Famous Last Words Finishing the Class

 This week was a great week to finish up with. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table was a very interesting topic and something that I have been intrigued with for many years. Young boys seem to always be interested in the Knights of the Round Table, but I never really had a chance to explore deeper into their history until this week. This class was overall a very interesting class that challenged me in many different ways from typically structured classes. The online aspect required me to keep on top of the class work instead of relying on the instructor talking about assignments during class time. I also love to read, so getting the opportunity to read all of these different fables and tales was super fun and expanded my typical genres that I read. The project was very daunting at first, but I grew to enjoy building on my site after initially got it all set up. It was also very interesting to read everyone else's projects and get to interact with other people in the class. This helped to make the class feel very involved despite it being completely online. I also really enjoyed how involved professor Gibbs was with all of our projects. I felt like she was really trying to help me succeed in the class.

(Picture Source)

Wikipedia: Week 13

 King Arthur: (King Arthur Source)

I was really intrigued by the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table, so I decided to start with reading about King Arthur.

Merlin: (Merlin Source)

I then chose to go to the page about Merlin because he was an important figure in the tales about King Arthur. Merlin was known as an enchanter or wizard throughout most of the tales.

Round Table: (Round Table Source)

I chose to go onto the Round Table because I was interested to see what that meant. I wondered if it would be just about the Round Table itself or if it was about the knights as well. It ended up being just about the table.

Knights of the Round Table: (Knights Story Source)

I chose the Knights of the Round Table because the last page I chose was just about the table. The Knights of the Round Table are the knights that were in fellowship with King Arthur bringing this whole trail full circle.

(Picture Source)

Microfiction: Two Small Autobiography stories

I was born a larger than average baby. Before I was born, my family consisted of my mom, dad, and two sisters. I ended up being the final piece to our family. We grew up very close and are still close to this day. I believe that this is due to how my parents raised us. they instilled in us the value of family as well as Christian values to live by. This allowed us to see each other as more than just a brother or sister, but as one of God's children. I will forever be thankful for the life I grew up in. 

My early childhood can be summed in very few words. I was blessed to grow up in a house full of love, respect, and laughter.

These two stories are about my childhood and I wanted to write a 100 word story and then boil that down even smaller into a 25 word story.

(Picture Source)

Week 13: Extra Credit Reading: King Arthur

 King Arthur: The Sword of Excaliber (Story Source)

• King Arthur is in a hard battle with a tall knight and would have died if Merlin did not save him
• King Arthur does not have a sword
• They stumble upon a lake with an arm that is holding a sword
• King Arthur asks the Lady of the Lake if he can have the sword
• She says yes if in return he will grant her a favor when she asks
• King Arthur and Merlin row out to the sword and take it from the arm
• Merlin tells King Arthur that as long as the scabbard is on him, he will shed no blood

King Arthur grabbing Excaliber (Picture Source)

Week 12: Storytelling - How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox

 How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox (Story Source)

    Brer Fox was sitting around his house one day thinking of ways to trap ol' Brer Rabbit. He was going through every thing he could think of from traps and snares, to riddles and games, but try as he might, Brer Fox just couldn't think of the perfect way to trap Brer Rabbit.

Out of nowhere, Brer Fox came up with the idea to create a tar baby that would trap ol' Brer Rabbit. 

The tar baby was very sticky so Brer Fox had to be careful to not get stuck to it himself, but after a little while he finally had the tar baby in the perfect spot to get Brer Rabbit. The tar baby was set up on the side of the road heading into town, and it was positioned to hide its face from anyone passing by. Brer Fox knew it was only a matter of time until Brer Rabbit came on down the road heading for home.

Just as Brer Fox thought, Brer Rabbit came strolling on down the road and stopped once he got to the little tar baby.

"Why are you sitting on the side of the road young sir?" asked Brer Rabbit.

The tar baby stayed sitting in the same spot.

"Um excuse me, it is very rude to ignore someone young man" said Brer Rabbit with a bit of annoyance. 

The tar baby still did not move from its spot. 

"Now you listen here!" yelled Brer Rabbit. "Who do you think you are? I am trying to help you and you won't even look up at me. Well let's have a look at who you are."

