Week 14, Reading Diary: Brothers Grimm (Librivox)

Story source: Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm

The Queen Bee - I enjoyed this story. I liked how the youngest brother kept telling his older brothers to leave the ants alone, leave the ducks alone, and leave the bees alone. Then when he was in need of assistance, the ants, bees and ducks all helped him.

The Twelve Huntsmen - This was an enjoyable tale as well. I felt bad for the girl that was left behind when the prince made a promise to his dying father without thinking about it. She did a great job of finding her way back into the prince's life and getting him to remember her so that they could be together.

Huntsmen

 

Week 14, Reading Diary: Brother's Grimm (Librivox)

Story source: Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm

Rapunzel - Being as how Tangled is one of my favorite Disney movies, it is no surprise that this story is one of my favorites this week. I do think it was weird that the wife just wanted to eat some of the enchantress' rampion so bad that she thought she would die. I thought that part was a bit strange. 

The Traveling Musicians - 

 Statue of the Traveling Musicians

This was an interesting story. Each of the animals in the story were getting too old to be useful to their owners and ran away before they could be killed. I liked how they together scared off the robbers in the cabin and took over. And when one of the robbers returned, they got frightened and scared the robber into thinking that an old witch and a demon took over the cabin.

Briar Rose - I was really surprised at how much this story is like Disney's version. Disney didn't change near as much about this story as they did with some of the other stories that have been adapted.

Week 13, Reading Diary: Brothers Grimm (Hunt) cont.

Story source: Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm,

Bearskin - this was an interesting story. I liked how the man made a deal with the devil in order to have money. He thought he had outsmarted the devil after he survived the seven years as bearskin. But in the end the devil got two souls of the sisters of his betrothed that killed themselves once they found out who he was.

Hans the Hedgehog - this was a strange story. I like that Hans the Hedgehog got his revenge on the first king and his daughter that had deceived him. I am happy to see that the second king and his daughter welcomed him, despite his strange appearance, and made good on their promise. I was surprised that he was able to shed his hedgehog coat to look human.

Snow-White and Rose-Red - I really enjoyed this story. That dwarf was an evil little thing. I loved how the mother and the girls trusted the bear and became friends. Their kindness towards the bear paid off in the end.

Rose-red and Snow-white

Week 13, Reading Dairy: Brothers Grimm (Hunt)

Story source:  Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm

Hansel and Grethel

Hansel and Grethel - This is the tale of Hansel and Gretel that I remember I hearing as a child. I have always enjoyed this tale.

Thumbling - This was an interesting story. I like how the little boy tricked the men who bought him from his father and escaped. He was very smart and went through a lot in order to get back home to his parents.

Allerleirauh - Wasn't sure what to think of this story. The girl went out of her way to avoid marrying her father. But after living as a kitchen maid for a while, she made a point of letting the king, her father, know who she was, and ended up marrying him anyway. Not sure what made her change her mind unless it was just that she didn't want to live in hiding as a kitchen maid any longer.

Week 12, Reading Diary: Welsh (Thomas) Cont.

Story source: The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas
  
The Bride from the Red Lake - This is a story of a man who fell in love with a nymph in a lake. He begged the nymph's father to let the nymph be his wife. Her father agreed as long as the man never struck her with clay. They lived happily until one day, as they planted a tree, he tossed some of the dirt on his shovel over his shoulder for luck and some of it accidentally hit her.

The Devil's Bridge - The woman was grieving because her only cow was trapped on the other side of  a flooded river. A man dressed like a monk heard her cries and agreed to build a bridge but at the cost of the first living thing to cross the bridge. Not wanting to lose her cow, or herself, to him she came up with a plan to get her dog to cross the bridge first. Thus tricking the man.

The Martyred Hound - This story a prince was set out to go hunting and called for his dogs. One of them did not come. When the prince returned from his hunt, his dog greeted him, but the prince saw that the dog's face was covered in blood. Going inside, he found his child's cradle had been overturned and the child did not answer when called. The prince immediately thought the worst and killed the dog. Then the prince heard his child from under the overturned cradle and saw the dead wolf. The dog had killed the wolf and saved the child, but it was too late, the dog was now dead. This reminded me greatly of Lady and the Tramp where Tramp kills a rat in the baby's room and is sent off to the pound because it is thought that he was attacking the baby.

