Reading Notes: Czech Fairy Tales, Part A

The Waterick-

The story has a very Hansel and Gretel feel to it. I'm pretty found of that tale, and this one proved to be a nice version with the twist of water goblin things. I'd like to explore maybe what happened after the children escaped, did the Waternick come after them? Or maybe eloborate on the tricks the Waternick used to keep the children captive. There is a lot of potential with this story.

Source: The Key of Gold by Josef Baudis (1922).

Image: Hänsel und Gretel by Alexander Zick. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Russia, Part B

The Soldier and the Vampire-

Stories, like this one, with strange rituals and ways of killing supernatural beings always appeal to me. I really like how the soldier is practically a nobody, just a really brave guy. I'm not sure how I could retell the story though. Perhaps I could tell it from the warlock's perspective as he interacts with the soldier, and have his inner dialogue being very prideful and cocky. That is until his undoing at the end.

The Two Corpses-

This story reminds me of Tolkien's "The Hobbit" when the trolls spend too much time arguing about how they will eat The dwarves and get turned to stone. I wonder if he got some inspiration from this tale. I could make this story quite a fun one. The corpse, for being warlocks, seem to be pretty absent minded. And I'd like to expand on their dialogue a bit.

Image: The only way to kill the warlock is burning his body on a pyre. Source: Pixabay

Source: Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).

Reading Note: Russia, Part A

The Leshy-

I really like monster stories in folklore. The Leshy is one that I find interesting due to its role in many European stories. And once again, I'm a fan of the hero rescuing the damsel. I may throw in a twist where the Leshy survives the first encounter and comes back to kill the hunter. Only by working as a team can the two kill the monster. I do like the Stockholm syndrome idea of the original though, so I'll have to weigh the possibilities.

The Dead Mother-

This story makes me sad. I do like the idea of a ghostly mother sticking around to take her child with her. I may retell the story with some kind of protagonist that would interrupt the actions of the original events and maybe save the child in some way.

Image: Photo of a ghostly woman (1889); Source: Flickr

Source: Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).

Reading Notes: Celtic fairy tales, Part B

The Tale of Ivan-

This is a fun story with one great ending. I'm a big fan of when the main characters of a story aren't mauled to pieces or killed in some gruesome way for their foolishness, but instead act rightly and are rewarded. So this story really resonates when me. I'd like to retell it maybe from maybe a modern perspective, with differing situations from the original in that the advise would pertain to the world today.

Image: 14th century travelling man; Source: Wikimedia
Source:Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).

Reading Notes: Celtic Tales, Part A

The Horned Women-

I think this story has a lot of potential for a sequel, in which the descendants of the woman that fought off the witches needs help from the spirit of the well again. I'm thinking the mantle that protected the family is broken or sold and it allows the witches to return in full force to plague the descendants. It could be a very creepy story, like the original, but set in modern Ireland. Seems like it could be fun it write.

A coven of witches performing unholy rituals. Hans Baldung (1508); Source

Source: Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part B

The Adventures of Sir Percivale-

I'd like to go into great detail of the battle between the lion and the serpent, and of course sir Percivale stepping in to the battle as well. I could start the story right after Percivle's horse revealed itself to be a demon and threw him off. Then he could wander tirelessly until he happened upon the battle. And, of course, the serpent will be a dragon like creature because I'm a nerd that likes knights fighting dragons.

The Temptation of Sir Percival by Arthur Hacker; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Source: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part A

The Passing of Merlin-

I wouldn't necessarily retell this story, but I want to continue it. I want to explore Arthur's reaction and how he goes about dealing with losing his mentor and friend. Also, maybe write about what he does to avenge him. I didn't see anything else about her and her fate. I feel like writing a story about Arthur searching out for the evil witch that killed Merlin and fighting her magic could be a fun adventure to go on.

Merlin and Nimue from Le Morte d'Arthur; Source: Flickr

Source: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1902).

Week 11 Reading Notes: Myths of the Cherokee, Part B

The Red Man and the Uktena-

This could be a fun story to continue were it ends. I could write a story where, years after the events of the original, the hunter who received the medicine could pass it down to his son, explaining how he got it and to remember to respect the spirits that made it. 

The Bullfrog Lover-

These are strange stories, but I'd like to maybe retell the first one in the set. I could focus more on the young man and how he formulates his plan to trick the old woman into letting him marry her daughter. He would be fun to write for, as he seems like a clever one, using the womans superstition as a catalyst for his endeavors. 

A Bullfrog sketch by Pearson Scott Foresman; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).

Week 11 Reading Notes: Myths of the Cherokee, Part A

The Deluge-

This one is short and sweet. I immediately read it because I love flood stories, and how virtually all civilizations seem to have some form of flood in their mythologies. I could really enjoy writing from the perspective of the man who survived the flood and expand on the valley of bones, which really spooked me out.

