Extra Reading Diary: Homer's Odyssey

This week, I finished reading Homer’s Odyssey, which I found to be full of wonderful stories and vivid descriptions. In The Ghosts of Famous Women, we meet many famous mythological women who have often been involved with the gods. In particular, I loved hearing about the mother of Heracles (whom many of us know as Hercules), and Megara, who married him. This brought back fond, but most likely inaccurate, memories of one of my favorite Disney films, Hercules, but I digress.

The Ghost of Agamemnon was another interesting tale, as he was not just a mythological person, but actually a real one. Reading about his death was rather tragic, and I could feel the friendship between himself and Odysseus. The fact that his wife had a hand in his death was kind of startling. And then Clytemnestra had to go and kill Cassandra, too? Not cool.

And then The Spirit of Achilles. Having a more extensive background knowledge about Achilles than most of the other characters in Homer’s Odyssey. The way that they address each other and speak about their families in this whole unit is incredibly formal and elaborate, sometimes making it difficult to follow what/whom they are talking about. I've had to stop and really consider what each person is saying when they make these elaborate introductions in order to be able to keep up with what they're saying later in the story.

(The Dying Achilles, by Ernst Herter)

Week 3 Storytelling: Circe's Betrayal

Odysseus and his men, now free from Circe’s curse and wrapped in her blessings, were welcomed with open arms to stay in Circe’s palace for as long as they liked. Because Circe had sworn that they would be safe, Odysseus readily accepted her offer, as they were incredibly weary from their arduous journey back to Ithaca. The men that Circe had previously turned into pigs rejoiced at the sight of the rest of their company joining them at Circe’s palace.

(Circe, by John William Waterhouse)

Living in the ultimate comfort and safety, the men stayed with Circe for many months, regaining their strength for the continuation of their journey back to Ithaca. There was an incredible bounty available to them: sweet wine and delicious food. They never went without feeling completely satisfied, and everyone was happy.

After a year in such lavishness had passed, a few of Odysseus’ men took him aside and reminded him of the journey that awaited them, a journey to their home in Ithaca. Odysseus’ heart wrenched at the memory of his beloved home, and so he agreed that they would soon set off to Ithaca.

That night, after a long feast of meat and sweet wine, Odysseus went to Circe’s bed as he always did, but this time, he fell to his knees and begged, “Circe, keep the promise you gave and send me on my way, since my spirit is eager for home, and so too are my friends’, who weary me with their grief whenever you happen to be absent.”

Enraged that, after all of her hospitality, Odysseus and his men did not wish to stay with her forever, Circe tried to come up with a ploy to get revenge. She realized that she had fallen in love with Odysseus, but she knew that he would not let his men go on to Ithaca without her. So, she began plotting to make them stay or to perish for leaving.

“Odysseus!” she cried out, “I know how you long for your home of Ithaca, but have I not given you a new home here in my palace?”

Odysseus could only thank the goddess for her hospitality and beg her to keep her promise and allow him and his men to leave.

Circe, feeling like she was losing this battle, decided to try a new tactic. Being the sorceress that she was, she fell back to her old stand-by: deception. She began to force tears to well up in her eyes and said, “Well, if that is what will make you happiest, return with your men to your ship at once, but if any of you look back, you will be cursed to sail the seas forever, never returning to your home of Ithaca.”

Thinking that he could easily resist any temptation to look behind him, Odysseus returned to his men and told them that they would shortly be leaving. As they rejoiced, he warned them that they, too, must not look behind them until the island was below the horizon. They swore that they would obey, and so they all walked down to the shore to their ship.

As they approached the ship, they heard a commotion coming from the forest behind them, and all had to try very hard to resist the urge to see what was causing it. A loud female scream was heard, and then complete silence. At this scream, Odysseus recognized it as Circe’s and could not stop himself from whipping his head around to look for her.

