Week 13 Reading Diary

I have read Jacob for this week's reading. From the first part of the reading I really enjoyed The Language of Animals. Here are some parts that I really enjoyed.

"Well I must say," said the father, "that does not seem much for three years' schooling. But let us see if you have learnt your lessons properly. What does that bird say just above our heads in the tree there?"

This is one of father's line. He never trusted his son's words of Jack understanding the animal's language. Jack told the truth, and his father started to hated Jack. This was his words.

"Then the boy said, "The bird kept on saying as clear as could be, 'The time is not so far away when Jack's father will offer him water on bended knees for him to wash his hands, and his mother shall offer him a towel to wipe them with.'"

I think the father's hatred came from his arrogant. His pride probably did not allow him to understand what Jack was saying. That is why he did such a request to bandit.

Jack lived because Bandit told him a truth. Over some adventures he had, he eventually became a Pope.

"Now this was, in those days, a great honour, and people wondered why Jack's father and mother should be so honoured. But after Jack's father had offered him the basin of water and his mother the towel, Jack said to them, "Do you not know me, mother? Do you not know me, father?" and made himself known to them and reminded his father of what the bird had said. So he forgave his father and took him and his mother to live with him ever afterwards."


He eventually became what a bird told me so. I think it was interesting story.

(Bird by Peter Miller)

Bibilography : The Language of Animals from Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs and illustrated by John Batten

Week 12 Reading Diary - continued

The second part of the reading for Beowulf, I decided to focus on the battle scene in the story. I have already decided what to rewrite about so I want to get some general ideas that possibly would help me rewrite.

The part that I observed the most was the first battle that Beowulf had with Grendel.

"SILENTLY they fought in the fog-strewn hall of Heorot. Silently their bodies twisted and bent, this way and that, and Beowulf kept Grendel's huge hands with their long claws of sharp bone from him, and Grendel in turn sought to tear apart the quick body that slipped so easily through his arms and legs."

It was most definite that Beowulf had a strength to fight against Grendel, which is a huge monster. I could use similar situation to tell how strong the young Beowulf was because I believe he was strong when he was young as well.

There were a lot of detailed and examples in this part of the story that would definitely help me in rewriting.

"And the mighty arm of Grendel gave way in the terrible hands of Beowulf, and, with a piercing shriek that shook the gilded rafters of Heorot, Grendel stumbled forward, leaving in Beowulf's hands the gory arm."

Later in the part of the reading Beowulf actually fought against Grendel with bare hands and was able to rip his arms off from his body. What a incredible strength. This gives me a idea how young Beowulf fought an enemy of greater size than he is but he could easily defeat him with his strength which would lead him to be sullen in his strength because he was never able to use full strength of him.

(Grendel and Beowulf by N.C. Mallory)

Bibliography:  The Battle with Grendel from The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs with illustrations by Henry Pitz

Week 12 Reading Diary - Beowulf

I have picked this tale because I was familiar with the name Beowulf but have never read the tale about him. I think it was an interesting story to read for sure. I really enjoyed the part 1 of the Beowulf tale.

The first and the most favorite part of this tale was the young Beowulf. It was interesting to read about not the grown Beowulf who is famous and well-know but about the young child who would soon become a hero.

"As a small boy, Beowulf had shown such strength of body that Hygelac had early named him one of his thanes. So his mother and father gave him up, and young Beowulf went to live with his uncle to learn the arts of war and the handling of ships."

I like how he was so strong that he would have to leave the life of comfort in order to be more stronger.

"For several years he led a lonely life for so great was the strength of his limbs that even among those men of vast vigor he was a youth to be marveled at. As the years slipped by and he grew to manhood, he became more and more sullen in his strength."

For sure I want to write about what happened during these several years that would make him sullen in his strength.


"He accepted the challenge because he had been called lazy, and, in his heart, he was angry that his strength had never truly been tried."


It could be because he never had a chance to fully performed at his best because it would hurt someone. That is why he became sullen in his strength. I would really like to write about what happened and few episodes about his strength as a young boy.

(Beowulf by Herry Lawford)

Bibliography: The Young Beowulf from The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs with illustrations by Henry Pitz

Week 11 Reading Diary - King Arthur

I really enjoyed the second part of this tale as well. Overall, this reading was very interesting and fun to read. The most interesting story of this second part of the tale was The end of Arthur.

"'Alas!' said the King, 'My time flieth fast. Therefore, Sir Bedivere, cease moaning and weeping, and take Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comest there, I charge thee, throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thou hast seen.'"

I really enjoyed the battle but I think it was more interesting to read about how he died. From the paragraph above, I think it was interesting how words are so unfamiliar to me. Moreover, I think it was interesting how a king Arthur wanted to return his Excalibur to the lake because he obtained the sword from the lady of the lake.

