Chinese Fairy Tales
1. The Little Hunting Dog - That was the cutest story I think I heave read in any of the units so far! For a while I wondered if maybe the little soldiers and dogs and falcons were really the fleas and gnats and maybe the man was asleep. I was so sad when the little dog got left behind but even more so that he smooshed the little dog! I would have felt terrible!
2. Fox-Fire - I know that in Chinese and Japanese mythology, foxes are tricksters and are not to be messed with. I am surprised that the fox didn't kill the man for stealing his fire ball and instead let him accumulate his wealth. I also thought the fox would have killed the man because that seems o be the fate for all things that steal when it comes to fairy tales.
3. The Talking Silver Foxes - So I am seeing a trend that the fox spirits are not as mean and tricky as i was lead to believe. Really they are just treated poorly! I wouldn't blame that fox-spirit for never showing itself again! Not after being whipped twice and shot with an arrow and then killed and skinned! I wonder why the magical foxes are called 'Silver Foxes' when their coats are not silver.
4. Retribution - First of all, I wonder if that was the same Wang as in the Silver Foxes story. I doubt it, but it would be interesting. Second, I wonder why the boy could see the spirit of the water-bearer. Was he special or did he just happen to be at the right place at the right time? I think it was interesting that the boy did get revenge on Old Wang even without meaning to.
5. The Night on the Battlefield - These stories just keep getting better and better! I thought there was something fishy going on when the inn-keeper and everyone there turned the merchant away but I didn't expect the inn to just be a graveyard/battlefield!
6. The Maiden Who Was Stolen Away - I thought for sure that the girl would marry the boy! I was not expecting him to actually be an ogre! These stories are not like the ones I am used to reading and I love how they are written! I was so happy that she got to be saved, but I also thought it was funny that her brother happened to be the biggest and bravest in the land.
7. The Flying Ogre - I liked this story less than the others but I did still enjoy it! It was short, sweet, and to the point. I wanted to know who the sky messenger was as well as whether or not he was telling the truth about the girl being a flying ogre. And why was she so evil?
8. The Sorcerer of the White Lotus Lodge - So were the capsized boat, walk in the dark, and giant all tricks or did the sorcerer actually do all of those things? I can see the first two but I don't know how getting eaten by a giant is a way to trick the soldiers. Unless the sorcerer conjured up the mountain spirit in order to get out. Maybe him and his family were not really eaten?
9. The Three Evils - I was really impressed at how calmly the terror of the neighborhoods took to being called the third evil. I would have thought that, since he got into so many fights all the time, he would have just beat up the new mandarin and been on his way. But no! He took out the other two evils, enlisted as a soldier and atoned for his life when he was the third sin! I wonder if this is a cultural thing in how people respected their mandarins (honestly I don't know what status they held. I am not much of a history buff).
10. How the River God's Wedding Was Broken Off - I am still wondering if it is a cultural thing to not trust sorcerers and witches but hold the political figure to the standards of a hero. That seems to be the theme in most of these stories. I think that is really neat because it has regular humans, not super powered or humans with supernatural strength going off and killing the bad things.
11. Yang Gui Fe - I loved this story! I want to use some of the ideas in it in my own stories! I liked how the magician (note, not a sorcerer) could part with his spirit to walk in the spirit worlds. How there wasn't just heaven and hell but many places in between. I also liked how the two were really spirits sent to the realm of men and still united by love!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Friday, September 26, 2014
Week 6 Essay: Japanese Mythology
This week I read Japanese Mythology as my unit. The main reason I chose this unit was because I looked through the chapters and saw that there was a story about a dragon, and I can’t really resist that. There were a lot of aspects of this unit that I really enjoyed and then there were only a few aspects that I would have preferred to have gone without. For the most part I really enjoyed this unit. I couldn’t say it was one of my favorites, but it was definitely enjoyable. The stories about Yamato and his wife Tacibana were my favorite part of the unit I think.
My favorite thing about this unit was, of course, the dragon. Along with the dragon though, I felt like the stories were very good at giving vivid descriptions of all of the creatures. It made me want to grab my sketchbook and draw all of them so I could actually see what that creature would have looked like. I love it when stories are really descriptive. It helps me to visualized what it is I am reading and the more I can visualize it, normally the more I enjoy it. The Labors of Yamato were my favorite set of stories from this unit. They reminded me of other stories where the heroes were made to perform gruesome trials to prove themselves.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Week 6 Storytelling: The Dragon and the Serpent
Once there was a brother who was not all that smart. His dear sister tried very hard to keep him in line and not stray from her, especially when she needed him most. Alas, Gregor was still a man and Serena was still an evil serpent siren with the beauty of Aphrodite. Serena wasn't any evil serpent siren, oh no, she was the daughter of the great and powerful Dave! He was the biggest and baddest dragon in the under-realms. He also loved his daughter very much. Almost as much as he loved scheming and shiny magical swords.
One day, Dave and Serena made a plan to get a magical sword that only a human could obtain. This is where the brother, Gregor Strike, came in. Serena lured him into her lair and laughed as he professed his undying love and devotion to her.
"Go and find me the Sacred Fruit of Dragons. Only then will I accept your undying love for me." Serena decreed. Gregor smiled and ran from her dwelling, off to find the "Sacred Fruit" for his love. After searching for several weeks and only obtaining a magical sword, which he used to kill a great bull terrorizing a town, he went back to his beloved Serena and confessed his misfortunes to her.
"Oh my dear, do not fret. You have brought a prize just as worth as the Sacred Fruit would have been. FATHER!" Serena called out. Gregor stepped back, confused. He could hear something heavy dragging across the ground behind him and large footsteps scraping the earth. Gregor turned around and saw the great silver dragon looming over him.
"I am Dave, greatest Dragon to exist in the Under-Realms! You, pesky human, have something I want. Give me the sword or I shall eat you whole!" Gregor wanted to snicker at the dragon's name, but he was too busy trying to not wet himself. He shakily drew the sword and took up a fighting position.
"If that is how you want to end your life, so be it!" Dave attacked and Gregor fought. After a long and difficult battle, Gregor walked out of the cave, leaving Serena to cradle her father's dead corpse. Gregor walked until he made it back to the village, which was now in flames and strewn with dead bodies. Instantly, Gregor ran to find his sister.
"Sarah! Dear God Sarah please be alive!" Gregor called out through the town.
"This is your fault isn't it stupid?" Sarah ran towards her brother and embraced him in a hug. "What the hell happened. A giant snake with wings just flew in here and started destroying things!" Gregor sighed and told his sister about what had happened. They agreed to go and fight the evil serpent together.
The siblings put up a great fight with the angered Serena, but in the end, they pushed the vile creature into the sea, never to be seen again.
Author's note: This story was inspired by the Japanese Mythology unit. Specifically, the Labors of Yamato: The Dragon. I changed the names of the characters, some of the character's relations, and what Gregor had to obtain for Serena. Other than that I kept pretty true to the original story I believe.
Bibliography:
Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legends by E. W. Champney and F. Champney, 1917.
One day, Dave and Serena made a plan to get a magical sword that only a human could obtain. This is where the brother, Gregor Strike, came in. Serena lured him into her lair and laughed as he professed his undying love and devotion to her.
"Go and find me the Sacred Fruit of Dragons. Only then will I accept your undying love for me." Serena decreed. Gregor smiled and ran from her dwelling, off to find the "Sacred Fruit" for his love. After searching for several weeks and only obtaining a magical sword, which he used to kill a great bull terrorizing a town, he went back to his beloved Serena and confessed his misfortunes to her.
"Oh my dear, do not fret. You have brought a prize just as worth as the Sacred Fruit would have been. FATHER!" Serena called out. Gregor stepped back, confused. He could hear something heavy dragging across the ground behind him and large footsteps scraping the earth. Gregor turned around and saw the great silver dragon looming over him.
"I am Dave, greatest Dragon to exist in the Under-Realms! You, pesky human, have something I want. Give me the sword or I shall eat you whole!" Gregor wanted to snicker at the dragon's name, but he was too busy trying to not wet himself. He shakily drew the sword and took up a fighting position.
