Mythology and Folklore Fall 2020

  I am pretty happy with my progress thus far, especially doing the easy 2 point of extra credit from the Check-In/Connect. Those 2 points are adding up and allowing me to finish hopefully by Week 12. I honestly do not have a routine. I just sit down and grind out this class whenever I have some down time and need a break from my other classes. I think my blog and website are going great so far. I think I am doing a pretty good job so far, so I am not sure what I should change for the second half of the semester. I am satisfied with my blog and storybook so far, so I do not want to change them yet. I think my writing is going good and I do not know what new thing I should try. (Image from Pinterest )

I think the comments are of moderate quality from my classmates. I am very far ahead of others, so I do not have many comments on my posts. And honestly I haven't found the time to look at the comments on my posts much, either. I think I am giving about as much as I am receiving in terms of quality comments. I try to give some encouragement and constructive criticism from my initial reactions. I definitely could be giving better quality but I am on such a time crunch for everything else that I do as much as I can while being efficient. The only way I am getting to know people is through their original blog posts, not comments. The Introductions are the most useful but I can also tell more about them from the topics they choose to write about and how they write it. I am very happy with my introduction and personal blog. I could probably spend a bit more time adding details in my comments to other people so that I can be more helpful. I do not want to make any changes to my personal ...

I think the reading and writing assignments were working better at the beginning and are better now for people doing portfolios. Personally, I think that the reading and writing assignments are just extra busy work for the people doing the storybooks because we have already picked our readings for them.  I am pretty happy with my blog and project website. I think that they are nice and organized while also being aesthetically appealing. I would say the storybook is my biggest accomplishment in my writing for this class because that is my most creative work and I really enjoy it. My reading notes are somewhat helping with my story post because they sum up the story but I tend to just look at the original story more. This is my favorite image from my previous blog posts because it is a beautiful picture of landscape, which are my favorite type of photos. (Image of  Lover's Leap in Laos ) I think I am getting the most out of my reading/writing experiences in class and am not sure...

  A long time ago lived a girl and a boy who were madly in love. But, like Romeo and Juliet, their families did not accept their love and forced them apart. This was due to the ancient family feud between the families (but that is another story). Of course, the lovers tried to sneak out and see each other, but they were always caught. They were miserable without each other! One day, they snuck out again and met in the woods. Just as they ran into each other's embrace, they heard shouting from not far away. They bolted together, trying to have a few more moments together. It was then that they decided to just wait patiently for the right moment. They stopped and kissed just as both fathers yanked them away. Days, months, and years went by as the lovers patiently waited for the right time to escape. It was on day 1982 that the girl's father thought she had forgotten about the boy. In celebration, he decided to throw a feast! He wanted to invite all of the other noble men in the ...

The Legend of the Rice: ancient world, superfood=rice of larger grain switch to larger ones every year (granaries) great haste angered widow rice broke into thousands of pieces--small grain (today) A Boy of the City Streets: boy saw 3 men come to gate of town, asked where the are going men said why is a boy speaking to us boy said he was just asking kidnapped boy and took him with them men didn't have water but boy did men got tired of carrying boy, sold boy for three slaves buyers were from his city The Justice of In Ta Pome: three countries wanted to change stone to gold--worshipped Ta Pome Ta Pome wanted each man to kill one of their children--cut up and put in jar China=killed pig, Siam=kill dog, India=killed only son return to Ta Pome: China=kill pigs for gold, Siam=plow earth for food, India=child resurrected--got to turn stone to gold The Magic Well: old man sick and undiagnosed spirits told him to touch river's brink went to prince and told him of vision prince believed...

