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

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

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

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

Reading Notes:Native American Marriage Tales, Part B

Dog Husband
Now, how can i make this really dark? Oh mother raises her children to take revenge on the village that shunned her for her rape-rape that could have been by some mechanics of the gods. Basically she raises her own army. Before then all the canines in the area were dogs-the village had killed off the wolves. Her children become wolves because they were raised savage and not by man kind. The children end up killing and eating the village as a warning from the gods to leave nature as it should be.

True Bride
nope- I want her to give birth to real animals and several more than the story-but I want them each to have the ability to turn into humans with another special characteristic. The mother gets lock away-but the husband continues to lie with her in hopes that she will eventfully conceive a good son, and that all her children-no matter how beastal, are useful to him. The children are treated well, and so is the mother despite her confinement. Step mother gets angry and decides to kill the mother, but the children each find a way to thrath her plan. The last child is born and grows up-ends up being the one to kill the stepmother and free his mother. Mother marries someone else and gives birth to a human pup- who chooses to become like his siblings- they all become gods in the end.

Mother of Wolves by MD-Arts
DeviantArt

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson: Source 

Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends, Part B

The first woman
I would prefer this story not to cumulate with the rending of a woman into multiple parts and thus killing her. It would be more interesting for men to fight over her in battle or make it into a similar situation as Solomon and the two woman- with the one who loves her the most sis willing to giver her up to deep her alive . It would also be interesting if she were a goddess who ends up making two separate women based on what the men valued the most-dancing or stitching to each.

 Land of the dead
reminds me of Dante's Inferno- people are punished in similar forms of the sin and those who they met or inspired by in life are
guides upon the path. It would be interesting to make a path for myself or a beloved character and see where they end up in the path of the dead-like harry potter seeing Voldemort having seven different punishments happening at the same time or Bella being tormented incessantly

Which Way by Mike Coates
public domain pictures 

Bibliography:Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911): source

Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends, Part A

Raven Myth
Aspects i want to keep: ability to transform into a man, association with shadows, ability to create living beings, making things to balance out human deeds, and so add to the bland world

possible story: raven sprang from shadows in a fully formed world-but it was like a blank canvas in a way- as he lived in the snowing north- and he began to create color to fill it- men still sprung from the seeds of his plants- he was lonely before man appeared- first words are "who are you"-
I want the mood to be dismal but beautiful
adding colors like brown or green or reds and pinks of flowers- colorful driftwood fire

another one i could write is how the raven is seeing the world today- and his despair at the ignorance of humans and how he has no more power to changed the world because his power came from the blank canvas of the world and we have used it all up with our own decorations or he is gradually corrupted by men -no longer caring as much for nature and slowly becoming more savage and less kindly- all his care for nature vanishes

or how he left Alaska and went to Australian having given up on the men of the tundra- and that is why there are all the weird animals down there- because he was trying to make a place where the animals would be safe from men who hunted them

Fantasy Raven by arnevierlinger
pixabay

Bibliography:Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson (1911): source 

Reading Notes: Tibetan Folk Tales, Part B

How the Rabbit Killed the Lion
Oh, I want to rewrite this on so that there really is a she-devil. So the rabbit reluctantly goes to pay his respects but meets the she-devil on the way. She asks what has him so down and he explains. Then together they plot a way to rid themselves of the lion. The poor lion still drowns but not because he jumped after his own reflection but because he jumped into to the stream to confront the she devil and drowned because he could not swim.

How the Raven Saved the Hunter
No, now I want the bird to live. Perhaps he just injured the bird. And then he found it later and nursed it back to health? Or I could do a story about how the gods took mercy on the bird and changed into human shape. The hunter comes back to bury the bird but instead find the body of a beautiful woman,injured in the same way as the bird. He then nurses her back to health and they eventually marry or he becomes something like a father fig. The bird is wise and beautiful and brings great prosper to the hunter.

The Two Little Cats
How did the cats get found by the Handre in the first place. I propose that he was waiting and one of the cats god injured on the way home. He follow the blood trail and say the cats trying fix the injury. Either he frightened them and they over reacted or he tried to help them and they were terrified of his appearance. It would be interesting if he was perusing them the entire time because he wanted to help them. In this the death of the Handre would be sad because he as not being evil but his frighting appearance doomed him. Maybe the cats are punished because of this misdeed so they no longer can taste salt?

