, however, almost dark, so Scamandrius began looking for a shelter. At once, he spotted a branch in a nearby tree and thought to himself, "If I was to get a vantage point, this would be the one. I can see the forest below, and the treeline above. Surely if I was to leave this place, I will need to be able to see clearly." And at that he climbed into the tree and fell asleep.

Apollo, the god who loved Troy before the fall, saw the errand that Scamandrius was sent on. He thought to himself, "I can help this along. I will send a beast so sneaky that if Scamandrius is to slay it, he will think himself worthy to return and be the king." At this, he sent a snake as long as a trireme to the tree which Scamandrius lay.

"hissssssssssss." Scamandrius listened. He could hear a sound that sent chills down his spine coming from somewhere in the distance. "hisssSSSSSSSSSS." It was coming closer. He leaped up, forgetting he was in a tree, almost falling to the ground out of sheer terror. Looking around, he spotted a glimpse of a tail to his right. Then there was a head to his left. It was a snake, and it was closing in on him! In his commotion, Scamandrius lost his spear. Looking around, he found it a foot away. Grabbing it quickly, he turned to face the snake head on. It came closer. He thought about puncturing its stomach as it was to his right and much closer than its head. However, he also thought that if he hit it head on, perhaps it would die much quicker. There was no more time to think, though because WHAM the tail hit him in the leg. Getting up quickly, he saw it was now or never. He rushed upon the open mouth of the snake coming towards him like a flash, threw the spear into the opening and ducked. The spear found its target.

Apollo was pleased with his performance, and so he gave Scamandrius strength that he had never had before. Ready to be home and feeling as though he had done quite enough to be king, Scamandrius dragged the snake body the journey home.

Andromache, aching for her son to come back safely, was waiting at the city's edge. She spotted him in the distance and ran to get the men. They came as Scamandrius returned, and at once proclaimed, "Welcome back Astyănax for you are, as your father was, fit to be our king."

Caption: City King

Link: https://hu.pinterest.com/pin/136233957450891006/

Bibliography. The Iliad, a poem retold by Alfred J. Church by Homer. Web source.

Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad, Part B

Homer's Iliad Part B retold by A. J. Church: Link to Unit B

Notes for Reading B:

The details that Homer/Church put into this war story is unique. For example, when it comes about that Patroclus dies, the imagery Homer uses to show how loved he was even by the horses is beautiful. "And their long manes were trailed in the dust" Reading B, Part 1: The Rousing of Achilles.

Caption: Weeping for Patroclus

Link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/531284087264755668/?lp=true

The stressing of how important the burial rights for a man, and even the significance of the armor a man wore to battle, are also details worth mentioning. If I were to write a story based off of the Iliad  I would include somewhere that the Greeks would not eat beans for the reason that they believed they contained the souls of the dead! Source Link. This was the most interesting Greek superstition I found.

Tech Tip: Canvas Dashboard

I chose to do the Canvas Dashboard extra credit because I have actually been frustrated with it lately. I have two ECE 4000 level courses, and I couldn't ever remember which one was which. I had remembered changing the names before, but my phone wouldn't allow me to. So going through this tutorial, I was able to change the names of the courses. Now I can see which course is which. Hooray! Thanks Tech Tip. ❤

Reading Notes: Homers Iliad Part A

Homers Iliad from The Iliad retold by Alfred J. Church: Link to Reading Guide A

Reading Notes for Reading A: Week 3

I enjoy how Homer/Church share their story very matter of fact and fluid. This particular version of the story does not say whether Helen wanted to be stolen or not, but other sources such as Britannica Online say that she fled with Paris willingly when Menelaus was away. It makes for a sort of confusion for the start of this struggle to have so many conflicting versions.

Caption: Patroclus Dying

Link: Patroclus - Wikipedia

The most finicky part of this genre is that the gods are constantly interfering. An example of this is when Patroclus had gone to fight Hector to save the ships from Troy's fire. Patroclus killed Sarpedon and became proud, vowing that he himself would take the city of Troy. Rather than letting Patroclus try, Apollo wanted him to die, so he prevented him from climbing the wall and instead had Hector kill him. These parts of the story provide unforeseen plot twists, though, that keep the readers entertained.

If I was to write a story based off of the battle over Helen, I would either include Zeus, Achilles, and Achilles' mother, Thetis, or I would write one over Andromache and her golden-haired child.

Feedback Thoughts

Caption: Feedback or ?
Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/37996646802@N01/14279306964/

I think feedback for the sake of feedback is helpful in some settings. In a working environment when a superior is giving feedback, I believe it is necessary and productive for the corporation. In a sporting environment, I believe a coach and peers have equal say in giving feedback because it helps the team in a significant way. In a classroom where peers are being forced to give feedback for a grade, I believe it is much less necessary and can actually be a little annoying at times. I have had few classmates be serious enough to have memorable things to say to me, but overall most peer feedback comments have been disappointing.

Recalibrating the Perfectionist Mind

This is another "strengths-based philosophy" article. I see where the author is going when talking about practicing with unrealistic expectations and being overly self-critical in a preparation process. Over thinking is something I do the most as a semi-perfectionist. When I swam in high school, I would think about my races way too much, and my coach would wonder in awe about why I couldn't do as well as I would in practice.

