Extra Reading Diary: Czech Folktales

Czech Folktales

Sleepy John- And when the banquet was at an end, the devils began to dance with the queen, and they kept on dancing until the queen had worn out all her shoes. When her shoes were worn out, those two dragons took her on their backs again and brought her to the place where the earth had opened before her.
Silly Jura- But the watchmen insisted, and so the burgomaster told his servant to take him on his back and carry him to the place. The servant carried him along, and the watchmen called at the churchwarden's to ask for some holy water.
The Bear, The Eagle, and The Fish- One day he lost his way again, and this time an eagle flew down to him and promised to show him the way out of the forest and to give him heaps of money into the bargain, if he would only give him his second daughter in return. The bargain was made, and the eagle fetched away the second daughter, and only the youngest was left at home.
Kojata- On his way home he came to a forest, and such a thirst came upon him that he bade his driver stop and look for some water. The driver looked everywhere for water, but he couldn't find any. So the king himself went to look for it, and he found a well.
The Three Roses- She took the three roses to her daughter and said: "Here are the roses, but I had to pay dearly for them. You must go to yonder castle in payment for them, and I don't even know whether you will ever come back."
The Twin Brothers- The knight said nothing, but when he thought the proper time had come he rode to the palace. The princess saw him from the window, and she wondered who it might be. He was ushered in, and he went straight to the princess and told her everything. He asked her whether he might attend the wedding.
The Waternick- She jumped to her feet and ran after them. They were within a few steps of getting safe away, when, alas! she overtook them. She took them back and forced them to work, and they had to stay at home besides.

Czech Castle, photo by B. Henak

Storytelling Week 10: A Piece of Her Mother

Alice always dreamed of what her mother was like. She wondered if she had her nose or sense of humor or what else they might of shared. She had seen pictures of her mom before but she felt like she could never really tell what they shared. Her dad, Tom, didn’t like to talk about Alice’s mom, his late wife, because it was too hard to talk about the accident.

It has been Alice and her dad since she can remember, just the two of them against the world. Well, her Grandma Mary lived an hour away, but they didn’t visit her much in the nursing home. Alice felt bad about that, but it’s hard to see her with the dementia.

Alice was about to leave Connecticut where she had lived her whole life to attend college in New York City. She was so nervous because it will be the first time she has been away from her dad for such an extended amount of time. But, as the momentous occasion in her life was approaching, Alice couldn’t help but think about her mom and what she would be saying to her before she left. Alice never met her mom so she just has to imagine what her mom would say.

Alice was leaving tomorrow for school and her nerves were growing as the time past. She didn’t know what she was going to say to her dad. Was he going to cry? Was she going to cry? What was he going to do all alone in the house? Who would watch over him?

They woke up early to drive in to the city. All of Alice’s memories and belongings were packed in the back of her dad’s car. They both were nervous as they entered into the state of New York. Alice looked back in the window as she was leaving Connecticut and began to cry. Alice told herself she could do this. She would be strong so he dad wouldn’t cry either. As her dad continued to drive and keep his eyes on the road, Alice could she his eyes tearing up as they pulled up to the dorm.

They both got out and started unpacking. Box after box, unloading the car until her dorm was completely filled with her stuff. Alice and her dad stood in the middle of her tiny dorm ready to start saying goodbye. As they both sent in to hug before Tom left, he handed Alice a small box. She opened it up and her dad told her it was her mom’s necklace she wore in college. He had been waiting for the perfect moment to give it to her and he felt like this was it. Alice cried as she put it on and watched her dad walk away back to the car. Finally, Alice had a piece of her mom to start this new journey with.

Author’s Note: This week I read The Song of Hiawatha. This reading section is in poem form and uses a lot of imagery and description. This section of reading focus on Hiawatha’s life, where and how he was born, his wedding and multiple other events in his life. I did find this section hard to read and understand in the sense of forming a whole story but I did enjoy the imagery and the beautiful scenes these poems described. While reading this I was having trouble coming up with a way to write my own story so, I decided to just take one element of this story and create a completely different tale. Hiawatha’s mother died right when he was born in the woods so that is what I am going to use in my story but in a completely different way.

A pearl necklace. 

Bibliography: The Song of Hiawatha. Henry Wadsworth (1855). 

