Growth Mindset: Stories of Growth

A painting of Beowulf. (Wikimedia Commons)

Of the stories, we've read of this class, one character stands out to me as exemplifying the growth mindset perfectly. Beowulf is a character who is never content to rest on his laurels and is always trying to improve himself and gain renown. It would have been easy for him to content himself with his great strength, but he wanted to do more to prove his mettle. Even after he slays Grendel, he longs for a challenge that can top that one! The fact that he's always trying to move forward and accomplish new great feats makes him an icon of the growth mindset.

Bibliography. The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm - Hunt (Part B)

"Bearskin" was an interesting story on two fronts. First, I thought it was interesting that the first part of the story echoed the struggle that a lot of veterans face in reintegrating into civilian life. It was noteworthy that this struggle is in folklore as early as the Brothers Grimm, if not earlier. Second, by the end the story really felt a bit like Beauty and the Beast. "Hans the Hedgehog" felt the same way, because both involved the man showing his "true self" after the woman had already agreed to wed him.

A Hedgehog. (Pixabay)

Speaking of "Hans the Hedgehog", that story was weird. Honestly it didn't seem to have much of a moral message and the plot was so absurd that the whole thing felt a bit like a fever dream. The bit where he stabbed the princess from the first kingdom was probably the weirdest part for me.

Bibliography. Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, edited by Margaret Hunt. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm - Hunt (Part A)

The stories in this section are a bit longer than most of the short stories we read for this class, and they seem to have a rhythmic structure in common. In all three stories in Part A, actions are repeated over the course of the story and ultimately there is resolution. The final story, "Allerleirauh", is the most concrete example of this.

Thumbling on a man's hat. (Wikimedia Commons)

The story of "Thumbling" is interesting because it relies on the premise that though he's tiny, he has a voice that's as loud as any other. Of course his small size is a sign of some magical origin in itself, but his loud voice leads one to further question the nature of that little dude.

Bibliography. Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, edited by Margaret Hunt. Web Link.

Week 13 Story: Lori, Greg, and the Devil Himself

A canyon. (Flickr)

Two travellers, Lori and Greg, once came to a massive canyon while on a lengthy expedition. It was clear that they needed to cross the canyon, but neither knew how it might be done. The two argued for some time, and Lori became annoyed with Greg before long.

She exclaimed, “Oh, just hush. Why don’t you go hunt for our dinner while I consider this predicament.”

As Greg stormed off, Lori sat at the canyon’s edge and quietly cursed her companion. He never seemed to do anything but argue and whine. He was a very poor hunter, and in truth Lori had sent him away just to get some quiet. Still, the problem of crossing the canyon remained.

Lori heard footsteps behind her and thought it must be Greg on his return. She turned around to ask why he had returned so soon, and saw instead that it was a stranger in monk’s robes. Lori was very observant, and immediately recognized that he was the devil in disguise.

He spoke, “Hello, traveller! How goes it?”

Lori figured that it didn’t hurt to be honest. “It goes well enough, but I can’t think of how I might cross this canyon.”

The devil’s eyes lit up. “As a matter of fact, I am the world’s fastest brick mason! I would love to build you a bridge, but as a fee I’ll have to claim the first creature that crosses it.”

Lori knew that the devil would try to steal her soul if she crossed the bridge, but agreed anyways. The disguised swindler set to work immediately, and the bridge was finished just as Greg returned empty-handed from his hunt.
Lori rolled her eyes at Greg, but introduced him to the bridge builder. “This kind man built us a bridge! Since you’re so light without any game to weigh you down, maybe you should try crossing first.”

Greg did so indignantly, and no sooner did he reach the other side than did the devil snatch him up and take him to hell. Lori whistled as she crossed the bridge and continued on her way.



Author’s note: This story is based on the Welsh myth of “The Devil’s Bridge”. The legend has it that there once was a woman who was separated from her cow by a river. The Devil, disguised as a monk, built her a bridge in exchange for the first living thing to cross. The Devil expected her to cross the bridge without thinking, but she tricked him by sending her dog across. In my story, the woman is a bit more mischievous and sends her travelling companion to hell in exchange for safe passage.

Bibliography. The Welsh Fairy Book by Jenkyn Thomas. Web Link.

Week 12 Story: Beowulf's Race

“On your marks! Start!”

With that announcement, Beowulf and Breca bounded into the raging sea, each man determined to best the other in a treacherous swimming race. The rules were simple: first to the far shore would be declared victor. A testament to the courage of the two men, the route was several days’ swim even in good weather; yet presently a storm raged on, churning the sea and provoking great waves. The sky was blackened by grim clouds. This would be Beowulf’s first true test of might. He had been challenged by his compatriot Breca as a means to prove his alleged strength and bravery.

Beowulf took an immediate lead, nearly unfettered by the crashing waves that pushed back at his progress. It should be said that both men were fully equipped with armor and weapons against the legendary beasts said to lurk these waters. Though it was uncomfortable to swim in such conditions, Beowulf was a man of such strength that he was able to press on at an impressive speed.

For the first day, the greatest obstacle Beowulf faced was the sea itself. Even he was brought near exhaustion by his navigation of the unrelenting waters. After some time, he pause to take in his surroundings. Breca was nowhere to be seen, nor was the shore of home. Black sky and black waters raged with equal intensity. Beowulf swam through the night and only when dawn broke did the storm begin to calm. Fatigued, he calmed his pace as the waved subdued.

He wasn’t able to relax for long.

Many yards in front of him, he saw a great many bubbles breaking against the water’s surface. There was something breathing beneath the sea, and perhaps it was coming up for air. Beowulf braced himself and readied his sword in preparation. Soon enough, a serpent’s head came crashing into the open air, staring at Beowulf through slit eyes. Its scales were oily and green, and it opened its mouth to reveal fangs like daggers.

A sea monster (Wikimedia Commons)

The appearance of this sea monster was enough to rejuvenate Beowulf as he charged to make the first attack. He attempted to strike the serpent, but narrowly missed as the creature darted behind him. A whip of its tail knocked the steel helmet from Beowulf’s head. Beowulf turned to protect his skull against the next strike, and quickly slashed at the tail that made a second attempt at his head. As quickly as the battle had begun, it was over: the serpent, cut in two, sank to the bottom of the sea with one last hiss.