When he made eye contact with a mischievous looking Circe, she simply waved her wand and said, “Goodbye, Odysseus, scion of Zeus, son of Laertes. Because of your ungratefulness, you will never again see Ithaca. Though you will roam the seas, you will never find your home, and this island will disappear completely from your minds. Remember next time to be more gracious to those who care for you.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Author’s Note:

I decided to rewrite the story of Odysseus seeking to leave Circe's island with a new ending: Circe would curse Odysseus to roam the seas forever and never find his home of Ithaca. In the original story, Circe requires him to go to the house of Hades and Persephone to visit the blind Theban seer, Teiresias, before he goes on his way back to Ithaca. I thought the way he left was a little unceremonious, and the quote of him begging to leave is taken directly from the text. Certainly such hospitality should stir up a little gratefulness, right? So instead of just giving him a mission before he leaves, I made Circe fall in love with Odysseus and become angry at his leaving her. She knows how to get under his skin, so she is able to trick him into being cursed. I contemplated making her do something more drastic, but it seemed too melodramatic. Not that this story is lacking in melodrama...

Homer's Odyssey translated by Tony Kline (2004).

Week 3 Reading Diary A: Homer's Odyssey

Having never read the Odyssey before, I was first really surprised by how gory it was. The descriptions were incredibly vivid and kind of alarming, to be frank. I really enjoyed the stories about Circe, especially the one about Circe’s Magic. I was really surprised when she turned Odysseus’ men into pigs, but was incredibly astonished at his plan to get them back with Hermes’ help.

(Odysseus and Circe, Greek vase painting)

The character of Hermes is really important in this story, as he gives Odysseus the moly that protects him from the drugs that Circe used to entrap his men. Moly is “black at the root with a milk-white flower… difficult for mortals to uproot, though the gods of course can do anything.” Hermes tells Odysseus that the moly will protect him from her drugs and enchantments, and it does, allowing him to rescue his men from her just as Hermes describes to him. I was surprised that they stayed with Circe for over a year, but considering the life of luxury and pleasure that they were leading with her, I’m not sure I would give that up so easily either.

Odysseus is a very intriguing character, and I really enjoyed reading about the challenges he had to overcome in his voyage back home. I’m looking forward to reading more about this!

Week 2: Storybook Topics

Topic: French Epics and Legends

Comments: I read The Song of Roland in (in French!) in my French literature to 1800 class last semester. I really like the story and would love to write about it and how it compares to the Legends of Charlemagne.

Possible Stories: The Song of Roland and the Legends of Charlemagne. I might try to look for other ones, too!

Sample Story Comments: Since I’ve already read The Song of Roland, I looked over the Legends of Charlemagne, and the stories seem really cool. I’m really interested to read and learn more!

Bibliography:

Sample Story: The Song of Roland

Author: Unknown

Translated by: Charles Scott Moncrief

Year: 1919

Topic: The Sun in Mythology

Comments: I was inspired by the Egyptian sun-god Ra, and I want to explore the role of the sun in other parts of the world. The sun is such a crucial part of our lives (obviously), and I think it’s really cool to see the different personalities and roles the sun takes on in various cultures.

Possible Stories: “The Secret Name of Ra” is a story from Egyptian mythology that would be a good place to start!

Sample Story Comments:  I really enjoyed reading “The Secret Name of Ra.” I’d like to find similar stories from other cultures to compare and contrast them.

Bibliography:

Sample Story: The Secret Name of Ra

Book: Egyptian Myth and Legend

Author: Donald Mackenzie

Year: 1907

Topic: Drugs in Mythology and Folklore

Comments: While trying to come up with another topic, I stumbled upon the Persian tale “The Hemp-Smoker’s Dream,” which kind of made me laugh at first. It made me wonder if there might be other inclusions of drug use in other cultures.

Possible Stories: “The Hemp-Smoker’s Dream” is the first one I’ve seen that has direct references to drug use, though I know Alice in Wonderland is often noted to be influenced by drug use.

Sample Story Comments: I found the story to be what I expected: somewhat silly and a little convoluted. I liked it though, as it made me laugh. The ending was probably my favorite part as I can completely imagine that happening.

