Reading Notes: The Heptameron, Part A

My goodness, this is quite a collection of stories. They were not quite what I was expecting, particularly the moralistic elements about society and sexuality. 

It is important for multiple stories to note that a Cordelier is a Franciscan friar.

The first story has multiple themes that are carried throughout, particularly the duty of women to guard their virtue and the duplicity of churchmen. I think I read it somewhat differently than the author intended it, as I was mostly hoping she would not be raped rather than that she would not be convinced to betray her husband, who had not yet been mentioned. The moralizing sermon at the end is repeated with different but often related topics as well. 

Personally, I find this 'enduring passion' rather creepy and stalkerish. He follows her everywhere with no sign that she actually loves him, although it turns out that she does. 

Marguerite of Navarre. Source: Wikipedia.

I am glad that justice is served even when the offender is a churchman. I particularly liked the implication that a misbehaving priest was at the service of the devil. (Note that I have nothing but respect for clergymen who practice what they preach). I especially disliked the priest who committed incest with his sister. I think the emphasis on clergy rather than government officials as those in power shows the prestige that the church had in society at that time as well as the author's role in the Reformation.  

Another element of social commentary was a conversation that alternately demeaned and idealized the poor. 

I thought the story of the Cordeliers and the pigs was hilarious. I am not sure how this could be retold in another context, as it is pretty specific to a society where innkeepers keep pigs and friars are called cordeliers. The mix-up where an animal destined to be slaughtered is called by the name of a person, or really any mix-up based on eavesdropping, is a pretty common theme in stories. 

Bibliography: Walter K. Kelly's The Heptameron of Marguerite, Queen of Navarre. Link. 

Week 13 Reading Notes: The Faerie Queen, Britomart, Part B

The moralistic element is something I had heard of about Spenser, but it is somewhat strange to have personifications of vices and virtues mixed in with what otherwise has the air of a historical (although obviously romanticized) drama. The magic too has a strong allegorical element, as it rewards virtue, such as in the part about the golden girdle, which chooses Amoret. It is unclear whether some sentience is granted to the girdle or if it is more like a computer program and virtue is the password. I did not care particularly much for the allegorical parts, such as Sir Scudamour's sojourn in the house of Care, but I am more intrigued by objects that respond to good and evil.

Golden Girdle. Link.

I have to admit, it somewhat bothers me when beauty is a sign of virtue and when it can so swiftly stop anger. The men are always getting so angry, and even Britomart at times. It does not seem particularly noble to me, even though the main male characters are presented as furious and seeking revenge before they are suddenly appeased. Sir Scudamour's change of heart is more reasonable, but Sir Artegall should have not been so angry at being beaten. It actually contradicts what Spenser said earlier about knights not minding defeat.

WHAAAAAT? I want to know what happened to Amoret! She would be another interesting character to make the narrator. I like that they became friends.

I am glad that Britomart kept up her adventuring after she met and agreed to marry Artegall, as she is quite good at it. I wonder whether she continues in her disguise. It seems that dressing as a knight is not merely a way to pursue her quests, as she continues to be respected by those to whom her secret is revealed, but as a prevention against kidnapping. Beautiful ladies seem to frequently be at the mercy of those who want to marry them, so it makes sense to be a knight instead.

Bibliography: Mary Macleod's Stories from the Faerie Queen, Link.

Week 13 Reading: The Faerie Queen, Britomart, Part A

I have never read the Faerie Queen before, and I am always intrigued by women who dress up as men to become knights, like in the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce.

One character that I am particularly curious about is Glaucé, Britomart's maid. She is not frequently mentioned, except in the part that explains Britomart's backstory. There it is mentioned that she disguises herself as a squire and accompanies Britomart on her journey, but throughout the other chapters, when she would presumably be present, she is not mentioned. It is particularly curious that she is repeatedly referred to as an old nurse, yet she takes on the role of a squire, who is generally a young person. As for her rather unusual name, it appears to be drawn from Greek mythology, as is Britomart's. It would be interesting to retell the story or parts of it from her perspective.

Britomart. Web Source: Public Domain Super Heroes.

Merlin is always an interesting character, particularly as he knows everything that is going to happen.

One especially enjoyable scene was when Glaucé encourages Britomart to take up arms and find the man she loves with inspiring stories of women in arms from history. One of these women, a Saxon queen named Angela, provides the armor that Britomart needs for her quest. According to one report, Anglia was named after the daughter of a Saxon duke, Angela. However, I am not sure whether this is actually the character's namesake.

What is the backstory of the enchanted spear? Who enchanted it and how does it work? Oh maybe I could personify the spear and her sword. Perhaps it is their respect for her character, rather than her goodness itself, that gives her power. The spear and the sword could initially be rivals, but then grow in their desire to defend Britomart and further her quest.

Bibliography: Mary MacLeod's Stories from the Faerie Queen, Link.

Week 12 Story: Rhiannon's Flight

Rhiannon Mabinogi had always known she was beautiful. It had turned into a running joke in her family: their spaceship lacked a figurehead, and if Rhiannon was ever too sassy, some person or other would threaten to make her their figurehead. Not that she was ever worried - with her quick wits and tongue, there was little she could not get herself out of.

Spaceship. Link. 

Except her impending marriage to that baseless cur Gwawl.

Okay, so maybe he wasn't really a baseless cur. Probably she had just been reading too many stories of her ancestral homeland. But she did not like him, and she certainly did not love him. At every port he called at he took the best of the planet's resources without heed to the needs of its inhabitants. All he wanted to do was monopolize the space economy. And once he had blockaded the Mabinogi home port, there was nothing her father could offer but Rhiannon herself. Maybe baseless cur wasn't too far from the mark, she thought as she adjusted her veil.

Now the Mabinogi were a proud bunch. As her father walked her down the aisle, he whispered in her ear, "Humiliate him, Rhiannon. Humiliate him."

This she was already prepared to do. She activated the portal-maker hidden on the dress, and left Gwawl screaming at the altar. She went first to collect her pod and cloaking device, then took off through time to the land of her dreams, the ancient homeland of the Mabinogi, where the man who had enchanted her across the pages dwelt.

She calculated her course to arrive at the mounds of mystery, which the people of Dyfed believed led to another world. It was easy for her to cloak her pod so that it resembled a horse. She kept it at a speed just faster than whatever the speed of her pursuers was, until the king himself, Pwyll of Dyfed, came riding after her. He called out to her to stop, and she slowed.