"If that is how you want to end your life, so be it!" Dave attacked and Gregor fought. After a long and difficult battle, Gregor walked out of the cave, leaving Serena to cradle her father's dead corpse. Gregor walked until he made it back to the village, which was now in flames and strewn with dead bodies. Instantly, Gregor ran to find his sister.
"Sarah! Dear God Sarah please be alive!" Gregor called out through the town.
"This is your fault isn't it stupid?" Sarah ran towards her brother and embraced him in a hug. "What the hell happened. A giant snake with wings just flew in here and started destroying things!" Gregor sighed and told his sister about what had happened. They agreed to go and fight the evil serpent together.
The siblings put up a great fight with the angered Serena, but in the end, they pushed the vile creature into the sea, never to be seen again.
Author's note: This story was inspired by the Japanese Mythology unit. Specifically, the Labors of Yamato: The Dragon. I changed the names of the characters, some of the character's relations, and what Gregor had to obtain for Serena. Other than that I kept pretty true to the original story I believe.
Bibliography:
Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legends by E. W. Champney and F. Champney, 1917.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Week 6 Reading Diary: Japanese Mythology
Japanese Mythology
1. Izanagi and Izanami - The first thing I notice is how the writing is set up at the beginning of this story. I find it very interesting, but I am not sure of its purpose. I find it very interesting that the God of air and the Goddess of clouds are the parents of all living things. Normally it is the God/Goddess of the sun or sky, but not normally the air or clouds. I like it! Oh, but later on they call him "god of the heavens", so they are sticking with mythology theme!
2. Izanagi and Izanami (cont.) - So the daughter is really the ruler of the heavens while the father is still god of the "skies/air"? I find it interesting that the moon god is not happy and wise and calm like in most myths about the moon. I'm also surprised that Izanagi actually let the other gods banish his wife to the earth and take her immortality.
3. The Miraculous Mirror - Oh Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun! That makes so much sense now! I fell like most myths about the gods and goddesses of earthly things, like trees and mountains, are created to explain some sort of natural phenomenon. I have yet to figure out what this one could be about. Maybe some sort of eclipse?
4. The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi - Serpents in japanese culture normally means that there are dragons which means I am really excited! This sounds like a hydra, not just any dragon. Hydras are usually a bad symbol, being destructive and murderous. I find it hilarious that he just got the dragon drunk and then slashed him to pieces. The moral is don't get drunk enough to pass out. Bad things happen! I also think that the name of the sword is interesting because of the nature of the dragon that it was in.
5. The Heaven-Descended - Why didn't they just send the rice prince to tend to the rice fields first? Who better to look over things than the deity associated with that thing? I am also noticing the number eight appearing a lot. I know that eight is a large part of chinese culture, I didn't know it was also part of the japanese culture!
6. The Heaven-Descended (cont.) - They use the word 'august' a lot and I cannot always figure out what it means in the context that it is being used in. The only actually story I feel like I have read is the one about the dragon. Most of the rest of these have been telling about the family relations and feuds.
7. The Fortunate Fish-Hook - Talking about Ninigi's sons who, seem to have affinities with fire, makes me wonder what happened to the god of fire and his brother the god of water. I thought Susanoo (or however you spell his name) was god of the sea and ocean. This is the second actual story that I have read in this unit and it makes me very excited!
8. The Fortunate Fish-Hook (cont.) - I am curious as to why the fish-hook was so special or if it was actually magical. So is this where the godly emperors and their royal lineage came from?
9. The Labors of Yamato - The Rescue of the Princess - So now we are leaving all of the confusion of the heavenly world and going to the people on earth. So maybe we will be getting more stories instead of a history lesson on the gods and goddesses! Not that I don't enjoy learning about them, I just also enjoy stories about heroes.
10. The Rescue of the Princess (cont.) - Just a good old-fashioned princess rescue. It is a little refreshing! I am interested to see what will become of it as well as Yamato and his princess! Yamato is almost pulling a trojan horse level trick here! Is it good to be "stout-hearted"? When the bandit dies he calls Yamato stout-hearted and I have no idea if that is a good thing or not. Yamato doesn't seem to be disturbed by it.
11. The Labors of Yamato- The Grotto of Love - I think it is interesting how Yamato is looking for his "siren" and as he is doing so he hears music that leads him to this perilous grotto that is supposed to be a trap. It as if there is a parallel being drawn between the grotto and the siren's song. The poem like structure of the writing in the middle of the story is interesting. I don't under stand its purpose, but I like it! TIme for the horrible tasks to win a goddesses love! These are normally great stories!
12. The Labors of Yamato- The Golden Apple - So this is another story within a story. It makes me want to read myths from all cultures to see if this storyception is a reoccurring theme. I am looking forward to seeing how Yamato goes about getting the Golden Apple! I am really enjoying how the dialogue is written as if it is a poem. I don't know if that is on purpose or not, but I like it.
13. The Labors of Yamato- The Demon Boar - I wonder why boars in particular are so popular to test heroes and their strength. Boars show up in several stories from many cultures. So if Susa-no-wo normally rides the demon boar, will Yamato have to fight him as well? I am not putting my money on Yamato if that is the case... Okay, so no god battle, just the demon boar victory for Yamato.
14. The Labors of Yamato- The Grass-Cleaving Sword - Okay at the very end of this story the narrator changes. Who is narrating? Also, Yamato better start respecting his wife again! She just saved his life and got burnt to a crisp all to save him and his men!
15. The Labors of Yamato- The Sacred Sword - RUDE! She saved him Yamato and now Yamato his sending his roasted princess home cause she is ugly and roasty and he wants to go be with the siren! He may be a great hero but he is not cool in my books! And he still doesn't have the apple, so when will he do now? I was definitely not expecting the dragon to be Susa-no-wo! Or the fact that they really just wanted the sword not even the golden apple! Sneaky!
16. The Sacred Sword (cont.) - I wonder what importance stags and deer have in the japanese culture. I notice in a lot of japanese movies and in some anime and even in several of these stories, there are magical deer or demon deer or something to do with deer. I am glad Yamato got his sword back, but I feel bad that the stag had to die.
17. The Labors of Yamato- The Dragon - If I am being honest, this is the main reason I read this unit, was so I could read the story about the dragon because I am horribly obsessed with dragons. This already shows the lesson of, 'you don't know what you have till it's gone'. So the siren is actually a dragon like her father? Cool! One thing I appreciate about this story is that Tacibana gets to save her dear hubby from an evil goddess dragon! Girl power! So now Tacibana is the princess locked in the tower guarded by an evil dragon. Sweet! I hope she isn't actually dead... I like her.
18. The Dragon (cont.) - If eh would have just listened to his wife, she wouldn't have died! Well, also if he hadn't cheated on her with the siren and then killed the siren's father, Tacibana might not have had to sacrifice herself. What shall he do now? Will he be like Hercules and go to the Underworld to save his beloved?
19. The Faery Robe - Oh we are done with Yamato and Tacibana! Darn, I was becoming very attached to them... Now this one is a poem. a very long poem. Though figuring out what poems are trying to say is normally very difficult, I still really enjoy how smooth they are when read. This one was not too hard to figure out though, which made me like it even more!
20. The Jewel of Heart's Desire: The Land of Morning Calm - I really like how, although we are finished with Yamato's story, we continue with his son. Though his son seems a little cowardly, I like that Benten is presented once again, tying the stories back together. Of course, she is still evil and wants what Yamato's descent has, the Jewel of Heart's Desire. I also love that, although women were not technically allowed to rule, the Empress was kicking but taking names and taking charge!
21. The Quest of the Jewel - Though it was smart to hide the jewel inside her wound because she knew the dragon wouldn't touch it, now she has to die, probably, so what good does that do her? She was nobly honored. I guess that is pretty good.
22. Urashima - So this is basically the japanese version of Pandora's Box. With the addition of a dragon, making it even better! Reading these stories makes me want to draw what I think all of the creatures would look like. I love the style this story is written in. It flows very smoothly when I read it, making it easier to understand.
