Extra Reading Diary: Brothers Grimm (Hunt) Unit

For this week’s extra reading diary, I read the first half of the Brothers Grimm Hunt unit.  It was a very interesting set of readings, but there was only one tale that truly interested me.  I really enjoyed reading Hansel and Grethel.  It was interesting to read the true story and not just the later renditions. 

I had never heard the part of the story that told of them returning to their house first.  I also didn’t know that it was their step mother that came up with the idea to leave them in the forest in the first place.  I really liked the way that the witch was described, particularly her keen sense of smell.

I’ve always found the tale of Hansel and Grethel intriguing and I am definitely planning on using it in my storybook. I think that it will be fun to write Charlotte into this story and just by reading it, I have already come up with several ideas.  

Hansel and Grethel. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Diary B: Marriage Tales

I enjoyed the remainder of the Native American Marriage Tales unit.  It had longer tales that gave me a better insight into the culture.  I still didn’t find anything that I was really excited to draw from, but there was one story that caught my eye.

I particularly liked the tale of the Girl and The Turkeys.  It was very similar to the tale of Cinderella, but from a different culture’s viewpoint.  I really liked that the Turkeys were the ones that aided her in going to the ball, not a fairy god mother.  I thought it was interesting that there wasn’t really anyone that told her she couldn’t go to the ball, just her view of herself.  I liked that the Turkeys cleaned her clothes and then essentially spat out a variety of ornaments for her to wear.  The fact that she forgot about them after she left was cool too.  It definitely sets the tale apart from Cinderella.  

Turkey. Source: Wikipedia

Reading Diary A: Marriage Tales

This week’s theme was Native American tales.  From the choices, I selected the Marriage Tales because it encompasses a range of tribes so I would get a feel for many different cultures.  I enjoyed the readings in the first half of the unit, but did not really find any that I could draw from.  

I like the tale of Splinter-Foot-Girl, but did not draw anything from it that I wanted to use in my stories.  I did like that the animals helped her escape from her marriages.  However, she was a rather meek girl that didn’t really do much for herself.  Her family helped her escape and she simply went along with the plan. 

I like when the girl takes charge of the situation and makes a name for herself.  I guess it just goes along with my outlook on life.  We need to be the writers of our own destinies. Why wouldn’t she try to take charge of the situation? Why would she wait for help and go along with what everyone wants her to do? It just doesn’t fit with my perspective I suppose.  

Badger. Source: Wikipedia