Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables, Part B

These notes come from the Aesop's Fables unit written by Roger L'Estrange and other authors (see link for other authors).

Goodness, there are so many wolves and dogs in this part B!

My favorite from this section is by Sir Brooke Boothby:

The Gnat and the Ox

Cries to an Ox a little Gnat,

As perch'd upon his horn she sat,

"My weight fatigues you, Sir, I fear."

Says Ox, ''I knew not thou wert there.''

It is simple and requires no thought. Just talks about a gnat that thinks he is heavier than he really is. I also like how it flows in a way that rhymes do. It's just a little sing-songy. This is the way I would write my Aesop's fable. I think the theme of this one would be something like, "you aren't as important as you think."

Caption: See the Gnat?

Link

Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables, Part A

These notes come from the Aesop's Fables unit written by Roger L'Estrange (any relation to Bellatrix L'Estrange perhaps?) and other authors (see link for other authors).

Of all the stories, the story about the donkey's wish is fun. It goes through the thoughts of this animal on the different seasons and how he is always wishing for the next.

Aesop stories seem to be mostly about animals, some of people. There is often a moral at the end of the stories as well.

Caption: Work, Work, Work, Work, Work

Link

Reading Notes: Nursery Rhymes, Part B

These notes come from the Nursery Rhymes unit, Part B written by Andrew Lang.

The Accumulative Stories are quite a bit longer than the other nursery rhymes.

From reading this section, you can see that rhymes can be any length. Some of them tell a tale, while others just mention something about a random character. A story based on these Nursery Rhymes would need to rhyme, again, obviously. I think I would go more on the route of the accumulative stories because the writing has to be at least 300 words long.

Caption: An Old Woman and Her Pig

Link

Reading Notes: Nursery Rhymes, Part A

These notes come from the Nursery Rhymes unit, Part A written by Andrew Lang.

This unit obviously includes rhymes. They are all pretty short on the order of five to ten lines.

My favorite section was that of the proverbs. Specifically, the sneezing rhyme was my favorite:

"IF you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger;Sneeze on a Tuesday, kiss a stranger;

Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter;

Sneeze on a Thursday, something better;

Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow;

Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart to-morrow."

Caption: On a Monday

Link

Reading Notes: Alice in Wonderland, Part B

Bibliography: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Caption: The Cards on Alice

Link: (illustration by Arthur Rackham)

This half of the story really focuses in on the courtroom appearance of Alice. Again, this is very similar to the Disney movie. A story based off of this reading would be neat. Honing in on one of the non-Alice characters would be pretty easy. Another option would be to show the story from the King of Heart's eyes. Oh, or the eyes of the March Hare; that would be interesting.

Reading Notes: Alice in Wonderland, Part A

Bibliography: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

This story is so similar to the Disney movie. In the movie, though, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are the ones who quote Old Father William. I remember reading this book as a child, and I know that I certainly did not understand what a "hookah" was at the time.

If I was to write a story based off of this section, I would write a backstory on the Caterpillar: why he asks "Who are you?" all the time, and why he is so insistent on recitation.

Caption: The Caterpillar

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part B

King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang
Reading B

This story has such a tragic ending. A brave hero like Arthur must have had an obituary. Many shared words for him for his funeral, but a story based on this reading could  do well with putting all Arthur's followers words together for him.

Caption: Here Lies the GREAT King Arthur: Killed by his nephew

Link

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part A

King Arthur Unit from King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang

I have always wanted to hear of how the Round Table became. What a delight.

This story differs from the Disney movie in the way that Arthur's step-family actually loved him and did not make him do all their dirty dishes.

I did not know that Merlin was buried alive.. I also had no clue who Morgan was.

Arthur's is an engaging story. A story written about this unit would need to include either a knight of the round table spin-off or another encounter with Morgan Le Fay.

Caption: Not Excalibur, just the sword in the stone. (They are different)

Link: https://www.sydneyvapour.com.au/top-shelf-e-liquid/kings-castle-premium-e-juice/excalibur

Reading Notes: Native American Hero Tales, Part B

The Native American Hero Tales Unit from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson.

I wanted to yell at the father of the Thrown-Away boys to just stop telling them where not to go!