Though he made the attempt to swim onward, he was drained of all energy after the rush of battle slowly faded. At length he went limp in sleep, carried by the waves to an unknown shore. When he awoke days later, he knew not yet that he was the victor in a most honorably contested race.



Author’s Note: In The Story of Beowulf, some reference is made to a race between Beowulf and Breca. Until Beowulf battles with Grendel, the race is his only real claim to fame. I decided to write out how it might have gone! The legend tells of massive waves and sea monsters in a several-day race, and I tried to be true to that.

Bibliography. The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs. Web Link.

Week 11 Story: The Disobedient Sons

A member of the Crow Nation. (Wikimedia Commons)

There once lived a father, a mother, and two boys. The father knew his boys were clever, but also knew that they were lazy and would do anything to get out of honest work.

A cruel old woman lived at the top of a hill with her boiling kettle, and any time someone came too close, she’d snatch them up and cook them. Meanwhile, the father and his family had nothing to cook with. The father considered the ways by which he might steal the kettle from the cruel hag.

At last, he came to a devious solution. He called his boys to him and instructed, “By no means are you to visit the top of that hill, for there’s an evil woman there who will boil you alive.”

The boys were mischievous by nature, and of course had to disobey their father’s instructions. They went to the top of the hill and dumped the kettle over on the old woman while she slept, killing her. They proudly returned the kettle to their mother and father.

The father had to pretend to scold the two boys, even though his plan worked perfectly. He had another job for his sons: to bring back delicious snake meat for boiling in their new kettle. This time, he instructed the two, “By no means are you to go on the other side of that hill, for there is a dangerous monster who will do you great harm.”

Of course, the boys’ curiosity was so strong that they had to go over the hill and see what the great danger was. They found a monstrous green snake, bigger than either of them. Before the snake noticed the boys, they hatched a plan. The younger child would distract the snake while the other stabbed it in the heart through it’s back.

“Oh great snake, look here!” the younger boy shouted.

The snake turned around and took notice of the child, slowly slithering closer.

“Yes, great snake! Come nearer so I may pet your scales!”

The snake drew closer slowly and hungrily, but before he got too near, the older boy stabbed him in the heart. The children brought the snake back to their family, and again the father had to pretend to scold them.

On and on this went, and the two sons never suspected their father’s true intentions, content with their chore-free life.



Author’s note: In the original Crow myth, “Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away”, two sons constantly disobey their father’s orders. The story is told from the perspective of the boys, so the father’s true intentions are obscure. I thought it was funny that after each time they broke a rule, the father would give them a new rule (which was quickly broken). I thought it would be interesting if having his rules broken was the father’s intent all along!

Bibliography. Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Welsh Fairy Book (Part B)

The story "The Bride from the Red Lake" followed a structure that I've seen in almost every culture's myths that we've explored. Someone is warned not to do a thing, and then they go and do it; usually out of carelessness. This time around there was a bit of humor to it, whether intentional or not. "Don't pelt your wife with clay" seems like an easy enough rule to stick to.

Something that I noticed in both Part A and Part B of this week's reading is that most of these stories focus on illusion in some way. Much of the plot is driven by things appearing as they're not, and it seems that illusion is the most common type of magic. supernatural beings appear as people, shells are made to look like money, and whole buildings are obscured from view.

Devil's Bridge, which makes an appearance in one myth. (Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography. The Welsh Fairy Book by Jenkyn Thomas. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Welsh Fairy Book (Part A)

The Flag of Wales, featuring the red dragon from one of the myths. (Wikipedia)

One thing that stuck out to me about The Welsh Fairy Book is the dry humor throughout. Examples are found in the barber looking out for his "cervical vertebrae", or the note that dancing with the devil "might not be the most direct route to Paradise." I think that these might have been flourishes of the translator.

A consistent theme in these stories was the focus on prophecy. Many of the stories come down to "There was a foretelling that something would happen, then it totally did." Another common theme was the presence of fairies. It seems from these stories that Welsh fairies are almost human, but exceedingly beautiful, wealthy, and magical.

Bibliography. The Welsh Fairy Book by Jenkyn Thomas. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Beowulf (Part B)

In this section of the reading, Beowulf has many battles. Consistently, his enemies use magic. The nature of the magic in this legend is really interesting: There are spells to deepen sleep and to sense the plots of faraway foes. I wondered how Grendel came to be, because his "mother" seemed so different in nature than him. She was magical, so I wonder if she created him by some unnatural means?

A painting of Grendel by J. R. Skelton. (Wikimedia Commons)

It turns out that the picture I found for Part A of Beowulf fighting a dragon came from his final battle. At first, I was surprised that Beowulf died during his fight against the dragon, but the more I think about it the more I feel that a "warrior's death" is fitting. Especially with the emphasis on his bravery, it's only a fitting end.


Bibliography. The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Beowulf (Part A)

I was excited to read the legend of Beowulf this week because it should give me material for my storybook. I need some terrible monster for my character to battle with, and it seems like Grendel will be a great point of inspiration. Part A of this reading served to build tension around what is bound to be an exciting battle between Beowulf and Grendel.

A painting of Beowulf fighting a dragon by J. R. Skelton (Wikimedia Commons)

One thing I noticed while reading this story is the value that is placed on bravery. Especially evident in the exchange between Beowulf and Unferth, courage is the most admirable quality in this to those who established this legend. Beowulf is very strong, but he's kind of mocked for it. It's his bravery that wins him respect.

Bibliography. The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs. Web Link.

Week 10 Story: How Rabbit Got Long Ears

One morning, just after sunrise, Rabbit found himself hungry for breakfast. The plains were rich with grasses, but Rabbit was very choosy. He wanted only the best grass to eat. He hopped around in search of quality grass, but everything he found was mediocre. Rabbit eventually saw Coyote and Fox talking in the distance. He wondered if they might be talking about top-shelf grass, but didn’t dare approach and risk his life to these predators. This was when Rabbit had small ears, and he couldn’t hear the two from his vantage. Rabbit decided to pull on his ears to stretch them out. The stretching hurt Rabbit, but he made his ears a medium length: long enough to hear the conversation between Coyote and Fox.

Rabbit could hear coyote ask, “Fox, this is a very specific question out of character for my species, but have you seen any good grass lately? I’m asking for a friend.”

