Mythology & Folklore

Story: Mr. Miacca Story source: English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1890). Mr. Miacca, Source Tommy was sometimes a good boy and sometimes a bad boy. He was told not to go to the street or else Mr. Miacca will get him. One day, he was being a bad boy and went to the street. Mr. Miacca couth Tommy and put him into a bad upside down. He took Tommy to his home. Mr. Miacca was excited because he got a boy to eat for supper. However, he forgot the herbs. He called Mrs. Miacca to watch over the boy while Mr. Miacca went to get the herbs.  Tommy asked Mrs. Miacca if Mr. Miacca always have little boys for supper. Mrs. Miacca replied that only if the little boys are bad and get on his way. Tommy asked Mrs. Miacca if she liked pudding, she said yes. He said that he would go to his mother and bring back pudding, Mrs. Miacca agreed. Tommy was relieved that he got off being eaten. He promised to be good all the time, but he couldn't b...

Story: The Master And His Pupil Story source: English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1890). Pupil and the Demon, Source Once upon a time, there was a very learned man. He knew about almost everything in the world including magic and knowledge of the beyond. He had a book that had information about Angle and all that they did, and also about Demons, their names, what they do, and how to summon them. The master had a pupil who was very foolish. One time, while the master was away, the pupil decided to go to the master's room. He looked at all of the amazing artifacts within the book. He saw a mirror where he could see all that was passing in the world. A shell, that when he put it to his ear he could hear the words spoken by anyone his master desired. The lad tried to turn copper and lead into gold and silver like his master, but all was in vain.  He didn't do how to work anything. He saw a big book in the middle of his des...

Story: Nursery Rhymes - Tales Story Source: The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang and illustrated by L. Leslie Brooke (1897). The Lion and the Unicorn,  Source For the nursery rhymes readings, there are a lot of them. I thought that I would post a collection of some of my favorite ones from the readings. This one is really dark: ( Wikipedia: Babes in the Wood ) MY dear, do you know, How a long time ago, Two poor little children, Whose names I don't know, Were stolen away on a fine summer's day, And left in a wood, as I've heard people say. And when it was night, So sad was their plight, The sun it went down, And the moon gave no light. They sobbed and they sighed, and they bitterly cried, And the poor little things, they lay down and died. And when they were dead, The robins so red Brought strawberry-leaves And over them spread, And all the day long They sung them this song: "Poor babes in the wood! Poor babes in the wood! And don't you...

Story: The Shee An Gannon and the Gruagach Gaire Story Source: Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892). Gruagach Gaire The Challenge The Shee An Gannon went to the King of Erin to ask for his daughter in marriage. The king said that he would give him his daughter if he brings the information that he wants. He tells him that he wants to know how why the laughing of the Gruagach Gaire stopped. Before this, the Gruagach Gaire laughed always and laughed so loud that the whole world heard. The king mentioned that no one was able to tell him what stopped the Gruagach Gaire from laughing. He also told Shee An Gannon that he was to fail, the king would kill him. The Gruagach Gaire Shee An Gannon went to work for the Gruagach Gaire who took him into his service. He told Shee to drive his five golden cows into the pasture but to be careful not to let them go near the land of the giant. The Land of the Gigant The new cowboy took the ca...

Story: Connla and the Fairy Maiden Story Source: Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892). Source Summary Plot: Prince Connla of the Fiery Hair, when he saw a maiden that no else could see except for him. She said she was from the Plains of the Ever-Living. She told him that in that land, there is neither death nor sin. They keep a holiday all of the time, not walking away from joy. In their pleasure, there is no strife.  The King saw the Prince talking to a maiden he could not see. He asked the Prince to whom he was talking about. Even though he could not see her, he could hear her voice. She asked the Prince to come away with her to the Plain of Pleasure. The King feared the maiden and called to his Druid, Coran to come. The King told Coran, of the unseen maiden who talked to the Prince. Coran the Druid stood forth and chanted his spells toward the spot where the maiden's voice had been heard. Her voice was heard no lon...

