tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87051770384403803272024-03-14T10:26:13.136-05:00Mythology and FolkloreRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-55425290064011709072020-12-10T17:47:00.008-06:002020-12-10T17:47:59.730-06:00Microfiction Revisions: Two Spooky Little Stories<h3 style="height: 0px;">Original Texts:</h3><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Got Ya</b></div><p>I ran. I ran as fast as I possibly could, the branches whipping at face, grabbing at my hair. It was almost as though he somehow had control of the branches, commanding them to stop me. <i>Crack. </i>I felt a pain in my chest before the realization hit me. I was on the ground. A scream rose from my lungs as I tried to move my ankle. No. It couldn't be. I closed my eyes and counted to three, willing my ankle to mend itself so I could run. I opened my eyes and the scream burst forth. "Got ya."</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Lipstick</b></p><p>I couldn't help but give an exasperated sigh, knowing full well that this lady would never get the right shade of red for my lipstick. Although, I suppose it is hard to make lipstick look vibrant when you're putting it on a corpse.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJxOVQRkDskqt1NMDsN2O-KWcD_ns0V739EOTvkfCIeisHO805SxNkoR_VYI9JM8wtoTFoOV6qWbTN1Ijs1Y7eSkJr1n35sQnts_wLLzxr_dR8s4LomJADewTnn5CSzRUfj1O5CutILE/s1920/forest-5167332_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJxOVQRkDskqt1NMDsN2O-KWcD_ns0V739EOTvkfCIeisHO805SxNkoR_VYI9JM8wtoTFoOV6qWbTN1Ijs1Y7eSkJr1n35sQnts_wLLzxr_dR8s4LomJADewTnn5CSzRUfj1O5CutILE/w373-h248/forest-5167332_1920.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is different image than I used in the original story, but I think these woods are more of what I am envisioning for "Got Ya"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/forest-night-landscape-fantasy-5167332/" target="_blank">Pete Linforth from Pixabay</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Revisions:</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Got Ya</b></div><p>I dash through the lightless woods, begging my legs to move faster. Branches whip my face and grab my hair with such fervor it feels purposeful, almost like he is commanding them to stop me. </p><p><i>Crack. </i>The pain from my ankle registers before my brain understands, but then it hits me: I'm down. My scream fills the chilly air as moonlight bounces off the bone now exposed to the night sky. I close my eyes and count to three, willing my ankle to mend itself. </p><p><i>One... </i>leaves are rustling behind me. </p><p><i>Two... </i>I sense a presence above me. </p><p><i>Three...</i>"Got ya."</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Shade of Red</b></p><p>I understand the makeup artist doesn't know what my personal preferences are, and I don't mean to be obnoxious, but I can't help my exasperation with the shade of red she's chosen. Although, I guess I should cut her some slack, given that it's probably difficult to make lipstick look vibrant when you're putting it on a corpse.</p><p><br /></p><p>Author's Note:</p><p>I definitely changed things up with these revisions! I wanted to really place the reader in the woods during the first story, so I tried to activate all my verbs and change up the structure of the whole thing. I am much more pleased with the revised version. For the second story, I changed up the first sentence quite a bit. I felt like the original wasn't as exciting or enticing, so I wanted to draw the reader in more. I also change the title to something a little less on the nose. </p><p><br /></p></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-76761190909328049772020-12-10T13:51:00.005-06:002020-12-10T13:51:48.328-06:00Week 15 Story Lab: Empoword Chapter 2<p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHkgBdV8sBPcKMndw8eDW8eSrmWaDFl5NakWMaARm0b0S90huLDeOHCerU2zGCu2GTdzPluwloqtlTC5Skdy9Wt7FyQx4MEfbm0YzTSe4Z-Ih9-RCypI1kDtPZS6ank35lv2LHsMZ2JE/s1920/storytelling-4203628_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHkgBdV8sBPcKMndw8eDW8eSrmWaDFl5NakWMaARm0b0S90huLDeOHCerU2zGCu2GTdzPluwloqtlTC5Skdy9Wt7FyQx4MEfbm0YzTSe4Z-Ih9-RCypI1kDtPZS6ank35lv2LHsMZ2JE/w409-h230/storytelling-4203628_1920.jpg" width="409" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we tell a good story we make imaginations run wild.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/storytelling-fantasy-imagination-4203628/" target="_blank">Tumisu from Pixabay</a>)</div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Notes: <a href="https://content.library.pdx.edu/files/PDXScholar/empoword/84/#zoom=z" target="_blank">Telling a Story</a></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>There are many different ways to interpret a story</li><li><u>Narration</u>: a rhetorical story-telling mode involving the construction and relation of stories</li><ul><li>Techniques for narration</li><ul><li><u>Plot</u>: refers to the actual events that take place in the story</li><ul><li>the primary subject of the narrative</li></ul><li><u>Scope</u>: boundaries of the plot</li><ul><li>When and where? Background?</li><li>Context</li><li>Can be narrow or broad</li><li>Should focus on details that fit in the bigger picture</li></ul><li><u>Sequence and Pacing</u>: the order of events and the amount of time you give to each event</li><ul><li>Freytag's Pyramid</li><ul><li>Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution</li></ul><li>In Medias Res= "in the middle of things"</li><ul><li>Begin in the middle and circle back to the beginning</li></ul></ul><li><u>Point-of-View</u>: the perspective from which a story is told</li><ul><li>1st person: uses "I" "me" "we" "us"<br /></li><li>2nd person: uses "you" "your"</li><li>3rd person: uses "he" "her" "them"<br /></li><li>3rd person omniscient: uses same as third person but is all knowing of every character</li></ul><li><u>Tone</u>: the emotional register of the story's language</li><li><u>Mood:</u> the emotional register a reader experiences</li></ul><li>Building Characters</li><ul><li><u>Characterization</u>: the development of characters through action, descriptions, and dialogue. Relies on specificity</li><ul><li>Direct= through specific description of the character</li><li>Indirect= through behaviors, speech, or thoughts of the character</li></ul><li>Types of characters</li><ul><li>Round- very detailed and require attentive description</li><li>Flat- minimally detailed</li><li>Static- remain the same through the whole narrative</li><li>Dynamic- change within the narrative as a result of the events</li></ul></ul><li><u>Dialogue</u>: communication between two or more characters</li><ul><li>often demonstrates the traits of a character or the relationship of the characters</li><li>When dialogue is not doing more than one thing it can feel flat </li><li>Rhythm of dialogue should tell the reader something</li></ul><li>Choosing a Medium:</li><ul><li><u>Multimedia or </u><u>Multi-genre:</u> narration that synthesizes multiple different forms, like video and audio, nonfiction, poetry, and photography</li><li>Think of how to combine mediums to effectively tell a story</li></ul></ul></ul><div>I learned a lot of good things from this chapter! I thought I knew how to properly tell a story but there are a lot of elements I was not including that I should be!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-48918013956627688512020-12-09T21:32:00.002-06:002020-12-09T21:32:15.332-06:00Reading Notes: Hunt, Part B<h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Hans the Hedgehog</i></h3><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRy_y9XYDNdFWnfKGWAUFyauDNqF2Tc4RhQaAXScks25o14_6W6g_KMBXOCWbeG8z2NwpL7txOaz49jJsbWThbvoWQ41zvTfO1vCsJSsNd3rDxBpW3reAkYSsPrBbKu4d_1LXYzSBLMA/s453/Screen+Shot+2014-07-23+at+11.56.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRy_y9XYDNdFWnfKGWAUFyauDNqF2Tc4RhQaAXScks25o14_6W6g_KMBXOCWbeG8z2NwpL7txOaz49jJsbWThbvoWQ41zvTfO1vCsJSsNd3rDxBpW3reAkYSsPrBbKu4d_1LXYzSBLMA/s320/Screen+Shot+2014-07-23+at+11.56.43+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hans on his rooster making the king sign over to him the first thing that greeted him at his kingdom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image by <a href="https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006846937" target="_blank">Otto Ubbelohde</a>)</div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Notes:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Again, this story was written in a time where language was spoken and written differently than if we were telling it now. I think if I re-tell this story for the week's writing I will definitely try to modernize it in some way.</li><li>I simply do not identify with the wanting children so badly, but go off I guess. Why was he willing to settle for a hedgehog though?</li><li>So the logical thing is that he was born to be half hedgehog? I also would argue that there are many other names he could have been called but okay</li><li>I DESPISE the word "suckled." I am aware this is a very minor issue with the storyline but I hate it nonetheless</li><li>Ummm this is child neglect, but that's fine. I don't think I would ever be able to put such a horrible detail into my own writing<br /></li><li>Does Hans just live behind the stove? I am confused</li><li>I will not lie, I did not understand the way in which the word "cock" was being used in this story. My brain certainly did not automatically go to a rooster, to say the least. I think this is a very important detail that is lost on modern audiences.</li><li>Can hedgehogs climb trees? Is this important at all?</li><li>Oh so he is truly a small hedgehog! I was picturing him as a boy-sized hedgehog, but the fact that he can sit on a rooster clues me into the intent of the author.</li><li>I like the idea that Hans had a mystical glow-up where he can now serve kings and watch his flock while he chills in a tree. It's nice</li><li>Hans is sneaky. I feel like this is going to bite him in the butt.</li><li>Okay what the heck is the deal with his dad? He was greatly troubled that Hans was still alive? I thought he wanted children so badly that he would have taken a hedgehog!</li><li>I really wish the author would stop saying the phrase "seated himself on the cock." I do not wish to read it anymore.</li><li>So Hans just slaughtered everyone? I am so confused.</li><li>What the frick frack? I liked Hans. I was rooting for him until he freaking assaulted the daughter of the king (the fact that she was used as leverage is a whole other issue)</li><ul><li>Why was the daughter disgraced? It isn't her fault the men in her life were awful</li></ul><li>He can TAKE OFF HIS SKIN??? What in the world?? I hate this.</li><li>Why was he burnt? I simply do not understand what is going on here.</li><li>Um it feels super problematic that once he was white he was handsome.</li><li>I hate that once he was human he was accepted. What even is the moral of the story?