Week 6 Storytelling : The Kakis Tree (Revised)

Once upon a time, there was a crab. This crab was such a beautiful lady and a wonderful house wife.

One day, she met the monkey. The one with grumpy face and behavior of amateur. She exchanged her rice with the seed of kakis tree because she was a nice woman. She did not complain although it was certainly this monkey who took advantage of her kindness. Instead of getting angry, she decided to plan her seed. With her skills and love, a kakis tree was raised fast and healthy. By the time, the grumpy monkey came back to the town, a tree was fully grown with huge and delicious looking kakis fruits on its branch.

The kakis tree was thankful. He knew without the Mrs. crab's helps, he would never had grown this big.

"One day, I will be able to provide delicious fruits for the crab."

Although some of his fruits were ready to be served, he decided to wait for all of his fruits to be ripped. He knew if he started to drop fruits for the crab, some of the bad ones might be placed in her hands as well. However, the monkey came by and noticed the beautiful kakis from the tree. The tree knew who he was. After all, monkey was the one who gave him up.

"At least, he gave me to Mrs. crab. For that reason, I shall not hate him."

In fact, the tree did not mind him at all. He knew if he would have been nothing but a trash to the monkey. He was thankful that the monkey gave the seed of kakis to Mrs. crab regardless of his intention. So without the hate, he decide to just ignore the monkey. However, that was until the monkey decided to climb up his body and started to eat some of the kakis fruit. 

He thought about taking him down with his branch but he saw Mrs. crab, who was waiting for the monkey to drop ripe fruits. 

"As long as this monkey delivers my fruits to Mrs. crab."

He though to himself. However, it did not take a long time until he realized the monkey was taking advantage of the crab. Once again! It was that moment, Mrs. crab decided to act smart and fool the monkey. She tricked monkey to lift his hands up while he was holding all the fruits. When he did, he dropped all of them! Mrs. crab swiftly took fruits and threw all of them to her house. The tree saw what she did and laughed about it. 

"Oh, no!"

But suddenly, the angry monkey started to beat up Mrs. crab. 

"How dare you!"

That was the action that the tree could not stand. His mind started to filled with anger and hatred towards the monkey. 

"You shall be selfish! You shall trick others and take advantage of others! But you shall not hurt Mrs. Crab!"

The tree yelled. His branches grabbed the monkey. The monkey started to scream with panic. 

"Are you okay?"

The tree asked the crab. She could not answer. Fortunately, her friends came to help her. 

"You are going to pay for what you did."

The tree spoke while he was squeezing the body of monkey with his branches. The monkey cried and tried to escaped. A kakis tree made sure he would not escaped. With all his attitudes and behaviors, the monkey died in pain.

(Kakis Tree by PTorrodellas)

Author's note : This story is originally from the crab and the monkey from Japanese Fairy Tales. The main story is basically the same. The monkey exchanged his seed with rice, the crab planted the seed, and she got the big kakis tree by the time the monkey came back to visit her. The monkey asked the crab if he could have some of the fruits and the crab agreed as long as she would get good fruits from the tree as well. However, the selfish monkey started to take good fruits for himself and throwing down bad or unripened fruits to the crab. The crab was angry and decided to fool the monkey. The monkey was fooled by the crab and he actually beat the crab almost to where she would have died with her friend help. Even in original story, the monkey was killed by the friends of the crab. The main thing I focused was the personification. I was thinking if they would personify the animals why not plants? So I decided to write the story with personification of the kakis tree. Because the kakis tree was the one who actually punished in my story, the importance of the friendship and kindness is less emphasized in the story. 

Bibliography: Andrew Lang's Japanese Fairy Tales : The Crab and The Monkey

Week 6 Reading Diary : Japanese Tale Continued

From the second part of reading, what I have paid attention to most was the personification of the animals. Animals such as monkey, crab, or etc were treated just as a person.

From plot, of the story The Crab and The Monkey, this personification could be observed easily.

