Browsing through different storybook topics, I've had a hard time narrowing down ides for my storybook. I know I would like for my storybook to focus on a single group of characters. I want the stories in my storybook to be continuous, like individual excerpts from one big story, but beyond that I'm still looking at a variety of characters from different periods and cultures.
The first topic I have become interested in revolves around the story of Hypermnestra, a Grecian woman, one of 50 sisters fathered by Danaus. There are several parts to her story. Her and her sisters are charged by their father with murdering their husbands on their wedding night and Hypermnestra is the only one who fails to go through with it. Her father tries to have Hypermnestra taken to court and tried for her life, but her life is saved and she is eventually reunited with her husband Lynceus. I don't know many of the details of the story, but I love the bones of it. There are so many different parts to this story: Danaus's plan, Hypermnestra and Lynceus' wedding night and why she chooses not to kill him, Hypermnestra's arrest, Lynceus's plan for revenge, the fate of Hypermnestra, Lynceus, and the rest of the characters. I love the idea of working from the points of view of both Hypermnestra as well as her husband Lynceus. I think it would be cool to learn the story from a mixture of points of view. Hypermnestra's story is told in many different forms by many different authors. There are several versions of the story translated online. Further part of Hypermnestra's story is told in Aeschylus's The Suppliant Women. Geoffrey Chaucer also wrote a prose poem describing the legend of Hypermnestra, which is available online. One part of Hypermnestra's story is told in a letter from Hypermnestra to Lynceus in The Epistles of Ovid. I would love to remake this letter and include a story behind it in my storybook.
Hypermnestra to Lynceus P. Ovidius Naso's The Epistles of Ovid retold in prose by London J. Nunn (1813).
Another set of characters I came across that interested me were those in the Gaelic Fenian cycle of mythology. I particularly liked the characters Diarmuid, Grainne, and Fionn. There are many different stories including Diarmuid and Fionn, but I particularly like the story of The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne. This story outlines the meeting of these three characters. Grainne is betrothed to Fionn, who is older even than her father. She instantly becomes enamored with one of his warriors (Diarmuid) and convinces him to run away with her. This story is also interesting because it is thought to have influenced the story of Tristan and Iseult. Whether I would note that as an interesting point, try to entwine the stories together, or tell them parallel to each other, I'm not sure, but I do think the connection is interesting. Diarmuid was a warrior of the Fianna, part of the Fenian cycle of Irish mythology. There are many different translations of The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne online, as well as many translations of stories from the Fenian cycle of Irish mythology. Many of these stories include characters which are also present in The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne. I would be interested in using the different stories from the Fenian Cycle in order to get ideas for minor characters which may have played a role in the stories of Diarmuid and Grainne.
The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne, Ethna Carbery's In the Celtic Past (1904).
I really love Hector and Andromache from Ancient Greek stories. I like the idea of making a storybook about them, and including stories about them together, as well as stories about Helen of Troy and Paris told from each of their perspectives. After Hector's death, Andromache goes on to live a long life in which she is married to two other men and bears 5 more children. In this storybook I would include stories of Andromache after Hector's death. I would love to include the episode from the Iliad in which Andromache and Hector see each other one last time before battle. I think this story is a beautiful representation of the loyalty and love that was between them, and I think it is an important story in order to understand the motivations, the values, and the dynamics of both Hector, Andromache, and their relationship.
Hector and Andromache, Homer's Iliad retold by Alfred J. Church (1907).
I also love stories of the King Arthur and the knights of the round table. I would love to focus on either King Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, and Morgan le Faye, or a combination of those four characters. There are many different accounts of the Arthurian legends, and many different stories within them. One of the stories I would like to include is part of the Lancelot Propre portion of the Vulgate cycle of the Arthurian legends. This story tells of the first kiss of Guinevere and Lancelot. It explains much about how their affair started, and I think it would be a cool story to explore in order to give some insight into the motives and mind of Guinevere particularly, but Lancelot as well. There are so many different tellings of the stories of King Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, and the rest of the Arthurian characters. There are several different translations of the French prose Lancelot, as well as many manuscripts in its written French which are available online. The UnTextbook also includes a unit including stories from King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang.
The First Kiss, Timeless Myths (Arthurian Legends) Jimmy Joe. (1999).
