Famous Last Words: Week 3

The Month of September

I'd like to take this week to share about something outside of school and this class.
Sometimes life and college can get hectic and it's easy to lose ourselves and to lose sight of what's truly important in life.
To me, the important things in life are never things, but people. While things are replaceable, people are not.

 

 Blood Cancer Awareness Month Logo. Source: LLS.

The month of September is blood cancer awareness month AND childhood cancer awareness month.
These two topics are extremely important in my life and I do my best to share and spread knowledge about them when I can.

Caner is an awful disease that impacts so many people each day. Even if you are not affected directly by having the disease, chances are you have either seen a loved one be affected or know of someone who has dealt with something cancer-related.

Spreading knowledge about these cancers, sharing stories and providing hope is incredibly important and valuable, especially when it comes to the children impacted by these horrible diseases. Cancer can be frightening for everyone involved. Children (and their parents) need hope and strength to fight their disease.

There has been so much done to help and further research recently. More and more children and those affected by blood cancers are able to see another day and to spend more time with their friends and families. The future is definitely bright for cancer research. Months like September help to shed light and spread awareness, which in turn helps researchers and doctors make progress in fighting these diseases.

If you would like to learn more, these sites are extremely helpful and even mention ways in which you can help! There are more ways to get involved than just simply donating money. Spreading hope and love is sometimes the best way to make an impact.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: http://www.lls.org/blood-cancer-awareness-month

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/childhood-cancer-awareness-month.html

Wolves in Aesop's Fables: Styles Brainstorm

Wolves in Aesop's Fables: Styles Brainstorm


Topic. My Storybook will be about wolves in Aesop's Fables. The morals for the children's fables that include wolves are some of the best in the Fables and I would like to capture their essence in order to give the morals the credit and spotlight they deserve. Two stories I would like to use are The Wolf and the Kid and The Wolf and the Crane. I do not think I will have any trouble finding stories for this topic. My criteria for choosing the stories is that each story must involve a wolf in some way.

Bibliography:
1. The Wolf and the Kid.
Book Title: The Aesop for Children
Book Author: N/A (Illustrator: Milo Winter)
Year: 1919
2. The Wolf and the Crane
Book Title: The Aesop for Children
Book Author: N/A (Illustrator: Milo Winter)
Year: 1919
In general, the Untextbook is fantastic; that is where I will look for more stories.

 Image of The Aesop for Children book. Source: The Untextbook.

Possible Styles:

Frametale: I would like to style my stories in a frametale. I want to do this because I think the wolf character is very similar in all of Aesop's Fables. The character would easily be able to travel from story to story and stay the same. I could develop the wolf more this way instead of changing his persona for each story I tell.

First-Person Storytelling: This style would be very interesting to manipulate. I could either tell the stories from the wolf's point of view and/or I could tell the story from the other character's point of view looking on at the wolf. I could even write one story the first way and another story the second way. This would be a great way to develop the wolf's character and let the reader even further inside.

Children's Stories: Since I am writing my stories based on Aesop's Fables for children, writing in a children story style would simulate where the stories are originally based. This would be a nice tribute to the original story and easy for the reader to read. Using this style would easily fit with the first two as well for a nice combined style.

Diary Style: I always found diary entries to be fascinating. Growing up, I enjoyed reading books that were written in this style. It gives an inside look at the character and their thoughts. This could also be a fun way to write and for the reader to read .

Overall, I have found that I am really interested in truly developing the wolf as a character. I think I would like to combine some of these styles in order to do that to the best of my ability.

Extra Reading Diary: Aesop's Fables (Jacobs) - Reading B

Myth-Folklore Unit: Aesop's Fables (Jacobs) -Reading B

Aesop's Fables: Humans and Gods

 Jacobs 69. The Old Man and Death (Perry 60)

This story about a man calling death but not actually meaning it can relate to more than what the story was about. "We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified," holds true in many situations. You may want a test to be postponed, but if it gets postponed, it may fall on an even busier day than originally planned. I liked this fable in particular because I struggle with this. I have a hard time looking at things from an outside perspective and don't realize what my wishes and needs actually would mean if I got them granted.

Aesop's Fables: Family and Friends

Jacobs 72. The Bundle of Sticks (Perry 53)

Bundle of sticks. Source: Wikimedia.

A bundle of sticks cannot be broken, where as individually they can. "Union gives strength." This holds true in many aspects. A group of people is much harder to break through than an individual. Working together and having people surrounding you and supporting you is much more empowering than doing everything by yourself and being lonely. Unity gives strength in nay parts of life.

