Storybook Topics

Topics Brainstorm 

Topic: Heroes in Greek Mythology

Comments: I think this is a topic that will really interest me because Greek mythology has always intrigued me. I like how these characters play a very important role in the way things in the world play out. Heroes are characters that represent a community and that is why I find them interesting. 

Possible Stories:  I know many may have heard of famous Heroes in Greek mythology. Possible stories would be revolved around important characters such as Odysseus and his role in the unfolding of the Earth.

Sample Story Comments: Odysseus is a key character in Homer's Odyssey. He is most famous for his actions during the Trojan War. More importantly he is known for his travels back home after the war. Not only does this specific story grab my attention because of the importance of his character for the Greek. War is one of the main reason why this story reels me in. The effect of adding rivals in heroic scenarios makes the story ever the more interesting. 

Bibliography: Homer's Odyssey 

Author: Homer

Year: 1895

Topic: Mermaids 

Comments: I have always found mermaids to be so fascinating and mysterious. The biggest reason why this is one of my topics is because in our space time, my husband and I have spent time watching documentaries over the existence of mermaids. In the Disney world, mermaids are portrayed in a very delicate and princess-like light. However in many of the tales it seems as if their can be a darker side to mermaids and I love it! 

Possible Stories: After searching about mermaids I have found that there is a lot of resources. By searching I came across " The Little Mermaid". This story along with others will give me good options for my selections.

Sample Story Comments: In this version of "The Little Mermaid", we are introduced to the differences between her siblings and herself. Out of all her family she was the only with a fish tail. This set her apart. However, she was also different in the way that she thought and acted and looked up to her grandmother for a lot of advice. 

Bibliography: The Little Mermaid

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

Year: 1837

The Little Mermaid 

Topic: The Demons of Latin- American Mythology

Comments: I knew that I perhaps wanted t include my culture somehow in my storybook. Greek and Roman Mythology are among the most popular. However, Latin- American mythology is often underrated. My topic would focus on the evil spirits and characters that many Hispanics grew up hearing about. IN FACT, 9/10 (my own statistic) of Hispanics will tell you that often time our parents would discipline us and tell us to behave in order to avoid being taken away by "El Cucuy" or the bogeyman. 

Possible Stories: I wasn't really able to find much of Latin-American mythology with the resources that we were given so I took it upon myself and found some sources that give me a lot to work with. My favorite would probably be an outline of different legends in Latin-American culture divided out by country of origin and such. 

Sample Story Comment: La llorona is a Latin-American character that is known all over the world. She was a murderer and now her spirit haunts others. It is said through legend that she will kidnap children to make up for her own. 

Bibliography: Stories passed down to me through the generations. 

Topic: Nursery Rhymes

Comments: Nursery Rhymes are personal to me in the sense that I am hearing them all the time. My daughter loves to listen to these stories and watch videos of them being played out on YouTube. I think that it would be neat if I could tell her about other Nursery Rhymes that aren't as popular but are as good if not, BETTER! 

Possible Stories: Wow, I did not realize how many possibilities I had. The Real Mother Goose would probably be my biggest source. In this book I have found so many stories such as, The Flying Pig, Lucy Locket, and others. This would a very easy topic to write about.

Sample Story Comments: I liked reading The Alphabet. It's a nursery rhyme that goes through the alphabet with little sayings between the lines. In the end I believe that it speaks about the importance of education. 

Bibliography: The Real Mother Goose

Author (Illustrated by: Blanche Fisher Wright)