</li><li>This is truly the weirdest story I have ever read. </li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/grimm-hans-hedgehog.html" target="_blank">Hans the Hedgehog</a></i></div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-unit-brothers-grimm-crane.html">Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm</a>, translated by Margaret Hunt (1884)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-4340781696173760412020-12-08T22:05:00.001-06:002020-12-08T22:05:13.384-06:00Reading Notes: Hunt, Part A<h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Hansel and Grethel</i></h3><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJhZCt8KOXk6ngoni0qWQVIkw6ufY68m8dNg9gf7d_iKhXP-auAaRSYEjJtXs1wJQYlH8-zqXzhMK0ADVILM5Am0F_LXnNOZ2YMt-hpkx4t8l6rfTGDtyJGCXkTIUtPpA-CMrqsgp_MI/s969/969px-Raxstra%25C3%259Fe_15_Nr._7-27_H%25C3%25A4nsel_und_Gretel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="969" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJhZCt8KOXk6ngoni0qWQVIkw6ufY68m8dNg9gf7d_iKhXP-auAaRSYEjJtXs1wJQYlH8-zqXzhMK0ADVILM5Am0F_LXnNOZ2YMt-hpkx4t8l6rfTGDtyJGCXkTIUtPpA-CMrqsgp_MI/s320/969px-Raxstra%25C3%259Fe_15_Nr._7-27_H%25C3%25A4nsel_und_Gretel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hansel and Grethel and the witch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image from <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raxstra%C3%9Fe_15_Nr._7-27_H%C3%A4nsel_und_Gretel.JPG" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>)</div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Notes:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I did not realize that the original name of Gretel was Grethel. Did they change it because Grethel was just too old fashioned? Hansel is a weird name too. </li><li>The language and dialect used here is a bit hard for modern audiences to understand. I think if I re-wrote this I would try to modernize the whole thing</li><li>I have not read the story of Hansel and Gretel very much in my life because it honestly always scared me, but I did not realize it was this dark. I suppose I should not be surprised because it's the Brothers Grimm, but still</li><li>I feel like Hansel shouldn't have been in charge of figuring out a solution</li><li>I think the idea of rocks versus the adaptation where it is breadcrumbs is a way smarter. I always thought breadcrumbs could be lost way too easily to be effective</li><li>Hansel is really resourceful. I feel so bad for him that he is the neglected child and has to be the one in charge</li><li>Okay I like the dad I think. He seems like he at least somewhat cares for the children</li><li>The social worker in me (that's my major) is having an absolute panic attack right now at how messed up this situation is</li><li>I think the idea that Hansel keeps comforting Grethel with saying God will protect them is an interesting way to bring religion into play. The way religion is used here implies that God is not a protector but just something to say to comfort people while you have to take your situation into your own hands, as Hansel does. It just has some odd implications for the world where the story takes place</li><li>Ohhh okay I see now the breadcrumbs. Whoops.</li><li>I hate to say it, but why would she eat the part that was just pure sugar? The girl needs some carbs and something of sustenance, like the walls or roof</li><li>I do not trust this old woman. She seems sketchy, but I like the idea of the sort of temptress trope used here. The idea that the woman is a wolf in sheep's clothing is a good idea for my future writing</li><li>Does the witch subsist on children? What are the odds that children just wander through the woods all the time?</li><li>I like that the story gave a bit of background on the character of the witch. I feel like it did a good job without being overbearing</li><li>Hansel is super smart for the bone trick</li><li>Ooooo here comes Grethel with the tricks now! She does have a brain.</li><li>They brought religion back into it with the "godless witch" part so I guess this is a Christian culture to some extent</li><li>Are we just going to gloss over the fact that the mother is dead? Did the father kill her? I have questions.</li><li>I like that this story had a happy ending. I feel like that is definitely not always the case with Grimm tales</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/grimm-hansel-and-grethel.html" target="_blank">Hansel and Gretel</a></i></div> <a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-unit-brothers-grimm-crane.html"><i>Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm</i></a>, translated by Margaret Hunt (1884)<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-10032060877325085052020-12-07T11:33:00.000-06:002020-12-07T11:54:33.302-06:00Microfiction: Christmas Eve and Other Stories<div><b>Christmas Eve</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><i>Pop. </i>The flames rise in the fireplace. With every new crack my smile grows. I take a deep breath and the smell of pine fills my nose, compelling me to turn to the well-lit tree, almost bursting with decorations. I take a long drink from the liquid cheer in my hand and my head fills with memories, each one now represented by an ornament. <i>Purrrr. </i>The sound brings me back to the little ball of fur in my lap. While I gently pet her, I look to the window just in time to see the first snowflake hit the glass. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqe4nPJClRdSP2Rp8AJneUmTq-1rlTpHWwhzXVr6w6bIoo4_TUYnc5qdBQR6oMEknFbbhw-ySiR05PIbcIJUDpz-bYtwFnhs4e_GyfMTgr8hzxui-Oo9H7Yxwm02ES2gR_ck9R2tG4Qbg/s1920/socks-5795254_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqe4nPJClRdSP2Rp8AJneUmTq-1rlTpHWwhzXVr6w6bIoo4_TUYnc5qdBQR6oMEknFbbhw-ySiR05PIbcIJUDpz-bYtwFnhs4e_GyfMTgr8hzxui-Oo9H7Yxwm02ES2gR_ck9R2tG4Qbg/s320/socks-5795254_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this photo and it is exactly the vibe I am going for in the first story!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image by Jill Wellington from <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/socks-fireplace-comfort-chocolate-5795254/" target="_blank">Pixabay</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>8 Years Old</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"How can she ever expect me to not be so excited," I wonder as I sift through the pile and pick up every box. She knows she got me <i>the thing</i> and I have to find it right now or else I will die!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Author's Note:<br />Hello! I wanted to do a little holiday special for my microfiction writing this week because I am just so excited about Christmas! We all know this year has been a tragedy and I wanted to make sure to spread a little cheer to us all. The first story is a snapshot of what a perfect Christmas Eve is to me. I wanted to really put you in the moment with me and make you reminisce on the best holiday memories you have. For the second story I want to do a classic tale of what Christmas is like when you are a kid but in the two-sentence format, so that's why I titled it the way I did! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh and if you understood the reference of my post title, good job! That is my favorite Christmas album of all time!</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-62237412381371510522020-12-07T10:51:00.002-06:002020-12-07T10:51:16.425-06:00Famous Last Words: Pushing through!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9zaN61Oz_7O9ig7C1929mIOB5YM6-KnPghzGyn5KKzxPmpaBCgSILtZuCvZcw-Cs3cPkzv62iudGnQJDe8oAIvlwT8Y2oXo2XuHxnb0J4hr3qKLGcvGvYYX-7mXywfL66AfD3mpqOSc/s800/261545.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9zaN61Oz_7O9ig7C1929mIOB5YM6-KnPghzGyn5KKzxPmpaBCgSILtZuCvZcw-Cs3cPkzv62iudGnQJDe8oAIvlwT8Y2oXo2XuHxnb0J4hr3qKLGcvGvYYX-7mXywfL66AfD3mpqOSc/s320/261545.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know why I like this image so much but I do. The end is in sight!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://openclipart.org/detail/261545/the-end-is-near" target="_blank">Image found here</a>)</div><br /><b><br /></b></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>Your reading for this week</b><br />The reading went well for me this week! I had time to do both portions and I actually enjoyed the spookier element to the whole week. I remember the tale of the warlock killing his daughters-in-law because they were not protected by the cross, which I thought was an interesting element of religion to bring into a story. I definitely want to try to find more stories like this!<div><br /><b>Your best writing for this week</b></div><div>I thought the writing I did in my Research II class was my best writing. It was not any sort of creative writing, but a quantitative research analysis. While this isn't exciting, it is something I will use more in my career and can implement the same strategies I use for creative writing. I have found that when I put my phone across the room and just sit down and write then I do my best work!</div><div><br /><b>Other people's writing</b></div><div>This week I really enjoyed Natalie's re-telling of the classic tale of Cinderella. I wrote comments for her and in them I expressed how much I loved the modernization she did. It felt very much like the film titled "A Cinderella Story," which is a film I dearly love, so I truly enjoyed her tale. I think modernization is definitely something I can try to implement! Read it<a href="https://natsmythology.blogspot.com/2020/12/week-14-story-not-another-cinderella.html?showComment=1607322790479#c2850345298185840593" target="_blank"> here</a>!</div><div><br /><b>Your other classes</b></div><div>My other classes are crazy this week. I have major assignments due this coming weekend that I have to work on all week. It won't be fun but we're almost to the end! As I mentioned, I think the writing tips I have learned in this course definitely transfer to all my other work in other classes. Creative writing to the rescue!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Outside of school</b> </div><div>I don't have a super exciting topic this week, but I am going to see some Christmas lights with a few friends on Wednesday so I am excited about that! I love Christmas the most and this year it feels like we need it just a little bit more.</div><div><br /><b>Next week</b></div><div>This week I am pushing through to the end of school. I am going to try to finish up my classes by Friday so I can relax over the weekend. Other than that, it's just pushing through to the end of the semester!</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-15539418484902003232020-12-07T01:15:00.001-06:002020-12-07T01:15:19.470-06:00Learning Challenge: Get moving!<p>For this learning by H.E.A.R.T challenge I chose to try the "Health" challenges. I have been on a personal health journey and have been trying to lose weight for a few months now. I have been successful, but I am always looking for more ways to do my whole body good. I know that good computer posture is important and I also know the statistics about how sitting at a desk impacts our bodies, but it cannot be avoided in school. So, I chose to learn how to exercise at my desk with this article titled "<a href="https://hbr.org/2015/12/6-yoga-exercises-you-wont-be-embarrassed-to-do-at-your-desk?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=harvardbiz" target="_blank">6 Yoga Exercises You Won't be Embarrassed to do at Your Desk</a>." I actually really love yoga so I was super interested in what this article had to say. My favorite was this open chest stretch. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QCVqy-Cni7ydVjXnKnCIaldRQwjRci0NuLEW9fdTPX7IyQrCNn4eGVa4O77alvO5NrFWWs8B3SyzEV-Y1KV8MxLZSGNGwRnBRMaKzGxZpWDS0cxf53HXfDEZJu66DPjD0kXvTBR-C5M/s1024/DEC15-deskyoga2-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QCVqy-Cni7ydVjXnKnCIaldRQwjRci0NuLEW9fdTPX7IyQrCNn4eGVa4O77alvO5NrFWWs8B3SyzEV-Y1KV8MxLZSGNGwRnBRMaKzGxZpWDS0cxf53HXfDEZJu66DPjD0kXvTBR-C5M/s320/DEC15-deskyoga2-1024x576.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the demonstration image from the article, found <a href="https://hbr.org/2015/12/6-yoga-exercises-you-wont-be-embarrassed-to-do-at-your-desk?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=harvardbiz" target="_blank">here</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You take your hands and clasp them behind you, your palms facing your back. You then raise your arms slightly to deepen the stretch and hold it for ten to fifteen breaths. It felt great because I always slump when I am sitting, so intentionally opening my chest and re-aligning my posture was so helpful! I am definitely going to try to incorporate the rest of these exercises, such as the neck stretches and the chair twists, into my daily life as well!