Reading Notes: Cherokee (Part B)

Reading Notes of the Cherokee Myths (Part B)

Turtle (photo link)

The Terrapin's Escape from the Wolves would be a really good story to retell! It offers a good amount of detail, it's lengthy and it would be easy to change up the characters. I like the overall story and how it is presented, but I would be able to cut it down a bit to be more concise and clear.

The Race between the Crane and the Hummingbird would be a good story to retell, but from the Turle and the Hare perspective (round 2!) It a story that readers will know, but can share another story about the characters.

The HuHu Gets Married is a goos story to use to retell because it is full of dialogue and easy to retell. But it doesn't have a whole lot of excitement to it, maybe find a way to provide more excitement. It does have a good amount of dialogue though to provide the readers the ability to connect with one character or another.

Âgän-uni'tsï's Search for the Uktena is a lengthy story worth retelling. There would need to be a lot to note in the author's note or in a preface of the story so that the readers are able to engage and connect more without having to do outside research for understanding of the context. The Red Man and the Uktena would be an interesting twist or way to build upon the previous story.

Title: Myths of the Cherokee

Author: James Mooney

Link to various readings

Reading Notes: Cherokee (Part A)

Reading Notes over Cherokee readings (Part A)

I choose this section because I have Cherokee blood. Enough to actually have a registered Native American Indian Card and such that gets me to the clinic and what not. I seldom ever use it or talk about my ties to the Cherokee tribe because I'm not super involved with the nation. So I figured this would be a good week to learn more about the types of stories they share.

Use the story of the water beetle, but make it about a water spider that cascades across the surface of the water. Or use the story of the water beetle and introduce a new character (the water spider).
The water spider could be his companion in creating and forming earth. Think of them using the sun as a way to dry the mud quicker and moving it outward to prevent scorching.

The story of the Pleiades and the Pine would be good. Its about ornery boys who trouble their mothers end up leaving to become stars, but one is sent below the earth and sprouts into a pine. It will be tricky to adapt this story, but I do like the nature of it and the theme.

The story of the sun and the moon would be a good add in to the first story of the creation of earth and what not. It would be a good addition because it is the creation of all things and it's not really detailed enough with characters to retell, unless I was able to add more to the story.

A couple of these stories had a lot of "origins of" and what not about how things were created. The best way to do the next blog is to find some fun things to add to the creation of the earth and what not. It'll provide a cultural experience for readers and the more insightful understanding of the Cherokee Nation.

Title: Myths of the Cherokee
Author: James Mooney
Link to the various stories

Story: The Voyages of Baham

The Voyage of Baham

Illustration by Dulac
2016

--October 1st, 1637--

     I am Baham. I sailed the seas from the Persian Gulf through the Arabian Sea, to the East Indies and around the Pacific. I saw the things that many sailors have dreamt. I saw mythical Rocs with large wings and sharp claws that would make a sailor reach for the nearest bottle of wine. I followed in my father's footsteps growing up, learning the trade of merchants.
     While wandering through the maze of merchants in the market, an officer of the Caliph approaches me. He asks me to set sail with a message and a gift for the King of Serendib. In return, a fortune to keep my family happy and prosperous for many generations. We are to set sail a week from now.

--October 7th, 1637--

     Suddenly, as we are closing in on the wharf of our destination, pirates come up on our port-side. Their boat is quick and catches us. They board our ship and seize our fortune. They kill those who resist and imprison those who mercifully surrender immediately. I am one of those. The pirates take us far from our destination and leave us stranded on an island. The sand is different here than the sand at my home country. It is not soft on our feet and does not dance across the seafloor as you walk to shore. 

--October 10th, 1637--

     With three days of no food and no water, we have sat on the beach dying. We are sweating through our clothes in the beating sun and a heat that whispers sinful thoughts to our ears. We hear something coming from the forest behind us. Men approach dressed in simple and bare clothes with guns and spears. We try to talk to them and they refuse to engage. We submit and they tie us by our hands. Connecting one person to another they chain us together and lead us to their village. Once we enter the village, we are locked away in a highly innovative construction of wood. A large man casts a shadow over the door frame as he approaches. He orders our release and pays the guards in gold. His face is aged, his chest large and his hands strong. There stands before me a rich merchant.

