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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Extra Reading Diary: Russian Folktales

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on the first section of Russian Folktales unit. Story source: Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887).

• Oh my gosh.  The story with the dead mother broke my heart.  
• I can't think of anything more heartrendingly beautiful than a mom taking care of her child even after her own death. 
•  I love that the terrible wife called her husband a "bug bear."
• When I started reading this story I did not expect it to be the origin of the cuckoo clock.
• Isn't there a phrase that's something like "Wednesday's child is full of woe?"  The only reason I know that is because Wednesday from the Addam's family is named after that.  
• Wow.  Until I reached the end of the story I totally thought that Dneiper, Volga and Dvina were all women.
• Honestly though, I just love the name Emilian.  

(Dead Mother by Egon Schiele in 1910 from The Club of Compulsive Readers.)

Reading Diary B: British North America

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on the second section of the  British North America unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of British North America by Katharine Berry Judson (1917). 

• I had to look up what Pleiades was..... So that's why I didn't really understand the origin story.  
• The Turtle and Thunder story really bummed me out.... I guess you should always avoid your fears.  
• This bear kind of sounds like King Kong. 
• I never thought putting salmon in a lake would call for such a war.  
• Reading about the salmon just makes me want to eat salmon.  
• Well the wolverene was a liar to the end.  
• These stories don't typically have happy endings. 
• Sneaky fox. 
• This stories seem to end with the bully getting their way no matter what.  

(The First Map, North America from Shirt Tales Blog)

Reading Diary A: British North America

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts on the first section of the  British North America unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of British North America by Katharine Berry Judson (1917). 

•  There's stories so far have a Native American feel to them.  
• I totally understand Big Turtle.  Everyone gets tired.  
• These stories also deal a lot with animals.  
• I don't know what I was expecting but I figured since I love Anne of Green Gables these stories might be similar to it.  I beginning to think I'm wrong though. 
• Majority of these stories deal with creation.  
• The coyote saved the day?????? I guess this a big difference when compared to Native American tales. 
• Ok story, I can't imagine a raven and seagull ever being friends!!
• The man with the animals sounds exactly like being a babysitter.
• What did the grandmother do to get stuck with no village and having to provide for a little boy by herself ???
• Man in the moon just makes me think of Kid Cudi. 

 (Bella coola, British Columbia  from Wikipedia)

Extra Reading Diary: Italian Popular Tales

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

• This is just like the Czech fairy tale that was based off Beauty and the Beast.  Zelinda wanting a rose I see the connection.  
• However, this version has a father instead of a mother.
• This version is much more similar to Disney's Beauty and the Beast.  
• Awww Angiola could be a Disney movie.  
• The line at the end of three wives story is hilarious, "Since that time he has lost his taste for marrying."
• Poor Catherine :( 
• Aw well at least she only suffered in her youth to relax in her later years.  
• Oh foxes are always so tricky. 
• Well The Ingrates is basically the same story.  

(A Steampunk Devil Carrying the Third Sister, Courtesy Kerdersky at DeviantArt)

Reading Diary B: Pacific Northwest

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the second section of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

• So the giant wants to eat with a little kid after murdering a few people?
• Anything can happen in these stories.  
• I can't think of Thunder gods without picturing Thor.
• The line "LONG ago, before the white man came," just makes me really sad.  
• If spirits tell you not to do something, then DON'T DO IT. 
• The Coyote is at it again.
• Is this the reason why grizzly bears and coyotes hate each other?  
• Grizzly bears are far more sensitive than what I thought.  
• Coyote is on a roll with killing villains right now.  
• If Trap doesn't want to work, he won't work. 

(Coyote from Pixabay)

Reading Diary A: Pacific Northwest

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the first section of the Pacific Northwest unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon, by Katharine Berry Judson (1910).

• Well it looks like Silver-Fox doesn't like to share.  
• Silver-Fox is pretty bossy.  The coyote did everything he told him to do!  Let him enjoy the new world and have an opinion.  
• The coyote is seriously breaking my heart.  Just let him play with some people!!!
• Wait is the silver-fox a wolf??!!
• Chareya is establishing the food chain.
•  Nothing seems to go right for the poor coyote.  
• Chareya and the grizzly is kind of like Frankenstein and his monster.
• I wonder if the story with the beaver is referring to the ice age.
• So wait.  A hawk stole a tree's wives???
• Can fire be used as a form of ID instead of a driver's license?
• TO THE WINDOW TO THE WALLA WALLA.
• Wow don't ever piss off the Coyote or let him be your judge.
• Only summer and winter? No fall or spring?!
• I don't know any totem pole origin stories but I didn't expect them to be like this one.
• Oh my gosh poor the woodrat tale has a happy ending for no one.
•  I don't know where Takhoma is but now I want to go there.  

 

(Takhoma & American Bistort & Subalpine Daisies from Flickr)

 

 

Extra Reading Diary: Czech Folktales

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the first section of the Czech Folktales unit. Story source: The Key of Gold by Josef Baudis (1922).

