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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

Story Planning: The Adventures of Robin Hood Live On

Source Notes: 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 want to write a story about offspring of Robin Hood who continue his wild yet admirable antics.

I could not find anything online about Robin Hood ever having a child after doing a little research. He did, of course, have a love interest named Maid Marian. She was rather on the rebellious side as well, and I think it would be great if the two of them had a child together.

Robin Hood and Maid Marian, online source

I want to write a story where Robin Hood’s legacy lives on through his offspring. I could give it a tragic beginning where Maid Marian finds Robin Hood on his death bed and tells him she is with child. Then, Maid Marian can join the merry men, and they can help her raise her son. He will, of course, be a prodigy and can butt heads with the new sheriff of Nottingham who can incidentally be the old sheriff’s son. That way, the rivalry could live on through the sons. My story could be the first meeting between the two.

Characters:

Robin Hood’s son: He is just as cocky and ornery as his father, but he is also dedicated to his father’s values.

Sheriff of Nottingham: He is only sheriff because he is trying to live up to his father’s expectations, but he is not as adamant about stopping the outlaw as his father was. He actually agrees with the outlaw in some ways, but he is conflicted because he does not want to disappoint his father.  

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

Reading Notes: Ballads of Robin Hood, Part B

Robin Hood: Men in Tights, online source

(Although this movie is a parody, it is a great one. I highly recommend.) 

I thought the story about the bishop of Hereford was a fun one to read. It was nice that the story led you to believe Robin Hood and his merry men were going to kill the Bishop but instead Robin Hood brought the Bishop back to participate in merry things with them. The Robin Hood character is very likable, and I think he will be a fun one to write. I can’t help but wonder if Little John likes his sidekick gig or if he would rather be in charge of the group. I could maybe explore a story about conflict between Little John and Robin Hood, like changing the Little John begging story to have Little John argue with Robin Hood about him telling him to go begging. I really like how all of the stories start, telling everyone to come ‘round to hear the story of Robin Hood. I was confused at first because the rich Robin Hood is stealing from seem to all be people of the church, which seemed wrong to me until I considered corruption. This was a little hard for me to get used to at first though. I did like that the story about the priests finally came outright and explicitly stated the theme of giving to the poor. I had said in my previous reading notes that I would enjoy a story about Robin Hood fighting a woman and meeting his match, which I actually got with the story of Maid Marian. I loved this one too because it included a love story component. I really enjoyed the story of the golden arrow because it was familiar to me, but I don’t think familiar stories are the best ones to alter sometimes because people are too comfortable with how they go. It was very sad to read about Robin Hood dying because he seems so invincible. Perhaps I could write a story about him actually being invincible. In some way, I need to see Robin Hood live on-maybe through offspring that is just like him? That would be more realistic, of course. I did not like the second story about Robin Hood dying, but I did appreciate the detail that Robin Hood would never hurt a woman. Although he is a cocky and arrogant character, he is noble, and that is admirable and what makes him so likable. 

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

Reading Notes: Ballads of Robin Hood, Part A

I was not expecting the Robin Hood stories to rhyme, so that was a nice surprise! The dialect was a bit difficult to read at times but not too bad. I thought it was kind of sad that the forresters died, but I did enjoy Robin Hood’s arrogant attitude. He is a fun character to read about; that’s for sure. I love how he seems to be good at anything he tries, and he just knows that he will be. I wonder what Robin Hood would be like in modern day. That could be a fun story to write- Robin Hood in high school. I loved the story of Little John. I think it is great that they could fight and be men about it, and it is great that Little John joins them. The fact that two men can fight and then be friends afterward is a fun element to me. I like how the sentence structure is switched around sometimes to make the rhymes work. I have played with that a bit in my nursery rhyme storybook, but these stories really sow the value of it. I like how Robin Hood encounters all these men and fights with them, but I think it would be fun to see Robin Hood fight a girl who can hold her own. I always related Robin Hood with the whole “steals from the rich, gives to the poor idea,” which I hope to see more of in the second set of stories. I do love how Robin Hood doesn’t know a stranger; he interacts with others as if he has met them before or even known them for a while. I liked that there was a love story incorporated into all the fighting stories with Robin and Allan a Dale. I also loved Robin saving the three squires because that showed his helpful side. I am excited to read the next set of stories!