Showing posts with label Week Two. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Week Two. Show all posts
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Week 2 Storytelling: At the Table with Achilles
It was evening and the night was stagnant, almost stifling. The faint acrid smell of burning wood hung in the air and off in the distance a cloud of smoke rose from over the water. Achilles was sitting outside his tent, gently plucking at the strings of a harp and singing softly of heroes of old and their valiant adventures. Patroclus, his dearest friend and right hand man, lounged in the grass near him, staring toward the rising cloud of smoke. The sun had just set and darkness was quickly approaching.
Achilles, lost in his song and the gentle music of the harp, almost failed to hear the approaching foot steps. Patroclus scrambled hastily to his feet, his sudden energy a contrast to the tightly controlled movements of Achilles as he rose from the stool angling himself toward the oncoming figures.
As they came closer, Achilles relaxed some as he recognized the figures to be Ulysses, Ajax, and Phoenix. He called out to them, "Brothers, welcome! Though I am angry with King Agamemnon, you are no less my friends."
After brief greetings, Achilles led the group into his tent while Patroclus set about mixing sweet wine and preparing a meal for the group to eat. Patroclus prepared a sacrifice for the gods, tossing it into the fire before serving the men. They sat around the table, eating and drinking, glad to be in each other's company again. The food was hearty, the wine strong, and the mood light.
As the meal went on, the three guests shifted glances at each other, and the energy in the room began to shift. Finally Phoenix cleared his throat. "Achilles, friend, truly this has been a feast, but there is no longer time to delay."
Achilles shifted in his seat, his body tensing as he directed his stare at his friend.
"The Trojans are gaining ground, they set many of our chariots aflame today, and it is doubtful how long we can hold them from our ships. It is apparent that Zeus is on their side. We are afraid, Achilles."
Achilles was silent, his face an impenetrable mask as Phoenix continued. "Rouse yourself Achilles, hold not yourself from battle any longer. Come back with us, fight again. Hector rages against us, screaming claims of Zeus's favor. He vows to destroy us, our men, our horses, our ships. Do not hold to your anger against Agamemnon so tightly that you will allow all of us to come to ruin."
Achilles looked down at the table, tense and silent, his anger at Agamemnon had not lessened. He had dishonored Achilles, stolen from him his rightful due and insulted him. Achilles could not fight for Agamemnon again, he wouldn't. But yet the Greeks, his brothers, friends, and countrymen were there fighting.
Phoenix began again, "Your father, Peleus, did not he warn you on the day you departed Myrmidones to fight for Agamemnon against the Trojans to stifle your pride and turn away from strife? Did not he charge you with this? And have you not abandoned his warning, abandoned the Greeks even, in your haste to prove a point to Agamemnon?"
Achilles kept his head down and stayed silent, but anger swelled in his heart. How dare Phoenix throw his father's words in his face, attempt to guilt him and shame him into fighting alongside Agamemnon! How dare he accuse him of abandoning the Greeks!
But Phoenix wasn't finished. "Come now, Achilles. You may still repent. The King, Agamemnon, has sent you many gifts, in hopes you will forgive his wrongs and take up arms with him again."
Ulysses interjected then, listing off the many wondrous gifts which Agamemnon had promised to Achilles. Horses and chariots, gold and silver, goblets, wine, lush fabrics, and his daughter for a bride. The gifts to which Agamemnon promised Achilles were boundless, but Achilles hardly heard them, so red with anger was he at the insult that he should repent to Agamemnon.
Shaking in rage, Achilles rose from his chair, looking at each of the men around his table. "We are friends, and thus I will speak to you plainly," he said, his words a crisp staccato of tightly controlled energy. "It angers me that each of you should sit at my table and attempt to coax me. To guilt me and shame me with the words of my father. To belittle the dishonor which Agamemnon has done to me."
The men looked down, chastened by Achilles tone, as he continued. "I have fought countless battles. I have been brave and strong. I have put my life in peril time and time again. And what has it profited me? It has been thankless work. For all I have endured, the King has honored me with insults. He has stolen from me all which I have earned. Do not ask me to fight against the Trojans anymore. There are other men, other soldiers, other chiefs whom Agamemnon has not dishonored as he has me. Let him take counsel with them as to how to keep the ships from burning, how to hold themselves strong against Hector. Let him ask them, for I will not fight another day against the Trojans."
Patroclus looked to his dearest friend, his chief, the man whom he had spent much of his life standing alongside. Never had he seen Achilles so impassioned and angry at men he called friends. He had hoped Achilles would join the Greeks again, but it seemed this would not be so.