• There's a story my family tells that is VERY similar to the beginning of this one.  
• This cape sounds a lot like the invisibility cloak!
• Things really did work out for Sleepy John.  But how could he enjoy his kingdom if he was always sleeping?
•  Burgomaster?  Like Hamburgermaster?  
• Of course the cat was a beautiful woman.  Obviously. 
• I love the line "if they haven't died since, they are still reigning."
• I like the difference of the woman going to the castle to get roses rather than simply taking shelter.  
• She cuts off his head to turn him into the prince ???????
• This story must be the origin for evil twins in soap operas.  

(The Rose from Pinterest.)

Reading Diary B: Chinese Fairytales

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the second section of the Chinese Fairy Tales unit. Story source: The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).

• I liked the first story.  It's basically saying that even though the scholar wants to be alone, he can't be content with at least someone by his side. 
• Fox preparing the elixir of life?  Who knew.
• I guess the fox just lent it to him.  
• I feel like some of these stories could be used as scary stories!
• LOL that the girl gets swept away by a tornado and the guy takes it as heaven bringing them together.  
• I feel like women are often the ogres in disguise...
• Sorcerer's are pretty tricky.... Get it... Ok I will see myself out.   
• This section's stories are significantly more depressing.  

 

(River landscape by Liu Chih from the UnTextbook)

Reading Diary A: Chinese Fairy Tales

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the first section of the Chinese Fairy Tales unit. Story source: The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).

• What is the point of the daughter throwing the ball if she can choose who to throw it to?  I thought she was leaving this up to chance.  Close your eyes and throw the dang ball!
• I guess dragons are a sign of good luck ?
• I wonder what kind of luck their child would have had?  Ill or good?  
• The story about the panther is super similar to Little Red Riding Hood.
• That was the most complicated way to kill a panther that I've ever seen.  
• I love when animals all work together.  
• Aw well that didn't last long.  
• I love picturing a moon world.  
• Is it bad that I can't stop thinking about Sailor Moon?
• That horse traveled all the way to get you and that's how you treat it!!!
• Did not see her living in heaven watching over silkworms as the ending...
• It's strange that the Master of Peace and the Master of War are worshiped together.  

 

(The Lady of the Moon from The Gentlemen Angler.)

Reading Diary B: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki)

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the second section of the Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki) unit. Story source: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908).

•  This just begins like a beautiful and classic fairy tale.  I love it already.  
• Uh oh.  The mysterious old woman is giving him so very specific instructions.  
• I mean at least the Goblin of Adachigahara was hospitable.  
• Is it bad that anytime a text says Ogre I just picture Shrek? 
• I laugh picturing a guy on a horse carrying a giant ogre's arm while riding into town.  
• This old nurse is very manipulative!  
• I like that in the end Watanabe never killed the ogre but he saved the town because it's now too afraid to ever come back. 
• Hase-Hime sounds like Cinderella!  
• Wow karma is a b!  Try and poison you'll step-child and you'll accidentally poison your own.  
• In the last section of the story, "quite" should be "quiet". 
• Yay!  See everything worked out for Katoda because he was a nice person.  

(Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki from The Story of Princess Hase.)

 

Reading Diary A: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki)

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the first section of the Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki) unit. Story source: Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki (1908).

•  I love that this has an audio recording.  It's such a different experience to have the text read aloud.  
• This story just has so much mystery.  
• A dragon's mortal enemy is a centipede ????
• This has the most beautiful descriptions.  I wish I could visit this palace!
• Very clever to put his saliva on the arrow!
• Hidesato thinks he has to go home but he had no idea that he had to kill the centipede initially.  
• Are these the best presents the dragon king has...
• Wait inexhaustible rice is actually pretty cool.
• Oh clever.  He's the Lord Bag of Rice. 
• The beginning of Kintoki's story is similar to the Count of Monte Cristo.
• Wow wrestling games with forest creatures, I am so jealous.  
• Of course the woodcutter happens to be one of the greatest generals of Japan. 
• This is truly a rags to riches story.  
• I love love love the image of Mount Fuji.  
• Oh mortality is sought after in every culture.  

(Mount Fuji from the Untextbook.)

Reading Diary B: The Ramayana

This is a Reading Diary that details my thoughts of the second section of the Ramayana unit. Story source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).

•  There are so many things I remembering when rereading this version.  
• I completely forgot all about Khara...
• The golden deer is like pandora's box.
• NOOOOO SITA DON'T ASK RAMA TO GET THE DEER!
• Yes the monkey army is so awesome.  
• I adore Sita.  Her courage is actually inspiring.  
• I can't believe rain kept Rama from Sita.  
• Hanuman might be my absolute favorite. 
• Ravana's ego is his ultimate downfall.  
• I'm surprised this scaled-down version included Sita's sons.  This part of the tale broke my heart!  And it did the second time around.  

 

(The Monkeys and Bears Build a Bridge to Lanka from Wikipedia.)