     "What is your name?" He glares down at me.

     "My name is Baham. I come from Baghdad"

     "Can you use a rifle?" He smirks.

     "Does the sun set to the West?"

      Over time, he continually nourishes us, teaches us about the wild elephants that he hunts, and makes us work his land to build our strength. One night, he takes me into the forest where we shoot the elephants, bury their bodies by a river, and dig up the remains of previous kills. Their tusks are worth more than my life. He brings the tusks to the merchants on the docks and is paid in handfuls of gold, silver and glittering jewels.

-- December 16th, 1637--

     Two months have passed and there has not been a day that I have not killed an elephant. Night is approaching and I have not seen a single elephant. Suddenly, with a hard slam to the tree, I fall from one branch to another. There stands an elephant on the other side. Again, another hard slam to the tree trunk as I brace myself. The elephant stares at me with full focus.

     What is going on?

     I pull my rifle from behind my back and load the gun. A stampede of elephants hollering with their tusks raised are coming my direction. With another hard slam by the elephant below me, my gun escapes my hands and falls to the ground. He lets out a loud holler and slowly pushes his front legs on the tree trunk sending a series of cracks up the trunk. The stampede is encroaching the tree and roaring from the top of their snouts. I am crawling my way to the center of the tree when the largest elephant emerges from the herd. The herd drops their trunks. The largest elephant is missing an eye and has claw marks across his forehead. With a smooth and slow motion, he wraps his trunk around the center of the tree.

     What am I to do?

     With a mighty tug, the elephant uproots the tree and brings me crashing down entangled in the tree limbs. He picks me up by the waist and sits me on his back. I grab onto his side and do not move. We move deep into the forest. Night is coming and the elephants have not made a sound since the tree was brought down. The elephant picks me off his back like a flea on a dog and sits me down in a pile of bones. The bones are large. They vary from skulls, to huge femurs... to tusks. It's their burial ground.

Illustration by H. J. Ford
2016

   

     The elephants surround me.

     What is happening?

     The elephants begin to stomp. The ground shakes and the bones vibrate beneath me. I turn in circles looking around and struggle to stand on the pile of bones dancing around my feet. The biggest elephant stands there calm before me while the others parade around and stomp the ground. He looks me in the eyes and raises his trunk. The herd stop their stomp and stand where they are. The largest elephant slowly reaches out his trunk just in front of my face. He blows a gust of breath through his trunk that knocks me on my back. He approaches me further until his feet are just before my feet. The bones beneath his feet are crushed to dust. He lifts his trunk once again, but the elephants do not move nor make a sound. I am at a loss for my mind with no words to be fathomed. He raises his leg and brings it above me.

     The night bursts with colors and a deathly pain.

THE END.

Author's Notes:

     The name 'Baham' I found on Wikipedia under Arabic Star names. I originally was looking got something elephant related or relating to wanderer or traveler, but I liked this one as well. According to the Wikipedia page, S'ad al Biham (Baham) means 'Luck of the Young Beasts'. Although he does not get away in this story, typically Sindbad makes an escape from whichever adventure he is on. So I found it to still be appropriate.
Link

     I completely changed the ending of this story into something more menacing. The story originally has the main character returning home again and escaping death as he always does, but I wanted to make this literally his "last voyage" of his seven voyages that are all different parts of the book. Making this his last voyage was difficult to do in terms of demonstrating the passing of time, making the story told in present tense, and truly avoiding making this seem as if it were a diary.

     The original story says that the elephants brought the main character, named Sindbad, to the deep parts of the forest and leave him there in an elephant burial ground where he escapes and lives happily ever after back at home with his family and lots of money. But I researched more into the spiritual and mythological meaning of elephants. They are seen as the wise chief who impartially settles disputes among the forest creatures. Wisdom is represented by the elephant in the form of the deity Ganesha, one of the most popular gods in the Hindu religion's pantheon. Similarly, the African elephant is seen as the wise chief who impartially settles disputes among the forest creatures in African fables, and the Ashanti tradition holds that they are human chiefs from the past.
Link

So, in relation to my story, they end Sindbad’s life because he is disrupting the prosperity of elephants in the region. They are heavily hunted for their tusks, so I was able to make this Sindbad’s “last voyage” and essentially restore balance to the forest.

