Myth Folklore Topics Brainstorm

Topic: Mermaid stories from around the world
Comments: I really like mermaids. The Little Mermaid is probably one of my favorite movies ever. When I was little, I also wanted to be a mermaid and would pretend to be a mermaid in the pool. Mermaids are portrayed as such beautiful, graceful creatures and I would love to read about them.
Possible Stories: I could include the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid or the many mermaid stories of the Shetland Islands.
Sample Story Comments: I learned that in the Shetland Island stories, the merpeople can turn into seals with the help of their treasured garb.
Bibliography: 
Sample Story: Mermaid Wife
Book Title: Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales
Author: George Douglas

Topics: Witches
Comments: I've always loved reading about the magic that the witches use in the stories. I'd love to read more about the witches and their magic.
Possible Stories: There are three stories in the Czech Folktales Unit that seem interesting.
Sample Story Comments: A witch turns herself into a white horse in order to hide from the farmhand. He takes the horse to a smith and gets the horse shoed. It shows that magic always comes with consequences.
Bibliography:
Sample Story: Three Supernatural Stories
Website: UnTextbook

Topics: Fairies
Comments: I think fairies are so cool! I've loved them ever since I saw Tinkerbell in Peter Pan. I'd love to read more about them.
Possible Stories:There are a few stories on UnTextbook about fairies that seem very interesting.
Sample Story Comments: I absolutely loved the movie and I really enjoyed the story too. I like how different they are from each other.
Bibliography:
Sample Story: Thumbelina
Book Title: The Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales
Author: Hans Christian Andersen

Topics: Dogs
Comments: Dogs are one of my favorite animals so I really want to look into how dogs are portrayed in these stories.
Possible Stories: There are many stories in Aesop's Fables about dogs that seem interesting.
Sample Story Comments: A dog is being really selfish with its food and gets reprimanded by a cow.
Bibliography:
Sample Story:More Dogs
Website: UnTextbook

(Mermaids, Source: Students of the World)

Extra Reading Diary: Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche

Cupid and Psyche

The Captive Woman: I'm a little confused. Why has Lucius been turned into a donkey and how? I understand where the young woman is coming from. If I was kidnapped I'd be crying all the time too. I don't think I would consider ending my life though.. I think I would just do anything I could to get back to my family. And the old woman is very rude. Like sorry, she doesn't want to be a part of this plan and that she's scared.

Her Dream: Oh my gosh! That would be a terrible dream!! Getting kidnapped is terrible already, but when its on your wedding day, that would be even more devastating!! It is a little weird that she was marrying her cousin, but I guess it was normal back then. But then the dream that her lover was killed by the kidnappers would scare me even more. That poor girl must be scared out of her mind.

Psyche's Beauty: Psyche is the prettiest of her sisters and all the land. To me, it makes no sense that Venus would be jealous of a human girl. Venus is also supposed to be very pretty and she is a goddess. It's weird to me that she would go to any length to try and ruin Psyche. She convinces her son, Cupid, to "exact harsh punishment" so that she'll fall in love with a man who is basically a bum and worthless.

The Oracle of Apollo: Psyche's father was curious as to why his most beautiful daughter had no suitors while the other two were ready to be married. He went to Apollo and asked why. Apollo said that if she has a child with a mortal that the child will be a "serpent-like winged evil". Her parents were upset. I mean who wouldn't be? That's really bad news to hear. I don't really understand why she wouldn't have suitors though, since all admired her beauty.

(Psyche entering Cupid's Garden, Source:John William Waterhouse)

Week 2 Storytelling: The Affair of Mars and Venus

Author's Note: In the original story, Vulcan finds out that his wife, Venus, is having an affair with Mars. Vulcan is the god of metalworking and the forge. In the story, he creates a bronze net to catch Mars (the god of war) and Venus (the goddess of love) in the act. When they are eventually caught, Vulcan and all the other gods laugh about it and they say it was the best-known story known in the heavens. I decided to retell the story of Mars and Venus because if I was in that position, I would have reacted differently than Vulcan. I don't think that after finding out my spouse was cheating on me and going through all the trouble to catch them in the act, that I would be so cool with it in the end. I definitely would not have been able to laugh about it. I would have been furious and been demanding a divorce. I chose this picture because it represents the story and shows Mars and Venus in bed together.

(Mars and Venus, Source:Top of Art)

The Affair of Mars and Venus
Long ago, on Mount Olympus, Vulcan was in his shop, creating the most magnificent weapons and armor in all the world. Many of the gods entered Vulcan's shop to view the prized weapons, but none would look him in the eye. After a few days of the gods acting strangely in his shop, he called for Mercury, the messenger god.

Moments later, Mercury arrived at Vulcan's shop. Mercury was acting the same as all of the other gods. He wouldn't make eye contact with Vulcan and he would try to keep the conversation short. He was very uncomfortable in Vulcan's presence. Vulcan grew angry with this and demanded Mercury to tell him why everybody was acting so strange.

