Week 7 Story: Every Spider Has Their Day

Depiction of Anansi

Long ago, mankind often told tales to show praise to the gods as a sign of respect, and for as long man has existed these legends have been known as Nyankupon tales. He was the chief of all of the gods and demanded to be revered due to his powerful status. One day, the spider god known as Anansi approached Nyankupon pleading that he change the name of these stories to Anansi tales as the spider was extremely conceited. Nyankupon thought on the idea for some time then agreed, but only on the terms that Anansi bring him three different animals: a queen bee, an alligator, and a panther, as an offering before the sun set. Anansi agreed to the terms and swiftly went down to Earth to begin his mission. Anansi first set out for the queen bee as it was the smallest and he knew he could trick a bug. Anansi approached the hive which hung low on a leaning branch and set a web around the many entrances. Anansi knew the other bees were off scavenging food for their queen, so he then pretended to make noise outside as if he were the returning worker bees, as he had heard the sound many times in his home web. The queen bee rushed out of the hive only to be stuck in Anansi's web, who promptly sent the first of his gifts back up to Nyankupon. Anansi went to a nearby swamp to begin his search for an alligator when he suddenly saw a massive gator resting in the mud on the opposite bank. Anansi began to sneak around the swamp towards the gator when suddenly he heard a commotion break out and couldn't believe his luck, a panther was sizing the gator up and a fight was brewing. Anansi rushed over to the two killer beasts and began to holler and shout until they both turned to him. Anansi convinces the two predators to go prove who the better hunter is and sets the challenge to be whoever catches a rabbit first wins. Anansi declares the start of this competition and quickly sneaks away again only to set a massive web trap under some leaves after spotting a nearby rabbit. He rustles some bushes to attract the two beasts who promptly come racing for the innocent hare. Instantly they realize what happened, but a moment too late as they both become trapped in Anansi's web trap. Anansi overcome with joy rushes back to Nyankupon to show him his offerings and tell him off his trickery. Impressed with his wits and swiftness Nyankupon agrees to change the name of the legends to forever be known as Anansi tales.

Author's Notes:
Changed the offerings from a jar of bees to a queen bee as it is a harder to obtain and made more sense then using a jar for measurment. Also changed the tiger to a panther as well as he boa constrictor to an alligator to make the task seem more daunting for a spider. Changed how the two larger creatures were captured by playing into he spider's web abilities rather than have him sew his own eye shut and convince the tiger to sew his own in the original tale.

Bibliography:
West African Folktales from the UN-Textbook
(http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-west-african.html)

Reading Notes: West African Folktales , Part B

West African Folktales unit from the UN-Textbook
(http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-west-african.html)

Depiction of the spider Anansi

This first tale begins by establishing that the men of the world only told stories of the "chief of gods," Nyankupon. This upset the selfish Spider named Anansi went to Nyankupon pleading to have the men of the world tell stories of him rather than the mighty god. Nyankupon agreed to Anansi's request on one condition, he must bring him three offerings: a jar of live bees, a boa constrictor, and a tiger. Anansi descended onto Earth to begin collecting these three animals for Nyankupon and first went to where he knew a number of bees would be. Anansi began conversing with the bees as he thought they would not be able to fly into his jar that he had brought, but after explaining his deal with Nyankupon, the bees happily flew into his jar. Anansi set out the next day looking for the next offering, a boa constrictor, and grabbed a long stick before coming to a place where one lived. Anansi began feverishly talking to himself claiming that the stick was longer than the snake and then that the snake was the same size repeatedly. The boa constrictor came out of its home to see what the commotion was and asked Anansi what was troubling him. Anansi asked to measure the snake against the long stick he had brought with him and the boa gladly agreed. Once the snake laid himself out next to the stick, Anansi instantly tied the snake to the stick using his webs and promptly sent the second of his offerings to Nyankupon. The next day, Anansi set out for his last offering feeling inspired as he was so close to his goal. He brought with him a needle and thread and after sewing one of his eyes shut, he set out for a tiger den. Upon reaching the den, Anansi began to sing and shout until the tiger came out to see what all the commotion was. Anansi began to ask the tiger if he could see the wonderful sights that he was seeing, but the tiger saw nothing. Anansi explained that after sewing his eye shut that he began to see the most wonderful things, which convinced the tiger to have Anansi sew both of this eyes shut. With the tiger completely blind and helpless, Anansi sent the final of his offerings and returned to Nyankupon. Nyankupon, impressed with all of the tricks that Anansi was able to come up with to obtain such a difficult items, agreed to let all tales of old to be known as Anansi tales.

