Reading Notes: Lang's European Fairy Tales I Part A

Woods Nymphs from Wikimedia

The Young Man Who Would Have His Eyes Opened

• A boy who was only happy when he had superior knowledge, basically
• Can talk to birds and beasts
• Much happens at night that humans don't see
• Keeps looking for a wizard to open his eyes to the unseeable
• One wizard warns him that this knowledge is useless and will only bring him pain
• One every 7 years, a serpent king hosts a feast. The boy must dip some bread in the serpent king's goat milk and eat it. This will open his eyes.
• Successfully does this, but has a weird and violent dream. Now that he has awoken, he wants to go check out his new.. night vision so to speak.
• He watched wood nymphs.
• He was only able to see them that one night, which made him sick for longing to see them again.
• "Blindness is man's highest good."

Bibliography

The Young Man Who Would Have His Eyes Opened from Lang's European Fairy Tales I

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Librivox) Part B

Honey Bee from Pixabay

The Queen Bee

• Two princes went out into the world to find riches but instead started living like fools and couldn't go home.
• Little brother, a dwarf, went to find them.
• The brothers didn't want his help and laughed at him. Nevertheless, the set out for the journey back home.
• The little brother keeps the older brothers from terrorizing some ants.
• The little brother keeps the older brothers from roasting two ducks.
• The little brother keeps the older brothers from stealing the bees' honey.
• Found a castle with some weird stuff going on (everything was turned to marble). Find a man.
• The man gave them food and stuff but didn't say anything.
• The little man basically tells the oldest brother he can have riches if he finds all these pearls, but if one is still lost at sunset, he will be turned to marble.
• Same situation with the second oldest brother.
• When it came to the dwarfs turn, all the animals he saved helped him find the pearls, plus the extra riches he had to subsequently find.
• Dwarf succeeds and breaks the spell, turning all those who were marble back into living beings. The dwarf married the youngest princess of the man of that castle. The other brothers married the sisters.

Bibliography

The Queen Bee from Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman) Part B

Cat from Wikimedia

The Fox and the Cat

• Cat and Mr. Fox met in the woods
• Cat approached Fox in a friendly manner, mislead with tales of his intelligence
• Mr. Fox was arrogant, however.
• Called the Cat many great horrible names.
• Mr. Fox demands to know what tricked Cat knows, but she only knows one.
• She can save herself by jumping in trees.
• Mr. Fox is unimpressed and teaches her a new way to escape dogs.
• He is interrupted though by a pack of dogs and a hunter. 
• Cat saves herself, but the fox gets caught by the dogs.
• Cat pities Mr. Fox because in all those tricks he supposedly knew, he couldn't jump into a tree like she could.

Bibliography

Ashliman's Brothers Grimm Tales: The Fox and the Cat

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Librivox) Part A

Rapunzelturm from Wikimedia

Rapunzel

• Man and woman are unable to have children.
• Woman starts to crave the rapunzel she saw in the enchantresses garden.
• Husband stole her some to satisfy those cravings, deciding to pay whatever cost.
• She loved the rapunzel so much, she had her husband steal some more.
• Enchantress catches him and is very angry, until she hears his explanation. 
• Enchantress uses this as an opportunity to make a deal; their baby for her rapunzel.
• The woman has a child and the enchantress takes it.
• The child was named Rapunzel, after the food that had been stolen from the enchantress.
• She was shut into a tower when she was twelve, one she couldn't escape. Only the enchantress could enter by climbing the girls long hair.
• After years passed, the King's son heard her singing and became curious.
• After witnessing the enchantress climb Rapunzel's hair, he decided he too would climb her hair.
• Rapunzel was frightened by him, but he was a charmer. He proposed to her almost instantly, to which she said yes.
• She doesn't know how to escape the tower and convinces him to bring her some silk so she can make a ladder (rope?).
• The enchantress was angry when she found out that Rapunzel had pulled the prince up into her tower. In that anger, she cut Rapunzel's hair and relocated her to a desert.
• Enchantress used Rapunzel's cut off hair to pull the prince into the tower, who she then blinded with birds.
• Because of his blindness, he began to roman around for years.
• The prince eventually found Rapunzel. She cried tears that healed his eyes and they lived happily ever after.