Raven that Saved the Hunter
Birds of America by John Audubon
Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography- Tibetan Folk Tales by Albert Shelton: online source

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales, Part B

The Little Hunting Dog
I want it all to be the imagination of  a little  boy who has been grounded and is stuck in his room without any toys. So he sees the insects and imaginings up a war for them to fight. The challenge will be misleading my audience into thinking its an actual battle until the end. I also want it to one of those stories where if you reread it you catch all the hits from the description of the surroundings.
-floor grassy fields of lavender
-light-the sun
- blanket-cave system
-shoes- great rocks
-piles of laundry- mountains
- book- high mesa

Retribution
I would like to see the story from the water carries point of view. Like when he fell down the mountain and the old man left him to die. The vague feeling of movement and becoming a newborn. Then the feeling of growing up, knowing that something was strange about you, almost like you were someone else, or like a memory just out of reach.

Child Playing with Wooden toys
Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography- Chinese Fairy Book by R. Wilhelm: online source

Reading Notes: Chiness Fairy Tales, Part A

The Favorite of Fortune and the Child of Ill Luck
See, I am going to be really cruel here, just because I can. I am going to keep the entire first part of the story, just the way it is. Princess has bad luck-sees the beggar blessed by luck- marries beggar and is shunned by father- beggar goes to seek fortune and then returns to retake his bride. Only in my story- he comes back to find her body instead of her or comes back to find her at her last breath. Utterly heartbroken he takes he and preserves her body and has this elaborate funeral..thousands of years latter the man is forgotten and her body is worshiped as a goddess.  He was favored in life- and she in death.

The Cave of the Beasts
The daughters have to take the place of the wolf and fox as the protectors of the cave because they killed them- Daughters transform in to deities, beautiful and powerful. When the  father comes to take them they can only leave at night or they vanish into morning mist or perspective animals  until the next night. so they grow up somewhat wild.

Lady of the Moon
It would be interesting to look at the world from (Tscang O) the lady of the moon. To see how lonely she must be despite living in a palace make o star dust. Having to be someone who is doomed to forever listen and watch as everything from starstruck lover to crimes of passion happen beneath her rays-. So when the emperor appears he can feel the sadness lingering in the air. He enjoys the beauty but always feels slightly uneasy.

Ember Fox and Demon Wolf by Lady-Vossler
DeviantArt

Bibliography- Chinese Fairy Book by R. Wilhelm: online source 

Reading Notes: Jamaican Anasazi Stories, Part A

Tying Tiger
It would interesting to see a back story to how the tiger got the tree in the first place. Like the gods gave it to him and then told him that as long as he was the only one to eat of it he would live forever. I mean I kind of feel sorry for the tiger. So I would like to give him a redeeming  feature, aside from being idiotic enough to be tied to a tree, maybe the monkey (?) drugged him or something.

Tiger Catching the sheep-Thief
I want the tiger to eat Anansi. So he dresses up as a sheep and everything because Anansi is a horrible person and is tormenting and beating down the local people. Tiger, being the nice person he is, volunteers to do away with the irritant . Instead of helping Anasi to gain a new skill the tiger kills him. Then the tiger goes back to the village and lives the rest of his life in luxury.


Eating Tiger Guts
I feel really bad for the tiger. I want to write a funereal for the poor thing. Make it really elaborate and pretty with thousands of creatures coming to pay tribute to the king of the jungle. Then when they here that Anansi "killed" him thousands of people began to hunt him down. It would start with someone finding the dead tiger at the river side- then continue and increase in angst from there- you know family wailing, friends weeping and such . Until the funeral (will have to research this) in traditional practices, after the funeral they hear about what caused the death and it pretty much creates a mob. Ohh- Poem Tiger Tiger Burning Bright interspersed between scenes.