Week 6 Story: The Name Game

Depiction of Egyptian god Ra as a man

The sun beat down on the ancient kingdom that Ra had watched over since the creation of this planet. Ra could feel the age in his bones with every step he took in this human form he had taken on so long ago to live among his creations and rule. Ra knew this form was weak but it held too deep of an emotional connection after the years that he had grown fond of it. Isis, a fellow god and creation of Ra, took the form of a powerful sorceress when joining the humans, but became annoyed with them rather quickly. Ra's love for the humans as well as his superior power, drove Isis to begin planning a sinister plot against him. Isis had heard that apparently Ra had been given a secret name from the ancient god Nu that granted him such tremendous power. Isis began trailing Ra to try and obtain something from him until finally Ra's humanly form's age began to show by drooling in his sleep. Isis, filled with malicious delight, hurried back to her lair and prepared a spell from this and created a viper that was to strike Ra while being invisible to humans and the gods alike. Isis quickly sent the viper out to attack Ra, who was walking alone in a quiet garden. Ra cried out after being bitten and injected with the viper's deadly venom. Ra cried out to his children, the gods, and pleaded for help as he could feel his strength fading quickly. Isis stepped forward among the gods and asked Ra to tell him his ancient name so that she could save him. Ra held out for as long as he could before he could feel the venom reaching further through his body that he caved to Isis' demands. Ra leaned in to Isis as he uttered,

"Ra"



Author's Notes:
Tweaked the ending of the original legend between Ra and Isis as Isis is victorious in getting Ra's secret name which didn't make sense as it seems like her plot is obvious once she asks for Ra's name. Ra being the creator (or father) of the world and gods I thought it would be funny to give him a dash of "dad," by taking Isis' inquiry literally.

Bibliography:
Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories Unit from the UN-Textbook
(http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-ancient-egyptian.html)

Reading Notes: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories, Part B

Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories Unit from the UN-Textbook
(http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-ancient-egyptian.html)

The legend begins with the creation, when the world was only water and known as "Nu," that a shining egg came upon the waters and thus came Ra the strongest of all the gods. Within Ra was "Khepra" at dawn and "Tum at eventide" when Ra commanded the lands to rise above the waters and they obeyed. After creating several gods, with Shu and Nut being the most prevalent, Ra then created all living beings including man and went in their form to live among them for many years. Ra was given a powerful name at the beginning of the creation by Nu as it blessed Ra with his power and if any other being were to know it they would be able to become as powerful as Ra himself. This name went unknown for many, many years as the gods lived both in their heavenly domain and among the humans. One of the gods living among the humans was the god Isis, who disguised herself as an enchantress to disguise herself to fit in with the humans. Meanwhile, Ra still led over the kingdom of Egypt as he had created all of the land and its many bounties, especially the mighty Nile River. While Ra was seen as the absolute king, Isis was envious of Ra and his superior power. Isis wanted to learn of Ra's secret name as she knew it would be an instant way to become as powerful as the great god Ra himself. She concocted a plan and managed to capture a sample of Ra's saliva as in his old age he began to not use the best manners. After obtaining the sample of saliva, Isis created a magical serpent that was invisible to man and gods alike as it was made from the strongest of gods own saliva. Isis sent the serpent after Ra and it struck him with a menacing blow instantly. Ra went down in shock as the venom began to run its course. Ra began to cry out at what could have attacked him so lethally and calls for his children (the gods that is) to gather to witness and potentially aid him. After arriving, most of the gods grieved as they knew their creator was in grave danger, but Isis stayed composed and began to ask Ra if she could know of his ancient name so that she could "become as powerful as you to heal you." This was all part of Isis' plan as she watched Ra struggle and make more decrees about how much he did for the world. Isis inquires again and Ra is finally desperate enough to make the deal and tells Isis his ancient name. Isis becomes extremely more powerful and feels it, then returns the venom from Ra and cheers at the crowd of her devious plan to become the equally-most powerful god.