The Mountain Spirits and the Stone Mortars: spirits needed money so brought stone mortars to village people didn't want because too expensive and useless spirits were angry so they wanted villagers to help bring them back to top of mountain people didn't want to anger spirits but too heavy to pick up people paid spirits and the stones were left in place still in same spot today Why the Lip of the Elephant Droops: man and women had 12 daughters they didn't love anymore father made basket of rice with ashes at bottom--led daughters to jungle to hunt for game father made them try to construct bamboo water faucet, but he ditched them leaving the basket daughters figured out they were abandoned and slept with wild beasts peacefully women appeared and got daughters to stay with her if they could watch her daughter only rule=no play secret garden one day girls go to garden--find human bones (women=cannibal) ask cow to protect them--all 12 jump in his mouth women asked cow if he...

Once upon a time lived a magical forest that was ruled by a great king. The king had three daughters who loved to play in the forest. One day, the daughters were walking to there favorite spot when they noticed an unusual red bird that was as big as the youngest daughter. The girls had seen numerous birds in this forest before, but none so fiery red and large before.  They were terrified! However, t he bird was fast asleep on a branch of the tree, so the eldest daughter quietly led the girls out of the forest and back to the castle. When they got back, the girls ran screaming to their father, the king, "Papa! Papa! There is a bird as red as blood and as big as Ella [the youngest girl]! He was invading our favorite play spot. Oh, Papa, we are so scared! Please do something so that we may return to our play!" The king loved his daughters very much, so he sent his guards after the giant red bird. After a couple days, the guards returned to the castle with the bird held captive. ...

  The Stupid Monkeys: king gave holiday so he could go into city--getting monkeys to water trees for him monkeys lived in king's garden--allowed to play, eat, and water monkeys checked to see if tree had enough water by lifting them up out of ground (killing trees) The Cunning Wolf: people went to woods for holiday to get stuff to eat man went to go get fresh meat by lake--laid down and pretended to be dead King of Wolves knew it was a trick he went and pulled at his club and the man gave some resistance before getting up the wolf had ran out of the way before getting hurt told man he knew he wasn't dead because he was holding onto club man threw club at wolf and missed--returned home with no meat The Stolen Plow: 2 traders: one lived in town, one in village village trader took plow to town to be mended and left with friend town trader sold it and kept money--told friend mice ate it village trader took town trader's son with another friend but didn't return with him tol...

  How the Turtle Saved His Own Life: King put fished in lake Boys found "demon" (turtle) and were scared king ordered for men to bring turtle to palace boys cried when it came and king ordered to kill it old man suggests drowning in river turtle says that's the worst punishment of all (tricking him) survived The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking: geese and turtle=very good friends geese ask turtle to fly to their home with them turtle can't fly but geese will take him if he keeps his mouth shut geese took stick and turtle held on by his mouth children saw this and were laughing at turtle turtle responded but fell and died geese said i told you so The Banyan Deer: gold deer with jewel eyes and silver horns, etc. king of herd of 500 in Banyan "monkey deer'=humans--forced Banyan into forest and would hunt Banyan deer king asks to stop killing and do one Banyarn one day then a monkey deer the next and so on all agreed Banyan deer king volunteered in spot of a ...

While I have had many success stories, no story tops the very first one: the turning of Adam and Eve. Let me back up. I was cast out of heaven long before Allah created the first man. Then Allah created this botanical garden, so I decided to reside there. One day, Allah stirred up some dust and created a human being. It truly was a strange creature, but it was something new for me to play with, so I was just as happy.  However, I had to wait 40 years and 40 days in order to start with my games, for that is when Allah breathed the life into him. I decided to sit back and observe the creature--who Allah called Adam--for awhile before messing with him. During my observances, Allah had split Adam in half to make another creature, this one smaller and prettier. I decided to push back my plans to observe the both of them some more. Boy, was that an entertaining idea! I had to pop some popcorn for all of the drama. The smaller human would not submit to Adam because they were made from the...

