Week 11 Reading Notes Part A: American Indian Fairy Tales

1. I like the idea that the stories that Iagoo was told were oral, and have now been written down for people to read. This shows an important culture aspect of folklore within the Native American community. Basically, stories within stories is a fun aspect to write, and it makes the original telling more interesting. However, I would like to make the story into first person, as it connects the reader to Iagoo and his connection with the stories that he is so well known for telling.

2. Shin-ge-bis reminds me of a typical YA love interest. You know, the boys with the flowy hair and pretty half-smiles that always seem to be laughing at the protagonist over the simplest things. Like the story says, he’s a laugher. It’s different than other protagonists that you read about in folklore, who are serious heroes that only want to save the world. They don’t want to laugh. This part of his personality is an awesome aspect in his story.

3. I know these are supposed to be fairy tales, and that Native American culture is very big on being one with the animals, but it always seems to take me out of the story when the animals start to talk, especially if they have a major part of the story that moves the plot along. This is especially if there is no other magical element amongst the plot.

4. The story of the Child of the Evening Star really describes the characters in a way that I can understand who they are. This is uncommon in folklore. I also like the fact that Oweenee can see into the hearts of men and they all seem to suck, because honestly, that’s the most realistic part of this entire story. Honestly, this is my favorite story in the collection at the moment. It almost reminds me of Beauty and the Beast, and we all know how much I love that story!

Hipster Belle meme. Found on WeKnowMemes.

Bibliography: American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned, with illustrations by John Rae (1921). Link to online reading.

Week 10 Story: It's a Bad Idea, Me and You

There is something about bad boys, I think, as Kaxo climbs out of bed and stretches his shoulders. We had been at this for weeks, despite the fact that my parents hate him. The tribal tattoos along his shoulders stretch and move, almost like they are alive on his tanned skin. The wolf between his shoulder blades moves as if alive, the skull between its jaws escaping some unknown horror inside. 

What I image Kaxo's tattoo looks like. Found on favim.

It had been weeks since this had started, weeks since my parents kicked me out and sent both of us packing. The entire community backed them. They never liked him; Kaxo was an outsider in their eyes, someone who would never leave up to the impossible standards that they had set for everyone around them.

And I was going to have his child.

We had found out only a few days before, when I had been sick over a long period of days without any other explanation. We couldn’t see a doctor – neither of us had insurance – and I was far too prideful to go to a clinic. So, a pregnancy test it was, and it was positive.

“I’m going to meet Crow.” Kaxo tells me, turning around with that smile that got us in so much trouble in the first place. His best friend is the only one from our old neighborhood that keeps in contact, the only one that believed Kaxo was just as amazing as I believed him to be.

Together, the two of them were going to figure out what Kaxo and I were going to do. With the baby on the way, there was nothing that I could do but sit and let the baby grow.

From what Kaxo has told me, they believe that if my parents believe that if I broke it off with him, if I really prove to them I have come to my senses, they would take me back in. I could have the baby taken care of and when he, or she – Kaxo firmly believes it’s a boy – is born, I leave again.

But the problem is, I don’t know if I can leave Kaxo for that long. I guess we’ll have to see.

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Author's Note: The original story is The Dog-Husband, and it talks about a young woman who is seduced and has an affair for a man who's a dog during the day, and human during the night. In the original story, when her parents find out, she is exiled and the man is killed. She goes to the beach and has the babies. A crow helps them later on in the story, when the babies are born and start to grow up. The main character is forced to make her village believe the babies are dead, and they except her back. But the babies come and end up ruling the tribe. In my story, it's modern day, and  I've named the young man. Kaxo is actually the Quinault word for dog. And I kept the Crow in the story so that we have a sense of the original story in mine. I made it first person, and I also kept Kaxo alive because I hate death. Hope you liked my (short) story.

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Link to online reading.

Week 10: Native American Marriage Tales Reading Notes Part B

GoT marriage meme. Found on WeddingBee.

