Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales, Part B

Puppy eating by Max Pixel

People showed up at the scholar’s room and their horses and dogs killed all the pesky bugs. The people left but didn’t realize they were missing one pup. This was now his pup forever. The pup will continue to kill off/eat all bugs for him. I’m not sure if he smashed the pup or the pup was smashing more vermin at the end? I think he flattened the pup… this is so tragic.

A fox preparing an elixir? And a farmer ate it. He was now possessing powerful features. Then he burps it back up and the fox took it back. Another story about foxes, except this one is about foxes that talk like humans. The story is very descriptive.

Oh my goodness, this man accidentally killed the water carrier and the boy was a witness. The boy was seeing ghosts. He also killed a man like his father did… by mistake and not owning up to their accident.

Pagoda, ogre, stuck up above, thrown old clothes, disbelief. Next story, the monk was deceived and the girl was actually a scheming flying ogre. Story that talks about pupils a lot.

I liked the quote, “Revolt is seething round about us like boiling water in a kettle.” Whoever the mandarin is sure knows how to influence someone with his words…. For Dschou Tschu took everything he said to heart.

Many festive items spoken of. Stories usually includes sobbing and tears, but not much about laughter and true happiness.


Bibliography: Chinese Fairy Book by Wilhelm

Tech Tip: Creating a Cheezburger Meme

Of course, I would chose to make a meme of a cute pup! I'm not the greatest at captioning though...

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales, Part A

Panther by fotshot

I enjoy the beginning of the story because I am unlucky as well. I also like the twist in the beginning. The princess left to go live with the lucky beggar. He left for eighteen years to find fortune? She was faithful throughout the time he was gone. He came back wealthy, they celebrated, and of course she falls ill and dies because she is unlucky.

All the stories start off “ONCE ___” or “THE”, all caps first words. The story took a wild turn when the father wanted to leave his children in the mountains to be eaten by wolves. This is a family of selfishness and survival.

The panther was deceiving. This reminds me of another story, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Is this story usually told with a wolf? Like the big bad wolf!

Son went to fetch water for his mom, but she passed away and withered in the process of him being gone. I was confused the rest of the story.

The girl with the horse’s head or the silkworm goddess… what an interesting title.

Prince Guan, King Guan, Helper of the Heavens, God of War. Numerous names and many spiritual descriptions.

I love when stories start out homely/humbly. Pear farmer was tricked. The story ending with the ants gave me the chills because I can just imagine it.


Bibliography: Chinese Fairy Book by Wilhelm

Week 6 Storytelling: The Princess and Turtle

Island by Mwanner

There was once a beautiful princess who lived alone on an island. She was the only human there and made friends with all the native animals. Her best friend was a turtle. He didn’t say much, but she knew he could understand her words.

Far into the distance the princess could see thousands of people having fun along the shore. She had special senses that tingle when certain people entered the water. She thought it was the world’s way of telling her it was true love.

A few sailors have sailed by her island, and a few have even rested there. They never stay though. Not long enough anyways.

You see, the princess had another special power; she never aged. She could also give others that opportunity as well. Often the guests take up the offer, but eventually they miss home and would try to go back. The princess has learned that nothing good lasts forever.

One morning, her turtle friend ended up far away from home. He was caught in a nets that were thrown into a boat. A fisherman was utterly surprised to see such a creature in those nets because this has never happened before. The turtle was terrified for his life. He trembled and begged as the fisherman picked him up. The fisherman simply released all the netting and gently put him down in the sand. Graciously, he gave the turtle a nudge to set him free into the water, and off the turtle went.

The turtle arrived back home and told the princess all about his encounter. Immediately, the princess was infatuated. She was desperate for the attention of any man, for it had been decades since anyone had stopped by her island. She needed to devise a plan to meet this kind fisherman. She needed to find herself a keeper.

She observed from afar all the days he set ashore to go fishing. There is this feeling that won’t go away. He was the one.

It was a stormy night out and this was the perfect opportunity to reel the fisherman in. His boat coincidentally hit a rock and broke right beneath him. When out of nowhere the turtle came towards him to save his life. “I am the turtle whose life you once saved. I will now pay my debt and show my gratitude.”

With that, the fisherman latched onto the turtle, and they headed back to the princess’ island.