1. Izanagi and Izanami - The first thing I notice is how the writing is set up at the beginning of this story. I find it very interesting, but I am not sure of its purpose. I find it very interesting that the God of air and the Goddess of clouds are the parents of all living things. Normally it is the God/Goddess of the sun or sky, but not normally the air or clouds. I like it! Oh, but later on they call him "god of the heavens", so they are sticking with mythology theme!
2. Izanagi and Izanami (cont.) - So the daughter is really the ruler of the heavens while the father is still god of the "skies/air"? I find it interesting that the moon god is not happy and wise and calm like in most myths about the moon. I'm also surprised that Izanagi actually let the other gods banish his wife to the earth and take her immortality.
3. The Miraculous Mirror - Oh Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun! That makes so much sense now! I fell like most myths about the gods and goddesses of earthly things, like trees and mountains, are created to explain some sort of natural phenomenon. I have yet to figure out what this one could be about. Maybe some sort of eclipse?
4. The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi - Serpents in japanese culture normally means that there are dragons which means I am really excited! This sounds like a hydra, not just any dragon. Hydras are usually a bad symbol, being destructive and murderous. I find it hilarious that he just got the dragon drunk and then slashed him to pieces. The moral is don't get drunk enough to pass out. Bad things happen! I also think that the name of the sword is interesting because of the nature of the dragon that it was in.
5. The Heaven-Descended - Why didn't they just send the rice prince to tend to the rice fields first? Who better to look over things than the deity associated with that thing? I am also noticing the number eight appearing a lot. I know that eight is a large part of chinese culture, I didn't know it was also part of the japanese culture!
6. The Heaven-Descended (cont.) - They use the word 'august' a lot and I cannot always figure out what it means in the context that it is being used in. The only actually story I feel like I have read is the one about the dragon. Most of the rest of these have been telling about the family relations and feuds.
7. The Fortunate Fish-Hook - Talking about Ninigi's sons who, seem to have affinities with fire, makes me wonder what happened to the god of fire and his brother the god of water. I thought Susanoo (or however you spell his name) was god of the sea and ocean. This is the second actual story that I have read in this unit and it makes me very excited!
8. The Fortunate Fish-Hook (cont.) - I am curious as to why the fish-hook was so special or if it was actually magical. So is this where the godly emperors and their royal lineage came from?
9. The Labors of Yamato - The Rescue of the Princess - So now we are leaving all of the confusion of the heavenly world and going to the people on earth. So maybe we will be getting more stories instead of a history lesson on the gods and goddesses! Not that I don't enjoy learning about them, I just also enjoy stories about heroes.
10. The Rescue of the Princess (cont.) - Just a good old-fashioned princess rescue. It is a little refreshing! I am interested to see what will become of it as well as Yamato and his princess! Yamato is almost pulling a trojan horse level trick here! Is it good to be "stout-hearted"? When the bandit dies he calls Yamato stout-hearted and I have no idea if that is a good thing or not. Yamato doesn't seem to be disturbed by it.
11. The Labors of Yamato- The Grotto of Love - I think it is interesting how Yamato is looking for his "siren" and as he is doing so he hears music that leads him to this perilous grotto that is supposed to be a trap. It as if there is a parallel being drawn between the grotto and the siren's song. The poem like structure of the writing in the middle of the story is interesting. I don't under stand its purpose, but I like it! TIme for the horrible tasks to win a goddesses love! These are normally great stories!
12. The Labors of Yamato- The Golden Apple - So this is another story within a story. It makes me want to read myths from all cultures to see if this storyception is a reoccurring theme. I am looking forward to seeing how Yamato goes about getting the Golden Apple! I am really enjoying how the dialogue is written as if it is a poem. I don't know if that is on purpose or not, but I like it.
13. The Labors of Yamato- The Demon Boar - I wonder why boars in particular are so popular to test heroes and their strength. Boars show up in several stories from many cultures. So if Susa-no-wo normally rides the demon boar, will Yamato have to fight him as well? I am not putting my money on Yamato if that is the case... Okay, so no god battle, just the demon boar victory for Yamato.
14. The Labors of Yamato- The Grass-Cleaving Sword - Okay at the very end of this story the narrator changes. Who is narrating? Also, Yamato better start respecting his wife again! She just saved his life and got burnt to a crisp all to save him and his men!
15. The Labors of Yamato- The Sacred Sword - RUDE! She saved him Yamato and now Yamato his sending his roasted princess home cause she is ugly and roasty and he wants to go be with the siren! He may be a great hero but he is not cool in my books! And he still doesn't have the apple, so when will he do now? I was definitely not expecting the dragon to be Susa-no-wo! Or the fact that they really just wanted the sword not even the golden apple! Sneaky!
16. The Sacred Sword (cont.) - I wonder what importance stags and deer have in the japanese culture. I notice in a lot of japanese movies and in some anime and even in several of these stories, there are magical deer or demon deer or something to do with deer. I am glad Yamato got his sword back, but I feel bad that the stag had to die.
17. The Labors of Yamato- The Dragon - If I am being honest, this is the main reason I read this unit, was so I could read the story about the dragon because I am horribly obsessed with dragons. This already shows the lesson of, 'you don't know what you have till it's gone'. So the siren is actually a dragon like her father? Cool! One thing I appreciate about this story is that Tacibana gets to save her dear hubby from an evil goddess dragon! Girl power! So now Tacibana is the princess locked in the tower guarded by an evil dragon. Sweet! I hope she isn't actually dead... I like her.
18. The Dragon (cont.) - If eh would have just listened to his wife, she wouldn't have died! Well, also if he hadn't cheated on her with the siren and then killed the siren's father, Tacibana might not have had to sacrifice herself. What shall he do now? Will he be like Hercules and go to the Underworld to save his beloved?
19. The Faery Robe - Oh we are done with Yamato and Tacibana! Darn, I was becoming very attached to them... Now this one is a poem. a very long poem. Though figuring out what poems are trying to say is normally very difficult, I still really enjoy how smooth they are when read. This one was not too hard to figure out though, which made me like it even more!
20. The Jewel of Heart's Desire: The Land of Morning Calm - I really like how, although we are finished with Yamato's story, we continue with his son. Though his son seems a little cowardly, I like that Benten is presented once again, tying the stories back together. Of course, she is still evil and wants what Yamato's descent has, the Jewel of Heart's Desire. I also love that, although women were not technically allowed to rule, the Empress was kicking but taking names and taking charge!
21. The Quest of the Jewel - Though it was smart to hide the jewel inside her wound because she knew the dragon wouldn't touch it, now she has to die, probably, so what good does that do her? She was nobly honored. I guess that is pretty good.
22. Urashima - So this is basically the japanese version of Pandora's Box. With the addition of a dragon, making it even better! Reading these stories makes me want to draw what I think all of the creatures would look like. I love the style this story is written in. It flows very smoothly when I read it, making it easier to understand.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Week 5 Essay: Arabian Nights
For the assignment this week, I read Arabian Nights' Entertainment. One of the main elements in this set of stories was the layering of stories within stories. Another, was how the elements actually tied together somehow or were used in order to get an idea across, not just as elements of entertainment. Though I complained about how the overlapping of stories made my head hurt, I really did enjoy it. It was hard to go back to the original story one the second layer of story telling was over, but each time a new story was started I felt like I was being transported to another world.
One of the things that I noticed in the stories that I really like and might actually use in my writings sometimes was the usage of stories, not just as entertainment, but also as a means of communicating different ideas. In the story The Story of the Parrot/The Story of the Ogress, the king and his vizir are exchanging stories in order to explain how trusting someone you barely know could either be beneficial (as the king believed), or a very dangerous (as the vizir believed). They use the stories to convey a situation or circumstance in order to persuade the other person.
Within each story I noticed that the main character or plot of the new story resembled that of the character who was telling the story. Some of the stories were very similar to the situation that the Sultana was in. The character would have to tell a story in order to save their life. I also feel like there was a genie/genius in every single story. The genie could be good or bad but there was always one there either in the actual story, or that the story was being told to.