</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-2503831764759854062020-12-03T22:52:00.001-06:002020-12-03T22:53:25.820-06:00Week 14 Story Lab: Overview of Mythology<p>Since the semester is almost over, I wanted to do something a little different for this week. I generally write stories, but I wanted to try a story lab. I chose to do the Crash Course videos for a few reasons, the first of which is that I just genuinely love Crash Course. The second is that I thought it would be fun to take the knowledge I have absorbed throughout the semester and apply it to the three videos I watched. I wanted to see what broad knowledge about myths and mythology in general I could apply to my own writings, as well as the stories I have read through the semester. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPvMhOOquLpUCqaKLZsChzA6979C56iqcoKZPh0MySdGYVBSLWbjWyJaOIg6_CxnRoDwuhOmI7GUOI_H8A4CFLfRMC1ytrpu8JRcvYQDzSjt0mFXQFKLVF_dytksgbO9fv8WhoPbDAWM/s1200/1200px-Allard_Pierson_Museum_Hades_and_Persephone_7768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPvMhOOquLpUCqaKLZsChzA6979C56iqcoKZPh0MySdGYVBSLWbjWyJaOIg6_CxnRoDwuhOmI7GUOI_H8A4CFLfRMC1ytrpu8JRcvYQDzSjt0mFXQFKLVF_dytksgbO9fv8WhoPbDAWM/s320/1200px-Allard_Pierson_Museum_Hades_and_Persephone_7768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Persephone being taken to the underworld by Hades, as referenced in the first video.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allard_Pierson_Museum_Hades_and_Persephone_7768.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>)</div><p><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XevCvCLdKCU&list=PLrWYQjLLbXcigjUCnKKR86F5zrcQqfiP-&index=3" target="_blank">What Is Myth?</a></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Some myths are crazy old and exist in many different forms</li><li>There are many different interpretations of myths</li><li>The line between myth and religion can be blurry</li><li>Myth: a special kind of story that that has two primary characteristics- significance and staying power</li><ul><li>Subject is about something important</li><li>Stories that have survived centuries</li></ul><li>Myth of Persephone- Etiological Narrative</li><ul><li>Daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and wife of Hades</li><li>Primitive science</li></ul><li>Types of Myths</li><ul><li>Creation</li><li>Pantheons</li><li>Apocalyptic</li><li>Heroes</li><li>Objects</li></ul></ul><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blFaiB5kj6I&list=PLrWYQjLLbXcigjUCnKKR86F5zrcQqfiP-&index=2" target="_blank">Theories of Myth</a></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Mythology: the systematic study of myth</li><li>Plato was among the first to equate myths with lying, but if they were philosophical myths they were rational</li><li>Euhemerism: interpreting myths as primitive explanations of the natural world or as time-distorted accounts of long-past historical events</li><li>Tertullian and Clement- myth as falsehood and influenced by demons</li><li>Mythos vs Logos</li><ul><li>Myths as falsehood vs myths as transcended truth (base for western mythology)</li></ul><li>Theologies</li><ul><li>James Frasier and <i>The Golden Bow</i></li><ul><li>concept of myths as primitive science</li></ul><li>Bronislaw Malinowski</li><ul><li>myth is not symbolic but it is a narrative resurrection of primeval reality </li></ul><li>Freud (ugh)</li><ul><li>we make terrible realities palatable with myths</li><li>collective human consciousness</li></ul><li>Joseph Campbell- "The Power of Myth" in the 1980s</li><ul><li>Mythology is a vehicle through which the individual finds a sense of identity and place in the world</li><li>Monomyth</li></ul><li>Claude Levi-Strauss</li><ul><li>Structuralism: myths betray a complicated and underlying structuralism</li></ul><li>Mircea Eliade</li><ul><li>Sacred vs Profane</li><li>Archaic vs Modern</li></ul></ul></ul><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XevCvCLdKCU&list=PLrWYQjLLbXcigjUCnKKR86F5zrcQqfiP-&index=3" target="_blank">The Hero's Journey and the Monomyth</a></b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Heroes: tell us something about ourselves and a goal to find our place in society</li><li>The Hero's Journey: Momomyth</li><ul><li>3 Main parts</li><ul><li>Separation from the world</li><ul><li>Call to destiny/adventure</li><li>Refusal of call</li><li>Supernatural Aid</li><li>Crossing the threshold</li><li>Belly of the Whale</li></ul><li>Trials and Victories of Initiation</li><ul><li>The road of trials</li><li>The meeting with the goddess</li><li>Woman as temptress</li><li>Atonement with father</li><li>Apotheosis</li><li>The ultimate boon</li></ul><li>Return and Reintegration into Society</li><ul><li>Refusal of the return</li><li>the magic flight</li><li>Rescue from without</li><li>Crossing back over the threshold</li><li>Master of the two worlds</li><li>Freedom to live</li></ul></ul></ul></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><p></p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-14555250791868030692020-12-03T10:02:00.027-06:002020-12-03T12:38:38.563-06:00Reading Notes: Russian Folktales, Part B<h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>The Warlock</i></h3><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1QEKbDBOURwfWUPP4v35XGNuuPwO6Xnb0Sn_bi6MnHm0ptnWbJ8ruzY0GDAGlXq8yotX24O-XX0nEct7YmjX1h33p8JIqn3FYhWe8UcMia6m3HNBXajcsHSGqkQfPTYOz7cp5GP21ko/s899/741px-Grand_Warlock_of_Wikipedia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="741" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1QEKbDBOURwfWUPP4v35XGNuuPwO6Xnb0Sn_bi6MnHm0ptnWbJ8ruzY0GDAGlXq8yotX24O-XX0nEct7YmjX1h33p8JIqn3FYhWe8UcMia6m3HNBXajcsHSGqkQfPTYOz7cp5GP21ko/s320/741px-Grand_Warlock_of_Wikipedia.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is apparently the "Grand Warlock of Wikipedia," but I like to imagine that the warlock in the story looked somewhat like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Warlock_of_Wikipedia.png" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>)</div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Observations:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The language used here is very old-timey. Not all the language is necessarily like that, but there are certain parts that I would not know without looking them up</li><li>Okay but why did he have to be watched over after he was dead? I feel like there is more cultural context needed here</li><ul><li>Also, why was it the wives that had to watch over him?</li></ul><li>So were warlocks not part of the Christian faith? It is an oddly specific request to not want a cross near or around you at all, especially after you are already long dead</li><li>Um, why is he speaking to the daughter's from the grave? Also, why did she answer?</li><li>I do like the dialogue tactics used here though. The ways the dialogue is repeated throughout the story is something I know I have noted before, but I truly do want to try to emulate in this week's writing.</li><li>I do enjoy the slightly spooky element that is happening here. It seems like these are common themes in Russian folktales that I enjoy</li><ul><li>I would like to try to use the subtle spookiness present in this story in my own writing</li><li>I tend to be overt in all my writing, so trying to be subtle would be a welcomed challenge</li></ul><li>Oh no. Again, I do not think I have ever written about a character dying, although I am surprised that I have not. I would like to try to do this I think!</li><li>I like the idea that the writer introduced something that just seemed a bit odd in the beginning, like the fact that he did not want to be near a cross or have his daughters in law sport one. This element ended up being a key part in the story. I think that is something good writers do often. I would like to try to sneak something in my stories like this and then have it be extremely important in the end. It feels fun.</li></ul><div>Overall I enjoyed this story a lot! It was spooky and fun while still being short. I thought the writer did a good job bringing in subtle elements that were super needed for the ending. I think I will re-tell this story this week!</div></div><br /><br />Bibliography:<br /><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-russian-fairy-tales.html">Russian Fairy Tales</a> by W. R. S. Ralston (1887)<div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/russia-warlock.html" target="_blank">The Warlock</a></i></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-42280738947321197052020-12-01T21:52:00.004-06:002020-12-02T07:26:41.147-06:00Reading Notes: Russian Folktales, Part A<h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>The Treasure</i></h3><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcfs9JDAK7sRg5Yhlgd7h6QRKNPVlL9z_NeRhs-S6GNxdx1ZRt0eGTMQ6Ooc1X52e7gfBE4fnSCf-YXTaMvcLtp-8xKQjaN2-rs_ACWHoCP9tAnsekIMIphcu_ExbSvsBbZhQSaPD2Ig/s604/Julbock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcfs9JDAK7sRg5Yhlgd7h6QRKNPVlL9z_NeRhs-S6GNxdx1ZRt0eGTMQ6Ooc1X52e7gfBE4fnSCf-YXTaMvcLtp-8xKQjaN2-rs_ACWHoCP9tAnsekIMIphcu_ExbSvsBbZhQSaPD2Ig/s320/Julbock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This goat mask is supremely creepy and I imagine the pope looked somewhat like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Jullbock from <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Julbock.jpg" target="_blank">wikimedia commons</a>)</div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Observations:</b></div><div><ul><li>There is a certain lack of information given in the beginning. The story just starts off strong and keeps going with almost no context</li><li>It seems a bit odd that the old man could not get anyone to lend him money, not even the pope. It seems like the pope should be generous? I wonder if this is a little theme in Russian fairytales<br /></li><li>I feel bad for the old man. All of the people in his town seem terrible and greedy</li><li>What kind of town does this man live in where he feels like he has to dig his own wife's grave?</li><li>Okay the money seems like the least of this man's problems to be honest</li><li>I love that the second the pope gets the money he decides to be a good pope</li><li>The story is written with small spurts of dialogue, which I enjoy. It feels like a very basic storytelling technique but it works well. I think I could emulate this. </li><li>Somehow the story has escalated such that there is now a man dressed in a goat skin. What is actually happening?</li><li>Maybe it's just me, but it feels sacrilegious for the literal pope to put on a devil costume and to scare an old man who just buried his wife. Also I am supremely grossed out. </li><li>I like the idea of adding a slightly gross element to a story, though. I have already talked about trying to write something scary, but I have never thought about writing a bit of gore. I think I could come up with something as weird as this story!</li><li>It is poetic justice that the goat skin fused with the greedy pope. I can not say that I enjoy the ending, but it is somewhat satisfying.</li></ul><div>Overall, this story was weird, but it gave me a good sense of the Russian storytelling technique. It reminded me of the Brothers Grimm storytelling style with the dark twists at the end and the overall dark themes. I enjoy this type of story, but it still makes me feel odd inside. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/russia-treasure.html" target="_blank">The Treasure</a></i></div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-russian-fairy-tales.html">Russian Fairy Tales</a> by W. R. S. Ralston (1887)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-20219706048514311722020-11-30T11:51:00.000-06:002020-11-30T11:51:07.154-06:00Famous Last Words: Almost There!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0vkD_jFl5sfBMhzHMwpzOELx6RJTXC5h3TUHURK5ENGmJrzANruPvVg1-S0KROPPGocPkQeWIk_3iV8pfdc4zGpTfpXQyKiJko1rideNRXQ5fQxlnP9VmQvNl6ohG_vthlcKEJNW_8A/s800/blue-human-figure-holding-puzzle-piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0vkD_jFl5sfBMhzHMwpzOELx6RJTXC5h3TUHURK5ENGmJrzANruPvVg1-S0KROPPGocPkQeWIk_3iV8pfdc4zGpTfpXQyKiJko1rideNRXQ5fQxlnP9VmQvNl6ohG_vthlcKEJNW_8A/s320/blue-human-figure-holding-puzzle-piece.