Bibliography:

The legend of Sindbad the Sailor is just one of the many delights contained in the book known as The Arabian Nights or the 1001 Nights. This reading unit, drawn from Lang's Arabian Nights' Entertainments, includes all seven voyages of Sindbad the Sailor as told in first-person by Sindbad himself.
Link

Story: The Adventure of Lewis without Clark

Maharaja of Indore
2016

     Deep within the Nyungwe rainforest, Lewis and Clark were on a journey together in exploration of a river that they had heard of. It runs the opposite direction of any other river in Africa. They traveled for weeks and were running short on supplies. They stopped in the shade near a riverbank to rest for the night and to count their rations.

     When Lewis had awakened, he went to the river to collect some water in his jug. Clark was shortly behind him.

     "We should continue to head East across the river," said Clark.

     Stumped, Lewis pulled out his compass and looked at Clark.

     "Clark, you must be delusional from this tiring journey. East is the other direction."

     "I believe you to be mistaken, Lewis. My compass has never led us astray. Look!" Clark brought over his compass.

     Lewis looked at the compass and gave it a rattle.

     "I think your compass has you confused. For the river runs South and the moss on those rocks grow North."

     Perplexed, Lewis and Clark then realized they had found the Nile! The river was running the opposite direction. They celebrated joyfully and danced along the riverbank. Clark bent down to drink from the water when he noticed a rock on the edge that read:

     "Traveler, we have prepared an excellent banquet for you to replenish your goods and your bodies. To obtain it you must cross the river that runs strong, pick up and shoulder the lion carved in the marble on the other side, trudge through the prickly thorns of the forest up the mountain and bring the marble to the gates of our kingdom surrounded by beasts of robust vigor."

     "Lewis, look what I have found!"

     The two read the carvings in the rock aloud.

     "I don't think this is such a good idea," said Clark.

     "But think about the adventure that lies ahead and the fortune that will come with it," said Lewis.

     Lewis was prepared for the next adventure, but Clark was afraid that this road might lead them to the end of their travels forever. They ultimately decided to go their separate ways and for Clark to return this way once he replenished his resources. Lewis and Clark had split the rations and went their separate ways. Before Clark had disappeared into the forest, Lewis stripped down and began wading his way across the Nile.

     Lewis made his way across the river successfully, picked up the marble stone and placed it upon his back to begin his journey through the forest. It was dark and creepy within the forest. It was armed with prickly thorns that cut through his clothes and wild animals rustling throughout the journey. After some miles, he rested for a moment at the bottom of the mountain. The blood and sweat had come through his clothes. Not far from where he stood, he heard the wild laughter of the hyenas closing in as the day ended. So he picked up the marble again and continued to make his way up the mountain. He was fearless and determined.

     When he reached the top of the mountain he gazed at the entrance to the palace that was promised. The marble lion on his back began to rumble. As he grew closer and closer to the gates, the lion shook harder and roared with fury. Lewis was trembled as he ran to the footsteps of the gate. Once he reached the gates, he threw the marble lion to the ground. It rattled and roared until it suddenly stopped when the gates began to open.

     People began to flood the streets from their homes to the gates. They ran toward Lewis as fast as they could. He was astonished. He begged them to explain the meaning of such honors as they took the last of his clothes off his back and dressed him in regal robes, placed gold at his feet and offered him the most precious of spoils.

     "Whenever our king dies, we place a stone across the river in hopes that one day someone with such bravery and skill will cross and accept the mission before him. Thus, we are always assured the most suitable king with fearless courage and a strong heart.

     "We, the noblemen of this city, crown you today, as our king!"