Fox replied, “Coyote, you don’t have to be shy with me. As a matter of fact, I have found some prime grass! I’ll have to whisper the location to you, it’s in a secret place. Last time I found some good grass, Rabbit ate it all.”

Very quickly, rabbit stretched his ears even further so he could hear Fox’s whisper. Now, they were very long and stuck up like sprouts.

Fox whispered, “The best grass is just north of here, across the river.” Coyote thanked him and the two animals began another conversation completely unrelated to vegetation.

Rabbit was very happy with himself and hopped north. At the river, he stopped to look at his reflection in the water. His ears were very long now, but he rather liked the new look. Soon he found the promised grass, and ate his fill until he fell asleep happily.

This is why Rabbit now has very long ears.



Author’s note: In the Native American mythology of the Great Plains, animal species are personified as single characters. In this week’s reading, there were a few “origin stories” of some animals’ defining features. My story plays on existing stories of Rabbit, who tends to be sneaky, crafty, and a little self-serving. I decided I’d make up a story explaining how Rabbit’s ears got to be so long.

Bibliography. Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson. Web Link.
Photo: A rabbit eating grass, taken by M. L. Haen. Wikimedia Commons.

Tech Tip: Word Count

For this week's Tech Tip, I added a word counter to Chrome (the extension can be found here). I think I knew that this tool existed, but I hadn't decided to try it out until I saw it as an optional Tech Tip. I can see it being incredibly useful, as previously I would prewrite my documents in Google Drive because of the included word counter. Now, I can write my blog posts and comments directly on the page!

I tend to do alright with word count, and whether I go over or under depends a lot on how much I have to say. My stories naturally tend to be longer when they have more elaborate plots or need deeper exposition. Usually, when I'm getting close to the minimum word count, I ask myself how I plan to wrap up the story. Sometimes I'm not even close to a stopping point though!

There are 160 words in this blog post. :^)

Tech Tip: Embedded Youtube Video

Below, I've (hopefully) managed to embed a Youtube video for this week's Tech Tip. I chose a video that I found recently and that made me laugh, so I hope you enjoy!

Tech Tip: Bookmarks

For this tech tip, I explored bookmarking in Chrome. One thing that I learned is that you can create sub-folders for your bookmarks to more efficiently organize them, but I don't think that I use enough bookmarks for this to be terribly useful.

I use bookmarks sparingly, and I already have all of mine on the bookmark bar! Something I've learned about myself is that I can get very easily distracted by bookmarks for social media, games, etc. I keep my bookmarks reserved for websites relating to work and school, which helps me stay on track when I need to be working. For everything else, autocomplete usually does the job!

Tech Tip: Einstein Generator

This week, I used this website to make the above image. The quote that I placed on the blackboard comes from Frank Ocean's Blonde, which I was listening to while I made this!

Reading Notes: Native American Hero Tales (Part B)

Traditional moccasins, featured in many of these myths. (Wikimedia Commons)

The first story in Part B was downright spooky. The way in which the boys' mother was killed was Joker-esque, and the fact that the unborn children survived the death was unnerving. The story was also interesting in its structure because the father kept telling them what not to do, even surely realizing that they had disobeyed him at all past points. I think I'll write a story for this week from his perspective!

I commented in Part A on the observation that murder is seemingly allowed but not appreciated in some of these stories. This trend continues in this section. Instead of exact punishment, killers in these myths are subjected to elaborate plots for vengeance.

Overall, these stories feel very loose, especially in the way they deal with magic. It almost seems like anyone can perform at least some sort of magic act without exposition. This makes the stories feel a little dream-like and unpredictable.

Bibliography. Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Native American Hero Tales (Part A)

A bluejay, one of the heroes in this reading. (Pixabay)

I enjoyed this week's reading because it rode the line between realistic and supernatural. Many of the obstacles faced by the heroes were won with wit and the help of others, while others were won with supernatural aid. Sometimes, I was confused by the motivations of characters. For example, I don't know why the Unnatural uncle was allowed to kill any boy he wanted unless they could fight back.

I especially liked "The Attack on The Giant Elk and Great Eagle". It was refreshing to have a story in which the hero is rewarded for persistence in the face of failure. Many times he had to try four times before he was successful in performing part of the plan, which is in contrast to most hero stories of near-immediate success.

Bibliography. Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson. Web Link.

Tech Tip: Motivational Poster

As a tech tip this week I made a motivational poster using this website. I wanted to inspire myself to finish the semester strong!

Photo source: Pexels

Reading Notes: Great Plains (Part B)

Compared to the first part of the reading, this reading had more stories about animals and how they came to be the way that they are. The rabbit seemed to have a consistent character, usually tricky and self-confident. When I write my own story this week, I think that I'll make it about the rabbit.

A rabbit. (Wikipedia)

There were also a number of ghost stories in this section, but they weren't as much guides for the afterlife as they were horror stories. Ghosts in these myths tend to be antagonistic and fear-inspiring. I was most surprised to learn that in at least one legend, ghosts can be shot and wounded. I was confused though, because a shot to the leg appeared to wound the ghost's head.

Bibliography. Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Great Plains (Part A)

This week we're reading Native American myths, and I chose to read stories from the Great Plains. I share a name with one of the tribes! Most of the legends are origin stories, dealing with either the history of the natural world or the history of social traditions. The latter stories read a lot like instruction manuals for how people should behave.

A picture of the Great Plains (Flickr)

I was especially impressed by the number of ghost stories and the diversity of explanations. It seems like becoming a ghost is an inevitable part of the afterlife, and whether you're allowed ghostly lodging or are doomed to roam the earth is dependent on your actions in life. In some cases it depends on the circumstances of death, and in others it depends on the completion of rituals.

Bibliography. Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson. Web Link.

Week 9 Story: The Ever-Shrinking City

Once there was a well-populated fortress city surrounded by acres of open savanna. The people of the city didn’t know much of keeping livestock, and preferred to hunt for their food. For generations this was very lucrative. Bands of hunters would travel the surrounding region with falcons and dogs, always bringing back plenty of meat.

A falconer on a horse. (Wikimedia Commons)

After a while, these hunts would begin to return less and less meat for the city’s population. When at last the once-plentiful large game was made extinct, there was much bickering among the city’s leaders. Some suggested a new vegetarian diet. Others wanted to pack up and move to some untouched land. At last, a magician offered a solution.

