Reading Notes: West African Folktales-Part A

I am reading stories from West African Folktales which were collected in the early years of the 20th century from African students at a teacher training center in Accra. These stories interested me because I read some Anansi stories as a child so I thought this would be pretty interesting stories to read as an adult.

How We Got the Name "Spider Tales": This story is interesting in that it tells of how clever the spider is yet how selfish his deeds are.

How Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race: I like that Anansi tried to hide all the wisdom, but even he did not possess enough wisdom to solve his own problems. I liked that he broke the pot and that is the cause of wisdom throughout the land. I really like that these stories could be the cause to real world ideas.

 

Anansi hiding the wisdom in the tallest tree

Anansi and Nothing: I really like how all these stories explain some common concept we have in our world today even though in the story it is a little nonsensical. I really don't like the death of Nothing. That is pretty sad.

Thunder and Anansi: I think this story is interesting. It shows a selfish man getting punished for his selfishness. I really like that he got what he deserved in the end. I would have liked the story better if he wouldn't have been selfish though.

Why the Lizard Moves His Head Up and Down: In all of these stories I think it is pretty sad that Anansi is the antagonist. He is a trickster that is willing to do anything to get what he wants.

Tit For Tat: I think it is good that Anansi gets what he deserves in this story. He just seems like such a selfish character. I don't really like him. I like a character I can relate to and be inspired by more. The son was a pretty good character though.

Why White Ants Always Harm Man's Property: I think it is pretty cool that these stories take real world scenarios and come up with stories as to why they happen. I think most of them are pretty sad stories that don't have a happy ending though.

The Squirrel and the Spider: I think it's good that spider got what he deserved, but I think it's unfair that the squirrel is still left with the short end of the stick.

Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles As Big As Themselves: Like many of the other stories I think it is interesting that the stories explain things we see in everyday life. The explanations aren't very good, but they're interesting stories.

Why Spiders Are Always Found in Corners of Ceilings: This story is pretty funny. I like that he got caught being greedy and selfish and turned into a spider.

The Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour By Itself: These explanation stories are pretty funny and entertaining.

Week 6 Storytelling: Princess Megumi

Prince Toyonari Fujiwara and Princess Murasaki had all the riches anyone could want. They were loved by all and loved all. It seemed like they had everything anyone could ever ask for except for a child. They both dearly wanted a child to love and take care of and to pass on all their riches to when they were old and no longer had a need for them. One day they decided they would visit the temple of Inari, the goddess of fertility. They made the journey to her temple to worship her and pray that she would provide them a child.

Inari heard their pleas and had sympathy on them and decided to provide them with a child. When Murasaki found out she was pregnant, the prince and princess praised Inari and went back to their home. Murasaki gave birth to a little girl whom she named Princess Megumi which meant “blessing” because she was such a blessing to her parents. Inari had granted their prayers for a daughter and when Megumi was born Inari was overwhelmed with affection for her. She could sense that her heart was so pure and she would do amazing things. Inari vowed from that day on to watch over Megumi and ensure no harm ever came to her. Megumi and her parents all lived a perfectly happy life until Princess Murasaki fell terribly ill. When she knew she would not recover she called for her child, Megumi. She told her to not be angry because of her mother’s death, but to rejoice that the two of them had gotten to spend the last five years together. She told Megumi she was not to resent the world but love everyone that much more. She was to be a good girl and love others incomparably. She also told Megumi if her father found another woman to marry, Megumi should love her and accept her as a mother. Megumi agreed to all of these things and was deeply saddened when her mother passes away later that week.

Two years later Megumi’s father married another named Princess Terute. Terute came to despise Princess Megumi because her father loved her so and treasured her more than anything else. Terute desired to be the most important thing in his life. She gave birth to a child later that year and knew she and her son would now be the one to win Prince Toyonari’s affection, but his still held Megumi dearest of all. Terute came to hate Megumi even more. 

 

Princess Megumi

Megumi grew to be a young adult and was so kind and loving to all. She was also a great artist, musician, and writer. News of her amazing musical abilities traveled around the village and soon Megumi was invited to perform for the Emperor which was such an honor. Megumi performed beautifully and the Emperor praised her performance. He invited her back to perform for all the court and sent her beautiful gifts for her wonderful performances. Terute resented Megumi even more. Not only did she receive the love and affection of Prince Toyonari, she was now receiving praise and love from all the people including the emperor. 

Princess Terute decided she needed to do something about Megumi because everything in her life was perfect if it weren’t for this awful child. Megumi always treated Terute with respect and loved her like she would love her own mother, but still Terute could not stand Megumi. She decided while Prince Toyonari was out of town for business she would have Megumi taken to the woods and killed.

Terute ordered one of her servants to take Megumi deep into the woods and kill her then return without any trace of Megumi. The servant was loyal to Terute and agreed. Megumi knew something awful was going to happen when Terute sent her away with the servant, but Megumi had no fear, she only loved. Inari looked down from the skies and saw Megumi’s situation and how her heart was still filled with love and compassion. Inari decided to honor her vow to keep Megumi safe so as the servant and Megumi were walking deeper into the woods, Inari disguised herself as a wolf and rescued Megumi from the servant. Inari took her to a safe place where she could remain until her father returned.