One of the things that I noticed in the stories that I really like and might actually use in my writings sometimes was the usage of stories, not just as entertainment, but also as a means of communicating different ideas. In the story The Story of the Parrot/The Story of the Ogress, the king and his vizir are exchanging stories in order to explain how trusting someone you barely know could either be beneficial (as the king believed), or a very dangerous (as the vizir believed). They use the stories to convey a situation or circumstance in order to persuade the other person.
Week 5 Storytelling: Arabian Nights
Damn it. Damn it damn it! Why the hell did I think lying to my sister was a good idea? If I had just used my damn brain, I would be sitting at home with Sarah, probably having a nice hot meal and rolling in our bounty. Now I am stuck in this hell hole for three weeks. Damn it.
Gregor sulked through the dining hall of the prison, lost in his own thoughts. Not paying attention, he crossed the path of the worst criminal in the entire place.
Sloan was a convicted murderer, drug lord, thief, bad-joke-teller, and all around awful person. When he died he was going to that special place in hell reserved for the worst criminals and people who talked in movie theaters. Sloan ran the prison. Everyone new had to be approved by him and put into their place. If he didn’t like you, you would probably end up dead within the next few days.
“Oy, space brat. Watch where you’re walking.” Sloan drawled.
“Oy, prison brat, why don’t you?” Gregor spat back and continued to walk on. Gregor was never good at settling under authority. Especially when that authority deserved to be dead.
Sloan cracked a wicked smile and leaned in to his right hand man Bear, “Bring him to me tonight. We will give him one more chance, since he is new and I am feeling gracious today.” Bear grunted and the group of abnormally large men walked off.
Gregor continued to be lost in his thoughts through the day and was glad when lights-out finally hit. He curled up, thought of home, and drifted off to sleep.
In the wee hours of the night, when all was dark and everyone was sound asleep, Bear set out to snatch Gregor. Bear snuck into the cell, unlocking it using a key he had stolen from the guard, quietly made his way over to Gregor and whacked him over the head to be sure that he was unconscious.
When Gregor came to he was laying on a rug, hands tied behind his back, and a sack over his head.
“What the hell…” Gregor grumbled as he sat up.
“Ah, so you are awake! Good. Sit him up and remove the bag.” Sloan barked to Bear.
Bear followed his orders.
“Oh great. It’s you again. What do you want?” Sloan frowned at Gregor’s disrespect.
“I know you…” Sloan leaned in and looked Gregor over very carefully. When he realized who was sitting in front of him his frown turned into bared teeth and clenched fingers.
“YOU! You are the brother bounty hunter who threw me in here in the first place! You better hope my anger subsides after I murder you, otherwise i’m going after your precious little sister too when I get out of here.” Gregor laughed. Sloan stood, walked over to Gregor, and grabbed him from under his chin, lifting him from the ground.
“Why are you laughing?” Sloan demanded.
“My sister would kill you faster than you could say ‘Oy, space brat!’. And I am sorry about throwing you in here. It is just a job! Let me at least try to make it a little more bearable here for you. Though you seem to be doing pretty well…” Sloan growled.
“How could you do that? I have been here for seven years and still have eighty-two to go. How will you make my days better?” Sloan threw Gregor to the ground, letting him speak. Sloan was genuinely curious what the space brat had to say to him.
“Let me go back to my cell and go back to sleep. In the morning I will come to you and tell you a story. It will-”
“A STORY? You want to be my story-teller? Ha! You ridiculous brat! What do you take me for? Some moronic lug who can be so easily entertained?” Sloan stalked the room and made his way back to sit in his chair.
“These aren’t just stories. I am a bounty hunter remember? And before that, my sister and I traveled with our mother all over the galaxy. I have seen places you couldn’t imagine! How about this. I tell you a story each day. If you like it, you don’t kill me. If you don’t, fine! Kill me!” Sloan stared at Gregor for a long while.
“Fine. Tomorrow in the dining hall you will tell me a story. It had better be good though. Your life depends on it space brat.” With a flick of his hand, Bear dragged Gregor out of Sloan’s cell and back down to his.
Thank GOD Sarah and I have been to so many planets and have collected so many stories. I am going to have to think up my best ones. And my longest ones. Maybe if I can drag out the stories so they last a few days, that will keep me alive just long enough that I can get out of here. This had better work…
Over the next three weeks, Gregor would eat his lunch then sulk over to Sloan’s group. He would tell his story and then when lunch was over he would leave and go about his day. Each night, in the wee hours, Bear would show up outside of his cell and report on what Sloan thought of the story. Three weeks later, Gregor was released and Sloan was still in prison.
As soon as Gregor saw Sarah he grasped her in a full on hug, “It is so good to see you Sarah. I am SO sorry about lying to you. Will you please forgive me sis? Please please please?” Gregor bounced up and down while still hugging Sarah.
Sarah giggled, “Yes dork. You lied to me, but you are still my brother. Come on. I have a job for us to do.”
And with that, the two set off on their next big adventure.
Author’s note:
For this unit I read Arabian Nights. As is my running theme, I used Sarah and Gregor Strike, my bounty hunter siblings. I changed the characters, obviously, as well as the setting but the the basic plot I kept the same. I knew I wasn’t going to have enough room to retell the stories in the same depth that they were told originally, but I tried to make it so the reader knew that Gregor’s stories were amazing enough to keep him alive.
Bibliography:
Arabian Nights' Entertainment by Andrew Lang and Illustrated by H. J. Ford. 1898. .jpg)
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Week 5 Reading Diary: Arabian Nights
Arabian Nights Reading Diary
1. Scheherazade - although the names are hard to pronounce, I am already engaged in this story! I feel bad for the fathers who have to lose their daughter, I feel bad for the daughters that have to lose their lives, and I feel a little bad for the sultan who was hurt so badly by a woman. But of course! There are two daughter but one must be more extraordinary than the other! It wouldn't be a fairytale otherwise! I am very intrigued as to how the telling of a story will get the daughter out of being murdered. Ah, she distracts him with the charming stories, very smart! This reminds me of another story I just read, but I can't remember the name...
2. The Story of the Merchant and the Genius - just by knowing the name of the next three stories, I know that I have already met the "first old man", the "second old man" and "the fisherman". I am both saddened and pleased that the man kept his word to go back to the genii to be killed. On one hand, he has to die. On another, he kept his word which I appreciate. I am also curious to see how long the daughter can keep up the stories and what will happen when she runs out or the Sultan becomes bored.
3. The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind - Oh my goodness this makes my brain hurt... This is now a story in a story in a story. And I think I get what the old men are doing. If each man tells a story and the genii likes it enough to take away a third of the punishment, eventually the entire punishment will be gone! I am also getting the vibe that the stories of the old men are reflecting that of the Sultana.
4. The Story of the Second Old Man, and of the Two Black Dogs - I really enjoyed this story too! I am liking the running theme of people with good natures. But I REALLY want to know what the third story was! Though I like this transition between stories, I am so curious!
5. The Story of the Fisherman - Oh my goodness here we go again with the story-ception. I can't read these stories fast enough though, they are so good! They are so engaging I love it!
6. The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban - I am curious as to what the physician used to cure the King and I can not believe that we are going into ANOTHER layer of stories! I have lost tract of who is telling who what almost! I have never understood inception better than I do right now.
7. The Story of the Parrot; The Story of the Ogress - I find it so interesting that these characters are using stories to get their point across to someone else. I know that that isn't what is happening in all of these stories, but I think it is cool when it does happen. I got just a little confused when reading about the ogress. I thought the prince escaped but then the ogress was telling him how to get home? I don't understand why she would do that...
8. The Story of the Physician's Revenge - I am amazed that the physician, knowing he would die, also made sure that he took the king down with him. I wonder how the vizir feels knowing that the king still ended up dying! I know he was jealous of the physician, but I don't think he had intended to have the king killed. If only people actually kept their word as readily as the characters in these stories do... I was sure the genii was just going to kill the fisherman when he was released.