The most interesting part about Arthur's death was returning Excalibur. Arthur wanted to return Excalibur to the lady of the lake.

"My lord,' answered Sir Bedivere, 'your commandment shall be done,' and he departed. But when he looked at that noble sword, and beheld the jewels and gold that covered the pommel and hilt, he said to himself, 'If I throw this rich sword into the water no good will come of it, but only harm and loss,' so he hid Excalibur under a tree, and returned unto the King, and told him his bidding was done. 'What did you see there?' asked the King. 'Sir,' answered Sir Bedivere, 'I saw nothing but the winds and waves.' 'You have not dealt truly with me,' said the King. 'Go back, and do my command; spare not, but throw it in.' But again Sir Bedivere's heart failed him, and he hid the sword and returned to tell the King he had seen nothing but the wan water."

I think this may be related to the power of Excalibur. Arthur could not die because of the power of Excalibur that is why he wanted to return the sword so he can rest in peace. This is my assumption so I would like to write everything about the sword Excalibur for this week.

(Arthur by Moyan Brenn)

From : The End of Arthur from King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang

Week 11 Reading Diary - King Arthur

From the beginning of this class, I wanted to read this tale. I have heard a lot about King Arthur yet have never read his tale. I really like the first part of this story. It was hard for me to pick which part I would write about. However, If I have to pick, my favorite part of the story would be The Sword Excalibur.

Until now, I thought the sword that Arthur drew from the rock, that made him a king of Britain, was Excalibur. I was surprised when I was reading this part of the story because this story explained that Excalibur was in fact from the Lake.

"In a little while they came to a large lake, and in the midst of the lake Arthur beheld an arm rising out of the water, holding up a sword."

So the sword that he had was broken and he need a new sword. Merlin took Arthur to where the lady of the lake lived and she gave him Excalibur.

""Well," said the maiden, "get into the barge yonder, and row yourself to the sword, and take it and the scabbard with you." For this was the sword Excalibur. "As for my gift, I will ask it in my own time."

I was more surprised when Merlin said the sword is not as worth as the scabbard of the Excalibur. I wonder how this would have affected the fights of Arthur in the future.


""You are not wise to say that," replied Merlin, "for the scabbard is worth ten of the sword, and as long as it is buckled on you you will lose no blood, however sorely you may be wounded.""


I think this was a great story. I really like this part because I learned a new thing about the tales of king Arthur. I would like to pick a part to rewrite after I finish reading this tale completely.

(Excalibur by Matt Rye)

From: The Sword Excalibur from King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang

Week 10 Reading Diary - Marriage Tale

For the second part, I picked The Dog-Husband as my reading diary. I usually like the story that I read for this class, but this story was interesting yet a little weird. First of all, the name of the story is The Dog-Husband, but in this story dog husband only appeared at the beginning of the story.


"After a time she became pregnant, and when her parents found it out and knew that the dog was the cause, they were greatly ashamed and, calling the people together, they tore down the house, put out all the fires, and moved away from the place, leaving the girl to die."

I was shocked how they dealt with bestiality so casually, but that was the last scene for a dog husband. Rest of the story was about how the girl gave birth to five puppies, one female and four males, and how she tried everything to raised her children.

"Not long after this she gave birth to five dog pups, but as her father had killed the dog, her lover, she had to look after them by herself, and the only way she could live and care for them was to gather clams and other shellfish on the beach."

Then they realized that they could stay as human forms which would allow them to be more acceptable to community. At the end, they became the chiefs of people and a village because they stayed as humans and they knew how to haunt for whales.

"Then the people talked it all over and decided to go back, and they loaded their canoes and moved to the old village. And the boys became the chiefs of the village, and always kept the people supplied with whales."

Basically, the story is not about dog husband but it is more about dog children. If this story wanted to have a title for dog husband, they should have talked more about dog husband. I think I will rewrite so that dog husband is actually alive, so the story will be actually about dog husband.

(Dog by Jeff Ro)

Bibliography : The Dog-Husband from Marriage Tales from Stith Thompson's anthology, Tales of the North American Indians.

Week 10 Reading Diary Marriage Tales

I have decided marriage tales for my reading for this week. The interesting thing about this story is characters from Tales are animals. Out of all wonderful stories from the first part of the Marriage Tales, the one that I like the most was The Eagle and Whale Husbands.


This story was interesting because two human girls also appeared in the story. I like how two girls were introduced to their animals. From the paragraph one, two girls claimed an eagle and a whale as their husbands. "one of the girls said, "I will have an eagle for my husband," and the other replied, "Thou mayst rejoice that thou hast already got a husband; I will have a whale for mine." It was interesting that both the eagle and the whale came up to the shore and took one to the sky and the other one to the bottom of the sea.


