Extra Reading Diary: Welsh Fairy Book (Thomas)

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on the first section of the  Welsh Fairy Tales unit. Story source: The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas with illustrations by Willy Pogány (1908).

• Just from that he could tell that the man was an evil sorcerer??
• This story paints the most amazing image of the knights at the round table.
• I like how sassy this boy is.  He's standing up to the king!
• The boy was Merlin! How cool!
• I actually really love the name, "The Lady of Greenwood."  
• Yeah having horse's ears is a pretty big secret. 
• Wow an elfin cow.  Maybe instead of "when pigs fly" there should "when cows are elves" expression. 
•  "Bala Lake" had a very different tone compared to the other stories.  
• When I saw "Tudur" all I could think of was the Tudors.  
• This story is so vivid. 
• The story with the cockshells reminds me of when Spongebob pays with "bubble money."
• Hmmmmm Helig's Hollow sounds like a very interesting place.  

(Einion and the Lady of Greenwood from the Untextbook.)

Tech Tip: SoundCloud Embedded

Reading Diary B: The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on the second section of the Heptameron unit. Story source: The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, translated by Walter K. Kelly (1855).

•  I really like the idea from this story that love works wonders.  
• Wow this isn't the ideal brother and brother-in-law family dynamic that you hope for. 
• The brother thinks that isolating his sister will solve the fact that he murdered her husband??
• Well that was a really sad ending. 
• I guess selling animals is the only way to settle this...
• This story with the good-natured man and the terrible wife actually makes me sad. 
• The story ends just as it begins.  
•  The commentary on women in this is very interesting. 
• I guess the commentary on men is just as interesting. 
  

 

(Margaret of Navarre & Margaret Queen from Jouer-Enligne.)

Reading Diary A: The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts first section of the Heptameron unit. Story source: The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, translated by Walter K. Kelly (1855).

• When I picture Francis I all I see is the actor who played him in "The Tudors."  
• Where do all these stories of men being undeterred when pursuing women come from? I have not ever witnessed this in my life.  Three years with her never even talking to him!!
• Wow I did not expect that ending.  I guess in the dating world women are stags and mean are hunters.  
• It's difficult for me to imagine the a priest hiding up in a loft...
• This is a really interesting retelling of Mary!
• I feel like I'm supposed to be familiar with some of these names...but I'm not. 
• I'm not 100% certain what a Cordelier.
• This last story is so ominous.  

(Marguerite, Queen of Navarre from Wikipedia.)

Famous Last Words for Week 12

Could this day be any more dreary?  I ask this question as I sit at a table in Bizzell Library with plenty of homework to complete but no motivation to do any of it.  Outside it's cloudy, windy and cold.  Inside here looking at my assignments and all the stuff I have to do this week it's irritating, annoying and cold.  From a week that started out 70 degress and sunny how did we get here?!  I think these are the signs that winter is actually coming and the prolonged sunniness and summer weather is soon to be over. 

The biggest thing that I accomplished this past week was completing a research paper and my storybook assignment for this class.  Each are both a huge weight off my shoulders and I'm very happy to have both of them done.  But there are still some huge assignments still waiting for me to complete them.  I hope I'll get around to them eventually.... Is there are cure for senioritis? 

On Friday, I drove up to Oklahoma City to celebrate my friend's 22nd birthday.  A lot of people drove in for it so it was extra fun to see people I hadn't seen in awhile.  I'm not ready to turn 22 yet, I think I want to be 21 forever.  Seeing my friend's birthday just made all of it so much more real.  Here's a picture of me and my friend at her birthday celebration. 

(Personal photo of me and friend taken in November 2015.)  

 This next week should be REALLY fun.  I'll be attending the Hunger Games premiere, OU will play TCU and this will be my last football game as a student here and then I'll go home to attend "The Book of Mormon" with my parents.  I can't wait.  But hopefully I'll be able to do some studying as well.  Hopefully...