1.     I know that animals are a significant part of the Native American culture, but it’s really weird that these humans sleep with half-dog people and then have PUPPIES WHEN THEY GIVE BIRTH. Also, none of the characters in the stories I’ve read so far have had names. I’d like the characters to have names, just because it helps to connect them to the reader more, as you have a name to go with a face.

2. Cannibalism. Not a good plot point. Just really gross.

3. The language used in The Youth Who Joined the Deer is more modern, making the story easier to read. However, the dialogue isn’t exactly the way that humans would talk, at least nowadays. It’s too formal. I think that changing it into a more conversational tone would make it more relatable and not like something out of a robot-horror movie.

4. Also, although I like when the characterization of male characters in stories is not all macho, the main character in the Deer story – the hunter – was whiny and definitely should have taken his wife back by himself, instead of running to others.

5. I realize that the first place that has actually been named and given a description is in the story about the girl and the turkeys. Interesting. I would definitely like to hear more about what the settings are in each story, so that I can create an image and connect with the telling a little bit more so than I would if I had to create it all by myself.

6. So the True Bride definitely reminds me of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Except, you know, there was only four men. But also Cinderella, with the evil stepmother thing, but I guess that Snow White also has an evil stepmother as well? Oh well. I liked this story the most out of all the ones that I had to read.

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Link to online source.

Week 10: Native American Marriage Tales, Reading Notes A

1. Okay, so first off, the first story starts off with rape – it doesn’t say it in so many words, but it’s eluded to the fact most certainly – which is horrible and I would definitely take that part of the story out quickly. I know that this was a different time period but it would still make me uncomfortable to write something into a story that ends “happily.” The other weird part of this story is the fact that the boy’s mother is a cow part of the time – and also that she FORGAVE THE MAN THAT RAPED HER. Basically, the thing I would change about this story is ALL OF IT.

2. The Splinter-Footed Girl reminded me some of the story of the birth of Athena, because Athena was born from Zeus’ head, much like the child was born from the man’s leg. One of the best aspects about this story is the relationship between the men and the daughter; if I were to rewrite this story, I would use that connection and make it stronger. Maybe I would have each of the fathers help her, instead of the different animals. Using another character seems to diminish the connection between the girl and her parents.

3. At least in the story about the Whale and the Eagle, the little girls get to choose their husbands for themselves, even if it didn’t end all that well. Still kind of freaked out by the bestiality. The language in this story is a little different than the others, making it harder to get into. Making the dialogue more modern would connect the reader to the story, and it would be easier to read.

4. The Fox-Woman starts off with the phrase “dutiful wife” In the first sentence. Gross. BUT this was my favorite story. I wanted it to be longer. In the end, I might put a twist. Does the woman end up alone for the rest of her life? Maybe. Or MAYBE she ends up with another woman. WHOA! PLOT TWIST!

5. A lot of these stories have nasty endings. Not that I’m not a fan, usually, but dang. Where is the happiness?

6. The Bear-Woman is definitely my second favorite story. I think that I would change the POV to the eldest sisters, and make her attack on the village something like revenge for the murder of his husband. But also, CONSTELLATIOINS!!!!!!!!!

Futrama Constellation Meme. Found on quickmeme.

 Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Link to online reading.

Work 9 Story: Damsel

Hase-Hime remembered a story that her mother used to tell her, about a poetess. The story spoke of a gifted woman who had the affinity for poetry, and the people of the kingdom adored her. However, her fellow people’s land had been ravaged by famine. The poetess, doing what she did best, wrote a poem that moved the gods, and it brought rain. She was a hero to her people. 

The young princess thought that maybe, if she wrote a good enough poem to please the gods, that it would get her out of the mess that she was in. The rope that wrapped around her wrists was chaffing at her skin, and the gag that her step-mother’s servant, Katoda, choked her.

Alas, nothing ever came of her poetry, except the adoration of her father – Prince Toyonari - and the Court, and even the young Emperor, who had ordered her to send her poetry to him. But even the Emperor, who had offered her a position as Chinjo – the lieutenant-general, could get her out of her debacle.

