Week 1: Storybook Favorites

In the past Storybook list that we were given, there were many interesting and unique topics. While there were many topics I enjoyed reading about. These are three that I thought were very interesting.

The first storybook that I found interesting was the Rocky Mountain Tales. I am particularly interested in this book because I lived for twelve years in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. I liked that they incorporated different types of stories, from the Native American tribes to the stories from later settlers. The color scheme and set up of the site were very outdoorsy and went well with the Colorado mountain theme. The writing was also very easy to read unlike some of the multicolored storybooks.

The next was a storybook about the Women in White. One of my favorite television shows is Supernatural, and the Pilot episode of Supernatural is about the Women in White, which originally drew me to that storybook. After looking at the book, I thought it was very interesting how it was written in first person, like a blog entry, from a 'ghost hunter' with a PhD in Parapsychology. I thought this idea was original and well researched throughout. The voice of the person speaking is also very unique and believable.

The last storybook that I will talk about was Stories from Australia. This storybook also interested me because of personal experience. In one summer in high school, I spent almost a month in Australia. We visited an Aborigines village and stayed with Australian residents for a few days. I thought that the layout of this blog was very simple, but I liked the blocks of color and pictures used a lot. I have also done research papers on different parts of Australian Aborigines lives throughout history. The background I have drew me to this storybook immediately.

There were many other storybooks that I looked at and liked, but these three were some of my favorites. I think this will be a very interesting and unique assignment to complete.

Week 1: Exploring the Un-Textbook

The following are some selections that I may read for our Un-Textbook throughout the semester, in no particular order. 

1. Grimm (Ashiman): All of the Grimm brother's stories are interesting to me. In particular, I've always loved the story of Rumpelstiltskin, so that is one reason I want to read this section. Also I'm interested in the new story mentioned in it about Adam and Eve. 

2.Turkish Fairy Tales: I have always loved Fairy Tales and have read some from Europe and Asia. The description of the Turkish, involving wizards, princes, and fairies makes me very interested. Also I'm not sure I've ever encountered Turkish fairy tales during any of my previous readings.

3.Voyages of Sindbad: I've heard about the legends of Sindbad in many many books and movies, but I have never read them. In the description of this reading, it also interested me that the writings were written in first person through Sindbad's perspective. So many of the hero legends are either and omnipresent narrator or a third party observer, I'm very interested to see how this is written and how it works with the story.

4.Dante Inferno: I have never read Dante's inferno but have heard a lot about it in many classes I've taken. Last semester I took a History of Heaven and Hell class and the professor briefly touched on Dante's Inferno and I thought it sounded really interesting. 

5. Eskimo Stories: I've always been interested in Ghost stories and legends. And if I'm being completely honest, I like the Disney movie Brother Bear, the description made me think of that movie a little.

I like the idea of the Un-textbook very much. I think it will be hard to chose the readings every week because each one sounds interesting in its own way. I think this will be a very interesting and unique class. I'm greatly looking forward to it. 

Week 1: Friends and a Bear (Storytelling)

There were once two young men who had been friends for years. Their names were John and Marcus. Both spent most of their days together working as blacksmith’s apprentices. While forging swords for the knights, both men had said they would fight for and protect each other, as they were like brothers.

However, those promises never required action, as the men led simple and uninteresting lives. When work was slow, John would practice with the swords, while Marcus would read about the world. He read about life in the deserts of the South, the oceans to the West, and the forests that surrounded their town. “You’re always reading those books,” Said John as he struck the blade into one of the wooden poles in the room.

“Yes, I am,” Marcus laughed. “I want to be a blacksmith who’s as clever as one of the fancy scholars.”

“Well,” said John, “If you want a skill that is actually useful in the world, you should train with me. I’m becoming as brave and strong as a knight. A book won’t save your life.”  But Marcus kept reading, and John kept swinging his sword.

One day the men were working when the blacksmith entered. “Boys,” he grunted, “I need you to go to the next town for some new tools.” The old man instructed them on what they needed and sent the boys on their way. They hadn’t gone on an errand before for the blacksmith, so both were excited for the adventure.

Later, John and Marcus were walking through the woods, on the narrow dirt road. The men were talking and laughing, telling stories from their childhood, and complaining about the old blacksmith. Then they heard something in the trees off to their left. Both froze.

The stood still and listened. They hadn’t seen another person on the road for over an hour and were still well away from the next town. The sound went quiet for a moment before continuing moving closer to them. They backed away and stood on the far side of the road, watching and waiting. After a moment, a huge brown bear came out of the tree line. The bear wasn’t paying the men any mind, at least not until John squealed in fear. The bear looked at the men curiously and began walking toward them.

John shook and began scrambling towards the trees behind him, knocking Marcus out of the way as he rushed away from the bear. When John reached the trees he scrambled up the nearest one, climbing half way to the top.

Marcus seemed calm outwardly, as he was trying not to startle the bear more. However, his mind was racing. He thought, Forests. Bears. Bears in forest., Bears killing people in forests. I must have read something about how to not get killed by bears in the forests. Then he remembered, he had once read that bears wouldn’t mess with the dead. As the bear neared him he dropped to the ground. He lay still, holding his breath, with his eyes closed. 

He could hear the bear moving towards him, and soon he felt the bear’s breath on his face and neck. The bear sniffed him a time or two, and then nudged his neck with a huge black nose. The bear soon became tired and lost interest in Marcus. As the bear lumbered back into the woods, Marcus sighed in relief, with ragged breaths, and slowly sat up.

After the bear had completely disappeared, John jumped down from the tree, still shaking. He collapsed next Marcus. “I thought you were dead for sure,” John said, staring huge eyed at Marcus. “It looked like he whispered to you, he was so close.”

“He did,” Marcus said still trying to catch his breath.

John looked at his friend skeptically, “Bears can’t talk.”

Marcus nodded, “This one did.  He said, ‘find a friend who’s brave like a knight and won’t let you get eaten by a bear.’” John turned red with embarrassment and Marcus laughed, though he was still angry with John. “The bear also said to keep reading books, as I would be dead if I depended on your bravery.” Marcus laughed again stood. John soon joined him and they continued down the road.

While the men worked together and remained friends. They never made any promises to one another again. Both men had seen how fear affected John. The encounter with danger had shown each of their true natures.

By: John and Karen Hollingsworth. "Big Brown Bear Urcus Arctos" Public Domain Image

Author's Note: This is a retelling of Aesop's fable entitled, "Two Travelers and a Bear". The story is of two men who are walking in the forest when they encounter a bear. One man leaves the other and climbs a tree, the other pretends to be dead to fool the bear. The bear leaves and the man on the ground told his friend that the bear said, "It is not at all wise to keep company with a fellow who would desert his friend in a moment of danger." The original fable and many others can be found in the book listed below, which is online for free by The Project Gutenburg. 

Bibliography: "Two Travelers and a Bear" from The Aesop for Children with pictures by Milo Winter (1919) Web Source: The Project Gutenburg