Bibliography

Rapunzel from Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm 

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman) Part A

Rumpelstiltskin from Flickr

Rumpelstiltskin

• Miller lies to King and tells him his beautiful daughter can spin straw into gold.
• King believes him and forces the miller to bring his daughter to the castle to spin him some gold.
• King threatens to kill her if she doesn't spin the straw into gold.
• She sat there and started crying because she couldn't do it.
• She gives a little man her necklace so he will spin her the gold.
• King was greedy and wanted more gold.
• Girl gives the little man her ring so he will spin some more.
• King says she will become his wife if she spins even more the next night.
• The little man offers to take her first born after she is queen. She agrees and he spins more gold.
• The little man gave her three days to learn his name. If she could figure it out, he wouldn't take her child.
• Rumplestiltskin gives his own name away when doing a celebratory dance.
• He tore himself in two????

Bibliography

Ashliman's Brothers Grimm Tales: Rumplestiltskin

Reading Notes: English Tales Part B

Fox from Wikimedia

Johnny-Cake

• Old man, old woman, and little boy.
• Little boy is told to watch the johnny-cake while the mom and dad work in the garden
• Johnny-cake came alive and jumped out of the oven while the boy wasn't paying attention.
• Outran the family
• The cake taunts two well-diggers into chasing him, basically
• Also outran two ditch-diggers.
• Then outruns a bear.
• Then a wolf.
• Fox outsmarts the cake by forcing him to come closer until the fox can eat him.

Bibliography

Johnny-Cake from English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs

Reading Notes: English Tales Part A

Third Pig in a Butter Churn from Wikimedia

The Story of the Three Little Pigs

• The mother pig couldn't afford to take care of her pigs so she sent them out into the world.
• First pig asked a man for his straw so he could build himself a house. The dude did give the pig the straw, for some unknown reason.
• Wolf knocked on the straw house's door, and demanded to be let into the house. The pig said no, so the wolf threatened to practically destroy this pigs door. He made good on that threat and ate the pig.
• The second pig met a man with furze and asked for it so he could also build a house. This guy was also surprisingly benevolent. 
• Wolf did the same thing to the second pig.
• The third pig was clearly smarter and convinced some poor soul to give him some bricks, with which he built a house. 
• Wolf came along with his usual scheme but was unable to blow the house down.
• Wolf had to find a way to trick this pig, so he told him of a turnip field to meet him at so they could cook the turnips for dinner
• The pig went and got the turnips without the wolf, which made the wolf angry.
• Wolf suggested some apples instead. 
• The pig tried to go before the wolf again, but it took too long. He threw the wolf an apple to distract him so he could get away again. 
• Wolf was mad again and suggested going to a fair together. 
• Pig went without the wolf, again, but the wolf saw him there, so the pig hid in a butter churn and rolled down a hill. These animals are weird tbh.
• Finally, the wolf gave up and said he would eat the pig and decided to get into the house through the chimney. 
• Pig boiled the wolf and ate him instead. 

Bibliography

The Story of the Three Little Pigs from English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs

Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales Part B

Cottage from Wikimedia

Brewery of Eggshells

• Place of Strife (Twt y Cwmrws)
• Man and wife with their twins lived there
• Wife had to leave her twins for a day.
• She saw old elves with blue petticoats
• rushed home to see if her twins were okay and they were
• Over time, noticed the twins didn't grow
• Husband claims the twins aren't their real twins
• This is the strife that the house is named after... the husband and wife fighting
• Wise Man of Llandiloes
• wife went to him for advice
• "When you are getting dinner for the reapers, clear out the shell of a hen's egg and boil some potage in it, and then take it to the door as if you meant it as a dinner for the reapers. Then listen if the twins say anything. If you hear them speaking of things beyond the understanding of children, go back and take them up and throw them into the waters of Lake Ebyr. But if you don't hear anything remarkable, do them no injury."
• She threw those babies into a lake cuz they weren't hers. Stone cold. 
• Elves returned her children in exchange for their own.

Bibliography

Brewery of Eggshells from Changeling Legends from the British Isles by Dan Ashliman

Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales Part A

Well from Pixabay

The Horned Women

• Someone comes to the door, demanding it be open
• the person is Witch of one Horn
• Both the women are carding wool
• What does this mean? Look it up later
• Horned women talks of other women, and then they show up
• Next women has two horns, also starts to spin wool
• This goes on 12 times total, each adding one horn
• None talk to the actual mistress of the house, just like.... taking up space in her home. Who does that? Just goes into someone's place and starts a wool spinning club?
• Mistress is paralyzed with a spell cast by the horned women
• They are using her as a servant it seems. They speak Irish.
• Some voice helped her repair her jug.
• "Return, and when thou comest to the north angle of the house, cry aloud three times and say, 'The mountain of the Fenian women and the sky over it is all on fire.'"
• This call hurt the horned women
• Voice helps the woman enchant her house so the horned women can't come back
• Had to do a series of things to restore the home.