Essay: The Lost Heroine

This week I read about Britomart, a woman of Arthurian legends.  I was so impressed with her because she seemed like such a modern heroine.  Britomart was a princess who disguised herself as a knight and went on many epic adventures. 

The thing I was most surprised about was how I have NEVER heard of this heroine until this class.  Especially nowadays when there are cries for strong, independent female roles, how did this awesome character become so overlooked?  Guinevere and Morgana are much better known than Britomart but now I can't seem to understand why. 

I can't even think of a character that is more of a feminist.  She held her ground with King Arthur himself, competed in tournaments and rescued villagers.  I know that Morgana was King Arthur's villain but she never suited up as a knight and took on King Arthur herself.  She mainly just used sorcery and trickery to mess with him and had others do her fighting.  Guinevere was always more of a damsel in distress than an actual fully-fledged out character. 

I feel like Britomart had a lot of qualities that are generally reserved for men, especially in Arthurian Legends.  She is a true equal and a qualified knight.  Britomart does set on a quest to meet the man who is supposed to be the love of her life, so it can be argued that she's centered around a man.  But I would argue that this is a very common theme in Arthurian legends as most knights have sought out the women to be there wives.  I really hope someone makes her story into an HBO show or an epic movie.  We need more characters like her in the main stream media!!!

(Britomart 1900 Walter Crane | Oil Painting Reproduction | 1st-Art-Gallery.com from Pinterest.)

Bibliography: This story is part of the Fairie Queen: Britomart unit. Story source: Stories from the Faerie Queene by Mary Macleod, with drawings by A. G. Walker (1916).

Storytelling for Week 12: Britomart the Brave

I trudged onward, clicking my heels constantly to coax more speed out of my horse.  The grass was like a sea of green rapidly flowing past me as I galloped across the land.  This will all be worth it in the end.  

Suddenly I caught sight of my nemesis.  The Savage Knight was across the way with his horned helmet and all-black armor.  He charged at me with full speed and I braced myself for impact.  Our eyes locked and I gestured crudely at him to bring forth his best shot.  He had no idea about my enchanted spear and as he charged, I swiftly knocked him from his horse and onto the ground.  But our fight was not over yet. 

The Savage Knight was not shaken up and he quickly knocked me down from my own horse so we were once again on even terms.  He drew his sword, as did I and our blows were met with evenly matched rebuttals.  After a time, I grew tired.  My arm felt as though it could not even lift my sword let alone strike with it.  The Savage Knight gathered his strength and dealt a stiff strike that surely could have ended me. 

I fell back as my helmet flew off my head, revealing to the Savage Knight and his squire that I was the Princess Britomart in disguise.  The Savage Knight stood before me to deliver a finishing blow, but when we met eyes his sword instantly fell from his hands.  I seized this opportunity and grabbed his sword, intent on finishing him off before his sympathy faded. 

Pushing him down with the base of the sword I stood before him.  "Finish this fight or I will finish you off," I beckoned the savage.  However, he would not move.  He stayed on the ground and would not rise.  I grew angry since I now would not get a chance to finish him off gloriously, but he refused to fight me because I am a woman.

The Savage Knight then took off his helmet and revealed himself to be no savage but the renown Sir Artegall.  This struck me personally because I had seen his face once before in Merlin's Mirror when I asked it who would be my true love.

And just like that, I reached the goal of my quest without even realizing it.  I set out two years ago to find the man in the mirror and here he stood right before me.  Words failed me because how do you address the future love of your life after almost just killing him in a sword fight?

"It is nice to finally meet you, Sir Artegall."   

(Britomart by Tyrannosaurus-lex from Deviant Art.)

  
Author's Note:  I was so excited to write this story because I became a big fan of the heroine after the readings.  Britomart the warrior princess is so cool and I wish there was a movie or something about her.  If you're slightly confused, the source material has her traveling around the lands making friends and even enemies all the while she is looking for her true love Sir Artegall who she saw in Merlin's enchanted mirror.  They meet after becoming enemies as they were both in disguises and almost kill each other before taking off their helmets and falling in love at first sight.  I just thought this was such a cool story and wanted to write my own version of it.  There was no dialogue so that was a little tough but I ended up adding a couple of lines.  I'm also obsessed with this picture I found.  I think this really captures the awesome main character!!  

