Monday, April 17, 2017

Reading Notes: Dante's Inferno, Part A

Dark Wood and the Hill
It would be so interesting to describe this scene in detail
  • dark, dense
  • wild
  • reeking of fear and uncertainty
It wold be interesting to see what it is like for Dante to step out from the woods into the light--describe the light and the utter feeling of being made insignificant in the grand scheme of things when he sees the light at the top of the hill when he exits the woods
--mostly an introspective piece emotive and writing style to reflect that ie. very descriptive
perhaps include some poetry between the lines-- from Inferno or Inviticus?

Limbo
in study focus on the virtuous heathens
  • walking through the darkness into a brightly lit realm
  • describe it at first sight-elysian fields
  • include an explanation of who is there
  • end with comments about how this is still hell, even if it does not look like it
    • trapped knowing that this place is not heaven 
  • make it become apparent that though not punished no one is exactly happy with their circumstance 
    • Virgil,  Homer, Ceaser, Aeneas, Aristotle, Orpheus, Plato

Fariytail Forest by YoBarte (Johannes)
Deviant Art 

Bibliography
: Dante's Inferno translated by Tony Kline: Source



Reading Notes: Dante's Inferno, Part B

The Suicides
I just relly want to describe this scene in vivid detail.
  • stunted trees
  • warped branches
  • desolate landscape
  • bleeding when plucked and able to scream only when injured
bring in Dantes utter desolation-Mabey a thought about how that could have been him all too easily-tragically beautiful, or horrendous awe-inspiring?
include quotes from cutters lullaby?
I want to write it so there is sympathy, not condemnation- make it clear why it is a sin though and not an excusable (relatable but refusal-message of hope?)

Ninth Circle

would be fascinating to describe this
  • bitter cold
  • walking through a field of heads sprouting from a lake of ice
  • seeing the contorted bodies-frostbitten?
  • eerie stillness and oppressive feeling
  • seeing the bodies frozen beneath the ice
  • and of corse seeing lucifer
  • highlight tragic figure of the fall or inhuman beast??
Dante's Inferno by Xr0ntnEm (taimur)
Deviant Art

Bibliography
: Dante's Inferno translated by Tony Kline: Source

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Storytelling: Long Live the King



Diary of Queen Guinevere
The 3rd day of March of the year 537
---
The King is dead.

I should go on to narrate all of his good deeds. Perhaps relate his good will and generosity or of the battles and deeds he had accomplished over the course of the long and fruitful life. But that would be a lie. He was not noble or kingly. He was a tyrant. The kingdom would surly have fallen if not for the efforts of the council and myself. I am sure, however, that there are people out there already writing records of his greatness. No. I refuse to let my husband, if I must call him that, be known as a noble king.

Let it be known that Arthur Pendragon, son of Uther, was a coward and a ruin to the kingdom.

Never before was there such a man who was more interested in the bottom of a keg then in the affairs of his own house. If there was a time he was coherent, servants would cower in the alcoves to avoid his wrath. Knight would avoid his rooms so that they would not be accused of treason for the lack of ale. Not that he was any kinder when he had been drinking, simply more tolerable and easily avoided.

Every night he would have a different woman in his bed. Sometimes they were servant girls, sometimes women from the village. But more often they were the wives and daughters of the nights and nobility. None of them could refuse him, for if they did they, and often their entire families, would be found the next morning dead and mutilated. If one happened to fall pregnant from his advances he would take her into the palace. Then he would proceed to pamper her and ensure her health. But, as soon as the child was born, not a minute after the first cry, the woman would be gone, left to fend for herself. If the babe was a girl, she would be left outside the city walls, a son would be raised in the castle. I myself am not free from this. Arthur had seen my beauty once, when visiting my father. He came back a week later and killed my entire family and forced me to wed him. I have lost many children to his cruelty. He also took his sister, Morganna, claiming her beauty was overwhelming and had enchanted him. Though he did not know it, she fell pregnant. The council and I helped her flee before the king could tell. She gave birth to young Mordred. He is now the saving grace of our kingdom.