9. The Story of the Sultan and the Fish - I think if I was half stone I would be crying too... Even if the sight was so beautiful, I wouldn't be able to run around and that would be awful! GAH. Another story-ception moment. I groan about this, but I find it rather fascinating how easily these stories move in and out of each other. Each one has some underlying tone that is significant to whoever is telling the story.
10. The Story of the Young King and of the Black Isles - That was one of the best stories! Everyone who deserved to live did, everyone who deserved to die did, everyone who deserved splendid rewards did! It was beautiful! I can't wait to read the second half and find out what happened to the Sultana! I hope the Sultan gets some sense knocked into him and stops killing his wives.
11. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 1 - When I was younger I saw a movie that was sort of like Aladdin, but just a little different. So far, this story is matching it almost perfectly! I wish I could remember what the movie was called... I want to know how the magician found out about Aladdin. I like how the genie came from the ring and not the lamp! But is there a genie also in the lamp?
12. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 2 - The fruits turning to precious stones was in the movie too! I wonder what Aladdin is going to do with two genies! And if there could be a conflict between the two genies.
13. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 3 - I feel bad for the genie having to do all of Aladdin's bidding but I do wonder which genie he is using. Does he only use one or does he switch back an forth? And what will the consequence be of using the genie so much. There are always consequences I feel like with that sort of stuff.
14. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 4 - See! Consequences. Always happens with genies. I am not surprised that the lamp was stolen, or rather given away.
15. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 5 - I don't understand why Aladdin had to give his clothes away in order to get kill the magician. It isn't a big problem to me, I just don't understand it. I am kind of glad to be rid of the magician though. He was irritating!
16. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 6 - Will the princess still love Aladdin if he tells her that all of his wealth came from a genie? I don't know if that question will be resolved here or not, it is just a question I have. I have definitely seen a movie that was this exact story. Now I must find it! Anyway, I really liked this story! I would like to know how the Sultana's story ends but I can go and read through that some other day.
1. Scheherazade - although the names are hard to pronounce, I am already engaged in this story! I feel bad for the fathers who have to lose their daughter, I feel bad for the daughters that have to lose their lives, and I feel a little bad for the sultan who was hurt so badly by a woman. But of course! There are two daughter but one must be more extraordinary than the other! It wouldn't be a fairytale otherwise! I am very intrigued as to how the telling of a story will get the daughter out of being murdered. Ah, she distracts him with the charming stories, very smart! This reminds me of another story I just read, but I can't remember the name...
2. The Story of the Merchant and the Genius - just by knowing the name of the next three stories, I know that I have already met the "first old man", the "second old man" and "the fisherman". I am both saddened and pleased that the man kept his word to go back to the genii to be killed. On one hand, he has to die. On another, he kept his word which I appreciate. I am also curious to see how long the daughter can keep up the stories and what will happen when she runs out or the Sultan becomes bored.
3. The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind - Oh my goodness this makes my brain hurt... This is now a story in a story in a story. And I think I get what the old men are doing. If each man tells a story and the genii likes it enough to take away a third of the punishment, eventually the entire punishment will be gone! I am also getting the vibe that the stories of the old men are reflecting that of the Sultana.
4. The Story of the Second Old Man, and of the Two Black Dogs - I really enjoyed this story too! I am liking the running theme of people with good natures. But I REALLY want to know what the third story was! Though I like this transition between stories, I am so curious!
5. The Story of the Fisherman - Oh my goodness here we go again with the story-ception. I can't read these stories fast enough though, they are so good! They are so engaging I love it!
6. The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban - I am curious as to what the physician used to cure the King and I can not believe that we are going into ANOTHER layer of stories! I have lost tract of who is telling who what almost! I have never understood inception better than I do right now.
7. The Story of the Parrot; The Story of the Ogress - I find it so interesting that these characters are using stories to get their point across to someone else. I know that that isn't what is happening in all of these stories, but I think it is cool when it does happen. I got just a little confused when reading about the ogress. I thought the prince escaped but then the ogress was telling him how to get home? I don't understand why she would do that...
8. The Story of the Physician's Revenge - I am amazed that the physician, knowing he would die, also made sure that he took the king down with him. I wonder how the vizir feels knowing that the king still ended up dying! I know he was jealous of the physician, but I don't think he had intended to have the king killed. If only people actually kept their word as readily as the characters in these stories do... I was sure the genii was just going to kill the fisherman when he was released.
9. The Story of the Sultan and the Fish - I think if I was half stone I would be crying too... Even if the sight was so beautiful, I wouldn't be able to run around and that would be awful! GAH. Another story-ception moment. I groan about this, but I find it rather fascinating how easily these stories move in and out of each other. Each one has some underlying tone that is significant to whoever is telling the story.
10. The Story of the Young King and of the Black Isles - That was one of the best stories! Everyone who deserved to live did, everyone who deserved to die did, everyone who deserved splendid rewards did! It was beautiful! I can't wait to read the second half and find out what happened to the Sultana! I hope the Sultan gets some sense knocked into him and stops killing his wives.
11. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 1 - When I was younger I saw a movie that was sort of like Aladdin, but just a little different. So far, this story is matching it almost perfectly! I wish I could remember what the movie was called... I want to know how the magician found out about Aladdin. I like how the genie came from the ring and not the lamp! But is there a genie also in the lamp?
12. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 2 - The fruits turning to precious stones was in the movie too! I wonder what Aladdin is going to do with two genies! And if there could be a conflict between the two genies.
13. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 3 - I feel bad for the genie having to do all of Aladdin's bidding but I do wonder which genie he is using. Does he only use one or does he switch back an forth? And what will the consequence be of using the genie so much. There are always consequences I feel like with that sort of stuff.
14. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 4 - See! Consequences. Always happens with genies. I am not surprised that the lamp was stolen, or rather given away.
15. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 5 - I don't understand why Aladdin had to give his clothes away in order to get kill the magician. It isn't a big problem to me, I just don't understand it. I am kind of glad to be rid of the magician though. He was irritating!
16. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 6 - Will the princess still love Aladdin if he tells her that all of his wealth came from a genie? I don't know if that question will be resolved here or not, it is just a question I have. I have definitely seen a movie that was this exact story. Now I must find it! Anyway, I really liked this story! I would like to know how the Sultana's story ends but I can go and read through that some other day.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Caleum
When the world was still young, and humans still were the dominant race, life was easy. Now, the Elite ruled over what was left of the inhospitable land and life was almost not worth struggling through. Some of us had to though, if we wanted our homes and land back. There were tribes that had learned to live within the jungles and swamps, to live in harmony with the angered Mother Nature. Once the surge had wiped out all electricity on the planet, things started to change. The super-humans began appearing and claiming they were reincarnations of Gods and Goddesses sent to cleanse the earth of the spoiled humanity. As there usually is when a group of people try to take over, a war ensued. True to their super-human nature, The Elite won without even breaking a sweat. The Normals, or regular humans, were banished from the nicer cities, not yet taken back by nature. Well, as you can imagine, they didn't like that too much. Every time a tribe attempted to make a move on the Elite, their efforts were thwarted and they were wiped out. Eventually, Normals just stopped trying and fell into line. The Elites made the tribes worship them as their deities, not allowing any other sort of religious beliefs other than in them. One day something unexpected happened within the largest and most well known tribe in the wilds that would change the course of the relationship between Normals and Elites.
With the harsh environment that Normals lived in, having children was considered a miracle. Baring a child and then raising it all the way to adulthood was even more miraculous. So, when the chief's wive gave birth to three healthy girls, the tribe began to believe them to be their salvation. They praised the Elite for blessing them with such a gift. The three girls grew and learned of their world and their tribe's history. They grew into fine young women, all destined to be rulers of their own tribes for sure. The two eldest daughters were quickly married and sent off to begin their own tribes. The youngest daughter though was finding it difficult to find a suitor. She was as beautiful as an Elite and as strong as the vines and trees that reclaimed the earth. Most men only wished to view her from a distance but never engage in any sort of relationship due to their intimidation of the girl. This girl, young Anima, was not like the other Normals. She had a determination and strength about her that caused people from many tribes to flock to her and worship her as a new deity borne to them.