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is how I feel at this point in the semester. I feel like the last piece of the puzzle is ready to be put into place but I just have to do it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image from <a href="https://www.pikrepo.com/fpbux/blue-human-figure-holding-puzzle-piece" target="_blank">Pikrepo</a>)</div><b><br /></b></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>Your reading for this week: </b>The reading went well for me this week! I actually enjoyed reading from the Canterbury Tales unit. I thought reading <i>The Promise of Dorigen</i> was thoroughly enjoyable and was the story that I based my re-telling on for the week. The second story I wrote about was <i>The Prioress's Tale: Little Hugh</i> and was a blood libel. I was sort of shocked while reading this anti-Semitic tale, but it was good to see that side of history. I liked the way both stories were laid out and I thought I would try to emulate some aspects in future writing. <div><br /><div><div><b>Your best writing for this week:</b> I thought my best writing for the week was in my telling of <i>The Promise of Dorigen </i>when I wrote <i><a href="https://goldinmythology.blogspot.com/2020/11/week-13-story-diary-of-arviragus.html" target="_blank">The Diary of Arviragus</a>, </i>which was my twist on the tale. I definitely experimented this week with telling the story from a different character's point of view, which is something I have not done. I also twisted the story to be in a different format, the diary, which was also something new. I really enjoyed writing this way and I think keeping in the groove of just sitting down and writing it was helpful.</div><div><br /><b>Other people's writing: </b>I actually read a lot of people's retelling of the story of Gellert, the dog who saved the baby from the intruder, but his master thought he killed the baby so he killed Gellert. I thought Tink did a wonderful job with her retelling. She also switched the character point of view for this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Here is her <a href="https://ntinkle.blogspot.com/2020/11/week-13-story-gellert-brave.html" target="_blank">story</a>!</div><div><br /><b>Your other classes: </b>My other classes are going pretty well. I am nearing the end in all my classes and at this point I am just trying to push through to the end of the semester. I am completely over this semester and this year in general, so I am just ready to be done. I want a break so badly but I cannot take one until I am done with all my work. I just need to get it all done at this point. </div><div><br /><b>Outside of school: </b>While I did not attend any events on campus, I did go home for Thanksgiving to see my family. We had to do a socially distanced Thanksgiving dinner, which was really weird. My sister and I were the "servers" and we were masked and gloved while distributing food. It was odd but we got it done. I am so ready for the pandemic to be over!</div><div><br /><b>Next week: </b>This next week I am hoping I have time to sit down and finish a lot of work for this class and my other classes. I want to just be done with everything so I may try to have a marathon work session this week! </div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-75595324836797510142020-11-30T11:17:00.000-06:002020-11-30T11:17:38.928-06:00Week 13 Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvdxwjD5EG2kVizSX5T6gX6XzM_GPQiM459iOaXyJ39T70MIE2AFE8TUuPxPGnfUVyV2ClI3PzLQlk61UBrqmqVUbd065Yy95zxPgDKMqog4pq_z0e0Ad3yxb4PIAavlJtDL-JCrYW_g/s400/Screenshot+2020-11-29+at+10.13.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvdxwjD5EG2kVizSX5T6gX6XzM_GPQiM459iOaXyJ39T70MIE2AFE8TUuPxPGnfUVyV2ClI3PzLQlk61UBrqmqVUbd065Yy95zxPgDKMqog4pq_z0e0Ad3yxb4PIAavlJtDL-JCrYW_g/s320/Screenshot+2020-11-29+at+10.13.33+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>As I scrolled through the announcement feed I thought <a href="https://twitter.com/dinoman_j/status/1332761138719838210" target="_blank">this graphic</a> perfectly summed up what I was feeling at the end of the semester. All I want is to take a break, but I simply cannot do that until I get all my work done. It also made me laugh!<p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also thought this video would bring more people the joy it brought me when I first saw it. With the year we are having I think it is important to find joy in the little things in life, such as watching a happy man do a dance in the snow. Dancing is always therapeutic for me and I do not think I am alone in that. Enjoy this beautiful little video!</div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/i/status/1332813412880027651" target="_blank">Link to the dancing video!</a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-83420662015757211432020-11-30T10:46:00.002-06:002020-11-30T10:47:58.240-06:00Growth Mindset: Conversation with Bella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokElrgS95dcp40qmHxr9XPBBwCA8Z2lC4UOGRUClNzdemK9UKC9gqIN-hnMj7wpMOUQre0FprnhQN2ZiGVwVKkAemVuIuICwfbzbGG-6s9aJW1XkXuYP0df-hblg72F54bzL_w-czb1I/s900/900px-Growth_and_fixed_mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokElrgS95dcp40qmHxr9XPBBwCA8Z2lC4UOGRUClNzdemK9UKC9gqIN-hnMj7wpMOUQre0FprnhQN2ZiGVwVKkAemVuIuICwfbzbGG-6s9aJW1XkXuYP0df-hblg72F54bzL_w-czb1I/s320/900px-Growth_and_fixed_mind.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fixed vs Growth mindset</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Growth_and_fixed_mind.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>For this growth mindset conversation I prepared a few talking points before I chatted with my roommate, Bella. I tried to give her an overview of the idea of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset and how that effects your life. She was very receptive to the conversation and genuinely seemed like she wanted to know more, so that was encouraging. Though she had never heard of the term "growth mindset" before, she had definitely heard of some concepts related to the topic. I wanted to make sure I hit the points about taking criticism and using it to improve your activity/performance/whatever you're doing because she will be the first to admit that she has trouble taking criticism sometimes. To my surprise she was very open to having a candid discussion about how she could improve in this area. I had some more points prepared on the way we see "failure" in our lives as well. I told her about the ways we can take our failures and learn from them instead of being down on ourselves. I think she really enjoyed talking about this and the conversation was productive!</p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-3470756823659501392020-11-20T11:50:00.001-06:002020-11-20T11:51:57.024-06:00Week 13 Story: The Diary of Arviragus<div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOXcmENkBziQI8QKtK52wH83nhT_vs3n0P1fv57tSod_MEvMyt6KH9dg8sBDTxX5ODaHhOsoPhIZAsCKS_H1lmfElk8sIXLfspGhvT28OFh7vmEeIqrHBoPIKngvjlfRaVOCuhyQpNM4/s1920/casal-5442738_1920.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOXcmENkBziQI8QKtK52wH83nhT_vs3n0P1fv57tSod_MEvMyt6KH9dg8sBDTxX5ODaHhOsoPhIZAsCKS_H1lmfElk8sIXLfspGhvT28OFh7vmEeIqrHBoPIKngvjlfRaVOCuhyQpNM4/s320/casal-5442738_1920.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dorigen and Arviragus when they were reunited at last.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/casal-romantic-love-story-medieval-5442738/" target="_blank">Jo-B from pixabay</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b>May 12, 1523</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Diary,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh how in love I am! My beautiful love, Dorigen, has just accepted my hand in marriage! We are betrothed and I am absolutely ecstatic. I cannot express how ardently I love this woman. She is so stunning. I have never seen such a face and dare I say I will never see such beauty as she. I have vowed to be fair and true to her for all my days, even when I must depart from her gracious presence. I have never been this happy in all my days!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely</div><div style="text-align: left;">Arviragus</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>May 30, 1524</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Diary, </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am feeling very ill on this day, my friend. You see, I have just broken the news to Dorigen that I must depart across the sea. How blissful this past year has been! I am fully distraught at the thought of leaving my dear Dorigen, but I am called by my duty as a knight of the kingdom to seek glory and honor in arms! I have to go, but I have vowed to return just as soon as my tasks are accomplished. I only pray now that Dorigen will not weep for me, but that her days will be filled with friendship and happiness as she awaits my return. The day when we are reunited will be glorious!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely, </div><div style="text-align: left;">Arviragus</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>July 9, 1524</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Diary,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have made it across the waters! I now seek to accomplish what I have set out to do as quickly as possible so that I can return to my love once more. I have a tournament in just two month's time, and I must spend every waking minute until then training for it. I must win!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Arviragus</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>September 31, 1524</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Diary,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am pleased to inform you that I have won! The kingdom has claimed a righteous victory on this day for me and my comrades have taken the top prized in the tournament. I was the jousting champion, not to brag, and I am very proud of my accomplishments. Oh, how I cannot wait to be reunited with Dorigen and inform her of the news! She will be so proud of me. She is always so supportive. I love her dearly. In one week's time I will set sail back across the seas so that I may arrive at home before the year's end!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Arviragus</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>November 13, 1524</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Diary,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I made it safely across the waters without mishap, and I was reunited with my love! As we embraced, she disclosed to me something truly horrific, and something I had never in my wildest dreams imagined she would ever say. You see, while in my absence, this pitiful squire man apparently confessed his love for Dorigen. She told him that she was already madly in love with me, but he would not leave her alone. In an effort to be rid of his nuisances, she told him that when the rocks at the bottom of the cliff from which I sailed away were covered up, which would never happen for they are very visible even at high tide, she would be with him. Her, knowing this would never happen, did not give this man another thought until one day he came back to her and told her to look over the cliff. The rocks were gone, and she had made him a promise. I do not know what to do, diary. She promised him, but she is my one true love! How can I lose her now when she was so close to me only moments ago? This is truly the worst day of my life. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Arviragus</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>November 14, 1524</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Diary, </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that she must be with the squire. She has made a promise and I do not take those lightly. Though it pains me more than anything in the world has ever pained me, I must let her go to him. I pray now that by some miracle he does not make her follow through on her word, for I do not know if I can bear to spend another day without her by my side. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Arviragus</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>November 15, 1524</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Diary,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It happened! I sent her off to him but she has returned to me! According to Dorigen, the squire knew he could not keep her away from me. She was too distraught and although she wanted to honor her promise, he knew she would be miserable for all her days. Oh, glorious day! I have sent a letter to the squire to thank him for his generosity, and I only hope that he can find a love of his own now. But for now and all of my days, I have Dorigen. I am perfectly and completely happy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sincerely,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Arviragus</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author's Note:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hello reader! This is the retelling of the Canterbury tale titled "The Promise of Dorigen." The original tale is written from from a third person point of view, but is mainly focused on Dorigen's story. I toyed around with the idea of doing a gender swap, but ended up wanting to write from Arviragus' point of view instead. The original tale does not really give the readers any indication of how Arvirgaus is feeling when all of the things go down between Dorigen and the squire, so I thought this was a fun way to implement his side of the story into the tale. I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you have fun reading it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bibliography:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/canterbury-tales-promise-of-dorigen_8.html" target="_blank">The Franklin's Tale: The Promise of Dorigen</a></i></div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-book-chaucer-story-book.html">The Chaucer Story Book</a> by Eva March Tappan (1908)<div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-16293821461895630972020-11-18T21:51:00.004-06:002020-11-18T21:51:56.718-06:00Reading Notes: Canterbury Tales, Part B<h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>The Prioress's Tale: Little Hugh</i></h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Background:</b></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This is an anti-Semitic "blood libel"</li><ul><li>"Blood libel, also called blood accusation, the superstitious accusation that <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Judaism">Jews</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/ritual">ritually</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrifice-religion">sacrifice</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity">Christian</a> children at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Passover">Passover</a> to obtain blood for unleavened bread." -Britannica</li><li>This is literally something I have never heard of, and it is surprising that I haven't</li></ul><li>These stories were apparently extremely common among Christian communities, though I would argue that these were not true Christians</li><li>According to Britannica, in "1144 an English boy, William of Norwich, was found brutally murdered with strange wounds to his head, arms, and torso. His uncle, a priest, blamed local Jews, and a rumour spread that Jews crucified a Christian child every year at Passover. A century later an investigation into the death of another boy, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Little-Saint-Hugh-of-Lincoln">Hugh of Lincoln</a> (died 1255), sparked anti-Jewish fervour that resulted in the execution of 19 English Jews." </li><ul><li>The death of Hugh of Lincoln is what this story is based on</li></ul></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Tb5RR7JF7O4wBlzRwTRk09ZhKAbtbZKKb5me7IRRrIk3m-WBU4EIoPmwH4OP-SNFz930ghEkkIO5J3KeSqd04h3gZP1dCLTsu5GCU77RZ3fqKgGqdO01iliePZNUQdZQmyTnVle9VWQ/s640/The_shrine_of_Little_St.Hugh_-_geograph.org.uk_-_276275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Tb5RR7JF7O4wBlzRwTRk09ZhKAbtbZKKb5me7IRRrIk3m-WBU4EIoPmwH4OP-SNFz930ghEkkIO5J3KeSqd04h3gZP1dCLTsu5GCU77RZ3fqKgGqdO01iliePZNUQdZQmyTnVle9VWQ/w228-h341/The_shrine_of_Little_St.Hugh_-_geograph.org.uk_-_276275.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the real shrine to Little St. Hugh</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(image from <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_shrine_of_Little_St.Hugh_-_geograph.org.uk_-_276275.jpg" target="_blank">wikimedia commons</a>)</div><br /><div><br /></div></div><div><b>Story Notes:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This story starts of problematic and stays problematic</li><li>The writer wants to draw the reader into the Christian narrative and create a deep attachment to Hugh</li><ul><li>does this with his description and the interactions with the older boy</li></ul><li>Almost every line is singing the praises of the little boy, and I understand that he is innocent in all of this, but the way the writer portrays him feels a bit odd</li><li>Okay. So the writer is insinuating that Jews are in cahoots with the literal devil. Got it. </li><li>So the Jews killed Hugh by "cutting his little throat" and now they are disregarding the grief of the mother. Sounds reasonable (please hear my sarcasm)</li><li>I know this is supposed to be great imagery and convince me to hate Jews, but it is really just making me hate the writer</li><li>So because one man killed the little boy, all of the Jewish people are to be hanged for it? Seems sketchy.</li><li>It also seems sketchy that the little boy had his throat sliced but was still singing. I understand that it is because of the power of "Christ's mother," but did people really believe this?</li><li>He was laid to rest in a solid white temple. Okay.</li></ul><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Overall thoughts:</b></div></div><div> I hated this. It is deeply troublesome to me that people would have actually bought in to this anti-Semitism, even though I know it was so prevalent. I think reading stories like these is really important to understanding the historical eras you are dealing with when you are studying any text, but it also is important to remind us of ways of thinking we cannot go back to. As problematic as this story was and as gross as I felt reading it, I think it was good that I read it. I understand better how the writing was so skewed to one school of thought, and I now know exactly what I would never want to emulate in my own writing. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div>Britannica on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/blood-libel" target="_blank">Blood Libels</a></div><div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/canterbury-tales-little-hugh-of-lincoln.html" target="_blank">The Prioress's Tale: Little Hugh</a></i></div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-book-chaucer-story-book.html">The Chaucer Story Book</a> by Eva March Tappan (1908).<div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-70255850528631251652020-11-17T22:25:00.006-06:002020-11-17T22:25:53.533-06:00Reading Notes: Canterbury Tales, Part A<h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>The Franklin's Tale: The Promise of Dorigen</i></h3><div><b>Observations:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Starts in the classic way of saying "there once was..." I enjoy tales that start this way.</li><li>The knight, Arviragus, was fair and true, which is all a knight should be.</li><li>I like the fact that there is a love story. I don't think I've written a love story for this class so I will be interested to see what elements I can pull from this tale</li><li>This is a classic story of love and tragedy.</li><li>The story is centered around the broken heart of the young woman, Dorigen. I don't love how the story ascribes to the classic tropes that young women are crazy or hysteric when they don't have their man. I understand that this was just the writing style of the time, but perhaps I could change things up in such a way that there are no sexist and outdated ideas in my story for the week. </li><ul><li>I think doing a gender switch could be good for this. </li></ul><li>Her friends seem like good people trying to draw her out of her depression.</li><li>There is good imagery about the garden, but it could stand to do a little more showing, rather than telling, the reader about the beautiful florals. </li><li>I don't like the young squire and his unrequited love. I think it is a bit creepy when people so desperately pine over someone they don't have that they literally die? Call me crazy, but that does not seem like the most rational option here. </li><li>When he is begging her to love him at the end of the story it is just kind of cringe-worthy. </li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jcWarqlAg9xxzxvgwCoGwvR0tFT3eRKcgplX8oquNYVVlhReyYm3NTlhBrAfnrAbUFwXNLoXZPOD1bDxIQaz9w0zts3p9ooLtWqD6FqUYexUJED7agtM1A0aKyjh8WxhUNwIsief5Vs/s899/741px-Hawei%2527s_Dorigen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="741" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jcWarqlAg9xxzxvgwCoGwvR0tFT3eRKcgplX8oquNYVVlhReyYm3NTlhBrAfnrAbUFwXNLoXZPOD1bDxIQaz9w0zts3p9ooLtWqD6FqUYexUJED7agtM1A0aKyjh8WxhUNwIsief5Vs/w274-h332/741px-Hawei%2527s_Dorigen.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dorigen and the squire</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;">(Image by Mary Eliza Haweis, from <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hawei%27s_Dorigen.jpg" target="_blank">wikimedia commons</a>)</div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b><i>The Promise of Dorigen (cont.)</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b>Observations</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I'm proud of Dorigen for outright rejecting the squire. I think women are often written so that they succumb to the will of any man that wants them.</li><li>Okay, I should have seen it coming that there would be some twist where the squire would make some miracle happen so that the rocks would sink and Dorigen would have to be his wife. I do not like him.</li><li>I'm glad Arviragus actually came back and was good to Dorigen. She deserved it. </li><li>I truly do not care about the squire's pain at all. He wants another man's wife and she already said no. </li><li>I hate that the squire's brother is in on the scheme. Men.</li><li>I do not like where the story is going. I think the magic is going to work in the squire's favor.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><b><i>The Promise of Dorigen (cont. again)</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b>Observations</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This magician seems sketchy, and I truly hope he does not end up fulfilling his promise to Aurelius. </li><li>Okay this story is actually turning out to be extremely sad. I desperately want Dorigen to be with the man she wants to be with, rather than having to fulfil some promise she made in a desperate attempt to get rid of an annoying man. </li><li>I feel so bad for Arviragus. I hate this. I understand that he wants her to honor her promise, but didn't she make a promise to him first by promising to be his wife forever?</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><b><i>The Promise of Dorigen (end)</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b>Observations</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Okay my hatred for Aurelius lessened a little bit when he understood that Dorigen was in pain and let her go back to Arviragus. </li><li>I am very pleased that the story ended with the two lovers rightfully together.