"There was once a crab who lived in a hole on the shady side of a mountain. She was a very good housewife, and so careful and industrious that there was no creature in the whole country whose hole was so neat and clean as hers, and she took great pride in it."

I thought this was interesting. I have seen animals act as humans in other mythology I read, so far. However, for Japanese Tales, it was more direct and more specific. The crab was even described as "a very good housewife" just like human. I think this is very interesting technique of the Japanese Tale, and I would like to use the method to rewrite any of the story for my future writing.

"One day she saw lying near the mouth of her hole a handful of cooked rice which some pilgrim must have let fall when he was stopping to eat his dinner. Delighted at this discovery, she hastened to the spot and was carrying the rice back to her hole"

I like this story because he expressed so many characteristics of human in one story.
From monkey, you could see selfish and ignorant person who takes advantage of others. From crab, you could see a viewer who are disgusted by his selfishness.

"In another moment he was swinging himself from branch to branch, eating all the ripest kakis and filling his pockets with the rest, and the poor crab saw to her disgust that the few he threw down to her were either not ripe at all or else quite rotten. 'You are a shocking rogue,' she called in a rage, but the monkey took no notice and went on eating as fast as he could. The crab understood that it was no use her scolding, so she resolved to try what cunning would do."
 
However, I was also surprised by how detailed explanation even on such a brutal scene.
"He peered about for the crab, but in vain; however, his eyes fell on the egg, which he snatched up and set on the fire. But in a moment the egg had burst into a thousand pieces, and its sharp shell struck him in the face and scratched him horribly. Smarting with pain, he ran to the bucket and stooped down to throw some water over his head. As he stretched out his hand, up started the wasp and stung him on the nose. The monkey shrieked and ran to the door, but as he passed through, down fell the mortar and struck him dead."

I could really use some characteristic that I observed from this reading.

(Crab by Rushen)

From Andrew Lang's Japanese Fairy Tales

Week 6 Reading Diary : Japanese Tale

From the stories of the Japanese Tale. I like about the story of the stonecuttter because the message it is conveying is so powerful.

While I was reading this story, I could agree no more that I wish to be someone else sometimes.

"One day the stonecutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich man and saw there all sorts of beautiful things of which he had never even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow harder and heavier, and he said to himself: 'Oh, if only I were a rich man and could sleep in a bed with silken curtains and golden tassels, how happy I should be!'"

This is about satisfaction. Sometimes, I feel like I could be more happier with something that I do not have right now. When I get tired of studying and working, I just want to wish that I am rich so I do not have to do anything. It could be just me, but people dream about what they do not have, just like the stonecutter.

However, although you get what you wanted to, you will never be satisfied. That is the message of the story. In the stories,

"And a prince he was. Before his carriage rode one company of men and another behind it; servants dressed in scarlet and gold bore him along, the coveted umbrella was held over his head, everything a heart could desire was his."

He was not satisfied with being rich so became a prince.

"And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot his beams above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the grass in the fields and scorched the faces of princes as well as of poorer folk."

Then he came sun to be mightier, then cloud, then rock. He desired more and more as he obtained the strength of his desire, but the stories lead the stonecutter back to what he was.

"And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at his trade of stone-cutting. His bed was hard and his food scanty, but he had learned to be satisfied with it and did not long to be something or somebody else."


The important message from the stories was the real happiness is not about being rich, not about being mighty, not able to being strong, but real happiness lies in the heart of himself/herself. This story had a lot of meaning.


I would like to rewrite the story based on the message of this story, but more straightforward with different materials.

(Rocks by Jos van Wunnlk)

From Andrew Lang's Japanese Fairy Tales

Thoughts about comments

The interesting thing about comments is how people think about my story. Some people comment on their favorite part of the story or even favorite format, and some people comment on their questions over the stories. I think that really makes me engaging. I find it interesting and fun how people focuses on different things while they are reading my story. Some people focuses on the way I write, some people focuses on the background of story, or some people may just focuses on my story itself. Also I like how people show their interest and hobbies when they are reading my introduction. I feel like it is creating a bond when someone likes the same stuff that I like. People do not hesitate to reveal that their favorite movies and books are same as mine. I really like it. I think my comments have been a little too cold. While I was reading my comments I found how interesting it is to communicate with the writer, so maybe I can improve my comment by trying to focus on the writer as well rather than just focusing on their stories.