And with that Brer Rabbit grabbed the tar baby's shoulder to look at his face and his hand became stuck.

"Unhand me you scoundrel" cried Brer Rabbit as he put his other hand on the tar baby.

This hand became just as stuck so he tried to kick the tar baby off of him but to no avail, he was as stuck as they come. 

At this moment Brer Fox, who had been watching the whole ordeal, comes strolling out of the brush and begins laughing at Brer Rabbit. 

"I am gonna have so much fun cooking you up Mr. Brer Rabbit" said Brer Fox.

"Why would you wanna cook me up?" asked Brer Rabbit. "It would be such a bother to gather the wood for a fire. Do whatever you want to me Brer Fox but please just don't throw me in the briar patch."

"You make a good point. I won't cook you but I think I'll just hang you" said Brer Fox.

"You can hang me if you want to drag me to a tree seeing there isn't one in sight" said Brer Rabbit. "Do whatever you want to me Brer Fox but please just don't throw me in the briar patch."

"Why must you keep pointing out flaws in my plan?" yelled an angry Brer Fox. "You are the fool. I caught you because I am smarter than you. And because I am smarter than you, I will do the one thing you dread the most."

With that, Brer Fox hurled Brer Rabbit into the briar patch and the tar baby went flying off of him. 

As Brer Rabbit landed, he bounced right back up and laughed at Brer Fox. 

"You fool, I was born in a briar patch" yelled Brer Rabbit. "I have outsmarted you once again you dumb fox."

With that Brer Rabbit ran off and lived to fight another day.

Brer Rabbit and the tar baby (Picture Source)

Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales

 The Shepherd of Myddvai by Joseph Jacobs (Story Source)

• The shepherd is lying by a lake and three maidens rise out of the lake and he loves the one closest to him
• He gave them bread but then laughed and said it was bad and ran off
• The next day he gave them more bread and they said it was undercooked
• The third day he gave her bread and she liked it and said she'd be his wife if he could pick her out from her sisters the next day
• He could tell it was her by her sandal
• She said she would be a good wife unless he struck her without cause three times
• She tricks him into the first one after they had 3 kids
• She tricked him into the last 2 by him tapping her on the shoulder
• She went back to the lake and only came back for her sons to give them gifts of healing when they reached manhood
• They are now called the physicians of Myddvai

Shepherd of Myddvai (Picture Source)

Week 11: Storytelling - The Attack on the Giant Elk

  The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle by Jicarilla Apache (Story Source)

    In the olden days, the people feared the great beasts that roamed the earth and did as they pleased. They would kill for sport any human that they desired, and there was no way for the people to protect themselves. One of the most powerful and ruthless of the great animals was the Great Elk. 

The people began to wonder what could be done if anything about the problem of the Great Elk. Some said they should move the tribe to another region away from the Elk. Some said they should offer to make peace. And lastly there was a small group that chose to pray towards the gods.

The woman who lived in the west heard their prayers.

She decided to have a son and send him down to help out the people. Jonayaiyin was his name and he came to earth as a child.

Within four days he had grown to manhood and the people went to him for help defeating the Great Elk. Jonayaiyin was more than happy to help and could not wait to get started.

"Where does this Great Beast live?" Jonayaiyin asked.

"In the vast desert out west," replied the village Chieftain. 

The moment the Chieftain told Jonayaiyin where the great beast lived, Jonayaiyin was off to slay the beast. Within four steps he had reached the vast desert and started looking for the Great Elk. 

The Great Hawk was flying overhead and saw Jonayaiyin on the outskirts of the desert and decided to fly down and see what he was up to. 

Jonayaiyin told the hawk that he was here to kill the Great Elk. At first the hawk was taken aback by the thought of one of the other great beasts being killed, but then thought of how much he despised the haughty Elk and decided to help. 

They came up with a plan for the hawk to take Jonayaiyin up over the elk and drop him from above onto his back. 

With Jonayaiyin clutched in the hawk talons, the duo began nearing the spot where the Great Elk was grazing. When they were directly above him, the hawk released Jonayaiyin and he began falling through the sky headed right for the unsuspecting elk. 