News of this peculiar child made its way to Caelum, the headquarters of the most powerful Elites. It made its way particularly fast to Veneris, who claimed to be the goddess Aphrodite reincarnated. Not many Normals disagreed with her, she was very beautiful, even for an Elite. Veneris did not like to hear about Normals gaining any sort of religious belief and was to find out the cause of this new threat. She made her way silently to the tribe and observed from her shadows. Veneris watched the girl for several days until she devised a punishment for Anima's insolence in allowing herself to be worshiped when she was nothing more than a worthless Normal.
Veneris quickly made her way back to Caelum and began to set her plan into action.
"Amor! I summon you to me here!" Veneris called for her son, the reincarnation of Cupid, God of Love.
"Yes mother, what is it this time?" he groaned as he stepped through the golden doors. The wings that sprouted from his muscular back were odd, even for Elites, but no ones questioned them as they were so magnificently stunning.
"Do not speak to me in that tone of voice. I am your mother and I demand respect from you. I have an assignment I need you to take care of. There is a girl in Urbem, Anima, who is currently being worshiped by her people and even other Normals from other tribes. I need you to take your bow and arrows and strike her down. Mutilate her beauty, show her people that they cannot worship those who do not deserve it.
Amor rubbed his hand through his cinnamon curls, "Yes mother. I shall take care of it immediately." with that, Amor flew to the tribe to find the girl.
She was not too hard to find, flocks of people following her around. When night time came and she was finally alone in her room he sat in a tree just outside of her window, drew back his bow loaded with one of his special deadly arrows, and took aim for her heart. He watched her as she paced the room and quickly realized he could not loose his arrow. With a heavy sigh he released the string slowly and placed his arrow back into the quiver. He continued to watch and grew very interested in her. She doused her candles and settled into bed. Only then did Amor dare to enter her room. He had just landed gently on the floor when Anima shot from her bed.
"Who is there?" She held a dagger out at arms length.
"No one to worry about. I am here to rescue you. The vicious Veneris has gotten word of your being worship and she has sent her beloved son to strike you down. Come with me, become my wife, and I shall keep you safe. I will return and inform your parents of the situation, they shall not worry." As he spoke, Amor moved silently closer to the bed.
Anima scoffed, "That is the most absurd thing I have heard! You are an intruder in my bedroom, I am not just going to leave with you!
Author's note: This is a story that I wrote from Cupid and Psyche but it was going to end up being WAY too long so I scrapped it. But I thought you all might enjoy it! I might add on to it, I may not, we shall see!
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Thursday, September 11, 2014
Essay Week 4 : Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories
For this unit I read half of Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories from Egyptian Myths and Legends by Donald Mackenzie (1907). It was composed of a few stories that spanned a few "chapters" and then there were two separate stories that stood on their own. I really enjoyed the stories that spanned several chapters and made sense together. I did not like the two separate stories. I felt like they were just thrown in there and very out of place.
Other than the confusing family relations, I very much enjoyed the stories about the Gods and Goddesses. Last two stories, however, I felt were out of place. I did not enjoy either of them. I liked the wax crocodile one more than the green jewel story only because something actually happened. In the green jewel a girl just lost her jewel and the scribe of the pharaoh retrieved it for her. I felt like there was significant information missing from both. Why would stories that simple be considered a myth or even made into a story? Again, I can understand the wax crocodile one more so than the green jewel story.
I liked how the family relations were explained in the first stories but I became very confused in the second set of stories. I understand that the relationship between any of the Gods and Goddesses in any culture are going to have very convoluted backgrounds. Such as, I was surprised to find out how Isis was made into a goddess. I began to get confused when the story of Osiris was beginning to be told. I had always thought that Osiris was originally a God and so when he died in the story, I became very lost. In order to understand I tried to just go with the flow of the story and take in what I could.
Other than the confusing family relations, I very much enjoyed the stories about the Gods and Goddesses. Last two stories, however, I felt were out of place. I did not enjoy either of them. I liked the wax crocodile one more than the green jewel story only because something actually happened. In the green jewel a girl just lost her jewel and the scribe of the pharaoh retrieved it for her. I felt like there was significant information missing from both. Why would stories that simple be considered a myth or even made into a story? Again, I can understand the wax crocodile one more so than the green jewel story.
(Isis)
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Week 4 Storytelling: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories
"Set! By order of her High Priestess Isis, you are under arrest for the murder and mutilation of the beloved king Osiris!" Sarah rushed forward and landed a bone crushing blow to the demigod's side. He stumbled back laughing.
"Is that right? You and what army brat?" Set dodged Sarah's next blow and landed one of his own on her already bleeding shoulder.
Sarah fell to the ground, gripping her now dislocated shoulder. "I can't believe you actually asked me that, how cliché. Well if you must know. Oh brother dear! Do help out your sister please!" Sarah bellowed out into the open air behind her. A low rumbling started through the ground and soon Gregor, followed by all who were still loyal to the great king Osiris and his wife Isis, flowed over the horizon to stand behind Sarah.
"Dear sister, are you alright? You seem to be a little... wounded." Gregor helped Sarah up and glared at Set.
"Do not forget that I too have armies. You will not win!" Set called at the two bounty hunters as his rebels reformed behind him.
"Do not forget Set, I am a demigod just like you. Unlike you however, I am a woman scorned by the loss of her beloved husband and you are the one who stole him from me as well as all of these people! We are the ones who will prevail!" With Isis leading the followers of Osiris and Set leading his rebels and the bounty hunter pair helping Isis where they could, Set was pushed back to the boundaries of his land. With one final blow, Isis took Set out. As she stood over his unconscious form tears began rolling from her eyes. Isis lifted her head to the heavens and let out a victory cry, causing the warriors to stop their fighting and look to her.
"My people! The slayer of your great king is no more! Horus, son of Osiris, will now take the throne and lead you back to a peaceful life!" Isis's people cheered as her son stood and raised his blood and grime covered arms.
"Um, Isis? Yeah, hi. He isn't actually dead is he? Remember our deal, we get to take him and collect the bounty and you get to take him out and take your home back and all that good stuff." Isis smiled down at Gregor. Sarah was draped over his back, unconscious.
"Yes hunter, he is alive and yours to take. Secure him in your ship then bring your sister and yourself to me and you will both be healed and your resources replenished." Gregor nodded and got a few of the warriors to help him transport Set back to the ship while he still carried Sarah.
Before Gregor and Sarah departed, Isis and Horus held a feast for the two to show their appreciation.
"Would the two of you care to hear some stories from my ancestors?" Isis asked.
"Absolutely! Would you mind if we wrote them down? Collecting stories is sort of a hobby of ours." Sarah asked as she pulled out her journal.
"Please! Feel free! I would love to share our history with others out in the skies! Now, there once was a pharaoh who was one day feeling horribly bored. He went to his favorite scribe and asked him to find something to entertain him. The scribe collected twenty beautiful girls who served in the palace and took the Pharaoh on a boat ride up and down the river so that he could see all of the beauty that surrounded his lands.
"As they rowed through the reeds, the back of the oar bumped against one of the girls ear and knocked off her prized green jewel. She begged for the pharaoh to retrieve it for her for it was very precious to her. The Pharaoh told her he would just get her another but she insisted on that particular one. Intrigued by the girl's attachment to the stone he had his scribe go and fetch the stone. The scribe called his incantations and parted the waters to pluck the stone from the mud. The girl was very pleased and told the pharaoh a secret. She knew the location of the wax crocodile that once obeyed a noble king."
"Mother! Allow me to tell this part of the story, you are running low on your wine." Isis giggled as her maid came to collect her. Isis's rosy cheeks and inability to walk in a straight line gave away just how much she had really had to drink that night.
"Excuse her, she is just happy to have our home back." Horus said.
"You should see this girl after a few shots! She gets pretty wild!" Gregor joked about Sarah, regretting it after she punched his sore arm.
"Continue Horus, please." Horus chuckled as he continued his mother's story.
