Reaing Diary A: Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes

(Spider dangling from web, Source: Wikipedia)

Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes


I noticed how the story telling style changed throughout this unit from the more traditional “oral” style to a more typical prose. I must admit, I am more comfortable with the second part of the unit. The first part seems disconnected and can be confusing. I also seem to be missing context.



The Gifts of the Sky God


When I was reading this story, I was able to visualize the journey the men took to reach the sky God. I particularly like the story of the spider and how he could have prevented death. I think this would be a wonderful opportunity to try out a new story telling technique. I would like to tell this story from the spider’s point of view as a memoir. He could talk about how his friends died along the way, crushed by the sky wall or falling to the earth as animals. The spider will feel immense guilt and remorse that he was too late to save the people from death but will be determined to spread his knowledge as a shaman. In this way he tries to atone for his failure.





Story source: Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1914).

Reading Diary B: Cherokee Myths

READING B:

1. The Terrapin's Escape from the Wolves

It’s always fascinating to read tales of our things came to be. In this story the segments of a turtles carapace formed when he was dashed upon a rock. This is similar to the possum story in the first part of the unit.

2. The Ball Game of the Birds and Animals

I really enjoyed the part about the bat and birds coming together to make him wings.  It’s an interesting connection between birds and mammals.

3. The Race Between the Crane and the Hummingbird

I feel really sorry for the crane. He won fair and square. Awkward people need love too.

4. The Owl Gets Married

Lying for the sake of finding wife a wife seems to be a common theme in these two stories

5. The Huhu Gets Married

I’m guessing that a Huhu is an owl of some type?

6. The Uktena and the Ulûñsû'tï

7. Âgän-uni'tsï's Search For the Uktena

A snake growing out of his head…

All these stories about the Uktena make me wonder what could have inspired this story.  A diamond in his head.

8. The Red Man and the Uktena

(horned serpent petroglyph)

9. The Hunter and the Uksu'hï

10. The Ustû'tlï

11. The Snake Boy / The Snake Man

12. The Rattlesnake's Vengeance

13. The Bullfrog Lover

I've often thought a bullfrog's song sounds like repeated phrases. It's interesting how the bullfrog plays a dangerous role in these stories. I've never considered them ominous.

Reading Diary A: Myths of the Cherokee

READING A:

1.How the World Was Made

From sea to land, creation of mountains

Redness of crawfish and prohibition of eating them

Reasons for the angle of earth to sun. hands for time

North vs South hemisphere and reveral of seasons

Noctornal animals and evergreen trees

Fish=baby every 7 days. Then 1 per year
2. The First Fire

I loved the owl's stories
3. The Journey to the Sunrise

I wonder about the story of the tribe that buries surving wives alive. It seems like a unique enough custom that it should be easy to find out.

I'm impressed by the recognition of the sky as a dome.
4. Origin of the Pleiades and the Pine
5. The Moon and the Thunders
6. The Deluge

A great flood story. Warned by a dog. Has the major difference of dancing skeletons.
7. Tobacco and Strawberries
8. The Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting
9. How the Rabbit Stole the Otter's Coat

(otter)

10. Why the Possum's Tail Is Bare
11. How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit
I was surprised to see a story similar to the well-known fable of The Tortoise and Hare but with a unique twist. The terrapin tricks the rabbit by having other turtles show up at various points along the race routes to appear to be beating the rabbit.
12. Flint Visits the Rabbit
13. The Deer and the Rabbit

These stories are part of the Cherokee Myths unit. Story source: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).

Week 8: Curation

I learned a lot while researching for my storybook this weekend. Have you ever heard of the Irish Elk? They are pretty amazing creatures. I was unable to use them in my story because they went extinct long before my story was set. The males had antlers so large, it likely contributed to their extinction! Hey anything to impress the ladies.

(Skeleton of Irish Elk, Source Wikipedia)

Instead, i will be using the less impressive but still awesome red deer, the stags of which, are called harts.

I also found a page of Irish endearments that I would like to incorporate into my story.  I think when you add local dialog to a story it improves its authenticity.  It's really neat to explore these colloquialisms and try to puzzle out the pronunciations.

check it out here

I also found a great resource for writing dialog. Here is over 200 ways to say "said." Spice up that writing people. Along the same vein, the thesaurus is your friend.  Maybe I use it a bit much but I learn something new every time!

I have to say that I found bookmarks most helpful this week.  I finally started bookmarking all my comments and I look forward to following up on them this week. Happy blogging class!

#OU3043 #CURATION

Reflections: Looking Forward

I’ve identified several shortcomings in my Looking Backward post so I would like to use this post to describe how I plan to improve my learning experience.

Although I have a functional blog page, I would like to make it better. I would like to add more images, gifs, or videos to my posts, find a more flattering theme, or add widgets to the pages. I feel like there is a lot of room for creativity and this is a wonderful opportunity to get more familiar with online format.

My biggest failure this semester has involved time management. I must, must, must get a regular schedule going and start working ahead. I find myself continually procrastinating until the last possible minute on all of these assignments.  My goal is to not receive a single declaration reminder for the rest of the semester.

