Reading Diary B: Dante's Inferno

The Minotaur and the Centaurs- Like a bull, breaking loose at the moment when it receives the fatal blow, that cannot go forward but plunges here and there, so I saw the Minotaur, and my cautious guide cried: 'Run to the passage: while he is in a fury, it is time for you to descend.'

The Harpies and Capaneus- Then my guide spoke, with a force I had not heard before: 'O Capaneus, you are punished more in that your pride is not quenched: no torment would produce pain fitting for your fury, except your own raving.'

The Old Man of Crete and Geryon- And I again: 'Master, where are Phlegethon and Lethe found, since you do not speak of the former and say that the latter is formed from these tears?'

Descending on Geryon's Back- There is a place in Hell called Malebolge, all of stone and coloured like iron, as is the cliff that surrounds it. Right in the centre of the malignant space, a well yawns, very wide and deep, whose structure I will speak of in due place.

Jason and the Demons- My Master said: 'Malacoda, do you think I have come here without the Divine Will, and propitious fate, safe from all your obstructions? Let me go by, since it is willed, in Heaven, that I show another this wild road.'

Caiaphas- I said: 'O me! Master, what do I see? Oh, let us go alone, without an escort, if you know the way: as for me, I would prefer not. If you are as cautious as usual, do you not see how they grind their teeth and darken their brows, threatening us with mischief?

Ulysses and Diomede- I said: 'Master, I beg you greatly and beg again so that my prayers may be a thousand, if those inside the fires can speak, do not refuse my waiting until the horned flame comes here: you see how I lean towards it with desire.'

The Giants- My guide said: 'This proud spirit had the will to try his strength against high Jupiter, and so has this reward. Ephialtes is his name, and he made the great attempt, when the Giants made the gods fear, and the arms he shook then, now he never moves.'

Ugolino- 'You must know that I am Count Ugolino, and this is the Archbishop Ruggieri. Now I will tell you why I am a neighbour such as this to him. It is not necessary to say that, confiding in him, I was taken, through the effects of his evil schemes, and afterwards killed. But what you cannot have learnt, how cruel my death was, you will hear: and know if he has injured me.

Satan- When we had gone on far enough that my guide was able to show me Lucifer, the monster who was once so fair, he removed himself from me and made me stop, saying: 'Behold Dis, and behold the place where you must arm yourself with courage.'

Illistration by Di Fruosino.

Reading Diary A: Dante's Inferno

Dante and Virgil- After I had rested my tired body a while, I made my way again over empty ground, always bearing upwards to the right. And, behold, almost at the start of the slope, a light swift leopard with spotted coat. It would not turn from before my face and so obstructed my path that I often turned in order to return.

The Gate of Hell and Charon- 'I will tell you, briefly. They have no hope of death, and their darkened life is so mean that they are envious of every other fate. Earth allows no mention of them to exist: mercy and justice reject them; let us not talk of them, but look and pass.

Limbo- The anguish of the people, here below, brings that look of pity to my face that you mistake for fear. Let us go, for the length of our journey demands it.' So he entered, and so he made me enter, into the first circle that surrounds the abyss.

Poets and Philosophers, Heroes and Heroines- When I lifted my eyes a little higher, I saw the Master of those who know, Aristotle, sitting amongst the company of philosophers. All gaze at him: all show him honour. There I saw Socrates, and Plato, who stand nearest to him of all of them

Paolo and Francesca- The first of those you wish to know of was Empress of many languages, so corrupted by the vice of luxury, that she made licence lawful in her code, to clear away the guilt she had incurred. She is Semiramis, of whom we read, that she succeeded Ninus, and was his wife: she held the countries that the Sultan rules.

Cerberus and Plutus- Like a sail, bellying in the wind, that falls in a heap if the mast breaks, so that cruel creature fell to earth. In that way, we descended into the fourth circle, taking in a greater width of the dismal bank that encloses every evil of the universe.

