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Honestly, I think that even if I had a planning week to develop a plan, I would not stick to it. I found myself just relying on the Canvas deadlines anyway, even though that was not my original plan. Of course, this is just me. It could be useful for other students. I was maybe just dancing through life this semester. However, I do like the review weeks. I feel they are nice break and a way to recenter and refocus.

I did not use the story planning option very often, but I did use it some and found it helpful. I used it when I did not have time to write a complete story and also when a complete idea for a story had not come to me yet. I definitely think it is a great option to have.

I am not a fan of listening to stories be read because I won't focus, so audio recordings are not a necessity for me. Again though, it could be helpful to add more audio recordings for those who enjoy to listen to the stories be read. I feel the same way about the writing tutorials. I don't think I would use them, but they would be helpful to those struggling with specific writing issues.

I love your idea to create thematic units! I don't really have any specific suggestions for themes, but I think it would be a lot of fun!

Learning Challenge: Gratitude

In my creative therapies class this semester we watched a video that basically changed my perspective on life. The video is called GRATITUDE by Louie Schwartzberg. It highlights the important things in life. I believe a big part of being happy is actually realizing what all there is to be happy about in your life. The list is always longer than you think, and it is not something that you really think about on a daily basis. It is so important that we be grateful for the great things in our lives! Once we realize how extremely blessed we are, it is impossible to be anything but happy! I encourage you all to take the time to watch this video. It really might be just what you need!

GRATITUDE

Image Info: Gratitude, online source

Reading Notes: Russian Folktales, Part B

Gah, some of these stories are just so morbid and gruesome! I just don’t enjoy reading stories like that. Give me rainbows and unicorns… Lol. That is a joke, of course, but a woman’s daughter ending up being the witch of Death and getting her arm cut off and having to be drowned? That is just too much for me. Could we somehow purify the little girl so she didn’t have to die? I thought it made for a very interesting story how the man discovered who the witch was, but the circumstances were very sad. Perhaps he could find out who the witch was a different way or perhaps get her to go away altogether somehow. Now, the story about the headless princess was a great one! It did have some scary details, but I love that the boy stuck to his faith and was able to overcome evil! That is what I’m walking about! That is another one of my favorite aspects of some of these stories- good overcoming evil! The religious themes in these stories are something I really enjoy, and I wasn’t really expecting them. I know that the reason the third daughter-in-law lived in the Warlock story was because she was cunning, but of course, she was cunning in that she would not remove her cross. These stories make me think of the devilish horror movies they make. They are pretty captivating, but I am a baby apparently, meaning I only enjoy them when good things happen in the end. Multiple stories used the phrase “Glory be to Thee, O Lord!” I would like to use this in my story as well because I want to incorporate the religious themes in my story while enforcing good character over evil actions. I can try to include some morbid details in my story since it is out my comfort zone, but I will continue to give happy endings to my stories.

Rosary, online source

Bibliography: Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston, link to online source

Reading Notes: Russion Folktales, Part A

I really liked the idea that the dead mother came back to care for the baby and comfort the baby, but why did the baby have to die? How morbid! I would love to write a story where there is a happier ending because the original ending was way too sad and abrupt for me. The story was almost too short because it lacked details that could have made it better. I am so glad that the pope got what he deserved in that story, but I wished I could know what happened with the poor man. I could write a story where he ends up with riches and success some other way and remains rewarded for his good nature. I enjoyed the story about the orphan. It read so easily and was so captivating that I was finished with it sooner than  I thought I would be. My favorite aspects of these stories is that a good character will bring you reward, but a bad one will bring you punishment. No matter what story I decide to write, I will definitely keep this aspect of the Russian stories alive. I still don’t know how I feel about the water snake story. There were aspects that I liked and aspects that I didn’t. If I were to retell it, I would either make her mother killing the snake an act of rescue because the daughter would not actually enjoy her life with him or I would have him turn into a human so he could come live with them on land and they have a nice life together. I like happy endings too much, I guess. I just have the opinion that if you are getting to control what happens in the story, why not make it something good? There are too many unhappy endings in the real world. I figure I might as well make happy endings if I have control over it!