Jonayaiyin landed directly on the back of the elk. The Great Elk suddenly began bucking wildly trying to rid himself of this nuisance, but Jonayaiyin was too nimble and strong. With one great swoop of his hatchet, he lopped off the head of the elk and they fell to the ground. 

Jonayaiyin had done it. The Great Elk was no more. 

He then lopped off the hind quarters and gave them to the hawk for his help, took the front quarters back to the people, and lastly kept the antlers for himself. 

Giant Elk (Image Source)

Week 11: Reading - The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle

 The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle by Jicarilla Apache (Story Source)

• Great beasts used to prey on the people
• Jonayaíyin, the son of the woman who lives in the West, was sent to help the people
• He grew to manhood in 4 days
• He went out to the desert where the elk lived and reached it in 4 steps
• A lizard asked if he needed help and offered him his cloak to help disguise himself
• A gopher burrowed beneath the elk to help him
• The son shot the elk 4 times in heart but he was still alive and followed in pursuit underneath the earth
• The elk got trapped in by the webs of the great spiders and he died of exhaustion and his wounds
• He then made a coat from the hide of the elk and gave meat to the gopher and lizard
• He then set off for the eagle

Giant Elk (Image Source)

Reading: Week 9 - Brer Rabbit Part A

 Brer Rabbit: How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox (Story Source)

• Brer Fox catches Brer Rabbit using the tar baby
• Brer Fox says he is going to leave Brer Rabbit there until he can build a fire to roast him
• Fox says its too much trouble to kindle a fire so he's gonna hang him
• Brer Rabbit tricks Fox into throwing him into the briar-patch
• Brer Rabbit gets away

Brer Rabbit with the Tar Baby (Image Source)

Week 8 Progress

 So far I am fairly happy with my progress because I finally have a decent schedule for each week. I am going to need to do a lot of extra credit opportunities in the coming weeks because I have missed a few assignments in coming weeks. It has kind've come at a good time because I tested positive for Covid-19 and have a ton of free time on my hands. haha A major thing I want to change in the coming weeks is to jump out in front of due dates and work on assignments throughout the week.

(Picture Source)

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

 I have loved all of the comments that I have received from my fellow classmates. It really makes me want to put more work into my comments that I leave on people's pages. I have received quite a few comments on the layout of my portfolio page so I am going to work on making that a little more eye popping. I won't lie my comments have been lacking when it comes to other people's sites. I have yet to find a good way to come up with enough material to keep it from sounding like I am rambling. However, I am confident I will find one and am not disheartened. I have been getting a sense of knowing other people through the process of comments and feedback. In the future I am going to be more intentional with my project comments and really make the most out of them.

(Picture Source)

Week 8 Reading and Writing

 So far the reading and writing assignments have been very beneficial. I have noticed that it is very important to read the whole story even if I only write about part of the reading. I have not quite figured out taking notes over the reading because I don't know how someone could get up into 200 plus word counts and not end up telling the same story over again. I am more happy with my website then my blog because my blog just seems kind've jumbled and cluttered. My favorite reading so far has been the segment on Sinbad the Sailor because he was very adventurous and it was very easy to stay engaged throughout the whole reading. I am excited to work in the future on taking notes more like a writer because then I will be able to sculpt my story I will write as I am reading.

Reflection (Picture Source)

Week 7 Story: Sinbad the Sailor - The Sixth Voyage

  Sinbad the Sailor: The Sixth Voyage (Story Source)

The past three months have gone by without much going on. This was a peaceful time of rest compared to Sinbad's typical adventures, but that was all about to change.

Sinbad was grateful for this peaceful period of his life, but he needed adventure. Little did he know that his next adventure was right around the corner. 

As Sinbad was walking around the market one day, he overheard talk of a long voyage towards new lands. Sinbad was very intrigued.

He made his way to the docks and found the captain that was to set sail. The captain said he could use more hands on board as long as Sinbad carried his weight. Off they went.

Not long into their voyage, a dark storm arose and their ship had nowhere to go. They were tossed around for days until eventually a large cliff appeared and the ship was dashed against it. 

Sinbad was the only one that was able to scramble onto the rocks and make it to safety. Once he was on the island, he stumbled upon a cave that was filled with diamonds and rubies. Sinbad also found a lot of water and plentiful fruit. He decided that this was a place that he could reside for at least a little while.