Week 5 Storytelling : Tea party

In the center of the forest, few animals gathered. There was a huge round table. On the left side of the table, a wise monkey and a goose with golden feathers sat. On the right side, a rabbit and a goose with white feather sat. They were facing each others.


"Welcome to my tea party."


A monkey started the conversation.


"Today, we will talk about the stupidity, anyone have a story to share?"


A wise monkey asked. A golden goose raised his left wing as if he was eager to share his story.


"Yes, a goose with beautiful golden feather. What is your story?"


"I want to talk about this stupid mother, whom I pitied from the bottom of my heart, before "this" happened."


The goose started a story. He explained how he wanted to help a poor family as a favor.


"Greed is the most terrifying stupidity. It makes your mind to go blind, so you will no longer see what is there for you."

The golden goose said angrily. The goose with white feathers agreed.


"I cannot agree more. This 'greed' thing is absolute non-sense. Somehow it turns our 'favors' to their 'rights'. They think what we are giving them is something they deserve."


The white goose pointed at his stomach. His stomach was stitched up as if someone had cut his belly. He was a goose who laid the golden eggs for humans, until they wanted more and decided to cut through his stomach to get more golden eggs.


"My poor duck friends!"


Rabbit shouted.


"We are not ducks"


Both Geese yelled back.


"Duck, goose, whichever you are. I pity you guys, but I do not agree with your greed thing is the most stupid thing in the world."


Rabbit spoke. The geese then asked, what was the stupidest thing in the world. Rabbit replied with the word "gullibility"


"This turtle, who came out to surface and tricked me, wanted my liver. I said I left my liver in my house, and he believed it. Of course, a slow turtle like him would have never seen my shadow after that day."


Rabbit said proudly. Monkey clapped and laughed.


"This crocodile thought I left my heart in my house. I agree, gullibility is the stupidest thing in the world!"


The geese shook their heads. They could not agree. All of them started to argue to decide what was the stupidest thing.

Their argument lasted quite awhile. They decided to ask someone else to decide. They found a wolf who had a body of fish in his mouth. They stopped him and asked which was the stupidest thing in the world; gullibility or greed.


The wolf stared at them for a second. He shrug his shoulders.


"I do not know which one is more stupid, but I can tell you the stupidest thing you can do is to ask a wolf to divide a fish."


His eyes pointed at his fish. As he left with laughter.

(A wolf by Jordan Crowe)

Author's note: Three of these characters or animals are from the stories of the Jakata's Tale. Two of the animals such as a rabbit and the goose were from the other folktale from other culture. However, although characters are different type of animals, the stories from both culture is very similar. The monkey tricked the crocodile with his heart and the rabbit tricked the turtle with his liver. Both geese produced something golden for their humans but humans wanted more, which eventually made them lose what the geese were offering to humans. The wolf is the story that I have never heard of similar story with. For his story, he went out to haunt a fish, but when he got there two otters asked the wolf to split the fish for them because they could not decide who should get the better part of the fish: the head. In the original story, the wolf took entire body of the fish and gave them the head and the tail. Only head and tail without any meat of the body! I thought that was hilarious and I thought those otters were quite stupid. I wanted to write the story over the similar characters gather to have a chat. 

Bibliography: Jataka's Tale written by Ellen Babbit

Week 5 Reading Diary : Jataka's Tale continued

This is a diary over continues reading for a Indian tale: Jataka's Tale. This tale has a lot of stories. I have selected few stories that I really like.

First story is the golden goose. Just like the crocodile and monkey, I know a tale over the goose which laid an golden egg. Both story is similar, where a poor family had a goose who brings them the fortune. However, the greedy of a person or human always ruined what they already have. From the paragraph,"But one day the mother said to her daughters: "Let us not trust this Goose. Some day he may fly away and never come back. Then we should be poor again. Let us get all of his feathers the very next time he comes." This is what happened to a goose with golden eggs. People wanted more, people thought they deserve more although it was a goose who were providing them with its favor.

