Week 12 Reading A: Beowulf

King Hygelac and Queen Hygd of Geatsland

The Geats were warriors. Caves were inhabited by monsters and beasts found in the forests. Hygd was called the wise and fair.

The young Beowulf

Nephew to the king and named one of his thanes, and was the strongest youth around. Admitted into Hygelacs personal retainers and a feast was placed for them. Older Lords questioned why Beowulf sat at the feet of the king, some answered with nepotism others because of his strength. 

Beowulf's Resolve

He wanted to slay the monster named Grendel. King Hygelac sent Beowulf and said not to return should he fail.

Beowulf's Journey

14 men are sent with Beowulf.

Beowulf lands in Daneland

They saw all sorts of sea monsters. Reached Hroethgars castle.

Tolkien's Beowulf

Heorot the greatest mead hall was in disarray. Hrothgar appears with elderly warriors. Beowulf explains the reasoning behind his journey to the king. The King explains that Grendel frequents the great hall.

The words of unferth

Heorot held a great banquet. Wealhtheow is queen here. Unferth lies about Beowulf's youth and the events that happened.

Bib:

 Beowulf: The fearless warrior battles Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire-breathing dragon.

Week 12 Reading B: Celtic Tales

King O'Toole and His Goose

King O'Toole a fine old king grew old and the poor king was obliged at last to get a goose to divert him, but the goose got stricken in years like her master and couldn't divert him no longer, and then it was that the poor king was lost entirely. Saint Kavin comes to talk to the King saying he can make things as good as new and will do so for King O'Toole's goose. Saint Kavin wants all the land the goose flies over after she is made brand new for the service he will do and the King agrees. The saint reveals his identity and tells the king he was testing him. The saint blesses him and his goose for the rest of his life and the goose dies by an eel.

Beth Gellert

Llewelyn had a favorite dog, Gellert. When the Llewelyn had returned from a hunt he saw Gellert greeting him with a blood-stained mouth and a blood trail that ran to his son's nursery. He could not find his son anywhere and kills Gellert thinking the dog killed his son. Llewelyn found his son under the cradle and the body of a dead wolf who had tried to kill his son who was protected by Gellert the dog. 

Brewery of Eggshells

There once lived there a man and his wife, and they had twins and one day when she was gone she saw two old elves of the blue petticoat crossing her path though it was midday which frightened her so she raced home. She found her twins as though she had left them. But after a time, the good people began to suspect that something was wrong for the twins didn't grow at all, and these were not her children. The woman saddened decided to consult the Wise Man of Llanidloes. He tells her on reaping day clear out the shell of an egg and boil some potage in it, and then take it to the door like an offering for the reapers. If the twins say things beyond the understanding of children, go back and throw them into Lake Ebyr but if not do nothing. She threw the fake children into the lake and the goblins came and snatched them back and left her real children in their place.

Mother and the Goblins

Bibliography:

Celtic Tales: Fairies, leprechauns, ghosts, and goblins, along with a Celtic version of "Snow White."

Week 12 Reading: Celtic Tales

 Connla and the Fairy Maiden

Connla speaks to a fairy maiden that no one can see or hear until she answered his father the kinG. The fairy maiden wished to make Connla a fairy king, but his father calls upon a druid for help. He eats from an everlasting apple and longs for the fairy maiden who was sent away by the Druids spell. The fairy maiden came once more to beseech Connla to come with her and he did so.

The Field of Boliauns

Lady-day was a famous holiday, Tom Fitzpatrick sees a leprechaun drinking. Tom approached and struck up a conversation with the leprechaun who explained in the pitcher was beer that he made from heath. The leprechaun attempted to make Tom look away with a story of the cows escaping but instead Tom grabbed him and demanded his gold lest he kill him. The leprechaun led him to a boulian where the gold was to be buried and Tom went home to get his spade after tying a red garter around it. He made the leprechaun swear not to take it off and he did but instead tied one around every other boulian insight.

The Sprightly Tailor

Lord Macdonald employed the tailor to make trews in the haunted church in exchange for a handsome reward. The tailor went at night to the church working on the trews stitched through the ghostly appearance that came before. He finished the trews before the entirely ghostly figure could materialize its whole body and the tailor ran out of the church and the ghost ran after him. The tailor made it into the castle and gained his reward.

Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree

Silver Tree, the king's wife, was angry that her daughter Gold Tree was seen more lovely than she by the trout in the glen and vowed to eat her daughter's heart and liver. The King says he will do whatever she wants but instead gives her the heart and liver of a goat to eat for his daughter was gone and married off to a king abroad. Silver Tree asks the trout again who is the most lovely.

Celtic Fairy Tales

Bibliography:

Celtic Tales: Fairies, leprechauns, ghosts, and goblins, along with a Celtic version of "Snow White."