The Egyptian goddess Isis 

Week 5 Story: Beginner's Guide to: Becoming "The Buddha"

Step 1: To begin your journey towards becoming the ultimate form of enlightenment you must begin as a high class citizen with a father in a position of religious power. This will act as a way for you to gain knowledge of the ancient religious ceremonies and you will then grow to find them outdated and restrictive. 

Step 2: Turn your attention to the local group of monks (known in the original story as the Samana) and eventually beg your aforementioned, strict father to join them on a quest for spiritual enlightenment.

Step 3: Upon joining this group you now must wear rags and only eat the bare minimum to stay alive as is custom in this group as it is a way to rid oneself of their own ego and physical form. 

Step 4: Begin learning from this insightful group of spiritual individuals about their many different teachings about the individual outside of their physical form for a number of years (preferably with a childhood friend that you convinced to come along to also become enlightened) until you eventually hear news of a Buddha arise somewhere. 

Step 5: Go seek out this "Buddha," and join his following to learn of his advanced spiritual enlightenment and with this completing your studies of the spirit. (But somethings wrong!)

Step 6: Confront the "Buddha," and challenge the idea of not incorporating the physical world while also preaching the idea of being "in unison with the physical world and the world around you." (This leads to an inevitable falling out with you and fake "Buddha")

Step 7: Leave the camp in search for enlightenment on the physical world (Yes this includes leaving the optional childhood friend behind) and become charmed by a local courtesan.

Step 8: Learn about the physical world for many years after spending countless hours with this courtesan you become fascinated by while also becoming involved in local business in the city to help provide.

Step 9: Realize after all those years that true enlightenment comes from the harmony of the spiritual and the physical, thus making you the ultimate form of enlightenment, "The Buddha"

Depiction of the Buddha 

Author's Notes: 

Kept tru to most of the story arc of the original telling of this legend, but made it more fun by turning it into a "How To" sort of list or guide. The ending also ends at Part Two of the book instead becoming the Buddha right after spending the long stretch of years with the courtesan (Kamala in the original story) in the city. 

Bibliography:

"Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse (Part Two)

(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2500/2500-h/2500-h.htm)

Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part B

"Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse (Part Two)

(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2500/2500-h/2500-h.htm)

The next part of this legend picks up with Siddhartha still in the woods after his confrontation with Gotama the supposed "Buddha," and subsequent deep thought about the spiritual world as a whole. Siddhartha is feeling like a new man after his "Awakening," finding joy all around him as he walked through the woods. It wasn't until Siddhartha found a nearby hut that things began to go awry, when Siddhartha began to have strange dreams about his old, hometown friend Govinda as Siddhartha likely felt guilty for leaving behind his friend. The next day, Siddhartha made it to a city close to his hut and met a wealthy, beautiful "courtesan" named Kamala. Siddhartha became interested by her instantly as she could be almost a sort of learning experience for him as he had spent so much time focusing on his internal being. After getting cleaned up after being a Samana for years, Siddhartha goes back to Kamala asking to be taught her physical world way of love. She agrees and also sends Siddhartha to join a man named Kamaswami, a local businessman who was to teach Siddhartha more about the material world. Siddhartha quickly found the world of business to be trivial and found himself learning more and more from Kamala as she understood the spiritual world like Siddhartha did. Siddhartha and Kamala grew close and knew so much about one another, but it was always apparent that they were never actually in love with one another as that was Kamala's job to love, while Siddhartha was merely trying to "test the waters," so to speak of love in the real world. Years go by and Siddhartha finds himself sucked into this life of business through Kamaswami and companionship through Kamala, when he finally has a moment where he thinks of all of the time he had wasted delaying his search for enlightenment. Siddhartha begins having nightmares and seeing imperfections in the world that once kept him occupied all those years such as his graying hair or Kamala beginning to age. The part ends with Siddhartha leaving without telling anyone to find this enlightenment and Kamala eventually finding out only to be carrying Siddhartha's child.