Author's Note:


     Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson with a crew as the first group to explore westward across America. It was commissioned shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Many people may not know the original purpose of their expedition was to find the most direct and practicable means of water networks for communication efforts in that time as America was expanding. 
     So for my story, I thought that it would be cool to use American people that readers would know a little bit more about. Although Lewis and Clark never explored Africa, who is to say they would have if offered? While doing some research on Lewis and Clark (LINK) I learned coincidentally of their purpose with the water networks, so I thought it was a perfect fit! 
     I stayed true to the events of the original story. There wasn't much dialogue in the original story, so I added some to create more personality of the explorers for the readers. I believe that the original story demonstrates how bravery can be rewarding. Although a lot of the stories in this book of fables were animal-related and had a lot of menacing endings, I picked one that was simple and would allow plenty to write about and explore more in depth. I kept the ending of the original story because it was a happier ending compared to my previous post and compared to the other fables.

Bibliography:

Title: The Two Travelers  from  The Tortoise and the Geese and Other Fables of Bidpai

Author: Maude Barrows Dutton

Link

Story: Anansi the Spider

     Back in the day when slavery was booming and plantation owners were everywhere, a young man with a large inherited fortune began to grow his plantation. His plantation grew large very quickly with a variety of different crops as the seasons changed. He took good care of his slaves that worked his fields day in and day out for long hours. The master of the plantation made sure that he provided shelter and food for his slaves and in turn they worked hard.

     One day, he decided that he would venture into growing a new crop. That crop was more difficult to grow than his other crops. No one in the area had ventured to grow the gub-gub peas anymore because so many people tried and failed due to poor soil, poor timing in the season and random pests eating up the crops. But with a growing fortune and plantation, the seasoned plantation owner decided to give it a try and be the first successful gub-gub pea grower.

     The plantation owner went down to the market and ordered ten large boxes of the gub-gub peas.

     "You think that you're some hot shot, hot shot?" said the market man.

     "I think you only learn from failure," said the plantation owner as he patted the backs of his slaves while they loaded his truck.

     As soon as he got back, he ordered for the boxes to be put in the shed.

     "Once you finish, head out to the acre behind the barn and till the soil for seeding tomorrow," said the plantation owner.

     Little did the plantation owner know that Anansi the spider was tucked away within the boxes inside the shed.

     The next morning, the plantation owner jumped out of his bed, ran down the stairwell, slapped on his cap and went to greet his slaves at work. When he approached the shed, the workers were gathering around the front of the shed talking amongst themselves in nervous chatter.

     "What is going on here? Why are the seeds not in ground? Let's go! Let's go!" yelled the plantation owner.

     One of the slaves came out of the crowd and anxiously spoke, "Master... it's Anansi!"

     The plantation owner grabbed the startled man by the shoulders and shook him straight. "What are you talking about?"

     "Anansi is the spider of wisdom and knowledge. He represents the survival of the African people and he has made his way all the way here in America!"

     The plantation owner pushed his way through the crowd and approached the boxes of the gub-gub pea seeds.

     "Well, my, oh my. It's just a little spider. Stop the frantic behavior and get to the fields. You all have been through much worse experiences than to worry about some little ol' spider!" said the plantation owner as he turned to his slaves mumbling amoung themselves.

Water Spider

     "Listen to ma words as their importance could save you and your plantation here," spoke Anansi calmly. "The boxes here aren't jus ya typical gub-gub pea seeds. I laid in this here box for 'most a month or so 'til the day come that I mus' warn about the evil that lurks in this box here and the next couple boxes."

     With a swift hand the owner slammed his hat on the boxes to smash the spider. The spider jumped onto the man's arm and quickly scuffled up his sleeve and to his shoulder. The plantation owner not fazed looked to his shoulder.

    "I can't say I hadn't warned you wit the evil that be in da box. Take what you want, I done my part." Anansi jumped from the man's shoulders and scurried off into the barn.

     The plantation owner turned back to his slaves and furiously ordered them to begin seeding the soil. Each of the slaves looked at each other and shook their heads. The plantation owner began to shout and stomp about. He ran inside the shed to get his whip.

     As he walked back out from the shed with the whip in his hand he muttered, "I ain't once used this here whip, but today just might be the..."

     Much to the plantation owner's surprise, the slaves had gone running through his fields toward the fence and the forest.