It was so interesting they understood what girls were saying and immediately took them as their brides. I like from the human's perspective, the eagle was nothing but a kidnapper. "One day, when the eagle was away, she tried the length of it and found that it reached down to the level of the sea. Another day she saw a kayaker rowing along the shore and, when he came just below, she called out to him to send a boat to rescue her." So the eagle might have thought the girl wanted to marry him, but to a girl, the eagle was nothing but a scary creature. Later the eagle got shot and died.

I think the most shocking part of the story was that the eagle and the whales were not real but a spirit of the bones that girls were playing with. "Then she threw her long jacket and before he could overtake them again, they had already landed, but when the whale reached the shore he was transformed into a piece of whale-bone."

(Whale by Ken Bosma)

Bibliography : The Eagle and Whale Husbands from Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson 

Week 9 Reading Diary Continued

The second part of the Hero Tales was very interesting. I really like the story about son-in-law. This story was based on the test that Wemicus prepared for those who want to be his son-in law.

When I was first reading, I was surprised how serious his test was. From the first paragraph, the consequences of failing tests can be noticed.


"Wemicus [the animal-trickster] had a son-in-law who was a man. This man's wife, the daughter of Wemicus, had had a great many husbands, because Wemicus had put them to so many different tests that they had been all killed off except this one. He, however, had succeeded in outwitting Wemicus in every scheme that he tried on him. Wemicus and this man hunted beaver in the spring of the year by driving them all day with dogs."

When I saw this paragraph, I immediately wanted to write about this story. I want to write about details of Wemicus's tests. I do not want to write about deaths of participants, but I do want to write about how Wemicus prepared and what happened during the test. I have read some people's writing over their reading, and I thought writing what happened before the actually event was just a great idea, so I want to do that as well. The reading part of this story was great and overall part of B was great as well. I enjoyed The Jealous father as well. However, I am have picked my topic about my writing for this week.

(Canoe of Wemicus by Stephen B)

From : Stith Thompson's anthology, Tales of the North American Indians

Week 9 Reading Diary

I am reading Hero Tales from the Native American mythology tales. I was reading this tale but I thought this was really interesting how the names of characters in the tale was based on nature. I think this was based on the native culture so it is not the special case for this tale but I thought that was still interesting.

"Bluejay and his chief, with Land Otter, Beaver, and another man, used to go out seal-hunting together. In the same house with them, but at the other end, lived Grouse, who was a widower with a lot of children, and he spent most of his time in the woods building a canoe."

The one story I picked from the previous part of the Hero Tales was Bluejay and his companions. I think this was a great story. I like how bluejay and his tribes were going through paddle and departure. I think it was interesting. My favorite part of this story was when Bluejay beat the squirrel in climbing contest. 

"Then both Squirrel and Bluejay took sharp bones, so that if one got ahead he could hit the one behind on the head, and they started to climb. All the people crowded around to see the contest, for the pole was high and the two were well matched. At last the people saw them reach the top and saw one of them strike the other on the head so that he came tumbling down, and all the people shouted, for they thought it was Bluejay. But when he reached the ground, they found it was Squirrel who had lost. So now, since Bluejay had beaten their best climber, they let him and his companions go."

That was my favorite part of the story, and I thought I could rewrite something about it.

(Blue jay by Tony Alter)

From: Stith Thompson's anthology, Tales of the North American Indians

Week 7 Reading Diary : West African Tales continued

This is the second part of the reading Diary. The Moon and Stars is the first story that I want to possibly rewrite.

"ONCE upon a time there was great scarcity of food in the land. Father Anansi and his son, Kweku Tsin, being very hungry, set out one morning to hunt in the forest. In a short time Kweku Tsin was fortunate enough to kill a fine deer—which he carried to his father at their resting-place. Anansi was very glad to see such a supply of food, and requested his son to remain there on guard, while he went for a large basket in which to carry it home."

I was surprise by how Anansi appeared in the story once again. Anansi appeared almost every West African Tales. I think he might be the one who leads the stories of the West African folks, just like Odysseus from Odyssey, Achilles from Iliad. Sometimes they do not appear on the story or not the main character of the story but they are always involved in almost every story.

What I find interesting in the story was the presence of the dragon. Some of the cultures have a dragon in the story who is the symbol of wisdom, generosity, and kindness. Especially in Asian cultures, the dragons are shown as the helper of the human, the protector of the world, and the symbol of the kings who rules his people and sworn to protect his people. However, from the tale, the dragon is appeared as greedy, brutal and powerful creature. Just like western cultures.