Reading Diary B: The Song of Hiawatha

Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather- I love the simple use of words that create such great imagery. To the purple clouds of sunset. And the moon, the Night-sun, eastward, Suddenly starting from his ambush, Followed fast those bloody footprints

Hiawatha's Wooing- I love this saying: with his moccasins of magic. I like this passage: Pleasant was the journey homeward, Through interminable forests, Over meadow, over mountain, Over river, hill, and hollow.

Hiawatha's Wedding-Feast- I can really imagine what he looks like in this passage: He was dressed in shirt of doeskin, White and soft, and fringed with ermine, All inwrought with beads of wampum; He was dressed in deer-skin leggings.

The Son of the Evening Star- These poems have the best imagery: Yes; it is the sun descending, Sinking down into the water; All the sky is stained with purple, All the water flushed with crimson!

Illustration by John Rae. 

Reading Diary A: The Song of Hiawatha

The Four Winds- Long have been at war together; Now you find that we are strongest, You go sneaking in the forest, You go hiding in the mountains! Day by day he gazed upon her, Day by day he sighed with passion, Day by day his heart within him Grew more hot with love and longing For the maid with yellow tresses.


Hiawatha's Childhood- But she heeded not the warning, Heeded not those words of wisdom, And the West-Wind came at evening, Walking lightly o'er the prairie, Whispering to the leaves and blossoms, Bending low the flowers and grasses

Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis- Out of childhood into manhood Now had grown my Hiawatha, Skilled in all the craft of hunters, Learned in all the lore of old men, In all youthful sports and pastimes, In all manly arts and labors.

Hiawatha. Illistration taken from the Untextbook.

Extra Reading Diary: Eskimo Folk-Tales

The Coming of Men, A Long, Long While Ago- Good quote: And now, after men had got light on their earth, they were able to go on journeys, and to hunt, and no longer needed to eat of the earth. And with death came also the sun, moon and stars.
Nukúnguasik, who Escaped from the Tupilak- These stories have small amounts of detail but a lot going on which makes them interesting and though-provoking.
The Woman Who Had a Bear as a Foster-Son- "Little bear, come and earn a share of our catch; come out hunting with us, bear." But before the bear went out, it sniffed at the old woman. And then it went out with the men. I enjoy all the intersting names in these stories.
Qalagánguasê, Who Passed to the Land of Ghosts- What an interesting story. It's interesting that the character became a women ghost. Also, it's very sad that he was left orphan by his parents eating seaweed.
Isigâligârssik- Then they slept, and awakened, and Isigâligârssik opened his little chest and searched it, and took out a bow that was so small it could hardly be seen in his hands. He strung that bow, and went out, and said: "Come out now and see."
The Insects that Wooed a Wifeless Man- "I happened to save you because my course lay athwart your own," said the wifeless man. "It is the first time for many days that I have been out at all in my kayak."
Makíte- When darkness had fallen, he set off up into the hills, but as he went, his wife's father, who was standing outside, saw him going, and cried in to the others in the house:"Makíte has gone up into the hills to live there all alone. Go after him."
Atungait, Who Went A-WanderingThe Giant Dog- nd then they drove on again and came to some man-eaters; these ate one another, having no other food. But they did not succeed in doing him any harm. Cannabilism element, interesting.

Iniut Family, 1917. This photo was taken from the Untextbook. 

Reading Diary B: Cherokee Myths

I enjoyed reading about the Cherokees. There love for animals and nature show in the stories. I enjoyed all the good quotes. "She preferred the Hummingbird, who was as handsome as the Crane was awkward, but the Crane was so persistent that in order to get rid of him she finally told him he must challenge the other to a race and she would marry the winner." Love the use of similies in this. 

A picture of a crane. 

Reading Diary A: Myths of the Cherokees

He conjurers put the sun another hand-breadth higher in the air, but it was still too hot. They raised it another time, and another, until it was seven handbreadths high and just under the sky arch. I love all the good quotes and decription in these stories. I think its interesting to read stories from the Cherokees point of view. 

Portrait of Stalking Turkey a Cherokee leader, 1762.

Reading Plan

Week 9- I plan to read Myths of the Cherokees. I took Cherokee at OU and learned a lot. I look forward to reading some fictional work about Cherokees.

Week 10- I plan to read Alaskan Legends. I am very interested in Alaska and look forward to learning more.

Week 11- I plan to read Nursery Rhymes. Maybe I will be able to tell some to my niece.