"So the girl told the pharaoh where he could find this wax crocodile. The pharaoh was very interested so he set out to find it. He learned that the wax crocodile was created to kill a scribe who had stolen another's wife." The stories continued through the night and after Sarah and Gregor got some rest, they said their goodbyes and headed off to deliver Set to where he belonged.
Author's note: This story was based off of the Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories from Egyptian Myths and Legends by Donald Mackenzie (1907). I tried to combine all of the stories together except for the one where all of the family relations are explained. I just wasn't sure how to put that in here as well. I changed the settings just a little, added in my dear bounty hunters Sarah and Gregor Strike, who are from my previous stories, and I tried to make the stories The Wax Crocodile and The Green Jewel just a little more interesting. Both of those stories bored me greatly so I wanted to fix that.
Bibliography: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories from Egyptian Myths and Legends by Donald Mackenzie (1907).
"Is that right? You and what army brat?" Set dodged Sarah's next blow and landed one of his own on her already bleeding shoulder.
Sarah fell to the ground, gripping her now dislocated shoulder. "I can't believe you actually asked me that, how cliché. Well if you must know. Oh brother dear! Do help out your sister please!" Sarah bellowed out into the open air behind her. A low rumbling started through the ground and soon Gregor, followed by all who were still loyal to the great king Osiris and his wife Isis, flowed over the horizon to stand behind Sarah.
"Dear sister, are you alright? You seem to be a little... wounded." Gregor helped Sarah up and glared at Set.
"Do not forget that I too have armies. You will not win!" Set called at the two bounty hunters as his rebels reformed behind him.
"Do not forget Set, I am a demigod just like you. Unlike you however, I am a woman scorned by the loss of her beloved husband and you are the one who stole him from me as well as all of these people! We are the ones who will prevail!" With Isis leading the followers of Osiris and Set leading his rebels and the bounty hunter pair helping Isis where they could, Set was pushed back to the boundaries of his land. With one final blow, Isis took Set out. As she stood over his unconscious form tears began rolling from her eyes. Isis lifted her head to the heavens and let out a victory cry, causing the warriors to stop their fighting and look to her.
"My people! The slayer of your great king is no more! Horus, son of Osiris, will now take the throne and lead you back to a peaceful life!" Isis's people cheered as her son stood and raised his blood and grime covered arms.
"Um, Isis? Yeah, hi. He isn't actually dead is he? Remember our deal, we get to take him and collect the bounty and you get to take him out and take your home back and all that good stuff." Isis smiled down at Gregor. Sarah was draped over his back, unconscious.
"Yes hunter, he is alive and yours to take. Secure him in your ship then bring your sister and yourself to me and you will both be healed and your resources replenished." Gregor nodded and got a few of the warriors to help him transport Set back to the ship while he still carried Sarah.
Before Gregor and Sarah departed, Isis and Horus held a feast for the two to show their appreciation.
"Would the two of you care to hear some stories from my ancestors?" Isis asked.
"Absolutely! Would you mind if we wrote them down? Collecting stories is sort of a hobby of ours." Sarah asked as she pulled out her journal.
"Please! Feel free! I would love to share our history with others out in the skies! Now, there once was a pharaoh who was one day feeling horribly bored. He went to his favorite scribe and asked him to find something to entertain him. The scribe collected twenty beautiful girls who served in the palace and took the Pharaoh on a boat ride up and down the river so that he could see all of the beauty that surrounded his lands.
"As they rowed through the reeds, the back of the oar bumped against one of the girls ear and knocked off her prized green jewel. She begged for the pharaoh to retrieve it for her for it was very precious to her. The Pharaoh told her he would just get her another but she insisted on that particular one. Intrigued by the girl's attachment to the stone he had his scribe go and fetch the stone. The scribe called his incantations and parted the waters to pluck the stone from the mud. The girl was very pleased and told the pharaoh a secret. She knew the location of the wax crocodile that once obeyed a noble king."
"Mother! Allow me to tell this part of the story, you are running low on your wine." Isis giggled as her maid came to collect her. Isis's rosy cheeks and inability to walk in a straight line gave away just how much she had really had to drink that night.
"Excuse her, she is just happy to have our home back." Horus said.
"You should see this girl after a few shots! She gets pretty wild!" Gregor joked about Sarah, regretting it after she punched his sore arm.
"Continue Horus, please." Horus chuckled as he continued his mother's story.
"So the girl told the pharaoh where he could find this wax crocodile. The pharaoh was very interested so he set out to find it. He learned that the wax crocodile was created to kill a scribe who had stolen another's wife." The stories continued through the night and after Sarah and Gregor got some rest, they said their goodbyes and headed off to deliver Set to where he belonged.
Author's note: This story was based off of the Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories from Egyptian Myths and Legends by Donald Mackenzie (1907). I tried to combine all of the stories together except for the one where all of the family relations are explained. I just wasn't sure how to put that in here as well. I changed the settings just a little, added in my dear bounty hunters Sarah and Gregor Strike, who are from my previous stories, and I tried to make the stories The Wax Crocodile and The Green Jewel just a little more interesting. Both of those stories bored me greatly so I wanted to fix that.
Bibliography: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories from Egyptian Myths and Legends by Donald Mackenzie (1907).
(Web source: Wikipedia
Osiris, Isis, Horus)
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Week 4 Reading Diary: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories
1. Creation - The writing in this is just a touch confusing at times, but I like that I am learning about the family relations of the Gods and Goddesses before I really get into the other stories. The further I read into the story, the more I understood the writing.
2. The Secret Name of Ra - I hadn't ever known that Isis was not always a Goddess! The idea of a "true name" or in this case "secret name" always fascinates me! I was worried when she got his name that she would just let him die, but no she did save Ra! Since she known his real name does that mean that she has his divine power and he has none?
3. Ra and Hathor - So... this story was pretty straight forward. I am wondering where Hathor came from, I don't remember hearing about her in the previous stories. I was entertained when he got Hathor drunk though in order to get her to go back home. Then he made all of his people give her beer as offerings and then they got to get drunk! Oh joy!
4. The Sun's Journey - They keep talking about the barque. I don't know what that is so it is making this particular reading very difficult. I ended up looking it up and a barque s a huge ship. So I am thinking that this story is about Ra going to the underworld to put Thoth into his new abode with Osiris? That is what I am getting out of it. And I am thinking that the twelve hour divisions are the times that the sun/Ra is gone from the heavens. Also, the part about the Drowning Pool where genii are being tortured with everlasting flames on their heads makes me think of Hades from Disney's Hercules.
5. Osiris - I am surprised that Osiris, lord of the underworld, was actually once a great king in these myths. Not only a great king, but a very peaceful one at that! It also constantly surprises me that Isis is still on the good side. When she started tricking Ra into giving her his secret name, I haven't trusted her, but she has yet to do anything actually wrong!
6. The Death of Osiris - I am just interested to see what happens to Isis now and Osiris. How can the god of the underworld die? Or are there actually two different 'Osiris' in ancient Egyptian mythology? I feel like I am going to find out within the next two stories.
7. The Journey of Isis - I am surprised that the king who had found Osiris's tomb gave it to Isis with such ease after she killed his child! I guess she was trying to give him the gift of immortality? Then she killed another king's son when he found her with Osiris's body. I also want to know more about the fish god that ate the piece of Osiris. I feel like it would be pretty important if it ate part of a god against Isis's will.
8. King of the Dead - Okay, so Osiris was originally a man of sorts, then he became God of the Underworld. I find it interesting how it is not mentioned that Horus, son of Isis, has the head of a hawk. but maybe he doesn't really have the head of the hawk like Anubis has the head of a jackal. Maybe the hawk represents his lineage somehow? It says that his men has sun hawks on their swords. I can't remember if Horus is the son of Osiris or Ra but either way, I find it interesting.
9. The Wax Crocodile - After reading about the great Gods and Goddesses of the ancient Egyptian myths, I felt a little let down by this story... Yeah, it was cool that the guy could make a wax crocodile do his biding but thats about it...
