Week 3: Growth Mindset

Beyond School.

This week, I decided to do the "Beyond School" challenge. I have two aspects where I think I could apply this approach outside of school. The first one is work. I currently work as a pharmacy technician. My job entitles me to do things such as taking care of and filling prescriptions, working with customers, and other miscellaneous things. When I first got hired as a pharmacy technician there was a lot of information to learn and take in. However, I'm still learning new things everyday. I always take a different route other than shortcuts just so I know that I'm really learning about the job. Being a pharmacist is what I'm ultimately working towards so I think it's important to learn as much about the field as possible and truly learn my job.

The other aspect is, of course, writing (I feel like I talk about this a lot, but it really is something I enjoy..so this definitely isn't the last of it)! I'm always trying to grow everyday in writing. I read a lot of things, even if it's something short, I check out books on writing, I attempt to write even a little bit outside of class, I reread my writing, etc., etc. Continuously learning about an art honestly helps to understand it better and become more skilled in it so that's what I try to do as often as I can!

"Pharmacist's Mortar"
Source: Wikipedia

Week 3: Famous Last Words

Week 3? Check.

This week I think my best writing was in this class. I still wish I had more time to write as much as I wanted to outside of classes, but I'm still grateful for this class because I can still practice my writing skills and improve on it as well. Also, I read a lot of interesting stories this week. I read Homer's Odysseus and decided to retell one of the stories that stuck out to me the most. I wrote a retelling of Circe's Magic this week and I had the main character Odysseus turn into a pig. He wasn't supposed to though. In the original story the herb he got from Hermes worked to prevent Circe's magic from affecting Odysseus. But, in my retelling it unfortunately didn't work due sabotage. (Check out my storytelling for week 3 to find out more)! Anyways, again, I'm still not near where I want to be with my writing but I think I'm approving little by little and that's still extremely important to me!

As I finished week 3 for this class, I finished week 3 for my other classes as well. So far, my classes are going well. It's a lot of information but I'm not overwhelmed-yet. The end of this week and the beginning of next week is when the quizzes and tests start increasing so I'm really excited for that..(insert sarcastic look here). I feel that writing here also helps me in my science classes because I have lab reports to do, so it helps me write the reports in the best way I can. I definitely think that can help my grades on the reports later on.

I'm excited to see how this week goes and I'm going to enjoy it before quizzes and tests in my classes start ramping up!

"Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus"
Source: Wikipedia

Storybook Styles

Topic: I decided to center my storybook around the topic of African stories having to do about the moon and/or stars. I'm really excited about this because there's always been something I loved about the night time, the moon, stars and constellations so it will be nice to incorporate that and have my background in there since the stories are from Africa. After researching stories, I decided that I want to use the story "The Girl of the Early Race, Who Made Stars" and the Nigerian story "Why the Moon Waxes and Wanes." I think these interesting tales will fit well with my topic and vision for my storybook!

The Moon and Stars
Source: Pixabay

Bibliography:
1.) The Girl of the Early Race, Who Made Stars, from Specimens of Bushman Folklore by W.H.I. Bleek and L.C. Lloyd (1911).
2.) Why the Moon Waxes and Wanes, from Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910).

Possible Styles:

First-Person Perspective-I struggled to decide whether I wanted the stories to be told from first-person or third-person but I ultimately chose first. I like using first person because I think it will give me a good chance to connect with just the main character and see how that goes. I believe this way I can make it more personal and hopefully more creative.

Love Story- Personally I really like romance stories and creating stories around that idea. It's cool to figure out ways to build a relationship within a plot and make it an epic love story. I'm not sure if I want it to be between two humans or possibly the moon or stars, but I feel that I'm leaning more towards human characters and, of course, making the moon and stars a strong main part. That would probably be for part of the story as I'm planning on doing the frametale route.

Adventure- Who doesn't love a good, adventurous story? I didn't want my story to be a simple, easy story of two people just falling in love. I want it to have adventure and a gripping journey. I was thinking of having it based somewhere in Africa, or even having Africa just be a place where something very important happens.

Night- Of course, with the moon and stars being topic, I wanted the night time to play a huge role in the plot and scenic aspects of the story. Whether there be a recurring theme, or the main character's connection to it, I can definitely see it this being included in a major way.