Great Flood by Bonaventura Peeters; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Tobacco and Strawberries-

I'd really like to write a story over the strawberry origin story, simply because it made my heart smile. I could write it as an inner monologue within the Sun as he tries to get the woman to stop and return home. I could imagine his frustration at the situation.

Source: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900).

Reading Notes: Eskimo Folk Tales, Part B

Papik, Who Killed His Wife's Brother-

I really want to retell this one from the perspective of one of the hunters who saw the beast fall onto Papik. I really love monsters and curses in myths and folklore, so this is definitely down my alley. I might expand more on a single hunter and make up some kind of backstory about how he knew papik and the curse his mother in law placed on him. 

The monster is described as a bear. Source: Pixabay

Source: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).

Reading Notes: Eskimo Folk Tales, Part A

The Coming of Men:

This has got to be one of my favorite creation stories thematically. The breaking of the stereotypical sun bringing life is very interesting. In this story, the sun brought death unto people, but in return they could leave their homes and hunt. I would really enjoy writing a story from the perspective of one of these 'first men'. Maybe I could even write the life story of the first man to die, who just couldn't figure out how to die. I could also have him recounting the events of his life, like when the first woman found him and made him clothes, or when he found the dogs. Lots of possibilities with this one.

The Giant Dog:

This is a strange story with an unusual twist at the end, but I like that. I could write the story from the perspective of the man who owns the giant dog, or even a frightened villager recounting the tales of this monstrous beast.

Source: Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921).

Image:Drawing of a giant dog lifting a sleeping man out of bed. Main illustration for the story "The Fangs of Tsan-Lo". Internal illustration from the Canadian reprint edition of the pulp magazine Weird Tales (January 1946, vol. 38, no. 3, page 77). Source: Wikimedia

Reading Notes: West Africa, Part B

I really enjoyed the story of the Ram and the Leopard. The story is pretty funny, honestly, with the two creatures building the same home without the other knowing. And the premise of the ram slipping and scaring off the leopard is pretty entertaining as well. Though if I were to retell this, I'm not sure how to go about doing it. I could change the animals, like make it a wolf and a donkey or something.

I also could retell the story of the Ungrateful Man, but changing the setting and characters into a corporate setting. I'd change each animal into a person of various positions in a company or something like that. The ungrateful man could be like an intern or something. That could be funny.

Bibliography: West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with drawings by Cecilia Sinclair (1917).
Images: (left) Amur Leopard Pittsburgh Zoo; Source: Wikimedia Commons
(Right) Photo of a Ram uploaded to Pixabay; Source: Pixabay

Reading Notes: West African Folktales, Part A

I really enjoyed the story about Anansi and Nothing. The whole time I was waiting for the punchline about his name being nothing and was surprised when it finally came up. I'd like to do this, but with a modern America twist. Make nothing a part guy with a crappy job and Anansi some big shot business man or something. I'd probably also change the detail about nothing's wife being given to him, as that is kind of weird to me.

Poor nothing and Rich Anansi

Picture posted by user geralt; Source: Pixabay

Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology, Part A

The Miraculous Mirror-

The poetic form this story takes is wonderful. If I retell this story, I deeply hope to recreate that ABAB Rhyme scheme. It could prove tricky, but I think I could do it.

At first reading, this story was hard to understand, at least for me. The flowery language really threw me off a bit. I suppose that can be expected when converting a language like Japanese into English.
If I retell this story I'd like to change the main character to be the one who makes the mirror to fool Amaterasu into coming out. I feel like the original story kind of ignores who actually made it, so that could be a fun direction to take. I might also change the ending to where they have to fight the dragon because he was also forgotten at the end of the story.

The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi-

Ah, the classic hero saving the beautiful damsel from a fierce beast. I have wanted to write a story about a hero saving a princess of sorts all semester, and I might have just found a great one to retell. My story would be set in medieval Europe, though because that's material I have somewhat of a grasp on. I might throw out the whole daughter of the gods thing, but who knows, maybe I can make it work. Also, The previous story about the mirror inspires me to write this one in a poetic form as well. I just might try it.

Miniature of St George and the Dragon, ms. of Legenda Aurea, dated 1348

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917).

Reading Notes: Santal Stories, Part B

The Tigers and the Cat
The Hyena Outwitted
The Brave Jackal
I think I could tell the story of the Jackal from several of the stories in the selected reading. I'd make them all focus on the same Jackal helping his Uncle the tiger out of various situations like the goat in his cave and the dogs with curly tails. The story could also hold elements from the other stories like the Jackal playing the drum and maybe even mentioning when the tiger was sick in the Hyena outwitted. My story would basically be a conglomerate of all those stories with a single Jackal being the main character. I'd probably start it with the story of the tiger being sick, explaining how the Jackal established a relationship with the tiger, then the story about the tiger being afraid of the dogs, and end it with the goat scaring both the tiger and Jackal.