Year: Ebook, 2004

Storytelling, Week 2: Joseph the seducer

Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Potifar had grace over Joseph. Joseph served him and gained trust he even became in charge of overseeing the house. All trust was put in his hands. However, Joseph had been away for a very long time and although he was happy he was weak. He was weak in the sense that he longed to lie with a woman. Potifar's wife was very beautiful and Joseph spent a lot of time around her. Since he over saw the palace he had keys to all the rooms. One day he thought " I will only take a peek" and he made his way to the bathing house at the time that Potifar's wife would be in there. Without her knowing he watched her undress and bathe. Her soft skin glistened as the moonlight struck her through the open window. Her skin so fair and soft, her breast laid perfectly on her chest and he lusted her. He knew that Potifar would be gone for some time since he had business to take care of with the Pharaoh it was a perfect time. Potifar's wife seemed lonely and upset as it had been months that she had seen her loved one. Joseph made his way in and caressed her and told her it would all be okay. Potifar's wife trusted him, as he was the second man in charge. As many times before she laid in her bed in her nightgown as Joseph guarded her place. Joseph would no longer hide his desire he approached her bedside and grabbed her hand. "Lie with me", he said, "I will make you forger all your sorrows. With me you will never meet solitude again. " He leaned it to kiss and rubbed her thigh. She was appalled, "My master would not approve. How dare you come into my house and disrespect me in such way? How could I do this evil and sin against my God?" She ran out and cried for help. Joseph knew it would only be a matter of time. Potifar heard the news and made his way back to Egypt only to find Joseph gone. Joseph prayed to his God but his God had turned away for he has disrespected his master but above all had disrespected his father. Not too much time had passed and Joseph was found, he was thrown in jail and shortly after paid for his actions as he faced the gallows. 

Potifar's Wife- Orazio Gentileschi 

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Author's Note: The original story that inspired my own was Potifar's Wife . In the original story Joseph was loyal to his master and his God. He was humble and honest. Potifar's wife was promiscuous and lusted Joseph. One day Joseph was naive and went on with his day. Potifar's wife approached Joseph and told him to lie with her. Joseph was not weak and ran out the room leaving his garment that she had pulled away. Ashamed, she blamed him and accused him of harassing her and trying to sleep with her. Joseph was sent to jail but later forgiven as he was innocent. I made this story my own by changing the character involved with the lust and changing some events by adding more detail. However, I wanted to keep the betrayal story line the same.  In my story, the betrayer is Joseph. Potifar's wife is put in a positive light rather than a negative one. In the original story there is no consequence for Potifar's wife even though she was the one who approached Joseph. I wanted to make sure that that was not the case in my story, therefore I made Joseph be punished by facing death in the gallows. I was really excited when I found the picture above as it was a really great addition to the story as you could see what was going on in the story as well. 

Bibliography: Potifar's Wife, King James Bible (1611), Genesis 39

Reading Diary B: Biblical Unit

This is the continuation of my reading this week. For this assignment I am focusing on Part B. 

Biblical Unit: Biblical Women 

The Witch of Endor: 

• Saul went to the Witch of Endor when God would no longer answer him 
• Saul went in disguise to the witch because he has outlawed witchcraft 
• The Witch of Endor feared for her life thinking that he was coming for her 
• Saul let her know he swore he was going to do her no harm 
• Saul wanted to speak to Samuel about his frustration with the Philistines 

Bathsheba: 

• Bathsheba was married to Uriah
• King David lusted her and called for her to be brought to the palace 
• Bathsheba was then carrying David's child 
• David ordered Uriah be killed in war after Uriah did not obey orders of being with his wife (to make it seem like the child was Uriah's) 
• After Uriah died David married Bathsheba but the Lord was displeased and their first born died

Esther:

• Esther was the chosen one 
• Ester was Jew but she his her identity under the advice of her uncle, Mordecai because there was Jewish persecution at the time 
• King Ahasuerus was looking for a new wife to replace Queen Vasti 
• Ester had the king's grace and favor and he loved her and made her queen 
• Haman delivers is plan to kill the Jewish 
• Mordecai pleas Esther to do something but she is afraid 
• Esther was the only hope for the Jews but her life was in danger in case the King was not pleased and she too would perish 
• Esther devises a plan to unveil Haman's to the King 
• At the banquet Esther asks for the grace of the King and grace over her people 
• The king owed his life to Mordecai and once he realized that Haman wanted to kill Mordecai in the gallows, Haman was sentenced to the gallows 
• Esther freed her people from persecution 

Mary and Anna: 