Author's Note:

     The trickster spider, Anansi, is a famous folklore figure in West Africa. As slaves were abducted and brought to the Americas, the stories of Anansi came with them. Anansi was a symbol of slave resistance and survival because he was able to turn the tables on his powerful oppressors through his trickery. If you hadn't already checked it out as well as to what a gub-gub pea is, it is actually a modern -day peanut. When I did the reading of Anansi, it was best to read it aloud. There was a lot of Jamaica flare and jargon that was only understood by not reading it exactly as it's written.
     Instead of attempting to emulate the style in my portfolio piece, I decided to change the setting of the story and provided a different ending to the story of the gub-gub peas. The story originally was about Anansi as a man, who tricked an illiterate man with the master's orders in order to free himself and to tie up a passing lion instead.
      I immediately thought of dating it in the pre-Civil War era while brainstorming and thought it would be a good match. Anansi was such a prominent and familiar part of oral tradition from the Asante people of Ghana, who also were brought to America. Although slaves came from various places, the tradition spread about the wisdom and trickery skill that Anansi was capable of. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of Anansi and will use some of the themes in my next piece of writing most likely.

Bibliography:
This book of Jamaica Anansi Stories contains stories collected in Jamaica during the early years of the 20th century by Martha Warren Beckwith, a professor of folklore and well-known ethnographer.
LINK

Week 8 Growth Mindset

     I'll be the first to admit that this semester has been unlike any other semester I have experienced at OU in the four and half years that I have been attending. I have been put to the test physically and mentally more than ever. It was the first or second week of school that I was hit head on by a girl who was texting and driving, which left me in some rough physical shape. I get better each week as I progress through therapy at the chiropractor. Maybe 2 - 3 weeks after that, I caught a sinus infection that turned into bronchitis. I had to have a strep test twice during that period because my throat was so swollen and irritated. Just last Wednesday, I lost my childhood best friend. His funeral was yesterday and it had been rough. So have I grow out of this? I'd like to think so. Actually, make that a firm 'yes'!
     I struggled to get the work together for this class in the first couple weeks as I was trying to make sense of a schedule that was going to best work for me, yet I was struggling to figure out what a 'normal week' would look like. At this point, I just assume that every other week or so something will happen that I have to add to my plate and learn to juggle with everything else.
     I have realized that one of my biggest weaknesses is that I strive to enjoy as much of life as possible. When I say that, I mean to emphasis that through everything I have been overcoming and hurdling this semester, I try to enjoy the time I have with my friends and family and put off my homework. I have made strides to change that. Although life is precious, there is a time for everything. In the last couple weeks, I have made school a #1 priority again and pushing myself through the obstacles in order to learn. To learn that even though life can make you feel bogged down and exhausted, you earn your stamina through perseverance.
      The dimensions of growth that apply to me are pushing myself to go farther, finding motivation inside myself, being confident that I can improve, and setting my own schedule and priorities.

I chose this GIF because my crutch through all of this, like many students can relate to, has been coffee. I am a Starbucks junkie and like to do most of my writing and homework there. So I felt like this was an appropriate photo to share because there are multiple times throughout the day that I feel like the coffee can't come fast enough. I should just begin coffee consumption through and IV.
(P.S. My favorite drinks is a Venti Cold Brew with a splash of 2%, 1 pump of classic and 1 pump of vanilla.)

Character Miranda Priestly in 'Devil Wears Prada'

Reading Notes: Jamaica

Mango Tree

What's a better way to take notes than with some forest scenery!

Brainstorming notes over the short stories of Jamaica:

The trickster Spider Anansi is a famous folklore figure in West Africa, and slaves abducted from West Africa brought the stories of Anansi with them to the Americas.

Use the story of the grub-grub peas and write it in the setting of slavery. This would be good because the story of Anansi the spider comes from Africa and spread when slaves were brought to America.

In order to make the story longer, tie in the story of 'Tiger as the Riding-Horse' once Anansi has escaped from the tree.

Use a good portion of dialogue in the second half, or try to balance it more throughout the story without overloading it.

Anansi - the spider

Here is a picture provided that can be used in the story to provide the audience with a visual.

Bibliography:

This book of Jamaica Anansi Stories contains stories collected in Jamaica during the early years of the 20th century by Martha Warren Beck with, a professor of folklore and well-known ethnographer.