Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part B

(Sun Wu Kung)

Wow, Part B was quite the ride. I definitely felt like there was a lot going on. I wish, in both parts, that there were fewer stories and more details to each one. 

I think my favorite part was when he was finally taught his lesson. Obviously, it sucks that it took him being locked up for 500 years (did he have food???), but I thought that part was good.

I also felt like all the times he was like deceiving the gods and especially the Lord of the Heavens was kind of weird because I would think that they wouldn't be able to be tricked like that. I just felt like it was all too easy for him.

I don't really think I will use any of the material from this part for my retelling, I like the ideas from the first part better.

Bibliography: The Monkey King, from Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book

Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part A

(The Monkey King, by Yoshitoshi)

This week I decided to read The Monkey King unit. I went ahead and read it all at once and it was so interesting! I really enjoyed it and am excited to do my own retelling.

This unit was a bit overwhelming just because I felt like so much happened in such a short amount of time.

I think my favorite parts in Part A were when Sun Wu Kung was being taught by the saint because I think he seemed the least conceited here. Until of course he wouldn't stop asking about immortality.

I also think that some of the story was confusing and that it could be better understood by someone in the culture at the time, or at least someone more familiar with the culture and traditions. I didn't understand why he was made of stone. How did he even move?

I also liked the parts where he was in the dragon realm, just because in a book series I've read that incorporates Indian mythology the five dragons were part of one of the books so it was cool to see something somewhat familiar though still different.

I think in my retelling I will use the time spent with the saint and have things end differently. I think I would like it better if Sun Wu Kung realizes he doesn't need immortality and moves on from that.

Bibliography: The Monkey King, Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book

Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses I, Part A

(Jupiter and Semele, by Gustave Moreau)

This collection of stories about Jupiter (Zeus), some of the other gods and their dealings with humans was interesting.

I was surprised at the way it blatantly said Jupiter raped the two girls, and frustrated that Juno blamed not only her husband but the girls as well, when they did nothing wrong. The goddess Diana also blamed her follower for getting pregnant by Jupiter, when again, she did nothing wrong.

I thought the story about Paethon was sad, but I guess the lesson there was to not bite off more than you can chew, or be content with what you have. Though I didn't understand why the sisters were turned into trees at the end. Maybe to symbolize regrowth after the earth was caught on fire by the Sun's chariot. I'm really not sure.

Thinking about what kind of retelling I could do, I thought maybe something about the two girls that were wronged by Jupiter. I would like to write something that is more empowering for the women who were victims and instead of them thinking Jupiter "loved" them, they are able to do something to right the wrong.

Perhaps they could rally together the other gods to punish Jupiter for his rapist and adulterous habits, and Juno could help them. Then they themselves could ascend to Olympus and become goddesses themselves so that no man could ever touch them without consent again.

Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses, books 1-4 by Ovid, translated by Tony Kline

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

(Cupid and Psyche's Wedding, by Raphael)

Yay, I love happy endings! The second half of the Cupid and Psyche unit was admittedly less interesting just because there wasn't much mystery, but I was definitely unsure if it was going to end well for the two of them.

I liked that Psyche had to complete tasks to earn her life with Cupid, and that she kept receiving help from animals or other objects that saw the ridiculousness of Venus's actions. This story also made me see Venus in a whole new light. I always saw her as this benevolent goddess who was all that is good and beautiful, but not here.

She was the epitome of a crazy mother-in-law, and exceeded every negative expectation of one. However, she ended up receding in the end (at least I assume, it didn't really mention her role after Jupiter allowed the match).

I thought it was so dumb that Psyche tried to take the "beauty." I literally rolled my eyes at that part, and said "Really?" But anyway, thankfully Cupid came to save the day.

I think that I will retell the tasks as something that the male character's mother makes the girl do to prove she is worthy, but obviously they will be much less drastic.

Looking forward to my retelling!

Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche from The Golden Ass, by Apuleius translated by Tony Kline

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part A

(Cupid and Psyche, by Orazio Gentileschi)

Okay, I love this story so far! I have never read anything about Cupid, so this one was really interesting. I do feel bad for Psyche, she just wanted someone who loved her and I didn't fully understand why Cupid wouldn't let her see him. I guess it's something about he's a god and also because he was supposed to be ruining her life per his mother's orders, not being her lover at night.

I thought the bit with her sisters turning against her was interesting, it reminded me of the ugly stepsisters in Cinderella. It seems there is a common theme of sisters turning against each other in fairy tales, or even just girls in general. 

I think this is part of the story that I will use in my retelling.

I'm not sure how I would retell the deal with Cupid. They're married but she can't see him and can only be with him at night. Maybe in the retelling it could be something like, a couple that is forbidden to see each other and they only get to be together at night, and when someone, maybe the girls sisters, figures it out they try to sabotage it. 

I don't really think I will use the beginning of the story at all, the one before the actual story starts. I also don't think I'll use the whole Psyche not being sought by anyone and the parents being distraught. 

I think I'd like to set this in another time period, but I'm not sure when yet. But I think one where people were much more separated by their class than they are today, and perhaps the reason the couple in my retelling can't be together is because they are from such different backgrounds and one of their families (the better off one) wouldn't allow it. 

I'm looking forward to reading Part B! :)

Bibliography: "Cupid and Psyche" from The Golden Ass, by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

My favorite story from the anthology was the metamorphosis story about Pygmalion and the "ivory girl."

I immediately knew when I finished it that this is the story I wanted to do my retelling over. I found the idea really interesting, of the man being so lonely that he made a statue of his perfect idea of a woman. Though it is somewhat annoying that he couldn't go out into the world and fall in love with an actual woman (because apparently they were ALL wicked, lol), I still liked the story.

It honestly made me think of teenage girls that are obsessed over a celebrity or their school crush, and just sit in their rooms imagining what it would be like to be with them. I know I was one of those girls. I thought this could be an interesting concept for my retelling.

Here are some notes to use for my retelling:

The women in his world: wicked, failings of nature, not ones he would want to partner with.

The carving: his ideal woman, he covered it with clothes, laid it in his bed, kisses it, touches it, talks to it, brings it gifts.

Him: a bachelor, a favorite of the gods, lonely, seeking companionship.

The gods: fond of him, take pity on his desire, fulfill his wish, bless him with a son.

Things to include in retelling:

Main character: a teenage girl, we'll say 17. She has a crush on a new boy at school who is different from all the other boys, as far as she can tell.

Plot: She spends hours looking at pictures of him, thinking of what she should say to him and what it would be like to be his. She sees a shooting star one night and wishes that he will feel the same way about her. The next day, he asks her on a date and she is extremely happy. The story would probably end her for word count reasons, and to leave the reader wondering if it works out.

Pygmalion priant Vénus d'animer sa statue by Jean-Baptiste Regnault.

From https://sites.google.com/view/mythfolkloreanthology/metamorphosis

Week 2 Reading Overview

Choose from CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4.
Week 3:Cupid and Psyche
Week 4: Bible Women

Choose from MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6.
Week 5: Ancient Egypt
Week 6: Ramayana

Choose from ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.]
Week 7: Japanese Mythology
Week 9: The Monkey King

Choose from NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11.
Week 10: Pacific Northwest
Week 11: Marriage Tales

Choose from BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13.
Week 12: King Arthur
Week 13: Canterbury Tales

Choose from EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15.
Week 14: Hunt
Week 15: Inferno

I am super excited to start doing these readings. I'm not sure I'll 100% stick to this plan, but most of them I think are for sure. I'm especially excited to read Dante's Inferno, the Ancient Egypt unit, Ramayana, and the Canterbury Tales.

I decided to use this image of Isis and Horus because it's from one of the stories I'm excited about reading.

(Isis and Horus) from http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/egypt-journey-of-isis.html