"Of course I will stop. It would have been easier on your horse if you had asked me earlier."

Rhiannon. Link. 

"Where have you come from lady? And what are you here for?" His eyes shown with wonder and admiration.

"From a land far away, a land of mystery."

"You are indeed most powerful, my lady. What brings you to my humble land?"

"You, my king. I flee one I do not love to find the one I do, that I might marry him."

There was no doubting King Pwyll's response as he gazed at her. Gwawl would certainly come after her, but she would be ready for him.

Bibliography: Lady Charlotte Guest's The Mabinogion, link.

Author's Note: In the original story, Rhiannon comes from the Otherworld through a magical mound. She rides on a horse that is always just ahead of her pursuers, until Pwyll, the king, calls out to her. She is fleeing from an unwanted suitor and is in love with Pwyll. I liked her sassiness and wanted to give more of an explanation of her background. I replaced magic with sci-fi tech.

Reading Notes: The Mabigonion, Part B

I was initially confused by the part about weirs, so I looked them up. Apparently it's a type of small dam that can trap fish. In this story, the fish are harvested yearly. Except when a baby is harvested instead.

One of the most striking things to me was the extensive use of religious language and references in Taliesin's songs. His story itself is reminiscent of the story of Moses, who was drawn up by a princess out of the water. In the last song he connects it to the history of the British (or Britons, or Brython, which comes from the Welsh spelling) in contrast with the Saxons. It's important to remember that British is not synonymous with English and originally meant the Celtic inhabitants and their languages. Well, some of the languages - the Gaelic ones are in a slightly different branch, though more closely related to the Brittonic languages than to say, English/Anglo-Saxon and the Germanic languages. 

Pre-Anglo-Saxon Britain, Brythonic area in red. Link.

I did not originally picture it, but when Taliesin was first singing to and about Elphin, he would have been a baby. How cute would a baby bard be, singing away far more intelligently than his age. I know there's a movie called Boss Baby - maybe I could write a sequel called Bard Baby. Though the original story reminds me of a musical, what with Taliesin bursting into song all the time. I don't know whether they sing in Boss Baby. People even get kidnapped, and there is a villain they have to outsmart.

The theme of boasting and honor is key to these stories. How is reneging on a word directly dishonorable but using magical means not? Like the bottomless bag or the hollies in the race? It is interesting that boasting in and of itself does not negate honor.

Bibliography: Lady Charlotte Guest's The Mabigonion, link.

Reading Notes: The Mabigonion, Part A

I am looking forward to reading the Mabinogion, as it was one of the stories I discovered when I was looking ahead.

I found this table of Welsh orthography to be useful for pronouncing the names, since Welsh spelling, though straightforward, is different from English spelling.

I am particularly fond of Rhiannon's character, although I do not understand why she is in love with Pwyll. Was it because of what she had heard of his character? Had she met him before? What is the source of her magic powers, like her ability to stay ahead of anyone that Pwyll sends after her or the magic bag that she makes? I like how sassy and decisive she is. Some of my favorite quotes that show her sassiness are below.

Rhiannon. Web Source: Wikipedia.

"I will stay gladly," said she, "and it were better for thy horse hadst thou asked it long since." 

This is after Pwyll has been chasing her and sending soldiers on horseback after her, none of whom were able to catch up to her.

"Never did man make worse use of his wits than thou hast done."

This is after Pwyll promises a man any boon, and he then asks for her hand in marriage. I like how even though she is head over heels in love with Pwyll she does not hesitate to criticize him. It would be fun to rewrite the story from her perspective.

I feel bad though that she had to bear such a penance though she had done no wrong. To constantly have to admit to such a terrible crime as eating one's child while completely innocent and probably grieving would be miserable. How does she not turn out bitter and angry?

It's nice to read a story that's all connected, instead of a bunch of short stories. The flow helps it move faster.

Bibliography: Lady Charlotte Guest's The Mabinogion, link.

Week 11 Story: The Shrewmouse in the Land of the Dead

The shrewmouse, Casrarer, had known, from its very first day on Earth, that he was made by Raven to bring cheer to the world. His lot was to rummage around in the grass, looking for worms and receiving praise for its fuzzy cuteness and little pointy nose. Casrarer thought that he had a lot to look forward to. He ignored the rest of Raven's conversation with man, thinking it would be of little relevance to him.

Shrew. Web Source: Mammal's Planet.

Unfortunately, the world soon became in need of more cheer than he could supply. The animals he lived among began to disappear at an alarming rate, and man began to fill the tundra. Casrarer scurried over to Paugnar, the bear, to ask him what was going on. "Why are my friends disappearing Paugnar?"

"The humans are killing them for meat," said Paugnar sadly.

"Oh no!" Casrarer squeaked. "Are we in danger?" His hairless tail quivered in fear.

"Not us," Paugnar replied. "You are too small and cute, and I am too fierce."

"But Paugnar, what happens to our friends once they are killed?"

"There is a land of the dead, inhabited by shades. Humans and animals alike will go there. Raven told me that humans will be judged for their treatment of us."

Casrarer was glad to hear that. He decided that he wanted to see the land of the dead. Perhaps he would meet the shades of his friends.

That night, as he was dreaming, he thought that he had awoken in a new place. He found himself in a village that seemed to have no end, even for a creature larger than a shrew. He wandered around, looking for his friends, and saw some strange sights. In one house, women were beating other people with a large stick. He overheard someone say that these were the shades of dogs, who got their revenge on humans who had beaten them on earth. He supposed that man who had grass growing through his body so that he could not move had pulled up grass while alive.

Soon after, Casrarer did wake up. He was back in the land of the living, feeling relieved that there was a solution to Earth's problems after death. In the meantime, he would just do his best to bring cheer in the midst of the suffering. He scurried happily away.

Bibliography: Katharine Berry Judson's Myths and Legends of Alaska, link.

Author's Note: I combined two stories to create this one. In the creation story, Raven creates the shrewmouse to bring cheer to the earth and the bear so that not all of his creation will be killed by humans. In the land of the dead story, a girl who dies explores the land of the shades. She sees the sights and judgements that Casrarer (which means shrew in Yupik Eskimo and is pronounced Chahs-rah-rayr) sees in his dream. In another story about the land of the dead, someone visits it in a dream, which is how I got the idea for Casrarer to visit it in his dream.

Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends, Part B

In the story of the first woman, she is pulled in two pieces and wood is used to replace the missing parts, so that she becomes two women. I would be really curious to see what her perspective on that would be. Did the woman with wooden feet keep all her original personality and feelings, while the woman with a torso of wood would develop a new personality? Or would the two be exactly like each other, except that one sews and the other dances?

The sky arch that the Doll comes upon sounds really beautiful. 

Wow the land of the dead is such an interesting place. I don't know that I could really expand on it for a story, but it's fascinating in and of itself. Again we see cruelty to animals and even plants like grass being the crime that is punished in the afterlife. The idea that thoughts can be heard there is particularly interesting. The next story also deals with the land of the dead, and in some ways reminds me of Greek myths - such as if you eat food there you will be trapped. The ghost that returns to earth portrayed there is really interesting, though etymologically appropriate, as a shade is a shadow. 

What a lovely song! I wonder if I could write such a song based on one of the other stories? Perhaps about the creation of animals or the naming of the birds. 

In the thunderbird story, I assumed that he was going to rescue his wife. But no, he was just going to get revenge and possibly to ensure that no one else was taken by wiping out the thunderbirds as a species. 

I had no idea killer whales were so important.

Killer Whales. Link.

A wolverine origin story! I can't help but think of the superhero. I like that this super strong person and then animal started out as grass. 

Bibliography: Katharine Berry Judson's Myths and Legends of Alaska, link.

Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends, Part A

Raven is a really interesting character. I am particularly intrigued by how he lifts up his beak mask to become human. It's a really neat image and reminds me of superheros. The geese do it too.

Ah how cute, the shrewmouse was made just to keep the earth cheerful. They are pretty cute. Maybe I will work a cheerful shrew into my story.

Shrew. Link.

On the other hand, why on earth would the Man tell mosquitoes to eat men not meat? I suppose the meat was more important than physical discomfort.

Another animal whose purpose would make it an interesting character is the bear. I can't tell if the Raven meant to make him to protect other animals or just to be an animal that could not be killed, but I like to think that the bear would become a sort of defender for the animals that are easier to kill.

In these stories, man's main sin is killing too many animals, not hurting other humans or Raven, which is interesting. Animals must be extremely important.

The magic used in the flood story is really intriguing. It consists of ritual words that don't seem directly related to the result. Raven repeatedly asks about sea urchins, which causes the flood waters to go down. I assume there is likely some connection, but it is not immediately apparent to me.

It would be interesting to do a social media story about Raven and his adventures. It could include Facebook updates about his travels with Man, rebukes and environmental activism when humans are too bloodthirsty, an invitation to feast after mother's death, and a relationship status change upon marriage. I could have some of the other characters respond in comments, such as Man, Raven-Boy, the Witch, or some of the other animals.

Bibliography: Katharine Berry Judson's Myths and Legends of Alaska, link.

Week 10 Story: The Ustu'tli at the Museum

The Fernbank Museum's new exhibit was drawing huge crowds, to the delight of their marketing manager. Who could resist the giant, nearly complete skeleton of a dinosaur that resembled nothing more closely than an enormous snake with legs?  Particuarly one that had been discovered in their same state, up in the mountains of North Georgia. Hunter, a 10 year old boy who lived nearby, certainly could not. He loved anything to do with skeletons and dinosaurs, and had been begging his mother for months to visit the exhibit. 

Unfortunately, the same day that Hunter was planning to go to the museum, there was a solar eclipse. His mother told him to stay inside, as looking at the sun could blind him. The museum was not even going to be open to the public that day, so there was no point in going. 

Hunter was heartbroken. His dream was so close, yet so far. He decided to sneak out of his house and keep his eyes fixed on the ground. He knew the way quite well, and the roads were eerily empty. 

As he walked across Atlanta, he heard a very strange sound. It sounded like a deep, far-off ribbit. He cautiously looked around, but saw nothing. The day was growing darker and darker, until there was no light. He looked up and stood frozen in shock. The sun was not covered by the moon, but by a giant frog. 

Frog swallowing the sun. Web Source: Fox23.

Hunter decided that presumably the museum would know how to deal with a giant, sun-swallowing frog, so he ran as fast as he could without tripping over branches and pine-cones. He arrived breathless, and slipped inside an open door. The museum exhibits were dark, and no security guards blocked him from the dinosaurs.

Somewhere in the museum, a small animal bleated. 

The next thing Hunter knew, a thick, scaly body was moving past him. He ducked out of the way of a leg as it arched over him. Despite his terror, he suddenly realized what an amazing opportunity this was. An ancient, supposedly extinct animal had come to life before his eyes. 

By this time, the museum employees had become aware of the chaos in the exhibit hall. "It's an Ustu'tli!" screamed someone from the anthropology department. "It hates fire!" Another employee was frantically calling the police and the fire department.

Hunter ran around, chasing the ustu'tli. He knocked over a candle that had been lit in one of the offices, and fire began spreading around the building. The ustu'tli roared in pain as its scales began crackling in the heat. By the time the police got there, they were able to corner and shoot it. 

Suddenly, the sky grew bright again. All the noise from the chasing and shooting of the ustu'tli had scared the frog away from the sun. Hunter slipped back home quite satisfied with his experience of the eclipse and the ustu'tli. 

Author's note: I based this story on two different Cherokee stories. One says that eclipses are caused by a frog that swallows the sun, which is chased off when scared by guns and drums. The other involves the ustu'tli, a large snake with legs which bleated like a young fawn to scare off hunters. One hunter dared to enter its territory and defeated it with fire. The mountain it lived on in the story is actually found in North Georgia, so I decided to set it at the Fernbank museum which is found in Atlanta. 

Bibliography: James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee, Link. 

Reading Notes: Cherokee Myths, Part B

I really enjoyed the story of the ball game between the birds and the animals. It's such a creative origin story for the bat. It also reminds me a bit of Dirty Paws.
The race between the Crane and the Hummingbird is a lot like the Tortoise and the Hare.
What is a huhu? Turns out it's probably a screech owl, a wahuhu. I'm more curious as to why people keep accidentally marrying animals, such as an owl or a frog.

