Reading Diary Week 12: Advice from a Caterpillar

This story was the classic and memorable first interaction between Alice and the hookah smoking caterpillar from the story Alice in Wonderland. When scrolling through the British tales for this week, I was so pleasantly surprised to come across these stories. I have always loved how creative and interesting this story always was rather it be reading the book or watching the many movies based from it. I can't wait to make my own adaptation of this classic story as last week I already put hints of this story sprinkles into mine! I also must say, Carroll's imagination and creativity must have literally blown the crowds away in 1865. This story was insane for its time I am sure!

Smoking Caterpillar. Source

These were the recorded thoughts after reading the story entitled Advice from a Caterpillar, written by Lewis Carroll in 1865.

Storytelling Week 11: Reality in the Skies

On a bright summer day at a family reunion a young boy stumbled upon an enormous tree; easily the largest tree the boy had ever seen in his entire life. Upon further inspection of the large tree, the boy discovered a whole in the trunk, just big enough for him to fit through. Without hesitation, the boy climbed inside to further explore this wonder of a tree.

After inside the trunk of the tree the boy say a ladder, the ladder went up as high as his eyes could see. Climbing the ladder for at least two hours, the boy had became exhausted but saw light seeping through the near exit above.

Exiting the top of the tree, the boy had entered wonderland. The ground was composed of the clouds he once looked up at, he was above them now. There was a forest in front of the boy, but the trees were made from what to appeared to be animal fur. This was not typical animal fur, but colorful patterned fur, almost artificial. The leaves of the trees were composed of what appeared to be the clouds he was also standing on. There were small creatures all around which he did not recognize.

What appeared to be a short troll approached the young boy and said, "Welcome, young boy. I see you have traveled quite a way to get here. Follow me please." Without hesitation the boy followed the troll until arriving at what looked like a large pillow; one for a giant to rest his head on. The troll lifted the pillow and leaped down into a hole the pillow was covering. The boy followed the troll down the deep dark hole and fell for what felt like eternity. Upon lightly being placed on the ground after falling down the hole beneath the pillow, the boy wiped his eyes in disbelief. He was right where he had started this journey previously.

Mysterious Clouds, Source

The boy enjoyed this place and explored it for what felt like days continuously going in circles and finding his way right where he had started each different time. After growing tired of walking the boy had sat down to take a rest between the roots of one of the fur/cloud trees. The second he had fallen asleep, the boy had awoke from his bed at home; his alarm clock was blaring loudly six inches away from his ear. It was time for class...

Authors Note
In the original story, a man in search of his love had fallen into a lake. When he fell in he realized he could breath underwater and eventually discovered a great village at the bottom of the lake. There a short fat man led him a great stone. The man was right in his own kitchen with his love, but she was frightened at his sight. He thought he had been gone for only hours when in fact it was actually over a month. I wanted to incorporate the same Twilight Zone/Alice in Wonderland feel to my story, but also have a solid twist in it as well. I made the land mysterious and interesting, but my twist may feel a little cliche. Though I have seen this same twist in other stories, I could not help but use it once in my writing also.

Bibliography 
This story was an adaptation of the original story entitled Owen Goes a-Whooing, written by W. Jenkyn Thomas in 1908.

Reading Diary Week 11 Continued: Owen Goes a-Wooing

Yet another really interesting story! In this one, a man goes looking for his love and falls deep into a lake. He found he could breath underwater just as good as on land upon falling deeper and deeper. Eventually the water cleared and he was at the bottom of the deep lake. An entire village was down there and a short fat old man had showed him to his very own mansion where others were frolicking. Bring in a hurry the man did not stay but rather told the short fat man he needed to find his love. The man lead him to a stone that raised upon coming to it. The man looking for his love was immediately in his kitchen with her. She was terrified at the sight of him for she thought he was a ghost! He thought he had been gone for only an hour or two, but it had been over an entire month...this story cannot help but remind me of a strange mixture between The Twilight Zone and Alice and Wonderland! I am definitely using this one for my storytelling this week. 

Owen's Underwater Mansion, Source

These were the thoughts and short summary after reading the story entitled Owen Goes a-Whooing, written by W. Jenkyn Thomas in 1908. 