Story: Coyote Tries to Make His Children Spotted Story source:  Jicarilla Apache Texts  edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911). Fawns I really enjoyed all of the Apache coyote stories. It looks like Coyote was very busy and always in some kind of mischief. However, there was one story where the Coyote was tricked into killing his young, and I thought it was pretty sad. Plot Summary: A Coyote encountered a deer in the Arroyo among the willows. Seeing the spotted fawns, the Coyote asked, "How do you make your little ones so spotted?" The deer told him that they are born that way. The Coyote did not believe it and said that he must do something to them to make them that way. The deer then told him that he digs a hole in the top of the hill where the wind blows and pile a lot of cedar wood in from, and set fire to it. The sparks that fly out makes them spotted. The Coyote went home eager to make his children spotted. He did as the deer told him. They cl...

Story: The Emergence Story source: Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard (1911). Taos County, New Mexico This is a creation story from Apache Native American people. I find the concept of emerging to be an intriguing one. Rather than coming out nothing, or having a god create everything, this story of creation begins with people emerging from the underworld. In the beginning, he made a mounting. By "he" the story refers to the White God of the east, assisted by the Talking God of the south, the Yellow God of the west, and the Laughing God of the north. Then, the made the mountain taller and taller. He then made reeds come out of the center of the mountain and up into heaven.  Four girls went up and twisted the reeds going to the sky.  Four ladders were made and placed in position: one black, one blue, one yellow, and one variegated. Then whirlwind went to the world above and looked. When he came back he r...

Story: Chinook Ghosts Story Source:  Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon , by Katharine Berry Judson (1910). Ghosts, Source: Pexels Summary Plot: For some strange reason, the ghosts wanted to buy a wife. They bought Ioi, which was Blue Jay's sister. Blue Jay was a wise bird. Noticing that his sister was gone, after one year, he decided to go look for her. He asked all of the trees, "Where do people go when they die?" But they had no answer. He asked all of the birds the same question and they did not have the answer. At last, he asked his wedge and the wage told him that he would tell him if he received payment.  The wedge then took him to a village which was the land of the dead. He found Ioi there. Blue Jay saw all of the skulls and bones on the floor. One of them was Ioi's husband. When it grew dark the bones came to life and became ghosts. Blue jay began to sing, and the ghosts would turn back to...

Story: How Kemush Created the World Story Source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon , by Katharine Berry Judson (1910). Klamath Lake I really enjoyed this story because I am really interested in creation stories. There were other creation stories in this unit but this one got my attention better. I think it was because the story of Coyote and Silver-Fox did not make much sense to me. Plot Summary: In the beginning, Kemush, Old Man of the Ancients, created the world. Kemush sprung quickly from the ashes of the northern lights and made the world at the call of Morning Star. In the beginning, the earth was flat and bare. Kemush planted the grass and roots in the valleys. He set the trees, the pine, the white pine, the juniper. Kemush created the animals and placed them in the world. Kemush made the earth and the earth was new except Shapashkeni, the rock, where was built the lodge of Sun and Moon. Then Kemush, with his da...

Story: The Labors of Yamato - The Dragon Story source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917). Japanese Dragon After regaining the Sacred Sword, Yamato encountered a siren. The siren sang and seemed to confuse Yamato, putting him in some sort of trance. He then discovered the city in panic. A terrific dragon had descended upon the land. Yamato went to investigate, and there he saw it. Susa-no-wo, Dragon of the Sea was hurtling towards him. A battle between Yamato and the dragon raged. He was able to subdue Susa-no-wo. Yamato told his beloved Tacibana "No longer shall our arch-enemy defile the land. Hereafter hath he power alone over the sea.” However, one day, Yamato exclaimed that he feared Susa-no-wo no longer, for he had conquered him in land, and so he would conquer him in the sea. At his word the Sea God raged. At his words, the Sea God raised mighty tempest.  Out of the depth...