Wow, the Uktena and the Ulunsu'ti are really fascinating. Snakes seem to play a really large role in these stories. Yet they do not seem necessarily evil, more just large and dangerous. I suppose snakes are one of the more dangerous creatures that live in the original Cherokee homeland. The snake with feet, the Ustu'tli, reminds me of a dinosaur. Perhaps it is based off one. I could write a story about how a dinosaur in a museum came to life and turned out to be the Ustu'tli. It would then have to be defeated with fire, like in the original story, but in a way that does not destroy the city, just cracks its scales. The other snake story I liked, about the boy with the unkind family who turned into a snake, makes the snakes seem even less evil. For him it is an escape. I am really curious as to whether snakes really dislike the smell of sweat, though I don't think I will experiment.

Copperhead. Web Source.

Cottonmouth. Web Source.

It's interesting that the hero, Agan-uni'tsi, who gets the diamond from the Uktena is not himself Cherokee. Medicine does not seem like quite an accurate translation of the power that Agan-uni'tsi and the Red Man of Lightning have. I wonder why it is called that. Perhaps because it is used in healing as well.

I really enjoyed this unit because of the combination of unfamiliar stories and familiar wildlife.

Bibliography: James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee, link.

Reading Notes: Cherokee Myths, Part A

I chose the Cherokee stories because I am from Georgia, and in fact the county I'm from was created after the Cherokee were kicked out. I have read the creation story before in a class I took last semester called Native Earth Systems. It combined geology and meteorology with the Native stories that address those topics. 

I like the origin of the Pleiades and the pine, and how they are the same. Pine trees do reflect light differently than deciduous trees. 

The Pleiades. Web Source: Wikipedia.

Oh wow. I am familiar with the sun and moon as lovers, but not as incestuous siblings. 

It would be cool to write about the frog that swallows the sun during eclipses. For instance, why does he eat the sun? How does he do that without being burned up? How does he feel when he is chased off by drums? What happens to him afterwards? I could set it during the most recent solar eclipse. 

The flood story, where the man was warned by his dog who told him to build a raft, was really interesting. I wish the story had told more what had happened to the dog. It does not say if the man threw him off the raft like he was told. Why did the dog have to be thrown off? Did he survive? 

Wait were strawberries originally cultivated in the Americas? See Wikipedia Trails for more information. Cross-culturally, it appears that women are susceptible to fruit, as in the story of Eve. Part of the end result of that story was also desire for her husband. 

I would enjoy getting my hair cut a lot more if a cricket were the hair-cutter. Can crickets sing and cut hare? 

Hey look, it's the tortoise and the hare - I mean Terrapin and Rabbit. It is interesting that in the Tortoise and the Hare the hare loses because of his laziness, while the Terrapin wins because of his cleverness and community. 

Bibliography: James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee, Link. 

Wikipedia Trails: From Strawberry to Polyploid

I read about the origin of strawberries in the Cherokee stories and was curious as to where they were first grown.

Strawberry: Strawberry, at least for Wikipedia, refers to the garden strawberry that is cultivated and sold around the world. It is a hybrid of two types of strawberries, one from Chile and one from the United States, which were first bred together in Brittany, France. Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C and manganese and have positive health effects.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries. Web Source: Wikipedia.

Fragraria: This is the genus to which belong wild strawberries. There are over 20 species that are found throughout the world. They vary based on how many copies of their basic chromosomes they have. Interestingly, strawberries are not true berries, and their "seeds" are actually something else called achenes.

Virginia Strawberry: This strawberry grows throughout the United States and Canada, and is one of the strawberry species that was used to hybridize the garden strawberry. This is presumably the strawberry mentioned in the story. It multiplies which new plants grow up from the rhizomes, which makes it rather invasive.

Polyploid: While most Eukaryotic organisms (ones that have a nucleus) have two copies of each chromosome, some, particularly plants, can have several. The Virginia Strawberry has eight copies of each chromosome.

Week 9 Story: Nenpetro and Mambou

Nenpetro had three wives, each of whom was pregnant and craved a different food. He was kept very busy with hunting for meat and gathering fruit in the woods. The season was very dry, so animals were scarcer and trees not as fruitful. He tried to find something for each of them, but somedays he was so busy hunting that he could not find any of the fruit that his third wife, Mambou, desired. Although he made sure there was meat for her, Mambou was too sick to eat the meat and became very hungry and exasperated. After quarreling with Nenpetro and the other two women, she ran off into the forest to find the fruit for herself. To ensure her success and to get revenge on Nenpetro, she stole his fetish and took it with her.

Nenpetro got over his initial irritation very quickly, and wished Mambou would come back. He decided to go look for and went to retrieve his fetish in order to speed up his search. When he found it gone he was furious. How on earth would he provide for his growing family now? He immediately set off to find her and take back the fetish.

Mambou wandered around in the woods looking for fruit, but she did not find anything. She requested it of the fetish, and was delighted to see fruit manifest before her eyes. She asked for more and more fruit, until the fetish grew exasperated and appeared in the form of a young woman. The fetish, named Sunga, asked Mambou what she was doing sitting in the woods gorging herself on fruit. Mambou explained that her husband had been treating her unfairly and that she was simply feeding herself.

Guava Fruit. Web Source: Pinterest.

Nenpetro was in these same woods, and heard Mambou and Sunga talking. He ran up to them and told Mambou to give him the fetish back and come home with him. He apologized for prioritizing hunting and promised to gather fruit in the future. But Mambou was enjoying having her unlimited supply of fruit and refused.

Sunga, who thought Nenpetro's apology quite fair and had seen his right treatment of his wives all the years that he had carried her, grew indignant at Mambou's greed. So when Nenpetro and Mambou turned to her for a palaver, she told Mambou to return the fetish to Nenpetro. If she wanted to look for fruit on her own, she would be welcome to, but Nenpetro needed the magical aid more as he was responsible for more people. Mambou acknowledged the fairness of this and asked simply that Nenpetro help her carry back the piles of fruit she had received from the fetish. Nenpetro agreed, and they returned home. When Mambou's baby was born, a few months later, she decided to name her Sunga as a sign of respect.

Author's Note: Instead of retelling on of the stories from Congo, I invented my own story using the character of Nenpetro, who features in multiple stories, and the fetish Sunga. I brought in common themes from the stories such as jealousy, looking for food, and mediated justice.