Tramp and the Rat

Week 12, Reading Diary: Welsh (Thomas)

Story source: The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas

March's Ears - In this story there is a Lord who is unhappy because he has a secret. The secret is known only to his barber. The barber was sworn to secrecy, to tell the secret would mean his death. Holding on to the secret was eating away at the barber to the point that he was becoming ill. He told the secret to the ground and afterwards started feeling better. Later in the spot where the secret is told reeds are growing. A musician cuts the reed for a pipe to play and instead of music, the secret is heard.

The Stray Cow - This is a story about a farmer who captured an elfin cow. From that day forth the farmer was wealthy. After a time he was worried that the cow was becoming old and would no longer bring in money so he decided to fatten her for market. Before the cow could be killed, the elves came and took the cow away. The farmer lost all his money and was poor for the rest of his life.

Dick the Fiddler's Money - this was a short, but cute story. I loved how the fiddler got the money to pay his rent and after he paid for it and got a receipt, the money turned to cockleshells. The man never told where he got the money.

fiddler

Week 11, Reading Dairy, Celtic Tales

Story source: Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (1892)

The Field of Boliauns - I really enjoyed this leprechaun tale.  It is a story of how a man found a leprechaun and caught him. The man forced the leprechaun to tell him where the treasure is, but the leprechaun fooled him. I had to look up what a boliaun was and to the best I could find it appears to be the Gaelic name for Ragweed.

Boliaun

Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree - This is a story very similar to Snow White. The mother keeps trying to kill the daughter who is more beautiful. What I think is interesting is that in this story the daughter gets married. She is killed by poison from her mother and the husband locks her dead body away instead of burying it. He remarries and the new wife finds the dead one and revives her. The husband keeps both as his wives and the new wife helps kill the first wife's mother. Then they all three live happily ever after. It was really a different twist to the story.

Week 10, Reading Diary: Tejas Legends cont.

Story source: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends retold by Florence Stratton and illustrated by Berniece Burrough (1936).

 There was only one story today that really caught my attention.
 
Old Quanah's Gift - I absolutely loved this story. I loved how although Quanah was injured and was no longer a warrior, he found a craft that he enjoyed and was wonderful at. He made this craft of weaving beautiful blankets into his career became well known all around. At his death everyone realized just what he gave to the society, how he had influenced everyone around him. He was wrapped in a special blanket he designed and buried in it. Afterwards a new flower grew that had the beautiful colors from his blanket. 

Indian Blanket

Week 10, Reading Diary: Tejas Legends

Story source: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends retold by Florence Stratton and illustrated by Berniece Burrough (1936).

When the Storm God Rises-Of course I would like a story that involves a storm god. This story is about how the islands off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico came about. I enjoyed that it was the god deciding to save some birds from being hunted by the bad Indians. He caused a flood to drive away the Indians. As the storm waters receded, it deposited sand and mud into the gulf and created islands that became the birds new home and the Indians could no longer reach them.

The Plant that Grows in Trees- This is a cute story of how mistletoe came to grow in trees. The Thunderbird really enjoyed the berries of the mistletoe. So to protect the plant from being crushed by forest creatures, he planted the mistletoe in the trees.

Mistletoe

Week 9, Reading Diary: British North America continued

Story source: Myths and Legends of British North America by Katharine Berry Judson (1917).


Turtle and Thunder - The story about how a turtle was struck by lightning but didn't know what it was. He called for help and asked several animals to show their strength. He decided that some little turtles were the ones to be able to help him. Then his little turtle friends were struck by a rock that had fell on them. After finding out that the Thunderbird caused it, out of fear the turtle decided to stay in the water whenever a thunderstorm is near.