The Water Snake, online source

Bibliography: Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston, link to online source

Storytelling: The Legacy of Robin Hood Lives On

"ROBIN!" Maid Marian thrust the door open to the room her love was being held captive, but she was already too late. Robin lay there, looking weak for the first time in his life. It was a sight for which no one was prepared, including the merry men who followed Maid Marian closely after. Robin was their fearless leader, and they did not know what to do when they saw him in that sad state. He was too weak to even speak, but he could hear every word Maid Marian spoke into his ear. "Oh Robin. I can't believe this is the end. I love you, my dear, with all my heart, and I will never belong to another." Robin lifted his hand for her to grab. "There is something you need to know, Robin. I am with child." Tears began to roll down Robin's cheek as she placed his hand on her belly. Then, in an instant, the light fled from his eyes, and he was gone.

Robin ran through the forest, shooting his bow for practice. He had a sack of gold coins tied to his belt, and he was laughing and running as fast as he could. Soon after, the sheriff came running after him. He was new to the job, and, quite frankly, not very good at it. He stumbled on the rocks and vines on the ground as he tried to catch up to his enemy. Eventually, he could no longer see even a trace of Robin, so he gave up, trying to catch his breath. This is not my thing, the sheriff thought to himself. Father is going to be so disappointed in me.

Robin Hood, link to online source

"Mom!" Robin yelled as he returned home from his day in the forest.

"Oh, Robin! Where have you been? It is late! I sent Little John out to look for you."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I decided to give the new sheriff an opportunity to get his heart racing. Boy, he sure is terrible."

"Now Robin, why was the sheriff chasing you?" Robin tossed the sack of gold coins onto the table in front of him.

"Thank you, bishop," he said with an ornery smile.

"Oh, you are just like your father, aren't you?" Robin's smile grew wider at the mention of his father. He loved hearing stories about his dad, and he wanted to be just like him. He began to daydream about his father racing through the woods, a smile on his face as the sheriff and his men chased after him, unable to catch him, but his mother soon interrupted his dream. "Robin. What did we talk about just this morning?"

"Umm... I'm not sure I remember..." Robin answered, although he knew exactly to what his mother was referring.

"I admire your dedication to your father's plight, Robin. However, if you are going to engage in such risky activities, I would like Little John or any of the other merry men to accompany you." Robin fought the urge to roll his eyes, but he understood his mother's reasons for being worried. After all, he had never met his on father due to his risky tendencies.

"Yes ma'am," Robin replied reluctantly.

The next day, Robin headed into the woods to practice shooting his bow. He planned on taking heed to his mother's words, but things changed when he ran into the sheriff.

"I have caught you now, Robin!" The new sheriff exclaimed. Robin did a true eye roll now.

"Sheriff, I have done nothing wrong. I have committed no crime. So, if you will excuse me, I will be on my way."

"Stop right there, Robin. I know that you stole those gold coins from the bishop. I saw that sack around your waist yesterday."

"Number one, sheriff, you have not the slightest idea as to what was in my sack yesterday. Number two, if it had been gold coins, who is to say that they were not mine? Now, if you will excuse me," Robin said as he walked past the sheriff.

"You won't get away with this!" The sheriff yelled, simply because it is something he had heard his father say many times. Honestly, he did not feel that those words sounded right coming out of his mouth.

Robin stopped mid-step and turned around. "Get away with what exactly, sheriff? Charitable acts? You know just as well as I do that the bishop deserved what he got. You know where those gold coins ended up? In the hands of a family so poor that they had not eaten in days. If you ask me, I think they needed those coins whole lot more that they bishop ever has in his life. The rich don't care about anyone but themselves. I'm sure you know this. I can see you are trying to walk in your father's footsteps, but wake up, sheriff. I am not the problem here. I think you know what is the true crime." Before the sheriff could reply, Robin was gone. The sheriff sat there pondering what he had just heard. Robin was right. He had always had that same thought in the back of his head, but he had suppressed it so as not to let his father down. He would not compromise his morals any longer.