Bibliography: R. E. Dennett's Notes on the Folktales of the Fjort, link.

Reading: Stories of Congo, Part B

One interesting thing about some folklore is how much you can learn about a culture and its beliefs and values. While obviously some are held as pure fiction even by the tellers, some of these stories were presented as true, particularly the ones involving fetishes. If I were to deduce other cultural aspects from the stories, the creator god Nzambi seems likely. As almost all the male characters have multiple wives, the Vili were likely polygamous. There also seems to be a strong sense of justice that is derived from others' opinions. Often when one character kills another, the onlookers or those whom he tells the story will affirm his decision, particularly when revenge is involved. This is extended by the notion of a palaver, which seems to have a different meaning than our modern definition of our drawn out talk. It seems to have a sense of mediation. More speculatively, I wonder if children in Vili culture were treated more as adults ("The Three Brothers") and if they migrated from a region where gazelles were native.

While that is really interesting from an anthropological standpoint, it does not help me very much in writing a story. I was intrigued by the fetish Sunga in the story by the same name. She does not like someone's lying and fooled him into accepting food that would take away his power of speech and thus his ability to lie. I also liked how the man in "The Leopard and the Crocodile" valued his dogs above the supply of food provided by the leopard and crocodile. It would also be interesting to try to write a story of my own - or retell a Euro-American story - with the values and spiritual realm of the Vili, such as the fetishes, palavers, and sense of justice/revenge.

Fetish. Web Source: Randafricanart.

Bibliography: R. E. Dennett's Notes on the Folktales of the Fjort, link.

Reading Notes: Stories of Congo, Part A

This week I chose to read the Stories from Congo unit, which comes from Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort. The Fjort, according to Wikipedia, are the Fiote or Vili (Fiote being a now derogative term the Portuguese gave them. One fact that I learned from the Wikipedia article that is relevant to some of the stories is that the Vili do not build many permanent residences, and those with sumptous dwelling places are likely to be accused of sorcery. I assume from the stories that they are polygamous.

Some random notes:
-Nenpetro is an intriguing character, as he appears in multiple stories but with different wives in each.
-I feel that there must be some reason behind the seemingly random magic that determines how wives and wealth appear and disappear. Why can she not see a fish's head?

Gazelle. Web Source: Wikipedia. 

My favorite stories were "The Twin Brothers" and "How Gazelle Got Married." "How Gazelle Got Married" reminded me of the story of Rumpelstiltskin, since in both names needed to be found out and the servant was the one who found them out. I am curious as to why a dog was such a faithful servant to a gazelle (even though his master forgot him) and why the water caused them to forget the names. Was it water in general that led to forgetfulness or this particular spring? I also find it interesting that the gazelle is a man, but that is because it is a symbol for a female beloved in Arabic.

As for "The Twin Brothers," I am particularly fond of Luemba's character. The fetishes also result in a very interesting system of magic, which seems less rule-based than the fantasy I've read. They seem omnipotent. I was also surprised that the horse could use them to revive Luemba.

Bibliography: R. E. Dennett's Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort, link.

Wikipedia Trails: From Anu to Juliana of the Netherlands

Ancient Indian Diadem. Source: Wikipedia

Anu: In my revisions for my storybook this week, I included an invocation to Anu, the most powerful Sumerian and Assyro-Babylonian god. He was considered a paternal and omnipotent sky-god. While generally distant from mortals, he did possess the power to judge and even created stars to carry out judgements. His icon was a tiara.

Tiara: According to Wikipedia, the word tiara comes from a Persian word, which referred to royal headresses. However, other sources say that it comes from a Greek and then Latin word that referred to the same headresses. Either way, it later became associated with women's fashion, particularly royal women's fashion.

Diadem: Diadems, like tiaras, are a type of crown. However, they are more of a headband. Originally the word referred to a ribbon. I am familiar with the word from a hymn, and wanted to know more specifically what I was singing about.

Queen Juliana. Source: Wikipedia

Juliana of the Netherlands: Juliana was a queen of the Netherlands in the twentieth century. She ruled during several monumental events, including the independence of Indonesia. While the court maintained its grandeur, she became known for her down to earth behavior and habit of showing up at events. As a princess, she was active in the relief work in the Netherlands after World War II.

Week 8 Progress

I appreciate having the progress chart to keep track of where I should be at. I am ahead of schedule, both in terms of points and actual assignments, which was my goal all along. Hopefully I will be able to finish a bit early so I have more time at the end of the semester for finals prep. The only challenge about being ahead is that I have to come back and do the project feedback assignment later, but isn't too much of a problem. It also means that I get peer feedback on my project after my allotted time to do revisions, which is more of a problem. I mostly just do the required assignments, but I have done a few extra-credit ones every now and then, in case something comes up down the road and I get behind.

Since my schedule is working well for me and I am getting everything done I need to, I don't think there is really anything I need to change for the second half of the semester. I do need to figure out a way to incorporate more peer feedback in my project. Perhaps instead of just revising the work I did that week I will revise the entire storybook.

(Some) Languages of Eurasia. Web Source: My Modern Met.

Okay, so this image really does not have much to do with this class, but it's just so gorgeous. And perhaps it does relate tangentially - I am also taking a language and culture class, where we've discussed how language and culture are often transmitted together. This class is more about how culture is transmitted, through stories particularly but also through language - since all stories are told in language. The tree shows how even diverse cultures can be related linguistically.

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

In general, the comments I have gotten have either been very positive or express a lot of confusion. I know that I have the tendency to be perhaps overly concise and not lay out things that are clear in my head, but not necessarily to a reader without telepathic abilities. However, I also personally enjoy reading things where not everything is spelled out and the reader has to do some deduction, so perhaps it also a matter of personal preference. I am particularly unsure how to resolve the comments on my project, where I do not want to state everything outright.

I hope that I am leaving productive feedback on people's stories. I have tried to mix positive feedback and specific compliments with some criticism or suggestions for improvement. Sometimes it is difficult to find suggestions though, and I am uncertain whether or not to comment on grammatical mistakes.

I do think that continuing to post on people's introductions helps me to keep getting to know people. I mostly am enjoying getting a sense of people's personalities and interests through their stories, which I hope they are enjoying in regards to mine, though I've gotten fewer comments as the semester has progressed. I think my introduction does give a good sense of what I get excited about - languages, books, and travel.