How did she end up here? She had been knocked out while doing her chores, carried on what she assumed to be a palanquin, and thrown in a dark room. She had to be somewhere in the mountains – the temperature was cooler than down in the valley where she lived. She shivered as she was reminded of the cold.

Palanquin, And a Guy on a Horse. Found on gettyimages.

Hase-Hime had lost track of how long that she had been kept in her prison; Katoda only untied her to feed her, and even then, she had the threat of his knife to worry about.

“Why are you doing this?” She had asked Katoda once, her voice hoarse from disuse. He had only shaken his head, muttering her step-mother’s name under his breath, before slamming the door behind him and leaving her, once again, in isolation.

Since the untimely death of her son, Akuma – a strict woman who had married Hase-Hime’s father after her own mother had passed away from illness – lost herself. While she had never seemed to have a fondness for her step-daughter, she took on a new form of hatred. Everything that Hase-Hime did was wrong. Everything that she said was silenced. At one point, she had even struck her when the food that she had made for them was too cold after she arrived at the dinner table late. Hase-Hime had noticed the difference, but had not thought that it would ever come to this.

To her kidnapping, and potentially, to her death.

Hase-Hime let out a breath and shifted, uncomfortable after sitting in the same position. Weeks ago, she had been sure that her father, or even the Emperor, would have found her. But she was beginning to give up hope; maybe she was too far in the mountains to be found.

A horse whinnied, and Hase-Hime went on alert. Katoda stayed here, in her prison, with her. There had been no one for weeks.

Maybe it was Akuma, finally coming around to finish the job.

“Hase-Hime!” She heard her father’s voice. She must have been hallucinating. Again, her ears deceived her, as her name was called again. More noises came from outside her door, a shuffle, a loud thump, and then there were shadows underneath the small crack where the door did not quite meet the floor below it.

The door swung open, and the young princess squinted up as her eyes adjusted to the sudden onslaught of light. A familiar figure stood before her, and he was suddenly in front of her, and not in the doorway.

“Father?” She forced out, her strained voice muffled even more by the fabric gagging her. She tried shifting closer, but her restraints forced her to keep herself in place.

Prince Toyonari was reaching around her, and suddenly, her arms were free, followed by her legs. She reached up herself and grabbed the gag, throwing it away before she flung herself towards her father. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and his moved to wrap around her waist.

Hase-Hime had never been emotional, but as she breathed in the familiar scent of her father, tears built up in her eyes. Each of them pulled away at the same time, Hase-Hime to ask how he found her, her father to look her over and make sure that she was okay, at least for the most part.

Everything seemed to move in a blur. As her father brought her out of her quarters, she noticed that the Emperor was there. In his royal finery, he held Kotoda in his grasp, a fierce expression on his face. He let out a relieved breath when he laid eyes on Hase-Hime himself, and nodded towards her father. Her dad smiled gratefully, and brought her outside, lifting her up onto his horse and pulling himself up behind him as he did so. Then they rode.

As they made their way far from the cottage, her father explained to her what had happened. When he had come home from traveling to realize that Hase-Hime was gone, he had not question his wife at first. However, he knew that his daughter would not simply run away with no explanation, so he dug deeper. The servants were the ones to tell him the truth; they all adored the princess, and they had seen what Kotoda had done, and why he had. He did it for Akuma. When all of it was revealed, he confronted his wife, who at first denied all allegations, but after some lengthy persuasion, he was able to find out from her where he had sent Hase.

Hase-Hime smiled tiredly as her father told the story. She would have to ask where they were going to go from there, what had happened to Akuma, why the Emperor had been there. But that would be for another time. At the moment, she was safe, and she did not even have to write a poem to get her wish.