I liked the Jealous Father story the best in this selection. The family ties really didn't run very deep in this culture, did they? Or, if they did, they certainly liked to speak on times when a family wanted to kill each other.

A story based upon this reading could involve a semi-hero as these stories did. They were not perfect, however, they got the job done. He could be a hero of himself.

Caption: I am the hero. White Cloud, Son.

Link: https://www.nga.gov/education/teachers/lessons-activities/heroes-heroines/white-cloud.html

Reading Notes: Hero Tales, Part A

The Native American Hero Tales Unit from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson.

As most Native American prose, a story based upon these tales would have a narrator so as to be orally told easily.

My favorite story to read from this section is the first: Unnatural Uncle. He killed his poor nephews, and no one did anything about it. This must have been accepted then if no one liked it but also did nothing about it. He spoke at the end that he was chief, so maybe that had something to do with it.

A story based upon this would be an obvious murder without mystery. Perhaps this time the wife would kill all girls, or maybe there would be some sort of explanation for the behavior of all involved.

Caption: They Dressed Him as a Girl So His Uncle Would Not Kill Him

Link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/569986896567468781/?lp=true

Reading Notes: Native American Marriage Tales, Part B

Native American Marriage Tales Unit from Tales of the North American Indians an anthology by Stith Thompson.

I'm afraid, after reading these tales, that the Native Americans encouraged beastiality (intercourse between a human and an animal). The family of a girl who lay with a dog only left when she was pregnant by the dog.. so strange.

My favorite story in this Unit is the True Bride. She was coincidentally lucky to have such kind random estranged brothers. My favorite line: "She asked her to spit, but instead of gold she spat a bad-smelling toe-nail. She told her not to spit again."

A story based on this Unit would be a mixture of this and Cinderella and maybe you could throw in a few more brothers for the fun of it. Or you could retell the story based upon what the haughty step-sister thought.

Caption: Her Favorite Dog, Spióola

Link: https://www.pinterest.com/istanbul408/henry-justice-ford-british-painter-1860-1941/?lp=true

Reading Notes: Native American Marriage Tales, Part A

Native American Marriage Tales Unit from Tales of the North American Indians an anthology by Stith Thompson.

I chose this unit because I am recently married, and because it reminds me of the Disney movie Big Brother II.

In these stories people just happen to pop in and out of animal-ness, injuries result in new people, and dead people don't have to stay dead. Very strange way to cope with death. It seems to have been effective for the people. 

A story told based off of these stories will be an "explanation" for something no one who does not believe in God can attest to knowing fully. It will have animals. This story can be told in first person, but most likely to aid in retelling, it will be told by a narrator. 

Caption: Be My Bear Wife Please

Link: http://www.indigenouspeople.net/bear.htm

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part G

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

This is the LAST section of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz much to my dismay. It is a lovely book that would be a great addition to a literary library read to children. 

Here is where they finally meet Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. The book does not specifically state whether Glinda and the Good Witch of the North spoke to one another often. It does make sense to me that the directors of The Wizard of Oz the movie would merge these two characters into one for clarity and to lower the character count. 

Glinda wants the magic of the winged monkeys, and Dorothy replies that she will gladly give her the hat if she will help her home. This is funny, because all Glinda wants to use the hat for is to get the other three in the party home as well. Very clever Baum.

And all along, the magic silver shoes on Dorothy's feet could have carried her all the way across the desert. Too bad the Good Witch of the North did not enlighten her about that coincidence. 

Dorothy still have to knock the heels three times, but now she can go anywhere. This is so important, because it means that she will be able to travel back to Oz whenever she pleases! OH, just kidding. The shoes fell off Dorothy's feet. 

However, when she got home for the first time in ages, a new home built by Uncle Henry was waiting for her. How sweet. 

This story was made May 15, 1900. Wow.

Caption: She LOST the Silver Shoes! How will she return?

Link: https://archive.org/stream/wonderfulwizardo00baumiala#page/n307/mode/2up

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part G

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

Almost to the land of the Quadlings! The forest between the team and the Land of the Quadlings was not a treacherous as I had thought it would be. I suppose there are only so many adventures one can tell about while on a quest. They were met by some Hammerheads on a hill right before their destination who gave the team a good bit of trouble.