Turtle

Nanebojo and the Geese - Nanebojo wanted to catch some ducks and had his grandmother make him a sack. He took the sack to a hill near the lake and climbed inside it. He rolled down the hill, laughing the whole time. He held the ducks interest and soon they wanted a turn. He also got the attention of some geese, who also wanted to try. This was a cute story how he eventually tricked the geese to getting into the bag and he carried them home.

the Geese

Week 9, Reading Diary: British North America

Story source: Myths and Legends of British North America by Katharine Berry Judson (1917).

This week's stories were primarily origin stories.

 Coyote

 
Grizzly Bear and Coyote -  I enjoyed this story about a grizzly bear who wanted it dark all the time and a coyote who wanted light. The coyote was great at tricking the grizzly bear to agreeing that the sun was around half the year and the dark half the year.

Grizzly Bear

Why the sun is bright - This was a story about how you were originally able to look at the sun. A boy had a robe made of bird plumage that was really bright. The sun wore one that was made of goatskin. The sun traded the boy robes and now because of the bright robe made of bright bird plumage, the sun is now too bright to look at.

Week 7, Reading Dairy: China

China Fairy Tales - Story source: The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).

Why Dogs and Cats are Enemies -  This was a cute story. A dog and a cat lived with their owners. The owners had a lucky ring, but did not know and sold it. They soon became poor. The dog and cat set out to find the ring. They worked together to obtain the ring, and retrieved it. The cat held the ring on the trip home and beat the dog there. The owner praised the cat for the ring, but beat the dog for not helping. This is why dogs and cats are enemies.

dog and cat

The Miserly Farmer - I liked this story. I really liked that the farmer got what was coming to him. He refused to give a Bonze a pear although he has hundreds of them. Another person bought one for the Bonze and the Bonze took the pit and planted it and it instantly grew and produced many pears. The Bonze gave every one of the pears away. Afterwards he cut down the tree and walked away. The farmer, caught up in the wonder, turned around to see that all his pears were gone and the axle of the cart gone. He realized that he was tricked, that the Bonze had given away all his pears.

Pears

Week 6, Reading Diary, Tibet continued

Story source: Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton

All the stories in the second half of the unit were kind of violent.  There were deaths in all of the stories. Most were because of greed or envy. I'm really not sure what to think of these stories. I prefer stories with happy endings and these stories were not like that. I don't have anything to say about any particular one this time around.

The Three Hunters

Week 6, Reading diary, Tibet

 Story source: Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton

I enjoyed all the stories in this unit. There were two that really caught my attention.

The Story of the Donkey and the Rock

 
The twist at the end of this story was too funny. I loved how everyone in town was so curious about the trial between a donkey and a rock, that they all showed up to watch.






  




The Donkey and the Rock 



Covetousness

This story is kind of sad in that everyone in it dies. It does have a great message about coveting what another has and about being greedy. Neither works out in the end.

 Himalayan Black Bear
 

Reading Dairy Week 5: Jakata Tales (Babbitt) Continued

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt, illustrated by Ellsworth Young (1912).

The Woodpecker and the Lion - In this story, I found it interesting that the lion did indeed not eat the woodpecker. However, it was cruel of him to think that not eating the woodpecker was reward enough for the woodpecker saving his life. 

The Otters and the Wolf - This was an interesting story. I like how the wolf took advantage of the quarreling otters and took the best part of the fish for himself.

The Elephant and the Dog - This was a beautiful tale of friendship. This story illustrates just how important friendship is in our lives and how destructive it can be to lose a close friend. 

Sad Elephant

Reading Dairy Week 5: Jakata Tales (Babbitt)

Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt, illustrated by Ellsworth Young (1912).


There were 2 tales that caught my attention today.

How the Turtle Saved His Own Life - This one was really cute. I liked how the turtle, upon hearing the suggestion that he were to be thrown into the water to kill him, plead that they don't do that. He asked what he did to deserve such a cruel death, when in reality, he was perfectly safe in the water.