"Now the Golden Goose has strange feathers. If his feathers are plucked out against his wish, they no longer remain golden but turn white and are of no more value than chicken-feathers. The new ones that come in are not golden, but plain white."

Eventually a goose ran away in this story, and a goose die in the other story. But from both stories we could learn that greed will ruin what you already have.

The second story I love is the Otters and the Wolf. I have no other story that is similar to that but I like how smart wolf was. I liked how it is not a conflict between wolf and the other animal, where wolf has to haunt them down but he used his smartness to obtain what he wanted.

"The Wolf was pleased and said to himself, as he ran toward home, "Now I have fresh fish for my mate." His mate, seeing him coming, came to meet him, saying: "How did you get fish? You live on land, not in the water." Then he told her of the quarrel of the Otters. "I took the fish as pay for settling their quarrel," said he."


I would like to write a story over a goose and wolf or other animals from the other stories where they might have a tea party and share their story.

(A smart wolf by Mark Dumont)

From Jataka's Tale by Ellen Babbit

Week 5 Reading Diary: Jataka Tales: The Monkey and the Crocodile

This is the reading diary over the Indian reading unit. The story had full of mini-stories or sub stories. There are few stories that I like.

The first one is monkey and crocodile. I am familiar with this story. I am from Korea, and Korean folklore had one of the similar story. Instead of crocodile, it was a turtle, and instead of monkey, it was a rabbit. I found amused how two different region had such a similar story.

I loved the part where monkey lied to the crocodile. In Korean story, instead of heart it was a liver of the rabbit that turtle wanted. Rabbit said the same thing that monkey said in this story, that he or she left his or her liver in the house and turtle took the rabbit home and rabbit escaped.

"I wish you had told me you wanted my heart," said the Monkey, "then I might have brought it with me." "How queer!" said the stupid Crocodile. "Do you mean to say that you left your heart back there in the tree?" "That is what I mean," said the Monkey. "If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree and get it. But we are so near the island where the ripe fruit is, please take me there first."

However, for the rabbit and turtle story, there was no continuing story. I liked how they continued the story to emphasized the stupidity of crocodile.

The second story I liked was Ox Who Envied the pig. This story had the special meaning in the story. First, I loved ho they gave name to the oxen. "ONCE upon a time there was an Ox named Big Red. He had a younger brother named Little Red. These two brothers did all the carting on a large farm." Then I liked how much deep meaning was in the story. "Yes," said the little brother, "we can go on eating plain food for years, but the poor little Pig ate the food of death and now he is dead. His feed was good while it lasted, but it did not last long."


I would like to write a story over many animals gathered and talk about their life since all these stories had animals to act like human.

(A Crocodile on the rock by Tambako The Jaguar)

From Jataka Tales by Ellen Babbit

Tech Tip Google Site Title

I have changed my page titles but I would like to keep the site title as Fred's Storybook for now.

Tech Tip : GoogleSite Choosing a template/theme

I have changed a template for a new website.

Week 4, Tech tip Creating a google website

This is my website!
Fred's Storybook

Week 4 Storytelling : Oxen

Once upon time, there was a guy named Bata. Bata was a brother of Anpu. He was also a hard worker and laborer for his brother, Anpu. Although Bata was working for his older brother, who is enjoying his life with easy works, a beautiful wife, while Bata was sleeping outside of the house, Bata loved his brother and never felt that was unfair.

In fact, he was happy with what he got. Although he did not have a fancy house or a beautiful wife, he got his cattles.

One day, Bata had to visit Anpu's house. He needed to pick up some foods to feed his cattles. They helped him a lot during his labor. Bata asked Anpu, and Anpu agreed. However, that day, Anpu was working in the field along with Bata. Therefore, when Bata went to Anpu's house, the only person who was in the house was Anpu's wife.

