Learning Challenge: Time

(Matt Haig, Reasons to Stay Alive)

I saw this graphic on the Learn by HEART blog and it caught my eye. The sentence in particular that spoke to me was "How to escape time: music." Anyone that knows me, knows that music is a HUGE part of my life. I'm always listening to music, in the car, in the shower, while working out, while doing homework, etc. Music has always played a major role in my life. Music is how I cope with whatever I'm going through. Honestly, I don't know how I would get by without music. There's always a song that can describe exactly how you feel at a certain time. Music relaxes you, connects you, helps you cope, helps you make sense of the world around you, etc. Without music, I couldn't make it through each day.

Growth Mindset: Meme

(Growth Mindset Memes)

I decided to do a Growth Mindset challenge this week and came across this meme. It really stuck out to me because sometimes I'll find myself focusing so hard on the problem that it will take me three times as long to come up with the solution. Only to realize how simple the solution was from the beginning. Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look at the problem from a new, fresh perspective. This picture also really represents that idea as well, plus it's funny. Lol.

Reading Evaluation

The readings I enjoyed the most were the European readings. It was interesting to read stories that I've heard and seen growing up, but in a different light. The reading diary strategy I found most helpful for me was to read one complete story the whole way through, and then go back and jot down the main points of the story and the specific parts of the story that stuck out to me. That way I could think of how to write my story and add in key parts from a particular story in my readings that week. It was pretty easy to write my own story each week because there were plenty of options to choose from in my weekly readings. I always thought it was going to be tough to write a story each week, but once I browsed through the different ways to re-tell I could immediately pick one and match to one of my stories. My advice to anyone taking this class in the future is to get ahead and stay ahead! It's easier said than done, and I wish I would've stayed ahead. I might've been able to finish the class a week early if I would've.

Reflections

Overall, I would say the most valuable take-away from this class for me was learning how to be more creative. This class requires you to think outside the box, look at everything from new perspectives, and let's you say what you want to say. It's refreshing to be in class where there is no right/wrong answer. Every opinion, idea, concept is right. My favorite part of the class was probably the storybook. It gave me the freedom to create my own collection of stories that related to mythology in someway. In the end, this class has helped me to understand that there is more than one way to tell a story. Everyone has a different perspective and each unique viewpoint makes for an interesting world.

Week 14 Storytelling: The Miner

When I was a young man, my wife and I could barely get by. She stayed at home to cook and take care of the house, and I was a miner in the local mine. My job was tough and took its toll on my body. Some days the air would be so thick with dust and dirt, I could barely breathe. I'll never forget the time when I found something interesting down in the mines. I was working alone one afternoon, when my pickaxe struck something that wasn't rock. I stopped and got down on my knees to take a closer look. There was something shining through the rock. I took my smaller hand-pick and tried to chip away at the edges without hitting the object. It took me awhile, but I finally recovered it. It was a small, gold bottle.

I started to rub the bottle with my handkerchief to get the dust off of it. All of a sudden, a voice came from the bottle. I stood there for a minute trying to comprehend what I had just witnessed. A few minutes later, and I heard the voice again. It asked if I could put the bottle somewhere safe where no one could find it. I proceeded to ask why, but the only answer I got was the same question again. I decided I would sneak the bottle out at the end of my shift and hide it in the nearby forest.

When I returned home from work that night, I told my wife what had happened.

Miner: You won't believe what I found down in the mines today! I was chipping away and I came across a gold bottle. When I picked it up and dusted it off, it began to talk! It asked me to put it somewhere safe where no one could find it.

Wife: So, what did you do with it?!

Miner: Well, I snuck it out to the forest and hid it there.

Wife: Did you not make your wish?

Miner: No? Was I supposed to?

Wife: You fool! Do you know what that was?

Miner: ......

Wife: That was a magic golden bottle! Everyone knows that it has to grant any wish you ask, or at least most people know. You need to go back this instant and ask the bottle for a cottage! I'm tired of this small, drafty shack!

Miner: If you say so..

Even though I didn't really want to ask for an entire new house, I did because I knew it would make my wife happy. I went back to the bottle and began to shine it with my handkerchief. After awhile, i heard the voice again. I told the voice that my wife wanted a cottage, and it told me to return home and I would find my wife in our new home. I did, and when I got back I couldn't believe my eyes! Right there, where our old shack used to be, stood a new cottage. I entered and found my wife sitting near the fireplace, she was most content!

Wife: Do you see this?! I told you that was a magic golden bottle!

Miner: I can't believe it! This is beautiful! We'll be happy forever here!

Wife: We'll see about that.

Before I knew it, my wife asked me to return to the bottle and ask for a castle. She said the cottage was much too small for us now. I hesitated but eventually did as she wished. After I made my trip, I came home to find my wife on the steps of our castle. It didn't end there though. She then told me she wanted to be King, then Emperor, then Pope! Each time I returned to the bottle I was reluctant to ask for something else. We had already asked for so much and I didn't want to make whoever was granting these wishes mad. Each time though, the wish was granted. Until, my wife sent me to tell the bottle she wanted control over the sun and moon. As soon as I asked, the voice was as clear as ever, "Return home, and find your wife in your old shack." I headed home and just as the voice had promised, my wife was sitting on the porch of our shack with her head in her hands. To this day, we still live in that old shack.