Bibliography:

Sample Story: The Hemp-Smoker’s Dream

Book: Persian Tales

Translated by: D.L.R. Lorimer and E.O. Lorimer

Year: 1919

Topic: Foxes around the world

Comments: Since I am obsessed with foxes, I thought I would consider them as one of my possible topics. They are often featured in Aesop’s fables, but I know that there are many species of foxes around the world, including my favorite, the Fennec fox. I’d like to see if there are more stories involving foxes outside of fables.

Possible stories: I found a Latvian mythological fox called Plathubis and read a summary of the myth on Wikipedia. I couldn’t find a definitive source anywhere on the web for this story, but I’d really like to be able to do more with this story. I also read “The Talking Silver Foxes” from Chinese mythology.

Sample Story Comments: I really liked the moral the Latvian story conveyed about not killing things for sport, but to instead use all of an animal when you kill it, as that is my belief on the subject. I also really liked the Chinese story, even though the foxes were kind of crazy, other-worldly creatures in it.

Bibliography:

Sample Story: The Talking Silver Foxes

Book: The Chinese Fairy Book

Edited by: R. Wilhelm

Translated by: Frederick H. Martens

Year: 1921

Week 2 Extra Reading Diary: Aesop's Fables (Jacobs)

Surprise, surprise. My favorite part of the Aesop’s Fables unit were the stories about foxes. Foxes in these fables are often tricksters or clever types, but can also be hypocritical and even fall victim to the trickery of others. Foxes are just so cute and wily, but their reputation as a trickster has overshadowed their cuteness and. What a shame. Watch this cute video of a fox to see what I mean.

The first story that I really enjoyed was “The Fox and the Mask.” It’s an instance of the fox being clever without being cast in a negative light, which I liked. The fox isn’t a trickster in this story. Instead, he’s not spooked by the mask after taking time to realize what it actually is. I found a lot of insight in this fable. It made me realize that taking things at face value is definitely not the way to go. You’ve got to delve deeper to discover the reality of the situation.

Another story I really enjoyed was “The Fox and the Mosquitoes.” I thought the moral associated with the Crane version of the tale to be particularly amusing. “There were politicians in Aesop’s time.” It’s just so blunt, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I read it. Indeed, the disdain for politicians we have today is not a novel idea. The fox seems so resigned to his fate with the mosquitoes that are currently plaguing him that he does not dare disturb them and invite more annoying mosquitoes to feast on him.

A Red Fox on an Evergreen, Colorado's porch

- Lillian

Week 2 Storytelling: Shedding Some Light on the Truth

Her insatiable curiosity would get her in trouble some day, of that I was sure. Ever since she arrived here, Psyche was unable to simply ignore the very things about which she was warned. As a servant, and an invisible one at that, I had no place to tell her this, but her husband often reminded her of the trouble she would get herself into, which leads me to what happened today. Not that this was her first act of defiance against her husband’s guidance, but it was most certainly going to be her last.

Today, Psyche really blew it.

She was told again and again not to let her curiosity about her husband’s appearance get the better of her. She was warned against the treachery her sisters would bring. Her naivete really is what did her in. She couldn’t see the jealousy behind her sisters’ eyes, so she let them sway her into going against her husband’s most dire ultimatum: do not ever attempt to glimpse his face or he would leave her immediately and forever.

Anyone with half a brain would have agreed and continued to comply with this demand. Just consider what she was getting in return: a beautiful palace to call home, servants who cater to her every wish and whim, and a loving husband who provides all of this for her and protected her from his jealous and scornful mother.

But, as you now know, Psyche isn’t the brightest star in the heavens, is she?

So, what does she decide to do? She listens to her treacherous sisters and adopts their plan to reveal her husband’s identity. Some people just don’t get it. Here’s how it all goes down.

After Psyche goes to bed for the evening, she was soon joined by her husband. After he fell asleep, she rose from the bed to a lamp she had covered. Grabbing a razor, she lifted the cover on the lamp to see and subsequently kill her husband, who must surely be a monstrosity to hide his identity from her. Imagine her surprise when she discovered Cupid sleeping peacefully in his place.