_____________________________________________________________________

Author's Note: So the story of Princess Hase is about a princess whose mother passes away, and she ends up getting an evil step-mother who hates her. At one point, the step-mother ends up trying to murder Hase-Hime by poison, and she kills her son instead. Hase-Hime ends up being adored by everyone and the mother hates her and sends a servant to kill her. In the original, the servant is loyal to Hase-Hime and treats her well. Her father comes and saves her and everything turns out happily ever after! In my version, I cut out the first part of the story and went right to the part that starts with her being kidnapped. Instead of making the servant loyal to Hase, I made him loyal to the step-mother to put more conflict into the tale. I made it third person, but from Hase's perspective, so you could see her thought process. I didn't go into much detail about the background of her story, but I wanted her relationship with her father to be important in the story, because it's important in the original. I also made her relationship with the Emperor a little more than it was, because I love love, and in the original, the father forces her to marry some random guy instead.

Bibliography: The Story of Princess Hase from Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908). Link to online reading.

Reading Notes:Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozari) Part B

Day numero dos. Two more stories! Woohoo! 

Book meme found on BookBub Blog.

1. The Goblin of Adachigahara

That took me a little bit to write without looking, but I got it in the end. The background in the beginning of the story provides a good idea of where it is going to go, which is good, because the other stories don’t provide that sort of summary. Not only that, but it sets up the tone and setting for the story nicely. I think that writing the story from the point of view of the ogre would be interesting, and it wouldn’t provide such a happy ending as the original story does. Being able to see inside the head of a “monster” would provide readers more of an understanding of what happened on the other side of the story.

2. The Story of Princess Hase

The story starts off the same way a lot of fairy tales do. Two parents couldn’t have a child, and they pray to some deity to give them one, and magically, it happens. The tale read very similar to Cinderella, in my opinion, but I’m sure that this was written first. I liked that the stepmother tried to kill her daughter, because it provided a new conflict to a story that I have been quite familiar with. Making her a high-ranking official was awesome – GIRL POWER! I think because I am so used to the story of Cinderella, that I was truly disappointed that she didn’t end up falling in love with someone. Maybe I will make that change in a rewrite of the story, since I’m leaning more toward the Story of Princess Hase than the others that I have read in this unit. Adding more dialogue would make the character’s easier to identify with. Unlike other fairy tales, I liked the character’s personality, but I would love to play with the evilness of the step-mother, as she is particularly cruel.

Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908). Link to online reading.

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozari) Part A

There were three stories in this section of reading, so I broke it up into three sections! Woohoo!

1. My Lord Bag of Rice

Okay, the guy’s name is a little weird, and I wish that they focused more on his former name, because there is a common theme throughout literature that focuses on the importance of names. Maybe making it so the main character had to change his name to protect himself would be more exciting than what really happened. I chose Japanese fairytales because some of my favorite stories include dragons, and this one does as well! Woohoo! Go dragons! I liked the dialogue in this story, but I think I would have liked the piece overall a lot more if it was in first person. It makes the storyline more personal.

2. The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy

I think I would have liked it better if the start of this story was more flushed out. What did Kintaro’s father do? Why did the Court hate his mother so much that she needed to flee? I like the idea that Kintaro became one with the Wild, because I feel that is what would have happened if he truly had grown up in the woods, and giving the animals dialogue was a nice touch. Making this story third person was good, but I would have hashed out some details, such as the setting. The fact that they use Japanese within the story is a nice touch because it really connects the tale and its characters to their backgrounds. I think I would have liked the story more if they brought in the father’s conflict with the Court more often.

3. The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die

I think I would change the beginning of these stories so that they did not all start with “Long, long ago…”. It seems cliché and takes away from the start of each of the tales. I liked the description of setting here, especially with Mount Fuji and the like, because I got a good understanding of where the tale was taking place, and where the characters were moving in terms of geography. I think it would be better in first person so that readers would be able to truly get into Sentaro’s head and understand what he is feeling throughout the storyline. The entire plot took a turn that I wasn’t expecting, and it didn’t seem to have that same Japanese feel like the other two stories did. I think that this story would be better if there were more aspects of Japanese culture in it.

Japanese Dragon Ascending Mount Fuji. Found on Wikipedia.

Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908). Link to online reading.

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

1. Feedback In

On a scale of one to ten, I would rate my feedback between a six and a seven. The comments are good, and I like that most of them are positive, but there doesn't seem to be enough criticism that helps me to grow in my writing and other categories. If I'm doing something wrong, I would like to know so that I can fix it for future reference. The most useful comments that I receive are the ones with criticism, no matter how small.

2. Feedback Out

I believe my comments rage from a six to an eight on a ten digit scale. I try to leave comments in the form of a "compliment sandwich," where I say something positive to start, talking about the negatives, and then end with something positive once more. My comments have grown more in depth as the weeks have gone by.

3. Blog Comments

I still feel somewhat disconnected from my classmates, but that is something that is common within an online class. However, reading everyone's introductions have provided me a sense of who is who within the class, and I've come to recognize people's blogs and I know their writing styles. I believe my introduction provides a good sense of who I am as a person and allows my classmates to reach out and connect with me if they find something similar to themselves in the post. As for the rest of my blog, my writing really envelopes who I am as a person. People seeing my writing really helps them to understand who I am and how I view the world.

4. Looking Forward

I think I need to focus more on the criticisms, much like my classmates need to do with my work. By focusing more on what people need to work on - on what I need to work on - I can grow as a reader and as a story teller so that I can improve positively. I am thinking about changing the background of my blog to something a little more similar to my personality and interests - stars. Which also is what my Storybook is about.

5. Image

(cheezburger)

I chose this image because most of the  time, my comments are similar from person to person. This means that I know where my drawbacks are and can work on my biggest problems first, before focusing on the smaller stuff.

Week 8 Reading and Writing

1. Looking Back

I have missed a few reading and writing assignments, but mostly because I procrastinated too much and then decided not to do them altogether. It is not that I don't like the readings, because I do, I just feel as though there is so much to do in one sitting that I get tired and lazy. Despite that, my favorites readings were the original Beauty and the Basilisk, as well as stories from Ancient Egypt. The writing is probably my favorite part of any of the assignments. Taking the old stories and making them into my own is fun. I like being able to make them my own by adding my personal touch on each of the tales. This is why I absolutely adore the project that I have chosen. Women in Constellations is something that I was interested in for a very long time (we all know about my Cassiopeia tattoo), and being able to give these women a voice outside of their original tales is awesome and really invigorating to accomplish.

2. Image

Mr. Darcy meme by quickmeme.

I chose this image because who doesn't love Mr. Darcy? Not only that, but it has to do with his story while also relating to the reading we have to do for class - which I think it quite extensive at times. It's nice to think that there will be a man out there that will love the fact that I love reading more than I probably should! 

3. Looking Forward

My goal for the rest of the semester is to not miss another assignment, while also doing the extra credit to try and make up for those that I missed. I want to step out of my comfort zone and chose readings that I would have probably not chosen if given the choice, and use different writing styles when I chose to rewrite an original tale. 

Week 7 Story: Consolation

Painting of Filipino woman with flowers in her hair. By Lydia Velasco.

“Father,” Bayani said softly, from his spot in the cushioned chair beside his father’s bed. The old king was ill, had been for many years now, and the healers had warned the young prince that he didn’t have much time now that winter was coming. While this upset Bayani dearly – he loved his father – he had resigned himself to the fact. “Can you tell me about Mother?”

It had always been a sore subject, his mother, and the scandal that had tainted her memory for his father. Bayani never asked, simply because he knew it would upset the King, but he was curious. And if he didn’t ask now, he would never know.

The King sighed, adjusting himself in the bed with a wince. He was always in pain, nowadays.

“She was beautiful,” He began, a soft smile on his face as he looked up at his heir. “Like you. Incredibly smart. Good. She was a good woman. And so brave. She loved you so much.”

Bayani fell into the enchantment that his father’s voice casted, his eyes never straying from him as he began his story. “I had told your mother, Reyna, and another one concubine, Ibwa, whom I had cared for deeply, that the first woman to bore me a son would be made my wife.”