I think I am pretty much on track with the type of feedback that I am giving. Perhaps it would be more useful to give suggestions about ways to expand the story. I think the feedback on the project is generally more productive than feedback on the stories, though I suppose some people will be revising their stories for a portfolio. I have found it particularly useful in commenting when people put a question for feedback in the author's note, so I think this is something I will try to implement.

Feedback Cat. Web Source: Growth Mindset Memes.

This is a useful reminder for me, not to get too caught up in my emotional attachment to "my" characters and how I've expressed them to accept that I might need to change something so others can enjoy them more too. I do want to learn and get better, and I look forward to getting more feedback on my stories.

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Looking back on my reading notes, I realized that I tend to discuss either my impressions, background information on the story, critiquing the story itself, and suggestions for my own story. Probably the last three are the most useful in writing my retelling, since I can use the background for myself and the last two provide ideas for the characters and the plot. Sometimes I end up with too many ideas, and then it's hard to choose. Probably my favorite reading so far were the stories of Sindbad. Some of the trickiest were the religious ones, as I had difficulty feeling comfortable retelling religious tales and got too interested in exploring the connections between religions. However, I'm quite pleased with my stories so far and am enjoying writing them. I am particularly pleased with my class project, although I'm a bit disappointed that it's proving so confusing to so many of my readers.

Monkey. Web Source: MacleanGray. 

This is one of my favorite pictures, because the monkey looks to have so much personality. It is easy to see how one would make it a character in folktales.

As you can see, I am generally content with how the class is progressing and expect to continue at about the same pace. I will likely end up doing more research as I continue reading less familiar stories. It would also be interesting to try different formats of stories, although I generally start with the idea and not the format. I am somewhat uncertain as to how to make the stories in my project clearer to my readers. I will try putting more information on the home page. Hopefully the retellings will be interesting enough on their own for those unfamiliar with the originals.

Famous Last Words: I'm an Introvert

So basically, I was not as social this week and I feel much more rested at the end. Coincidence? I think not. Hopefully I've managed to work out a balance between people, school, and rest that will work better for me throughout the semester. I also found a new place to be productive - the Norman Public library. I love any library, including Bizzell, but sometimes it is nice to get away from campus in a place that is conducive both for concentrating and finding new books. Hopefully I will have time to read one of the books by Kamila Shamsie that I picked up today.

As far as this week's reading goes, I particularly enjoyed some of the semi-linguistic research I did on the etymologies of names from Cebuano and Tagalog in the tales from the Philippines that I read. I was also interested by the Christian themes, such as the cross and the devil, that came up, presumably since the Philippines are 86% Roman Catholic. Even though I did not end up writing about them, I am still very fond of the crab king and his sheriff. I also think the idea of an earlier kingdom populated by such creatures interesting, as I'm pretty sure evolutionary theory would place them on earth before humans.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing for my project this week. It was initially more challenging than I expected, since I wanted to modernize it and it's difficult to put a creation story at any time other than the creation of the world. However, I think my favorite part was creating my own spin on the characters of Tiamat and Qingu, who were traditionally villains. The original scribes who wrote and copied the story inserted variations on which gods were most important, though Tiamat was always present, so I carried on that tradition and gave Qingu more of a backstory. I am now quite attached to them both.

The Fight with Tiamat. Web Source: Crystalinks. 

Week 7 Wikipedia Trails: From Cebuano to Athabaskan Languages

Cebuano: I had far too much fun exploring the original Cebuano (and a bit of Tagalog) words behind the names of some of the animals and other characters in "Why Do Mosquitos Hum" and "Chonguita." Cebuano is a language spoken on some islands in the Philippines. It has about 20 million native speakers, the most of any language spoken in the Philippines, although it is not official. It is also known as Bisaya, which is a more general term that can refer to any language in the Bisaya/Visayan branch of the language family.

Cebuano. Web Source: Wikipedia.

Urheimat: An urheimat is the proposed original homeland of the speakers of a proto-language (the language from which all the languages in a language family are descended). The urheimat of Cebuano is the island of Cebu. The urheimat of Indo-European, the language family that English belongs to, is likely Anatolia, but there are multiple theories. Urheimats in the distant past are often determined by the presence or absence of words for types of animals or landscapes.

Yeneseian: Yeneseian is a language family I had not previously heard of. Only one Yeneseian language, Ket, is currently spoken, and it only has around 200 speakers. Yeneseian's urheimat is Central Siberia, and it has been related by some linguists to the Na-Dene languages of North America, which include Tlingit and the Athabaskan languages.

Athabaskan languages: The Athabaskan languages are far-flung, reaching from Alaska to north-western Mexico. Some of the more well-known languages of this group include Chipewayan, Navajo, and Apache. One of the Apache languages, Plains Apache, is spoken in Oklahoma. The broad geographic span of these languages allows for some guesses as to the ancient migration of their speakers.

Na-Dene Languages. Web Source: Wikipedia.

Week 7 Story: Tsunggita's Revenge

Long before Tsunggita met Don Juan, she knew that she was a part of her father's plan to defeat the king of Laguna and his three haughty sons. How could she not be, with her fantastic ability to shift into any form she chose? One day, her father called her up into his favorite tree for a strategy talk. 

"Tsunggita, my dear, the king of Laguna has sent his three sons off to take their fortunes, and one of them is headed our way. I have a plan, but it involves you marrying one of his sons. I fear they will treat you badly, and the need is not yet dire enough that we could not find another plan."

Monkey. Web Source: MacleanGray. 

But Tsunggita, being rather idealistic and having heard many stories from the birds of fabulous princes in far off lands, thought that the ones near by should be even nicer, just as her own kingdom was nicer than the ones in the stories. "Of course I will marry him, and that way if he is nicer than his father there will be no need to defeat Laguna." 

The first step in the plan was for Tsunggita to turn into an old man and entice Don Juan to her father's palace with promises of good fortune if he offered bread to the monkeys at the gate. This was the first test, to ensure that he would not turn immediately violent at the sight of monkeys. Then her father set up the marriage, and Tsunggita went back with him to join his other brothers, Don Pedro and Don Diego, and their beautiful human wives. Tsunggita was rather disappointed from the beginning, as Don Juan seemed quite ashamed of her and appeared to wish that he had a wife like his brothers'. At first, the king seemed to be taking her appearance in stride, but then the tests began. 