Author's Note: This week I read some more stories from the Brothers Grimm unit. This story is based off the story The Fisherman and His Wife. In the original story a fisherman comes across a fish one day that claims to be a prince and asks the fisherman to release him. When he returns home that day, he tells his wife what had happened and she explained to him that he needed to return and ask for a wish from the fish. He does as she requests over and over. It all started with a cottage, then a castle, then she wanted to be king, then emperor, and then pope. Finally, she wanted control over the sun and moon and when he asked the fish for that, the fish sent him home and told him to find his wife in their old hovel. I re-wrote this story with a different profession. Instead of a fisherman, it was a miner. This was to show that the moral of the story is universal. No matter who you are, or what you do, don't be greedy!

(illustration by Walter Crane)

Bibliography: Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Lucy Crane and illustrated by Walter Crane (1886).

Week 14 Reading Diary: Brothers Grimm (Crane)

Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Lucy Crane and illustrated by Walter Crane (1886).

The Fisherman and His Wife

• A fisherman went fishing one morning and caught a flounder
• The flounder claimed to be an enchanted prince and asked to be released
• The fisherman released him and went home
• When he told his wife she asked why he didn't wish for anything
• She sent him back to the flounder to ask for a cottage because she was tired of the old hovel they were living in
• The fish granted it and sent the fisherman home
• He returned to his wife and she sent him back because she wanted a castle
• The flounder granted the wish again and sent him home
• His wife sent him back again because she wanted to be king
• The flounder granted it and sent him home
• She sent him back again because she wanted to be emperor
• The flounder granted it and sent him home
• She sent him back once more because she wanted to be pope
• The flounder granted it and sent him home
• She sent him back again because she wanted to have power over the sun/moon
• The flounder told him to go home and find his wife in the old hovel
• There they sit to this day

Aschenputtel

• There was a young girl and her mother died
• Her father remarried and the woman had two daughters of her own
• They treated Aschenputtel horribly
• The father asked them all one day what they wanted from town and all Aschenputtel asked for was the first twig to strike his hat
• He brought her back a hazel twig and she planted in on her mothers grave and wept
• A tree grew and every time she would return and weep a dove would appear from the tree and grant any wish she had
• One day the king ordered all of the beautiful women of the kingdom should attend a ball in which his son could choose a wife
• She asked her step-mother to go and her step-mother told her if she could pick up a dish full of lentils from the ashes in two hours she could go
• She called for the birds to help her and they finished the task in an hour
• Her step-mother said no and then told her if she could pick two full dishes of lentils from the ashes then she could go
• She called the birds to help her again and they finished in half an hour
• Her step-mother told her she couldn't go, she didn't have nice clothes and couldn't dance
• She went to the hazel tree on her mothers grave and wept and called out to the tree to let silver and gold fall over her
• The dove brought a beautiful silver and gold dress and shoes
• She went to the ball and her family didn't recognize her because she was so beautiful
• The prince wouldn't let her leave without going with her so she hopped in a pigeon-house
• They cut the house open but no one was inside
• She had snuck out and returned the dress and was in the kitchen
• The next day she returned to the tree with the same plea
• The dove brought down an even more beautiful dress
• She returned to the festival and the prince again wouldn't let her leave without going with her
• She ran and hopped into a pear tree in the garden
• They chopped the pear tree down but no one was in it
• She had snuck down the other side, returned the dress, and was in the kitchen where she belonged
• She did it for a third time but this time the prince had the steps covered in pitch so her left shoe would stick when she ran off
• He began searching for his bride that the shoe fit
• The eldest step sister tried it but couldn't get her big toe to fit
• Her mother told her to chop it off, she wouldn't need it when she was queen
• She did and crammed her foot into the shoe
• The prince took her and then realized the shoe was bloody, so he returned her
• He made the younger sister try on the shoe, but her heel was too large
• Her mother told her to cut off a piece of her heel, she wouldn't walk when she was queen
• The prince took her but too realized the shoe was bloody, so he returned her
• He asked if there was another daughter and they said no, only poor Aschenputtel from his first wife
• He ordered for her and she cleaned herself up, tried on the shoe, and it fit
• He took her off and they were married
• During the bridal procession the birds pecked the two step-sisters eyes out and they were blind because of their wickedness and falsehood

The Robber Bridegroom

• The was a man who had a daughter that said he would give her to any man who seemed worthy
• He met a nice man and decided he was worthy
• The daughter never felt right about the man and didn't know why
• One day the man asked why they had never met, they were to be married
• He convinced her to come visit him at his house deep in the woods
• She went and when she arrived no one was there and a bird inside gave her a warning
• She went into the cellar and there was an old woman
• The old woman told her that her soon to be husband was a robber and would kill her and eat her
• She hid her and told her to wait until the night and she would sneak her out
• The robbers returned with a young girl and begin to cut her up
• They cut one of her fingers with a gold ring off and it fell in the daughter's lap
• One of the robbers began to look for it but the old woman called them to eat and told them to resume tomorrow
• She put sleeping aids in their wine and they soon fell asleep
• The daughter and the old woman escaped
• When the robber came to their wedding the girl told them of her "dream" and then showed the finger with the ring
• The family and friends caught the robbers and executed them

(Grimm)

Week 13 Storytelling: The Cottage in the Woods

A man by the name of Hans and his wife, Gretchen, had just moved to Storybrook. They were staying at the local hotel, but were quickly trying to find a new home so they could get settled. Hans picked up the Storybook Gazette on his way home from work so they could begin browsing the listings.