"Greeting, sister-in-law"

Bata gave casual hi to Anpu's wife. Anpu's wife stared at Bata as if she was asking why Bata was in her house. Bata explained his reason. He went to the storage and picked up some barley and wheat.

"You are a strong man."

A wife noticed that he was way stronger than her husband, Anpu. That attracted her attention. She decided to seduce Bata. However, Bata refused.


"How dare you refuse me, you are going to do exactly what I tell you to do, just like usual."

"I will listen to any words from you, but I will not play with a trust of my brother."


They started to argue.
And there were oxen. Because Bata was taking a long time, they were concerned. They decided to go to Anpu's house to help Bata.


"Can you tell what is going on? Oxy"


A ox with a bright hair asked while he was watching Bata's argument through the window.


"Looks like they are fighting, Oxay"


The other ox with black hair replied.


"Oh, no, Oxy! What are we going to do?"


"We can't do anything, we are oxen."


Therefore, oxen decided to do nothing. However, because two of oxen were gone for awhile, a older brother, Anpu realized something was wrong.

Anpu figured out his brother was taking too long as well. So he decided to go back to his house.


"What are you two doing here?"


Anpu found two oxen in front of his house. He asked.


"We are just being oxen...by doing nothing."


Oxy replied. Oxay shook her head.


"We were watching two of them arguing."


"Arguing?"


Oxay pointed Bata and a wife. Anpu looked through the window. And that moment, he could hear Bata's yelling.


"You are a mother to me, and my brother is a father to me. I will pretend I did not hear any of your words!"


It took awhile for Anpu to realize what was going on. After he figured out what was going on, he opened the door of his house.

It was at the moment his wife fell. She started to cry as Anpu walked in. Anpu saw Bata who was afraid to be asked about the situation.


"What is going on?"


Anpu asked as if he knew nothing. His wife started to explain how Bata was trying to harass her. Bata remained silent. Anpu nodded. He waited until she finished. He approached his wife, and smiled.


"Honey, I heard everything."

(Oxen by Mark Goebel)

Author's Note: The story is based on Egyptian myth. The background of the myth is about two brother Anpu and Bata who were separated because of the evil actions that were caused by Anpu's wife nad Anpu's distrust over Bata. Although there were more story over this brothers but I thought the most important part of the story was the beginning. The background story over my storytelling is only over the first two parts of The Two Brothers. From the original story, Anpu's wife seduced Bata, but Bata refused and decided to keep this as a secret because he respected Anpu's wife and did not want to turn back on his brother. However, Anpu's wife felt violated by getting rejected by Bata, so she decided to lie to Anpu, so her action could be a hidden secret for rest of her life. She wanted Bata dead. Anpu, the older brother actually believed in his wife's lie which eventually made the little brother, Bata, to leave his side. As a reader who seeks for a happy ending, I wanted to write a story where Bata and Anpu can stay together. From the original story, oxen help Bata when Anpu was chasing him with a dagger, in this episode oxen help Bata by doing nothing!

Bibliography:  Mackenzie's Egyptian Myth and Legend

Week 4 Reading Diary : Egyptian Myths continued

This myth of two brother was full of shocking events. I like this story out of all stories from the reading. I was surprised and interested by how unfair two of them were living, Anpu, the older brother was enjoying a life of his with comfort and easiness while little brother, Bata, was providing every hard work for Anpu and his wife. ". It was Bata who drove the oxen to the field, it was he who ploughed the land, and it was he who harvested the grain. He laboured continually upon his brother's farm, and his equal was not to be found in the land of Egypt; he was imbued with the spirit of a god."

The thing that shocked me more in this story was how evil a wife of older brother was. It was her who said some evil words to Bata, and it was Bata who stayed loyal to his brother Anpu. But this woman was so evil and prideful, she would not accept the fact that she was rejected and decided to revenge on Bata with his own words. "The woman answered him: "No one came nigh me save thy younger brother. He spoke evil words unto me, and I said: 'Am I not as a mother, and is not thine elder brother as a father unto thee?' Then was he angry, and he struck me until I promised that I would not inform thee. . . . Oh I if thou wilt allow him to live now, I shall surely die."