"Well... You see... There have been some rumors going around..." stammered Mercury. Vulcan just stared. "There have been whispers that Mars has been sneaking around with your wife, Venus..." Vulcan was outraged. He started throwing everything in his shop. Mercury had to hold him back before he destroyed the entire shop. "Wait! It is only a rumor! We have no proof that they have been seeing each other!"

"Proof... I'll get proof," growled Vulcan. He started rummaging through his shop and found what he needed. He cleared the space on his work bench and went to work. Mercury stayed with Vulcan to make sure that Vulcan wouldn't destroy his shop anymore. He waited in the corner and messed with some of the trinkets in the shop. Vulcan worked for four days straight. He had created the most magnificent net that Mercury had ever seen. His creation was wonderfully fashioned. It did not look like a net at all which made perfect to hang over the bed without anybody being able to recognize what it was. It was created to fall at the slightest movement.

Mercury took the net into his hands and looked at it in awe. "It's wonderful! It doesn't even look like a net!" Vulcan told Mercury how the net worked and how he would set it up. He and Mercury went to Vulcan's home and set the net above the bed and they hid in the next room. Vulcan was anxiously waiting for the 'culprits' to strike. He paced the room for what felt like hours. Mercury grew nervous watching Vulcan. He didn't know what to expect if the rumors proved to be true.

They waited for hours when they heard a scream. They ran out and saw the net covering Mars and Venus. Vulcan was furious. He started toward Mars and Mars went running. Because Vulcan could not run, he set his dogs on Mars and they chased Mars for miles. They only stopped when they heard Vulcan whistle for them. They had ran Mars out of town. Vulcan and the others could see that Mars hadn't stopped. Chuckling to himself, Mercury asked, "I wonder when he's going to stop running?" Vulcan laughed like crazy.

Eventually, Mars came back to Mount Olympus. He and the other gods now knew not to mess with Vulcan's wife. The other gods laughed like crazy whenever they saw Mars. It would be a long time before they would let it go.

Bibliography:
Story: "Mars and Venus", Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).

Reading Diary B: Greek Myths: Ovid I

Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)

Echo: I found this story to be very interesting! I think it's really cool that Bacchus was "twice-born." I've never heard of that before. I think it's really cool that two mating snakes were able to change Tiresius from a man to a woman and vice versa eight years later. This story is also sad because of Echo. She can only repeat words that have been said to her. She can't express her true feelings. It must be so hard for her. When she is able to repeat words to Narcissus that she wants him, she shows herself and he runs scared from her.

Narcissus: I think this story is so funny!! It just amazes me that somebody could fall in love with themselves and become so obsessed. But is it also sad at the same time. For awhile, he doesn't realize that his reflection is the thing that he fell in love with. It's also really sad that he is so torn up about falling in love with something that can't be touched. He is so hurt that he dies and turns into a flower.

(Narcissus, Source:Boston)

Mars and Venus: This story is a little odd. But it amazes me that almost all the gods and goddesses have affairs. It just doesn't make sense to me. I also find it weird that after Vulcan went through all the trouble to make the net that he doesn't punish Venus or Mars. They just laugh about it and "it was the best-known story in all the heavens."

Reading Diary A: Greek Myths: Ovid I

Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)

Deucalion and Pyrrha: I'm just wondering.. But what did mankind do to upset Zeus? I know it says 'wicked deeds' but that doesn't really explain anything.. I have read a lot of different myths and I really like the creation myths. It's really interesting to read about how the people were made and what they were made of. I think it's cool how they had to loosen their clothing and throw the rocks behind them.

Io: This story was super interesting! I think it's funny how even though Zeus is married to Hera (who is supposed to be the most beautiful goddess) that he still lusts after different women and goddesses. I think it's really funny how he acts like a normal man in trying to hide the affair too. It's really sad that Io was turned into a cow just so Zeus wouldn't get caught. I really like how it explains how the peacock came to have eyes on its feathers. It is very interesting!

Phaethon and the Sun: At first, I had a little trouble keeping all of the names straight. I had to read it twice before I finally understood who the story was about. I really like how Phaethon was so determined to see if his father was actually Phoebus. He travelled so far just to speak with Phoebus to calm his doubts. I can only imagine how I would act if I was in his place and meeting my father for the first time. But I do think that it's a little odd how he asks Phoebus such a big favor in just meeting him.

Phaethon's Ride: I really like how fatherly Phoebus is being, especially for just meeting. It shows how compassionate he is and how much he actually cares for his son. I just wish Phaethon would have listened to his father's warnings. Phaethon caused so many problems just because he was ignorant and stubborn.

(Phaethon, Source: Prezi)

Castillo: This story was so interesting! It kind of makes me mad how Jupiter takes advantage of all these different women. It's really sad that Juno also punishes Castillo even though it wasn't her fault. I feel like Juno should be a little used to Jupiter having affairs. But I'm really glad that in the end, Jupiter kept Arcas from killing his mother and that he turned them both into constellations. It makes him seem like he actually cares.