Extra Credit Reading: Week 13

For my extra credit reading this week, I chose to read the Jewish Fairy Tales Unit and really enjoyed it! The thing that I really loved about this unit was that it shed so much light on some of the things that we know today, like why wine causes us to lose our inhibitors when overly consumed or why cats and dogs are so short with each other.

The main thing that I would take out of these readings is the ability to shed some type of light to a known fact. Like why is the grass green? Maybe because it is due to a a Giant spilling paint thousands of years ago. I would like to something really outlandish for this!

Bibliography: Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends. Gertrude Landa. Link.

(The never-ending fight between Cats and Dogs:

UN-Textbook)

Reading Notes: Tricksters: Tiger, Brahman, and Jackal

The story that I would like to focus on today would be the Indian folktale of The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal. Aside from the actual story itself, the author takes advantage of the use of personification to develop an entertaining tale. The use of personification allows writers to add another dimension to their writing that is usually barred by grounds of realism. For us students, personification is a refreshing theme to use considering the fact that we are often limited to the real world and the requirements of the use of facts in our writings.  In this folktale, we are introduced to several, non-titular characters and see their views as personified beings (in this case, the ability to think and have feelings as humans). The author actually shows these characters - such as the road, the buffalo, and the tree - as embittered characters and shows just how unappreciated they are by humans. I feel that I can maybe redesign the story so that we can maybe see these bitter characters in a happier, more playful light. Another thing I might do is to further develop the Jackal's character. The only reason why I knew the Jackal is the way he is is because of the foreword. Why is the jackal a trickster? Is this a common theme that is resonated in different cultures? Going on a tangent, there is a story I know where a disloyal arms dealer is nicknamed "The Jackal". Is he named this due to his "trickster" nature? In another story, The Hare that Was Not Afraid to Die, a jackal is also a character that steals to gain food. Are jackals just automatically to be assumed dishonest? These are some of the questions that I will have to consider while creating my own story.

(The most mistrusted animal of all time, the Jackal:

The Horror Digest)

Reading Options for the Class

Looking through the UNTextBook, I am just astonished by the sheer amount of stories we have at our disposal. So much so, it is so hard to select just a few subjects that I would like to dive into. A few units, however, that have caught my attention would be the ones that I've already been exposed to as a child and that I would like to explore further: Dante's Inferno, Monkey King, and Homer's Odyssey.

"Dante's Inferno" has always been my favorite of Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy", for its themes and imagery used. I especially enjoyed the end of the story, where we meet Satan, whose image is far removed from that of what we are accustomed to growing up in the United States. I can definite see myself using this for my storybook, maybe playing along with the levels of sins and putting my own spin on them.

The tale of the Monkey King has a special place in my childhood. Growing up, I've watched movies, read books, and heard stories of the Monkey King. I look forward to reading more about Sun Wu Kung and his exploits in greater detail, especially that of how his story ends. Despite having known and seen all the books and movies about him, how his story actually ends since many of the iterations that I know of don't necessarily follow the legend.

Finally, for Homer's Odyssey, my selection of this unit was obvious for myself due to my love for Greek mythology. I especially love how Odysseus, a mere man, is sent on a grand expedition only to have his story be interwoven with that of many famous Greek mythological beings.  One story that truly stands out for me was his experience with the Cyclops. The reason why I enjoyed this story was that it showed that Odysseus was more than just a warrior; he was an intellect who sought to protect his man. Also, the mere imagery of he and his men clinging for dear life on sheep always makes me chuckle.

These are the three units that I am almost guaranteed to look at first for when I decide to start my storybook.
                                   

(Odysseus blinding the Cyclops:

Time Strips)