Here the princess tended to the wounds he received during the storm and took care of him as he passed out. The next morning the young fisherman was surprised to see how much better he felt. He looked up and was captured by the beauty the princess possessed.

She noticed he was awake and swiftly walked back to him. They chatted for a few hours… which turned into a few days. When finally the princess gave him the proposition of staying young forever. The idea sounded too good to be true, but he accepted her invitation.

It’s amazing how time flies on an island isolated with just two people living there. Years passed and the fisherman never even noticed.

But.

One day, the fisherman told the princess he missed home and wanted to go back. Like the rest of the men that end up on this island, they never last.

She let him go back to a place he calls home, but really it is no longer his home. He doesn't realize that it’s been hundreds of years stuck on that island with her.

--

Author’s Note: I wanted to do it from the princess’ point of view instead of the fisherman’s. To tie in the original version and mine a little bit more, I incorporated a quote from the turtle.

Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales by Andrew Lang

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales, Part B

Monkey in a Tree by Anthony

I wonder what age Japanese consider as reaching manhood. It got a little confusing because when they said man I wasn’t sure if they were referring to the young boy or another guy in the story. Slightly confused on who Schippeitaro bit and who was killed… but yay for saving girls.

The monkey is using the crab’s kindness. Karma will get back at him. He attempted to murder the crab for being smarter than him. Friends always have your back. The wasp helped the crab get back at the monkey. The monkey fell dead. He deserved it for treating the crab so terribly.

The kettle changed forms. Actually, the kettle was a creature? A tanuki. The tanuki brought fortune and good luck. The man was humble enough to do the right thing and return it to his seller.

Tanukis are clever little beasts full of magic. He and his fox sidekick used their abilities to trick people into giving them money.

The tanuki pretended to be a woman. Then he revealed his true identity. The tanuki cooked up his wife’s body and let him eat it without him realizing. The man took revenge and killed the tanuki. He fell into the water and held down by a hare. Tag team killing.

Uraschimataro is a cool name. Going to call him Taro for short. Taro sailed every morning. The turtle he saved is now saving him as his boat shattered to pieces. They went to an island. Met a princess that promised youth for a lifetime. He missed home and decided to go back. But everything has changed. 300 years passed. He opened up the box from the princess and shriveled up immediately. He slowly passed away by the shore.


Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang) by Andrew Lang

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales, Part A

Puppy Dog by George Hodan

First off, frogs creep the heck out of me. I really did not want to read this first story. However, it wasn’t bad at all. It’s a cute idea. Two frogs wanting to go see the world. The idea of holding onto each other is also kind of cute. It’s like a trust exercise.

Be careful of what you wish for. This seems too good to be true. First rich, and now a prince? Now a sun?! Why is this man never content on what he wants to be. In the end he wished to be a man again. The story is slightly predictable, but it was very entertaining. It would be fun making a different version of this somehow.

It is always so sad reading about people getting ill. It doesn’t help that they keep talking about tears and more sadness. The story took on a happy slope. The ending half was more joyous to read; sad stories aren’t my favorite.

The Envious Neighbour has the best intro yet! I love dogs. Dogs are human’s best friend. So the dog found a box full of gold. NO. THE DOG WAS KILLED?! WHAT A TERRIBLE TWIST! I am outraged. How can a neighbor be so rude? This had me feeling some type of way.

The lady was full of despair and anger. She was too much for them to handle so they essentially killed her off.

I’m imagining a very elegant cat. Musical element is mentioned a few times. Aww the cats found each other. It was fate.


Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang) by Andrew Lang

Tech Tip: Embed SoundCloud in a Blogger Post

Storytelling: Twenty-Two

Homeless man by Matthew Woitunski

There once was a man who went to the gas station every single evening to buy one pack of cigarettes. As soon as he got off his 9 to 5 job, he would head straight there. All cashiers and workers knew him as a regular.

On a hot summer day, a homeless man set his resting area right outside the doors of this gas station. From that day forward he made that place his official place to be. The workers would give him water and let him inside if he ever needed due to blistering weather or any other essential needs. The hobo was friendly and never caused any trouble; he just liked to tell stories and entertain people. All he asked in return was their attention.

The regular customer was surprised to see this guy sleeping outside by the door. It was a blistering day, so the man went in and bought a drink and chips in addition to his usual pack of cigs to give to the hobo. As he sets down the food, the homeless man awakens and begins thanking him for his generosity. In return he felt he absolutely had to tell the customer a story.

