Week 4 Reading Notes: Folklore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish Part A

The Tablet of Destiny strikes me as a Pandora's box of sorts. Or, better yet, it reminds me of Schrodinger's cat, specifically because it tells the fate of every person, and it would be better not to know. I am familiar with the Christian creationism story, but I find this version much more creative. Perhaps it is only because I have not heard it told this way. I like that the story includes an explanation for varying skin tones. Satan is a fallen angel, just like in Christianity. The story of how Adam was male and female, then split into two separate beings is interesting. The female resists submitting to Adam because they came from the same dust. Her exile from Paradise establishes a strong sense of patriarchy from the very beginning. Then Allah makes Eve out of Adam's rib! I am fascinated by the reference to European doctors endangering women in childbed by refusing to let other women visit and amuse them. This is the first I have heard about the forbidden fruit being wheat, and I just found that interesting. Adam bringing tools to earth when he was kicked out of paradise is a neat way of explaining how some tools came to be. A donkey had the sense not to enter the ark with Iblis hiding on his body, but his offspring got into heaven because Noah beat him until he got on the ark. That was well written, specifically because Noah and the donkey cannot communicate, but Allah knows everything. Noah turned a donkey and a dog into replicas of his daughter because he promised her hand in marriage to too many men. I thought that was pretty humorous. And wow! Allah really put Ayub through the wringer. He killed his children and gave him leprocy just to see if Ayub was a devout follower of Allah. Tough crowd. I like the stories of Lokman because he is a character that sets a good example and is grateful for what he has.


Illustration of Book of Job Chapter 2-4 by Sweet Media, found on Wikimedia.

Bibliography:
Folklore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish by J. E. Hanauer, found here.

Reading Notes Week 3: Homer's Odyssey Part B

The fortune Teiresias tells to Odysseus is extremely specific and very long. I won't be using this form of foreshadowing. It was a really obvious way to describe the rest of the story, and it took all of the surprise out of the plot. What Greek story would be complete without a casual rape committed by a god? I could use that as a plot point that establishes the antagonist, or I could leave it out altogether. I find it interesting how nonchalant the Greeks were about rape. They were a historically patriarchal society. I do rather enjoy the smaller stories within the story as Odysseus describes the women he met in Hades' House. I could use that technique to tell backstory or create motive. However, it does seem to take up a lot of space on the page without really moving the story along in a desirable fashion.
 Ah! I like that Achilles and Odysseus get the chance to talk to each other. I think it's cool that Homer brought the epic heroes together. I find it incredibly interesting that Odysseus wanted to hear the Sirens' song for himself, despite not allowing his crew to hear. I think it shows that Odysseus holds himself in higher regard than other men. I feel like a true leader would have plugged his ears with wax like the other men. I really like that the story ends in tragedy. I think Homer wrote very good stories with extremely strong characters. He was incredibly descriptive, sometimes to a fault. He wrote clever solutions to seemingly large problems, and his imagination was fueled by myth and legend. It is always convenient that the hero of the story is never the one that gets scooped up and devoured by the monster of the moment. That would cut the story terribly short. Maybe I'll write a story that keeps changing perspective because the protagonist of the moment keeps getting killed. I will definitely do that this semester.

Odysseus' Journey Map by Giulia Zoccarato, DensityDesign Research Lab, found on Wikimedia. Bibliography:
Homer's Odyssey as told by Tony Kline, found here.

Reading Notes Week 3: Homer's Odyssey Part A

I decided to read Homer's Odyssey this week after reading the Iliad last week. I like the way Homer writes intricate characters and trials and tribulations, and I was interested in seeing how he writes a character who endures so much tragedy for such a long time. To begin, I like that this story is told in first person from Odysseus's point of view. That serves to immediately connect the reader to the main character. Even when requesting hospitality, Odysseus reminds the Cyclops not to offend the gods. I would like to include this high regard of religious importance in my character spines. The characters in this week's story will be Roman-Catholic, so they will make references to religion and God. I really like the complicated plot point that finds Odysseus and his crew trapped in the cave with the Cyclops. It would have been too easy to kill the Cyclops and depart, but the cave door is so heavy that they need the Cyclops to move it. This creates an interesting dynamic and forces the protagonist to work with the antagonist to accomplish a goal. The Cyclops inspires me to write a cannibalistic character as a bad guy in my stories. I think that would make for an interesting antagonist. I like that Odysseus does not always have to overpower his enemies. He is able to outwit them and solve problems creatively. Odysseus shows weakness and arrogance when he shouts insults back at the Cyclops. This shows that he is a human character with flaws. It is important to write weaknesses into characters, otherwise they might not ever struggle. I think this reading has given me ample ideas for creating strong protagonists and antagonists.


Polyphemus by Guido Reni, found on Wikimedia.

Bibliography:
Homer's Odyssey as told by Tony Kline, found here.

Feedback Thoughts

Silence the Critical Voices in Your Head by Sabina Nawaz

Why rejection hurts so much - and what to do about it by Guy Winch

Try Feedforward Instead of Feedback by Marshall Goldsmith

The Difference Between Praise That Promotes Narcissism vs. Healthy Self-Esteem by Poncie Rutsch

These articles provide excellent advice for giving and receiving feedback. All too often I focus on the negatives when I think about my performance or ability. It has been said that 'you are your own worst critic,' and I find that to be true for myself and most people I know. It is easy to get focused on the problems and look for solutions, but it is important to recognize the positives and focus on the strengths. Ask questions about why something is a positive or why someone recognizes something as a strength. That will help build positive self-esteem. Sabina Nawaz recommends people to think 5 positive thoughts for every negative thought. It is really difficult not to take feedback personally, even if there is no ill intent and both parties understand that feedback is supposed to be a positive experience. Most people even add insult to injury by self-criticizing and focusing on their negative traits or qualities. It is important to be kind to yourself. The best way is to do this is to focus on your strengths and write about why your positive qualities are important. I really loved the ideas behind the feedforward article. Feedback is more beneficial and enjoyable when focusing on what can be done in the future, instead of focusing on what was done poorly in the past. I would even think about feedforward as making a mental list of goals and objectives to strive for. It is very important how compliments are given to kids. I think Poncie Rutsch's article makes a solid argument for rewarding hard work as opposed to labeling a child as smart. Phrasing plays a large part in how people receive feedback on an emotional level.


