Week 3: Curation

I've finally decided on my storybook topic so all of my finds this week are related to it.

Have you ever heard of monster wiki? I found a lot of general information about the monsters in Irish folklore here.

Like the Kelpie (aka Waterhorse) who can transform into a beautiful man or woman and lure unsuspecting mortals to their watery graves. It's also thought that the lock ness is a kelpie. When I searched for images of the kelpie, I found this really cool sculpture in Falkirk.



Photo of Kelpie sculpture in Falkirk, Scotland by Natasha Cherkashina Source: Flikr

I also found a lot of information on the website luminarium.org. There are tons of links with everything from Irish food and dance, to a Field Guide to Irish Fairies.  This is great site to check out if you every wanted to learn more about Irish traditions.

I also searched for advice in writing short stories and came across a list from Kurt Vonnegut. If you've ever read any Vonnegut, then you know this guy know his stuff.

Here are his top 8 Tips

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things–reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them–in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

From Openculture.com

He talks about a lot of things here that I hadn't considered and I plan to use a lot of his advice, especially 3, 4, and 6.

Week 3 Review

When browsing the Course Announcements page I came across the "Word from Mythology" page about Atlas.  It was really interesting to read about the origin of the word atlas as a collection of maps but it also brought to mind another usage. I love this myth because of the personal connection I have with it every day in anatomy.  The first cervical vertebrae in humans and other animals is called atlas because it supports the skull.  Everytime I see this bone, I picture Atlas holding up a massive head. Lol.  A little silly I know. So there is another meaning for the word Atlas that connects wonderfully to the myth!

Atlas in the fountain at Castle Howard                            The first cervical vertebrae in humans Source: Wiki

A Boy's Adventures in the Land of the Fae: Brainstorming Styles

In my storybook, I want to combine several ideas that interest me.  First I want to compose stories that I can share with my son. Second, I want there to be an overarching moral that teamwork and intelligence are the best tools in any battle.  Third, I really like Irish mythology and what child doesn't like monsters and fairies?  The main protagonist will be a young boy who lives with his mother, father, and grandfather. I want him to meet a different creature in each story and, with the help of his family and his wits, defeat them.

First Fairy Encounter: Changelings

The devil exchanging a baby against a changeling, early 15th century, by Martino di Bartolomeo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Inspirations: The Stolen Child by W.B. Yeats & Jamie Freel and the Young Lady: A Donegal Tale. by Miss Letitia MacLintock

When I was reading the stolen child, the beautiful imagery painted a picture in my mind.  I could see a curious child, lured away by a beautiful fairy, walking through the gorgeous Irish hills towards his fate, bathed in the glowing moonlight.  I can imagine a village, devastated by the mysterious loss of several children. But what I don't get from this poem is a story line.

That's exactly what I got when I read Jaime Freel's story. In this tale, the loyal Jamie seeks out the fey in a nearby castle. During the night's revelry, they kidnap a beautiful young girl and replace her with a changeling.  Using his wits, Jamie is able to rescue the girl and outsmart the fairies.

I would like to combine these stories to fit into my framework.  Jaime and his mother will be much younger and live in a small village plagued by fairy kidnappings.  Jamie's father will be away on a voyage and his grandfather will live with them in their small cottage.  One night Jamie is lured away by one of the hill folk. Once there, he will find the children and outsmart all the fey. This will start the major conflict between Jamie (if I keep that name) and the Fey Queen. She will send Jamie on several quests to make up for the insult to the Fey, but he won't have to do it on his own.

The first quest: Banshee maybe?

On the first quest, Jamie will travel with his wise and beloved grandfather. I like the idea of having his grandfather along for the banshee tale because Jamie's grandfather will be humorously hard of hearing. The banshee will be guarding something that the queen wants or maybe something that was stolen from her.  After reading A Lamentation by Clarence Mangan, I started thinking about the banshee's story.  Who is she grieving for? In my story, the treasure the queen seeks belonged to a wise king killed by the fairy. Devastated by grief, the king's daughter becomes a banshee and eternally morns her father.  Jamie and his grandfather will approach and comfort the banshee.  They will talk about her lost father and share memories.  In the end, the banshee will be relieved of her endless lamentation and Jamie can retrieve the treasure. I'm still looking for a specific story for this part.

The second quest: At sea? The Kelpie

Photo of Kelpie sculpture in Falkirk, Scotland by Natasha Cherkashina Source: Flikr

For the second quest, Jamie's father will have returned home from the sea voyage. The queen will charge them with a task that will take them to the coast (or an island maybe) to the lair of a dangerous kelpie. They will have to retrieve some treasure.  I think I will have the father and son witness a kelpie charming a young woman into the sea. They will follow and rescue her. Still looking for a specific story for this one. (Cut off finger to escape? Have queen restore it?)

The final quest: The Giant

Photo of the Giant's Causeway in Ireland by Virtuaalianu, Source: Flickr

For the final and most task, Jamie must travel to the land of giants and rescue the Fey Queen's own son.  Feeling sorry for the Fey Queen, Jamie's mother agrees to the task and travels with her son to rescue the fairy boy.  For this story, I was inspired by the story of the THE GIANT'S STAIRS by T. Crofton Croker.

In the end, the Fairy Queen will be eternally grateful to young Jamie and his family. He and all his descendants will be blessed with riches, luck, and protection forever.

Story Source: The Internet Sacred Texts Archive 

Extra Reading Diary: Week 3 Saints and Animals

Wolf cub Source: Monsterous Realms

Additional Reading Week 3

Saints and Animals

READING B

1. The Fish Who Helped Saint Gudwall

This story demonstrates the adage of strength in numbers. The tiny fish were able to hold back the sea. Seems like there should be a moral about building a home in a foolish place. The theme of man living in harmony with animals (not other people) is emphasized here.  It is often man's relationship with animals that is the salvation from nature or other humans.