Embroider a coat. Embroider a cap. Draw a picture. All things that required one of the humans' best gifts: an opposable thumb. Not to mention, it would have been useful to have grown up where coats and caps were worn. Tsunggita had already considered shapeshifting into a human to win her husband's heart, but her stubborness kept her clinging to her monkey identity. Now her life was on the line: if she could not complete these tasks to the king's satisfaction, she would be put to death. 

Help came from an unexpected source. Her husband was immensely eager that she should win, not for the sake of her life, but so that he would be awarded the throne. He brought her all the finest cloths, threads, and paints. He even brought maids to perform the tasks for her, but she turned them away. "I will do it myself," she said. Show them that a monkey can do anything they can.  

Except she could not avoid the need for thumbs that would hold a needle or a brush. So at night she turned her hands into human hands and completed the tasks. She won them all, and her husband was crowned king. 

But his joy at attaining the throne did not diminish Don Juan's hatred of Tsunggita, and during the very ball that celebrated his victory he threw her brutally against the wall. In terror, she turned herself into a beautiful human woman. Don Juan was delighted: at last he had a wife who he could show off as a prize. 

Her father heard the story and was absolutely furious. Against the wishes of his advisors, he refused to follow the original plan, to wait for Tsunggita's son to take the throne and rule as a monkey king. He marched up to the palace in the capital of Laguna and accused Don Juan of using black magic to turn his daughter into a human. Since he came without an army, he was easily captured by Don Juan, who planned to kill him. But the people of Laguna were touched by the story of the father coming to rescue his daughter single-handedly from a cruel husband, so they marched to the palace and demanded his release. Don Juan was as lazy a king as he was fortune-seeker, so to avoid further problems he released the king. Tsunggita turned back into her original form and won over the hearts of her people. After Don Juan's death, she became queen and joined the human and monkey kingdoms. 

Bibliography: Dean S. Fansler's Filipino Popular Tales, link. 

Author's Note: In the original story, Tsunggita (Chonguita) is not a shapeshifter, and there is no mention of how she became a human. Also, no plan to take over the human kingdom is mentioned, and the story ends after she becomes a human. I wanted her to retain her monkey-ness, as well as to explain why she married Don Juan and how she became a human. I changed her name from Chonguita to Tsunggita to reflect more of the original Tagalog. Tsunggo means monkey, and the -ita suffix is a common borrowing from Spanish. 

Reading Notes: Filipino Tales, Part B

To me, "The Iguana and the Turtle" seems like a tragedy. The turtle lies and tells ridiculous stories to his friend, who wants to believe him and is hurt for it. I wonder if I could tell it in a way that is very dramatic and emphasizes this tragic element. I feel more backstory would help, as to why the iguana and the turtle are such good friends in the first place and what makes the iguana willing to believe the turtle even when he tells outlandish tales.

So much drama about the king of the crabs and his sheriff! I am curious as to why Lamoc bit the king's face instead of coming up with a placating lie like the rest did. Perhaps he had no interest in court intrigues and prefered to be straightforward. This is probably my favorite mosquito story. I am also curious as to the meanings of the names. Does Lamoc mean mosquito in Boholano, the dialect of the Visayan language Cebuano spoken in the area the story teller was from? The answer is yes, according to Google Translate. I had some trouble with some of the other names, but Aninipot appears to mean firefly, which makes sense as his eyes were flashing fire. While I enjoyed the names, I think I would have appreciated the story more if it were clearer which animals were playing a role. I initially assumed that they were all crabs, but that does not seem to be the case, if Lamoc is a mosquito and Aninipot is a firefly. That leaves Hu-Man, as I am pretty sure the king, Mangla, his sheriff, Cagang, and his people the Bataktak (yay reduplication) are all crabs. Since Hu-Man carries his house on his back, perhaps he is a snail or a hermit crab.

Land Crab. Web Source: Wikipedia.

Not related to the story, but the coling is a lovely bird.

Bibliography: Dean S. Fansler's Filipino Popular Tales, link.

Update: Hu-Man is indeed a hermit crab, but his name would be spelled in modern orthography Umang. Also, the Bataktak, as suggested by the author's note, are actually frogs.

Reading Notes: Filipino Tales, Part A

This week I read the Filipino Tales unit. I think what struck me most was the lack of an apparent moral to many of these stories. The three brothers did not seem to get what they deserved - no punishment for laziness, and Ambo revived the girl but Suan ended up with her. Perhaps the message is that if you trust fate with your fortune the results will not necessarily be fair. 

"The Clever Husband and Wife" also seemed unfair to me. They took advantage of the doctor's kindness the whole time, but in the end he was just glad they were alive. That creates a really interesting dynamic - if they had just asked for the money, he undoubtedly would have given it to them, but instead they wanted to get it by their own cleverness. Or perhaps they thought that he was somewhat capricious and would be likely to change his mind about his generosity. It would be interesting to flesh out more of their characters and motivations. 

Monkey. Web Source: Jeff Shea.

I would also very much like to see what happened after Chonguita turned from a monkey into a beautiful woman. Was she a woman all along or was some other magic at work? Did her husband like her better? What were her feelings towards him? How was she able to do such fine work as a monkey? It would also be interesting to work in the monkey from several of the other stories as a character. Perhaps he is a relative of Chonguita's. As he is very clever, perhaps she called upon his help to get revenge on her husband for his violence. I also wonder if there could be some kind of colonial interpretation, since the sons of the monarch all have Spanish names. That would probably depend on when this story was created, on what Chonguita means, and if it was based on an older, pre-colonial story. 

Bibliography: Dean S. Fansler's Filipino Popular Tales, link. 

Story: From One Sindbad to Another

Basra. Web Source: Wikipedia.

You have undoubtedly heard of my illustrious predecessor, Sindbad the Sailor. I too had heard of his fabulous adventures among mystical, magical places, and most of all of his limitless wealth. If I could just have had one of his invaluable diamonds I would have been a happier person.

Unfortunately for me, I was born the son of a baker in 19th century Iraq, and had no diamonds nor any other source of wealth. On an ordinary day, I worked in my father's shop during the day and walked along the beach in the evening. The sea is far and away the best part of living in Basra. 