Stunned by the man that lay before her, the silly girl was overcome by emotions and stared unblinking at the god that was her husband. Unfortunately for her, in her transfixed state, she failed to notice a drop of hot oil about to fall from the lamp and onto her husband’s shoulder. This obviously woke Cupid up in a flash, and he was immediately out the door, lamenting her treachery.

The girl had the nerve to cling to his leg as he attempted to fly away, but she was no match for the winged-god. He flew into a cypress tree and told her of his mother’s orders to destroy her through a terrible marriage and how he saved her from that by making her his wife. He continued by telling her that by acting against his most direct wishes, she proved that she thought of him as a brutish monster, whom she would have killed without hesitation.

Heartbroken by her betrayal, he promised to punish her sisters for their hand in the scheme, and he punished Psyche by his leaving.

Psyche Abandoned, by Coypel

And that is how you lose an immortal husband in just a moment of uncontrolled curiosity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Author’s note:

The plot of this story is pretty well explained in the narrative, but it does kind of gloss over the role the sisters played in Psyche's downfall. They trick her into revealing her husband's identity because they are jealous of what she has and do not think she deserves it. They are punished by Cupid for their treachery, in the end.

I was inspired to write the story of Psyche's Husband Revealed from the perspective of one of the palace's servant’s. Being invisible, you get the sense from the beginning that their presence is purely magical and divine in nature, and upon the discovery of Psyche’s husband’s identity, this notion is confirmed. Since they are invisible and we can’t really understand how they work or what they look like, I decided to make them almost all-knowing and all-seeing in the palace. They would definitely know all of the comings and goings in the house and would be able to see and hear all events and conversations. I was kind of going for what the story might sound like if one of the servants was telling a family member or friend in a very gossip-y way. I hope you enjoyed it!

- Lillian

Week 2: Reading Diary B

In continuation of the unit Cupid and Psyche, I really felt the pain of Psyche in losing her husband, Cupid. No one offered her any help, nor could she find her husband to beg for his forgiveness. All the while, Venus was hot on her trail, wild with rage and contempt at her son having disobeyed her orders to marry Psyche off to a brutish and undesirable husband.

I really enjoyed the story of Psyche's trip to the underworld, but I couldn't help but shake my head at the end when her undying curiosity caused her to open the jar against the warnings she received. I was kind of surprised at her welcoming into the kingdom of the gods, but was happy for her daughter being born as immortal, being called Pleasure.

Cupid and Psyche's Wedding, by Raphael

Then, the story returns to the original tale of the man turned into a donkey. I was very happy by his escape with the kidnapped girl, as I’d somewhat forgot I was rooting for them.

Hooray! 

- Lillian

Week 2 Reading Diary A: Cupid and Psyche

For this unit, I read the story of Cupid and Psyche, which details the story of these two lovers within the story of a kidnapped woman.

I really enjoyed the opening of this story. The story of the captive woman really appealed to me. I got a great sense of the depth of her despair in having been torn from her love just before their wedding, which I can only imagine to be incredibly painful and upsetting. Her dream amplified this despair, making her inconsolable. The dramatic way that she mourns her lover after this dream is larger than life. It’s difficult to imagine someone acting this way in reality, but it makes the romance between them that much more tangible.

I really enjoyed the character of Cupid as well. I did not expect him to defy his mother Venus as he did by marrying Psyche, but it made his part of the story seem much more romantic. I can only imagine the opulent palace he had for Psyche, but in my head it’s beautiful. This painting I found by John William Waterhouse is a beautiful representation of how I imagine Psyche might have looked entering Cupid’s garden.

"Psyche entering Cupid's Garden" by John William Waterhouse. Source: wikiart.org

- Lillian

Week 1: A Very Merry UnTextbook to You! ...To Me?!

Hmm… where to begin. An UnTextbook… What exactly does that mean? How exactly does it work? I’m not entirely sure yet, but I think I’m going to find out. Now… Where to begin?

Being the indecisive person that I am, I decided to start my exploration of the UnTextbook by consulting the Crystal Ball (OoOoOoh!). I landed in Week 2 - Classical, and I was immediately drawn to Apuleius’s Cupid and Psyche. Being a fan of many artists over the centuries who drew inspiration from these classical stories, I felt a strong connection to this one in particular.

