Reading B: Japanese Fairytales

The first story of reading B reminds me of the first story of reading A because it is about traveling and running into a difficult situation. In Schippeitaro the young boy must travel the forest, he gets lost and has to find his way. The style of writing is very direct and to the point. The second story uses a lot of extravagant words to spice up the story and make it more interesting to read. The Crab and the Monkey is about a neat crab running into a hungry monkey. The Magic Kettle was another story that started off by talking about the place the main character lived and how the character felt about that place. That seems to be a reoccurring style of these stories. In How the Wiched Tanuki was Punished there are much more characters being introduced. This story really emphasizes the characters and what they are like.

Crab and Monkey

Reading Notes B: The Monkey King

The second part of The Monkey King started with the monkey king taking a visit to heaven. Once he got to heaven the Lord of the Heavens gives him the title of the title of the stable master. He gets upset when he finds out that it is a meaningless title and leaves. Once he leaves the Lord of the Heavens order someone to go get him back but he fights them and they return to heaven without him. Once back to heaven they tell the Lord of the Heavens that the King of the Apes is very strong and important. The Lord of the Heavens then builds him a castle. The story then talks about all the peaches from the garden being picked. The Great Saint has too much wine and wanders off. He convinces the Ape King to steal more wine for him. There is a battle between the King of the Apes and Yang Oerlang.

Ape

Reading Notes B: Ovid's Metamorphosis

The first reading for reading B was Echo. This story explains the meaning of the word echo. Jupiter takes away the ability of echo to freely speak. Echo can only repeat the last things said

The next reading was Narcissus. This story talks about Narcissus and his obsession with himself. They are trying to teach him a lesson and to learn to care about things other than himself.

The next reading was Pyramus and Thisbe. This is a love story between Pyramus and Thisbe. They want to get married but their parents forbid it. Thisbe and Pyramus decide to sneak off from their families and meet each other in the forest. Pyramus sees Thisbe's blood soaked veil and believes she has been killed by lions and he kills himself out of guilt. Thisbe find him and kills herself as well.

The next reading was Mars and Venus. Venus and Mars are having an affair and Vulcan is told about his wife's actions. Vulcan creates a web that catches the two.

The next reading was Perseus and Andromena. This story talks about the many acts of Perseus. Such as when he kills medusa and when he rescues Andromena.

Painting from Perseu and Andromena