"Soon after, Father Anansi made his appearance. He was greatly interested in his son's tale, and wished to see the dragon for himself. He soon had his desire — for the monster, smelling human flesh, hastily returned to the spot and seized them both. They were carried off by him to his castle, where they found many other unfortunate creatures also awaiting their fate.......The dragon then went off in search of more prey.....When Kweku was quite close to the top, the dragon had very nearly reached him again.."

I think I can rewrite story about dragons from two cultures or three gather up and talk about their stories.

(dragon by Ville Miettinen)

From The Moon and Stars from West Africa Tales

Week 7 Reading Diary : West African Tales

Several stories were selected for my reading diary.
First one is How We Got the Name "Spider Tales." From the tale, I was amazed how many mythology that I have read so far, had a head of the gods. For example, Zeus from the Greek mythology, and Ra from the Egyptian Tales. Just like both tales, from African tales,Nyankupon was the head of the gods.

"IN the olden days all the stories which men told were stories of Nyankupon, the chief of the gods. Spider, who was very conceited, wanted the stories to be told about him."

I like how wise the spider of the story was. Although he was tricking others to accomplish his goal, it was his ability to be clever. "Spider immediately did so. Having thus made the tiger helpless, he led him straight to Nyankupon's house. Nyankupon was amazed at Spider's cleverness in fulfilling the three conditions. He immediately gave him permission for the future to call all the old tales Anansi tales."

Second story is Anansi and nothing.
I think this story was so interesting because the story was telling how phrase 'cry for nothing' was produced. Anansi in this story is also the same character for the spider from the spider tales. He got the approved of his story because he could trick others and accomplish the task that Nyankupon gave.

From this story, Anansi did same to get what he desired. The wives. He tricked "nothing' a rich man so he would have no hard time finding the women.

"Nothing, being a rich man, wore a very fine velvet cloth, while Anansi had a ragged cotton one. While they were on their way Anansi persuaded Nothing to change clothes for a little while, promising to give back the fine velvet before they reached the town. He delayed doing this, however, first on one pretext, then on another—till they arrived at their destination."

I like how people judge Anansi with his clothes, while Nothing was a rich man who had many things that Anansi did not have.

"Nothing's wife was queen over the whole district and had everything her heart could desire. Anansi's wives could not even get proper food; they had to live on unripe bananas with peppers."

The 'cry for nothig' was created by Anansi and his trick once again. He maybe clever but he only cared about himself.

"His wife was terribly grieved at his untimely death. She boiled many yams, mashed them, and took a great dishful of them round the district. To every child she met she gave some, so that the child might help her to cry for her husband. This is why, if you find a child crying and ask the cause, you will often be told he is "crying for nothing."

(Spider by sez9)

From West African Folktales

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

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

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

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

Week 2 Reading Diary - Homer's Iliad continued

Hector was the great warrior, but only thing he feared was Zeus. He knew this but his action eventually made Zeus angry. "Now Hector had sent the armour of Patroclus to the city, but when he heard Glaucus speak in this manner, he ran after the men who were carrying it and overtook them, and stripped off his own armour, and put on the armour of Achilles. And when Zeus saw him do this thing he was angry, and said to himself, "These arms will cost Hector dear."

Achilles heard that his friend died in the battle. He decided to fight to kill Hector but his mother, Thetis, stopped him because she knew he would die if he fight for Greek again. But Achilles is a great man who is not afraid of his death for his friend's honor. Then Achilles cried in great anger: "I would that I could die this hour, for I sent my friend to his death; and I, who am better in battle than all the Greeks, could not help him. Cursed be the anger that sets men to strive with one another, as it made me strive with King Agamemnon. And as for my fate—what matters it? Let it come when it may, so that I may first have vengeance on Hector. Seek not, therefore, my mother, to keep me back from the battle."

From this phrase, it is obvious even Trojans knew that how strong the Achilles was and they are winning a war because of one individual who angered him, Agamemnon. On the other side of the field, the Trojans held an assembly. And one of the elders stood up and said: "Let us not wait here for the morning. It was well for us to fight at the ships so long as Achilles was angry with King Agamemnon. But now this has ceased to be. Tomorrow will he come back to the battle, the fiercer on account of his great grief, Patroclus being slain. Surely it will be an evil day for us, if we wait for his coming. Let us go back to the city, for its walls are high and its gates are strong, and the man who seeks to pass them will perish." I cannot imagine how many Greek soldier could lived before getting killed by Trojans heroes such as Hector, if Agamemnon knew his place and was not such arrogant person.

Eventually Hector was defeated by Achilles and I want to write a story as if Hector did not kill Patroclus.

(Trojan Horse by John Lillis)

From : Homer's Iliad by Alfred J. Church