----

There was a girl named Coral who had three suitors chasing after her. Her complexion was fair, her hair silky, and her personality was lovely. She was quite a catch. The suitors were head over heels in love with Coral; when one day she fell ill.

She suffered through a severe fever and unexpectedly passed away. The suitors were devastated.

They could not bear to believe she was really gone forever.

Suitor One slept against a tree next to her grave. He never got up not even to get food or do anything, so random people who walked by would come back with meals for him to eat. Suitor One was the one most hurt by her lost.

Suitor Two took bits of her bones to a river near the cemetery. He believed the river had special magic to bring her back to life.

Suitor Three went on a journey across the world. During his travels he ran into people who could cast spells to bring Coral back. He memorized the spell as quickly as possible. Suitor Three truly believed this would work, so he immediately made his way back to the cemetery to find Suitor One and Suitor Two.

He gathered them and casted the spell and took a flake of her bones and sprinkled river water onto it. In a blink of an eye, Coral swiftly appeared. She was back and breathing.

Was it the spell, the undying love, or the river water which brought her back?

Which suitor would she choose not that she’s alive again? A man who slept by her side the whole way through, someone who was slowly releasing bits and pieces of her, or someone who traveled to find a magical spell to bring her back.

----

For twenty-two days in a row the regular sat by the homeless man to hear at least one story before leaving. This became their routine until one day the homeless man just disappeared without any notice. Now the regular replays all the stories in his head and this one questions him the most.



Author’s notes: I wanted to base this off of the story, The Three Lovers. Instead of a goblin in a cemetery I decided a homeless man was more relatable. The story itself was very similar to the original except this ends in more of a mystery.

Bibliography: Twenty-Two Goblins by Arthur Ryder

Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins, Part A

Jeweled fruits from a monk. Meet under tree in a cemetery. King went to get a dead body from a tree. The body was possessed by a goblin? Goblin tells the king stories along their journey.

Cemetery by NotFromUtrecht 

Three suitors are after Coral. They lived with her swooning when suddenly she passed away due to sickness. One slept on her ashes, one dipped her bones in a river, and the other became a monk. The monk wanted to bring Coral back to life. He read a spell and Coral awoken. Each one believed they were the reasoning behind her coming back. The father chose the boy who slept with her ashes day and night because of his dedication.

Moonlight, chariot fight, giant, marriage, brave man, and anger.

Love at first sight. This whole story sounds like a cleaning commercial at first haha. Spotless asked Clean-cloth for approval of their son and daughter to be together. White for some odd reason decided to cut off his head in a temple. Brother-in-law cut off his own head as he saw White did. Lovely was thinking about hanging herself, but she heard a voice tell her not to do it. Lovely put the heads of her brother and fiancé on the wrong bodies. She was conflicted because now they are essentially a mixture of both people.

Fighting about a turtle. Went to eat dinner, but something smelt of burning corpse. One brother refused to eat. He blamed a servant for smelling terrible. Goaty smell. Another brother suffered being pricked.

Four suitors. Princess wanted a good looking scientist.

Three delicate wives. Crescent was bruised from a petal falling on her. Star was burned from moonlight. Moon was in distraught due to loud but not loud noises.


Bibliography: Twenty-Two Goblins by Arthur Ryder

Week 4: Feedback Focus

1. Reading out loud: 

I’m not really fond of this strategy because I do stutter a lot and this holds me back a little bit. I feel this makes me focus on the words, but not the stories. This is probably least useful for me personally.

2. Copy-and-Delete: 

The Written? Kitten was actually really cute and I don’t like cats haha. This is something I typically do, minus the copy and pasting part. As a read a paragraph by paragraph I jot down notes and so on. This is an interesting approach! I kind of enjoy it. This strategy is pretty useful and I’ll try it in the future.

3. Timer: 

Ah, I absolutely hate timers!! I feel too pressured and then it freaks me out. This helped me read a lot faster, but it’s so forced. However this strategy is pretty effective. I would rank this in the middle of the three strategies.

Reading by Joshua Reynolds

Week 4 Story: Leave

Freedom from pexel.

AFTER countless days staying awake thinking about this moment it was finally Arthur’s chance to escape. The clock struck twelve and he was now 18-years-old. He was officially old enough to count as a man. 