Bibliography

The Horned Women from Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs

Reading Notes Half Unit: Southwestern and California Legends

Western Bluebird from Wikimedia

How Bluebird and Coyote Got Their Colors

• Bird starts out an ugly color
• Found an isolated lake to bath in multiple times a day while singing a magic song
• There's a blue water. It lies there. I went in. I am all blue.
• The fourth day, Bluebird no longer has feathers. 
• The fifth day, the feathers regrow blue.
• Coyote has been watching the bluebird.
• wanted to eat the bird but is now mesmerized by its color
• Bird teaches the coyote how to bath in the lake and sing the song
• Coyote is now blue just like the bird
• Became so vain that he got distracted and fell in dirt. Now coyotes are dirt colored.

Bibliography

How Bluebird and Coyote Got Their Colors from Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912)

Reading Notes: British North America Unit Part A

Moon from Wikipedia

The Man in the Moon

• The moon has a physical home as if it is a person. House made of deerskins and a walrus's body. The house tries to bite trespassers.
• Sun and Moon are married. Moon is male and Sun is female. Seems sort of switched from the typical convention.
• The Moon has a dog, it is the only dog on the Moon.
• Contains a large plains area with large herds of deer.
• Moon let the man choose an animal to take back to Earth after he danced with the Moon. He chose a deer and a seal.
• This is a story for why the Earth has deer and seals.

Bibliography

The Man in the Moon from Judson's Myths and Legends of British North America

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Lang) Half Unit

Last time,  I read some Japanese Fairy Tales as retold by Ozaki, so this week, I wanted to read some as retold by Lang. I really enjoyed the stories I read last time, so I am eager to read these ones. I decided for my notes this week that I am going to read all the stories, but only take notes on the one I want to rewrite.

The Tale of the Tongue-Cut Sparrow from Wikimedia

The Sparrow with the Split Tongue

• Husband is good-natured and honest
• Wife is greedy and quarrelsome
• Man felt bad for the sparrow being chased by the raven, aided it by beating back the raven
• Sparrow is a scaredy cat
• Woman is jealous that her husband likes the bird more than her
• She tried to kill the bird, but was not successful
• Woman is responsible for splitting the bird's tongue, causing it to fly away from the house
• Man was disappointed in his wife's behavior and went to find the bird, but couldn't find it
• Bird for some reason turns into a fair maiden with a nice little hut and garden
• Bird entertains him all night and gives him a gift, which he chooses from two options
• Wife got mad that he took the small gift over the big one and leaves to get the big one
• Inside the bigger gift was serpants instead, killing her

Bibliography

Japanese Fairy Tales retold by Lang

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki) Part B

Japanese Fairy Book from Wikimedia

The Goblin of Adachigahara

• The Priest
• Buddhist monk
• Selfless, shown by his travels to pray for blessings and forgiveness
• Seems to be a bit naive, as he entered a cottage that was old and deteriorating and started talking to a stranger
• Doesn't need much, as he is fine with sleeping on the floor
• Seems to be friendly since he was willing to talk with her
• Respects his elders, shown by his willingness to get wood in the old woman's place
• Has some poor willpower, as he looked into her back room despite being told not to
• Realizes the reality of his situation really late
• In good shape since he was able to run away from the Goblin
• Clearly Lucky as well for the same reason

The Ogre of Rashomon

• General Raiko
• Shown to be brave when he attacked Oeyama (where the ogres lived)
• Well-liked since he has a band of followers
• His followers really trust him since they believe his so powerful that he killed every ogre
• Watanabe
• Brave, shown by his willingness to approach a gate that may or may not have an ogre
• Too trusting of his general
• Feels the need to be right, except he was wrong because there was indeed an ogre at the Rashomon Gate
• Good at battle as he fought on fair ground with the ogre, scaring the ogre off
• Anxious and overprotective over the ogre's arm
• Tricked by the old nurse aka the ogre whose arm he cut off
• Ended up convincing the ogre he was super strong and the people saw him as a hero when the ogre never came back