Story: Izanagi and Izanami Story Source: Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917). Izanagi and Izanami, source: Wikimedia This is a creation story which I really enjoyed.  Story Plot: In the beginning, all was gloomy chaos. Out of the infinite void rose a cloud, floating on the sea of space. Out of the depths of the cloud, a bud sprouted and an iris flowered rose into the air and to the Taka-ma-no-hara (high plain of heaven). Once it bloomed, it became the bright shining sun. At the same time, a night-blooming flower fluttered downward from the firmament and became the moon. From the heart of the blossoms sprouted a score of gods. Among the gods were Izanagi (the powerful-God-of-the-Air), and Izanami (Fair-Goddess-of-the-Clouds). From Izanagi and Izanami, issued all life. Near the beginning of time, Izanagi, the God of the Heavens, took for wife Izanami, the beautiful Goddess of Love. Fr...

Story: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp Story Source: The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898). Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt Plot Summary: Aladdin was the son of a poor tailor. Aladdin had no craft or occupation and would spend his days playing with other boys in the street. His mom was really worried and wanted him to do something productive with his life.  One day, Aladdin's uncle, a famous African magician, showed up out of nowhere. The magician was looking for him specifically and wanted to "help' him. The magician took Aladin around the city and into the mountains. He led Aladin to a cave, where he said there was a treasure waiting for him, and instructed him on how to get it. The magician was not Aladdin's uncle, but he read on a book of a lamp hidden there that would make him the most powerful man in the world. Only Aladin could retrieve the lamp, so the magi...

Story: Scheherazade Story Source: The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898). Source: Rimsky-Korsakov's magical "Scheherazade"   Plot Summary: The Sultan Schahriar was betrayed by his wife, whom he loved very much. It affected him so much that he thought all of the women were as bad as his former wife. He then decided to start killing women. Every day, he would marry a new wife and then have her killed the following morning. The Sultan's actions caused terror throughout the town. Everyone was afraid for their daughters. Scheherazade, a very beautiful and well-learned maiden, daughter of the grand-vizir, was determined to put a stop to the sultan. She devised a plan to stop him and asked his father to offer her to the sultan as his bride.  The grand-vizir reluctantly offered his daughter to marry the Sultan. Scheherazade then asked the Sultan if she could bring her sister, Dinarzade, to stay in her b...

Story: Creation Source:  Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907) The Sun God Ra List of Gods in Creation Story: Nu - The primordial waters, father of Ra. Ra - The Sun God, Divine Father of creation and strong ruler of the Gods. Shu - The wind god, created by Ra. Tefnut - Shu's consort, also called "the spitter' because she sends the rain. Seb - The earth god. Nut - The goddess of the firmament. The story of Creation: In the beginning, the world was a vast ocean called Nu. Nu gave being unto the sun god Ra. Ra appeared as a shinning egg, floating upon the water. Ra became greater than Nu, Ra was the divine father and strong ruler of gods. Ra first created Shu, the wind god, and his consort Tefnut, the rain goddess. Then Ra created Seb, the earth god, and nub, the goddess of the firmament. At his word, he bade earth and the heavens to rise out of the waste of water. Shu, the uplifter, raised Nut upon high, appearing in th...

Story: The Two Brothers Source: Egyptian Myth and Legend Plowing in Ancient Egypt There were once two brothers, Anpu the eldest, and Bata the youngest. Bata lived with Anpu and Anpu's wife on their farm. Bata considered his elder brother and his wife as mother and father. Bata was a great worker, he tended to the onyx and plowed the fields. One day, Anpu's wife came onto him. Bata refused her, but then she lied to her Anpu, saying that Bata had struck her and begging him to kill him.  Anpu tried to kill his younger brother Bata, but then Ra intervened, and the truth came out. Bata left to a distant land, but first, he told his brother to come to his aid when and bring him to life. Bata devastated returned to his farm and slew his wife. There he waited for the signs that Bata foretold so that he might go and help his brother. Bata to went to a distant land, where he met some really cool Gods. The Gods took pity on him and made a wife for him. His wife was ...