Achilles spoke again, his hands pushing into the table as he leaned into his words, "Tomorrow I will take my ships, my men, and those things which the king has not stripped me of, and I shall set sail back to Myrmidones. I want nothing of the gifts Agamemnon has promised to me, and as for the himself, friends, I will say this but once, I shall neither take counsel with Agamemnon nor stand by his side in battle again."
Authors Note: This story is based off of the two part episode "The Essembly to Achilles" from Homer's Iliad (Part 1, Part 2). Up to this point the Greeks have been fighting the Trojans just outside the walls of Troy. The Greeks have come to Troy to take back Helen, the wife of King Agamemnon's brother Menelaus, who has run away with Paris, as son to Priam, the king of Troy. Achilles has been gravely insulted by Agamemnon, who has decided to take back all of the spoils which Achilles had earned on their way to Troy. In response Achilles has taken his men and sailed a brief'distance, leaving the fight against Troy.
In this scene, three Greek chiefs, friends of Achilles, have come to beg on behalf of Agamemnon that Achilles return to the fight. In the story available in the UnTextbook, there is no clear main character. In my version, I wanted to focus mainly on Achilles and his reaction to the words of his friends. I have added more detail, and tried to set a more clear scene than is present in the UnTextbook. Very little emotion is expressed in the original story, so I wanted to explore and animate the emotions and energy that I envisioned being present in the scene when I had read the story. Thanks for reading, and hope you enjoyed it! (also by some miracle my story was exactly 1000 words, whew, haha)
Bibliography: The Iliad retold by Alfred J. Church (1907). Web Source: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook
Achilles, lost in his song and the gentle music of the harp, almost failed to hear the approaching foot steps. Patroclus scrambled hastily to his feet, his sudden energy a contrast to the tightly controlled movements of Achilles as he rose from the stool angling himself toward the oncoming figures.
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| Odysseus and Phoenix approaching Achilles (Attic red-figure Hydria circa 480 BCE) |
After brief greetings, Achilles led the group into his tent while Patroclus set about mixing sweet wine and preparing a meal for the group to eat. Patroclus prepared a sacrifice for the gods, tossing it into the fire before serving the men. They sat around the table, eating and drinking, glad to be in each other's company again. The food was hearty, the wine strong, and the mood light.
As the meal went on, the three guests shifted glances at each other, and the energy in the room began to shift. Finally Phoenix cleared his throat. "Achilles, friend, truly this has been a feast, but there is no longer time to delay."
Achilles shifted in his seat, his body tensing as he directed his stare at his friend.
"The Trojans are gaining ground, they set many of our chariots aflame today, and it is doubtful how long we can hold them from our ships. It is apparent that Zeus is on their side. We are afraid, Achilles."
Achilles was silent, his face an impenetrable mask as Phoenix continued. "Rouse yourself Achilles, hold not yourself from battle any longer. Come back with us, fight again. Hector rages against us, screaming claims of Zeus's favor. He vows to destroy us, our men, our horses, our ships. Do not hold to your anger against Agamemnon so tightly that you will allow all of us to come to ruin."
Achilles looked down at the table, tense and silent, his anger at Agamemnon had not lessened. He had dishonored Achilles, stolen from him his rightful due and insulted him. Achilles could not fight for Agamemnon again, he wouldn't. But yet the Greeks, his brothers, friends, and countrymen were there fighting.
Phoenix began again, "Your father, Peleus, did not he warn you on the day you departed Myrmidones to fight for Agamemnon against the Trojans to stifle your pride and turn away from strife? Did not he charge you with this? And have you not abandoned his warning, abandoned the Greeks even, in your haste to prove a point to Agamemnon?"
Achilles kept his head down and stayed silent, but anger swelled in his heart. How dare Phoenix throw his father's words in his face, attempt to guilt him and shame him into fighting alongside Agamemnon! How dare he accuse him of abandoning the Greeks!
But Phoenix wasn't finished. "Come now, Achilles. You may still repent. The King, Agamemnon, has sent you many gifts, in hopes you will forgive his wrongs and take up arms with him again."
Ulysses interjected then, listing off the many wondrous gifts which Agamemnon had promised to Achilles. Horses and chariots, gold and silver, goblets, wine, lush fabrics, and his daughter for a bride. The gifts to which Agamemnon promised Achilles were boundless, but Achilles hardly heard them, so red with anger was he at the insult that he should repent to Agamemnon.