“By my magic, I can make this city—and everyone in it—a quarter of the size that it is now. A family might then survive a month on a single prairie dog.”

There was widespread agreement that nobody would be able to tell the difference between the old and new sizes except where hunting was concerned. After all, there were no nearby cities to contend with. So the population agreed that the magician should shrink the city. When he did, all was well for years. People feasted on rats and prairie dogs, but otherwise carried on as though nothing had changed.

Eventually, even the small mammals were driven to extinction and again the city went hungry. The people appealed to the magician to use his magic once more, so that the city would be a thirtieth of its original size. This way, they could live on the plentiful bugs and worms. The magician agreed, and again the city had plenty to eat once the people grew accustomed to eating insects.

Of course, the hunters, with their tiny falcons and dogs, were so effective in their work that there were soon be no bugs to be found nearby. The magician had unfortunately by then drowned in a puddle, so there was no option left but to become a tiny nomadic hunters, clearing distant lands of bugs and vermin.



Author’s note: the Chinese myth “The Little Hunting Dog” features a travelling band of tiny soldiers who hunt down flies and other bugs. The story doesn’t give any explanation about where they come from, so I decided to offer a backstory. The ending of my story is consistent with a common theme of the Chinese myths that I read, which tend to have a “and that’s that” abrupt closing.


Bibliography. The Chinese Fairy Book, edited by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales (Part B)

Today's reading was thematically similar to Part A in that most stories didn't have a moral message, and were instead just depictions of supernatural events. Many of the stories seemed to end abruptly with a twist, as in the "fox fire" story.

The stories that I enjoyed the most were those which left a lot up in the air. "The Night on the Battlefield" and "The Little Hunting Dog" both included zany supernatural events with little to no explanation as to why. I think this method of storytelling best captures the "otherworldly", because I think we're more drawn in by what we don't know than what we know.

Several stories featured ogres, which seemed much like demons. I thought for sure that the story of "The Maiden Who was Stolen Away" would end up with a Shrek-like ending, but it looks like ogres are reviled enough in these myths that I got my hopes up for nothing.

A Chinese ogre mask. (Flickr)

Bibliography. The Chinese Fairy Book, edited by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales (Part A)

I was surprised that many of these Chinese fairy tales have no discernible moral message. The story about the father who leaves his daughters in the mountains ends up with a happy ending for everybody, leaving no indication that the father learned any kind of lesson.

The story of "The Panther" was amusing for two reasons. First, it was heavily reminiscent of "Little Red Riding Hood", to the point that there must have been some cross-cultural influence in one of the two stories. Second, the ending of the story called to mind a Tom-and-Jerry-esque skit of physical humor as the panther falls for one pratfall after another.

Lastly, it was interesting that in two of the stories there were said to once have been ten suns. Both stories offer distinct explanations for how the suns were brought down except one, which begs the questions of which story came first or why the ten suns were so significant in myth.

A statue of Guan Di, god of war (Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography. The Chinese Fairy Book, edited by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens. Web Link.

Week 8 Progress

While I feel good about my progress, my work schedule has become a little "last minute" for most assignments. I definitely have not been following the schedule outline that I set up at the beginning of the semester and instead tend to do things on their due date. That said, I've done every assignment except for one writing, and have done plenty of extra credit to make up for it.

Now that we're in the home stretch, I'm thinking about taking a week to really focus on this class and crank out a lot of the work. I think that over spring break I can do the last 4 weeks of readings, which should take a huge load off the rest of the semester.

A motivational quote. (Wikimedia commons)

I found the above picture while searching for something about motivation, and think it captures my mindset. A lot of stuff has to get done whether that's now or later, so it might as well be now!

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

I think that the feedback in this class has been helpful not only as a way to get critique of my writing, but as a motivator to do well. The grades in this class are based on completion, and I'm honestly not sure that I'd be motivated to give it my all if not for the fact that other people in the class read my work. That said, the critiques themselves have also been helpful, as I can get a gauge of what's working and what really isn't.

I think that I have been able to give honest and sincere feedback on other people's stories. I think that if I struggle its in giving constructive feedback instead of flat praise. It's really easy to tell someone they did a great job and really hard to offer suggestions for improvement. Overall, I think I've struck a decent balance and hope that the other people in my class get something out of my feedback.

Blog comments have been a fun way to get to know the personalities behind the stories. I think getting to know our classmates has helped us in the other areas of the class. I do think that, to a degree, the introductions are effective in helping us get a sense of one another. I'm not sure that my "online" personality is the same as my "in person" personality, but it counts for something!

I think that I'm on the right track with my feedback and comments and will strive to continue giving quality thoughts to others about their work. As far as my blog goes, I do think that I'll continue to do "tech tips" as the ones that I have done have made my blog better (and have given me a grade buffer!)

A quality cat meme from Growth Mindset Resources.

We were asked to find an image that captures our thoughts on the importance of feedback. The above image is a great example, and speaks to the importance of feedback as a collaborative exercise by which we help each other reach new heights.

Week 8 Reading and Writing

I've enjoyed most of the readings that I've done in this class, and I think that a big part of that is the freedom to choose what we read. There's been a couple times that I've started a story only to pick another one halfway through. So far, my favorite story has probably been the legend of Rasa Rasalu. I think his adventures are hilarious because of how wildly powerful he is. The reader is made to feel like the world is just a playground for this guy.

A painting of Psyche and her adoring crowd, created by Luca Giordano (Wikimedia Commons)

I definitely have a soft spot for the classical paintings inspired by greek and roman myth, so I liked the opportunity to see a lot of those over the two weeks that we covered this mythology. Above is one that I think is especially cool!

Looking ahead, I think I want to really seek out readings that help me to write my storybook. I'd love to base more of the creatures and magic on existing mythology! I've started to do that already, but there's always room for more.

Week 7 Story: To Trap a Tanuki

A tanuki in a forest. (pxhere)

A lone traveler on his journey through a forest once encountered a tanuki sleeping against the trunk of a tree.

"What luck!" he said to himself, "If I capture this wily beast, he will have to teach me his magic."

So the traveler drew rope around the tanuki's limbs before it could wake up, and as the tanuki was roused from slumber he hung the magical animal from a low branch.