The Story of Princess Hase

• Princess Hase
• Very strong and beautiful girl
• Lost her mother at age 5
• Respectful of her parents, as she listens to her mother's dying wishes in silence
• Good and obedient little princess
• Very patient as she takes the hate of her stepmother quietly
• A smart child and music prodigy
• Unmoved by bad things in her life
• Everyone in her life has high expectations for her, like the Emperor, who expects her poetry to cure illness
• She must actually have some kind of power since the Emperor did indeed get better after reading her poem
• All around her like her (except the stepmother)
• Has a good ending

Bibliography 

Japanese Fairy Tales retold by Ozaki

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales (Ozaki) Part A

Lord Bag of Rice from Wikimedia

This was lost to the wind, accidentally deleted, gone forever, sorry I'm a dumb kid mom and dad

Uhm! Here is what I remember of what I accidentally deleted.

• There  was the Lord Bag of Rice who was named that because he earned a never-emptying bag of rice for killing a giant centipede for the Dragon King.
• The was this boy who was golden because he was strong. He ended up taking over this little army thing because of how strong he was. He was friends with animals and made them wrestle... he was generous.
• This one well off dude didn't want to die so he asked to be sent to this place where people never die. After three hundred years, though, the man found he didn't like living forever. Turns out it was all a dream to show the man that living forever isn't everything.

Bibliography 

Japanese Fairy Tales retold by Ozaki

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Half Unit

This unit, I decided to read Arabian Nights. I don't know much about these stories, so this should be fun.

Arabian Nights from Wikimed

• The first chapter, Scheherazade, is told from a third person perspective. The narrator is unclear, but they will be introducing the next narrator, Scheherazade herself.
• Old stories have dramatic consequences for small offenses. Despite the fact that the Sultana has lived a lovely life with her husband, the Sultan, her deception from years ago is leading to her demise. Now other women die at his hands for her deception.
• Scheherazade is an exception to the trend. She forces her father the grand-vizir, to let her marry the Sultan, in order to stop his murderous ways. 
• This is important to the story. Despite the fact that the Sultan has been unyielding so far, something about her has stopped him from strangling her. She is interesting and well-educated. 
• The sister, Dinarzade, is key to Scheherazade's plan working.
• Now, as the next chapter begins, Scheherazade is the narrator, telling her husband and sister stories.
• The parts of the story that are about Scheherazade are italicized. 
• She keeps getting to live because she doesn't finish her story. Now, at the end of this chapter, a character within her story is about to tell another story. Storyception.
• The men are taking turns telling their stories. It worked for the first man, and he was partly pardoned from punishment. If Scheherazade's story is anything like his, then perhaps she will be pardoned at the end of her story.
• She finally finished the Story of the Merchant, but she has convinced the Sultan to keep listening to her. Apparently, the Story of the Fisherman is much more interesting.
• It seems that each time, there are multiple layers of storytelling. This is a bit complex.
• Oh god. Another layer. So many layers. I am so lost.
• I find it interesting that this King is being deceived. The Sultan was also deceived. Nice parallel. In a way, the Sultan's vizir is also tricking him, as the King's is, because he sent his daughter into his chamber with the intentions of stopping his murderous ways.

Bibliography

Arabian Nights translated by Andrew Lang

Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins Part B

Here I am, reading the second half of the Twenty-Two Goblins unit. I am actually quite eager to see which story finally stumps the King and allows him to finally give the monk what he wants. I went ahead and included an image of frustration because that is how I would feel if I were the King. He never grows frustrated, however.

Frustration from Wikimedia

• The first story follows a Brahman who is poisoned and dies. Who is to blame for his death? The King decides it is not the snake, nor the hawk. Not even the people who gave him the food can be blamed. He has no one to blame but himself since he was ungrateful for the food given to him.
• If I were the King, I would grow more and more frustrated everytime the Goblin says "let me tell you another story."
• All these stories are told from a third person perspective.
• At the end of the story of the thief who got the girl, the story makes sure to point out that the King is not discouraged.
• The King is able to laugh with the Goblin, despite the fact that if he gets the answer right again, the goblin is going to disappear.
• "And the king pursued him, undiscouraged. No great man stops in the middle of the hardest undertaking."
• I am a bit surprised that the King was stumped trying to figure out how the people were related to each other.
• I did not expect that the monk would be a rogue. The King did all this work for him, yet he wants to sacrifice him! That just goes to prove that you can't just be nice to everyone.
• All the King wanted with this new power was to spread the twenty-two stories around the world.