Tiger at Rest by Antoine-Louis Barye
Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography- Jamaican Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith: online source 

Reading Notes: Japaneses Mythology, Part B

Labors of Yamato
So he leaves his wife- a wonderful devoted woman- because he was board, to go find this mermaid- who he has only seen once and is apparently obsessed with. Then he meets this goddess, who he falls instantly in love with, and begs her to let him love her. So she sends him to go retrieve a golden apple as a sign of his devotion. So, he leaves to get the apple, rides on a stork, kills a wild boar, and somehow manages to get sword along the way. Oh and before he got the sword his former wife, the princess he lift, had somehow saved him, by setting herself on fire and running though a field towards him. Dispite this show of loyalty, he still ends up abandoning her for his search for this mysterious mermaid, only he finds her this time. After killing a dragon that was guarding her cave- a dragon who was her father- and then they go to sleep. When he wakes up she is gone along with all of his belongings. He is unable to return to his faithful wife, because he is lost.

I just kinda want to write a story about him from the mermaids perspective as she comments on how gull able he is. Commentary on how much of his life he wasted looking for something unattainable when he already had someone better.

Me, the entire time I as reading about Yamato
Source

Bibliography- The Romance of Old Japan by E.W. Champney and F. Champney: Online Source

Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology, Part A

Izanagi and Izanami
I could write a story about Izanagi and Izanami looking down at the roaring seas form the clouds. Contrasting the simplistic beauty of the sky to the natural power and rawness of the bellow. When the spear came up and brought forth land there was no foliage, only rock, as the two came down from their steps spouted forests.  Kiss of their lips and touching fingers bought forth birds and animals. Their  words made the rivers and clouds. They are not immortal though, simply long lived. Death made mortal men spring from the bones.

The Heaven-Descended
Sudden thought- what would the mind of Princesses Nether-Shining be like. First that she meet this godlike man who chose to wed her. What were those five years like for her? Were they good, prosperous? Then what must she have felt when she walked into their chambers and found him dead? Clearly, she was heartbroken- but for her was it assassination or a sign of the gods? What was the funeral like? Her reaction to later events?

Labors of Yamato
- journeyed far across the untamed land
- overcame unsailable seas with only his own self
- waited for his bride for weeks
- she got taken from him
- dressed up as a female to trick his foes
- seduced the leader of the opposing army
- only to find that his stolen bride had already rescued herself and had left for home

The stolen Princess
by Da Congjun
ArtStation

Bibliography- The Romance of Old Japan by E.W. Champney and F. Champney: Online Source

Reading Notes: Folklore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian, and Jewish, Part B

Lot and the Tree of the Cross
Random thought- the tree that sprouted at the foot of Adams grave became the tree that made the closet for Narnia.
Or turn it into the legend of the willow tree- it wept for the sins of man kind.

David
Story of David learning to smith. I think it would be amusing to see how he struggles and becomes frustrated. Maybe he burns himself or strikes his hand with a hammer. Basically a story about how the king is not perfect and makes mistakes. Show that he has to learn like any other man. Perhaps his armor is wonderful at defense but ugly to look at and uncomfortable to wear. I would want it to show that David is a man, divine or all powerful. That he has doubts and quarrels like any other person. Reminder that he came from humble origins not a royal linage.

Elijah and Saint George
No, not the dragon. Okay so what made the dragon so unhappy with the people that he/she decided to essentially kill them all. My mind? The towns people had snuck into the cave where the dragon lived and killed the mate/offspring and infuriated it. Satan came to it while it was morning and convinced he beast to seek revenge. Dragon terrorized them and demanded retribution-in the form of the daughters beloved daughter. Rather then 'Mar Jiryis' killing it the daughter talks to it and consoles it. Or she talks to it and the slayer kills the dragon despite her protest.

Fall of the Dragon by Bayrdwu
DeviantArt

Bibliography-Folk-lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jewish by J. E. Hanauer: online scource

Reading Notes: Egyptian Myths and Stories, Part B

I did not read any story that jumped out to me.

The first set of stories was about two brothers Anpu and Bata. Anpu's wife tries to seduce Bata, and following a similar story in Genesis, he dismisses her and she sends her husband after him. They fight and make up. Bata then later puts his soul into a blossom of a ceder tree. The Gods feel bad for Bata so they make him a wife , who is stolen by the pharaoh, who also cuts down the ceder tree killing Bata. Anpu searches for Bata's soul, finds it many years later and resurrects him. Bata becomes a bull to see his wife but ends up sacrificed, he than turns into a tree, which is cut down and turned into furniture. Once again he is reborn, this time a crown price, by impregnating his former wife viva a splinter. 