A movie cover for the 7th Voyage of Sinbad (Picture Source)

Week 7 Reading: The Monkey King - Part B

 The Monkey King: The Great Saint (Source)

• Sun Wu Kung asks his friends what his title of stablemaster means 
• They said it is not a rank at all and he gets mad because he is a king
• He storms out and gets back to his island Mountain
• His apes asked him what he had been doing and he told them he was in heaven for only 10 days until he was treated badly and came back
• Two horned devils came and and brought him a yellow imperial robe
• They then gave him the title The Great Saint

Sun Wu Kung (Picture Source)

Reading Week 7: The Monkey King Part A -

"The Ape Sun Wu King" in The Chinese Fair Book, by R.Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H Martens (Story Source)

• The apes are aware that they will eventually die off
• An old ape tells a story that whoever obtains a buddha, spirit, or god will live forever
• The king of the apes wants to go find them
• The old ape says they live in caves and holy mountains in the world of mortals
• The king of the apes sets out alone on his quest
• He lands on a shore and tears the clothes off of a fisherman and wandered around the famous spots
• He wandered around for 9 years and found nothing
• He then sets off on the sea again to find the buddhas
• He heard someone singing and went off in the woods to find this lovely voice
• He meets a wood-chopper that had been singing a song taught him by a saint
• The wood-chopper tells the king the way to the saints
• The ape king was led into the cave through the gate
• The saint named him Sun Wu Kung
• The ape king lived there for some six or seven years learning the ways of the saints
• But he had still not put away his wild nature

Sun Wu Kung (Picture Source)

Week 6: Storytelling - Sinbad: First Voyage

 Sinbad the Sailor: First Voyage part 1(Source)

It’s dark, cold, and ominous. The waves appear to be cliffs rushing toward the ship. The Insurrection’s crew notices a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs as they begin to realize that their ship will not make it through the night. 

Despite the near impossible task ahead, the captain puts all the men to work. Some men are bailing water for their lives while others try to keep the ship pointed bow first toward the incoming waves. Everyone stops what they are doing at the sight of a wave bigger than any of them had ever seen. All that can be done at this point is to hang on for dear life and say whatever prayers one might need.

As dawn breaks over a peaceful ocean, Sinbad wakes up in a confused stupor. He takes in his surroundings only to realize that he was the only one that survived the storm. He was fortunate enough to have grabbed ahold of the mast and managed to hang on to it through the night. 

Sinbad was sitting there contemplating his options when he noticed a large portion of the ship floating along in the water, so he swam over and climbed on board. Being utterly lost and out of food or water, he decided the only thing to do was to lay on the wood and pray that someone came along or he drifted to some island. 

After three days, Sinbad was at his wits end and began to wonder if he should just end it all instead of dying a slow hallucination filled death. At that exact moment a pod of dolphins swam up to him. They asked his name and what circumstances had led to his current situation. Sinbad recalled his tale to them, and when he said his name their eyes lit up. 

“Are you the great Sinbad?” their leader asked.

“That would be me” replied Sinbad. 

The dolphins told him how they had heard many things about his great travels and tales. They also mentioned that there was an island not too far away that was inhabited by a friendly people that would take him in. 

Sinbad climbed on the back of the strongest dolphin and away they went. After about an hour with the dolphins, they dropped him off on the shores of the island they said was owned by King Mihrage.

        This story is based off of Sinbad's First Voyage from The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang. The original story begins with Sinbad telling another man named Sinbad about how he squandered his wealth inherited from his parents and now goes from ship to ship seeking adventure. He then tells the story of one particular ship he was on that would stop at little islands on the way to the West Indies to trade goods and explore the cities. They then accidentally land on a whale and he gets thrown into the sea. He then lands on some cliffs on an island and climbs up. I chose to head straight into to Sinbad getting thrown into the ocean and floating about. The part about the dolphins is based off of one of my favorite songs by Jimmy Buffet called Jolly Mon Sing. In this song a traveling musician gets thrown into the ocean, but a dolphin has heard him singing and loves him so he takes him to an island. I thought this would be a fun little twist to the original telling of Sinbad's First Voyage.