This didn’t seem fair to Bayani. If he had cared for the both of them, certainly something could have been done. No one should have to bare a son to be deemed better than another. His father could see the disappoint in the prince’s face, and he continued, pressing on.

“When you were born, everyone was overjoyed. I, and your mother alike, could barely contain ourselves with happiness. But Ibwa was jealous. She had given birth to a girl, and while I was happy that I had a child, it wasn’t a boy. It wasn’t an heir.” He sighed, as if the memory was hard for him. Bayani believed it probably was.

“One night, while everyone was asleep, Ibwa murdered her daughter, and buried her.” He paused. Bayani knew this part of the story. It was the only thing that he really knew about what had happened to his mother. “When she was done, she stole you away, hiding herself away until the right moment.

His father left out the part of his mother’s execution; he had gone absolutely insane with grief when he came to find that his son had gone missing. Expecting the worst, he had ordered his mother’s death immediately, drowning her in the kingdom’s river, which ran alongside the castle walls. No one ever dared to argue against the King’s orders, so they were properly implemented at once. Bayani’s mother never even had a chance to explain.

“It was days until Ibwa came back, holding you in her arms as if you belonged there. I was overcome with such joy, I didn’t even think about what had occurred because of your kidnapping. I was simply happy that she brought you back. I married her at once, not thinking about you, or your mother, or the fact that Ibwa was the cause of all that had happened.”

Bayani’s temper flared. Despite the fact that Ibwa was dead, it didn’t stop him from wishing that she had lived long enough that he could have done the job himself. However, that would have been too many years that the wicked woman would have been alive, and her mother would have been dead.

“The kingdom rejoiced at your homecoming, but were confused with the marriage. No one could understand why I had chosen Ibwa after just murdering Reyna. I don’t think I even understood myself.”

The King closed his eyes for a long moment, taking a breath. Bayani knew that talking for too long exerted too much energy, and he reached out, grabbing his father’s hand in his own. He offered whatever comfort he could give, despite the circumstances.

“Reyna came to me in a dream. I remember it as though it actually happened. She was dressed in white, flowers dancing around her and woven into her hair. She was also sopping wet.” Bayani’s father shook his head. “She explained what had happened, and I had no doubt that she was telling the truth. This dream was an explanation, and while I felt guilt stricken for murdering Reyna, I knew what I had to do. As soon as I woke up, I comforted Ibwa.”

Bayani scooted closer, needing to be nearer to hear this part.

“She confessed to everything, with no signs of remorse. I became… enraged again. I didn’t even think, when I threw her out of our bedroom window. She had no idea that it had been coming.” The smirk on Bayani’s face should not have been there, but it was. His father continued. “I ordered that your mother to be reburied, nobly. I grieved for as long as I could.”

Bayani knew that his father had loved his mother, and he knew who his father was. He was an irrational man, driven by passion. The death of his mother had been by his hand, sure, but it was Ibwa that had caused it. The prince grew up wise, brave and strong, a leader to his people, because of his people.

“You are every bit of your mother.” His father said, his voice faint from overuse. "But you are my reward."

It was all that Bayani needed to hear, really.

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Author's Note: The original story, The Wicked Woman's Reward, was told from a third person point of view. It is about a king who tells his two favorite concubines that the first to give him a son would be the one he married. The Wicked Woman bears a daughter, and the Good Woman bears a son. The Wicked Woman kills her daughter, swaps the Good Woman's son with a cat, and takes the son away. When the King finds the cat, he orders the Good Woman to be executed by drowning in the river. The Wicked Woman brings his son back and they marry. However, the Good Woman's corpse doesn't decay and is found in the river with flowers all around her. Her ghosts tell the King what the Wicked Woman did, he throws her out a window, and he mourns for the loss of the Good Woman. Her son grows up to be brave and strong and takes over the throne. I changed the story by making it more dialogue than anything else. It comes from the King, while he explains it to his son. It gives the boy more of a character in the story. I gave the women names, because I believe they deserve them. Reyna's name means "Queen," while Ibwa is the name of a Filipino demon. I feel that giving the narrator's voice to the son gives the readers a connection to him and to Reyna. You are feeling what he feels, as he begins to understand what happens to his mother. 