(The old me summed up in a meme, Source: Quickmeme.com)

(Plan of Attack, source: alexvermeer.com/getmotivated)

By working ahead, I will have the opportunity to complete more extra credit assignments. In particular, I want to focus on doing growth mindset challenges. I feel like this assignment in particular goes beyond the scope of a M&F class to help students improve their learning experience and their life. I have nothing to lose from doing these challenges and stand to gain something truly valuable.

(The Wise Words of Twain, Source: Pinterest)

I would also like to work on following up on comments. During Blog Commenting assignments, I often leave questions for the authors but rarely make a point of following up on them. I have made a new bookmark folder specifically for this reason and plan do a better job of this in the future. I really should have done this in the beginning as was suggested.

The reason I chose this class in particular was to improve my writing skills. So far I have come a long way as far as being comfortable and enjoying writing but I haven’t challenged myself. I feel like I have a lot of room for improvement and I want to take this opportunity to grow.  I’ve chosen a more challenging reading unit for the second half of the semester and plan to attempt some new techniques in my writing.  I have always enjoyed stories told from multiple viewpoints (continuous story told through difference voices) and I would like to try a multiple point of view story.  I would also like to vary my narrative voice in other ways such as choosing an inanimate object or less obvious character to tell a story. I also think that some of these stories would translate well into a continuous stream of consciousness story. I think that a memoir type story or interview format could be fun as well.

Reading Plan

I’m really excited about the upcoming reading units but for many different reasons. 

The Native American unit will give me a chance to explore some of the folklore from my father’s side of the family.  My Nana died when I was quite young but can still recall the cadence of her voice when she told me stories.  I’m often jealous of my older brother, who remembers her much more clearly and even learned some Cherokee from her before she passed. My mother’s side of the family is Muscogee Creek but I didn’t find a unit from that tribe so I plan to ready the Myths of the Cherokee during week 9. I was surprised to see a story similar to the well-known fable of The Tortoise and Hare but with a unique twist.  I will focus on Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes unit for week 10 because the stories sound particularly interesting to me. How the Hunter Destroyed the Snow and Why Deer Never Eat Men immediately caught my attention.

There are so many units I would like to read during weeks 11 and 12.  Since my storybook is based in a small Irish village and deals with fairy creatures of legend, this unit is a gold mine.  When I first perused the unTextbook, The Vision of Maconglinney in the Celtic Fairy Tales II unit grabbed my attention. While reading the story several months ago, I began to formulate a retelling of my own. I would love to include that unit just so I can write that story. My second choice is Emerson’s Welsh Fairy Tales unit.  This unit seems to have a wealth of fairy stories that will help me gain a better understanding of my characters.

During week 13, I want to continue on my fairy tale trend but I’m having trouble deciding on a unit. While browsing the unTextbook I came across a few Czech fairy tales that I really enjoyed but I also planed on reading Crane’s Brothers Grimm.  I think that I will leave this decision in limbo until later in the semester. Speaking of limbo… I want try something completely different by reading Dante during week 14. I’ve heard so much about Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy but I’ve never set eyes on it myself. I really want to challenge myself with this reading. This is a perfect piece to analyze and I think I will benefit from reading it.

(Wikimedia Commons)

I can’t wait to get started.

Reflections: Looking Back

This class has really broadened my technological horizons, though that’s not saying much. I had no idea how to create a blog, not even a simple one, and was unfamiliar with Google sites. Now I make blog entries several times a week and I’m learning how to enrich my posts with images and hyperlinks.  Things I have learned from the MF class have helped me in other classes as well. I now use bookmarks for my other classes and the curation exercises have helped prepare me for the presentations required in my capstone class.

I have to say that the reading assignments have been one of my most favorite parts of the class. I’m already an avid reader and have always had an affinity for fairy/folk tales.  The reading assignments have offered me a low-stress opportunity to indulge both of these interests and I love the variety of stories available in the unTextbook.

I have continually been surprised by the diversity of backgrounds among the students of this class.  For once, not everyone in my class is pre-med or a biology major. It is so refreshing to learn about the different roots and aspirations of my classmates. I have also enjoyed noticing the reflection of individual personalities within the creative writings of other students. I enjoy the learning about others through their introduction post but I wish there was more back and forth between us.  I feel that more extensive dialog is necessary to really get to know another person. With this class, I feel like I get a glimpse into the lives of others but I don’t get to make the types of connections in traditional classrooms.

I’m ashamed to say that I still do not have a set schedule for this class. Readings are done in snatches of time between classes or late at night after I’ve put my son to bed. Likewise, I write stories late in the night or very early in the morning before the rest of the house is awake. I continue to make adjustments and try to find something that works the best to balance all my classes with work and family time. Much of my writing is done at home but at school, I have two favorite spots.  If the weather is nice, I drive down to Reeve’s Park and find a nice shady place to sit. Being outside really helps me focus and relax. I the weather is not so accommodating, I curl up in a comfortable chair in the library and try to tune out the voices of other students.