This is something that I like about Baum's storytelling. The land of Oz gives him constant creative freedom. He can come up with new characters whenever he pleases. 

This happens to be the last time Dorothy can call the winged monkeys. I'm not sure why she couldn't just give the hat to another character. Then they could have had multiple uses of the monkeys. This is a plot hole. 

But the monkeys get the team to the land of the Quadlings all safe and sound much to the displeasure of the Hammerheads.

Caption: The Strange Hammerheads

Link: https://archive.org/stream/wonderfulwizardo00baumiala#page/242/mode/2up

Image by W. W. Denslow

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part F

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

Now has come the time for the Lion to show his newfound "courage" given to him by the wizard. I had forgotten to mention, the wizard just mixed together a few things to have the Lion drink that weren't really magical. It was just a placebo and the Lion believed it. He of course had the courage the whole time. The place they came to was murky, but the Lion seemed to find it very agreeable as compared to the other characters. Here is the "If iiiiI, were Kinnnnng, of the ForRESSSST." They defeat a giant, animal eating, spiderlike creature to claim the now Brave Lion's kingdom. It seriously only took a half of a page to defeat. As in, it only took him a paragraph to defeat. Maybe there was something in that potion after all...

Caption: The Animals Crowing the Lion King of the Forest

Link: https://archive.org/stream/wonderfulwizardo00baumiala#page/238/mode/2up

Image by W. W. Denslow

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part E

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

The china land is all rainbows and sunshine. The colors, which must have been very important to Baum for he mentions them often, are describes as pinks and blues and purples and golds and silvers. There are even some little china dogs and cats and cows. The people, being china, are also as delicate as china. A cow kicked and broke its whole leg off! I missed a part in there with a princess because some of the pages are missing from the book above. Most likely due to the age of the story. Poor china people, though. If they are taken from their country, they become statues and no better than little figurines who cannot talk or move. I believe a story written about these characters would be so fun to write. The antagonist could be an antique collector who has figured out a way to travel to Oz and back to carry away the little china people in their sleep!

Caption: Climbing Over the China Wall

Link: http://oz.wikia.com/wiki/China_Country

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part D

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

After Oz, the Great and Powerful Humbug, left in the balloon (much like the movie), the characters were now left with a dilemma. How is Dorothy to get home now? Unlike the movie, however, Glinda the Good Witch of the South (not North) does not come in to rescue quite yet. The characters actually have to travel to her. This is where the attacking trees come in. They only shake the travelers instead of throwing apples at them. Then they come to the China country. I find it satisfying that this is a real place that the newest movie brings to life. 

Caption: The keepers of the forest 

Link: http://storyberries.com/the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz/

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part C

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

The thing about this book is that, unlike the movie, the climax of the book is not Dorothy defeating the wicked witch of the West. She does still go on to see the wizard (who is actually from Omaha, Nebraska). Oz is actually the one who had the Emerald City built and named. The people were so scared of him that they did whatever he said to do. He is a great showman, and a story written about him would be very dramatic. I do think the new movie about Oz did him some credit as a character.

Caption: The Wizard of Oz - Humbug

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard_of_Oz_(character)

Reading Notes: More Brer Rabbit, Part A

More Brer Rabbit by Joel Chandler Harris

These Brer Rabbit's are a bit more English for the most part. There are still little sayings scattered near the end. My favorite of this round was from the first story: "Dat what make me say what I does—when you git a invite ter a bobbycue, you better fin’ out when an’ whar it’s at, an’ who runnin’ it.”"

A story based off of this run of tales needs to, of course, have some mischief. It also would benefit from another run in with Mr. Man.

Caption: Mr. Man

Link: http://www.mightybook.com/MightyBook_free/read_classics/Uncle_Remus/Uncle_Remus.html

Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part B

Notes: 

The second half of the book explains who the Wicked Witch of the West is and how she came to have so much power. It also introduces the Winkies: the Witch's slave minions who are too afraid of her to revolt. In this half, the golden hat gives the wearer power to have the flying monkey's do their bidding three times. There is also a sad story included that dives into why the flying monkeys have to do anyone's bidding at all. It's a new part that is not included in the Wizard of Oz movie. 

Caption: Little Dorothy Using the Monkeys for the First Time

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_monkeys

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