Arthur thought, “I will find a better place to live. A place where I will find joy, find my peace, and endure whatever that comes my way. I will be all alone. That is okay. I will survive. The hour has come; I am on the road to deliverance.”

He swiftly packed his bags in the middle of the night taking only the essential items needed to survive. Arthur’s closest friend was his German Shepard, Ka. Taking a few minutes to debate if he should take Ka along or leave him as he depart…

Ka was strong and supple. At the same time he was also gentle, but only with Arthur. He was a noble friend and was there for Arthur through all his good times and bad. They were best companions. Arthur could not bare to desert him; Ka’s strength kept him motivated.

They snuck downstairs and through the kitchen. Arthur grabbed removed some of his belongings to make room for food and dog essentials for Ka. Slowly they made way past his parent’s master bedroom and through the hallway. Delicately Arthur slowly turned one of notches to the front door.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise.

They did not know where it came from, but Arthur knew if they did not get out now then they will never have the courage to again. It was time.

In quick motions Arthur was able to rapidly get all the door notches unlocked. Arthur and Ka took their first step outdoors and never looked back. This is what freedom feels like.

The night was foggy and an eerie aura lurked around. The moon was alive, but the world around him was lost in a haze. This didn’t seem real.

Arthur and Ka made it to a bus station and went to the furthest city possible. They needed to get some rest before their day full of adventures tomorrow. The sun will rise and his parents will wake up and start an investigation to find Arthur and Ka.

All his life Arthur was expected to live a certain way. He had to become a doctor or engineer or else he would be considered the disappointment of his family. Arthur was forced to attend an all boys Catholic school, and frankly he was not even fond of this forced religious path.

Arthur was thankful to live in a prestigious neighborhood and never went to bed hungry… but somewhere along the way… this was not the life he wanted to live. Arthur knew he was different from the others.

He wanted freedom. Arthur wanted to be his own person and not be molded into the person his family expected him to be. He wanted a life outside of this and the only way out Arthur could think of was to escape.

His parents were never able to locate him and Ka. They hitchhiked through countless towns and made it past the border. In that moment Arthur thought, “until I shall have seen the end of life and death, I shall never return home.”

Author’s Note: Based off of the story of Siddhartha leaving home. This is a more modern approach. Siddhartha was changed to Arthur. The horse, Kanthaka, changed to a dog named Ka. The story seemed a little all over the place, but I based that set up on the original way it was told. The idea and setting is different, yet still holds the idea of escaping for a better life.

Bibliography: Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold

Tech Tip: Canvas App

Personal photo of Canvas App Calendar

I just downloaded the Canvas iPad app! I must say it is a lot more convenient than logging in through Safari all the time. It seems to glitch a little bit, but maybe that’s because I’m not used to it. I like all the tabs except the calendar. The calendar isn’t synced up with the one online? Other than that, the instant notifications is a big plus.

Reading Notes: Life of the Buddha, Part B

Siddhartha Gautama by Sacca

Kanthaka was a horse. I think Siddhartha rode away into the distance on Kanthaka without notifying anyone. Siddhartha felt close to nature and all its surroundings/animals. His closest friend might be his horse. He left home. He doesn’t want his father to worry or go after him.

There are so many different characters with unique names and it’s difficult to remember who is who. Someone is talking Siddhartha out of this journey. He has made his decision. He took a sword and chopped off all of his. He was not about the lavish life his parents had planned for him as a pricne. He wanted a plain robe to wear.

He is married to a lady named Gopa. Gopa woke up in the middle of the night searching for Siddhartha. She knew something was off. She ran around the halls and knew he escaped. There is a quote from her and it’s a bunch of questions in despair.

People are going up to Siddhartha mistaking him for a god. He meditated outdoors rain or shine. He sat through it all. He barely ate. He’s bone protruded out. He noticed he couldn’t think straight so he took food offerings from people eventually.

His clothes tore up, and he was basically left naked. He took clothes and went into a pool to wash off. A tree branch helped Siddhartha get out of the pool. Night came and he had five dreams. He radiates.

The last story has repetitive speech, not exactly what sure this type of writing is. “To suppress… to suppress.” “…existence. What is the cause of existence? Existence…” Siddhartha is light; he is now Buddha.