Siddhartha and Kamala

Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part A

"Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse (First Part)

(https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2500/2500-h/2500-h.htm)

This legend begins with a wealthy Brahman named Siddhartha, who lived in ancient Indian village. Siddhartha had many things going for him as he was wealthy, educated, and  handsome, but his father who is a religious leader in the village does not want him to go and learn new things as Siddhartha wanted to join with a traveling group of clerics in town. His father kept refusing and ignoring Siddhartha, but he stayed in his place even as his father slept until he was finally given permission. Siddhartha begins his journey with the Samana, the name for this priest group, and takes up there way of life by starving almost and wearing only rags to destroy all ego within himself. Siddhartha does this to escape the rigid, forced nature of his religious father and village, and after some time he hears of someone known as "Gotama the Buddha," to have appeared as they had overcame their own ego. Siddhartha, with this hometown friend Govinda who had joined him on his Samana journey, went to seek out this person as they wanted to learn from his newly enlightened teachings. Once they had arrived they were welcomed in instantly among Gotama's followers and began to take part in his teachings, until Siddhartha once again began to doubt the message despite Gotama's deity-like aura. Siddhartha questions Gotama only to be told that Gotama was far superior at this sort of religious knowledge, and following this Siddhartha leaves the camp and his hometown friend behind. The first part of this legend then comes to a close with Siddhartha exiting the camp and in the nearby woods contemplating all of the different teachings he has studied until he realizes that the enlightenment he is searching for cannot be taught, but instead must come from within.

Siddhartha book cover (by Hermann Hesse)

Storybook Plan

The main theme I have for my story is retelling the legend of Dante's Inferno, but setting it some time in the 1980's with a character (for now known as Michael) who is the distant descendant of Dante Alighieri from the original tale. This will go through the same nine circles of hell once Michael goes over to his ancestor's country of Italy and will feature instead celebrities and figures from the era to represent each ring instead. If this idea seems to narrow, I can be convinced to setting it in other era.

For the episodes of this storybook I was planning on doing nine or ten, which sounds like a rather large undertaking, but it would be shorter sections that each cover one of the circles.

Some resources that will potentially be useful:

http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/index2.html
http://freebookapalooza.blogspot.com/2016/06/macgregor-stories-from-dante.html
https://historylists.org/art/9-circles-of-hell-dantes-inferno.html

Comment Wall

Read the story here

1935 "Dante's Inferno," movie poster (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32844342605.html)

Week 4 Story: Ark Restart

The landing of the Ark

It was a cold, still night when Noah went out to fetch some firewood to keep his three sons and himself warm through the night. Noah looked up to the stars and sighed deeply as it had now been almost a year since he had last heard from God following the Great Flood. Noah knew that God brought this catastrophe to wipe the planet of sin and wicked beings that resided there, but felt lost without his messages to guide him. When Noah came back into his tent he cast a log into the fire and a large plume of sparks formed into a ball of light above the flames and beckoned Noah over. The orb told Noah that "you need to build another ark as the planet will soon run dry." Noah took off from his tent and began deconstructing the old ark to make his new ark from God's new instructions. After toiling for almost twenty days, Noah finished despite the worsening conditions he was facing, where ponds grew smaller and the creeks began to slow. Noah knew he, his family, and the animals he had brought through the flood would not make it for more than a day or two, so he began boarding right away. First, situating all of the animals, Noah made sure they all were safe in their pairs and finally loaded himself and his family on the boat before making one final prayer to God. Noah felt a wave of comfort come over him as he shut his eyes to rest as he didn't know how long it would be until he landed. Noah could hear the rushing waves and the ocean spray all around him, but knew not where these waters were taking him. Noah awoke to an oddly still ship and walked out to see land all around the ark and a single dove on the bow of the ship. Noah knew God had taken him to another world to begin anew, so Noah lowered the ark doors and set out into the vast unknown for the first time.

Author's Notes:
Set the classic legend of Noah and the Ark on a foreign planet where this bleak, dying planet is left behind by Noah to come to a new world to start again with his family and pairs of animals.
Bibliography:
http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-noah-and-ark.html
(From the UN-Textbook)

Reading Notes: Noah, Part B

Noah and The Ark unit by multiple authors (from the UN-Textbook)
(http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-noah-and-ark.html)