Reading Diary Week 11: March's Ears

This story was quite interesting to me. A rich and powerful ruler named "March" owned countless possessions and almost everyone took a liking towards him. He had one secret he kept from everyone; he had the ears of a horse..yes the animal. He had animal horse ears. Literally nobody ever knew this secret except for his barber. He told his barber to never tell anyone. Slowly dying from guilt the barber had to tell someone, so he told the ground. Eventually crops grew from the ground where March's secret had been told, and the crops made into a musical pipe by March's servant. Upon playing the pipe, only words were produced; the words were "Horse's ears for March" repeatedly. March almost killed the servant until he played the instrument himself and realized it had been "charmed".

March's Ears, Source

These were the thoughts and summary after reading the story entitled "March's Ears", written by W. Jenkyn Thomas in 1908.

Storytelling Week 10: The First Fire

The earth began as a cold and desolate place. There was no fire but only snow all around. One day God had placed a burning bonfire atop the greatest peak sounded by harsh and heavy snow.

All the animals around gathered and witnessed the heavy smoke arise from the burning top of the mountain, they could all feel the heat and craved it badly for their bones were shivering with coldness.

The snake began to make his way up to the top of the mountain to bring it down for the other. Halfway up the mountain, the snake got frostbite and lost his legs; this is the reason why snakes have no legs to this day.

The bear attempted the same thing as the snake but made it much farther. Upon coming close to the fire at the top of the mountain, the bear could not handle the smoke and it turned all his fur brown and black; this is the reason most bears have their color we see today.

The ostrich made it just as far as the bear but used it's wings to make it up the mountain much faster. Upon getting close to the mountain, the ostrich's wings were damaged by the flame and its feathers also turned black; that is the reason why ostrich's cannot fly and have their color we see today.

Lastly, the polar bear; a great white bear who could withstand the cold. This was the environment intended for the great white polar bear. This bear marched steadily all the way to the top and successfully brought the burning fire down with him to share for the others and the rest of the world.

To this day, the earth shares fire and all because of the brave and strong great white polar bear. Without the polar bear, there would be no warmth or fire to cook with today.

Polar Bear with the First Fire: Source

Bibliography

This was my adaptation from the story entitled The First Fire, by James Mooney in 1900. 

Authors Note

This original creation story really caught my eye and is definitely one of my new favorites; this is because it not only describes how the first fire was created, but also how many different animals received their characteristics that we all know of today. I wanted to do the same, but modify it slightly more to my liking. This follows the original story quite well but with some smaller better changes in my opinion. 

Reading Diary Week 10 Continued: The Rattlesnake's Vengeance

This is another great story about revenge. One day a mother had heard her children scream and went to go see what it was. Upon finding a snake among them, she killed it for protection. Later the husband was returning from hunting and ran into the snake who had been killed tribe. The tribe told the man that there must be sacrifice for the snake killed was their chief. The man agreed to let the snake kill his wife once he got home...I don't know if I would have made that same decision..He eventually leads the snakes back home and tells his wife to get him water; as she does a snake bites and kills her. After this husband hold his wife in the final moments of her life, the snake tells the man to sing a song for protection from the snakes in the future and if anyone is ever accidentally still bit by them, the song would also heal them.

Revengeful Snake: Source

This was a collection of thoughts after reading the story entitled The Rattlesnake's Vengeance, by James Mooney in 1900.

Reading Diary Week 10: The First Fire

Yet another creation story; this one is easily my new favorite. Not only does it explain how the first fire was created, but also how the fire spread throughout the Earth. Unfortunately, the first fire was placed on an island. All the animals try to cross the water and bring the fire back because the Earth is so cold and dark. While all the animals attempt, almost all of them fail and have resulting injuries to this day because of it. For example, the owls get nearly blinded and their wings damaged when they try to bring the fire back and that the reason why to this day they have bad sight and flight abilities. The snake fell into the fire and was scorched black, the raven was burned black from the smoke above. This story explains the characteristics of many animals as well as the first fire.

The First Fire: Source

These were the collected thoughts after reading the story entitled The First Fire, written by James Mooney in 1900.