Topic Brainstorm: Heroic/ Celtic

For this Project Brainstorming I have looked over the possible topics and have chosen the four I would like to do and combine into my own storytelling style.

For the first option I chose Heroes of Myth and Legend. This is always an interesting topic for me because the way that people have portrayed heroes over time. It is an ever changing subject and will forever be interesting. The way the myths are written are interesting because theres always a new spin on some of the stories that I have heard in the past. There is always a challenge to conquer for the hero and there is detail within the stories that paints an image in my head.

The second option that I would like to focus on would be the Tricksters  section because those are diverse. Also if anyone has ever seen Supernatural they know that the trickster in the show is comical and plays a huge part in Sam and Deans life. I was also intrigued by the Native American trickster section. I believe that I will be incorporating tricksters into my portfolio!

Third, I would like to infuse my portfolio with the Greek Heroes section because of the different aspects of heroes shown. The different culture aspect shows how the heroes change over time. Another great thing is that it is Greek Mythology, which has always shown hidden messages in the stories. They were used for teaching the younger generation and also for entertainment but i have always enjoyed those stories.

Lastly, I would like to add Brothers Grimm to my list. The Supernatural/Brothers Grimm story that i read at the beginning of the semester really hooked me. Plus I have always enjoyed Grimm stories. They are dark and put new twists on old stories. Those stories will be a great addition to my portfolio and I really look forward to researching more on the Brothers Grimm.

Central Ideas Have Multiple Parts

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Week 2 Story: Reaping Feared Demons

Note: The Updated version of this story is on my Portfolio blog @ Heroes Rise and Heroes Fall
In a dimension unlike our own, there was once a traveler. Scars and tattoos covered his body and reflected that he had been through hell. Every scar and tattoo represented the battles he had been through. Alex the Reaper was seen as a killer in some eyes but a hero in others. The pain of his soul could be seen in his stone-grey eyes. Though much pain followed, he had one last mission to finish out before he would be free of this pain. His mission: assassinate the one hundred soldiers of terror. These soldiers of terror were highly trained and skilled individuals. Knowing this still did not bring fear to his heart.

Alex was traveling through the howling meadows, known to be the deadliest of forests, but the only way to gain the surprise factor on his enemy. 

Nightfall soon was upon the Reaper so stopping to rest was his only option for he had a weeks travel through the forest. He kindled a small fire from a cloth ripped from his shirt to keep him warm through the night.

A loud bang had awoken him from his slumber near the third hour of the early morning. Aware of his surroundings he had slowed his breathing and was motionless.

"Mmm a tasty meal laid out for me" said a deep voice.

Before Alex knew it a hand with ragged bones grabbed him by his throat. Immediately Alex slashed this figure with his iron broadsword. The figure disappeared before his eyes. 

Five nights later on his last night before the attack of the army, he was awoken again. 

"Keep your distance for I am armed" exclaimed Alex.

"Hehe if you slay me in a battle I shall give you the strength of one hundred soldiers and you will successfully defeat your opponent at daybreak" said the silhouette from the woods.

"I accept your challenge" said Alex.

The figure appeared and was a skeleton with five arms and an face not from this world. "Demon" Alex whispered under his breath.

The Reaper gripped his sword tight and waited, the skeleton figure dashed but was not ready for the blade which had become red hot in Alex's hands. One slash through the beast and he defeated him, the demon burned up and was never seen again.

A daybreak the army was slain and with the hundred soldier strength as promised. The Reaper was free from his pain and started a new life away from civilization. Finally, at peace. 

  Alex the Reaper 

Photo provided by Pexels

Authors Note: This story was created after reading The Indian Who Wrestled with a Ghost. The original story was of a many on a quest of war, confronted by a ghost multiple nights in a row he wrestled the ghost and won in order to defeat his enemy. I changed the story into my own version and changed quite a bit of detail because I felt the darker it was, the more interesting it was going to be. and It was a demon instead of a ghost.

Bibliography: "The Indian Who Wrestled with a Ghost" from Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson Web Source

Reading Notes: Understanding Stories

Overall the stories in Reading B were interesting and diverse. I noticed a pattern with the way stories were told. While the story telling changed in aspects of the type of language style or the demeanor, the stories used dialogue to add more depth to the stories. There were always characters that were not honest or straight-forward with their actions but there was a good character that always brought light to the message of the story. Two of the stories that I enjoyed most were Man in the Moon, and The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal. With the Man in the Moon story having a Blacksmith as a character, a hard job that many would turn away from,  and him just complaining about everything. The Wise man, who I assumed was a God of some sort, granted the mans wishes to change lifestyles until it got so old that he said no more. It reminded me of  The Boy Who Cried Wolf because it only works so many times before people get sick of the same old song. The dialogue in this story was great because it brought some emotion into the story.
The Tiger story also stood out because it had an aspect of two deceitful characters with a fool being played by both of them just in different ways. There was a lot of dialogue in this story which showed that the characters made the story, and rather than explaining the details they just fell into place. Another thing that I thought was effective was the way the story jumped from one place to another which I took as a frantic rush from the Brahman to save his own life.
Things to take away from this reading would be to pay attention to detail as well as add dialogue to my stories. Both are effective in showing images rather than just telling a story.

This photo shows that characters are given identities by detail 

Provided by Pixabay 

Reading Options

The options for reading are quite abundant. One thing about this class that I am coming to enjoy are all the options that we are allowed to choose from. Needless to say, I am excited to be able to read some of these stories. The one thing I would like to do is keep my options open. Units that caught my attention most were the different cultural readings. I have always enjoyed reading stories from different parts of the world and different cultures. The stories told in different cultures are interesting because it shows a little bit of insight on beliefs and norms of the world. Understanding different aspects of the world helps me connect with others easily because we have more to talk about if i know a little about where they came from. 

A world map with different colors to show diversity.

Photo Provided by Wikimedia Commons

Some of the units that caught my eye were: Grimm (LibriVox) and the story The Twelve Huntsmen, the Native American unit with the stories of Creation of Man, and The Creation of Man-kind and the Flood. The Grimm unit was an eye catcher because of the fact that I really like reading those stories, and the Native American stories were chosen because I have read many different versions of creation stories told by different Native American Tribes. I look forward to the units and learning more about the different styles of storytelling in cultures.