Fortune and Phlegyas- So we covered a large arc of the loathsome swamp, between the dry bank and its core, our eyes turned towards those who swallow its filth: we came at last to the base of a tower.

The Fallen Angels- And that lord, who had led me there, said to me: 'Have no fear, since no one can deny us passage: it was given us by so great an authority. But you, wait for me, and comfort and nourish your spirit with fresh hope, for I will not abandon you in the lower world.'

The Furies and the Heretics- Then he was silent. Each one was tearing at her breast with her claws, beating with her hands, and crying out so loudly that I pressed close to the poet, out of fear.

The Remorse of Orestes

Extra Reading Diary: Aesop's Fables

The Gods (Davies)- This fable plays on the word "herm" in Greek. Herms were statues of Hermes (called Mercury by the Romans) which served various purposes, honoring the dead sometimes, and sometimes in honor of the god Mercury himself. In this fable, the god Mercury contemplates his fate in the form of a statue!
More Gods (Smart)- This is an allegory that explains why we are so quick to see the faults of others and so slow to see our own!
Fables about People (Boothby)- A Housewife once a Hen possessed That every morning in her nest
Left a fine egg. Twice in the day the beldame wanted her to lay, And so her nourishment increas'd. Grown fat, to lay at all she ceas'd.
More Fables about People (L'Estrange)- There was a Stingy Narrow-Hearted Fellow, that had a Great deal of Choice Fruit in his Ground, but had not the Heart to touch any of it 'till it began to be Rotten.
Apes (L'Estrange)- Governours should be Men of Business, rather than Pleasure. There’s one great Folly in making an ill Choice of a Ruler, and another in the Acceptance of it; for it exposes Authority to Scorn.
Foxes (Smart)- "Ev'n so the fates decree." — "Then, sir, Have patience, whilst I do aver That he who like affections knows Is born with all the gods his foes. Since to that place you needs must speed,
Where all your ancestors precede, Why in the blindness of your heart Do you torment your noble part?"
More Foxes (L'Estrange)- The Fox finding 'twas all but Banter: "Well," says he, "'tis no Great Matter then; for the more Physicians, the more Danger, they say."
Lions (Boothby)- But weary, nature to restrain, Yet show of justice to maintain, He with this plot his courtiers snar'd: That he was sick, the King declar'd, That sleep and appetite he wanted, And he believ'd his breath was tainted.
A Lion and a Man (L'Estrange)- The Lion presently put his Claws into the Gaping of the Wood, and with one Lusty Pluck, made it give way, and out drops the Wedge, the Wood immediately Closing upon't; and there was the Lion caught by the Toes. The Woodman presently upon this, Raises the Country; and the Lion finding what a Streight he was in, gave one Hearty Twitch, and got his Feet out of the Trap, but left his Claws Behind him.
Lions and Asses (Smart)- Once on a time it came to pass, The Lion hunted with the Ass, Whom hiding in the thickest shade He there proposed should lend him aid, By trumpeting so strange a bray,
That all the beasts he should dismay And drive them o'er the desert heath Into the lurking Lion's teeth.
Asses (Boothby)- An Ass with envying eye surveyed A Courser in his war-parade, Curvetting to the trumpet's sound, With steps that scarcely touch'd the ground.
More Asses (L'Estrange)- While they were Jogging on thus upon the Way, out comes a Band of Highway-Men from the next Wood, and falls upon the Ass that carried the Treasure. They Beat, Wound and Rifle him, and so leave him, without so much as taking the least Notice of his Fellow.

Illustration by Billinghurst. 

Reading Diary B: Russian Folktales

A Witch Girl

The Witch Girl- “If you like,” says the Cossack, “I’ll show you Death! Call together all the Sotniks and Desyatniks as quickly as possible, and let’s go through the village and look for her.”



The Headless Princess- “It will be still more horrible this time. Here’s a hammer for you and four nails. Knock them into the four corners of the coffin, and when you begin reading the psalter, stick up the hammer in front of you.”