Although I haven't completed many growth mindset challenges this semester, the messages have stuck with me.  I have worked hard to reframe my successes and failures in such a way that inspires growth instead of stagnation or resignation.  I continually remind myself that by returning to school, I've already overcome my past failure. Being a returning student doesn't make me a failure. It shows my hard work and determination to return despite obstacles.  

(Growth Mindset Meme, Souce: Afineparent.com)

I’m really excited about and proud of the work I’m doing with my storybook.  I use the weekly readings to learn about different storyteller voices and imagine how I might incorporate different techniques into my own writing. I can’t wait to share the finished product with my son although I doubt I will ever get him to stay still long enough!

(Personal Photo of my son Garrett)

Yes he jumped of mere seconds after I snapped this photo but my husband made an epic "dad save." No children were harmed in the taking of this photo. :)

Storytelling Week 7: The Misbegotten Love of Emiong

Why the Bat Flies at Night

Once there were two friends, Oyot the bush rat and Emiong the bat. Everyday while out hunting, they would stop to have lunch together.  They would take turns cooking the noon meal and Emiong’s dishes were always the best.  While they ate they would speak of their adventures and everyday lives.  Oyot spoke often of his wife, but not kindly. Emiong couldn’t understand how someone with such a wonderful wife could speak so poorly of her.  Emiong himself had no wife and was often overcome with jealously for his friend. 

One day on his way home, Emiong came upon Oyot’s wife. She was crying in her garden. Emiong asked what was wrong and she told him the cruel things Oyot had said to her.  Emiong’s jealously soared and he new he must do something to stop Oyot’s cruelty.  He felt that Oyot’s wife deserved better and perhaps he could provide it.

(Rat/bat love, Source: Funnyjunk.com)

The next day when Emiong and Oyot met for lunch he felt he must act. Poison would be to obvious and too gentle a fate. Instead Emiong devised a plan based on something he knew well: jealously.  Oyot had always envied Emiong’s superior skill at the cook fire and he would use this to his advantage. 

As a token of their long friendship, Emiong offered to teach Oyot the secret to his wonderful soups Emiong told Oyot that the dishes gained their flavor from Emiong’s own body. He would boil himself in the broth and that was the source of the rich flavor.  Oyot was incredulous but Emiong had expected that and prepared a kettle of warm water to demonstrate his technique. Oyot believe that Emiong had actually bathed in the boiling water and remained unharmed.  Emiong presented the soup, which he had secretly prepared earlier and Oyot was convinced. 

That evening Oyot returned home to his wife with his new found knowledge.  He told her to go out to the garden and gather some vegetables for the stew he would prepare.  Oyot’s wife obediently went to her garden and found Emiong.  Emiong told her of his plan to get rid of Oyot and begged her to run away with him.  Oyot’s wife was aghast. Perhaps her husband was harsh but she loved him.  How could Emiong do such a thing to his friend. 

She ran back into the house to stop her husband but was too late.  Her grief was great but she knew she must tell the King immediately.  Upon hearing the sad tale decreed that the bat should be hunted down and imprisoned.

Confused and hurt Emiong ran away. From that day on he lived as fugitive and could only venture out at night.

Author's Note: This story was adapted from Why the Bat Flies at Night, which is part of the Nigerian Folk stories unit.  I did not deviate much from the original storyline, but I wanted to provide some motivation and depth to the characters.  When I read this story, I had many questions as to why Emiong felt the way he did about Oyat. It seems that Oyat should have been the jealous one in the relationship due to Emiong's superior cooking skills.  I also wanted to make Emiong's wife a larger part of the story.  As with most disputes among male friends, I decided a woman should be involved. I used a third person storytelling style consistent with the original story but chose to exclude dialog.

Story source: Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910).

Reading Diary A: Nigerian Folk Stories

Reading Diary: Nigerian Folk Stories

READING A:

1. Of the Pretty Stranger Who Killed the King

Never marry a stranger, no matter how pretty she may be.

This story cautions many things, be careful of the enemies you make and never trust a pretty face, come to mind.

2. Why the Bat Flies by Night

This story was interesting. I wonder why the bat was jealous of the mouse. I could probably create a back-story from that. Does the bat feel remorse for killing his friend? Did the bat love the mouse’s wife?

3. The Disobedient Daughter Who Married a Skull

I think it’s interesting to note the universal human experience seen in this story. With minor changes, this story could fit into any culture. Disagreements between parent and child are common and marriage is a particular sticking point. Here we see the suggestion that a child defer to the wisdom of his or her parents in matters beyond their experience.

4. The King Who Married the Cock's Daughter

Um…I wondered while reading this story if Adiauen was actually a hen. I think I could come up with far better reasons against marrying an animal beside jealousy and heartache. Interesting though.

5. The Woman, the Ape, and the Child

6. The Fish and the Leopard's Wife


(leopard)

The mental images from this story are a bit disturbing. I suppose it is a way of explaining the percieved vulnerability of fish.

7. Why the Worms Live Underneath the Ground

8. The Elephant and the Tortoise

9. Why a Hawk Kills Chickens

10. Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky

11. Why the Cat Kills Rats

Story source: Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910).