Inari came to Prince Toyonari in his dreams and demanded he return home at once. The next morning he left. When he returned to his house he found his fears confirmed, Megumi was nowhere to be found. Terute insisted that Megumi had run away of her own accord. She reassured him that they had been searching for her and she had gone into the forest and all that remained was a gold hair piece she wore. Megumi’s father was devastated, but refused to believe Megumi would run away. He went in search of her. When he got to the woods Inari, disguised as the wolf, led him to Megumi where Megumi told her father what had happened. When Prince Toyonari heard this he banished Terute and demanded she could never step foot in their village again. Megumi and her family lived happily. Megumi was loved by all and the goddess Inari always watched over her like she was her own mother. Megumi lived to an old age and was loved by everyone who ever met her.

 
Author's Note: I really liked the Japanese Fairy Tales by Ozaki that I read and looked forward to writing a story like the last story in the series about Princess Hase. I modified the story a bit and added my own twist, but it was really fun to write!

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales-Part B

I will be continuing to read Japanese Fairy Tales by Ozaki. I am excited to continue reading these stories! I really like the fairy tale aspect.

The Goblin of Adachigahara: This story starts of pretty interesting with a Goblin that eats people and a haunted place in the plain. I am worried for the traveler that he will get eaten by the lady.

 

The Goblin of Adachigahara (cont.): That was a pretty scary story. I know it's not over, but the imagery of the blood and dead bodies and skulls all over the room was a terrible image. It did make me nervous, but I'm glad he ended up looking and leaving before we had to read about him dying.

 

Priest looking in forbidden area

The Ogre of Rashomon: These stories are starting of so gruesome and gross. The cannibal creatures that appear only at night in certain areas are kind of cliche, but a good story line. Not much has happened other than some guys trying to prove that they are right and the other is wrong. Typical.

The Ogre of Rashomon (cont.): I pretty much had thought the ogre would be standing behind Watanabe. It is sad that he cut off the giant's arm. It is pretty bad that the ogre is still alive too because he is probably very upset with Wantanabe for cutting his arm off.

The Ogre of Rashomon (end): This is a fairly good ending. I think it's a little strange that the nurse looked so much like the old nurse he had had growing up. I think it's weird that the ogre so eagerly convinced them all that he was an old nurse instead of an ogre.

The Story of Princess Hase: I like this story so much so far! I love a story about happy people that wish for something and get what they most desire. I love that the daughter is so kind and loving no matter the circumstance. Stories like that are really inspiring.

The Story of Princess Hase (cont.): This story is quite sad. The stepmother is evil and tries to kill the young princess, but ends up killing her own son. This is so sad. It's not fair that the poor child should die due to his mother's evilness.

The Story of Princess Hase (cont. again): I love how pure and sweet Princess Hase is. This is probably one of my favorite characters so far. I know that it is impossible to be perfect, but a story about someone that tries so effortlessly to love all is so amazing.

The Story of Princess Hase (end): I love that until the end Princess Hase-Hime has such a wonderful reputation. She is so humble and loving. This is the kind of character every story needs.

Reading Notes: Japanese Fairy Tales-Part A

This week I decided to read Japanese Fairy Tales by Ozaki. I always enjoy reading fairy tales and they are my favorite types of story so that is what influenced me to read it!

My Lord Bag of Rice: I really enjoy stories like this! I love the fairy tale aspect of it and the dragon shape-shifting character. I like that he was looking for a brave human to help him.

     

My Lord Bag of Rice (cont.): I like the imagery that the author has. I like that it is very descriptive and paint the image like a painting. The water parting and the colorful fish greeting them.

My Lord Bag of Rice (end): I love this story! It is so enjoyable to read! I love the images and descriptive language that the author uses. This story is very entertaining! I really like that the warrior was rewarded for his bravery and service to the Dragon King. I had kind of hoped that something would happen with the Centipede that would introduce a twist to the story. For example, the Dragon King taking something of the centipede's and the centipede simply trying to retrieve it.

The Adventures of Kintaro, The Golden Boy: This is an interesting story so far. I really like that the boy has super strength and that he can talk with the animals. I like the bond he has with the animals.

The Adventures of Kintaro (cont.): This part was pretty short, it was just a continuation of the animals wrestling then traveling back home. I liked that they were all still friends and fairly good sports after the wrestling match regardless of the winner.

Kintaro and his mother

The Adventures of Kintaro (cont. again): A new character is introduced. A woodcutter that could possibly and enemy to Kintaro and his mother.

The Adventures of Kintaro (end): There wasn't a whole lot to that story. It was fairly anticlimactic. I did enjoy it though. It was just a light hearted and happy story of a great hero.

The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die: This is an interesting story. I am not crazy about it, but I like the idea of magical Elixir of Life. I am not a huge fan of the main character that is terrified of dying because he would be leaving behind all these materialistic things.

The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die (cont.): I really like that Sentaro actually gets to the land of Perpetual Life just to find that it is nothing like what he hoped. I hope that he will realize he got his wish, but it isn't at all what he expected.

The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die (end): I really like that the story had really just been a dream and it was just a vision of what could have happened. I think I will use that in one of my stories. I like that he ended up wanting to go back to his old life and regretted what he had wished for. I like that the end is happy even though he didn't really get what he wanted.