The tanuki spoke angrily after assessing its situation, "Man, undo these restraints! Do you not know that we tanuki are endangered? I fear you will face a great fine if you intend to slay me."

The clever traveler called the tanuki's bluff, knowing these creatures to be clever and dishonest. "Nonsense! I don't intend to slay you, but I demand you teach me your transformative magic before I let you go."

The tanuki thought briefly, then smiled wide. "It's a deal, Man. First, I will teach you how to transform into a fox."

The tanuki taught the man a secret motion and incantation, and no sooner did he try it for himself than he became a fox. the foxy traveler howled in excitement, "Oh wise tanuki, teach me another form!"

"With pleasure, but I first ask that you free me from this uncomfortable position."

The once-man-now-fox undid the knots that bound the tanuki to the branch, and it gracefully dropped to the forest floor. "Thank you, kind Man. Now, I will teach you how to become a hare."

As before, the traveler copied the motions and incantations taught to him by the tanuki and so became a hare. He excitedly spoke, "Friendly tanuki, you've taught me much. If you show me but one more form, I will be content to let you sleep."

The tanuki grinned mischievously, though the once-"once-man-now-fox"-now-hare didn't notice. "For your final lesson, I will teach you how to become a bird."

Just as quickly as the hare followed the instructions and became a bird, the tanuki lept forward and gobbled up its winged prey. Licking its lips, it returned to sleep, muttering softly about the foolishness of men.



Author's Note: Tanuki are real animals also called "raccoon dogs", but they hold a special place in Japanese myth as magical tricksters with transformative powers. In the original stories, tanuki transform into everything from kettles to human beings, and are always causing trouble. In my story, I blended in an "Icarus-esque" moral lesson about quitting while you're ahead, especially when dealing with something as dangerous as a tanuki.

Bibliography: The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Part B)

I enjoyed these readings a bit more than those for yesterday because these had more magical characters, and I feel like I can incorporate some of them into my storybook. The story of the warrior, Schippeitaro, and the Spirit of the Mountain was one that I think I could pretty easily adapt as the warrior's character is similar to mine in his pursuit of adventure.

I thought it was interesting that we got to see several personalities that the Tanukis had. Some were tricksters while others were downright evil. I like the common theme of shapeshifting magic, which I guess makes the Super Mario "Tanuki Suit" accurate to legend (it lets you transform into a statue).

A tanuki. (Max Pixel)

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Part A)

The second story for this reading, "The Stonecutter", was one of those fables in the same vein as the moon's origin story read for the second week of class. I was happy to find out that this one had a happy ending, as the stonecutter was able to return to his work with a newfound appreciation. Ordinarily I think these kinds of stories end up with a greedy character ending up worse off than when they started.

Statue of a stonecutter (Flickr)

A consistent theme in the stories for Part A was the relationship between emotional and physical health. When the stonecutter was envious of another man's riches, he felt weaker and his work seemed more tedious. When the helmet-headed girl's father lamented his misfortunes, he's said to have slowly died from grief. I think this theme reflects an understanding of the importance of well-being in more than just the physical sense.

Bibliography: The Violet Fairy Book and The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Raja Rasalu (Part B)

Part of Raja Rasalu's larger-than-life persona in these tales comes from the fact that everybody seems to know about him and (for the most part) respect him. He's constantly stirring up antics, and for the most part it's because everyone around him lets it happen and observes with reverence. In fact, one of the plot points in the "Hunter" section was that the hunter's wife didn't believe he had actually seen Raja Rasalu, his fame so intense.

A painting of a Raja (Wikimedia Commons)

The use of verse is even stronger here in Part B than it was in Part A. The exchange between the two deer is one powerful example, as is the last section in which Rasalu offers the other Raja revisions to his poem.

Bibliography. The Adventures of the Punjab Hero Raja Rasalu by Charles Swynnerton. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Raja Rasalu (Part A)

The most striking writing element throughout the tales of Raja Rasalu was the repetitive verse, usually offered by Rasalu himself. It definitely gave the stories an added mythic quality as sometimes the poetry came as prophecy and other times to tell some of the lore.

Rasalu's game with the king. (Wikimedia Commons)

Throughout Part A, Rasalu accomplishes legendary feats that aren't really explained. In a way this helps him feel like a godly character, as you never really know what he's capable of. Oftentimes, these great feats of strength or skill seem to be played for comedic effect, as in the case with the 70 maidens on the swing. 

Bibliography. Tales of the Punjab, translated by Flora Annie Steel. Web link.

Week 5 Story: The Fisherman and the Goblin

Along a wide gulf there existed a kingdom called Stone Kingdom, named for its steadfastness and resilience. There were many fishermen who sailed out into the gulf day after day to reap a bounty of delicious tuna. One such fisherman was named Strength, and he was fitting of his name. One day while Strength was out fishing, he felt a tug on his line that he knew belonged to something heavier than a tuna fish. Excited, he braced himself and reeled in his line as aggressively as he could. After a great struggle, at last his catch flopped into the small boat. Strength realized that it wasn’t a fish at all, but a man’s corpse.

As Strength was about to dump the body back overboard, it began to speak of its own accord. “Humble fisherman, I beg that you reconsider. If you take me to shore, I will reward you with magic power.”

Strength knew that these were a goblin’s words, and quietly he settled the body into a corner of his small boat. He suspected that the goblin would offer a riddle as he began rowing to shore, and sure enough the goblin spoke again before too long. “Let me tell run a puzzle by you to occupy our time.”

The goblin began, “There once lived a strong fisherman from a kingdom called Stone Kingdom. While out fishing, this fisherman found a goblin who promised him magic power in exchange for a trip to shore. On their way, the goblin asked the fisherman a tricky riddle. Did the fisherman answer ‘no’ to the riddle?”

Strength was no fool, and recognized that the goblin was describing their current situation. He did not know how to answer the goblin’s question, however. “Yes” was surely the wrong answer, because then the answer would be “no”. “No” was also incorrect, because then the answer would be “yes”. Strength stopped to consider the question further. At last, he had his answer.

“Nope.” said Strength, smiling. The goblin laughed and lept overboard. Strength readied his line, determined to catch the goblin once more.