Overcoming the Fear of Feedback

This article reminded me of my internship this summer. We only worked 10 weeks, and so we had a performance review at the five week mark. The week before, I was over my head with anxiety thinking, "What is he going to say to me? Have I done the best I possibly could with what I've been given? Have I stayed long enough consistently?" Then, the day of my evaluation, my boss moved our meeting time up to nine instead of 3... if you can imagine, I was on pins and needles heading towards the conference room. When I walked in, however, my boss was all smiles and as he went through the evaluation there was not one negative thing to say about my work or interpersonal skills. I had worried for nothing, and the feedback was helpful.

Topic Brainstorm

Caption: The Tryll-ogy
Link: https://8tracks.com/piratemix/trylle

A story collection based off of Scheherazade and Arabian Nights

I can't seem to pry my thoughts away from Scheherazade and her heroic venture to tell the most titillating stories never before told. I think it would be interesting to write a collection of stories from the point of view of the Sultan as he finds his views on women changing due to the cleverness and thoughtfulness of Scheherazade as she spins her tales. Or perhaps a story can be made from the point of her childhood: when she was young and telling stories to her sister, and when her father first noticed that his daughter was "clever and courageous to the highest degree." This sentiment, even though it came from a father, had to have a background of action behind it.

A story collection based off of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz, including Wicked  by Gregory Maguire along with the new animated movie Oz the Great and Powerful, allow for so much wiggle room for creation. If I used this for my project, I would want to write a beginnings story for the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. Maybe the Tin Man was a traveling wood carver who did work for a witch, but she was not satisfied with his work and thus turned him to tin. Perhaps the Lion used to be courageous, but something happened which shattered his confidence. Many possibilities.

A story collection based off of the Andersen Fairy Tales

The Anderson Fairy Tales, such as The Princess and the Pea and The Emperors New Suit, have meaning behind them. To do a collection based off of these stories, I would need a little more time for preparation thinking. The stories could write themselves if the thought has been created beforehand. 

These would be best written by me in a different era. 

A story collection based off of the legend of Changelings

I read an excellent, young adult book series, the Trylle series, of which this legend reminds me. Since the changelings can end up anywhere, there are a plethora of locations which can be used. Also, new heroines/heroes can be created as well and allude to already existing stories of changelings. An example of this is The Kane Chronicles which alludes to the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan.

Week 2 Story: The Lion's Share (cont.) or The Wolf's Share

Caption: Better in Numbers
Link: Wolf Pack Howling - SOUND ONLY!

“What a concept,” remarked the Jackal. The Jackal and the Wolf were not amused by the Lion’s choice to keep the late Stag to himself. They were hungry, and the Lion was using strength and ferocity to his advantage. The Fox had already left, so it was up to them to take back what belonged to them.

“Yes. It is true that we did most of the work for a meal that the Lion has clearly claimed for himself,” said the Wolf, “Let us come up with a plan to overpower him, as he believes that merely threatening us will keep us at bay.”

The Jackal, who had been angry enough to go to war with the Lion a few moments earlier, quickly remembered his size and disposition. He was overcome with a chilling cowardice. “Actually Wolf... I think you will need to do this alone. You are big, you are fast, and you are strong. I am nothing to be scared of, and the Lion will eat me as well as the Stag. Goodbye and good luck.” And with that the Jackal was gone.

“Now what will I do?” said the Wolf. I am big, I am fast, and I am strong, but by myself I am nothing against the Lion. But then, he had a realization. “Ah, yes, I am no match by myself. However, I am not the only wolf in the world. I have a pack. My pack is bigger, my pack is faster, and my pack is stronger. With them I will surely get my meal.”

The Lion had started his meal. He had barely eaten two bites when over the horizon came the Wolf.

“I see you did not understand me when I said that I would like to see anyone dare to touch the fourth quarter of the Stag with their paw. I meant by this that if you touch this meal, my meal, you will surely die,” the Lion said. The Wolf did not seem to be phased, however. “Why are you still here? Be gone, and allow me to eat in peace.”

At that moment, the Wolf began to step closer. Soon, there were more wolves behind him. Coming closer. Inching forward. The Wolf said to the Lion, “I will give you a choice. You can give me three times my share of the Stag, or my pack and I will attack you, swiftly, and you will die with no share in the Stag.” At this, the wolves had surrounded the Lion.

“Oh,” the Lion said, “You have called my bluff. Here is your share threefold.”

As he walked away, looking back the Lion thought to himself, “Sharing is an acceptable alternative to dying.”

- - -

Authors Note: In the original story, "The Lion's Share," the Fox, Jackal, Wolf, and Lion had just caught a Stag after hunting for a significant amount of time. When they had caught it, the Lion made the other three characters "quarter" the Stag presumably so they could split the bounty before them. However, after the food was ready to be taken, the Lion said this part is mine, and this part is mine, and this part is mine, and... oh yes, this part is mine as well. Goodbye. This prompted the Fox to walk away upset saying, "You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil". I thought, since we received the response from only one of the characters, it would be interesting to continue the story with the responses from the other two characters with an emphasis on the Wolf's reaction.

For Reference:
"The Lion's Share" from The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs (1894). Web Source.