Bibliography

Twenty-Two Goblins translated by Arthur Ryder

Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins Part A

I had a hard time choosing between the Arabian Nights Unit and the Twenty-Two Goblins Unit. Both are frametale stories, which I like. I decided to go with Twenty-Two Goblins, however, because I am less familiar with it. I figured I would get more out of it if it was completely new to me. Forgive me, the picture isn't from this story at all (lol).

A Thousand and One Nights by Friedrich Gross

• I must admit... the beginning of this story is rather confusing. 
• The King is portrayed as helpful and kind rather than corrupt, as many stories do with the people in authority.
• When the King cuts down the body, it is possessed by a Goblin, or a demon of sorts. The body then returns to the tree. I don't really know what is happening.
• Now this Goblin possessed body is telling him a story.
• Furthermore, why has this monk waited 12 years to ask the King this obscure favor?
• The premise has now been explained, and I am interested to see how this goes. Based on the title of the story, I am going to guess that it takes 22 stories for the King to be stumped.
• I am finding that this King is quite patient. Personally, I wouldn't keep retrieving this Goblin. His answer to the Three Lovers story was quite nice also. He speaks of the things a father, son, and lover should do for a woman.
• Brave, Wise, Clever is a story about three men who are trying to figure out who should marry this girl, just like the last story. This one involves killing a giant.
• Are all these stories about who should be the woman's husband? Food, Women, Cotton also follows this trend.
• Each section starts with the King returning to the tree to grab the Goblin. Then there is a section cut where the Goblin tells the story. It ends with another section cut where the Goblin asks the King for the right answer.
• Finally, some deviation from who should get the girl.
• Alas, we are back to this theme of who gets the woman.
• The stories are formatted in such a way that they are easy to follow and read. Many small paragraphs rather than one large block of text.

I like this unit. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why this King is so determined to get the goblin to the monk though.

Bibliopgraphy

Twenty-Two Goblins translated by Arthur Ryder

Reading Notes: Aesop (Winter) Half Unit

Yikes, I didn't get to reading yesterday, so today I am going to read half a unit and call it good. I chose from the list of units that are okay for half reading, and chose Aesop (Winter). I decided to take notes on only a few of the many stories inside this reading in order to save time.

The Tortoise and the Hare from Wikimedia

The Wolf and the Kid:

• Right off the bat, I realize that "Kid" is referring to a goat baby or child. 
• A goat child doesn't go home when he is supposed to and gets cornered by a wolf. The goat manages to trick the wolf into playing a tune, which ends up getting him caught by the dogs. Meanwhile, the goat was able to escape.
• "Do not let anything turn you from your purpose."
• I like that this story ended with an explicit statement of what the moral was. 

The Tortoise and the Ducks

• Because this is a child's story, the perspective is quite simple. For example, Tortoise did something and now he feels something as a consequence of that something. It is very easy to follow.
• Because the turtle becomes full of himself due to the flattery of other birds, I fell from a great height and died.
• "Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune."

The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox

• I believed the chicken was going to be eaten, but he turned out to be sly --even more sly than a fox. 
• Basically, the fox tried to outsmart this chicken and paid a price for it.
• "Those who try to deceive may expect to be paid in their own coin."

The Eagle and the Jackdaw

• A jackdaw tries to imitate an eagle, but it gets him in trouble. Now he has lost his freedom.
• "Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers."

The Plane Tree

• "Our best blessings are often the least appreciated."
• Remind me of the giving tree. That's a good one!
• Two people basically trash talk a tree, and the tree talks back.

The Sheep and the Pig

• This story reminds me of the concept of privilege. People are quick to forget their own position and quick to judge others without knowing their position. The sheep think it is silly of the pig to be scared, but they don't realize his fate is very different from their own.
• "It is easy to be brave when there is no danger."

The Lion and the Ass

• In this story, the lion acts like the bigger person because he realizes the Ass is below him
• "Do not resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them."

The Wolf and his Shadow

• A wolf thinks he is better than a lion because his shadow fooled him into thinking he is bigger than one. He gets attacked by a lion in the end.
• "Do not let your fancy make you forget realities."

The Boys and the Frogs

• In this story, I am again reminded of privilege. Some of the things people enjoy doing can often mean fatal repercussions for others.
• "Always stop to think whether your fun may not be the cause of another's unhappiness."