Aesop's Fables: People Wise and Foolish, Part 2

Jacobs 62. The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey (Perry 721)  

This is by far the best fable I have read, because it really speaks to something I'm dealing with at the moment. "Please all, and you will please none." If you over involve yourself and try to make others happy all of the time, you will eventually reach a point that to satisfy one organization or person, you'll have to let another down. You can't always please everyone and do everything. Sometimes, there is simply not enough time in the day and people have differing opinions on things you should be doing. You can't please all, and if you try no one will end up being pleased.

Storytelling Week 3: A Mended Friendship

A Mended Friendship

Long ago, a man by the name of Adam housed a dog and a cat. The two animals, Doggie and Pussie, did not get along very well. They had quite the history. Once inseparable, the two now could not stand being in the same room together. 

One day, Adam called Doggie and Pussie into the living room.

"You have both lived here for two years. I have given you everything. Shelter, food, love, care, and more. You have lives here others can only dream of having. Yet, here we are, two years later and you both cannot function being around each other. I have served you and all I have gotten in return is bickering," Adam said. He was devastated, disappointed and tired of living with bickering animals. 

With shame, Doggie and Pussie listened to everything Adam had to say. Once he was finished, Adam left the room. It was clear that he wanted nothing to do with them the rest of the night.

"He's right, you know," Doggie sighed. He missed having his best friend by his side. His partner in crime had become but a stranger.

"Yes, but we have a lot to work on. Especially you," Pussie replied. Even though she would never admit it, her rude words masked her hurt feelings. She truly missed Doggie as well.

And so they worked at mending their friendship. Day after day they tried to fix things back to the way they were.

In the beginning, every day was a struggle. Doggie and Pussie would attempt to be in the same room as each other, but they would bicker nonstop. They could not get through a single conversation without frustration.

However, slowly but surely, they got comfortable with each other again. They could be together for small amounts of time without getting angry. Sometimes they would even have fun and laugh like they used to.

The small amounts of time grew bigger and bigger, until finally, they went an entire day without an argument.

"As much as I absolutely hate to admit it aloud, I have truly missed your friendship," Pussie sighed.
"I know. I feel the same way," Doggie replied lovingly.

At that moment, Adam came into the room.

"I am proud of you two. As tough as the process was, you mended a friendship and brought peace back into this home. Thank you," Adam said.

And so from that day forward, Doggie and Pussie lived in harmony as best friends, never to split again.

 

(etching by Hendrik Hondius)

Author's Note:

The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog

I chose this story because of how interesting the original one was to read. The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog focused on the relationship between the two and I wanted to expand upon that and give it a happier ending, which is why I wrote the story I did.

Bibliography: 

This story is part of the Jewish Fairy Tales unit. Story source: Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa (1919).

Reading Diary B: Jewish Fairy Tales

Myth-Folklore Unit: Jewish Fairy Tales

The Sleep of 100 Years

Illustration of The Sleep of 100 Years. Source: The Untextbook.

I enjoyed this story, because in the end, Onias had the sense to leave the world he did not belong in. That would be such a difficult decision, especially surrounded by his family, but he did it anyways. He was able to see the rise of the town he so adored and see that it did not perish, even though he slept through his entire life.

King For Three Days

I really appreciate that Rashi's words came true. The 'King' (for three days) was an awful person and ruler. He got what he deserved. I don't like reading violent stories, so I didn't much care for this one at all.

The Fairy Frog

I enjoyed this story because of the kindness of Hanina and his wife. I would not have been able to keep my sanity for that long. I did not like this story because of the frog. Although he was a great character, I don't really like frogs, so an over-sized one that talks kind of freaked me out.

Reading Diary A: Jewish Fairy Tales

Myth-Folklore Unit: Jewish Fairy Tales

The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog

This story was compelling to read. I enjoyed the writing style and how it carried from one idea to the next. However, it was extremely sad to read about Doggie. In the end, I wanted Father Adam to keep the dog and let Pussie leave because of how rude she was. Pussie was an awful friend and did not deserve what she was given. Doggie was faithful and kind, but got nothing in return.

(etching by Hendrik Hondius)

From Shepherd-Boy to King 

I liked this story because of how David was saved. The deer was called to save him, and he was saved. To trust in God against an animal that would surely kill you and be extremely dangerous is a great feat. David was courageous and ready to fight and knew that he had God on his side, but instead God had a different plan for him. I also like that it is the story behind one of his Psalms.

The Beggar King

I really enjoyed this story because of the ending. The King (who began as an ungrateful, awful ruler) became kind and noble. He earned his spot as a ruler that the people deserved. He learned from his sin and helped those less fortunate. I enjoy stories with uplifting endings, and this one was definitely that. I liked the King's character development and the genie's willingness to give the throne back once he learned his lesson and became the ruler he needed to be.