Next, I was drawn to the Infancy Gospels, probably because I attended Catholic school from kindergarten through high school. I’ve read a lot of the bible, but I’m more interested in learning about the gospels that used to be well known, but didn’t quite make it into modern bibles.

Having been to Egypt when I was 10, I was immediately drawn to Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories on the sidebar when I saw it. I wanted to be an egyptologist for many years after that trip, so I’m excited to read more of the stories I have already grown to love.

Finally, I chose Robin Hood, as the image of Errol Flynn in his best technicolor outfit popped into my head. And the Mumford & Sons cover of “Not in Nottingham” from the Disney film, which he actually performed in Guthrie, OK at a surprise performance during the Gentlemen of the Road festival in 2013 (which was AWESOME).

I hope you found some of these picks to be interesting too! Like this super cool Barque of the Sun-God Ra:

(source: Wikimedia Commons)

-Lillian

Week 1: Storybook Favorites

The three Storybooks I really liked all had one theme in common: they were based around scandal and intrigue. I found myself surprised by this, as I’m not really sure what this says about me…

(This was on the Madame Gossip Introduction page. Frighteningly true apparently...)

The first Storybook that I really liked was Mean Girls Morals. I was first drawn in by the title because who doesn’t love Mean Girls? It’s the Breakfast Club of our generation. But anyways, I was interested to see how the author was going to use this movie to retell stories. I loved the fables being rewritten as experiences the Plastics had because they were totally believable! It was a great way to connect fables with modern drama and scandal to teach an underlying moral.

The second one that I really liked was Madame Gossip: the French Princesses You Haven’t Met Yet. I’m not one to read many gossip columns or websites, but I do love Gossip Girl. The way the author talked about her subjects was cheeky and intriguiging, which drew me in from the start. It very much feels like you’re getting the scoop on the latest celebrity gossip, but the stories are actually from The Fairy Tales of Mary-Catherine d’Aulnoy (1892). LOVE IT.

The third Storybook piqued my curiosity at the name alone: The Rumpelstiltskin Show, which is a talk show hosted by Rumpelstiltskin himself. This particular episode features the brothers Grimm themselves, tricked into being on the show by thinking they were talking about their new movie. In actuality, they are on the show to answer for their crimes: the tragic tales of many fairy tale characters like Hansel and Gretel, the bride of the Robber Bridegroom, and the girl from Fitcher’s bird who saved her sisters from the Wizard.

The recurring theme here seems to be that I like the Storybooks that use models of scandal and intrigue to retell the stories. That gives me an idea for my own Storybook… Guess you’ll just have to wait and find out what that is!

(#scandal)

-Lillian

Image information:

"I love gossip" taken from Madame Gossip: Introduction. Web Source: LA Teen Gossip.

#Scandal Clutch the Pearls. Source: Makeameme.org

Introduction: If You Give a Fox an iPhone...

...She's going to want to take a picture to post on Instagram, too.

Hi, my name is Lillian, and I'm a senior at OU.

A photo posted by Lillian Flannigan (@vulpesdormiens) on Dec 21, 2014 at 3:16pm PST

I’m majoring in microbiology with minors in French and chemistry. I was born and raised in Edmond, OK, and while my parents moved to Tucson, AZ, most of my extended family still lives pretty close by. I’ve been an avid traveler since a young age-my first trip to Paris was at age 4-and I’ve been in love with travel ever since. I’ve actively studied French for the past 8 years, but I’m still working on becoming fluent.

I’m in the middle of applying to graduate programs for public health, which is something I’ve become really passionate about in the last couple of years. At the moment, the plan is to go to medical school after a 2 year masters program. After that, I’d love to work for organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the WHO, hopefully using my French skills in the process.

My current Netflix obsessions consists of… Glee (I’m sorry, it’s a guilty pleasure), Pretty Little Liars (okay, this is getting worse and worse for me…), Borgia (SO GOOD), and House of Cards (redemption!). The only TV show I regularly watch on actual TV is Archer, and if you haven’t ever watched it, you should because it’s AMAZING, and actually really clever.

