Week 10 Reading Diary continued: American Indian Fairy Tales

The Boy who Snared the Sun

Story source: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned

Illustrations by John Rae (1921)

The stories each have a beautiful scene to set the tone of the story. The landscape is described in the beginning scenes giving the reader a great visual and displaying the character's surroundings. 

When Iagoo speaks with the children in the teepee, he lets his conversations with them lead him into his stories. When the mouse appears in the corner of his teepee he begins his story about the history of the mouse. He is able to change their way of thinking and their previous misconceptions on different animals and scenarios. 

The children in the story were self-sufficient. To survive they had to learn new skills like the brother learning to shoot a bow and arrow so he could use the birds skin as a coat. 

Again, Iagoo gives the animals and nature human characteristics. It shapes the style of the entire story  and makes it vivid. It gives it more flavors for the overall recipe of the story.  

Mastoden towering over the people by John Rae (1921)

(Source: Blogspot)

Week 10 Reading Diary: American Indian

Iagoo, the Storyteller

Story source: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned

Illustrations by John Rae (1921)

Iagoo was one of the great American Indian storytellers. He knew about everything including the land and animals that occupied it. It was the stories that gained the children's hearts and smiles. Iagoo could explain the ways of the animals which was an extremely rare talent. He showered the children with gifts that he made. 

Everything has human characteristics. It gives the stories life and sets them apart from the norm. Iagoo used his stories to teach the children life lessons. 

Image sharing his stories

(Source: Blogspot)

Shin-ge-bis Fools the North Wind

Story source: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned

Illustrations by John Rae (1921)

In this storytelling, the North Wind is very powerful. He has a reputation that intimidates the men of the land. The North Wind again takes on human characteristics and believes he cannot be beat. Shin-Be-Bis believes differently. 

Week 9 Reading Diary continued: Heroes

Heroes: Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away

Story source from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929)

Throughout the beginning there are several questions not answered. Who is the Red-Women and how does the father know she killed his wife? Are the boys that appear in complete human form or are they ghosts come back to life? The father does not question where they come from or who they are. 

The father uses his first son, Thrown-behind-the-curtain, to trick his second son, Thrown-in-Spring, to come onto land. This is where we figure out Thrown-behind-the-curtain is human and Thrown-in-Spring turns into a human. 

Crow Tribe 1840

(Source: Wikipedia)

The boys disobeyed their father multiple times. Usually in the act of disobeying, children end up getting hurt or in trouble. By disobeying their father they are actually doing heroic actions and saving others from harm. Sometimes bravery overpowers fear. 

Week 9 Reading Diary: Native American Hero Tales

The Jealous Uncle

Story Source: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929) 

This was definitely a different style of telling a hero style. The beginning involves incredible heartache for the nephew's family. After the first two sons are born, the family continues to find strength when they conceal the identity of the third son. 

The main characteristic was the nephew's cunningness. It saved his life multiple times and protected him from his uncle. It was also his strength that helped him begin a new life on Eagle land. 

Such was his passion and love for his family, that he returned to save his parents from his uncle. He also protects his previous village by getting rid of his uncle. Hence the reason he is deemed a hero.

Eagle Land in Kodiak, Alaska

Source: Wikipedia

Bluejay and His Companions

Story Source: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929)

So many times we are put in situations where it's easier to not say anything. This can prevent a situation from getting out of hand but it could also hinder the situation from ever being solved. The grouse is put in this situation at the beginning. I think it happens more than we realize.

Often times we are at a point where actions speak louder than words. The grouse puts his skills to the test to get back at the five men. In doing so, one drowns at sea. Another has to compete with a village to survive and protect the other three that are left. 

The group of four that is left are challenged a few more times and have to fight for their survival. They eventually make their way back home. I think in a way they realize not to treat others badly because ... hello, karma! 

Blog Ideas

I really enjoyed looking through my classmate's blogs. Everyone has a different style and flavor! What I liked the most about the one's I looked through was the colors and the font used throughout. These two elements can change the look of a blog exponentially.

Jasmine
Mac
Alex

Time For Change

It has been an incredibly busy semester so far. Whoever said the last semester of college would be easy lied! At the start of school I told myself I would not get behind but here I am... behind. Once you get behind, catching back up is a struggle.

Every year I buy a calendar and try to keep up with my daily activities and for some reason it feels as though I fall behind on writing stuff down. My goal for the rest of this semester is to really utilize my calendar. I like writing things down so I don't get dates confused or forget to do an assignment. My life is so hectic and using this technique will help tremendously.

I am also working on NOT getting behind. Once I finish one assignment my goal will be to start another assignment. By doing this I will hopefully not get stuck playing catch up.

Time Management

(Source: Wikipedia)

Learning Challenges Week 7: OU Mental Health

The first thing that caught my eye was the video of an OU student discussing mental health and struggling with depression. I think it resonated with me most because I have family members that deal with these issues.