  Lot and the Tree of the Cross: Seth planted tree for Abraham at head of his grave Survived flood but forgotten by mankind Lot was sent by Allah to take jar of water from Jordan to water tree Lot got jar of water but stopped on side of road for pilgrim Lot gave him water, but it turned out to be Satan Happened two more times, so Lot gave up and died Angels had watered tree for Lot and forgave his sins The tree flourished David: David became king of Jews Really wanted to know what people thought, so he disguised and went into town to hear what they would say Angels were sent to tell David he needed to work with his hands David prayed to Allah then began to make armory, a third of his profits went to alms, one third to family, and last third to Temple Created Dome of Rock (Photo of Dome of Rock ) Solomon: Solomon was also a king Kid said he was better than the king and Solomon replied Kid said he only said it to impress a girl King Solomon grew a botanical garden Young plant wa...

  Our Father Adam: Allah formed Adam out of dust, but was lifeless for 40 years and 40 days Allah breathed into his nostrils to give life Satan gave man lots of trials and tribulations Adam=man and woman, but was split to form woman Woman refused to submit to man, so became mother of devils Hawa (Eve) was created from the rib of Adam Satan persuaded Hawa and Adam to eat forbidden fruit  Adam was cast out of paradise, met back in Mecca (200 yrs later) Noah: Noah=one of six great prophets Lived in Damascus until Allah flooded earth Everyone laughed and mocked him for preparing for flood, even his wife The ark saved animals and preserved the Arabic language Satan came on ark as a fly then turned into donkey Job and His Family: Job was rich but Allah took away his fortunes and gave him disease Despite the misfortunes, Job continued serving Allah But, his wife was more devoted than him, by caring for Job the entire time Allah restored his children and made his wife more beautiful t...

STYLE: The style of this storybook is obvious from its title. I am going to retell the classic Disney princess stories from the perspective of Scandal Damsel (aka Gossip Girl). So, I will write it like a blog post from the point of view of someone who likes all the juicy scandals that go on in the princess' lives. By Scandal Damsel being the narrator, I will be able to connect all of the different stories, as well. STORIES: I found two really good books to get my stories from. The first one is called The Old Fairy Tales by James Mason. I will use the stories "Snow-White and Rose-Red," "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood," and "Cinderella" from this book. The second book I will be using is called Once Upon a Time by Katherine Lee Bates. From this book, I will be using "Rapunzel" and "Beauty and the Beast." Bibliography:  The Old Fairy Tales  by James Mason. Web Link. Once Upon a Time  by Katherine Lee Bates. Web link. THEME: The point...

  (Image of Thank You balloons from Kris Carr ) Thank you for reading my storybook! Please let me know what you think in the comments! Storybook link

Everyone in the town of Jerusalem was going wild! Apparently, the king decreed a tax on all the people. My master was not very happy since he just had to take in this poor young woman and marry her. I didn't quite get all of the details, I just know that she is about to have a baby and was very lonely. My master is a very nice man! Before I knew it, my master was packing up his bags and loading it on me and we were off. To where, I don't know. All I know is that the young woman is riding me while my master guides me. A few days into our trip, the young woman told my master to stop in this town because she was about to have the baby. We quickly headed to town to find an inn. My master was very angry because there was no room anywhere! So we moved on only to find this stable. My master took us there and that's where the young woman bore the baby. She wrapped him up and put him on my dinner plate! How rude! But it was hard to be mad when the baby was so cute. All of a sudden, ...

  Curing the Leprosy: Women was possessed by Satan from the river Mary had baby Jesus Women went to Jesus and parents used the water from Jesus' bath She was immediately cured, people started calling Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Gods Girl was called into palace because the prince's son is sick and she tells of her cure from Jesus the wife held a feast for Joseph to heal her son Mary healed him and they praised her (catholicism??) The Two Robbers: Joseph and Mary passed through robber town encountered two sleeping robbers on side of road Titus and Dumachus Titus wanted to let them go but Dumachus refused Mary blessed them for being kind Jesus prophesied Titus and Dumahcus being on the two crosses beside him Jesus the Exorcist: girl possessed by Satan--looked dead prince told parents how his son was cured by Mary parents went to Mary and she gave them Jesus' swaddling cloth parents went and the dragon of Satan was terrified and left her body (Image of possession by Rila Monastery ...