The second story was about the book of Thoth and all the misery it brings people despite the knowledge it contains. Usually the slaying of the thief's entire family. The final person who stole it brings it back before retribution is given. 

Bibliography-Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie, online source

The Scribe Thoth by Hbruton
DeviantArt

Reading Notes: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories, Part A

Creation
Why did Ra take the form of man kind? Can I form a story about how he meet mankind and they fascinated him. That they were so weak an helpless but at the same time strong and clever. He was inspired by their creativity that he wanted to be among them. What could his form have been before this, aside from light?

The Secret Name of Ra
Why is there power in a name? What story could I make that explains why the power of a God is hidden in his "true name"? Is it only the all powerful gods, like Ra, Khepera, Tum and Nu or is it all the gods, all people? Or can I combine this with the previous one and say it hides the true form of Ra, by changing his body he has changed his name? Did Isis become a Goddess because she knew the name of Ra?

Death of Osiris
This is why all pharaohs are buried with coffins-to honor Osiris
Isis can call upon Ra because she knows his true name. Its also the reason she is so well loved and honored. People forget that Isis holds the power of Ra, kills with a stare, grants immortality at a whim.

Totally mixing myths here. I want to show a strong independent woman, who is a trickster, but well beloved. Someone who is respected and feared, put her as the power behind the throne

Bibliography-Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie, online source

Isis from the tomb of of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings
 Wikimedia commons

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part B

Plot twist: make Aladdin a girl who is hardworking and clever. Instead of being taken advantage of she tricks other people into giving/doing things for her. So she recognized the false magician and manipulates him into giving her gifts and treasures.

Instead of being trapped in the cave she gets out easily, without the help of the genie, and is intelligent and brave rather then a coward.

She uses the genies powers to help others and catches the attention of the sultan who asks that she come visit him and his"son".
I am torn between them wooing her into marriage, and she forces them to do many great deeds or them rape her because of her beauty and revenge.

Think I will go on the wooing route, where they have to bring her many gifts within a certain period of time: 40 basins of gold and jewels, with 80 well dressed slaves. Essentially she makes them give her all their riches with out their knowledge. While doing this she wins over the heart of the people an soldiers, turning them away from the sultan.

The Magician does not come back to steal the lamp because she had paid him retribution for his previous loss, knowing it was a good thing to have him on her side rather then against her and knowing a magician is a good thing to have in ones back pocket.

Basically turn Aladdin into an intelligent girl who knows how to get what she wants. Someone who knows how to watch and learn, a patient huntress who thinks off all the angles before acting.

Bibliography-  Arabian Nights from Arabian Nights Entertainments, Online Reading

Desert Warrior by ravven78
DeviantArt

Reading Notes: Voyages of Sinbad, Part B

5th Voyage
The old man that Sinbad meets is Death, he is trying to judge 1. if Sinbad should die 2. where should he go if he does die. 1st task is he kind, 2nd is he strong, 3rd is he clever, 4th making up for past wrongs. Sinbad failed or passes? Pass goes on to live a long life. Fail-rest of his life is a dream that h never got to have.
I would have to change the story to make it more of a challenge then a inflicted pain. Change perceptions and reasons behind character actions and remove Sinbad's bad attitude.

6th Voyage
Sinbad is addicted to danger and is greedy for wealth. He cannot resist a new challenge. This one would be Sinbad thoughts as he embarks on a new adventure. His fears and desires. Brief backstories on previous adventures and the glories they have brought him followed by his wishes for a new quest. Does Sinbad have family? Why did he choose this new destination rather then familiar seas? Does he know those who he is about to travel with? Is it the adventure, the adrenaline, the discovery, the death that draw him back to danger? How long has it been since his last voyage?

Pile of Elephant Tusks
Opinion Sharing Blog

Bibliography- Voyages of Sindbad by Andrew Lang, Online Reading