Week 10 Storytelling: Raven

Before there were humans on Earth, there were Animals. Animals like Bear roamed the silent forests, Snake slithered across fallen leaves, Beaver built sturdy dams, and so on. One such Animal was Raven. Raven was different from some of the other Animals because he could create things. Beaver might have been able to create dams, but Raven could create plants, new animals, and anything else he wanted. 

When Raven first started creating, he created grass. Before, the land was covered in dirt as far as the eye could see. Raven found this rather boring, and wanted something better. So, Raven landed on the dirt and used his beak to pull at it, as if pulling something out of it. After a few tries, Raven pulled up a single blade of fresh, green grass. He continued this way for years and years until grass grew in most places.

(Agriculture Grass on Wikimedia)

After creating many types of plants, Raven decided to create something more. He started small and created a caterpillar. He did this by taking a small bit of wet clay from the ground and wrapping it in a dark green leaf from one of the trees. He flapped his wings over the small form and watched as it started to wriggle with life. Over the next few days, Raven watched the caterpillar closely, studying its movements. 

(Papilio machanon Caterpillar on a leaf from Wikimedia)

Eventually, Raven wanted to create something bigger. Starting with tiny mice, Raven began creating all sorts of animals. Bears, snakes, beavers, and more were created day after day. It took many years, but Raven created all the different animals, one animal at a time. This filled Raven with great pride, and he spent many happy years among his animal creations.

One day, Raven decided his life could be better if he gave some of the other animals the ability to think like he did. Raven chose one animal of each species, and granted them a sort of higher thought. These animals became known by their names, Bear, Snake, Beaver, and so on, just like Raven. All of these higher animals made up a great court which operated under Raven. And so it was for many millennium. 

(Kamchatka Brown Bear from Wikimedia)

Years and years later, Raven was flying through a forest that rested on the edge of a beach when he saw something strange. A large pod had been hanging from a vine, similar to when caterpillars transformed, but much larger. Raven flew closer to investigate. As he drew nearer, he noticed the large pod was broken open at the bottom, and beneath it in the sand was a strange creature.

Raven landed on the sand beside the creature and looked over it curiously. Being the creator of all other creatures, Raven was confused because he certainly did not remember creating this one. While he was pondering, Raven remembered something. Using his wing, he lifted his beak which suddenly transformed into a type of mask and was lifted away from his face. It had been thousands of years since Raven had changed from his bird form, and he had forgotten what his other form felt and looked like.

Now that he was transformed, Raven could see this strange creature very much looked like his non-bird form. Raven shook the creature awake. When it woke up, it seem dazed and unsure of where it was. After talking for a bit, Raven called the creature Man, and decided this man was to be the first of many. 

(People on pixabay)

Over the next few years, Raven taught Man how to navigate the world they lived in. Raven even created more men and some women so that Man could have a community. Raven and Man went on this way, teacher and student, until the day Man could teach what he had learned to the other people.

As humanity expanded, Raven was always there watching, proud of the people, animals, and plants he had created.

(Planet Earth by Dawn Hudson on publicdomainpictures.net)

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Author's note: In the original story, Raven creates all sorts of animals, plants, and non-living things. He finds Man on the ground one day, where Man had broken out of a pod. Raven then takes Man and creates many animals for him to hunt and eat, and explains which animals are good to catch. Raven eventually makes Woman out of clay for Man. More men and women are created and they all live together while Raven continues to teach Man different things about the world.  

I wanted to tell more about the world before Man came to be. In that way, I guess this is sort of a prequel to the original story. I also wanted to challenge myself to keep the story shorter this time, instead of right at the max word limit. 

Bibliography: Bibliography: Alaskan Legends Unit from Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911). (Web Source)

Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends Unit, Part B

My favorite story from this reading was "The Land of the Dead." I thought the journey through the Land of the Dead in the story was really interesting. The idea that people who did certain things in life, like hit dogs or pull up grass, have punishment like things related to that after death is something that I think can be found in different legends. I know I have heard different ideas about hell and how people would be punished according to their wrong-doings on Earth, similar to this story. In the Alaskan legend though, all of these different people were in the same after-life together.