The sheriff left a note for his father, explaining everything.

Dear Father,
I write this note to inform you that I resign from my position as sheriff. I do not agree with the actions of the nobility, and I will work for them no longer. I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have to do what is right. That is why I am joining Robin Hood and the merry men. I believe in justice, and the poor deserve it just as much as the rich. I hope one day you may see the flaw in your perspective. 
Much Love, 
Son

Bibliography: Ballads of Robin Hood from The English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child, link to online source

Author's Note: Robin Hood is an extremely ornery character who carries himself with extreme confidence and what seems like arrogance at times. Despite this though, he is an extremely likable character who is generous and kind. His many adventures create this illusion that he is truly invincible, so when I read the story about him dying, I could hardly accept it. Of course, Robin Hood was a real person, so it had to happen eventually. I would like to see his legacy live on though in some way other than through the stories. This is why I wanted to write a story about the offspring of Robin Hood who continue his wild yet admirable antics. I also chose to have the new sheriff join Robin because I wanted there to be some unity between the two rivals. I thought it would be nice to have the two characters on the same moral compass.

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox), Part B

I appreciate that these stories show the justice of the characters who make good decisions are the ones who reap the benefits in the end. I know it was better for the brothers to awaken from their stone form, but I think they got off a little too easy, especially since they got to marry the other two sisters. I think it is very important that stories have justice for both the characters who make good decisions and for those who make bad ones, even if it is only slight and subtle. The story about the twelve huntsmen had a weird premise to me. I thought it was odd that her fiancé did not recognize her nor did he realize the huntsman were in fact women. The whole premise of the stepping on peas thing was odd, too. I was fond of the ending though since the two lovers were reunited. I thought the onomatopoeias in the Jorinda and Jorindel story were weird. There were several things I found in this story that were odd to me when I think about it. I liked the story about the horse and the lion, but I felt sorry for the lion. I would like to write my own version of the story where everyone gets what they deserve basically. The man should let the horse stay in his stable, and the lion should get to have a happy ending, too. Or possibly, I could get rid of the lion completely, and the man could have some other motivation behind making the decision to let the horse stay. I think it was a bit morbid that the men in the story of the twelve princesses got beheaded for not being able to figure out where the princesses went. It seems the classic fairy tales are all a bit more morbid than we like in this day and age. 

The Horse and the Lion, online source

Bibliography: Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, link to online source

Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (LibriVox), Part A

The Frog Prince, online source

I love the classic fairy tale storytelling style of these stories. They take me back to childhood. These stories just had that “child sitting in bed listening to their parents read a story” vibe. I hope that I am able to emulate that in my story. There have been so many retellings of these classic stories that I am reluctant to try to make another version of my own, but I am going to do my best.  The Frog Prince story was a bit repetitive, but I think that is helpful as a children’s story. I found myself becoming impatient and wanting the girl to just help him out already. Also, I really wished that she had actually kissed the frog. I will definitely add this detail to my story.  I did like the rhyme that was repeated throughout the story though, and of course I liked the happy ending. I would have liked it better, however, had the princess wanted to help the frog on her own volition. I want to have the princess kiss the frog simply because she feels sorry for him and wants to help him out. It could maybe be better even if the princess was not a princess at all but a poor little girl. This would emphasize the lesson that being caring and helpful can help you reap great reward. I would like to add more description to my story, too. Vivid descriptions are so important, especially for children’s stories. This set of stories did have some great descriptions, but I want to add some that are even more exciting, focusing on all of the senses. I could even reverse the gender roles making the frog a princess and have a little boy help her out! This is something that I do not think I have ever seen done before with this story, but I think it would be great since reversing gender roles is so popular these days. 

Bibliography: The Frog Prince from Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, link to online source