Week 10: Extra Reading - The Life of Buddha

(Image Information: Big Buddha

Shih Ruchang Source: Wikipedia)

I decided to read from the Indian Unit, because there is still a lot of stories I wasn't able to read during the Epics of India class. Something that constantly intrigues me is how Buddha/Siddhartha used to be Hindu, and then he decided to come up with Buddhism. I don't think a lot of people know that Buddha used to be Hindu, but I see the similarities in the two religions all the time as one of my best friends is Buddhist. These stories were really helpful in giving background information regarding the events throughout Buddha's life. Here are just a few of the notes I took regarding these stories:

• The amount of detail in these stories is amazing - it really helped to capture what was happening
• A lot of these stories are told in third person perspective so it would be a great way to retell these stories in first person perspective
• While reading these stories from Part A, I still wonder why Buddha didn't originally like the ideas of Hinduism? Were his parents Hindu? I feel like a lot of these stories didn't give a lot of background information from the Hinduism aspect
• I think from the second first and second story from Part A, we are given ideas as to why Buddha was named the way he was, but I don't think there was ever really an explanation (unless stated in Part B)
• It would be a fun idea to also retell the first or second story, and try to incorporate the origins of the names Buddha and Siddhartha and what it meant at the time 

Bibliography: The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Harold Reading Guide Part A

Week 10: Reading Notes Great Plains Part B

Continuing on reading the stories of the Great Plains, I took notes on stories that really struck out to me or were unique and I wanted to make note of it. I am excited to see what I end up writing about for writing a story.

(Image Information: Great Plains

Great Plains LCC Source: Wikipedia)

The Ghost and the Traveller

• I had to read this a couple of times to really understand what was going on
• I like how there's background information given
• I'm still not really sure the message, or symbolism behind this story

The Man Who Shot A Ghost

• This story had an interesting plot - something I didn't expect
• I also like how at the end there's an ending that confirms that all that happened was true - sometimes ghost stories are represented as myths and you can't really tell whether the character actually experienced it or not.

The Indian Who Wrestled with a Ghost

• I really like how detailed the women was described - from what she looked like physically to what she was wearing down to the jewelry 
• This was the first story that I actually understood the message at the end, and why certain events occurred. This message shows how many Native American stories uphold ghosts, and what they have to say as in this story.
• Knowing this I could definitely make a story with the ghost and make sure a message is clear

The Wakanda, or Water God

• This story is one of my favorites so far in Part B - I like how much symbolism there is and the detailed events.
• I still don't understand the meaning of white-haired dogs and their significance in this story but it was interesting to see that they were used as a form of "payment"
• This story kind of reminded me of Hansel and Gretel in a way, and it would be cool to retell the story but using this plot. 

The Spirit Land

• Thinking about Part A, and how a deer was so important to the creation of earth it made me wonder why a Crow was used in this story - and how these stories decided the animal responsible for creation
• I like the symbolism in this story and how every single thing the crow did contribute to the creation of the spirit land
• Maybe, it would be cool to come up with my own creation story with an animal of choice 

Why the Possum Plays Dead

• This story was so entertaining - I like how at the end we discover the meaning of the story and how every event in the story leading up to the ending has contributed to the significance of the possum playing dead
• I really think it would be a fun idea to have some type of modern day story where a family is in a car and see a "dead" possum on the highway and learn the significance of a possum playing dead

Bibliography: Judson's Great Plains Unit Reading Guide Part B

Week 10 Reading Notes: Great Plains Part A

For Part A, I decided to read the stories of the Great Plains. I thought it would be interesting just because I know that parts of Oklahoma, like my hometown Lawton, for example, are considered "The Great Plains" and I thought I might encounter some stories that would have to do with it. 

The following notes are for each of the stories I really liked, and what I liked about them. I might consider retelling one of these stories depending on what stories I read in Part B. I think these bullet points are a great way to remind myself later this week what I read, what I liked, and how I might use it in storytelling. 

(Image Information: Maize

Keith Weller (USDA) Source: Wikipedia)

The Creation

• How important the Elk was in describing the way the world's workings came about
• Maybe use another animal as a storytelling style and see how that might change the story
• How much symbolism there was - that everything in the world had its own symbolic creation
• The Osages were the ones questioning creation
• Maybe make a new story regarding a different topic of creation and use different animals/groups to tell the story
• For example, if a child asks his mother and father where he/she came from.

Sacred Legend

• I like how there was progressive action
• Each new discovery built upon another
• You could use this "progressive" storytelling style in explaining any chronological historical event
• I'm not sure what story I could make out of this, but I do like how each paragraph builds on each other so that's something to keep in mind when storytelling.

The Legend of the Peace Pipes

• The meaning behind the peace pipes is understood by the end of the story
• I like the use of the different eagles to show why the particular spotted eagle was chosen as the one to make peace pipes
• I could do a storytelling that might involve a teen learning to make a peace pipe and understanding the legend in his journey to making a peace pipe

The Sacred Pole

• I like how one item becomes the sole focus of the story, and by the end, something that seemed so trivial at first becomes a major turning point in the story
• This style of writing could be used to retell any type of incident story that I try to retell
• Maybe retelling this story from a first-person perspective might be really interesting 

Old-Woman-Who-Never-Dies

• I really like how this story explains the beliefs behind seasons and how that affects animals and agriculture
• This would be a fun story to retell in a way that could be found in a children's book to explain the reasons behind season changes, and why animals migrate

Bibliography: Judson's Great Plains Unit Reading Guide Part A