</li><li>I also like the fact that the magician released Aurelius from his bond because he was heartbroken.</li><li>As for the question at the end of the story, "which of these three men were the most generous," I think Arviragus was the most generous. He was willing to give up his wife in order to have her keep a promise. </li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/canterbury-tales-promise-of-dorigen_8.html" target="_blank">The Franklin's Tale: The Promise of Dorigen</a></i></div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-book-chaucer-story-book.html">The Chaucer Story Book</a> by Eva March Tappan (1908)<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-88448374512712507132020-11-15T22:08:00.001-06:002020-11-15T22:08:14.819-06:00Famous Last Words: Gearing up for the Weekend<b>Your reading for this week.</b><div><b><br /></b><div><div><span> </span>I think the reading went well for me this week. I had time do do both sections of the reading and genuinely enjoyed the works that I read. I remember the second part of the reading more than the first, and I can vividly recall the story about the Gruagach Gaire's tragic tale. Reading the stories this week gave me inspiration to write more stories that are sad and sort of scary, which I tried to do in my microfiction for the week. </div><div><br /><b>Your best writing for this week. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b>I think I did my best writing in my storytelling for the week and in my microfiction. I think I explored elements that are new to my writing in the story about heartbreak and pain, even though the story is based off the reading from two weeks ago. As for the microfiction, I really tried to explore my darker side with something that would spook my readers. I'll be honest, I definitely watched some spooky tik toks (don't judge me) before I wrote those so I could get in the spirit, per se. <br /></div><div><b><br />Other people's writing.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b>This week I read some really great storybooks! My absolute favorite, probably my favorite that I have read so far in the class, was titled <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/the-end-itsfine/home?authuser=0" target="_blank">The End (Of the World- It Might be Fine)</a> and was written by Eli. the writing was absolutely stunning and actually made me want to read more, which is a hard thing to accomplish. He wrote the stories such that it felt like we were reading the characters' diary, or were actually present in their head, and it was so good. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Your other classes.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b>For the most part, my other classes are generally fine. I had a fairly large paper due in one of them, and a quiz due in another, but there were no major roadblocks to accomplishing work this week. I am not sure there are any explicit connections to the things we are doing in this class, but I will say that making myself map out all my work for this class has made me do the same for other classes and is a super helpful practice. <br /></div><div><b><br />Outside of school.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div> To be honest, nothing crazy exciting happened this week outside of school, other than me remaining in quarantine because I was exposed to someone who has covid (I tested negative, but am doing the full 14 day quarantine to be safe). I don't have any exciting news stories, other than the fact that Biden is officially going to be the president, but everyone already knows that. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Next week.</b><br /></div></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> </b>This next week I am going to have to really budget my time well because I will be out of town for a Friendsgiving (socially distanced, of course) on the weekend and unable to do a lot of weekend work. I have a schedule written out and as long as I stick to it I will be able to accomplish everything I need to and can have a fun weekend, guilt free!<br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-30811273548397185452020-11-15T20:47:00.004-06:002020-11-17T18:11:51.984-06:00Growth Mindset: Saying yes and learning from mistakes<b>Quote 1:</b><div><br /></div><div>"SAY YES: A strategy that I employed during my freshman year was saying yes to any opportunity I had even a vague interest in doing. It really helped me make friends, learn to be uncomfortable, and realize the things I did and did not like to do. I hope my acronym will inspire others to try new things."<br /><br /><div>I loved this quote! I have definitely heard of this strategy/way of living life before, but it is never something I actually do. I have a hard time doing things that make me uncomfortable because I easily get self-conscious, but I wonder about all the missed opportunities for a great time I have passed up because I was afraid of being uncomfortable. I feel like that is a common problem to run into over the course of someone's life, but it is something I would like to work to combat. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHI9PXQl278HEfYJeWeCaSw6LaPErEhXocxfHl3eippWltE6w-mKTAQQ9Nb0eo1gynd2dWv6ngg4EQ5rH8gxo70AVkmDu1PI0b6pKhdSIfw8VqFjOiKq6GTf3677F-qyjg9KFO7lojGFw/s400/fetch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHI9PXQl278HEfYJeWeCaSw6LaPErEhXocxfHl3eippWltE6w-mKTAQQ9Nb0eo1gynd2dWv6ngg4EQ5rH8gxo70AVkmDu1PI0b6pKhdSIfw8VqFjOiKq6GTf3677F-qyjg9KFO7lojGFw/s320/fetch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the image the author used for her acronym in the second quote. I enjoy it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image found <a href="https://padlet.com/laurakgibbs/OUgrowthmindset" target="_blank">here</a>)</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Quote 2:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>"M.I.S.T.A.K.E.S. I made this acronym because I am often very scared to make a mistake. Whenever a professor asks the class a question, I hesitate to answer because I'm afraid of being wrong. However, I have learned that I learn best from my mistakes and they motivate me to work even harder. Many Imperfections Slowly Transform After Keen Effort."<div><br /></div><div>I completely feel this quote. I live in fear of embarrassing myself in the classroom and in life, especially when I am in situations where I don't feel comfortable with the people I am around. I think there are times when we should be wary, but most of the time, our fear of making mistakes is founded on nothing of substance and only hinders our enjoyment. I would love to get better at allowing myself to make mistakes and not hate myself for them. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-33746972580896959572020-11-15T20:11:00.002-06:002020-11-15T20:11:24.769-06:00Microfiction: Two Spooky Little Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwLJUH2Ulo8x9SLlS8I9x2D_uqnALKV7lpoOtsIRXhhmJb4xTBKGGQbBlxfPF885gkfhgEG0LOt7oOu9EbA7FYMtPApGcaoobxvSYmCE3YVqXlNMlejGP2s5iWYgVlGHwrGiMMeLbBjE/s1920/dark-1936954_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwLJUH2Ulo8x9SLlS8I9x2D_uqnALKV7lpoOtsIRXhhmJb4xTBKGGQbBlxfPF885gkfhgEG0LOt7oOu9EbA7FYMtPApGcaoobxvSYmCE3YVqXlNMlejGP2s5iWYgVlGHwrGiMMeLbBjE/s320/dark-1936954_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are somewhat like the woods I'm picturing in the first story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Image from <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/dark-moody-scary-spooky-natural-1936954/" target="_blank">Jordan Stimpson</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Got Ya</b></div><p>I ran. I ran as fast as I possibly could, the branches whipping at face, grabbing at my hair. It was almost as though he somehow had control of the branches, commanding them to stop me. <i>Crack. </i>I felt a pain in my chest before the realization hit me. I was on the ground. A scream rose from my lungs as I tried to move my ankle. No. It couldn't be. I closed my eyes and counted to three, willing my ankle to mend itself so I could run. I opened my eyes and the scream burst forth. "Got ya."</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Lipstick</b></p><p>I couldn't help but give an exasperated sigh, knowing full well that this lady would never get the right shade of red for my lipstick. Although, I suppose it is hard to make lipstick look vibrant when you're putting it on a corpse.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Author's Note:</p><p>Hello! I hope you got a little spooked when reading these stories. I wanted to write something that was inspired by those two sentence horror stories that are circulating the internet, so I chose to engage the more twisted sides of my brain. I think what makes "Got Ya" particularly scary is that we don't know who, or what, is chasing the character, so that leaves the doors wide open for our brains to fill in the blanks with whatever horrible creature we can imagine. For "Lipstick" I tried to create a horrifying little twist. Reading the first sentence could make you think that perhaps she is getting her makeup done for a wedding or special occasion, but when you realize the character is dead, it just sends a shiver down your spine. Enjoy!</p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-50058831028841067822020-11-11T16:41:00.005-06:002020-11-11T16:41:56.768-06:00Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales, Part B<h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>The Shee an Gannon and the Gruagach Gaire</i></h3><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68YdixEgeG-Qe3UXSKnvsxwmDaQAdKy1spaorrXo3pNBBNhSOIzwNpJQg-nw7KMEnv7oJVAxgreW9dSLKnNezHiTzn4Xy-ldBPJTTySns7b20sng44J7QzizPPuKHbX1BXdMMtALqczI/s400/Screen+Shot+2014-03-23+at+11.28.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68YdixEgeG-Qe3UXSKnvsxwmDaQAdKy1spaorrXo3pNBBNhSOIzwNpJQg-nw7KMEnv7oJVAxgreW9dSLKnNezHiTzn4Xy-ldBPJTTySns7b20sng44J7QzizPPuKHbX1BXdMMtALqczI/s320/Screen+Shot+2014-03-23+at+11.28.56+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Gruache Giare and his thunderous laughter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/celtic-fairy-tales-shee-gannon-and.html" target="_blank">Illustration by John D. Batten</a>)</div><br /><i><br /></i></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Observations:</h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Although this is written over a hundred years ago, the language is easy to understand and lends itself well to modern audiences.</li><li>There is a decent amount of geographical locations listed in the story. I think we often we neglect to tell our readers where things are taking place, so I will try to be more cognizant of the way I introduce my settings.</li><li>The story is laid out in different pieces. There are different subheading, which aren't something I think to use when writing.</li><li>Even with all the other elements, this is a story where the girl is owned by her father and the suitor has to prove himself worthy to be with her. I tend to shy away from that trope because women aren't something to be won, so I don't love that about the tale. </li><li>The Gruagach Gaire's story is incredibly tragic and devastating, which is something I have been trying to explore in my own writing. I think the author does a really good job at drawing the reader into the tragedy by making it the reason for the absence of the Gruagach's laughter. I will try to do something similar in my own writing. </li><li>There is low-key a lot of gore in this story, and gore is something I have never written.