The second part of this reading began in Paradise with Adam and Eve getting visited by Samael and his son, where Eve promises Samael that she will watch over the child. After the boy began to scream and cry following Samael leaving, Adam first killed him and then tried to cut him up into pieces and eat him in an attempt to stop the sound. God gives Adam a powerful book, known as the book of the angel Raziel, that becomes long-lost over time after only being found and then re-hidden by Enoch. This was until God gave this book to Noah prior to the flood as it contained instructions for the ark among many other things. The water for the flood then came, but in order to cleanse the Earth and punish them properly the water was heated incredibly before falling from the sky. Despite all of these harsh conditions, Noah's biggest problem was taking care of everyone/everything on the ark for a year as the animals became more and more restless over time. After forty days, the flood water ceased and began to go down little by little until a year passed, and Noah finally returned to land once God accepted his offering of animals. God gave Noah and his descendants permission to eat animal meat now as well as set up a vineyard from a vine that Adam brought from Paradise. Noah began to overindulge in his new vineyard and became drunk and passed out naked. He was dicsovered by his three sons and since his son Ham did not look away and cover his father, all of Ham's descendants were cursed by God. Following this Ham and one of the other sons, Japheth, left Noah and built a city of their own before all of the new world was divided up and given to the three sons: Ham being given the South, Japheth the North, and Shem between the two in the middle.

Noah and his three sons building the Ark prior to the Flood

Reading Notes: Noah, Part A

Noah and The Ark unit by multiple authors (from the UN-Textbook)
(http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-noah-and-ark.html)

This legend begins with the a man named Noah, who God favored despite seeing how evil man on Earth was and wanting to destroy them. God tells Noah that he plans to flood the Earth to rid it of the violence and evil of man, so Noah needs to build a giant wooden ship of specific dimensions. On this ship he is to bring two of every animal on board as well as his family to begin anew. On the seventh day the flood water came and Noah boarded his newly-built Ark with his family and animals where the flood raged for forty days. Noah began sending birds to monitor the water and for land, first a raven then a dove. Noah told his sons to "be fruitful and multiply" as God had told him to and they respected his wish each of his three sons creating large families. They all journeyed west on land and made a new city with a large tower, which upon seeing God scattered the city and "confounded their language." Next the legend goes back to discuss the birth of Noah and how man came to get to the point to where God felt they needed to be flooded. In the midst of a curse and famine Noah was born unto Lamech and ceased all of this upon his birth. While all the men around Noah pursued a life of gain, Noah lived a more simple life. Meanwhile the fallen angels who began to become part of the Earth with the women of Cain. On top of this there were other mortal families acting against God thus setting the stage for the devastating flood to come. The legend ends by circling back to Noah and his building of the massive Ark, while highlighting what kind of man he is in the eye's of God.

Illustration of Noah's Ark

Feedback Strategies

A "Good Job" Sticker

The two feedback articles that I read this week were both insightful as they both were centered around the notion of praise or in the case of the first article "good job." The first article I read tackled five reasons not to tell someone "good job," as it harmful for children especially. I specifically enjoyed the section where it discussed children struggling to accomplish their next task after being praised heavily on the first as it shows an interesting correlation between praise and success as well as the article providing multiple alternatives to the phrase. The second article focused on why managers seem to avoid praise, which started by explaining that roughly the same percent of managers avoid positive and negative feedback. This is interesting as they are both for different reasons as negative feedback tends to hurts people's feelings while positive feedback tends to boost ego in some cases and create a praise craving possibly. Regardless this article finishes by saying that praise is a good thing, but in moderation as it has some negative side-effects when unchecked.

Topic Research: Dante's Inferno

http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2017/07/project-idea-dante.html

Topic: Dante's Inferno

Map of Hell from Dante's Inferno

I chose to research this topic after brainstorming last week as it a legend that can be retold so many different ways as it comes down to the main principle of going through the various rings of hell meeting figures who represent that ring in some way. With that said I still would like to set the story in a different era and I think that that would be a unique take on this legend. The first idea I have would be for the retelling to be set in the 1980's and the people Dante meets in hell would be adjusted accordingly. The second idea would be to set it in today's world, but this feels slightly more played out as many legends are retold in the modern day. Despite this, a retelling of this legend in modern day could be a fresher take than I am giving it credit for. The last idea I have for retelling this legend would be to keep the legend in its era, but change the main character from Dante to another Greek historical figure. This idea came to me when writing about Homer's Illiad seeing many different interesting characters that were mortal ancient Greeks.