Author’s note: This story is based on the traditional Sanskrit tale Twenty-Two Goblins. The original story features a goblin who asks a wise king a series of riddles. For every riddle the king answers correctly, the goblin runs away and has to be retrieved again. However, if the king refuses to answer the riddle, his head explodes. This continues until the king is honestly stumped. The riddle in my story is much shorter than those in the original, and the framing tale takes precedence. I wanted to throw in a paradox that the fisherman is able to solve in a really cheesy way.

Bibliography. Twenty-Two Goblins, translated by Arthur Ryder. Web Link.
Photo: Fisherman on a boat. Wikimedia Commons.

Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins (Part B)

In this part of Twenty-Two Goblins, some of the riddles didn't have a clear-cut answer among those supplied by the goblin and required the king to give his own answer rather than those provided. This gave those stories more of a "riddle" quality.

Like Greek and Roman mythology read for previous weeks, these stories had themes of righteousness and beauty. As I wrote about for Part A, each riddle seemed to impart a moral message. The exception was with the last riddle that the king was unable to answer. I drew it out and at least to me it looks like a son born to the daughter/father and a son born to the mother/son would be uncle and nephew to each other in both directions.

A painting of Shiva. (Pixabay)

The end of the framing story included a bit about telling the riddles to others in order to cleanse sin, which probably helped the tales propagate.

Bibliography. Twenty-Two Goblins, translated by Arthur Ryder. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins (Part A)

Twenty-Two Goblins follows a very rhythmic structure; each story begins with the king's retrieval of the goblin, who tells the king a story with a riddle that the king is able to answer. The themes of each story are similar to each other as well, commonly asking about personal traits such as bravery, wit, and beauty.

The Hindu goddess Gauri, featured in one of the Goblin's stories. (Wikimedia Commons)

The "riddles" that the goblin asks are more like moral judgments than they are puzzles. The king is asked about such things as what traits make a good husband or which career choices are most respectable. Because there is assumed to be a "right answer", these stories might be seen as offering a window into the culture that birthed them.

Bibliography. Twenty-Two Goblins, translated by Arthur Ryder. Web Link.

Comment Wall

Here you can leave feedback comments for my class storybook, found at this site.

Thank you for your thoughts!

Week 4 Story: Pleasure's Quest

Pleasure, a goddess of radiant allure, bred of once-mortal Psyche and Cupid himself, sat listlessly in the bedroom of her heavenly mansion. Though she lived in decadence, Pleasure found herself deprived of that one thing which rouses excitement like no other; the call to adventure. Her mother would often recount the tale of her own passionate quest, as this was the story of Pleasure’s divine birth. Still the family insisted on maintaining appearances, and Pleasure was scarcely allowed to walk among mortals for her grandmother Venus’s fears of what may happen.

Having mulled over her predicament, Pleasure at once lept from her bed, speaking with passionate words, “Nevermind Venus, and nevermind the rest of this family if they too conspire to stifle my instincts. I will travel to the land of mortals, walk among them, and accomplish some great task. When I return, though their ire may be immediate, it will wane with equal haste when they bear witness to my feat.”

Though known as the goddess of sensuality and hedonism, only by her cunning and persuasive nature was Pleasure able to act on these drives. As she whistled for honorable Zephyr, she concocted the means by which she may use these same skills in her present endeavor. Zephyr soon arrived, softly billowing as Pleasure stepped aboard and sweetly commanded, “Ever-reliable Zephyr, carry me to Vulcan’s forge, where I may find preparedness for any confrontations that may arise on my expedition.”

Dutiful zephyr obliged without hesitation, remembering well the role it played in Pleasure’s conception. Soaring quickly through richly colored heavens, the eager goddess soon arrived at her grandfather’s stately forge.

Pleasure called out over the clatter of great immortal machinery, “Grandfather Vulcan, whose metalwork is so widely renowned by gods and mortals alike, whose violent instruments inspire acts of legend, it is I: Pleasure, daughter of Cupid. His arrows, by your handiwork, have wrought many a tale. I have come to humbly request a legendary weapon to call my own.”

At this, thick-bearded Vulcan revealed himself from behind a roaring furnace. “Pleasure, sweet granddaughter, you flatter me with your admiration and I find myself amenable to your request. Still, I wonder why it is that you require such a thing. You spend your days in safety at the insistence of your grandmother, and should find no use for a tool of warfare.”

A statue of Vulcan by Herman Wilhelm Bissen (Wikimedia Commons)

“And what of some unwanted intruder who, drawn in either by my beauty or my riches, might seek to defile the safety and comfort of my abode?” asked Pleasure, slyly and successfully appealing to the the forge god’s protective instincts. Vulcan nodded and instructed Pleasure to wait patiently as he took hammer to anvil.

When at last he finished his creation, Vulcan called for Pleasure’s attention. He proudly showed her a magnificent sword, with a slender crimson blade and golden hilt. Handing the sword to Pleasure, he explained: “While strong and sharp enough to inspire fear in the bravest of soldiers, even a gentle touch of this blade against skin is fit to send an intruder into a debilitating fit of rapture.”

Pleasure thanked her proud grandfather, marvelling at her newfound lethal treasure. This is a fine assurance that I am to be successful in my aim, she thought. Fate would have contrary plans.



Author’s Note: This story is a continuation of Apuleius’s “Cupid and Psyche”. In that story, a love affair between the titular characters turns sour and attracts the ire of Venus, Cupid’s mother. Other characters that are featured in both stories are Vulcan (Venus’s husband and god of the forge) and Zephyr (the personification of western wind). All is well at the conclusion of Apuleius’s tale, and Pleasure is born to the couple. In my story, Pleasure takes on the lead role, eager to embark on her own exciting quest. One storytelling feature I borrow from “Cupid and Psyche” is the heavy foreshadowing, which here concludes the first part of Pleasure’s story and acts as a kind of cliffhanger.

Bibliography. "Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass, written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche (Part B)

A Painting of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (Wikimedia Commons)

The plot of the second part of Apuleius's "Cupid and Psyche" was similar to that of stories like the legend of Hercules, who was made to perform a series of incredible feats. This story was a bit different in that Psyche received divine aid in completing her tasks, which give it more of a fairy-tale feel.