Bibliography: Fairie Queen: Britomart unit. Story source: Stories from the Faerie Queene by Mary Macleod, with drawings by A. G. Walker (1916).

Reading Diary B: Faerie Queen - Britomart

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts first section of the Fairie Queen: Britomart unit. Story source: Stories from the Faerie Queene by Mary Macleod, with drawings by A. G. Walker (1916).

• I've heard about these parties in medieval times where dancers represented different emotions.  It's cool finally reading about them.  
• Ugh.  Britomart is such a cool and valiant.  
• Britomart and Amoret should have a television series.  I have already decided.  
• "Her companion was, if possible, worse than herself."  I absolutely love this line. 
• Oh my gosh.  Britomart is a Warrior Princess.  How did I not realize this?!
• Is this contest with girdle kind of like a beauty or Miss America Pageant?   
• Hey Sir Scudamour, you should take a chill pill. 
• Uh oh now the loverboys are going to team up against Britomart. 
• Oh my gosh.  Britomart and Artegall finally meeting is completely adorable. 
• That's the ending??? They never found Amoret.  
• I mean after so much build-up with Amoret and Scudamour and Artegall, I want some details about how they fell in love and searched for her!!!!!

(The Faerie Queen from TV Tropes.)

Reading Diary A: Faerie Queen - Britomart

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts first section of the Fairie Queen: Britomart unit. Story source: Stories from the Faerie Queene by Mary Macleod, with drawings by A. G. Walker (1916).

•  Not only is Britomart dressing up as a man, it seems she has a lot of boy like qualities as well.  This is a very interesting role reversal.  
• Wait what happened to King Arthur and Sir Guyon?? Did she not follow after them?  
• They should make an action movie about Britomart.  She is awesome.  
• This does seem very Shakespearian.  
• BUT SERIOUSLY HOW HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF HER BEFORE?
• Her love for Artegall is so cute.  
• I have always loved Merlin.  I mean how can you not.  
• Why didn't Merlin say how they would meet ??
• This might be one of my favorite readings from this class.  I had no idea this heroine even existed and I just keep getting more and more impressed by her.  
• There are some many gallant adventures going on at once it's hard to keep up.  
• Ugh cliffhanger.  I just want to see her meet Artegall.   

(Britomart by Tyrannosaurus-lex from Deviant Art.)

Tech Tip Week 11: Embedding Facebook Photos

Posted by Jenny Nygren on Sunday, May 31, 2015

Famous Last Words for Week 11

The first week of November is winding down and so are some of my big assignments for this semester.  Just today I will be finishing up a big research paper for my communications class and writing the LAST story of my storybook.  I have been working on these assignments for a good part of my semester, so there's a sense of nostalgia when I finally complete them.  But there's a sense mainly happiness.  I feel a lot of happiness.  

This weekend I decided to spend the weekend with my parents so I ended up missing the OU vs Iowa State game.  I watched on TV with my parents though!!! It can so pleasant coming here for a weekend and just getting away from Norman for a little bit.  Even though I'm technically coming home it's kind of like taking a mini-vacation.  It's just a little more relaxing here and my parents are so much nicer to me when they haven't seen me in a while!!!

We spent much of the weekend catching up and talking about future plans.  My sister will be able to join us for Thanksgiving so the four of us will all be together again soon.  I'm excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas soon after that because they really are fun holidays.  But I want to press pause on my senior year.  Everything is just going way to fast.  

My parents must have been in a good mood this weekend because today we went to upgrade my phone and I got the new iPhone 6S.  I was so excited because I have been begging for it for a long time now and it  it finally happened!!  I coincidentally wore a pink and white sweater to match the phone color that I wanted.  So in my mind it's fate. 

(Personal photo taken of new phone in November 2015.)