Ocean: great, powerful, mysterious

2. The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe

3. The Wolf-Mother of Saint Ailbe (cont.)

Lovely story that teaches us family comes in many forms and kindness should always be repaid. The theme of man living in harmony with animals is one repeated throughout this unit. In these stories, man seems to be the villian and solitary life is exhalted.

Wolves: wild, untamable
Men: the real threat

Romulus and Reemus?

4. The Ballad of Saint Athracta's Stags

With many of these stories, it is easy to see how the person became a saint as in the case of Saint Felix, who was a bishop. But Athracta was noble born woman who lived in the wilderness and gave aid to travelers. It does not say much about her faith. It makes me wonder if this was a pagan tale retold and incorporated into the cannon of saints. Regardless it is nice to see how kindness and gentleness can win the day. The part about her hair reminded me of Rapunzel.

  5. The Ballad of Saint Felix

I was very surprised that the friendly animal in this unit was a spider. This story tells us that help can come in the most unlikely of places. Such a tiny spider made a big difference.
6. The Ballad of Saint Giles and the Deer


The hermit saint seems to be a common theme in a lot of these stories. Man living in seclusion with only animals as friends. It reminds me a bit of the idea of the Nobel Savage. Not exactly a successful model for spreading the gospel, but in this story it worked. The king was moved by the selflessness and sacrifice of Saint Giles and in turn learned of Christianity and spread it to his kingdom.

7. Saint Francis of Assisi

8. Saint Francis of Assisi (cont.)

9. Saint Francis of Assisi (end)


Story source:The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown (1900).

Reading Diary B: Ovids Metamorphoses Books 1-4

(Echo and Narcissus, by John William Waterhouse)

Ovid’s Metamorphoses Books 1-4



Echo

Metamorphoses: Tiresias from man to woman to man, tattle tale to mummer



Juno and Jupiter ague. Women gain more pleasure from love according to Tiresias who has been both. Juno gets really mad and blinds him. Jupiter gives him knowledge of the future in recompense.

Narcissus is born, once again the product of rape, to the naiad Lirope and river god Cephisus. Tiresias prophesied that Narcissus will have a long life if he does not discover himself.

Echo spots Narcissus. “…she of the echoing voice, who cannot be silent when others have spoken, nor learn how to speak first herself.”

Echo came to be this way when Juno punished her for hiding Jupiter’s affairs with the other nymphs.

Echo falls in love with Narcissus but is spurned so she wastes away in loneliness. Now she is only her voice.



Narcissus

Metamorphoses: Narcissus to flower

One of Narcissus’s spurned lovers curses him to know the pain of rejection. Nemesis overhears.

Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection and wastes away. Echo laments with him. After death he turns into flower. Even in the underworld, Narcissus still stares at his reflection.



Pyramus and Thisbe

Metamorphoses: Changing color of mulberry bush, love to pain and eventually death



Two thwarted lovers conspires to meet. Thisbe is frightened from meeting spot by lioness and drops her veil which becomes covered in blood. Pyramus, fearing Thisbe has died at the hands of a lion, kills himself with his sword at the base of the mulberry bush. His blood changes the white berries blood red. Thisbe finally returns to the meeting spot and finds a dying Pyramus. In her anguish, the falls on Pyramus’s sword and dies. They are finally together in death, sharing an urn.



Mars and Venus

Metamorphoses: ?



This is a very entertaining story of Vulcan catching Venus and Mars having an affair. He catches them with a golden net for all the gods to see. “one of the gods, undismayed, prayed that he might be shamed like that.”



Perseus and Andromeda

Metamorphoses: Atlas to stone, plants to stone, coral, etc


Perseus turns Atlas to a great mountain as prophesiszed using Medusa’s head. Perseus flies everywhere and spots Andromeda being sacrificed to Kraken. Offers to save her and defeats Kraken using mercury’s wings. Marries her.



Perseus and Medusa

Perseus tells the story of slaying Medusa

Story Source:Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).

Reading Diary A: Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)

I read part of Ovid's Metamorphoses for my additional reading last week, so I wanted to finish the story this week. So, I'm starting at the beginning with Books 1-4.

Deucalion and Pyrrha

Metamorphoses: rocks to people; evil world to new, pure world.

After reading of the wrath of the gods (familiar theme among flood stories), I am struck by the beautiful imagery describing the disaster.

"The Nereids are astonished to see woodlands, houses and whole towns under the water...Wolves swim among the sheep...the circling bird [...] falls on tired wings into the water...The sea in unchecked freedom has buried the hills."

This incongruous mingling of the ocean and earth, symbolize the destruction destruction in an artistic way.

Only the innocent and pious Deucalion and Pyrrha remain and are left to repopulate the earth. They do this by throwing the "bones of mother earth" aka rocks over their shoulders. The stones become men and women and the regeneration of humanity from stones and hard labors symbolizes are hardiness. 

Io

Metamorphoses: Nymph to heifer, love leads to mistreatment

Rape, jealously, heifer, revenge

Another representation of passive, mortal women

Although Juno is very active and assertive

Phaethon and the Sun

Metamorphosis: Recently swallowed by water, now the earth burns

I really enjoyed how the complexities of the myth (the path of Phoebus's chariot) attempt to explain the natural world.  There is also a lot of beautiful beautiful imagery here. 

Aurora by Guido Reni, Source: Flickr

Callisto

Metamorphosis: Callisto to bear, then Arcos and Callisto become constellations

Another passively, raped mortal woman

Semelle

Metamorphosis: Father becomes mother

Again with the rape

Story source: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).