Shaking in rage, Achilles rose from his chair, looking at each of the men around his table. "We are friends, and thus I will speak to you plainly," he said, his words a crisp staccato of tightly controlled energy. "It angers me that each of you should sit at my table and attempt to coax me. To guilt me and shame me with the words of my father. To belittle the dishonor which Agamemnon has done to me."
The men looked down, chastened by Achilles tone, as he continued. "I have fought countless battles. I have been brave and strong. I have put my life in peril time and time again. And what has it profited me? It has been thankless work. For all I have endured, the King has honored me with insults. He has stolen from me all which I have earned. Do not ask me to fight against the Trojans anymore. There are other men, other soldiers, other chiefs whom Agamemnon has not dishonored as he has me. Let him take counsel with them as to how to keep the ships from burning, how to hold themselves strong against Hector. Let him ask them, for I will not fight another day against the Trojans."
Patroclus looked to his dearest friend, his chief, the man whom he had spent much of his life standing alongside. Never had he seen Achilles so impassioned and angry at men he called friends. He had hoped Achilles would join the Greeks again, but it seemed this would not be so.
Achilles spoke again, his hands pushing into the table as he leaned into his words, "Tomorrow I will take my ships, my men, and those things which the king has not stripped me of, and I shall set sail back to Myrmidones. I want nothing of the gifts Agamemnon has promised to me, and as for the himself, friends, I will say this but once, I shall neither take counsel with Agamemnon nor stand by his side in battle again."
Authors Note: This story is based off of the two part episode "The Essembly to Achilles" from Homer's Iliad (Part 1, Part 2). Up to this point the Greeks have been fighting the Trojans just outside the walls of Troy. The Greeks have come to Troy to take back Helen, the wife of King Agamemnon's brother Menelaus, who has run away with Paris, as son to Priam, the king of Troy. Achilles has been gravely insulted by Agamemnon, who has decided to take back all of the spoils which Achilles had earned on their way to Troy. In response Achilles has taken his men and sailed a brief'distance, leaving the fight against Troy.
In this scene, three Greek chiefs, friends of Achilles, have come to beg on behalf of Agamemnon that Achilles return to the fight. In the story available in the UnTextbook, there is no clear main character. In my version, I wanted to focus mainly on Achilles and his reaction to the words of his friends. I have added more detail, and tried to set a more clear scene than is present in the UnTextbook. Very little emotion is expressed in the original story, so I wanted to explore and animate the emotions and energy that I envisioned being present in the scene when I had read the story. Thanks for reading, and hope you enjoyed it! (also by some miracle my story was exactly 1000 words, whew, haha)
Bibliography: The Iliad retold by Alfred J. Church (1907). Web Source: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Reading Diary B: Homer's Iliad
Of the latter half of the reading unit Homer's Iliad, I was particularly struck by the Ransoming of Hector. In ancient Grecian culture, burial was a particularly important sacrament. Burial was seen as a basic human right, and the denial of a proper burial for the dead was viewed as a complete lack of respect for human dignity.
In this context Achilles treatment of Hector's body was immoral, disgraceful, and an act of complete irreverence for Greek custom. Dishonoring the burial right was seen as a serious offense, and would be likely to anger the gods. The vision created in the story of Achilles strutting around with Hector's body dragging from the back of a chariot is grotesque and directly in contrast to Grecian custom. (The Slaying of Hector- end) It is evidence to me of Achilles pride and also the depth of his rage and grief for his friend Patroclus.
I expected to find that Zeus would be angrier with Achilles than he was, however perhaps the portrayal of Zeus's anger as somewhat mild is a testament to how well loved Achilles was by the gods.
I thought that the scene depicting Priam pleading with Achilles to ransom Hector was particularly moving (The Ransoming of Hector). I think it was particularly interesting that Achilles wept when Priam approached him because it gives him a more human quality. Although it is evident that Achilles dearly loves his slain friend Patroclus, prior to this point he seems to feel no compassion towards anyone else. This scene added depth to Achilles' character by showing that he was capable of compassion and of feeling empathy for even his enemies.
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| Achilles dragging Hector's body by his chariot (Book Illustration) |
I expected to find that Zeus would be angrier with Achilles than he was, however perhaps the portrayal of Zeus's anger as somewhat mild is a testament to how well loved Achilles was by the gods.