Bibliography: Filipino Popular Tales by Dean S. Fansler (1921). Link to online reading.

Reading Notes: Filipino Tales Part B

1. The difference between the stories from this section and the previous readings is that most of these stories are creation stories, or why things are the way they are, or they're about animals. I happen to like stories that involve humans as the main characters, because they're more relateable and provide an easier story and background to understand.

2. I like the story "Why the Sun Shines More Brightly Than the Moon," even if it pits two females against one another. The story is short, though, and doesn't give the characters much depth. Buwan's sister isn't even named, and I would like to see her side of the story more than it being told from a third person point of view, where you can't really tell what's going on. The story was pretty objective, so it told you what happened and what was the result. There was no fanfare, which I prefer in my fairy tales.

3. The story explaining why the cow has loose skin freaked me out. That's it.

4. The story about the fingers was interested because you're quite unlikely to find a story where fingers are named and talk amongst one another unless they are part of a children's tale. The idea that the thumb is a thief is interesting to think about, and this story is probably one of the more interesting ones that I've read while I've been in this class.

5. All in all, I think a lot of these stories would be better if someone gave the character's more depth, and allows the readers to be able to relate and understand what they are reading. Most of the stories don't have a lot of detail either - they need setting descriptions, character descriptions, and the like. Adding more detail, as long as it's not too much, helps readers to connect with the story and it allows them to understand where the characters are coming from and what is going on.

Now that this is done, it's time for me to sleep for 4324320 hours!

Yoda sleep meme. Found on Awesome Inventions.

Bibliography: Filipino Popular Tales by Dean S. Fansler (1921). Link to online reading.

Reading Notes: Filipino Tales Part A

1. One of the most surprising moments in the story of the Three Friends was that the monkey was clever enough, but also evil enough, to through the Bungisngis into the pit. His friends, however, were not so clever. It's cool to see the parallel between the three animals, especially because monkeys are so similar to humans in both anatomy and in the way that they think. Is the story playing on the idea that monkeys are wiser than other animals?

2. There seems to be a pattern with the number three (three animals, three brothers, three sons, etc.). I wonder if the stories would change any if the number was changed to two, or increased to a higher number, like five. For example, if there was two brothers, instead of three like in the second story, or five or more animals in the first tale. If the number of animals in the latter increases, then it would provide more foundation for the fact the tale is trying to explain the wisdom contrasted between animals.

3. The characterization in the story, The Clever Husband and Wife, is interesting, because when I read it, I hated the two protagonists. They were con artists and cheats and exploited the friendship between themselves and the doctor/mistress. However bad they were, though, I liked that they were unapologetic and had decent flaws. It's not all the time that you see a main character with a trait that doesn't redeem itself at the end of the story.

4. I would like to change the end of the story, The Devil and the Guachinango, by changing the ending. Instead of having the princess be saved, I would have her die and force the Guoachinango to have to go to Hell. Maybe that's just me being morbid, though.

5. I find it amusing one of the protagonist's name in these stories is Don Juan.

6. The stories that involved religion also involved the monarchy; that is, the stories that had either the Devil or God in them also had princesses and kings involved as well. It parallels the idea that the monarchy is appointed because of Divine Right.

7. The story of the monkey-prince was my favorite, mainly because I love the trope. I'm glad that it didn't take the route of the woman falling in love with an animal (*cough* Beauty and the Beast *cough*). I also liked that the girl was poor and not a princess.

8. I like the concept of the Wicked Woman but I don't like that they pit two women against one another. I wish that it wasn't because of a man that the two grew jealous.

Buddy the Elf reading meme. Found on Memes Happen.

 Bibliography: Filipino Popular Tales by Dean S. Fansler (1921). Link to online reading.