He did more to damm the kingdom then spending all his money on liquor, luxury, and women. Our land is one that thrives on magic and Arthur took pleaser in wiping that magic out. He ordered hunts to slaughter herds of unicorns, the fay folk, dragons, and so many more. He ordered the execution of Merlin and Morgan Le Fay (who was also his sister), saying that they practiced arts that were bringing destruction to the kingdom.

It is safe to say that no one in the kingdom will be sad when news spread further beyond the walls of Camelot.

Eventually, his bustard son, Mordred, challenged Arthur on the battlefield. They fought for a very long time. In the end both struck each other through the gut with their swords, a treatable wound if acted upon quickly enough. We knowable in the healing art rushed to Mordred. We had heard from his mother that he was a worthy heir to the throne. We left Arthur there on the ground.

Now I will end this by saying this.

Long live the king

Sometimes going analogue is the
only way to go by Tobias Vemmenby
flicker
Bibliography: Death of king Arther-King Arthur; Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, source

Author's Note- I truly do not know where this came from. I was reading about King Arthur and thought--as I was reading about his death-- what if history got it wrong. What if Mordred was the good guy and Arthur was a really nasty one? Somehow this rush job came to be. I apologize. I know its not my best work. 

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part B


Long Live the King 
Okay...Morbid time. Diary style. Mordred becomes king..written by view of Morganna (?) or Queen Guinevere. Every one celebrates that Arthur is dead- because they all hated him. He was a tyrant, temperamental and arrogant, was running the kingdom. I want the diary to be a reflection filled with resentment and hate. Detailing his atrocity-maybe he killed Merlin, dragons,unicorns, knights, paupers. I want it to be abundant clear that everyone is happy his is dead.  Begin with the lines the King is dead...end with long live the king. Question: dies in battle,both wounded but everyone rushes to the aid of Mordred, poisoned? The tales of the kings funeral are acutely of Mordred not Arthur-history has twisted it. 

End of Arthur
I want this one to be nice. But I do want to change the original story, just a bit. 
Arthur dies, but Bedivere has to drag his body to the lake because it was the dying wish of the king. I want to write how Bedivere got the body to the lake. Highlighting the fact of the dead body, the environment, desperation and urgency of Bedivere. Ending right as he reaches the lake and seeing the congregation waiting. End with a poem or song lyrics as the kings body is set in the raft. mood: bittersweet, genuine love for the king and regret for his death. 

The Death of a King by Elentori
DeviantArt

Bibliography: King Arthur; Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, source

Monday, April 10, 2017

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part A

Drawing of the Sword
If they are not worthy the sword kills them. But I want to change it up more than that. No man is able to pull the sword. But a woman stands up-she is already married and has children. She is able to pull it out, but she reruns it saying she is happy with her life. Then another woman is able to release it. A young girl, not yet old enough to wed. She returns it saying that she is looking for more in life than royalty. A third woman pulls it out. An old hag who has many grandchildren and has been widow for many years, She too returns it saying that she has lived a good life and has no need of it. The community then asks what they should do/why they were able to pull it out. The women say give the sword to Arthur-The three women become the triple goddess and guide Arthur.

The Sword Excalibur
I think it would be interesting to write a story on how Excalibur was forged. I think it would be fascinating if a woman made it rather then a typical male blacksmith. She puts her heart and soul into forging it, It is a beautiful sword in its simplicity-no ornate decorations or pomades just a weapon designed for maximum efficiency. When the last blow is struck the lady dies-she is exaliber. Her husband does a similar process to forge the sheath for the sword- both die so that the weapon may live-life sacrifice to ensure its perfection and ablilites. The lady of the lake is the daughter of these two mettle smiths. The sword was forged on the lake-she is a lady of it because that is where she was born-her mother did not stop forging even for her birth.