I also love the part where animals, such as ox, was talking to Bata. "The first ox entered the byre, and then it spoke to Bata, saying: "Beware, for thine elder brother is standing behind the door. In his hand is a dagger, and he desires to slay thee. Draw not nigh unto him."

I thought it was tragic how Bata had to leave because of Anpu's wife. "Then Bata took his departure, and he went into the valley of the flowering acacia, which was across the ocean. His elder brother returned home. He lamented, throwing dust upon his head. He slew his wife and cast her to the dogs, and abandoned himself to mourning for his younger brother."

I would like to focus on the story where Bata did not have to leave becasue his brother trusted him rather just accuse of him.

(Ox from Angela Rutherford)

From Egyptian Myth by Mackenzie

Week 4 Reading Diary : Egyptian Myths and Legends

I really love how Egyptian myth was written with so detailed and complicated description. From the first paragraph of first story described the birth of Ra in complicated phrase. "The god of brightness first appeared as a shining egg which floated upon the water's breast, and the spirits of the deep, who were the Fathers and the Mothers, were with him there, as he was with Nu, for they were the companions of Nu."

The most interesting about this Egyptian myth is that Ra had many names for himself, and names give him a divine power. It is interesting that he was given with a lot of names and a name is the source of his magnificent  power. From the passage of second part of the story,  "He spake further, saying: "I am a god and the son of a god; I am the Mighty One, son of the Mighty One. Nu, my father, conceived my secret name which giveth me power, and he concealed it in my heart so that no magician might ever know it and, knowing it, be given power to work evil against me."

The one thing I realized was about this myth was that it is very similar to other stories based on gods or creation. From a reading, I found that people in this story was forgiven with their sin. From the paragraph, "Ra beheld that which his followers among men had done, and he was well pleased. He spake unto them saying: "Now is your sin forgiven. Slaughter atones for slaughter. Such is sacrifice and the purport thereof." I could not stop thinking about how this Egyptian myth was so similar to other creation story or Bible.

(Ra from Ralph Buckley)

From Mackenzie's Egyptian Myth and Legend

Tech Tip: Siderbar Box

I have added an HTML Box on my sidebar!

The story of monsters

Topic: A topic for a storybook will be focused on the monsters in Greek mythology. For this storybook, not only a bad monster will be discussed, but also a good monster or beast will be also focused. The two monsters that will be used to represent good and bad, will be Chiron and Sirens respectively. A story of Chiron will be a story that I want to use in order to talk about a good monster or beast. A story of Siren from Odyssey will be focused as an example of bad or evil monsters. There will be more monsters to talk about, but Chiron and Sirens will be the primary focus of storybook to talk about monsters from Greek mythology.

Bibliography: The story of Chiron, from Kheiron by theoi.com. and for a story of Siren, will be from Homer's Odyssey by Tony Kline.

Possible Style 1 - Bedtime Story: this style attracted my attention the most. This will be the most interesting style if I am trying to use original characters from Greek mythology in order to talk about a story. I will use a original character who is related to Chiron as a storyteller and use a new character as a listener. A possible character will be a hero who were trained by Chiron, such as Hercules, and a listener would the young generation such as his grandson or son.

Possible Style 2 - Immortal among us: I want to use this style for Siren. Imagine if Sirens are still exist in somewhere in the sea. I want to write what would happen if Sirens were real and they still exist. I want to create a story of people who sail through a sea. They will be facing Sirens while sailing in my story. What would happen? I want to write about this.

Possible Style 3 - Breaking news: Chiron was such a popular character. His actions of teaching heroes could be retold with this style. This style can be used for Sirens as well. The story will be reformed in the most interesting way to talk about the great actions of Chiron and results from his actions and Sirens evil actions and results. Good news and Bad news will be retold for both.

Possible Style 4 - Therapy Session: This story telling can be used for victims of Sirens. Imagine people who were lured by Sirens, but still alive. Some of them could have escaped from Siren. The story will be focused on new characters that are the victims of Sirens and a new character will be used as a therapist to talk about the story of Sirens.