The Leap at Rhodes

• Basically, a man lies about how far he can jump, but the townsfolk aren't impressed. He can't jump far when asked to prove it.
• "Deeds count, not boasting words."
• Similar to the concept of actions speaking louder than words.

The Wild Boar and the Fox

• The boar recognizes the importance of preparing. It would be unfortunate to be caught in a situation you aren't equipped to handle.
• "Preparedness for war is the best guarantee of peace."

The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox

• The fox takes advantage of the bear and lion beating each other up to snatch the prize.
• "Those who have all the toil do not always get the profit."
• Not everyone who prospers has earned their wealth, on the other side of that wisdom.

The Lion and the Ass

• It is easy to hide behind the facade of the unknown. Just because the ass was able to scare the goats does not mean he is actually scary. The goats are just ignorant.
• "The loud-mouthed boaster does not impress nor frighten those who know him.

The Wolf and the Ass

• Because the wolf tried to fix the ass's thorn, the donkey was able to make his escape. The wolf lost his meal due to him trying to do something he is not familiar with.
• "Stick to your trade."

The Monkey and the Cat

• The monkey tricks the cat into doing the labor of getting him chestnuts by telling her things she wanted to hear. She ended up with no chestnuts and burnt paws because she listened to the compliments of the monkey.
• "The flatterer seeks some benefit at your expense."

Bibliography

Aesop's Fables by Winter 

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

Here is the continuation of my reading notes from the Classical Unit Cupid and Psyche. This time, I decided to focus on the language in the story. I noticed before that the story goes to great length to describe things, so I am going to take note of the various descriptions. I am going to continue doing this is bullet list format, however, because it is easiest for me while I am reading the unit.

Cupid and Psyche in the 

nuptial bower from Wikimedia

Notes:

• There is imagery of a white bird diving into water to alert Venus of her son's presence. 
• There is also a lengthy description about the fall in Venus's reputation, listing the ways in which the people are beginning to perceive her.
• "The talkative bird's tongue ran on" provides an image to portray the speed and length of which the bird starts talking.
• Every time someone talks, it seems like they are holding a long conversation with themselves. There aren't many situations in which two people are constantly talking to each other back and forth.
• The temple is described in great detail. It is portrayed as untidy, but still seems magnificent. 
• The author uses the word "drenched" to portray the amount of tears falling from Psyche. Clearly she is sobbing.
• The long list of things Psyche beseeches Ceres by goes to show her desperation and devotion.
• Interestingly, despite Psyche's impressive knowledge of the gods, which is shown through her ability to list all of Juno's shrines/temples, she can't seem to get anyone to side with her. This goes to show Venus's power.
• Venus's chariot is superbly ornate. The story goes in great detail to describe just how amazing it is. It even has a jewel encrusted harness. It flies by the power of various birds.
• Venus talks about herself in third person as she tries to persuade her brother Mercury to spread the word that she has a reward for whoever delivers Psyche to her.
• Random thought insert. Cupid is such a wimp, writhing in pain over a small burn.
• Venus implies she has the power to now all the birth of Psyche's baby. 
• Venus's assault on Psyche is described as a "tirade".
• Venus's revenge goes to turning Psyche, known for her beauty, into a "hideous creature".
• An ant is portrayed as having complex thought... gathers a bunch of his ant friends and they help her sort the pile of things Venus left her. This part reminds me of a Cinderella type story... like when she had to separate lentils from ash.
• The word "garlanded" is used to show that Venus's body is covered in roses. Nice word.
• "Under one roof but separated" is a great phrase utilized to show that although Cupid and Psyche were so close, they could not meet.
• I like that throughout this story, Psyche is receiving aid from things that would normally not speak in real life. She has now received advice from a reed. And then an eagle helped her fetch the water. Now a turret.
• Psyche, time and time again, keeps falling to her curiosity. 
• The story says he "wipes away the sleep" that escaped from the jar as if it is a liquid. 
• Jupiter goes to list, as this story often does, the things that totally suck about Cupid before agreeing to help him.
• The story makes sure to highlight that Cupid and Psyche's wedding is being celebrated by all people in attendance, even with Venus dancing. Psyche even becomes immortal and has a daughter named Pleasure.
• At this point we are reminded that this is a story within a story.

You know, after taking these notes, I think I may have written too much. I guess I will have to decide that for myself later. It was a bit difficult to comment on the language of this passage. I tended to also include some plot points in my notes. I like that this story had a happily ever after, but it seemed that Cupid and Psyche got together to easily once Cupid decided to get help. Whatever! I wasn't satisfied. Psyche was constantly giving into her curiosity and trying to throw herself off cliffs. I guess that is just for the dramatic flair, but I wish she had been mentally stronger.