Arthieran Knight by Charles Ernest Butler
Wikimeadia Commons
Bibliography: King Arthur; Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang, source  

Monday, April 3, 2017

Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales, Part B

Beth Gellert
Nooo, I want the dog to live. Maybe a fairy could come out of the woodwork and stop the king from killing his dog. Freeze the king in time and show him his child safe from harm, hiding under the covers. When he his free form the spell the fay and dog are both rewarded handsomely. Then when the dog dies of old age it is buried with a monument. Or the dog kills a changeling child, as he knows it was not the kings true son then when the king, unaware of this happenstance goes to kill the dog a fey stays his hand and tells him the truth of the matter. only to return the king's son to him, and reward the dog with a long life and healthy decedents (or keeps the son because the king killed his loyal companion).
Sleepy Grayhound by Unspalsh
Pixabay

Bibliography
: Celtic Fairy Tales by Josepth Jacobs: source

Reading Notes: Celtic Fairy Tales, Part A

Connla and the Fairy Maiden
It would be interesting to see what happens to dear Connnla after he leaves with the maiden. There are several ways I could make it go. He could go with her and arrive at a wonderful place with eternal gardens, fairy lights, a place of genuine beauty- That in itself would be fun to write, simply so I can do a description of its entrancing beauty. Or I could turn the Fariy into death-and she is really leading him into the underworld. In a similar track she could be luring him to his death- he gets there. Sees the gardens and other fairy folk. But instead of greeting him with a feast and merriment he would be the feast. Also, was he drugged, is he hallucinating, or completely lucid when he leaves. Do i want him to regret his choice and try to return home only to be stopped, is he trapped there or is he a willing guest? So many directions this one could go.

Shepherd of Myddvai
I want to write a story about her sons. she has three, I want the sons to reflect the three strikes upon their mother from the father.
The first son -blessed with his hands, or with animal but cursed with impatience
the second son- blessed with good at comforting others cursed with foresight
the third son- blessed with humor cursed with a quick temper
it would be interesting to see how their individual  blessings affect them as healers-how it both helps and hinders their abilities. Are they jealous of one another - each thinking the others have it better or are they happy with their own talents and help one another.

Healing of the Blind Man and Raising of Lazarus
Wikimedia Commons
Bibliography: Celtic Fairy Tales by Josepth Jacobs: source


Saturday, April 1, 2017

Reading Notes: Metamorphoses III, Part B

Orpheus and Eurydice
Plot twist. Eurydice did not love Orpheus. She was the incarnation of Persephone and was in love with Hades.  But her earthly parents forced her to marry Orpheus, someone who was a 'known' spouse killer and abuser. He married women for their inheritance, got an heir, then killed them in 'accidents", to claim their fortune. Eurydice kills herself on her wedding night with Orpheus so that she can be with her true husband in the underworld. And also that she would remain faithful, no simi-legal coerced adultery. When Orpheus turns up in the underworld, Hades and Eurydice decide to torment him and punish him for his crimes- taunting him with the end being in reach but lost. They are the ones who convince the mycines to rend Orpheus to pieces (Mycines as the wraiths of past lovers?).

Adonis
Who killed Adonis? I am going to go with a team effort between Hephaestus and Ares. They are jealous that Aphrodite is spending so much time with Adonis instead of them. So, they put aside their resentment for each other and team up to kill the man.  Hephaestus creates a mechanical boar, and ares fills Adonis with so much arrogance and blood thirst  that he overlooks Aphrodite's warnings.

Atlanta and Hypodima
Noo, I want Atlanta to win the race. Let her be a strong independent and mindful woman-not some flighty  wench. It would be wonderful if she won the foot race, then because of her notoriety, Athena and Artemis quarrel over who gets to have her as a hand maiden. But Atlanta refuses to join either one out of petty means and finds a minor goddess to serve instead.

Eurydice by Sorskc
DeviantArt


Bibliography:  Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline. Source