The Warlock- But the third was sharper than the other two. She declared she had taken off her cross, but in reality she kept it on. She took her seat and spun, but said prayers to herself all the while.

The Fox Physician- “Beginning to stir!” replied the fox, who then ate up the old woman, collected her bones and piled them up in a corner, and set to work to knead a hasty pudding.

The Fiddler in Hell- “It was money! I had much money: I gave none to the poor, two pots of it did I bury underground. See now, they are going to torment me, to beat me with sticks, to tear me with nails.”

The Two Friends- The bridegroom looked around. Where the graveyard had been, was now a piece of waste ground. No road was to be seen, no kinsmen, no horses. All around grew nettles and tall grass.

The Shroud- But after they had supped and lain down to sleep, all of a sudden the corpse tapped at the window and said: “Give me my shroud! Give me my shroud!”

The Coffin-Lid- “Do bring them to life, kinsman,” say their relatives. “We’ll give you half of all we possess.”

The Two Corpses- Presently up ran the first corpse—the one that had chased the soldier—and dashed into the chapel. Thereupon the one that was lying on the table jumped up, and cried to it: “What hast thou come here for?”

The Dog and the Corpse- “A bad piece of work, my son!” said the old woman. “The dog was disgusted at your not helping it. There it was fighting with the corpse—and you deserted it, and thought only of saving yourself! Now it will owe you a grudge for ever so long.”

The Soilder and the Vampire- “Why, in order that the bride and bridegroom might die. Tomorrow morning no one will be able to wake them. I alone know how to bring them back to life.”

Ready Diary A: Russian Folktales

The Dead Mother- A dead mother feed her baby even after she died but then the baby died as well. I am not sure how they baby died. They didn't really make it clear in the story.

The Treasure- She took a knife, and was beginning to cut the thread at the seam, when forth flowed blood, and the pope began to howl: “Oh! it hurts, mother, it hurts! Don’t cut mother, don’t cut!”

The Bad Wife- The Demon rushed to the window, stared with all his eyes, and heard everyone shouting at the top of his voice the words, “The Bad Wife!”

The Three Copecks- “A mere trifle. I’ll make the beastie stand on his hind legs while I hold him up by his forelegs, and you shall pile gold pieces around him, so as just to hide him—I shall be content with that!”

The Miser- Out jumped the poor man, crying: “What’s the good of disputing that way? Let the sabre belong to him who will cut this corpse’s head off!”

The Water Snake- They took the girl down to the pond, and dived right into the water with her. And there they all turned into men and women. The mother remained for some time on the dike, wailed a little, and then went home.

Friday- Well, what do you think? During the night, back came Mother Friday and took the dust out of that woman’s eyes, so that she was able to get about again.

Wednesday- Well, the young woman ran home, beat the pails together, and cried out beneath the window: “Wednesday’s children have been burnt at sea!”

The Leshy- Up came the priest, and cried, “Why, that’s my daughter.” Up came running the priest’s wife, and cried: “O thou dear child! Where hast thou been so long? I had no hope of ever seeing thee again.”

Dnieper, Volga, Dvina- Therefore is it that his flow is swifter than that of the Volga and the Dvina; therefore also is it that he has many rapids and many mouths.

Emilian the Fool- As soon as the fool had said this, the pails immediately went home of their own accord and became set in their places. The sisters-in-law looked and wondered.

Russian Building. 

Reading Diary A: King Arthur

The Drawing of the Sword- "The man is not here who shall lift out that sword, nor do I know where to find him. But this is my counsel — that two Knights be chosen, good and true men, to keep guard over the sword."
The Questing Beast- "I am Merlin, and it was I who came to you in the likeness of a boy. I know all things: how that you shall die a noble death, being slain in battle, while my end will be shameful, for I shall be put alive into the earth."
The Sword Excalibur- So when the maiden drew near Arthur saluted her and said, "Maiden, I pray you tell me whose sword is that which an arm is holding out of the water? I wish it were mine, for I have lost my sword."
The Round Table- "Sir," answered Merlin, "what you say as to her beauty is true, but, if your heart was not set on her, I could find you another as fair, and of more goodness, than she. But if a man's heart is once set it is idle to try to turn him."
The Passing of Merlin- They journeyed together to many places, both at home and across the seas, and the damsel was wearied of him, and sought by every means to be rid of him, but he would not be shaken off.
King Arthur and Morgan le Fay- The King answered little, but the mantle pleased him, and he was about to throw it over his shoulders when the lady of the lake stepped forward and begged that she might speak to him in private.
The Quest of the Holy Graal-What was the Holy Graal? In the stories it is the holy vessel used by our Lord and brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea. But in the older heathen Irish stories there is a mysterious vessel of a magical sort, full of miraculous food, and probably the French writers of the romances confused this with the sacred vessel brought from the Holy Land.
The King's Pilgrimage-"At your pleasure, Sir," answered the youth, whose heart rejoiced because he was going alone with the King.
The Coming of the Holy Graal-"Comfort yourself," said Sir Lancelot, "for we shall win for ourselves great honour, and much more than if we had died in any other wise, since die we must."

The Holy Grail appears at The Round Table

Extra Reading: Ballads of Robin Hood

Ballads of Robin Hood

Progress of Nottingham- ROBIN HOOD hee was and a tall young man, Derry derry down! And fifteen winters old, And Robin Hood he was a proper young man, Of courage stout and bold. Hey down derry derry down!
Little John- "So long as I'm able to handle my staff,To die in your debt, friend, I scorn."Then to it each goes, and followd their blows, As if they had been threshing of corn.
The Butcher- Good morrow, good fellow,' said jolly Robin,'What food hast? Tell unto me; And thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell, For I like well thy company.'
The Ranger- 'I’ll give thee this ring as a token of love, For bravely thou’st acted thy part; That man that can fight, in him I delight, And love him with all my whole heart.'
The Bold Pedlar- They sheathed their swords with friendly words,So merrilie they did agree; They went to a tavern, and there they dined, And bottles cracked most merrilie.
The Shepard- ‘My sword, which hangeth by my side, Is my command I know; Come, and let me taste of thy bottle, Or it may breed thee wo.’
Robin Hood's Delight- ‘Therefore fall on, or else be gone, And yield to us the day. It shall never be said that we were afraid Of thee, nor thy yeomen gay.’
The Pedlars- Then downe they flung their packes eche one, And stayde till Robin came. Quod Robin, ‘I said ye had better stayde; Good sooth, ye were to blame.
Allen a Dale- And when he came bold Robin before, Robin askt him courteously, ‘O hast thou any money to spare For my merry men and me?’ ‘I have no money,’ the young man said, ‘But five shillings and a ring; And that I have kept this seven long years, To have it at my wedding.
Rescuing Three Squires- This beggar-man had a coat on his back,’Twas neither green, yellow, nor red; Bold Robin Hood thought ’twas no disgrace To be in a beggar-man’s stead.

Boy dressed as Robin Hood, 2006.

Reading Diary B: Nursery Rhymes

Jingles- I recognize some of these nursery rhymes from my childhood. It's interesting how things get passed down.

Love and Matrimony- Jack and Jill. When I was a bachelor I lived by myself,And all the meat I got I put upon a shelf; The rats and the mice did lead me such a life that I went to London to get myself a wife.

Jack and Jill photo taken from the Untextbook. 

Natural History-I enjoy the rhymes and simple verses in these stories. 

Accumulative Stories- This is the house that jack built- I remember that from my childhood.

Relics- What are little girls made of, made of, made of;What are little girls made of?
"Sugar and spice, and all that's nice;
And that's what little girls are made of, made of."

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

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.

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.
To learn more about this photo click here.