Bibliography

Cupid and Psyche taken from the story The Golden Ass by Apuleius, translated by Tony Kline

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part A

This week, I decided to read the story of Cupid and Psyche from the Classical Unit. Why did I choose this story you ask? I chose it because the summary at the beginning of the unit told me that it was similar in nature to Beauty and the Beast. If you have taken a look at any of my other posts, then you know that I am fond of that story.

Cupid and Psyche from Wikimedia

My note taking strategy for this week was to focus on the plot. There were many times while reading that I tried to predict what was going to happen. I looked for foreshadowing and marked where I was surprised. Turns out I wasn't that good at predicting the future plot of the story. Normally, I like to think I am good at this, but the classical nature of this story must have thrown me off (so I tell myself to save my ego). To make things easier for my future self, I took my notes in bullet list format. My notes are similar to a story summary, but not quite. I wrote it in a way so that I will be reminded of things later, which I think is helpful for myself.

Notes:

• The story starts following a plot point, a robbery. It seems this part of the story is unrelated to Cupid and Psyche.
• It starts out with a donkey speaking as a human, although it is not revealed he is a human-donkey. One must gather this... that or it is revealed in part B.
• Interestingly, Lucius (the donkey) refers to his human form as if it is someone other than himself.
• The robbers try to be somewhat accommodating of their girl prisoner, despite the fact that they stole her for ransom. Surprising.
• The prisoner girl used was one round-about way of saying that she can't stop crying because they've taken her from her lush environment... the language in this story is round-about throughout.
• An old lady is portrayed as kind, but it turns out she is a part of the thieves greed and grows annoyed with the prisoner girls sobbing. Her annoyance took me off guard. 
• This story is full of super long sentences, made longer through a number of commas. The sentences go on, and on, and on.
• At this point, the story goes into another story, a story-ception of sorts. This is now the story of Cupid and Psyche.
• Here is an instance of foreshadowing... the story talks about how the people keep praising Psyche and treating her as a new Venus. Venus's shrines are being ignored, so I bet she gets angry and tries to kill Psyche. Or something.
• It turns out she does indeed get mad and do something about it. That was a solid prediction. 
• Venus uses her son to get back at Psyche. I predicted he would make an ugly man fall in love with Psyche and that psyche would end up enjoying his presence because of the lack of affection in her life, but the story did not turn out this way at all. I was so wrong. It turns out that Cupid decides to wed her instead, but conceals his identity, despite being beautiful.
• Sorry, random thought insert. Venus kissed her son long and tenderly with parted lips???? Interesting family customs.... 
• At this point, the plot introduces a terrible prophecy which gets the ball rolling. Now Psyche is faced with the punishment incited by Venus.
• Despite this being a terrible fate, she is met with riches and kindness at her new husband's mansion. It appears the prophecy is wrong and that nothing bad will happen to her, but she ends up messing it up for herself later on.
• Sorry, another random thought insert. Dang, he takes her v-card, just like that. No hello, hi, my name is _____ and I am your new husband? Cold. And also rape-y.
• At this point, she starts to feel imprisoned by her new luxurious life. I guess I wouldn't either tbh. This defied my expectations. I never expected her to miss her old life, but I should have since this was compared to Beauty and the Beast.
• She seduced him so she could bring her sisters with her to the palace, but this ends up being her downfall. The sisters who were so sad about her being dead turned into greedy little monsters when they found she was living amongst riches. Their ill-meant advice ends up smashing her world.
• Psyche ends up discovering who her husband is and she loses him.
• Psyche got her revenge on her deceitful sisters after Cupid leaves her, bringing part A to a close.

Personally, I would change so much about this story. Psyche needs to be more independent... her reliance on her family is what lead her to this situation with her sisters (although if she hadn't been forced to marry Cupid, none of this would have happened either... no victim blaming). I would also like to introduce consent to this story. I want Psyche to go to Cupid on her own, not due to some prophecy. I also want her to not get raped by him as soon as she meets him. I mean, the story conveys it as them consummating their marriage, but it was awkward. Why are the classics like this?? Oh yeah, patriarchy. 

Bibliography

Cupid and Psyche taken from the story The Golden Ass by Apuleius, translated by Tony Kline