Week 12- I plan to read the Canterbury Tales.

Week 13- I plan to read the Fables of La Fontaine.

Week 14- I plan to read Russian Folktales. I am very intrigued by Russian culture.

Saint Basil's Cathedral in Russia. This
photo was taken by David Crawshaw. 

Extra Reading Diary: Celtic Fairy Tales

Celtic Fairy Tales

Connla and the Fairy Maiden-"Summon swift my Druid Coran, for I see she has again this day the power of speech."
The Feild of Boliauns-"Beer!" said Tom. "Thunder and fire! Where did you get it?" Love the exclamation "Thunder and Fire"
The Horned Women-Return, and when thou comest to the north angle of the house, cry aloud three times and say, 'The mountain of the Fenian women and the sky over it is all on fire.' "
The Shepard of Myddvai-Shaking the bright drops from their hair and gliding to the shore, they wandered about amongst his flock. I really enjoy this quote. 
The Sprightly Sailor- Some of the words are hard to understand but I like this story. The tailor was well aware of this, but he was a sprightly man, and when the laird dared him to make the trews by night in the church, the tailor was not to be daunted, but took it in hand to gain the prize.
Munachar and Manachar- I love the rythmn of this story and they way it seems like it rhymns but it doesn't. I think it's the repetutiveness.
Golden-Tree and Siler-Tree-When the prince came home and found Gold-tree dead, he was in great sorrow, and when he saw how beautiful she was, he did not bury her at all, but he locked her in a room where nobody would get near her.

Lady looking into a well. Taken from the Untextbook.

Reading Diary A: Jamaica Anansi Stories

Tying Tiger- The slang is very hard to understnad and the story sort of gets lost. 

The Gub-Gub Peas-I'm not sure if the lion died or who excatly was burned with an iron. 

Tiger as Riding-Horse-I like that a song was added at the end along with lyrics.

Tiger Catching the Sheep Thief-I am not sure why the title has sheep in it when it's about a hen.

Tiger's Breakfast- I was very confused what this story was about. 

Eggs and Scorpions- So him at the Tiger are friends? They looked out for eachother so I guess so.

Eating Tiger's Guts- I don't like the pictures of spiders. It actually sounds pretty fun when you read it outloud. 

Sheep and Anansi- So Anansi is the bad guy not the tiger or lion.

New Names-Again, love the adding of a song. Maybe i'll do that in my next story. 

Long-Shirt-I like the use of repetitive sentence structure.

Shut Up in the Pot-Someone always has to die. I think its a tale requirement or something. These stories were interesting yet hard to follow. 

A Tree in Jamaica. Photo was taken from pixabay.

Extra Reading Diary: Japanese Fairy Tales

Japanese Fairy Tales 

The Goblin of Adachigahara

This story was about a goblin cannibal who appeared as an old lady to entice people into her cottage. A priest looking for shelter came upon her cottage and asked for a place to say. The old lady agreed. She went out to fetch firewood and told the priest to not look in the back room. The priest was curious and frightened. He looked in the room and found blood and bones. He ran far and fast away from the cottage. The old women chased after him screaming, “stop! Stop!” but she never caught up with him and he promised himself to keep this behind him. My only problem with this story is that you don’t really know if it is she. She told him not to look and she doesn’t chase after him saying she was going to kill him. I just never came to the conclusion that is was she. Was I supposing to? Or was it meant to be suspicious? I like the mystery the story creates. You don’t always need an indefinite ending.

 

The Ogre of Rashomon

This story was about a brave knight who fought the ogre and cut his arm off. The ogre came back for his arm in the form of the knight’s old nurse. The ogre stole his arm back but was too scared of the knight to turn and fight back. I enjoyed the suspense the story had leading up to finding out the old nurse was actually the ogre. I saw it coming but wasn’t quite sure. I enjoyed it.

The Story of Princess Hase

 I really enjoyed this story. It was sort of a Japanese version of Cinderella. There was a princess who’s mother died young. Her father remarried and her stepmother was wicked. The stepmother tried to poison the princess and when that didn’t work she tried to have one of the servants kill her. The Prince returned and started looking for his daughter. The servant never killed the princess but rather hid her in a far away forest. The prince reunited with this daughter and the stepmother fled because the prince knew of her wickedness. I enjoyed the length of this story and the progression of the story. It was really interesting and good.

The Temple of Hase located in Japan.
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