</li><li>The ending of the story felt a bit rushed. It ended happily, but it felt like there could have been more detail about the wedding, rather than just saying it lasted 9 days. </li></ul><div>This was a really interesting story. There were a lot of elements that I liked and think that I may try to implement into my future writings, such as the subheadings, different geographical locations, and the tragedy of the Gruagach Gaire's story. I enjoyed the way the story was written, which was with a good mix of narration and dialogue. The author did a good job of laying out all the important details of the characters without droning on forever with detail. I liked this reading a lot and I will definitely be coming back to reference it. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div><br /></div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-celtic-fairy-tales-jacobs.html">Celtic Fairy Tales</a> </i>by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).<div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/celtic-fairy-tales-shee-gannon-and.html" target="_blank">The Shee an Gannon and the Gruagach Gaire</a></i></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-73700453948474734952020-11-11T11:34:00.006-06:002020-11-11T15:46:04.930-06:00Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales, Part A<br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">The field of Boliauns</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">Observations:</h4><ul><li>Obviously written in the late 1800s, so that is reflected in the language used. Makes it a bit hard to understand at times, but is able to be broken down</li><li>Written in third person</li><li>Has a good bit of introductory narration before we get to any dialogue. I think sometimes this works and sometimes it feels boring</li><li>Has a lot of dialogue in the main part of the story, and it is almost solely dialogue for a portion. I like this style of narrative and it is something I try to mimic in my own stories.</li><li>There is a weird leprechaun character that adds a little bit of fright to the story. I have written sad stories but never one that makes readers feel frightened, so I could possibly try to write a story like that at some point. </li><li>Overall, this story was interesting. I liked the dialogue portions and the actual storyline, although I still think there was too much narration.</li></ul><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6HD1gvLvC6KxEZeIrbgt2oLo_KroQ_yCbVaf3zBza-Ipz5RspK8dD3SvydQQ-h08nf6RTOCRgCZttGjJtWmbOiWBz6cIXxLWqYkz3BAuFxGEIcz_dHQklYfw5IZ3FPpkLJXzsH0-2c0/w320-h202/TheSprightly+Tailor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The sprightly tailor and the beast, trying to distract him.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/celtic-fairy-tales-sprightly-tailor.html" target="_blank">(Illustration by John D. Batten)</a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Sprightly Tailor</h3><b>Observations:</b><br /><br /><ul><li>This is also written in the late 1800s, and the language ("trews") reflects this. The story is still easily accessible and understandable though. </li><li>I chose this story because it, again, has elements that are frightening to the characters and readers. I found myself rooting for the tailor to stitch more quickly and finish before the creature fully rose from the earth, and this is something I will definitely be trying to mimic in my own writing.</li><li>There is a lot of repeated phrasing, such as "I see that, but I'll sew this!" and slight variations as the monster rises from the ground and tries to distract the tailor from finishing the trews on time. I like this element in writing, and I would like to implement something like that into my own stories.</li><li>There was a lot of narration but I didn't mind it because it still propelled the story forward. </li><li>The ending was satisfying and I felt like I could take a breath after the tailor escaped.</li><li>I really liked this story. I thought it was well written and actually captured my attention. I will definitely be taking several elements of this style of writing and implementing them into my own stories.</li></ul><br /><br />Bibliography:<div><br /><div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-celtic-fairy-tales-jacobs.html" target="_blank">Celtic Fairy Tales</a> </i>by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).<br /><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/celtic-fairy-tales-field-of-boliauns.html" target="_blank">The Field of Boliauns<br /></a><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/celtic-fairy-tales-sprightly-tailor.html" target="_blank">The Sprightly Tailor</a></i></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-43474865243726676812020-11-06T21:11:00.005-06:002020-12-07T00:56:57.129-06:00Week 11 Story: Fox and Coyote<p>*An updated version of this story can be found on my portfolio, which is located <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/rmythportfolio/fox-and-coyote" target="_blank">here</a>!*</p><p><br /></p><p>*If you want to be extra immersed in this story, click to hear a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atELVQ9aVGw" target="_blank">Crackling Fireplace with Thunder, Rain and Howling Wind Sounds</a> *</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/atELVQ9aVGw" width="240" youtube-src-id="atELVQ9aVGw"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>"We have to go." Coyote coughed and wheezed as the smoke rose around the two of them. "Come on, Fox!"</p><p>"Just a minute longer, please," Fox begged. His eyes widened as he stared at the flames consuming his once glorious and flourishing plot of land. "I can't just leave it all behind." But he knew that really, there was nothing left to leave behind anymore.</p><p>As he gazed into the ever-growing bursts of heat and embers, he saw the world he created flash before his eyes. This was no ordinary land that was now wrought with flames. This was home. This was home that Fox and Coyote built, even if Coyote protested at times. At the beginning of this decade, this land was nothing but but a vast expanse of ocean, black and deep. Fox had seen this and known that he could make it so much better. He had taken his arrow and bore two holes, one for sky and one for land. He had painstakingly taken his paws, each of his now charred and burnt paws, and stretched the land for days on end, lovingly and tenderly pushing it to the north, the south, the east, and the west to create space for Coyote to run free. </p><p>"Fox," Coyote half-yelled to snap Fox out of it. "We have to leave, now!"</p><p>He could feel his whiskers start to singe, but he could not part with his beloved creation just yet. He squinted his eyes and searched the wall of flames for any remnants of the home he and Coyote had lived in. He remembered so vividly the day he instructed Coyote to build it out strong logs and pad the floor with plush grasses. How quickly that grass had burned up in the flames that now grew stronger with each passing second. </p><p><i>Whoosh.</i> Fox snapped his head downward and saw the white flash of a rabbit sprinting by him. He remembered then the way he so carefully and intentionally dreamt up each animal, each soul. He had chosen how many hairs were on little rabbit's head. The color of the shells of each tortoise. A singular tear dropped from Fox's eye then, and he knew the time had come. </p><p>"Are you ready?" "I'll never be ready, but we can go."</p><p>As the pair turned from the blaze and started sprinting into the cool night air, Fox looked into the sky. As tears streamed down both of their faces, he looked upward to howl at the moons in anguish. For the first time four moons didn't seem like enough, and he desperately wished he had listened to Coyote when he suggested ten. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUj-i_lknpR2Xr4YudvK9SB0HYyQNJ7fVVkEJ46j2-H8vwtewj6_2nSaLPsFqoDu8IJcYqvzEYpk0D999v-YjxpVJnqEwSQ9SKiOOEh7-DQP_xQw1MAm3haxI2rmR-64ddSy04HFwWNM/s1280/1280px-Silberfuchs_06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUj-i_lknpR2Xr4YudvK9SB0HYyQNJ7fVVkEJ46j2-H8vwtewj6_2nSaLPsFqoDu8IJcYqvzEYpk0D999v-YjxpVJnqEwSQ9SKiOOEh7-DQP_xQw1MAm3haxI2rmR-64ddSy04HFwWNM/s320/1280px-Silberfuchs_06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Silver-Fox</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_fox_(animal)#mediaviewer/File:Silberfuchs_06.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</div><p><br /></p><p><b>Authors Note</b>:</p><p>Well this story turned out way sadder than I had anticipated, but it's where my brain was telling me to go. This myth is based off the creation myth titled <i>How</i> <i>Silver-Fox Created the World</i>, which is from the Atsugewi tribe of the Pacific Northwest. I re-wrote this initially with the twist ending of the burning of the world, but it evolved into the whole dialogue between the characters and re-framed the whole story.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Bibliography:</b></p><p><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/pacific-nw-how-silver-fox-created-world.html" target="_blank"><i>How</i> <i>Silver-Fox Created the World</i></a> from <a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-book-myths-and-legends-of_4.html">Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon</a>, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).</p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-62615695019997680832020-11-04T22:16:00.003-06:002020-11-06T18:10:30.347-06:00Reading Notes: Pacific Northwest, Part A<h3 style="text-align: left;">How Silver-Fox Created the World</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">Summary:</h4><div>This is a creation story from the Atsugewi tribe of the Pacific Northwest. In the story, the world is created by Silver-fox, who is accompanied by Coyote. Silver-fox wanted to make things and create the world, but Coyote was opposed. The story starts with there being nothing but water in the world until one day the Silver-fox sent Coyote off, took an arrow flaker and created a hole in the water, which was sky. The next day he created another hole, where he made an island. Coyote eventually came back and found him, but needed the island to be bigger. Over five days, Silver-fox made the world bigger and bigger until it satisfied Coyote. He then instructed Coyote to build a house with grass and wood and to go to sleep in it. While Coyote was sleeping, Silver-fox dressed up and then began to stretch out the earth in the four directions, again repeating the process over five nights. He eventually made the earth as big as it is now, and then created plants and animals by thinking of them. Coyote then suggested there be 10 moons for the seasons, but in end there were four moons: one for autumn, one for spring, and two for winter. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Comparisons of Other Creation Narratives in the Unit</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>How Kemush Created the World</i></li><ul><li>From the Klamath tribe</li><li>the earth was flat and bare, not water</li><li>Kemush was a man, who was ancient and old</li><li>Kemush apparently planted all the plants, but there are no details as to how</li><li>lots of details about the Sun, sky, night, day</li><li>Kemush is more like the traditional Christian version of a god, rather than the Silver-fox</li></ul><li><i>How Old Man Above Created the World</i></li><ul><li>From the Shasta Indians</li><li>the earth was flat and dark</li><li>the Old man created a hole in the dark sky to get to the earth, like the Silver-fox</li><li>the Old man created plants where the Sun apparently melted snow that was on the earth. He planted all things, like Kemush</li><li>the animals came from plants, like birds from the leaves of trees</li><li>good detail about the way the animal hierarchy goes, like the grizzly bear being the master</li><li>the Old man lived in Mount Shasta for a very long time to be safe from the grizzly bear, but disappeared when white settlers came to America (of course the white men ruined it)</li></ul></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdUPy8tENRa6WF6cl5mBY5qlwPMcTEWe7nHmH9Jv3Z24SjOP6-nYd-nX5yP_qooQTE8teAFAELTMOGVEfIwU2GN_mQcfx3pMNv8L3wkvzl5NRbZQmqcPHx5fzbdgCKBRrU0sTmhmzYv8/s1000/Sunrise_on_Mount_Shasta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1000" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdUPy8tENRa6WF6cl5mBY5qlwPMcTEWe7nHmH9Jv3Z24SjOP6-nYd-nX5yP_qooQTE8teAFAELTMOGVEfIwU2GN_mQcfx3pMNv8L3wkvzl5NRbZQmqcPHx5fzbdgCKBRrU0sTmhmzYv8/w347-h233/Sunrise_on_Mount_Shasta.