It's interesting to me that the allegiances of the gods were so flexible. It seemed that every time someone asked a god or goddess for a favor, the answer was something to the effect of "Well, I shouldn't, but I'll give you a pass." It seems like there's a lot of drama among the roman deities.

The writing styles I noted for Part A were also present here, namely the ascription of value judgments to characters and actions and a thick foreshadowing/foretelling of future events. 

Bibliography. "Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass, written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche (Part A)

A painting of Psyche and her adoring crowd, created by Luca Giordano (Wikimedia Commons)

The first thing I noticed about the writing style of Apuleius's "Cupid and Psyche" is the intense level of foreshadowing. From the outset of the story, we know the eventual outcome. This is reiterated several times throughout the story both by the characters and the narration.

Another writing technique that I noticed was the constant ascription of value judgments to characters and elements of the world. Psyche's sisters are hardly mentioned without also a mention of their wickedness. We are likewise reminded constantly of Cupid's charm or to the opulence of his house. The world is rendered rich with moral and aesthetic determinations of the narrator.

As noted in the header for one section, the plot follows the archetypal "forbidden fruit" pattern in which a clear rule is established only to be inevitably broken. Here, it's unclear if there's an underlying moral message, other than to be faithful to one's spouse (especially if they're a god).

Bibliography. "Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass, written by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline. Web Link.

Tech Tip: Canvas Notifications

For this week's "tech tip", I fiddled with my canvas notification settings. Generally, I prefer to receive email notifications even for insignificant things like upcoming due dates. These I selected to be daily notifications. I can always ignore emails, but every so often it could be the reminder I need. One thing Canvas has over D2L (rest in peace, sweet prince) is the notifications when grades are posted, even if they're on a bit of a delay.

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

I added a weather widget to the sidebar following these instructions. Now this blog is your one stop shop for myths, folklore, and weather updates.

Thanks for checking in!

Tech Tip: Google Map

For this week's tech tip I chose to learn how to embed a map in my blog. I chose a map of Toronto, because it's the first place I'd love to visit when I get a passport. I've never been out of the country, and Canada seems like a neat place that wouldn't be too expensive to travel to.

Tech Tip: Blog Profile

This week I changed the way my sidebar profile is displayed. Formerly, it had my name and a link to my Google+ profile. I don't have a problem putting my name out there, but I don't use Google+, so it made more sense to delete that sidebar widget and add a simple text box with my name and a little information about me. Now my blog is just a little bit sleeker!

I think it's important to be considerate of one's online identity. One of the things that bothers me these days is how easily seemingly anonymous accounts can be tied back to a real identity. For this reason, I tend to be pretty careful about what I post online regardless of the situation.

Tech Tip: Canvas Profile

This week I tried the first tech tip for this class, and changed my Canvas profile. I already had a profile picture which I think captures my essence; I'm pictured in a low squat while wearing a sleek navy suit. The photo seems to say, "I'm fun, but professional; daring, but smooth."

I did change my title to "Student" and updated my bio to reflect my major, graduation date, and zodiac sign. Looking forward to the next tech tip!

Some Feedback Strategies

"Feedback" written on a chalkboard. (Max Pixel)

This week we were asked to read a couple articles and reflect on the process of giving feedback to others. The first article I read was "Try Feedforward instead of Feedback" by Marshall Goldsmith. The article argues that future-focused advice is easier to give and receive than criticism of past performance. I definitely think that there's a role for both consideration of past experience and for thinking about the future. I tend to give feedback as "next time, you might try to..." which is somewhere in the middle of the two styles described in this article.

Next, I read "Presence, Not Praise: How To Cultivate a Healthy Relationship with Achievement" by Maria Popova. Dr. Dweck (growth mindset!) was a familiar name mentioned in this article, and again parenting is treated as the process of "cultivating" traits in children as though kids are crops. That pet peeve aside, there is something to be said for presence as its described in the article. Not just with kids, but with everyone we engage with, I feel that it's more meaningful to be genuinely engaged than to mindlessly bestow praise. In reflection, I think I can do more to show genuine interest in cases where I might usually leave it at, "oh, that's really cool".

Hero's Journey Topic Research

In researching more about heroic stories, I found information about the hero's journey "monomyth", for which there is a lengthy Wikipedia article. The most popular formulation of the monomyth is credited to Joseph Campbell, who writes that there are key narrative stages universal to stories about heroes; that is to say that most heroic myths follow the same pattern. While the existence of such a universal framework appears to be controversial, I had the idea that my storybook could be one that deliberately inverts the formula at each stage.

One interpretation of the monomyth (Wikimedia Commons)

The first stage of Campbell's monomyth is the Departure, in which a reluctant hero-to-be is compelled to action by an outside force. The hero receives supernatural aid as he departs from the comfort of his community to engage in a quest. My first story would parallel the Departure in reverse, in that an eager hero arrives in a community which itself is reluctant to accept him. Instead of receiving divine assistance, our hero finds that the supernatural forces at play in this land reject him and attempt to turn him away.

In the monomyth, next comes the Initiation: the hero faces several trials as part of his quest, all preparing him for victory as he eventually receives the sought-after boon which inspired the quest. In my story, each trial might appear to bring the hero closer to some powerful artifact, but in reality the boon would have been something he brought with him in the first place. The hero's freedom would fit the role, as his passage through each trial in this land might do more to trap him there. This part of the storybook would end with his realization that he had lost that most valuable thing in his quest for power.

The final stage of Campbell's monomyth is the Return, in which the victorious hero must reluctantly return to his community, often facing trials which prevent safe passage homeward. In my final story, the hero, eager to escape, might instead find difficulty departing because of the supernatural forces that now trap him. This story might end with him relinquishing the artifact he sought (and his heroic desire along with it) in vying for the freedom he had at the outset of his quest.

Week 3 Story: Diblobius and the Demon

My companions and I found ourselves in a strange land on our travels. It was heavily forested, and only the most tenacious rays of sunlight shone through the occluding foliage. In the distance, we saw great demons with long, spindly limbs climbing from tree to tree near the canopy. There, high among the trees, bright ripe fruits—the likes of which we had never seen—taunted us in our hunger.

“Good and honest friends,” I addressed my companions, “We’ve no choice but to ascend the branches of these great trees and retrieve a bounty of fruits”

Gemone, speaker of caution, son of Firbonir, opened his idiot mouth to ask “What about those demons though?”