I thought that the scene depicting Priam pleading with Achilles to ransom Hector was particularly moving (The Ransoming of Hector). I think it was particularly interesting that Achilles wept when Priam approached him because it gives him a more human quality. Although it is evident that Achilles dearly loves his slain friend Patroclus, prior to this point he seems to feel no compassion towards anyone else. This scene added depth to Achilles' character by showing that he was capable of compassion and of feeling empathy for even his enemies.
Reading Diary A: Homer's Iliad
I love the reading unit Homer's Iliad so far. Hector is one of my favorite characters from classic Greek literature. He is brave and strong and has such a love for Troy.
One of my favorite scenes thus far is from the two part episode Hector and Andromache. Hector says something that reveals how faithful he is that the gods' will will be done no matter what the circumstances. After Andromache begs him to stay back from the fight, Hector says to her "Do not let these things trouble you. No man will be able to kill me, unless it be my fate to die. But fate no one may escape, whether he be a brave man or a coward."
This quote to me is evidence of how honorable and intelligent Hector is, and how trusting he is in the will of the gods. I also like this quote because I think it was a thoughtful way to comfort his wife. I like that he reminds her that fate is inescapable, and so if he is meant to die, he will die, regardless of whether he has taken up battle or hidden behind the walls. As a person of faith, I think it can be comforting to step back and remember that God has a will with which my own cannot compete, and that what will be, will be.
I also really liked the two part episode of the Embassy to Achilles. As a person who avidly hates Agamemnon (read Aeschylus' Agamemnon if you would like to hate him also), I never mind when he doesn't get his way. But also this scene is particularly interesting to me because I think its revealing of the depths of Achilles pride, anger, and stubbornness. I envision this scene being incredibly tense. Achilles is sitting in a room of friends who have come to beg forgiveness in Agamemnon's place. They attempt to guilt him with the words of his father, and ply him with promises of great gifts. I can see Achilles warring with himself over his love for the Greeks and his anger at Agamemnon. Further I think it must be rather enraging for Achilles to have friends try to shame him by arguing, rather bluntly, that he has dishonored and forgotten the pleas of his father Peleus.
Achilles is a very prideful character. He knows himself to be an invaluable warrior, and he regards himself very highly. To pluck at his honor by shaming him with the words of his father was not a great idea for Odysseus. Had they wanted to assuage Achilles anger and persuade him to fight again, it would have been far better to bring words of apology from Agamemnon as well as compliments to his character and his fighting, to make themselves to be desperate without his help. I think it is ultimately the methods they used in order to attempt to bring Achilles back which made him more determined to stay behind.
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| Andromache, Hector and their son Astyanax (Apulian red-figure column crater circa 370-360 BCE) |
This quote to me is evidence of how honorable and intelligent Hector is, and how trusting he is in the will of the gods. I also like this quote because I think it was a thoughtful way to comfort his wife. I like that he reminds her that fate is inescapable, and so if he is meant to die, he will die, regardless of whether he has taken up battle or hidden behind the walls. As a person of faith, I think it can be comforting to step back and remember that God has a will with which my own cannot compete, and that what will be, will be.
I also really liked the two part episode of the Embassy to Achilles. As a person who avidly hates Agamemnon (read Aeschylus' Agamemnon if you would like to hate him also), I never mind when he doesn't get his way. But also this scene is particularly interesting to me because I think its revealing of the depths of Achilles pride, anger, and stubbornness. I envision this scene being incredibly tense. Achilles is sitting in a room of friends who have come to beg forgiveness in Agamemnon's place. They attempt to guilt him with the words of his father, and ply him with promises of great gifts. I can see Achilles warring with himself over his love for the Greeks and his anger at Agamemnon. Further I think it must be rather enraging for Achilles to have friends try to shame him by arguing, rather bluntly, that he has dishonored and forgotten the pleas of his father Peleus.
Achilles is a very prideful character. He knows himself to be an invaluable warrior, and he regards himself very highly. To pluck at his honor by shaming him with the words of his father was not a great idea for Odysseus. Had they wanted to assuage Achilles anger and persuade him to fight again, it would have been far better to bring words of apology from Agamemnon as well as compliments to his character and his fighting, to make themselves to be desperate without his help. I think it is ultimately the methods they used in order to attempt to bring Achilles back which made him more determined to stay behind.
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