Microfiction: Precious Stones/

"In the world of glitter and glam, you have to shine or be one of a kind.  If not you'll be left behind, unwanted and unmined..." - Diya

A picture of me and my family - Tawny
(Me: third row-fourth from the right)

My name is Tawny, I was mined in Tanzania and come from a family of Tanzanite. A precious stone you probably haven't heard of unless your birthday is in December and your mom is one of those... No shame at all, just a stone that is 1000 times rarer than diamonds yet still underrated, widely unknown, and most importantly undersold. I've been shipped all over the world and for some reason no one wants me. My cut is trillion, my color is pure, and I'm a size 7 and still nada... I'm waiting for the day that my special person comes to take me away, to enjoy a life of fancy dinners, holiday parties, and if I'm truly lucky everyday life. Let's be honest though, that the last one is just a pipedream, Diamonds are the only ones who get to enjoy every day with their person... No one gives an engagement ring made out of Tanzanite. My mom said she hadn't seen it since 1979 during the big Tanzanite boom when everyone went crazy for a short while over us. Well here's to 2021 being the year I make it into someone's jewelry box. 

Always blue, 

Tawny. 

Blog entry: Jan, 01, 2021

Bibliography:

Birthstone | Tanzanite - BirthStone.com

Tanzanite - Wikipedia

Author's Note: I wanted to do a microfiction blog-type storyline every week. I decided to animate my birthstone the Tanzanite. I hope Doing one 200 word story was okay instead of two 100 word stories. I know it somewhat defeats the purpose but I really liked what I made and really liked the whole microfiction aspect. Is it still considered a microfiction if it's this long? Should I just make it into two blog entries? Thanks for all the feedback!

Week 11: Reading Part A

 Week 10: British North America

Beliefs:

Bella Coola believes in 5 worlds. Afraid of Nothing created the whole world and battled with the mountains and broke them apart and made them smaller. Her visits cause sickness and death when she visits.

Queen Charlotte Islands

Creation of the World: Wyandot

People living beyond the skies. The chief's daughter fell through the sky and she was caught by swans. The council decides to build the woman and island by diving for earth by the tree's roots. Many animals drowned trying. Old Toad was very small and ugly and dove down for earth and brought some. The earth was placed on big turtles' back and grew into an island. it grew larger and larger and became the world we know today.

How the Earth Was Formed: Cree

Wisagatcak attempts to catch beaver but is stoped but muskrat. He floods the land and makes a raft and takes two of every kind of animal for 2 weeks. Muskrat drowns while diving and crow could not find anything. Earth appeared and grew on the raft from the moss. All done by making magic.

Creation of the Earth: Thompson River

Sun and his wife Earth, she was left alone when Sun and Moon and Stars left her. Old Man sent them into the sky to remain where everyone can see them. Earth was made to take care of people and now she can see Sun at all times.

Origin of Light and Fire: Lillooet

Raven and SeaGull were friends. The world was dark because Sea Gull owned the light which was kept in a box. Raven planned to get the daylight and tricked him and got thorns stuck. Raven offered to help if SeaGull let some light out of the box. Little by little he asked for more light and knocked the box opens and daylight spread all over the world. The baby was stolen by Raven and he went to the Fire People and asked for fire.

The Burning of the World: Cree

Week 8: Reading Part B

 Brer Rabbit: The Calamus Root

Invited Fox for dinner after cooking. Brer rabbit goes to Fox’s house for dinner to eat him and doesn’t catch him.

Brer Rabbit: The Calamus Root

Raccoon and Possum to stand up to dog. Possum was a coward against the dog and possum lies about it saying he was being tickled. 

Brer Rabbit: Mr. Fox is "Outdone" by Mr. Buzzard

Fox outwitted by Mr Fox telling him to cut down the tree saying that Brer Rabbit was in there. Laughed at the fox who grabbed him and said Mr Buzzard would pay if Brer Rabbit wasn’t in the hole. Mr Buzzard flies off.

Brer Rabbit: The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf

Wolf wanted Brer Rabbit. Houses were built for his kids and lost each kid when the house collapsed. Finally built a house that could withstand forces. Wolf asked Brer Rabbit to save him and tricked him into a hatched trunk. Started a fire and lied about his actions; poured the hot water on the trunk which poured onto Wolf and it killed him. They all ate the Wolf with the neighbors.

Bibliography:

Week 9: Brer Rabbit: Brer Rabbit stories, including the famous tar-baby and the briar patch!

Week 8: Reading Part A

Brer Rabbit: The Calamus Root

Invited Fox for dinner after cooking. Brer rabbit goes to Fox’s house for dinner to eat him and doesn’t catch him.

Brer Rabbit: The Calamus Root

Raccoon and Possum to stand up to dog. Possum was a coward against the dog and possum lies about it saying he was being tickled. 

Brer Rabbit: Mr. Fox is "Outdone" by Mr. Buzzard

Fox outwitted by Mr Fox telling him to cut down the tree saying that Brer Rabbit was in there. Laughed at the fox who grabbed him and said Mr Buzzard would pay if Brer Rabbit wasn’t in the hole. Mr Buzzard flies off.

Brer Rabbit: The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf

Wolf wanted Brer Rabbit. Houses were built for his kids and lost each kid when the house collapsed. Finally built a house that could withstand forces. Wolf asked Brer Rabbit to save him and tricked him into a hatched trunk. Started a fire and lied about his actions; poured the hot water on the trunk which poured onto Wolf and it killed him. They all ate the Wolf with the neighbors.

Bibliography:

Week 9: Brer Rabbit: Brer Rabbit stories, including the famous tar-baby and the briar patch!