Illustration by John D Batten for "Indian Fairy Tales" edited by Joseph Jacobs, 1892; Source: Wikimedia

Bibliography: Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas (1909).

Reading Notes: Santal Folklore, Part A

The Jackal and the Crow-

I really like this story, and want to retell it. My retelling might have people as the main characters. That would certainly make it harder to translate it into a human story, but I think I can make it work. Probably, I'd have the Jackal character betray his friend, the crow character. After he realizes how easy it was to do things on his own, he starts to 'screw over' other people as well. Then in the end it all catches up to him. The ending might be changed as well because I love happy endings and characters learning a lesson and not just dying. So I might have the Crow character come back and save his friend in the end and have the Jackal character learn a valuable lesson in friendship and treating others with respect.

The jackal and crow sharing a meal

photo credit goes to Yusuf IJsseldijk; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography: Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas (1909).

Reading Notes: Persian tales, Part B

The Man Who Went to Wake His Luck-

What a sad tale! Pretty funny though. I can't help, but connect with the foolish poor man because I know if I were in his situation, I'd probably be just as dumb. I really liked reading this one simply because I wanted to know what happened to his luck. I would really like retelling this tale in a big city in modern America, with the foolish man coming to modern equivalents of those people in the story. I would like to change the ending, too. Maybe make it so that they foolish man learns from his mistakes and confronts his luck. Then after that he learns not to rely on luck, but instead make his own way in life.

Luck is sleeping on the job.

Nicolaas Henneman Asleep by William Henry Fox Talbot

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography: Persian Tales, translated by D.L.R. Lorimer and E.O. Lorimer and illustrated by Hilda Roberts (1919).

Reading Notes: Persian Tales, Part A

The Sad Tale of the Mouse Tail

This story is a classic that I've heard in other forms, but it's nice to know from where it actually originates. I've got a lot of ideas as to where I could take my story were I to retell this one. I think I'd make the mouse into a human character, and I'll probably set it in the modern world. I'd really like the character to start by trying to get something simple like a cup of sugar or milk for his cereal, then it just explode into him running all over. Also I'm going to change the ending, so that someone eventually helps him out of the kindness of his heart. Either that, or have him take so long trying to get all the stuff that time runs out and he can't get what his original item.

The mouse is sad. Source: Pixabay

Bibliography:  Persian Tales, translated by D.L.R. Lorimer and E.O. Lorimer and illustrated by Hilda Roberts (1919).

Readin Notes: Women of the Bible,Part B

The Witch of Endor-
This is a great illustration of what a leader shouldn't do. After Saul had declared witchcraft illegal and killed or sent away all the sorcerers, he then seeks out a witch himself to bring some peace to him. Samuel doesn't offer any peace, though. I would really enjoy writing this story as the witch would've seen it. Perhaps even having her familiar spirit be a demon in disguise, using her to fool and deceive people who come to her, only to be overpowered by the spirit of Samuel who actually appears instead of an illusion. I noticed how in the story she "cried with a loud voice". I don't know if that is to say she was afraid when she saw Samuel (like she isn't use to actual dead people appearing) or if she just realized who Saul was.

Bathsheba-
This story recounts one of the darkest times in King David's life. If I retold this one, it would be set in the court room of David when Nathan rebukes David for what he did. I believe that moment is the emotional culmination of the story and would be the most fun to write. As far as making the story my own, I'd probably add in details like who was in the room and add extra dialogue that the original story doesn't have. I might also dabble with the idea of making it from the point of view of Bathsheba. That could bring more light on what she thought of the whole situation and how she would've reacted to Nathan and David's words.

Bibliography: King James Bible (2 Samuel)

Image: Nathan rebukes David in Court. Painted by Eugéne Siberdt; Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Women of the Bible, Part A

Eve and the Serpent-

I've actually just finished studying this story, and would love to write about it. The only thing is, I'd really like to do it from God's perspective (or Satan's) because it would offer the most impact. But if I were to follow the theme of 'Women of the Bible' I should probably do it from Eve's perspective. I suppose I could try to pull that off. It would be more challenging for me, but maybe could deepen my understanding of the story.

The Slave and the Wife (Hagar and Sarah)-

This would be a fun story to explore from Hagar's perspective. Bearing a child for your master then being sent away because his actual wife got pregnant. That's a lot of emotion and sadness. I would probably start the story near the end of the biblical story and have Hagar recall the events at the well. Or perhaps have her talking to her newly acquired daughter-in-law or even grandchild about the story and promise God made to her.

Bibliography: King James Bible (Genesis)

Image: Abraham sending Hagar and Ishmael away. Created by Gustave Doré (1866); Source: Wikimedia Commons