Extra Reading Diary: Europa's Fairy Book

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on part of the Europa unit. Story source: Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs and illustrated by John Batten (1916).

• It's interesting to read a much more mature and sophisticated version of Cinderella. 
• Dress of green silk?  It's so difficult to picture her in a not Cinderella blue dress!
• Wow I find the illustrated picture with Beauty and The Beast so enchanting.  
• "They all lived happily ever afterwards."  Get rid of 'wards!
• The name Bella is ruined for because of Twilight. 
• Where is this school that can teach you how to talk to animals?  Can I major in that? 
• I wonder why some of the other stories in this unit are not as popular as the first couple.  
• Has Miss Puss ever met Puss n Boots?
• Yes I'm so happy it worked out for the cat in the end!!

 

(Beauty and the Beast from the Untextbook.)

Reading Diary B: Canterbury Tales

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on the second section of the Canterbury Tales unit. Story source: The Chaucer Story Book by Eva March Tappan (1908).

• Wow that first story was so biased.  I didn't think it would be so blatantly prejudice.  
• So is the chicken the knight in shining armor?  
• Sorry I just can't get over the fact that the chicken is telling a tale.  
• Uh oh a crafty fox shows up and requests something.... (suspicious)
• "Thus ends the story of the cock and the hen and the fox."  This is a very different ending than "And they all lived Happily Ever After."  
• I'm really curious why this story about a priest becoming a philosopher was written.  It's make me wonder about the underlying meaning behind it.
• I really do love stories that kind of deal with fate and people coming into a lives for a reason, even if it's just for one fleeting moment.

 

(Cock, hen and chickens surprised by a fox by Jean-Baptiste Oudrey from Ruth Stacey Poet.)

Reading Diary A: Canterbury Tales

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on the first section of the Canterbury Tales unit. Story source: The Chaucer Story Book by Eva March Tappan (1908).

• He has to figure out what women wish for most in a year?? I can't think of anything more complicated.  
• I don't really see how the King Midas story fits it here but it was still delightful. 
• PLOT TWIST with the old lady wanting to marry the knight.  
• I knew she was going to be young and beautiful in the end...
• Throwing in some Greek mythology, I love it. 
• I just love how all of these tales are written.  This is why I wanted to take this class. 
• The last story kind of reminded me of Harry Potter.  
• I know this reading diary is short, but it's honestly because I was transfixed by these stories I just don't even know how to jot down my thoughts.  But that's a good thing.

 

(King Midas and his ears from the Untextbook.)

Famous Last Words for Week 10

Today's the first day of November and I got to celebrate my favorite holiday last night!!  There's just something about people dressing up and coming up with the most creative costumes that I love.  And I mean there's tons of free candy.  It doesn't matter how old you are, how can you not be excited about free candy? 

On Thursday my roommate and I had the best bonding night.  We colored in coloring books, made s'mores, watched Parks & Rec. and carved pumpkins!  This may sound kind of lame but sometimes you just gotta enjoy the simple things in life. 

Then on Friday I went with a group of my friends to Oklahoma City.  We all dressed up in Halloween costumes and went to some of the bars there.  One of my friends ended up wearing a chicken costume and it was an absolute hit with everyone there!  My roommate and I dressed up as a pineapple and strawberry.  Surprisingly, a lot of other people dressed up as other fruits this year.  Haha. 

On actual Halloween I spent most of the day just relaxing then at night I went with some friends to Campus Corner.  It was so busy!! Honestly, I wish people just dressed up in costumes more often.  It makes everything just so much more entertaining.  I met some interesting people in costumes like Paula Bunyun and a "one-night stand."  On this night I dressed as a cop with my friend. 

(Personal Photo of Halloween night with my friend taken in October 2015.)

 This next week I'll be busy with working on a research paper and trying to get ahead in my classes.  I hope I can work ahead in this class, because pretty soon Thanksgiving will be upon us and then the semester will pretty much be over.  So this is just some wishful thinking that I'll be super productive next week.