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunrise on Mount Shasta (from the Shasta Indian Narrative)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunrise_on_Mount_Shasta.jpg" target="_blank">wikimedia commons</a>)</div><br /><div><br /></div><div>There were lots of different details in the creation narratives, and I think I will try to incorporate a lot of different elements into the story I write for the week. I enjoyed this unit!</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/pacific-nw-how-silver-fox-created-world.html" target="_blank">How Silver-Fox Created the World</a> -</i>Atsugewi Tribe</div><div><i><a href="How Kemush Created the World" target="_blank">How Kemush Created the World</a> -</i>Klamath Tribe </div><div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/pacific-nw-how-old-man-above-created.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">How Old Man Above Created the World</a><i> -</i>Shasta Indians</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-39373270119656921392020-10-22T16:08:00.002-05:002020-11-22T17:47:28.992-06:00Week 9 Story: The Troubles of Mr. Fox<p>*An updated version of this story can be found in my portfolio, which is located <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/rmythportfolio/the-troubles-of-mr-fox" target="_blank">here</a>!*</p><p><br /></p><p>The bell above the door rang in an obnoxiously joyful manner as Mr. Fox shuffled into the dimly-lit and smoky bar. After surveying the room for a second, he decided to take his place at the stool directly across from the old bartender, Mr. Badger. </p><p>"What can I do ya for," old man Badger asked in a deep and raspy voice. "The cheapest whiskey you got back there. On the rocks," Mr. Fox replied. As he watched the dark liquid fill the glass he sighed deeply.</p><p>"You wanna know something?" Mr. Badger gave Mr. Fox a look to indicate that no, not now and not ever, did he want to hear the grievances that were destined to spill over the three feet of oak that separated him from his customers. Unfortunately, Mr. Fox did not notice the look, nor did he seem to care for the real answer. </p><p>"It's that damned brer Rabbit! For the life of me, I cannot seem to win anything when it comes to him!" Mr. Badger decided to go the route of ignoring the words coming from the mangy fox, but he figured it would do him no good, seeing as how the fox was currently his only customer. </p><p>"All I want to do is to beat him at his silly little games, but somehow he always wins. I even tried eating him, for cryin' out loud!" Mr. Badger slowly lifted his gaze from the glass he was somehow always drying. If Mr. Fox wasn't going to shut up about the rabbit he might as well engage in the conversation. Hell, it was the only thing to do around here. He set down the glass and, with a deep breath, asked Mr. Fox, "What all seems to be the problem?"</p><p>After good long drink of his borderline unbearably cheap whiskey (whatever gets the job done, right?), the fox started in again. "Well there was the time when I tried to trick him with a little tar-baby. Oh yes the tar-baby. It was this fake little sticky trap, you see. All I wanted was to make him hurt by stickin him to the tar and killin' the bastard. Somehow he got loose and was tauntin' me from up over yonder on the hill." </p><p>"Was he now?"</p><p>"He was! Kept sayin' all this stuff about how I could kill him any way I like but that I shouldn't throw him in the briar patch. Of course, I threw him in the patch and BOOM he was up on the hill!" One for theatrics, Mr. Fox banged his dirty paws on the bar to emphasize the boom. One decidedly not for theatrics, Mr. Badger simply gave him a look of disgust and turned back to his cleaning. </p><p>"So of course I went home and devised a plan to hurt him some other way. The only thing I could think of was to go after his youngins. They would be extra tasty, after all."</p><p>"Of course. The logical next step," the weary badger replied. </p><p>"I had to watch the old hopper for a while, but once I knew when he and the wife would be out of the house, I hatched a plan. Now, I couldn't just waltz up in there and snatch them up with no reason. No, I had to be mad!"</p><p>"Sure sure. Go on."</p><p>"So I sneaked up in there and sat down like I owned the place. Ha! It felt good to finally get my revenge. I had those little bunnies hoppin' all up and down this side of the Mississippi," Mr. Fox said as he swallowed the last of the drink. Now he was feeling good.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKv5VMECadur6SttmUDvlBQXzNbg2YLwrODGgAvyplIv8NJtLVggYJ6ekx9nzJVSbAkU4aYOesJ8wzSaWtbQ86YRXFSNl0g1ir9p9obMl-f22bcuoSCwhs7aYO7QqpgK5Smki5Ii2q-8/s400/uncleremushisson00harriala_0148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKv5VMECadur6SttmUDvlBQXzNbg2YLwrODGgAvyplIv8NJtLVggYJ6ekx9nzJVSbAkU4aYOesJ8wzSaWtbQ86YRXFSNl0g1ir9p9obMl-f22bcuoSCwhs7aYO7QqpgK5Smki5Ii2q-8/s320/uncleremushisson00harriala_0148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mr. Fox and the little rabbits he tried to eat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://olebrerrabbit.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-story-about-little-rabbits.html" target="_blank">image found here</a>)</div><p>"I gave them the most impossible tasks, you see. Told them to break me off a piece of real strong sugar cane. They couldn't do it until the little bird told them how. Oh the freakin' bird! He was givin' them all these damn hints and foilin' my plan! Anyway, I told them to fetch me water with a sifter. A sifter! They wouldn't've been able to do that either if it weren't for the bird! Finally told them to fetch me a giant log for the fire. Took them a minute but by golly the bird helped again."</p><p>"Ah. Always a bird," Mr. Badger replied, shaking his head.</p><p>"Well, just about the time they got the log on the fire guess who saunters in. Brer Rabbit! Seeing as how I wouldn't be able to get the babies with me, I just decided to go home." Mr. Fox motioned for a refill on his drink. Mr. Badger obliged, thinking it might shut him up.</p><p>"Sounds like you've had a rough go of it. I hope things turn around for you soon, but this is last call. You better finish up that drink and go on home," the badger said. Mr. Fox took the whole thing in one go, tipped his hat, and left. </p><p>"I'll get him next time."</p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Author's Note:</h4><div>Thanks for reading! As you can see, I changed up the original stories quite a bit, and added a character, the bartender. I felt like this was the perfect opportunity to explore a story almost solely based on dialogue, as well as to re-invent the tale into something more modern. I wanted Mr. Fox to summarize his troubles, rather than telling them verbatim. I think this makes more sense and would mimic the flow of actual conversation with a stranger. I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you have fun reading it!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bibliography:</b></div><div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/brer-rabbit-how-mr-rabbit-was-too-sharp.html" target="_blank">How Mr. Rabbit was too Smart for Mr. Fox</a></div><div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/brer-rabbit-story-about-little-rabbits.html" target="_blank">A Story about the Little Rabbits</a></div><i>Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings </i>by Joel Chandler Harris (1881)<div><br /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8705177038440380327.post-21656626307761887902020-10-22T12:02:00.002-05:002020-10-22T13:56:27.308-05:00Reading Notes: Brer Rabbit, Part B<h3 style="text-align: left;">Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">Summary:</h4><div>Mr. Buzzard and Mr. Rabbit were working together to make a profit from the crops, but this year the crops were no good for Mr. Buzzard. Mr. Rabbit also pretended his were no good until Mr. Buzzard decided to lie and tell Mr. Rabbit that he had gold mine across the river. Mr. Rabbit climbed on his back and they started flying across the river. Mr. Buzzard knew Rabbit was lying about his crops, so he took him to the highest tree in the middle of the lake and perched there until Rabbit confessed. Mr. Buzzard acted like he was going to make Mr. Rabbit fall off, thus was his revenge for the lying. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I enjoyed that the story felt different than the other ones in the series. There was not as much dialogue (which can be good or bad) but more narration. </li><li>I liked the idea that Mr. Rabbit didn't always win against the other animals in the world, but that he sometimes got what was coming to him. </li><li>I think I can use the idea of a main character who is like Mr. Rabbit in my future stories. He usually wins, but when he doesn't it is sweet satisfaction.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd4i_NlCD3zoPciadxIwmx0Ri6VR6K7N0X1j4L7FBjHdhXhYKLszqGrDYgfAyF_OH6HtTdqNLHIZm7RtmPS8Xspmr1aSyhRfWU9guORNJbHLXC_ACc6T5xoc9wzc5eJRKk8mY2chJHs4/s554/foxrabbit_1009_48147181857_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="400" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd4i_NlCD3zoPciadxIwmx0Ri6VR6K7N0X1j4L7FBjHdhXhYKLszqGrDYgfAyF_OH6HtTdqNLHIZm7RtmPS8Xspmr1aSyhRfWU9guORNJbHLXC_ACc6T5xoc9wzc5eJRKk8mY2chJHs4/w269-h373/foxrabbit_1009_48147181857_o.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Buzzard Contemplating their Losses</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://olebrerrabbit.blogspot.com/2018/12/mr-rabbit-meets-his-match-again.html" target="_blank">image found here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">A Story about Little Rabbits</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">Summary:</h4><div>One day both Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit were out and only the little rabbits were left at home. Brer Fox took this opportunity to drop in and try to find an excuse to eat the children. First he tried to get them to break a piece of sugar cane for him, then he asked them to gather water for him with a sifter, then he asked them to carry a giant piece of log that was too heavy. During all their tasks, a little bird was helping them complete them so brer fox didn't get mad. They completed the tasks just in time for Mr. Rabbit to come home and cause brer fox to leave. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>There is not a ton of dialogue in this story</li><li>I like the idea of having the small stanzas of almost-poems in my future stories</li><ul><li>"Sifter hold water same as a tray,<br />If you fill it with moss and dob it with clay;<br />The Fox get madder the longer you stay—<br />Fill it with moss and dob it with clay."<br /></li></ul><li>The way the fox loses once again is what connects the stories, and I would like to try to do something like that for mine</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>Bibliography:</div><div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/brer-rabbit-story-about-little-rabbits.html" target="_blank">A Story about Little Rabbits</a></div><div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/brer-rabbit-mr-rabbit-meets-his-match.html" target="_blank">Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again</a></div><i>Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings</i>, Joel Chandler Harris (1881)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15046013209569136621noreply@blogger.com0