• Joseph and Mary made there way into Bethlehem to pay their taxes 
• it was during this time that Mary went in to labor 
• due to no housing, Mary delivered in a manger 
• Mary gave birth to Jesus named an angel before birth 
• Simeon and Anna recognized this child and their Savior and The Lord 

Martha and Mary: 

• Martha and Mary were sisters 
• Martha was occupied serving and attending her guests 
• Mary occupied herself by sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him 
• Martha was upset and nagged but the Lord told her that Mary had made the right choice 
• Martha and Mary notified the Lord when Lazarus was ill but the Lord did not move and stayed in the same place 
• Until it was time the Lord made his way to Judea 
• the people around him did not understand as Lazarus had already passed 
• When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she went to meet him but Mary was upset that he did not do anything for their brother, Lazarus 
• Martha and Mary did not understand why Jesus wanted to go into the tombstone since Lazarus had already passed days ago 
• Lazarus heard the voice of Jesus and he rose 

Lazarus rising

Reading Diary A: Blibical Unit

For this weeks reading diary I have chosen the biblical unit. I chose this unit because I grew up learning about the women of the bible and how their actions should be of an example to me in my life. I decided that this would be a good opportunity to get to better know these women. 

Bible Women Part A: 

Eve: 

• She was created from one of the ribs of Adam 
• She was called woman because she was part of man 
• She was comfortable with being naked because there was no shame yet 
• She was aware that she could not eat or touch the fruit of the forbidden tree
• She was led into temptation by the serpent and then took from the tree
• Adam and Eve felt shame in their nakedness after they had taken from the tree
• She was blamed by Adam for the sin since she had given him the fruit 
• The serpent was punished by God and that is why snakes now move by scooting on their belly 
• Labor pains are a consequence of the sin that Eve committed 
• Men have to work hard to provide for their families because of Adam's actions 
• Eve was named Eve because it means mother of all the living
• Adam and Eve were shunned from the Garden of Eden and had a fiery sword protecting the entrance where they were no longer allowed to enter 

Sarah: 

• Sarah and her husband were old in age 
• There was a prophecy told to them that they would have a child 
• they were in denial because of their age 
• Sarah gave birth to Isaac
• God got on to her for doubting her and questioned her laughter 

Hagar:

• She was the handmaid in the household of Sarah and Eve 
• Sarah let Abraham sleep with Hagar because she could not give him a child because of old age 
• Hagar conceived Abraham's child but Sarah was not pleased 
• Hagar ran away fleeing her mistress but the Lord told her to go back and to not be afraid 
• the Lord commanded Hagar to name the child Ishmael 
• Abraham then told Hagar to leave because of the tension in the house 
• Hagar was afraid her child would not make it but God told her not to fear 
• Ishmael was born and he became an archer 

Rebekah: 

• She was a very attentive and caring woman 
• She was a virgin and had not met a man 
• Abraham was on the look for a wife for his son Isaac 
• taken aback by her hospitality the servant knew that Rebekah was the women that Lord had chosen for Isaac 
• Rebekah was blessed and became Isaac's wife 
• She gave birth to two nations, Esau and Jacob 

Rachel: 

• Rachel had a sister named Leah 
• Jacob was in the search for a wife and came to the area in which Rachel and Leah lived 
• Jacob was the brother of Rachel's father/ Rebekah's son 
• Rachel's father, Laban asked what he wished for. Jacob wished for Rachel and said that he would work 7 years for her
• Once his 7 years were up he asked for Rachel and Laban made a big feast for the wedding 
• Jacob was tricked and was given Leah instead 
• Jacob was so upset but he loved Rachel so he worked 7 years more in order to have Rachel as his wife

Jakob and Rahel taken from Untextbook 

Potifar's Wife: 

• Joseph was a trusted man at the time that he met Potifar's wife 
• Joseph would take care of the house 
• Potifar's wife was promiscuous and she told Joseph to lay with her 
• Joseph did not want to lay with her and he was a man of God 
• Potifar's wife left alone and ashamed she made a scandal and blamed Joseph of trying to lay with her since she has his garments in her hand