Bibliography: Life of the Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold

Reading Notes: Life of the Buddha, Part B

The first story was quite confusing. I understand why this was mentioned, but it started off rocky for me. I notice that the first word of the story is all caps; assuming this is for emphasis. They refer to everyone as “O ____” such as O queen, O master, O Maya.

Siddhartha was born in a beautiful garden. 

Asita also starts off confusing. Where are these characters coming from? Big words are used every once in a while. There is something wrong with Siddhartha? He will experience all life has to offer and it is a shame for anyone who will not survive to see his understanding of life. 

There are a lot of descriptions of the world and its surroundings. Maya died and her sister, Mahaprajapati, basically took over her duties. Jewels had no effect on Buddha. He made them seem dull. He radiated like nothing they’ve seen before. 

Siddhartha under a tree by Olivier Thereaux

Prince went under a tree for shade and got lost in meditation. Random people went by and started singing about how he will become Buddha. His father sent people out to go look for him. A servant found him under the tree in which the shadow has not moved while all the other trees projected a different shadow. The servant called for the father to see this and a little after they arrived, Siddhartha woke up. 

More nature talk. King and prince and extravagant way of living. Siddhartha took an interest in observing those less unfortunate. He felt for them. He thought of what it would be like to go through all that suffering. He was sad of sickness/disease and death. All he could think about was death. A monk suddenly appeared in front of him, and spoke about his selfless way of life. This inspired him to become a monk. 

Bibliography: Life of the Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold

Week 3 Storytelling: Kelly and Classmates

Scotland High School by Craig Wallace

Once upon a time, there was an all-girls school deep within Scotland. The ages varied from big and small, and a few hundred came here to get their education. They were all highly intelligent and frankly they all knew it too.

Except one special little girl named Kelly. She was the shy and timid type that never spoke up in class unless she absolutely had to. Kelly did not have many friends for the reason that she never got the courage to speak up and talk to people, and many students thought she was that one odd child in the class. Little did they know, she was the wisest of them all and was actually quite humble about it. The other students on the other hand… possessed immense egos.

The anatomy professor, Stephanie, obviously favored Kelly, and her classmates did not understand why. She was always called on and got every single answers correct. Professor Stephanie even promised to provide a scholarship when she graduated. Her classmates were enraged and secretly envied her. Professor Stephanie barely liked fellow teachers much less her students. After school, Kelly would stay and talk with her privately for what seemed like eternity.

Kelly told Professor Stephanie about how she felt so alone in a school full of people. No one understood her and no one would notice if she disappeared one day. No one cared.

When lunch time came around Kelly would curl up in the library to read because she liked her peace and quiet. She didn’t have anyone to talk to and eat with anyways.

Some days a few girls would come in just to taunt her. They would pester Kelly about her appearance or persistently ask why she was so weird just to see if she would lose her temper, but she always remained calm. That composure aggravated them even more. She was unbreakable.

One day, the same group of girls devised a plan to embarrass her.

Every day the school assigns someone new to monitor the cafeteria. This is one of the rare times Kelly would come out of the library.

The girls got information of what date she would be on duty next and hoped to mortify her. The straightforward plan was put into action.

The moment Kelly walked into the room she knew something was off. She felt stares all throughout; Kelly kept her head down until she heard someone call out her name… When all of a sudden someone stuck out their feet and tripped her mid step. She plunged forward into a tray full of mash potato and gravy.

Kelly pulled herself up, wiped her eyes, and bee lined towards the restroom. She lost the composure she has been holding down and cried and cried until her eyes were dry.

When she came out of the stall there was a girl standing there holding up a tissue. It was the new transfer student. This kind stranger patiently waited for Kelly to collect herself. She did not say much, but her presence was comforting enough. As they walked out of the restroom together, Kelly introduced herself; this was the start of a sincere friendship.

Friendship by AdinaVoicu

Author’s Note: I liked how the story of Saint Kentigern and the Robin addressed the issue of bullying. I put my own twist on the story by changing the scenario. The main character, Kentigern, is now a girl named Kelly, Saint Servan is Stephanie, and I added a new unnamed stranger. Saint Kentigern never really made a friend besides Saint Servan and even with that it was a mentor and mentee relationship. I wanted the person being bullied to find a friend.

Bibliography: Saint Kentigern and the Robin by Abbie Farwell Brown