From the outside looking in, it's hard to know how to handle these issues. I was discussing depression with a family member and he said depression was hard for him to explain. He also said that he doesn't  want to be in this mindset but it happens.

As someone who has never had to deal with depression personally it really is hard to understand, but I know that I have to be understanding as well as patient. I will probably never understand depression but I know that being there for them is very important. I've also learned patience is a must. I don't know what they are going through each day. They may have good days and a bad day. Being aware of their attitude and then adjusting to it seems to help.

Quote I Find Important

(Source: Flickr)

Storytelling Week 7: The Three Wives

Deep in the heart of the Congo lived a young man with three beautiful wives; each of them were a beautiful. The following is their story.

~~~

There was once a young man, Nenpetro, who was very poor and had just lost both of his parents. They were floating the river when their canoe overturned and killed them. It was after his parents accident that he met each of his three wives.

Women of the Congo

(Source: Wikipedia)

He came upon them quite by accident. He was wandering around the Congo, mourning the loss of parents, when he saw them through the trees. He had never seen such beauty before. The women looked up and spotted the young man looking at them.

The first woman asked, "Do you have any food? We've been lost out here for hours and haven't had anything to eat in a very long time."

"Yes! Yes, of course. Please follow me. I don't have much but I can give you something."

Nenpetro knew he wouldn't be able to give them a grand meal, but he knew anything would help. The women followed him home and Nenpetro explained why he was in the Congo.

But the women already knew Nenpetro's heartaches and troubles. This was merely a test. They were testing him to see if he was worthy of the gifts they possessed. His kindness and thoughtfulness were the key to winning the women.

Once they arrived at Nenpetro's house they told him he could take them as his wives. And so the next day they were married. The second day they told him about their special gifts.

The first wife possessed the gift of dreams. If she dreamed for something to happen, it would. The first dream she dreamed was of them all living in a large house. By the next morning they were all living comfortably in the largest house any of them had ever seen. Nenpetro was astonished. He could not believe how lucky he was. He was already so happy with his wives, this was too much!

The second wife possessed the gift of guidance. Whenever Nenpetro felt lost or hopeless, the second wife would be able to calm him and give him guidance in life.

The third wife however possessed a much stronger gift. She had the power to raise the dead. Nenpetro could not believe it! The one thing he wanted was for his parents to come back. He wanted to show them his new life with his new wives. But more importantly he wanted his family.

The next day Nenpetro walked outside and there stood his parents. His life was whole and good again!

Author's Note: This story is pretty different from my own. In the original story, the three women have the gifts of dreams, guidance and the raiser of the dead. However, these women demand food from their husband and are always hungry. While the husband is out killing more food he dies. The first wife dreams of his death, the second guides them to him, and the third raises him from the dead. I wanted my story to be more lighthearted.

Bibliography:  I decided to base my story off How The Wives Restored Their Husband To Life by Richard Edward Dennett (1898).

Week 7 Reading Diary continued: Stories from Congo

The Antelope and The Leopard

By: Richard Edward Dennett (1898)

Leopard hunting an antelope

(Source: Wikipedia)

There are many stories that contain a character that feels as though they always have to prove themselves. The leopard in this case believes he is more cunning and can outsmart the antelope. The leopard believes that since he is a leopard he is automatically better. We also learn that bullying can cause drastic measures later on. The leopard wanted revenge for everything the antelope did to him. 

How the Spider Won and Lost Nzambi's Daughter

By: Richard Edward Dennett (1898)

I took away from this story that not everyone keeps their word. From the beginning of the story, the spider told his friends what he wanted as well as what he wanted from them. They agreed to helping the spider win the daughter by collecting the fire from the heavens. Their own selfish needs overpowered their word to the spider. I think this is extremely prevalent today as well.

Week 7 Reading Diary: Stories from Congo

How the Wives Restored Their Husband to Life

By: Richard Edward Dennett (1898)

The three women each represented something different: the dreamer, the guide, the raiser of the dead. Each of them gave their husband something he would be able to use. The husband provided for all three with his hunting skills. The women always wanted something from him. 

 

Women from the Congo

(Source: Wikipedia)

How Gazelle Got Married

By: Richard Edward Dennett (1898)

Nsassi yearned for both daughters, yet finding out their names was a problem. The dog was obedient and wanted his master to be happy. It took him several times before he finally remembered the names. Why was their father so adamant that the man wanting his daughters guessed their name?

The Vanishing Wife

By: Richard Edward Dennett (1898)

Two brothers are living completely different lives. One lives the life many want and hope for, and the other is always left out. Once the woman arrived, she brought with her the house, kids and much more. The wife asked for only one thing. This could be set up in a court room. She owned everything and only asked for him to cut the heads off the fish.