One day, one of my customers stopped me as I was putting his loaves in a bag. "I believe I have seen you before, in the port. Are you a sailor?" 

"No sir. I do visit the port occasionally." 

"What is your name?" 

"Sindbad, sir." 

"Sindbad? What a coincidence, so is mine." 

It was from him that I learned that Sindbad the Sailor is more than a single man. He passed on his wealth and blessing to the Sindbad to whom he told his stories in Alf Layla wa Layla, and from then on there has a been a Sindbad who sails around, finding adventures and wealth. Treasure by way of the sea was an offer I could not refuse, but there was more. 

"Just as Sindbad was sent by Harun Al-Rashid, Allah yarahamhu, to Serendib, there is need of Sindbad the Sailor's aid in Serendib today." 

You may know Serendib as Ceylon, the name the British gave it, or Sri Lanka, the name it has as an independent nation in your time. As we in Iraq were well aware, the British were very interested in that time in spreading their imperial reach, particularly through the powerful East India Company. My mission was to join King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of Kandy, the Serendib kingdom of the time. I set off on a ship that my predecessor Sindbad recommended to me. 

If you are familiar with the stories of Sindbad, you will not be surprised that I was shipwrecked on my way to Kandy. Even though I now knew that Sindbad was a historical figure, I still doubted that all of his tales were true. As I mentioned, I was more interested in treasure than in mythical figures. But in my search for treasure, I fell down a cliff into a valley filled with giant snakes. As you might imagine, I immediately began running for my life. As I ran, a great shadow fell upon us. The snakes began hissing in terror, and to my shock I could understand them. They were as terrified of the shadow - the roc - as I was of them. The roc swooped low, and dropped something large down on the valley. It was an elephant. The snakes slithered away into caves, but I stayed, my eyes wide with amazement at this huge creature, who began nuzzling me with his trunk. 

Snake; Roc; Elephant. Web Sources: Notey; Wikipedia; World Wildlife Fund.

The elephant too could talk. I was equally surprised by its grasp of geopolitics as by its gentleness. The roc in its flight had seen the actions of the British, and the elephants had seen the rise in hunters seeking ivory. They had come to rally the snakes, but the snakes were too frightened of the roc to parlay. The elephant had come as a mediator, and enlisted me as an aide. I told him of my mission to help save Kandy, which stirred all of their sympathies. 

With the help of the elephants, roc and kin, and giant snakes, the Kandyan army succeeded in besting the might of the British empire, at least for a time. They did not succeed in keeping their independence, but I am sure one of my successors will be around when they regain it. 

And as for me? In gratitude for my help in mediating between them and their enemy the roc, the snakes gave me a handful of magnificent diamonds that kept me and my family in comfort. I returned to the bakery, and found it a relaxing respite after my adventures. With the money from the diamonds, I was able to help those of my neighbors and customers who were in need, until the time when I would take up the mantle of Sindbad once again.

Author's Note: In the original story, Sindbad tells his tales to another man, also named Sindbad. I thought it made sense that this Sindbad would also go one to have adventures, and would pass the title down. I put it in a different historical context to connect in Serendib, and had the elephant as an intermediary between the roc and the snakes since the elephants were originally on a different island.

Bibliography: Andrew Lang's The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, link. 

Reading Notes: Folklore of the Holy Land, Part B

Al-Khidr. Web Source: Wikipedia.

One theme from the first half of the reading that came up again in the second is the search for eternal life. This is a pretty common theme around the world, including in the Epic of Gilgamesh, but I was somewhat surprised to find it in when the characters expect to life forever in Paradise. Adam wished for fruit from the tree of life but did not get it. Abraham and Moses were both, at least according to some accounts, promised the possibility of choosing their own time of death, but had to be tricked into choosing it as neither of them wanted to die. I am curious as to what the relationship is between these folktales and the Quran. 

I was very surprised by the part of the story of David where he learned from his people that he ought to earn his own living - and actually took up a trade. I find it rather ironic that he became an armormaker, as when he fought Goliath he refused King Saul's armor. But I'm even more impressed that he actually took up a trade because his people thought it was right. While in general I do think it makes sense for the ruler to be compensated financially so they can focus on ruling and not have conflicts of interests, I appreciate the humility and desire for fairness that his actions show. 

El Khudr (or Al-Khidr) is interesting as he combines so many different figures, including Phinehas (a priest of Israel), Elijah the prophet, John the Baptist, Vishnu, and St. George. I am not entirely sure how he can be all of those people - I suppose each is a manifestation of the underlying, immortal person of Al-Khidr. It would be amusing if he had a friend who was also immortal and got very confused as to who he was whenever their paths crossed. 

Bibliography: J. E. Hanauer's Folklore of the Holy Land, link. 

Reading Notes: Folklore of the Holy Land, Part A

Jinns. Web Source: Wikipedia.

My main thoughts when reading these stories were on the similarities and differences with the stories I know about people such as Adam and Eve, Noah, and Abraham. There were, of course, a lot of parallels that I was expecting, so what caught my eye were the differences. However, this course is not about religion, so I will not go into details.

I was intrigued by the Tablet of Destiny, which reminded me of the tablet with the same name in Mesopotamian mythology, which I am doing my storybook on and actually led me to more information about it. According to Wikipedia, the Islamic one is actually called the Preserved Tablet, اللوح المحفوظ, and, like in the story, contains all that will and has happened.

The second piece of the creation story that was interesting from a story perspective was that God created the mind before he created humans. I wonder what that mind was thinking before it was part of humans.

I was highly amused by the comment about European doctors who think they know everything but do not let women chat with new mothers to protect them from jinn. Whether or not you believe in jinn, it does seem important for new mothers to have companionship and help. Here I think they tend to be somewhat isolated. It would be interesting to have a spin-off story about a new mother who is under the care of a Western doctor and her friends have to wage a secret war against the jinn.

Speaking of women, the part of Noah's story with the three types of women also stood out to me. In this story, Noah promises his daughter to three different men. When the first two, who have been gone longer than promised, return, he turns a donkey and a female dog into women to become their brides. Because of this, women are either wonderful and helpful, or share the characteristics of a donkey or a dog, according to this story anyway. Ouch.

Bibliography: J. E. Hanauer's Folklore of the Holy Land, link.