Week 3 Review

For this week's review I chose a post from today's announcement. The post is titled Indian Words in English and the word was Yoga. I chose to read more about this because I actually really like to do yoga in my free time. It's extremely relaxing and is also a workout. I used to do it more often but sadly haven't for a while. From this post I learned that "yoga" from the Indo-European root yeug- "is also the root of English words like 'yoke' and also 'join.'" and also that "yogi," in Sanskrit, is a man who practices yoga. It was definitely an interesting read and I'm glad I learned more about the word.

"Yoga"
Source: OU Class Announcements

Storytelling for Week 3: Captured by Circe's Magic

Hermes had given me the herb and just as it was powerful in it's abilities, I too felt particularly strong. The beautiful goddess, Circe, had taken many of my men and made them into her own personal pig pen. I was not going to fall into her trap and be made a fool of. Very thankful of Hermes, I reached the steps to Circe's house prepared for whatever she thought she had in store for me.

As quickly as I had knocked on her door, Circe answered, a large grin showing on her face. She welcomed me in warmly and innocently, as if that was her intention. I followed her inside and she led me to a big room filled with many trinkets and wonderfully crafted furniture. She sat down in an enchanting carved wooden chair with vines delicately weaved throughout the holes within it and motioned for me to sit across from her in an identical chair. As we sat, she called for her maid to bring us drinks. The maid brought us similar cups, but I knew my drink was different. Unbeknownst to Circe, I had eaten the herb to prevent her magic from affecting me.

I politely snatched the cup from the maid's hand, eager to feel the power of not absorbing the effects of Circe's evil magic. I thanked Circe and her maid for the drink and great hospitality they presented me with and easily drank the whole cup. As I was getting up to show Circe how she was not able to trick me, Odysseus, of many resources, scion of Zeus, and Laertes' son, I felt a shift within me. Confused, I examined myself just in time to see me changing. First, my hands, then my feet, and finally, the rest of my body. Immediately, I fell to the ground.

A pig! This evil woman, Circe, disguised in an attractive outward appearance had turned me into a wretched, dirty, pig! But how? I wondered. Just as my thoughts poured in to my mind Circe exclaimed how her maid was out gathering ingredients for the drink and saw my encounter with Hermes. Upon seeing this, she went back and told Circe, giving her the opportunity to add in more magic to make Hermes herb ineffective.

Frustrated, I began squealing, fighting and struggling against Circe as she carried me to the back of her house where I found the rest of my men hopelessly wandering around the yard. As she put me down, I yelled to my men telling them to gather around. Of course, Circe and her sly maid, were not able to comprehend the animal talk. This gave me the perfect chance.

"Listen up men, I came to rescue all of you with the help of Hermes, but Circe and her sidekick were able to get around my plan. She thinks she has won, but she has not. The maid heard the conversation between me and Hermes but left before it was truly over. As I will always do everything in my power to protect my friends, this situation is no exception. Hermes told me something else. With the help of all of us, I believe we can make it out by dawn. Here's the plan..."

"Circe, 14th-century illustration"
Source: Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook

Author's Note: This retelling is from the story "The Moly Defeats Circe," from Homer's Odyssey. In the original story, Circe, a goddess, turns all of Odysseus' men into pigs using magic. On his way to go save his men, Odysseus comes into contact with Hermes. Hermes gives him a herb that will stop Circe's magic from working on him. That way, Odysseus will not be turned into a pig, which will surprise Circe and lead them to making a deal where Odysseus' men are changed back into humans. However, in this retelling I decided to have the herb not work! I thought it'd be interesting to have it not go the way it was supposed to since a lot of the stories I had read went just how predicted. I think in this way, it gave the story a nice twist and would make the reader wonder how Odysseus would get him and his men out of the predicament. This story is just a part of a longer story line so that's why I decided to end it the way I did. The continuation could go anyway. They could possibly escape, or they could be trapped forever. Who knows! I also chose to add the above picture because it shows Circe and multiple men-turned-pigs just as in the original and in my retelling of the story.

Bibliography: "The Moly Defeats Circe" translated by Tony Kline, from Homer's Odyssey (2004).

Web source: Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook

Extra Reading Diary: English Fairy Tales I

This unit can be found and read here.