(Siren from Odyssey, by Robert Wallace)

Storytelling Week 3: A Gentle Cyclope, Polyphemus

In ancient Greece, there was a creature called Cyclopes. This creature was a giant, bold and had only one eye. And there was this Cyclopes called Polyphemus. He was a special Cyclopes. Regardless of his appearance as Cyclopes, he was smart and elegant. He wore a wig, shaved his beard, and wore a nice suit of clothes that would be used for kings or princes. He was a gentleman, or a gentle-Cyclopes.

One day, while he was enjoying his tea time in a cabin he built, little creatures approached his territory. They were called humans. Polyphemus put down his tea and opened the door to greet them.

"Hello, little fellas. My name is Polyphemus, with a gentle spirit, a kind heart, and a nice smile."

Polyphemus smiled. He was aware of his scary appearance that would frighten these little, fragile creatures.

His intention was great; however, his smile was more scary than a hydra.

Humans stared at Polyphemus for a second. Then they started to scream. Polyphemus panicked. He tried to calm them down but the situation was getting worse. He had no other choice but to grab them and keep them somewhere safe until they are calm. He was a gentle-Cyclopes, but the other Cyclopes were not. They would hurt them.

After grabbing all humans to his secret chamber, called Cave, he decided to sit down and talk to them.

"Do not be scared, creatures of size of my toe. I will not harm you....nor will I smile"

He spoke with a soft tone. People were scared but they decided not to scream. Polyphemus was proud of his work of calming them down.

"Now tell me. What brought you, such tiny bodies, to here?"

He took out a tea pot that he brought from the cabin. He sat down and offered his tea with a giant cup.

Out of all the small humans, one stood up. His name was Odysseus.

"I am here to take a rest and possibly gain resources to feed my fellow soldiers here."

Odysseus replied. He drank a sip of a tea with his bare hands because he could not hold a cup of giants.

"I see, little one. Your problem will no longer be. I have a bread that can feed entire fellas of yours, I have a cup of water, which little one like you can drink for the rest of your life."

Polyphemus reached his shelf in the cave and grabbed a piece of bread and a cup of water. Although it was nothing but a small bread to him, it was big enough for humans to feed themselves for awhile.

Odysseus smiled and apologized for his rudeness to scream in front of him. Polyphemus accepted his apology.

"Regardless of your apology, young one. You shall give me some precious of yours in return. This is for my curiosity. I shall keep whatever you give to remind myself of such a tiny creature when you leave."

Odysseus agreed. He told his men to bring a wine bottle. Polyphemus tasted it and gladly accepted it.

"Now you shall have my bread and water."

Polyphemus gave his bread and water to Odysseus. But, before Odysseus left the cave, Polyphemus stopped him.

"Now I have called you with many titles. Since you gave me such a great wine of yours, I would like to call you with your name"

"My name is Odysseus. Odysseus, man of many resources, scion of Zeus, son of Laertes."

Polyphemus was surprised by his name. He heard his name from the greatest prophet he knew.

"Listen, Odysseus with many many titles. You have to leave now. I will not speak out your name but if other Cyclopes find you, you will not return home with your body but only with your ghost."

Odysseus left the cave immediately. Soon after he left, other Cyclopes came to Polyphemus's cave. They asked who humans were. Polyphemus took a sip of his tea and said.

"Nobody. It was nobody."