Animated Picture of a Dolphin (Picture Source)

Week 6 Reading: Sinbad - The Sixth Voyage

 Sinbad the Sailor: The Sixth Voyage (Story Source)

• Sinbad Travels overland to a distant Indian Port where he set sail with a captain looking to make a long voyage
• Got caught in a big storm as well as a large current that was sweeping them away
• Their ship got smashed against rocks but not before they got out
• They found a cave covered in rubies and diamonds
• Sinbad is the last one alive and decides to make a raft because he might as well die out there
• He gets on a raft and is swiftly carried away by a river and is on the raft for many days and nights
• Runs out of food
• He falls asleep and wakes up on an island surrounded by friendly-looking black men
• They are nice and one of them speaks Arabic
• They fed him and listened to his story. Astonished they brought him to their King
• He has a great time on Serendib (the island) but wants to leave so the King loads him up with gifts and sends him on his way

A movie cover for the 7th Voyage of Sinbad (Picture Source)

Week 6 Readng: Sinbad - First Voyage

 Sinbad the Sailor: First Voyage part 1(Source)

• The story opens up with Sinbad telling the man about how he squabbled his fortunes
• He sold all his stuff and joined a company of merchants 
• The set sail 
• They landed occasionally at small islands 
• They went on an island but it was actually a sleeping whale
• Sinbad did not make it into the boat so he was clinging to piece of wood
• He finally found an island and climbed up a cliff
• He met the people on the island and they liked him

A movie cover for the 7th Voyage of Sinbad (Picture Source)

Week 5 Story: The Three Lovers

  The following story is based off of the Twenty-Two Goblins: The Three Lovers translated by Arthur Ryder (Source)

    I chose to loosely base my story on the story of the three lovers, but I changed the ending to something a little darker. In the original tale, the young girl comes back to life.

        The Brahman stepped out onto the balcony and spread his arms to the heavens. He was the happiest man alive. The Brahman's first daughter, Coral, had just been born in the middle of spring. She looked just like his lovely wife, and they could not wait to watch her grow up into a beautiful woman.

Years later Coral had indeed grown into a beautiful woman and many young men were vying for her affection. Three in particular had distinguished themselves as the favorites to win her heart.

The three young men continually showered her with gifts and flowers to finally win her heart.

During a particularly cold winter, Coral became very sick and eventually died.  Her mother and father were devastated that their lovely little girl was taken from them.

The three young men were also devastated and mourned for months.

When the leaves began to fall, the young men each decided to try and find out how to get the beautiful young girl back.

One decided to move into the woods and live by himself. One chose to become a monk and moved to a local monastery. And the last one chose to travel the world in search of different brahman that might have cures to bring back the dead.

As the last young man traveled the world, he came upon brahman after brahman that did not have the answers that he was seeking. However, just before he was going to head back home, he was eating in a brahman's house and he found his answer.

The brahman's family invited the young man over for dinner, and as they were eating the brahman's baby son began crying. No matter what the mother and father would do, the child would not stop crying. The mother then got up and through the child into the fire. The young man sat aghast and did not know what to say when the brahman told him to not worry because he could easily bring the child back to life. As the brahman worked to bring the child back to life, the young man took detailed notes to take back to his love and bring her back to life.

The young man made the long journey back home and went to the girl's gravesite where he did exactly as the brahman had done, but to no avail. The young girl could not be brought back to life.

A Wise Old Man (Source)

Reading Notes: Twenty-Two Goblins, The Generals Wife

  Twenty-Two Goblins translated by Arthur Ryder (Source)

• The king picks up the goblin again
• Very brave king
• There is a great merchant with a beautiful daughter
• The merchant wants the king to marry her
• The King's brahmans saw her beauty and said she had bad qualities
• The king did not marry her but gave her to a general and they lived happily
• The king saw her again and was taken with her beauty
• The general wanted to give his wife to the king but the king would not have it
• The king withered away and died due to his yearning for love
• The general burned himself because his king was dead
• The goblin asked the king who was more deserving to die
• The king says the king in the story and the goblin escapes and goes back

A tree like one the goblin would have been in (Source)