Image by Federico Cosentino, from flickr.
Give positive feedback and focus on one another's strengths.

Story Planning Week 1: Gangster's Paradise

I have decided to write my stories in a script format, sort of copying Christine Elliott. I am going to write overly dramatic stories (think soap operas). I will set the stories in present day time, and I will update details, including names, occupations and setting. I want to write the plot points in a dramatic way, and I want the characters to be over-the-top exaggerations of the originals.
I really like the scene in which Achilles puts Agamemnon in his place, but doesn't kill him because he is restrained by Athena. I can see this playing out in a very dramatic fashion. They could trade insults and throw fits, and I see Athena as a divine intervention Achilles experiences, in the form of a ghost or flashback. They could be Italian-American mobsters caught up in a big turf war. Agamemnon is the Don of one city, and Priam the Don of another. They break bread, along with Menalaus, to form an alliance, but Helen and Paris get it on in the bathroom, and she decides to run away with him. By the time Menalaus realizes his wife's disappearance, she is tucked away in a safehouse with Paris and company. Menalaus tells Don Agamemnon what happened, and Agamemnon assembles a meeting with the lesser dons in his city. Along with the dons, Agamemnon extends an invitation to Achilles, the leader of a dangerous crew of hitmen. That meeting will take place in a traditional, makeshift meeting room in the back of a restaurant. Everyone has bodyguards except for Achilles, and everyone is packing heat. Achilles brings along Patroclus, his top gun and best friend. Maybe, instead of Achilles' armor being given to Patroclus and taken by Hector, it could be Achilles' favorite gun. Patroclus dies in a shootout. Maybe Achilles and Hector get into a car chase, and Hector finally pulls over so they can face each other. I feel like I have a good idea how to write this for next week.


Lepke Buchalter handcuffed to J. Edgar Hoover, photo by Al Aumuller, 1939 or 1940, found on Wikimedia.

Bibliography: Information based on Homer's Iliad, as told by Alfred J Church, found here.

Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad Part B

The gods play a huge role in this story. They are the primary directors of action. They decide how the mortals behave, who lives and who dies. The human characters are helpless to determine their own fates. Perhaps this is representative of the human condition. Various plot points prod at the reader's emotions. The idea of parents burying their children is a tragedy no one wants to experience, but we mourn Hector's death with the grieving Priam. We understand the strength of the bond between Achilles and Patroclus as Achilles weeps for his fallen friend. We feel visceral human emotions as the writer describes in great detail the lovely interaction between Hector, Andromache and their child before Hector goes into battle. These vulnerable human moments captivate the reader's attention and establish an emotional connection. The individual characters display a wide range of emotions, making them more relatable and realistic.
As for the storyline, I noted some important moments and interesting plot points. Hector angered Zeus by dawning Achilles' armor after slaying Patroclus. We feel the weight of Patroclus' death as the horses weep and mourn him. Achilles throws a dramatic fit when he hears of the death of his friend. He wishes death upon himself because he unknowingly sent Patroclus to his death. Achilles carries the favor of the gods nearly every step of his journey, especially in the moments leading to Hector's death. Achilles and Priam share a moment of solidarity when Priam begs for his son's lifeless body. Death is inevitable. The greed of a few causes the despair of many.
I really enjoyed the Iliad, and I feel like I have gotten some good ideas for connecting with the reader.


Achilles Slays Hector by Peter Paul Rubens, found on Wikimedia.

Bibliography: Homer's Iliad as told by Alfred J Church, found here.

Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad Part A

The first thing I noticed when reading this story was how many different people and places were mentioned. The names and places came so fast and furious that I doubt I can remember them all. Note to self: try not to confuse the reader with so many names and places. Typically I think of Achilles as a warrior unafraid of any fight. This story presents a moment that he tries to convince the chiefs to return home because so many men are dying. This shows depth to Achilles character, and it reveals that he knows when to run and fight another day. I notice that the writer uses dialogue to reveal character traits, such as when Achilles describes how Agamemnon sits in his tent and takes the lion's share of the spoils. Through dialogue we discover Agamemnon's greed and Achilles' reason. I was surprised to read that Achilles wept aloud on the beach. His character is much more complex than I imagined. He shows rage, restrain, logic and sadness. This establishes a very relatable main character. Foreshadowing is a strong tool. Achilles' mother, Thetis, foreshadows Achilles' fate when she says his life is fated to be short and sad. I cannot help but notice the ongoing drama between Zeus and Hera plays a part in this story, just as it does in many Greek myths. The writer uses dialogue between the gods to move the plot along. I really like how the whole story weaves together different plots and scenes between different characters. The build-up to Hector leaving for battle is very descriptive and emotional. I find it very tragic that Achilles granted Patroclus permission to go into battle, and he had no idea it would lead to his death.

Bibliography: Homer's Iliad: Part A, as told by Arthur J Church, found here. 
Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus, by Gavin Hamilton, found on Wikimedia.