The Ox Who Won the Forfeit - This one was about an ox who's owner bragged to the village of his great strength. The owner whipped the ox and called him names in front o the village people and so the ox refused to move. The next day, the owner treated him well and the ox then obeyed.

English Longhorn Ox

Week 4: Reading Diary - Ancient Egyptian Myths continued

Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories - Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907).

I didn't like this part of the reading as much as the first part.

The Two Brothers - This story was kind of hard to follow. I felt like it was multiple stories forced together. Although the entire thing was about these two brothers, It was very choppy and I feel like each part never really had an end, nor did it flow well into the next part.

The Book of Thoth - This story was better, but I really didn't care for it too much. I don't even know why. I guess I don't understand why he had to go after the book. Because he liked to read, doesn't really make since to me.

The Tale of King Rhampsinitus - Ha, his name sounds like a disease. This story was the best of the reading. Although the beginning about the statues he had erected, had no influence to the rest of the story. Why point that out? I did like the ending where the king liked how cunning and daring the boy was and ended up offering him his daughter in marrage. I didn't expect that.

 

 (temple complex at Karnak)

Week 4: Reading Diary - Ancient Egyptian Myths

Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories - Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907).


The Secret Name of Ra - I really enjoyed this story. Isis, desperate to know the secret name of Ra that gave him his divine power, created a poisonous snake. That snake bit her father, Ra. Isis insisted that he tell her that name so that she may have the power to heal him. He gave her the name and she did indeed keep her word and healed him. I thought it was interesting because she could have destroyed him once she had that power, but did not.

The Goddess Isis

Osiris - This story reminded me greatly of Jesus. Osiris grew up to become a great and peaceful ruler. He taught man to grow barley and wheat and corn, and how to make it so that it would keep their pantries full. He taught man to worship the gods and live holy lives. He taught by way of song and music and persuasive speech. He sounds like the perfect ruler.

The Death of Osiris - Osiris was betrayed by his jealous brother Set. Set killed Osiris by tricking him to get into a box and then sealing Osiris inside of it. There are so many stories in history of brothers killing brothers out of jealousy. Set took over the throne, and led the country into despair. Now that I think about it, this story and the King of the Dead together parallel The Lion King. Jealous brother kills the good brother that is ruling, evil brother takes over throne, son grows up to challenge uncle and takes his rightful place as ruler.

Week 3, Reading Diary: Aesop (Winter) continued

Aesop (Winter) continued - More of my favorite readings from Aesop (Winter).

The Cat, the Cock, and the Young Mouse –

The Cat, the Cock, and the Young Mouse

I enjoyed this story very much. It reminds me of how people are so quick to judge another on looks alone. Some of the scariest looking people are some of the kindest and most caring. Some of the prettiest people are ugly on the inside and will take advantage of you in a heartbeat. 


The Goatherd and the Wild Goats –

Goatherd and the Wild Goats

I really liked the theme of this story. Many times in life your friends will come and go. New people will not want to stick around if they see you have been treating your old friends poorly. 

 

Mercury and the Woodman -

Mercury and the Woodman

Again I really liked the theme of this story. Dishonesty comes at a price, and honesty has its own rewards. Do not think you can be rewarded by dishonesty in the same way that an honest person was.

Week 3 - Reading diary: Aesop (Winter)

Aesop"s Fables (Winter) Here are a few of my favorites from today's readings.

The Tortoise and the Ducks – I really enjoyed this fable. The tortoise was warned not to open his mouth, but his pride overtook reason and he met his end. “Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune” is the lesson stated, but I think that it should be more something along the line of following orders of those trying to help you.

The Tortoise and the Ducks

The Plane Tree – I really liked this story. It is tagged with the lesson “Our best blessings are often the least appreciated”. This is so true. It reminds me of when I was a stay at home mom for many years and I often felt like that tree.

The Plane Tree

The Farmer and the Stork – This story relays a lesson my husband and I try to install in our children. If you run around with others that are doing things that are wrong, you will get in trouble just like they do. It doesn’t matter if you did nothing wrong, you are judged by the company you keep.

The Farmer and the Stork