“Be silent Gemone, speaker of caution, son of Firbonir. Perhaps these demons will be generous and receptive to our company.”

So we began to climb the nearest tree, its thick branches supporting our weight without strain. When at last we reached the canopy, we moved from one tree to another towards the thin limbed demons and the fruits they guarded. One member of our ranks, Glemetra, of much wealth, daughter of Heirbirt, slipped and fell to the forest floor where her bones did shatter. My companions and I wept golf-ball-sized tears but pressed on.

When at last we were in earshot of the demons I called out “Hark! I am Diblobius, seeker of truth, heir to several thrones, son of Biromon. My companions and I seek the fruits that you guard for we are very hungry.”

One demon approached us quickly, deftly climbing with his slender arms and legs. “Hello Diblobius, seeker of truth, heir to several thrones, son of Biromon. I too am hungry, and your gang of intruders looks like a fitting meal!”

One by one this great demon reached out and devoured my companions as we clutched the tree in fear. Though this trial was daunting, I had a plan and reached into my pocket to pull out a sinister flask of poison.

I spoke with jet-powered words. “My demonic friend, spare the rest of my company and I will offer you a drink of the finest quality to wash down your ill-gotten meal.”

The demon snatched the flask from my hand and poured its contents down his throat. Immediately his grip on the tree loosened and in time he fell to the ground where his bones did shatter. What few of my companions were left alive sighed relief through their tennis-ball sized tears.

I spoke, “Do not hang your heads in grief. Though we lost many allies to the trials of this forrest, by my cunning we shall feast on demon flesh tonight”. My fellow travellers managed a weak cheer before following me down the tree to claim our meal.



Author’s Note: This story was based on Homer’s Odyssey, specifically the encounter between Odysseus and a cyclops. Odysseus is trapped by the cyclops and his party is eaten over the course of days until he fools the giant monster and blinds him with a stake. My story follows a similar plot and includes the thematic elements of personification of nature, respect for title and heritage, and visceral description of grief.

Bibliography. Odyssey by Homer, translated by Tony Kline. Web Link.

Photo: A fruiting palm tree. (Public Domain Pictures)

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey (Part B)

Something about Homer's Odyssey that stuck out to me in this reading was the emphasis on heritage and family connections. This was especially strong in Odysseus's conversations with the ghosts in Hades. Homer conveyed a strong sense of family honor in these characters, and the willingness of most to respect that honor. In terms of writing style, this was reflected in the repetition of long familial titles throughout the story.

Odysseus encounters the Sirens, painted by Herbert James Draper (Wikimedia Commons)

Another stylistic choice that was evident in this section of the reading (as well as in Part A) was the way emotions were made visceral in their description. Homer doesn't write about sadness or grief without mentioning heavy weeping and a thick sense of gloom. Even emotionally charged language is described as "winged" which gives speech a palpable quality.

Bibliography. Odyssey by Homer, translated by Tony Kline. Web Link.

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey (Part A)

So far, the plot of Homer's Odyssey is a that of a grand hero's journey, though it must be said that the hero of this story isn't very relatable. I thought while reading this excerpt that Odysseus came off as mean-spirited and ego-maniacal. In truth, I actually empathized with the cyclops. How should he have felt that a small militia invaded his home, stole his food, a preached a religion he wanted no part of? I'm not sure that I understand Odysseus's motivations as a heroic figure. It seems more often that he puts his men into dangerous positions against their will and good judgement in the name of adventure.

Odysseus and Circe's encounter, painted by the "Persephone Painter". (Wikimedia Commons)

The writing style of Homer's Odyssey was very heavy with personification of natural events. The most memorable example is the Dawn, which is personified sometimes as tender and other times as glorious. This might reflect a culture that ascribes events to the direct influence of gods, each with their own personality.

Bibliography. Odyssey by Homer, translated by Tony Kline. Web Link.

Feedback Thoughts

This Week we read a bit about why feedback is important and how to overcome the stress that can be associated with negative feedback or comparison.

The first article I read was "The Psychology of Comparison and How to Stop" by Ellen Jackson. She doesn't really dive into the psychology of social comparison which was kind of disappointing, but the point of the article was a solid one. She writes that while it's natural to compare ourselves with others, it's not something that always helps us to achieve. I like the philosophy of seeking out intrinsic motivation and finding ways to propel oneself forward with firm and focused goals.

I was going to read an article on Forbes next, but I don't like being forced to disable Adblock.

Instead I read "Why Rejection Hurts So Much and What to Do About It" by Guy Winch. I think I agree with his argument that rejection (even the threat thereof) is one of the most common sources of emotional pain we face. There were a few tips he wrote about that are meant to help curb the pain of rejection, some of which I feel like I already employ. Especially resonant with me is the need to limit self-criticism.

I'm not adverse to feedback so long as I feel like I'm being respected in the process. There's been plenty of times in my life that someone has come to me with constructive criticism about anything from a school project to my personality, and it helps me grow!

A group of businesspeople talking... Maybe giving constructive feedback to each other! (pxhere)

Project Topic Brainstorm

Below are some topic ideas I'm considering for the class project!

“Heroes of Myth and Legend”

The first project idea that stuck out to me was “Heroes of Myth and Legend”. I’d love to write a story of a rags-to-riches hero’s journey. I like some of the twists that the linked storybooks threw in to their heroic stories, so I’ll probably have to think of my own.

"Legendary Creatures"

It would be pretty easy to weave stories about legendary creatures into a hero’s story, so I don’t think I’d have to choose between the topics of “Legendary Creatures” and the above topic. Maybe our noble hero could defeat progressively more terrifying monsters of legend (like Heracles!).

One legendary creature: a griffin as depicted by Wenceslaus Hollar (Wikimedia Commons)

“Stories from the Heptameron”

“Stories from the Heptameron” caught my eye because I had no idea what a Heptameron was. I think the idea of “renaissance urban legends” might be fun to try to adapt to different time periods including the present day. Even if I don’t go with this one for a project, it might be fun to read this unit one week.

“The Kalevala”

“The Kalevala” would be neat to draw inspiration from in my own stories. While of course I haven’t read it yet, it might be a cool idea to adopt the epic poem structure for my own storybook. I could see where that might be a little difficult though as I’m no poet!