Binnorie

• Binnorie - cool name
• I think it's terrible that the elder sister would go after her younger sister after a guy (Sir William) who himself decided to leave the elder sister, although it's also bad that the younger sister would accept the man's love. 
• I feel that if I retold this story, I would maybe change the two girls to not being sisters or related at all
• The harper
• Creepy twist to the story as the harp sang of what the elder princess did to her younger sister and then broke. It would be interesting to see what happened after the harp broke such as reactions and conversations.
• Possibly add more background information

The Master and His Pupil

• Secret black book - nice idea of an untouchable item
• I like how this particular story plays on the idea of curiosity and the consequences that can sometimes come with it. Especially if you were told now to explore something.
• It could be an intriguing twist to have it be an angel instead and see where that may go.
• Good that the master came back in time
• This story could even be retold in a coming of age theme with the Master and the Pupil, with the pupil growing and learning from his mistakes.

Mouse and Mouser

• This story is very short and to the point.
• I wonder how it would be to also put a background to the Cat and the Mouse or expand on the story line more. It could be nice to add more descriptive detail and plot.

The Harper and Young Princess in Binnorie
Source: Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook

Reading Diary B: Homer's Odyssey

The link to this unit can be found here.

Ghosts of Erebus

• The journey to get home is seeming long and complicated because many turns of events.
• It's interesting how the ghosts appeared. Could be more detailed or perhaps one of them could speak.
• Teiresias

The Ghosts of Elpenor and Teiresias

• The beginning is very melancholic. It was especially sad when Odysseus saw the ghost of his mother Anticleia, who was still alive when he left for Troy. 
•  It's explained to Odysseus what the readers know about his journey and fate

The Spirit of Anticleia

• In this story, Odysseus is able to speak to his mother who has passed while he was away as she was yearning for his return. This story stuck out to me because it almost takes a break from the premise of the story (of course it still relates), and makes a connection to Odysseus personal life - his family. 
• The whole time before this it was about him and his men, and the journey they were on but this part definitely seems more personal and makes Odysseus appear more human in that sense.

The Ghost of Agamemnon

• I like the name Agamemnon for this story
• Sad that Agamemnon was killed by Aegisthus with the help of his own wife. This could be an interesting point to turn into a story in and of itself. 
• If I focused in on this section I think I would talk of Agamemnon and his wife, and the life of his wife after her terrible act. Also, why she did what she did.

  

  "Clytemnestra, by John Collier"
  Source: Mythology and Folklore UnTextbook

Reading Diary A: Homer's Odyssey

The link to this unit can be found here.

The Land of the Cyclopes

• I think the cyclopes are an important part. I'd probably like to keep that in my storytelling. 
• Personality: "lawless, aggressive people, who never lift their hands to plant or plough, but rely on the immortal gods."
• The cyclopes "live in echoing caves on the mountain slopes.."
• Island
• Wine* - important aspect of the story. Obtained from Ismarus

Prisoners of the Cyclops

• Gifts from Maron - twelve jars of wine
• 1st person perspective*
• I like the part where instead of leaving, Odysseus and his men stay and encounter the giant (cyclopes). It would have been best to leave, probably, but it makes the story more exciting.
• The conversation between the Cyclopes and Odysseus
• The Cyclopes doesn't seem very forgiving or nice
• I'm not sure whether I would change parts of the Cyclopes personality or acts. Like him murdering and eating two of Odysseus friends. I don't think he should be an angel, per say, but I could change some things..

The Cyclops Defeated

• A possible Achilles heel? - wine
• I particularly like Odysseus saying his name is Nobody and how the end of this story plays out.
• If I focus on the story, I could change the way he is injured. 

Escape from the Cyclops

• As the last ram was stopped by the Cyclops I was worried Odysseus wouldn't escape but he did. I think this was a good add. 
• Odysseus seems to get himself and his men in trouble whether it by his words or his curiosity.

Circe's Magic

• In all of the violence and masculinity in the previous stories I like the introduction of the beautiful goddess Circe that has a sweet singing voice. However, it turns out she did something evil to the men. She turned them into pigs 

"Roman mosaic showing a Cyclops"
Source: Mythology and Folklore Untextbook