Gretchen: How was your first day, honey?

Hans: It was great! I think we made a really good decision moving here. The people are so welcoming and Storybrook has that small town charm!

Gretchen: I also noticed how friendly the people were today. All we need now is a place to call home, and we'll be set!

Hans: I picked up the local newspaper to search for listings. Let's take a look.

They browsed for a minute or two. Then, they stumbled across a listing that caught both of their eyes.

Gretchen: Look! There's a small single family cottage just outside of town, and look at the price! That can't be right!

Hans: Hmm. That must be a misprint. There's no way a house with that much land could be that cheap. I'll give the real estate office a call in the morning.

The next morning Hans phoned the local real estate office and set up a viewing for that afternoon. He couldn't wait to surprise Gretchen!

Gretchen: Well, you're home early from work! Is everything alright?

Hans: Everything is great! I got off a little early so I could surprise you! I called the real estate office this morning and set up a viewing for the cottage in the woods. Now hurry and get your shoes on, we're going to be late!

......

Sandra: Hello there, my name is Sandra. I'm with Storybrook Realty! Are we ready to see this wonderful property?

Hans: Hello, I'm Hans and this is my wife, Gretchen, we can't wait to see the house!

Sandra: Great! Follow me! First things first, this isn't your typical cottage. As you're probably already noticing, the house is not made out of the usual materials. Why is this you ask? It's a very interesting story actually. A few years back, two young siblings got lost in the woods. They had been gone for weeks before they finally found their way back home. When they returned they had quite the story to tell. They claimed that they came across a house made of sweet breads and cakes, and windows of sugar. They said the house saved their lives, because they had gone days without food. It sounds absurd right? Well it just so happened they were telling the truth! They led the sheriff back here to this very spot and sure enough, the cottage they spoke of stands here to this day. It's been on the market ever since.

Hans: Is there a reason that no one has purchased the house? Is it.........haunted?

Sandra: Haunted? No, no, nothing of the sort. The reason no one has purchased it is because the children also claimed that a witch lived here when they stumbled upon the cabin. They said they were trapped here for weeks, until one day the younger sibling burnt the witch alive and freed her brother at last. Now, there is no proof that this is true or that witches are even real for that matter, but that's the rumor that has been going around for years.

Gretchen: Sandra, could we have a moment to discuss?

Sandra: Sure! Take all the time you need!

Gretchen: Honey, this house is perfect! It's super cheap and it's one of a kind! A house made of sweet breads and cakes? We'll become famous once we get the word out that we own this place!

Hans: You're right sweetheart. Sandra, we'll take it!

Sandra: Great! I'll have the paperwork drawn up and you two can move in immediately!

A few weeks had passed. Hans and Gretchen were slowly getting settled into their new home. After the first week Gretchen began noticing strange occurrences while she was home alone during the day. Doors began opening themselves, dishes started falling from the cabinets, and the most recent, the oven kept turning itself on. She decided that it was probably nothing and to keep it to herself.

One moonless night, Hans and Gretchen were suddenly awoken by a blood curdling scream. Hans immediately grabbed a bat and ran downstairs to see what was making the noise. When he got to the kitchen, he found the oven with flames bursting out of the cracks, and what seemed to be an old woman's face, screaming through the flames. He grabbed the water faucet from the kitchen sink and began to put the fire out, but it only made matters worse. The screams got louder and the flames more intense. He ran upstairs, grabbed Gretchen, and fled the cottage in the woods. They never returned, and never spoke a word of what happened in that house.

Author's Note: This week I read one of the Brothers Grimm units. This story is based off of Hansel and Grethel. In the original story, when Hansel and Grethel were lost in the woods they come across a cabin made of sweet breads, cakes and sugar. They were famished and began eating the house when the owner approached them. It was an old lady who tricked them into coming inside and then held them hostage so that she could fatten them up and eat them. She was a witch. One day Grethel tricked the witch into getting in the oven and burnt her alive. Grethel and her brother escaped and returned home. The story never mentions the house or the witch again, so I thought I would create a spin-off story that tells what happens to the cottage. Also, I thought I would incorporate the witch as well. Did Grethel actually kill the witch, or did she just think she did? Maybe she did kill the witch, but the ghost of the witch will haunt the cottage forever? You decide.

(illustration by Otto Ubbelohde)

Bibliography: Margaret Hunt's Household Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (1884).