Story: Echo & Narcissus Source: Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4) Echo & Narcissus, by John William Waterhouse Plot Summary Echo saw Narcissus in the forest and like everyone, she fell in love with him. She would not talk to him because she was cursed by Juno. Echos voice could not be silent when others speak, and she could not talk be she would repeat the last thing someone said. She declares her love for him but she's rejected. She gets super sad and her body vanishes, but the sound of her voice continues on. Apparently, Narcissus was arrogant rejections manage to anger some people. Nemesis heard a request for him to fall in love, but be rejected by the one who he loves, and she granted this request. But, who could not love Narcissus with its beauty? As he went to the lake to drink, he fell in love with his reflection on the lake. He withered away looking at his reflection on the lake, and he turned into a flower. My thoughts I was familiar with ...

Story: Phaethon's Ride Source: Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4) Painting by Gustave Moreau Plot Summary Knowing he was the son of Phoebus Apollo, the Sun God, Phaethon's went to the palace of the sun to meet his father. In the palace, he found his father, who embraced him, and swore by Stygian waters that he would grant him any favor. Phoebus asked to command the chariot of the sun for the day.  After much hesitation and warning, the Sun God fulfilled his son's wishes because he could not back out of the promise. Once in the air, Phaethon could not control the chariot's horses. He let go of the reins, and the Sun lost its course. The chariot got too close to the earth which erupted into flames. The earth was scorched. Mighty Jupiter, after seeing all of the commotions, hurled a thunder to the chariot and killed Phaethon.  My thoughts: I actually found the story to be quite sad. I think that Phaethon died not because of negligence or malice, bu...

Story: Scylla and Charybdis Source: Homer's Odyssey , translated into English by Tony Kline (2004) Scylla and Charybdis, Source EuroScientist Plot Summary: Leaving the house of Circe, Odysseus goes to the underworld where he meets the ghost Teiresias which tell him a prophecy. While on the underworld, Odysseus meets many famous ghosts. With Teiresias words in mind, Odysseus leaves the underworld and set off on his path home. He then encounters sirens that try to lure him. However, in preparation, he put beeswax to his ears and tied himself to the mast. He is able to pass by the sirens. No sooner he left the siren's isle, he encountered two treacherous beasts, the Scylla and Charybdis. Forgetting Circe's command to not arm himself, he ran out to see the beast. Rock-bound Scylla was bringing disaster to his comrades, and on the other side, the divine Charybdis sucked-in the sea. The Scylla picked up six of his men and devoured them at the entrance of h...

Story: The Land of the Cyclopes Source: The readings for this unit come from Homer's Odyssey , as translated into English by Tony Kline. The Cyclops Polyphemus, by Tischbein Main Characters: Odysseus, Polyphemus the Cyclops Plot Summary: Odysseus and his men came to the land of Cyclops, a wild and extremely fertile land. They Cyclops live in caves, they have no council meeting and no law. Odysseus decided to go check out the character of the inhabitants, and along with some of his men, he went into the cave of a cyclops. When they were discovered, he pleaded for the hospitality and kindness due to strangers in the name of Zeus. However, the Cyclops could not care less about the gods and said he would not spare him or his friends. Polyphemus the Cyclops then proceeded to start eating his man, two-by-two, as Odysseus was plotting his escape. He offered the Cyclops some of the Sweet Wine he had, and the Cyclops really liked it but was not that grateful...

Story - Indian Fairy Tales: The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal Source: Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1912). Main Characters: Tiger, Brahman, and Jackal Plot Summary: A poor Brahman encountered a tiger caught in a trap. The tiger pleads to Brahman to free him, he promises much even to serve him as a slave. Once released, the tiger turns on his promise and promptly tells the Brahman he will be devoured. After pleading, he was able to convince the tiger to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to question about the whole situation. He asks a tree, which pretty much tells him life is hard and has no sympathy for him. He asks a buffalo which tells him that people are ungrateful and just makes the Brahman sad. He asks a road which pretty much told him "well, what the heck did you expect? It's a tiger." On the way back he encountered a jackal, he told him the story, but the jackal was confused....