I think the weirdest thing about myself is that I love grilled cheese. And yeah, I know, everyone loves a good grilled cheese, but I’m talking like… gourmet, hand-sliced bread, flavor explosion, grilled cheese. I can honestly say that I make the best grilled cheese you will ever have, and I have plenty of evidence to back up that claim. In fact, if I won the lottery, my first move would be to open a gourmet grilled cheese and specialty beer restaurant with my best friend. There would be grilled cheese and beer pairings like with gourmet food and wines (which I also greatly enjoy). I’m a foodie. It’s a wonderful, tasty life.

Wine and grilled cheese night with my girls @marrett.hild & @regarrison93. #greekgrilledcheese #butternutsquashsoup #alsogonegirllater

A photo posted by Lillian Flannigan (@vulpesdormiens) on Oct 2, 2014 at 6:34pm PDT

Spring break 2014 consisted of a road trip with 3 of my best friends, and in the middle of the Petrified Forest National Park, I was dubbed Sleeping Fox. I earned this nickname for 2 reasons: the first being that I love sleeping (seriously, the best), and the second is that my hair is ginger like a fox, and they’re my favorite animal. In my favorite French book The Little Prince, the fox is the wise character that teaches the Little Prince really valuable life lessons, and I’ve always really felt a connection to that character. Foxes are AWESOME.

So… That’s a little about me. Hope you enjoyed learning more about who’s behind this blog!

- Lillian

Ps. My favorite social media app is Instagram, hence the title... Feel free to follow me! @vulpesdormiens

Week 1 Storytelling: The Princess and the Pop Star

“A fine coat is not always an indication of an attractive mind.”

A Princess and a Pop Star were chatting amicably after a gala for their country’s national holiday, when the subject turned to the latest fashions. The Pop Star was very proud of her closet full of the newest runway looks, though many would agree they were much too ostentatious for everyday wear. The Princess, however, wore a much more demure and understated style, even going so far as to be seen wearing the same outfits at several events.

(The Princess and her Prince arrive at the gala)

As the Pop Star talked on and on about the newest looks arriving daily from fashion houses like Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana, and Versace, the Princess nodded and smiled politely, knowing that while the Pop Star’s attire was often the talk of the town, she herself had never been seen on the “NOT” side of the “HOT or NOT” fashion articles. When she remarked in passing that she thought that it must be difficult to get much done while wearing such distracting clothing, the Pop Star became flippant, replying that she doubted “a Princess would understand what work was anyways.”

(The Pop Star arrives at the gala)

Laughing internally, the Princess excused herself to find her husband, the Prince. As she recounted the event to him, the Prince chuckled and said, “Her gaudy clothing is just a distraction from her lack of talent and poise, while you let your personality and grace shine, and your clothes complement that, not compete with it.”

The End.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Author’s Note:

This story was based on the fable The Fox and the Leopard from Aesop for Children, by (anonymous), illustrated by Milo Winter (1919). In the fable, the Fox and the Leopard start disputing their good looks. After the Fox realizes that his understated coat is no match for the flashy style of the Leopard, he uses his wit to drive the Leopard to the point of anger. He walks off after remarking that if the Leopard was as smart as his coat is, he would be actually beautiful. 
I took inspiration from one of my favorite style icons, Kate Middleton, for the Princess, as I think she embodies intelligence, grace, and poise, while still being relatable to the everyday woman. The Pop Star was based loosely on Victoria Beckham (formerly known to many of us as Posh Spice), for whom my 6 year old self had a lot of admiration, but who has since become more focused on fashion than music. She kind of gives off the bad girl vibe, don't you think?
I chose this story because I love foxes and leopards. I liked that it uses the fox's cunning as a way to outsmart the boastful leopard. It seemed like it would be a pretty easy one to start with, so I wasn't super worried about figuring out how to rewrite it!

Image information:

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Olympic Gala. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons
Victoria Beckham 2010. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons