Week 10 Storytelling: How Grandma Married Grandpa.

Hey Grandma, Tell Me A Story from Saritharao Blogspot

"Hey Grandma Coral! I was wondering... How did you and grandpa meet? How did you marry him?"

"O! That is a great story sweetie! When I was younger, people said I was very beautiful. So one day three separate brothers came up to my father and asked for my hand in marriage."

"Wait grandma! You were going to marry a man before you met him?!?"

"Yes dear, that is how it worked back then." Grandma Coral said while nodding her head. "My father decided he would give me to one of the brothers, however, I did not want to marry one of them because I did not want to hurt their feelings."

"That is nice of you Grandma!"

Grandma Coral laughed to herself and then continued. "The brothers stayed all day and night and we had a great dinner and afterwards I danced with all three of the brothers. In all of the excitement I got a fever and died."

"YOU DIED????? But you are alive now! What happened???"

"I am about to tell you little one!" Grandma Coral said as she scooped up her grandchild and placed them in her lap.  "The brothers then burned my body. One of the brothers slept on a bed of my ashes, The second took my bones and dipped them in the sacred Ganges river. The third brother becaume a monk and wandered through many countries. In his travels, the third brother discovered a  magic spell that could bring me back to life! He came back to my ashes and the bones that were dipped in the river and brought me back to life."

"YAY!" the grandchild exclaimed.

Grandma Coral chuckled, "Yes! Yay! I came back to life! Then the brothers started to argue over who should marry me. The third brother thought he should marry me because it was his spell that brought me back to life. The second brother thought he should marry me because he dipped my bones in the sacred river which helped bring me to life. The first brother aruged that he should marry me because he kept my ashes safe. Which one do you think got to marry me?"

The grandchild scrunched up their face, deep in thought. "I think it was the brother who kept the ashes."

"You are right! Your grandpa kept my ashes! My father decided that your grandpa deserved to marry me because he did what a true lover would do. He kept my ashes safe by sleeping with them and truly mourned me when I was dead."

"I am glad he chose grandpa! I love him!"

Grandma Coral smiled. "I love him too."

Author's Note:

I based this story off of The 2nd Goblin's riddle. In the original story a goblin tells a riddle to a king that he must answer correctly or die. I rewrote the riddle in the perspective of the girl that died, Coral. I liked the idea of a grandchild wanting to know more about their grandparents that love each other so much. I stayed pretty on target with the original story line. I just condensed it and had the child guess the answer to the riddle the grandma was asking.

Bibliography: The 2nd Goblin from Twenty-Two Goblins by Arthur Ryder (1917).

Reading Diary Week 10: 22 Goblins Part F

Twenty-two Goblins

A lions yawns at Nairobi's National Park on March 11, 2013 by Marko Djurica—Reuters from Time

4 Brothers

I love how they say that these three things that are fickle and bring sorrow at the last: evil friendships, a flirt, and money. I have to agree. You cannot try to find happiness with these things. However, I don't understand why this statement made the brothers want to find their talents. Perhaps the knowledge would bring them power. The brothers's talents are quite interesting. I like how they coordinate together to finally bring life. It is unfortunate that the animal ended up being a lion. I think it may be interesting to write a story where they made a bunny or something and there was a happier ending. Or maybe keep the story with the lion but there were no teeth to let the lion eat the brothers. The lion could be tame and they ride the lion into the sunset. I also believe that it is the last brother's fault that they died because he could clearly see that it was a dead lion. What did he expect to happen???


Conclusion

First of all I completely respect the king for going back to get the goblin every time he ran off. That is real dedication. I am also kind of surprised that the monk was evil the whole time. I am glad that the goblin respected the king after all of those riddles and told him the monks plans. I also thought it was weird that what the king wanted was for the whole world to know the riddles the goblin shared with him.

Reading Diary Week 10: 22 Goblins Part A

Twenty-two Goblins

Goblin by Throne Rush from Wikia

Introduction

I wonder why there are gems inside of the fruit the monk gives the king? I liked that the monk's name is Patience. I definitely feel like there is some significant meaning with that name. I was really confused when the goblin was in the dead body. Originally I did not realize that there was a dead body. I just assumed that what the king thought was a dead body was actually a goblin. Nope. I was definitely wrong. The goblin was just inside of the dead body. 

The 3 Lovers

I definitely would have not guessed the correct answer for this riddle. First of all, I think what all the brothers did after Coral's death was weird. Making a hut on her ashes and begging for food is obsessive and scary. Dipping her bones in a river is also a bit strange. Honestly becoming a monk was not too bad, but seemed a little extreme. When the monk brought her to life, I was a little confused. I thought monks were like nuns and could not marry. So I didn't think that marrying Coral would be an option for him when she came back to life. I was kind of shocked to hear that the answer to the riddle was the brother that built a hut on her ashes. Like I said before, I think that is scary obsessive. However, I couldn't have come up with a better answer. I think a good story would be to have Coral talk about what happened after she died (like a ghost) and to be weirded out, yet also touched by what happened. 

Week 9 Storytelling: Timmy the Turtle

Once upon a time, there was a turtle named Timmy. On the day he cracked his egg he looked up into the sky and saw birds flying. "I want to do that!" he declared. All of his brothers and sisters laughed at him and his mom looked at him with sad eyes said, "You will never fly Timmy. You are a turtle."

So while Timmy grew up he tried all sorts of things to fly. He jumped from tall rocks, he spun around really fast, he even made a ramp and tried to skateboard into the sky! However, none of them worked. His siblings would gather around every time he tried so they could laugh at him when he failed.

Turtle on Skateboard from Inspirational Feed

Around the Fourth of July, Timmy had a great idea! He was going to attach one of the rockets to his shell! That HAD to make him fly! Timmy's brothers and sisters were all gathered around eating popcorn as they waited to see what happened next. Timmy duck taped the rocket onto his shell, put on a helmet, and lit the fuse.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!

Small Turtle with Rocket from Marketing Edge

The rocket erupted and instead of taking Timmy up into the sky it took him forward. He moved so fast he was not able to control where he was going and he smashed into a tree. Timmy heard the eruption of laughter behind him. He tried to hold back tears but he couldn't so he retreated into his shell. He was done. He was never going to fly. Suddenly he heard a loud flapping sound and a thud as someone landed right beside him.

"Who in the world bumped into my tree?? the voice asked. "Whoever did it must be as mighty as a bear because it shook the whole tree and woke me up at the very top!"

Timmy slowly emerged from his shell and saw a large bird looking down at him. "I am sorry." said Timmy. "I ran into your tree because of the rocket. I did not mean to wake you up!"

"Why do you have the rocket?" the bird asked.

"Because I wanted to fly..." Timmy said looking down in embarrassment.

"Wanted to?" asked the bird.

"Well I have wanted to since I was a little hatchling. I keep trying Mr. Bird, but I can't do it."

"What's your name turtle?"

"Timmy."

"I am going to help you fly Timmy the Turtle." the bird said. He looked around and saw a stick. "Grab onto this Timmy and hold on tight."

Timmy grabbed it with his mouth and held on as tight as he could. Mr. Bird took off and lifted Timmy with him high above the clouds. Finally, Timmy could fly.

Author's note: I based this story off of The Tortoise and the Geese. In the original story the tortoise is carried by the geese and then falls because he wants to say something to those that are making fun of him. This becomes a lesson to a talkative king that then learns to only say something when it is necessary. I was inspired by this story and I wanted to change it to a turtle who dreamed about flying. I did not want to end with him falling so I ended with him living his dream.

Bibliography: The Tortoise and the Geese by Noor Inayat (Khan)

Week 9 Reading Diary: Twenty Jataka Tales Part B

Twenty Jataka Tales

The Goblin Town

I really really liked this story. If I were to choose this for my storytelling this week I would like to tell the story from the point of view of the man that discovered that they were in a goblin town. I think it would be nice to stay along the same plot line but go deeper into it. It could start with the boat having trouble and then the crew knowing it was going to sink and how relieved they were to find land. I think the goblins were like sirens so I would like a description of how beautiful they were before they realized it was a deception. 

Elephant from The Safari Guide

The Great Elephant

I found this story very touching. It really captures the meaning of sacrifice for others. If I chose this as my story for this week I would retell it as a person that sacrificed something or themselves for their friends. 

The End of the World

This story has everything you could want including a flying lion! I like that this story had a "boy that cried wolf" feel to it. However, I feel like it ended too calmly. I know that if I were one of the animals running for my life because the earth was breaking I would be happy that it was not, but I would also be a little upset at the little hare for overreacting and causing the huge stampede that almost led all of them to their deaths. I would probably tell the story after the lion came back and use those emotions toward the little hare. 

Week 9 Reading Diary: Twenty Jataka Tales Part A

Twenty Jataka Tales

The Guilty Dogs

I want to mention this one because I think it would be a cute case for Wolfgang to solve in my storybook project. Wolfgang could solve for who ruined the straps on the royal chariot. Perhaps the chief of the dogs would seek out Wolfgang for help so that all of the dogs in the city would not be slaughtered. It would be cute because it would be like the children's stories Wolfgang had solved in the past and because it would introduce talking animals into this new world he has found himself in called India.

The Tortoise and the Geese by yam50 on Deviantart

The Tortoise and the Geese

I enjoyed this story. I like the lesson that just because you can talk doesn't mean you always should. Some things are better left unsaid. I am curious like the children though as to why the tortoise was flying. I know the story says he was going to see the home of the geese, but I think it would be cute to write a story about a tortoise or turtle that really wanted to fly. He had a friend that was a goose and agreed to take him into the sky. However, once the children started to make fun of them he decided to make a remark back. This was a very bad decision because when he fell he broke his shell and couldn't walk or fly ever again. Or perhaps something similar. I may change for a happier ending, It would be terribly tragic if the dreaming turtle died. However, he should still be punished for talking because that is the lesson for the children hearing the story. Or I could be completely different and teach the children to dream instead.

Reading in weeks 9-14

Jataka Tales from ani-la

Week 9

I want to use some of the Jataka tales in my storybook so in week 9 I would like to read more of the children's stories. Twenty Jataka Tales

Week 10

I have previously read some of the goblin tales in Mythology and Folklore and I really enjoyed it. I would like to read more of them. This is also something that could be used for my storybook.
Twenty-two goblins

Week 11

The story The Missing Queen has intrigued me since I first saw it listed at the start of the semester. I think I would love it and I am excited to read the Ramayana in a more modern setting.

Weeks 12-13

I really enjoyed watching Sita Sings the Blues, so I would like to watch another movie. I would love to learn more about the indian gods and goddesses so I believe Overview: Pattanaik. Seven Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art. would be a great fit. I also love that it is two weeks.

Week 14

I would like to watch the movie about the Mahabharata because I had a hard time getting into the epic when I read it. I am hoping this gives me a better understanding of the epic.

Epified Mahabharata

Time Management

Hourglass from Mark Mallett

For the second half of the semester, I am going to stick to my current schedule to accomplish all of the assignments in this class.

MON: Reading1, Reading2

WED: Storytelling

FRI: Project, Project Feedback, Blog Comments

My primary strategy for time management has been to have a schedule. I have to block out time for me to do my homework, otherwise it would not have been done. I work 9-5 in okc on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so by the time I get home the last thing I want to do is to do homework. To avoid this I cram all of my work into Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 

Tech Tip: Embeded YouTube Playlist

 
In this playlist are a few of my favorite music videos. There is a wide variety. Some will hit you right in the feels and some are pretty lighthearted and fun.

My YouTube use is pretty light. Being a captain in the Pride of Oklahoma Colorguard, I have used YouTube to get inspiration or to learn new moves for a routine. I do like to subscribe to my favorite artists on YouTube so I can see their official music videos.

Week 7 Reading Diary: Mahabharata Part D

Mahabharata PDE

Bhishma Falls

You can really see in this story the regret of the Pandava brothers for being in this war. They really were pained by the loss of Bhishma even though they were the cause of his death. It is sad that this did not budge Karna's need for revenge on Arjuna. His own father was dying and all he wanted was revenge. I would like to recreate this to where this is not an issue. The dying words of Bhishma would convince Karna to not seek revenge on his brother. I think this would be a great twist and end to this story.

Abhimanyu and Jayadratha

I would like to go more into Abhimanyu's death. I feel like this should be a main focus instead of a side note that drives other things to happen. To make this more of an impact, I would have Arjuna see the whole thing. This may sound cruel but I think this cold be very impactful to the readers to have Arjuna's reaction. He could have Abhimanyu's life flash before his eyes. Start with his birth and how proud and scared Arjuna was to become a father. Then, I could flash forward to Abhimanyu's first time playing with a sword and seeing his sons fighting skills progress over time. All of this could happen in moments as Abjimanyu was dying. Arjuna could rush to his son's side and have a moment in all of the chaos of battle. Ignoring everything that is happening around him so he could mourn his son.

Abjimanyu from Mythologies Revisited

Tech Tip: Side Navigation

I really liked how the vertical navigation looked on my site Fairytale Case Files: India Edition. I think it is easy for readers to use and to understand on my storybook site.  I also was finally able to figure out how to change my introduction from a subpage to a page. It was really frustrating me so I am glad to have finally figured that out!

Week 7 Storytelling: A Shadow

The Third Man Movie from Enoch Nederostek's blog

Just a shadow in the corner. Just a gunshot in the night. Just a couple of seconds ended a mans life. 

(5 minutes earlier)

Brandon Carter sat in the corner of an alley waiting and thinking about his gorgeous wife. She was one of the maids of the Lord Hammel of Rowland Abbey. She loved her job, loved the people she worked with. She honestly had a God given passion for serving others that this job was able to satisfy. Just last week, there was a visitor at the abbey. The visitor was the widely known Lord Kendrick. Lord Kendrick was a celebrated war general and was never quite the same after he returned from the battlefield. He was a harsh and mean individual that got everything he ever wanted because of his previous accomplishments. When he first saw Mrs. Carter, Kendrick knew he had to have her. She was the most uncommon common woman he had ever seen. She had fair skin, beautiful hair, and eyes that seemed to dance. As Mrs. Carter was cleaning the house, Kendrick grabbed her and took her into his room. When she refused him he struck her in the face. Mrs. Carter managed to escape Lord Kendrick's grasp and ran out of the room all the way back to her home to Brandon Carter. In tears, she told her husband everything. Brandon tried to calm his hysterical wife and comforted her until she fell asleep. 

After his wife had finally gone to sleep, Brandon left the bed, got dressed, wrote a note in case his wife awoke worried, grabbed his gun, and headed to the town. With revenge in his eyes, headed toward the local bar where he recalled a neighbor mentioning seeing Lord Kendrick. He waited in the alleyway for hours. For every minute he sat there his anger builded, it took everything in him to stay calm and silent like a shadow. He wanted, no, he needed to defend his wife's honor. He could not believe someone could be so cruel to the nicest woman he had ever known. Once he thought he reached his breaking point, the door of the bar opened and Lord Kendrick emerged, proud and drunk. Carter stood raised his gun and said "This is for Rebecca" and pulled the trigger. The sound abruptly broke the silence of the night and Brandon Carter walked away from Lord Kendrick's body and never looked back. 

Author's Note: I based this off of the story Bhima and Kichaka from the Mahabharata. As I read this story, I was reminded about an episode of Downton Abbey. I decided to do a blend of this story and Downton Abbey. In the original story, Kichaka was brutally murdered, I wanted to make it a little less messy and just have Brandon kill Kendrick with a gunshot. In this version of the story, Bhima is Brandon, Kichaka is Kendrick, and Draupadi is Rebecca. 

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes by C. A. Kincaid (1921) 

Reading Diary Week 7: Mahabharata Part C

Mahabharata PDE

Arjuna and Shiva from Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914).

I really loved this story. The fight between the hunter and Arjuna over the boar was really cool! I think I would basically stay along the same storyline, but perhaps go more into the fight and the boar itself. I think you could improve the story a lot by adding more details. It has the bones but give it more meat!

Riddles at the Lake from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)

It is crazy to me that two of the brothers were written out and died within the same paragraph and it was so casually done! I actually really wanted to save this because it is a good potential case for my detective to solve in my storybook. He could answer some of the riddles at the lake.

Bhima and Kichaka from The Indian Heroes by C. A. Kincaid (1921)

I loved how Bhima defended the honor of his wife. It sounds like Kichaka took advantage of so many women and I am glad that he got what was coming to him. I think it would be great to go into this entire story. I think I would switch it up and write it like it was in the early 20s. Perhaps it would be like in Downton Abbey. There is actually an episode where Mr. Bates reminds me a lot of Bhima in this story. Downton Abbey is one of my favorite television shows so I think it would be really fun to incorporate it into this class. Not to mention I have never written anything like it. It would be a great new challenge.

Bhima and Kichaka from Kidsgen