Robin Hood, online source

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

Storytelling: The Woman Who Fostered the Bear

There once was a childless woman who longed for a baby to care for. The people in the village up above always brought her meat and blubber, but this day was different. The wife of one of the hunters approached the woman and asked her if she would like to foster a bear cub. The woman could not have been more delighted. She went out to get the bear cub and brought him into her home to help him get warm. She fed the bear cub and loved him as her own child, even letting him sleep with her at night. As the bear got older, his body grew bigger, but his mind grew too. Since he had had so much human interaction with the woman, he had developed a human-like mind, being able to communicate with his foster mother.

                                             Polar Bear Cub, online source

                

The village children would play with the bear, and he would be as gentle as he could. Eventually though, he got too big to play with the children, so the adults would play with him. Everyone in the village loved the bear. Unfortunately, the bear soon grew too big for even the grown men to play with him. They did not want the bear to feel left out, so they began inviting the bear on their hunting outings. He helped the men find seal and kept them well-fed. The foster mother even made him a necklace of sinew to distinguish him from the other bears, so he would not be hunted himself.

Polar Bear, online source

The bear’s foster mother had always told him to never harm a human unless that human wished to harm him. So, when the bear returned late one night with the dead body of a man, his mother knew that her bear had only been protecting himself. The body turned out to belong to a man from another village who had heard of the bear that should not be killed, and people had heard him vow to kill him if he saw it. The bear’s foster mother knew that her baby could not stay with her any longer though. He would be killed if he did.

Sad Polar Bear, online source

So one day, early in the morning before the sun came up, the mother prepared to send her baby off into the world. She told him that there were others bears like him who would take him in, but she really had no clue if this was the case. The two held each other and wept; they were both heartbroken. The old woman finally decided that it was time, and she sent the bear off to find a family of his own. The bear searched for what seemed like forever until he finally found them. Other bears. Just like him. He approached them timidly, but they welcomed him as if they had known him his whole life. Mother was right. The bears recognized him, and they had known his bear mother who was killed by hunters. He told them of his life with the woman and the villagers, and they were all in awe. He lived with them and was happy, but he missed his foster mother terribly.

Polar Bears, online source

His foster mother missed him too. So, one day, she asked to join the hunters on their outing with hopes that she could catch a glimpse of her baby. The hunters from her village no longer hunted bears, but they did come across them from time to time. A couple of hours into the outing, the foster mother began to lose hope. But then, she saw him. Her baby! She knew it was him because he was still wearing his sinew necklace. He showed his foster mother his new family. He now had cubs of his own! The visit did not last long, but the woman left satisfied and filled with happiness for her baby, and the bear was so excited to have gotten to see his foster mother again.

Polar Bear and Cubs, online source

Here ends this story.

Bibliography: The Woman Who Had a Bear as a Foster-Son from Eskimo Folk Tales by Knud Rasmussen, link to online source

Author’s Note: I did not change the original story much. I really liked the original and thought it was a sweet story. The original story gave more detail in the beginning of the story, but I wrote my version differently for fear of copying too much of the original story. However, I did make some changes to the end of the story. In the original story, the bear leaves, and the two never see each other again.  This was too sad an ending for me. Also, the original story never tells us if the bear found a bear family after leaving his foster mother. So, I decided to give the characters a happy ending and give the readers some closure. I also chose to include the detail of the hunters in that village no longer hunting for bears because it didn’t make sense to me that they could have such a familial relationship with a bear but still kill others of his kind. I thought it was important to include the reunion because the original story left me with so many questions, and I really wanted to know if the two would ever see each other again and if the bear would be happy out there since he had grown up with humans. My first and last lines were modeled after the Inuit stories as well.