(Polyphemus, a gentle Cyclopes by Nacho)

Author's Note: The original story is about Odysseus and Polyphemus, this Polyphemus is a monster called Cyclopes which is a monster that is cruel and stupid. In original story, Polyphemus abducted Odysseus and his men, for a eating purpose and eventually brutally eating most of them. His cruelness appeared when Odysseus offered his wine. Polyphemus loved his wine, but instead of letting him go, Polyphemus said he would eat Odysseus at the end. Odysseus took Polyphemus eye, which made him blind since he only had one eye. Moreover, his stupidity appeared when Polyphemus was fooled by Odysseus by calling him nobody, because that was a name that Odysseus gave to Polyphemus. Eventually, he found out that "nobody" was actually "Odysseus". Polyphemus threw a giant rock which destroyed ship of Odysseus which made his journey back home much longer. I noticed that there are plenty of monsters that are not evil but good kind. My purpose was to change this monster to evil creature to good monster. I thought the first step could be change the personality of this Cyclopes. I thought what if Polyphemus was not cruel, but gentle, and not stupid, but smart. I wanted to write a story about a nice monster rather a monster that destroy Odysseus' ship.

Bibliography: Homer's Odysseus by Tony Kline

Week 3 : Reading Diary : Homer's Odyssey continued

Regardless of my interest in rewriting story, I like this part when Odysseus met Elpenor, fellow comrade of Odysseus who arrived the land way before Odysseus. He found the ghost of Elpenor, who was deceived by Circe and eventually died. He wanted Odysseus to burn his body.

He said "Burn me, with whatever armour I own, and heap up a mound for me on the grey sea’s shore, in memory of a man of no fortune, that I may be known by those yet to be. Do this for me and on my mound raise the oar I rowed with alive and among my friends.”

I love the word "a man of no future."

Also, when Odysseus talked to the ghost of Teiresias, he called Odysseus with many titles. "Then the ghost of Theban Teiresias appeared, carrying his golden staff, ad he knew me, and spoke: “Odysseus, man of many resources, scion of Zeus, son of Laertes, how now, luckless man? Why have you left the sunlight, to view the dead in this joyless place? Move back from the trench and turn aside your blade so I may drink the blood, and prophesy truth to you.” The funny thing is that even the ghost of Elpenor used same titles for Odysseus. Elepnor said "Odysseus, man of many resources, scion of Zeus, son of Laertes some god’s hostile decree was my undoing, and too much wine"

I am not sure why they refer him with so many titles, but it could be some sort of rituals or rules for the ghosts to talk to him. I think it is very exciting for heroes to have many titles, and be called along with their names.

This make me wonder what kind of titles other heroes might have.

The most favorite part of my story is, without doubt, when the ghost of Agamemnon appeared in front of Odysseus. He was killed by his wife and her lover. The ignorant and arrogant king deserved his fate.

Also I loved the part where Odysseus passed Siren with his body tight. He was smart enough to not to trust his own strength which kept him away from the song of Siren.

(Odysseus with Siren by Jyll and Tom Skinner)

From Homer's Odyssey by Tony Kline

Week 3 Reading Diary: Homer's Odyssey

As I choose monsters as one of my possible topic, I am interested in Cyclopes. The story can be focused on Cyclopes. The characteristic of Cyclopes are interesting and showed in the paragraph "The Cyclopes have no council meetings, no code of law, but live in echoing caves on the mountain slopes, and each man lays down the law to his wives and children, and disregards his neighbours."

The cyclopes are huge and strong. With their strength, they fear nothing but their own heart. It could be drawn from this quote. “Stranger, you are a foreigner or a fool, telling me to fear and revere the gods, since the Cyclopes care nothing for aegis-bearing Zeus: we are greater than they. I would spare neither you nor your friends, to evade Zeus’ anger, but only as my own heart prompted. But tell me, now, where you moored your fine ship, when you landed. Was it somewhere nearby, or further off? I’d like to know.”

The cyclopes are cruel but not as smart. Polyphemus believed in Odysseus lies so easily. He ate friends of Odysseus and although Odysseus offered him with his wine, all he did was to promise to eat Odysseus as last meal, he did not consider to spare him at all. Those were my words, and this his cruel answer: “Then, my gift is this. I will eat Nobody last of all his company, and all the others before him.”

I am interested in this creature called Cyclopes, and I am wondering what if the Cyclopes were smart, and elegant. They can be still strong and huge and still have one eye, but rather than cruel and stupid, they can be clever and generous.

(Mailbox Cyclopes by Mattew Ragan.)

 From Homer's Odyssey by Tony Kline