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