I think this story could be interesting to re-tell from the perspective of someone who has just died, similar to the original. Walking through the land and seeing those who have died before them.

(The Ghost Town of Falk by Bureau of Land Management on flickr)

Bibliography: "The Land of the Dead" from Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911). (Web Source)

Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends Unit, Part A

I enjoyed how all of the stories were about Raven and the different things he created in the world. The unifying theme helped keep my interest as I read. Corvids are my favorite kinds of birds, so I like that Raven was the main focus in these different stories.

The first, longer, story about the creation of Man was really interesting to read, and I think I would maybe want to focus on Raven and Man if I choose to use these stories for my retelling. I'm not sure what sort of story I would want to tell with them, though... Maybe I would make up a story explaining the creation of something that was not covered in this unit.

(Visit From A Raven by Ingrid Taylar on flickr)

Bibliography: Alaskan Legends Unit from Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911). (Web Source)

Week 9 Storytelling: The Man Who Wished to Die

Once there was a man named Sentaro. He was a fairly well-off man, living comfortably in a large home by himself. He had inherited all of his wealth from his father. Sentaro spent his time as he pleased since he never had to worry about working to earn a living.

When he was about thirty-two, Sentaro started to feel sadder and sadder about his life. Living all alone with not a care in the world had once been the most magnificent thing in the world. But as he aged, Sentaro found he was more and more depressed, until the day he realized he very much wished to die.

“Why should I live,” he muttered to himself, “if all I do is spend my days alone. Without the comfort of any living soul. This life of mine is not truly living.”

He wondered to himself if it might just be easier to end his loneliness, pain, and suffering by ending his own life. Surely he could find some easy way to do it that would also be painless for him. He had heard stories of people in similar states that had done similar things.

Sentaro decided he would travel around and see what he could find out about these people, and if any of their stories could help him in his quest.

After a week or so, Sentaro had been through a couple of different villages, but no one had shared any information with him about people in his state who had come before him. Feeling even more defeated, Sentaro found his way to a local shrine. 

(Oomatono Tsunoten Shinto Shrine in Inagi on wikimedia)

The shrine was a simple one, it was obviously kept clean and there were only a few offerings there. Sentaro knelt down at the shrine and covered his head and prayed.

He prayed for seven hours, asking that whoever might hear him would give him advice about what to do. Sentaro still very much wanted to die, but he was unsure of how or what might happen to him afterwards.

At the end of the seventh hour, someone appeared beside Sentaro. Sentaro was startled and jumped to his feet in surprise. In front of him stood a man staring at him.

“I have heard your desires, and they are very selfish indeed. What man shall request help in killing himself, and to ask as if to absolve yourself of the blame? Do you now know what death is? Cold clinging to you until you draw your last breath? It is truly an unpleasant thing if it is brought about before its time.”

Sentaro listened to this person, and at the end he felt upset with the person. He stormed off, not looking back at the shrine, all the while muttering to himself about he was not a selfish man and he knew what was best for himself.

As he was walking back to the nearest village through the woods, he stepped onto a venomous snake. Before Sentaro could even react, the snake lashed out and bit his foot. Sentaro stumbled back and landed on his back on the trail. For a moment, his entire foot felt like it was on fire. Quickly after that, his foot felt ice cold, and that coldness started making its way up his leg, down his other leg, up his torso, down his arms, up his neck, and into his face. As Sentaro felt the cold wash over him, he became sleepier and sleepier. Letting himself embrace the cold touch of death, Sentaro closed his eyes.

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(Black Background on publicdomainpictures.net)

With a start, Sentaro woke up. He found himself no longer in the forest, and instead somewhere where everything was completely dark. He wandered around for hours, thinking eventually the sun would come up, or he might stumble across someone else in this place. But he found nothing. The sun never rose.

Sentaro spent years this way. For the first few, he found it easy to entertain himself with singing songs, telling himself stories, or reenacting some of his favorite things. After a while, however, he could no longer pretend that he was not incredibly alone and bored.

Even after this acceptance of being alone, Sentaro continued existing this way for many more years. Eventually it got to the point where Sentaro spent most of his time screaming into the black void, cursing everything he could think of.

One day, after having spent almost three hundred years in the black space, Sentaro laid down and closed his eyes. Trying to sleep, to die again, he wasn’t sure.

When he opened his eyes, though, he was back at the small shrine where he had met the other person who warned him about an untimely death. Sentaro jumped up and looked around, confused, but overjoyed.

He left the temple and headed back to where he was from, careful to avoid any snakes. As he walked, he had time to reflect. Sentaro’s dream version of death had surely only been a manifestation of Sentaro’s greatest fear and unhappiness, being isolated and alone. He decided, that is not what he wanted from the rest of his life. And he made a promise to himself that we would reach out to others, make friends, and maybe one day even have a family with a son of his own.

(Light Road Path on maxpixel)

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Author's note: In the original story, Sentaro is a man who does Not want to die. He seeks out a shrine and Jofuku to ask for the Elixir of Life so that he might live forever. Jofuku gives Sentaro a dream where he lives for three hundred years. After living for so long, Sentaro wants to finally die. He is eaten by a shark, but at the last minutes cries for help because he did not want to die that way. After waking up, Jofuku explains to Sentaro that he does not really want to live forever, but he needs to live a full human-length life, and then he can die satisfied. 

I wanted to write a story about a man who Did wish to die, but in the end realizes he really wants to open up to people to fill his life. 

Bibliography: "The Man Who Did Not Want to Die" from Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908). (Web Source)

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki), Part B

From this reading, I enjoyed the short story of "The Goblin of  Adachigahara." This story was about a human-eating goblin that lived near a small community. Everyone in the community knew the goblin was there, so they stayed away from that area at night. One night there was a priest that was wandering around and happened upon the goblin's house. Since the goblin was in the form of an old woman, he asked her to let him stay and she complied. Later, the goblin went out and warned the priest not to look in the back room. He did, of course, and found the room filled with bones of people the goblin had eaten. He fled from the house and outran the goblin so he was not eaten.

This story was short(er than some others) and I enjoyed it a lot.I think it's different than how I would expect the story to go, mostly because when a character does what they are told Not to do, I expect them to have consequences. This story is different because the priest looked in the back room, which he was told not to do, and instead of being eaten by the goblin, she escapes from her. I think that makes this less of a story about "do are you are told," and more of a story about "be diligent in prayer" maybe? Because the priest says he was able to escape the goblin because of his prayers to Buddha.

(Dwelling on pixabay)

Bibliography: "The Goblin of Adachigahra" from Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908). (Web Source)

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki), Part A

I liked how this reading was comprised of a few number of longer stories. My favorite out of the three was "The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die." I liked this story because I think fear of death is something most, if not all, people have experienced at some point. I was not expecting it all to be a dream at the end, but I think I like that ending better than Sentaro being eaten by a shark. Because it was a dream, Sentaro was able to feel like he had lived three hundred years and also feel like he died when he did not want to. Those were both important for him to experience so that Jofuku could tell Sentaro that what he really wanted/needed was to live his normal length live as best as he possibly could.

I like the idea of someone learning what they actually want by dreaming about what they don't want. Maybe that can be what I focus my storytelling on this week. Someone who is convinced they know what they want, but then someone gives them the ability to see just that, and they don't want it anymore. The plot reminds me a little of A Christmas Carol in that way.

(Lyrics from "Fix You" by Coldplay, graphic made by me)

Bibliography: "The Man Who Did Not Want to Die" from Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908).

(Web Source)

Week 8 Review

A review of a review week? Absolutely.

Graphic

(Bluetooth from Present & Correct Twitter, from the MythFolklore Class Blogspot)

I thought this graphic and the Wikipedia page about Bluetooth was interesting and kind of hilarious. Who would think to link a Viking King and modern technology? Jim Kardach, that's who. The Viking King Harald Bluetooth united two tribes so they could come together to be one cohesive kingdom. Kardach was reading a book about this when the technology to link phones to computers was being developed. He suggested the name Bluetooth as an allusion to the Viking king, because he saw the linkage of computer to phone as similar to what Harald Bluetooth did with the different countries. 

Then, using a bind rune of H and B, for Harald Bluetooth's initials, was the icing on the cake. Now it is the iconic symbol for Bluetooth. 

Video

How to Build a Fiction World - Kate Messner on Youtube

I chose this video because I am constantly learning new techniques to build fantasy/fiction worlds. The idea has always interested me since I was a child with a huge imagination. As I get older, I find ways I can use worlds, such as in storytelling for this class or even when I am being the DM for my D&D group. This video gave a list of things to consider and flush out, some of which I definitely forget in the world making process. After watching the video, I have a burst of inspiration to go create something fantastic! I definitely recommend it, and the longer TedEd lesson that even gives helpful "worksheets" to build your own world! 

I plan to use this lesson for myself, and maybe I will document what I come up with!

Week 8 Progress

Looking Back

So, looking back, I am pleased with the work I have done. However, I have absolutely been horrible with time management. I have advantage of the non grace period far too often for my liking. I had wanted to work way ahead this semester for this class, but life got in the way very quickly. If I'm looking right, I'm about 9 points behind where I want to be to be on track. My hope is that this week I can do some extra credit, as well as doing some in the weeks to come. This is will put me back on track for the A I want, as well as give me a little more of a cushion. 

Looking Forward

A huge pitfall I want to avoid is doing assignments last minute. I think I enjoy them less when I feel rushed, so it's also hurting me in that way. I'm trying to get some real structure started in this next week or so. Here's to that!

(Keep Going by Andy Wright on flickr)

Sometimes I just need someone to tell me, "You got this. Keep going."

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Feedback In

I feel like I've gotten some good comments on my posts, especially when it comes to me project. The comments on my project have really let me know how clear my story was coming across and when I needed to add things like terms and definitions. Some comments have been feel-good fluff, but I don't really mind those, haha!

Feedback Out

For the feedback I have been providing, I have been trying to get a good mix of compliments and "feedforward" in each longer comment. I think I have been doing all right? I guess I won't know unless someone tells me personally. I think as long as I have helped one person with their writing, I can be happy with that. 

Blog Comments

I feel like there are a few people I feel like I know a little bit. Either because I've commented on their posts multiple times, or they have commented on mine, or both! I did know a few people in this class beforehand, so obviously I know them. :) There are definitely a couple people whose writing I really enjoy, and I'd like to talk to them more. 

Looking Forward

I think I'm pretty happy with my blog at this point. There are changes to my project I'd like to make though. I talked about those in my project specific post, though. As far as looking forward to comments I will make on other's posts, I feel good with how I'm commenting so far. I don't think too much will change. 

Image

I chose this image because sometimes I have a difficult time choosing what sort of feedback I should leave for someone. This sort of linear "if this, then that" type of graphic is incredibly useful for me. I think I will probably use this a lot more now that I have it. 

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Looking Back

Overall I have really liked the reading and writing assignments. Time management has still been my problem (unfortunately), but something I didn't really think would be a problem has been my story length. I tend to write way too much! I think it's because I really, truly love creative story-telling, and I get carried away fairly easily. Editing and cutting word counts back has been a pretty big time consumer for me.

My favorite reading so far has been Cupid and Psyche. I liked how the readings for Part A and Part B were part of a larger story, and I have always had a soft spot for Greek mythology. This story gave me a lot to think about as far as storytelling goes.

I think my reading notes have been helping me with my writing, mostly because I write out details I want to remember when it comes time to re-tell the story. I definitely could go deeper with them, I am just not sure what I would include.

My favorite re-telling that I have done is definitely retelling the story of Callisto. In Ursa Major, I got to explore a completely alternative ending to a story that didn't sit well with me. I kind of felt a little empowered writing the story, too. It felt like a way for me to stand up and take back something and turn it into something a little inspiring (at least to me).

As far as my Project goes, I have a lot on my plate. I've been playing with ideas about how to tackle the branching aspect, and I'm not sure I've gotten it down yet. For Story 1, I made it so you could follow three different characters, but only one had the meat of the story. I think when I revise it I might change a lot and make it so you only follow Erwin, but there are more branches within his story. Then, moving forward, each story will focus on one character and different paths they can take.

I'm still pretty satisfied with my overall website, especially considering I had no clue how to operate OU Create or Wordpress before starting. Maybe in the future I can delve deeper into customizing it. For my story's appearance, I have been slowly learning some HTML so I can (hopefully) put in some pictures in the future!

Images

(Patch for The Golden Arrow, designed by me, ft. arc archery arrow)

I think this is my favorite image I have used so far, mostly because I made it. I did use a transparent bow and arrow from somewhere else, but everything else I did in Word! Ideally, I would have been able to use Photoshop or something similar in quality, but Microsoft Word is all I have for the moment, haha! I love creating things, whether its stories, art, music, ect. So creating a patch to fit in with my Ursa Major story was really fun for me. I know it's not the nicest looking, but I am still proud. 

Looking Forward

So I talked a bit about this in my looking back section, but I'd like to find a good strategy for my reading notes that would help me go a little deeper into the notes. I feel like I just skim the surface and remember a lot on my own later, but I'd like to write more of it out. 

For my project, I also talked about a different set up for my branching stories moving forward, and I can't wait to start implementing that. Possibly as soon as this week's project revisions! 

I am also just looking forward to the rest of the semester in general. I am excited to have my story finalized, or at least to the point that I'm just making small revisions/adding cool new things like pictures. I think by the end, I will have something amazing that I can really be proud to show off!

Week 7 Storytelling: Cycles

Once there was a small village on the very outer edge of a great kingdom. In this humble village, lived two boys who were best of friends, Benjamin and Raphael. Both boys were born into poor farming families, as were most of the people in the small village. One of their neighbors had a beautiful garden of chrysanthemums that they loved to play in. All the neighbor asked is that the boys help with watering the flowers.

(Different colors of Chrysanthemum  x morifolium from Wikipedia)

One day, as the boys were entering the garden to play, they saw the neighbor had some kin over. They went to the back door of the house and peered inside. The neighbor saw them peeking and invited them in. Inside, the boys saw the loveliest girl they had ever seen. The neighbor introduced her as Iliana, a niece from far away. Both boys were immediately enamored with the girl, and each set a goal in his mind that we would marry her.

The boys left the house and set off for the river they fetched water from for the garden. As they walked, they talked.

“What a lovely niece our neighbor has,” remarked Raphael.

“For sure. She is the most beautiful girl I have laid my eyes on,” commented Benjamin.

And though they were only nine years at the time, each boy recognized that his friend sought to marry the lovely Iliana.

As they reached the river, they made sure to step carefully, for the wet stones on the bank were awful slippery. They each filled their bucket silently at first. Then, Benjamin turned to Raphael and asked him a question.

“Surely, my dearest friend, you do not plan to grow up and marry the girl. For you must know, I do love her dearly.”

Raphael looked at his friend, shocked he would comment on their situation. He straightened up with his bucket and stood tall and proudly before answering.

“Surely, my most loyal companion, it is not /you/ who seeks to marry the sweet girl. For you must know, it is I that truly loves her.”

At this, a scuffle broke out. The two boys pushed and shoved the other, until Benjamin’s foot slipped out from under him. He fell, and a loud crack sounded as his head hit the rocks below him. Raphael watched as his friend lay too still for his comfort.

Scared of what would happen, Raphael took his bucket, returned to the neighbor’s house, mumbled something about feeling sick, and went home.

The next day the village constable came through the town, alerting everyone that a young boy had slipped and fell to his death by the river. Raphael was overcome with grief and guilt, but he did not say a word to anyone.

(Rocky River on pexels.com)

Many years passed, Raphael was now twenty years of age, and living in his own small house in the village.

The beautiful Iliana had been wed a few years prior, to a wealthy knight from the kingdom. She was back at the neighbor’s house, visiting while she waited for the birth of her child.

Raphael was behind the neighbor’s house, in the garden, for he helped the neighbor a lot in their old age. As he worked the soil, he saw none other than Benjamin walking down the dirt path towards the house. His friend looked just as young as the day he died, and Raphael was terrified. He watched as the ghostly boy entered the house.

Raphael made his way to the front of the house, where he ran into his neighbor.

“Neighbor, tell me, where is the boy who entered the house?”

The neighbor looked at Raphael in confusion.

“What boy? There was no boy. I am off to the market to buy some water, for my niece has gone into labor, and will birth her child at any moment!”

Before Raphael could insist there had been a boy, a midwife poked her head out of the door.

“There be no need for water, sir. The baby is already here!”

They all rushed inside to see the child. Raphael looked at the newborn, who unmistakably looked like Benjamin as a babe.

Shaken to his core, Raphael left the house. As he walked home, he pondered the irony that his friend was born wealthier, and to the lovely Iliana, no less! 

(Village House on Wikimedia)

Many more years passed by. Raphael eventually married and had a son of his own.

Sometimes, the lovely Iliana would visit her aging uncle and her son and Raphael’s son would play together in the garden.

It was one such day when the two boys went racing to the river to fetch water for the garden.

Raphael sat with his neighbor and Iliana and talked about days gone by. After a while, Iliana’s son returned to the garden, looking pale with a bucket in his hands, but no water.

And no sign of Raphael’s son.

Raphael locked eyes with the young boy, and recognized a familiar fear, a familiar guilt.

Rushing to the river, Raphael thought back to all those years ago when something similar had happened.

Sure enough, on the bank of the river, he found the small, still body of his son. The man wept and grieved and recognized that fate was truly cruel, indeed.

(Garden Chrysanthemum Cluster on maxpixels)

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Author's Note: In the original story, everything is from the perspective of Ma, a boy who lived in the village. There was a man, old Wang, who kept a chrysanthemum garden. One day there was a water-carrier who wanted to help him get some water. Old Wang did not want the help but the man was persistent. They argued and old Wang accidentally pushed the water-carrier and he fell to his death. Old Wang went home and never said anything. Years later, the spirit of the water-carrier entered the home of a wealthy woman about to give birth, and he was born again as her child. The child grew up, and was trying to throw a stone at a pigeon one day, when it hit old Wang, and killed him. The boy, like old Wang in the past, did not say anything. 

For my story, I wanted to keep the same sort of repeating pattern. Accidental death leading to another accidental death later. I changed the setting and characters to make the story more my own and to also give a little more insight and irony to what was happening. 

Bibliography: "Retribution" from The Chinese Fairy Book, ed.  by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H.  Martens (1921)

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales, Part B

Part B of this unit was just as awesome as part A! This might be my favorite unit so far, in fact. For today, the two stories I wanted to focus on the most are "How the River God's Wedding Was Broken Off" and "Retribution."

How the River God's Wedding Was Broken Off

I liked this story because it was similar to a trickster story, only the one doing the tricking was not meant to be a "bad" character. Instead, it was a good character who was actively helping another character. The bad people, who were sacrificing girls to the River god were punished and the one's that weren't learned their lesson. I think this would be a fun story to retell, but with a different setting. Perhaps they all work together and the "girl" is someone who they give all of the hard tasks to. Then the person in charge sees what they are doing and makes them do it instead? Haha, maybe. I like that there was a sense of justice with the end, but it also felt a little like a parent punishing you for your own good, in my opinion.

Retribution

I really liked this story because of its parallel structures. The first man accidentally killed the water-carrier, who was then reborn wealthy. Then, the reborn water-carrier accidentally killed the old man next door. Both of them hid from what they did and let it seem like the other fell on their own. It implies maybe the older man will be reborn, possibly in higher standing, and may go on to accidentally kill someone who will be reborn and so on. I am a sucker for parallel story telling!

Edit: After re-reading the story a bit more carefully, I realized it was actually the older man, old Wang, who accidentally killed the water-carrier. Then, the water-carrier reborn accidentally killed old Wang. The younger man, Ma, was actually just witnessing everything from his house. This makes the story even more interesting to me, since the same two people were accidentally killing each other.

Chrysanthemum Blossom Bloom Flower Plant Macro

Public Domain

(Blossom Plant Bloom Chrysanthemum Macro Flower on maxpixel)

Bibliography: "Retribution" and "Hot the River God's Wedding Was Broken Off" from The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921). (Web Source)