10. The Green Jewel - I'm sorry, but that was a lame story... she lost her green jewel, the scribe parted the waters and got it for her and then they all went on their merry way. There was nothing exciting, nothing to really pull me into the story, I didn't feel for any of the characters, nothing.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Week 3: Famous Last Words
Famous Last Words
So, for this week, I read Ovid's Metamorphosis III. Personally, I was very proud of my storytelling post. I really enjoyed being able to tie in my characters Sarah and Gregor and I think I am going to try and make that a theme of my stories. If there are any fellow students who have read my original post with Sarah and Gregor, I think they will appreciate it! My love for this class is continually renewed every time I get to rewrite a story. I have such a hard time attempting to keep my posts to under one thousand words, so I have decided to write out as much as I want, post it in a 'long version' and then clean up the post and make it fit to the necessary length for the declaration.
I have noticed recently, since I have been making myself be particularly creative for my storytelling posts, I have been doing a lot better in my anatomy class. I think it is because I have been having to take an idea or a story and retell it in a way that everyone can understand. If everyone else can understand it, it will be easier for me to process and manipulate. If I take a concept in anatomy and think of it in several different ways, it makes it easier to apply to many different situations, which is what I normally have a really hard time doing. I am really hoping that this will continue because I really need to pass anatomy this semester.
Speaking of anatomy, I just did an aerial photo shoot with the dance company I am with and I hurt in so many places I look like a penguin when I walk… We did some photos on the actual silk and them we also worked on the lyra, which is a gianormous steel hoolahoop that we hang in the air and then hang on. Basically, it is really painful...
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Space Strikes 2
This story will be continued as I find the inspiration to do so.
In early space travel, there were just people flying through space. Old friends would be found, new friends made, fun was had by all. Those situations were rare now, but they weren't extinct. Yesterday, Sarah's brother, Gregor, tried to steal from her and managed to get thrown in jail. She decided to let him sit for a few days. Sarah meandered around the markets for the day, sampling exotic fruits, and eventually found herself in a story-circle. Her and Gregor had always loved to sit with their mother and listen to tales from the old scavengers and space-pirates.
In early space travel, there were just people flying through space. Old friends would be found, new friends made, fun was had by all. Those situations were rare now, but they weren't extinct. Yesterday, Sarah's brother, Gregor, tried to steal from her and managed to get thrown in jail. She decided to let him sit for a few days. Sarah meandered around the markets for the day, sampling exotic fruits, and eventually found herself in a story-circle. Her and Gregor had always loved to sit with their mother and listen to tales from the old scavengers and space-pirates.
"Good men and women of the skies! Might I join your circle? I have some stories that you may enjoy." Sarah silenced the laughter as she strolled up.
"You'z dat sistah, ain't ya!You's und ya brovah is dat bouny hunnah pair! Ol' Mama Snakeskin erd 'o ya two. She dun known ya mama too." Sarah smiled at the toothless woman. She remembered Old Mama Snakeskin fondly. The woman was covered from head to foot in tattoos of anything the mind could come up with. A chemical reaction when she went out in space hardened her skin like that of a snake. Sarah walked over and sat by the woman.
"Hello again Mama Snakeskin. May I sit and join your circle?" She nodded, taking Sarah's hands into her own. The men looked uncomfortable in Sarah's presence, seeing as most were pirates or outlaws.
"I assure you, there is no need to worry about me. I'm off duty while my moronic brother and I are on this planet." The men nodded and slowly went back to storytelling.
"'Ave y'all ever heard the story of the First Fliers?" men shook their heads, so the story continued "Well, it goes like this. Once, when we was all stuck on that rock we called Earth, there was this guy and his son. Now, the son was just a little tyke, but he was sure interested in what his papa was whippin' up for 'em. The daddy, he was tryin' to make them both pairs of wings! With feathers and everythin'! See, they was trying tah get away from their ruler and they didn't have cars or nothin' yet. The daddy finally finished and told his boy, 'Now son, you gotta follow me or else you might die and daddy wont be able to save ya. You don't got too high up or the sun'll fry up them wings, but you can't get too low or the water'll get yer feathers wet. You got that? You're a big boy now so you gotta do wha I tell ya.', but the daddy knew his little son might not make it. Sure enough, they started out and the boy was doin' fine, till he got distracted by a bug er somethin', then he fell into the water and drowned! The daddy knew he couldn't look back or he would fall too but he knew his boy wasn't there anymore. That's why it took humans so long to try and get back up in the sky!" The man folded his arms, clearly pleased with his story.
"Yeah? I got a better story for y'all! Make your hearts all warm and soft like after hearing a sad story. Used to be that Gods would walk amongst humans, just to see who would be nice and to make sure everyone was behaving real nice. Well, two Gods were walking through this huge village, asking for some food and a place to sit. Everyone in town turned them away! Except the little old couple at the very end. They took in the Gods, fed them as best they could and gave them wine and a place to rest even though the two had nothin for themselves! The Gods were very pleased by this and told the two to follow them when they left and that they would be rewarded. The couple did and when they looked back at their town, it was gone! Their shabby little hut had turned into a great temple! The Gods granted the two each a wish. One wished to be able to watch over the temple as a priest and the other wished to die along with his partner so they wouldn't ever have to be a part. The Gods agreed and the two lived happily ever after!"
Sarah brushed away a small tear trying to escape. More stories were told and Sarah did her best to remember them all so she could write them down in her journal when she got back to her ship.
"There once was an angry fellow who went and chopped down a fancy tree in a fancy forest," started one man.
"Grove.", called out another. This man was clearly a little more educated and knew the story about to be told.
"Bless you. Anyway, he chopped down that tree and it turned into a beautiful glowing woman! The Goddess lady she was friends with got angry and called on her sister's cousin's friend or whatever. Anyway, she called on this other Goddess to go and make the man always be hungry! It worked and eventually the man ate through all of his money and even tried to sell his own daughter! Well, somethin happened to her and she got to turn into different things to trick people into giving her dad money. Eventually, when he couldn't do that no more, he ate himself all up! Crazy!" everyone chuckled.
Old Mama Snakeskin stood as did the man beside her. He was supposed to be her translator, as she spoke her native tongue.
"There once was a man who could turn into many animals. He fell in love with another man's wife and went to fight for her love. The shifter man fought hard, using all of his animal forms to aid him, but in the end, he only ended up losing a horn. Another man, not a shifter, also went through a great tragedy for a woman. The same man who defeated the shifter, struck the new man with a poisoned arrow as he tried to steal his bride. The strong man, Hercules, had gone home, thinking of how to save his lady. His wife sent him the poisoned shirt to show him she was still alive. Hercules put on the shirt, not knowing it was poisoned. Eventually, the poison seemed into his body and though he cried to his Gods to save him, the poison ate his flesh like a ravenous fire." Mama Snakeskin and the boy sat down.
Finally, Sarah stood and the crowd fell silent.
"Last story friends, then I must depart. There once was a daughter who loved her father as more than a father. She wanted him to embrace her and love her as he did her mother. One night, when the mother was to be away for a week, the nurse caught the daughter trying to hang herself. When the nurse asked why she was doing this the daughter told her nurse about her incestuous love of her father. The nurse knew the mother would be gone and so talked the father into seeing the young beautiful girl. The father had no idea it was his daughter until he decided to see who this new love was. When he discovered he kicked her from the house. The daughter, wandering and ready to die, ended up turing into a tree. The baby that was growing inside of her still was born and became a favorite of the Gods and Goddesses. One day, however, when he was older and out hunting, he tried to take down a boar much too large for him. He ended up being killed but also being allowed to join his Gods and Goddesses."
The men clapped, Sarah said her good-byes, then went on her marry way.
Author's note:
So this story is based off of the first half of the Ovid's Metamorphosis III as well as one of my other stories. Basically, there are a bunch of Gods and Goddesses sitting around telling stories. The stories usually have patters between them and they are all mostly about something to do with humanity.
Bibliography:
Story source: Ovid's Metamorphosis III translated to English by Tony Kline (2000)
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